Abstract:
A method for controlling a vapour compression system (1), the vapour compression system (1) comprising a compressor unit (2) comprising one or more compressors (10, 11, 13), is disclosed. At least one of the compressors (11, 13) of the compressor unit (2) is connectable to a gaseous outlet (9) of a receiver (5), and at least one of the compressors (10, 13) of the compressor unit (2) is connectable to an outlet of an evaporator (7). A parameter of the vapour compression system (1) is measured, an enthalpy of refrigerant leaving the heat rejecting heat exchanger (3) being derivable from the measured parameter. A setpoint value for a pressure inside the receiver (5) is calculated, based on the measured parameter, and the compressor unit (2) is operated in accordance with the calculated setpoint value, and in order to obtain a pressure inside the receiver (5) which is equal to the calculated setpoint value. The vapour compression system (1) is operated in an energy efficient manner over a wide range of ambient temperatures.
Abstract:
A method for controlling operation of a refrigeration system (1), comprising one or more refrigeration entities (4), is disclosed. Each entity controller (7) obtains a measure for an error value between the measured value of a compressor control parameter and a setpoint value (8) for the compressor control parameter, and each entity controller (7) adjusts a refrigeration load of the corresponding refrigeration entity (4) to correspond to a cooling capacity of the compressor(s) (2), and in accordance with the obtained measure for an error value.
Abstract:
A method of controlling a fan of a vapour compression system is disclosed. The vapour compression system comprises a compressor, a heat rejecting heat exchanger, e.g. in the form of a gas cooler or a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator arranged in a refrigerant circuit. The fan is arranged to provide a secondary fluid flow across the heat rejecting heat exchanger, e.g. in the form of an air flow. The method comprises the steps of establishing a temperature, T 1 , of refrigerant leaving the heat rejecting heat exchanger, establishing a temperature, T 2 , of ambient air of the heat rejecting heat exchanger, and deriving a temperature difference, ΔΤ=Τ 1 -Τ 2 , between the temperature (T 1 ) of refrigerant leaving the heat rejecting heat exchanger and the temperature (T 2 ) of ambient air of the heat rejecting heat exchanger. The temperature difference, ΔΤ, is compared to a first threshold value and to a second threshold value, the second threshold value being smaller than or equal to the first threshold value, and the rotational speed of the fan is controlled on the basis of the comparing step. The method allows the electrical energy consumption of the fan to be reduced without risking instability of the vapour compression system.
Abstract:
A method for monitoring gas pressure in a heat rejecting heat exchanger in a cooling circuit is disclosed. In the heat rejecting heat exchanger, pressure is controlled by means of a control unit, said control unit controlling at least one valve. The present capacity of one or more compressors in the cooling circuit compared to a maximum capacity of the one or more compressors is established. The maximum capacity may be the rated capacity of the compressors, or it may be a maximum capacity under the given circumstances and/or the given operating conditions. If the present capacity of the one or more compressors is at least at a level corresponding to a pre-set percentage of the maximum capacity, a period of time elapsed from a point in time where the compressor capacity reached said level is established. If the established period of time has a duration which is longer than a pre-set period of time, then it is concluding that the cooling medium is in a gas loop operational mode. Detecting a gas loop operational mode in an easy manner allows an operator or a controller to adjust operation of the cooling plant in such a manner that the cooling medium is brought out of the gas loop operational mode, thereby increasing the energy efficiency of the cooling plant.
Abstract:
A method for operating a vapour compression system (1) is disclosed. The vapour compression system (1) comprises a compressor (2), a condenser (3), an expansion device (4), e.g. in the form of an expansions valve, and an evaporator (5) arranged along a refrigerant path. The method comprises the steps of: obtaining a superheat value being representative for the superheat of refrigerant entering the compressor (2); obtaining a subcooling value being representative for the subcooling of refrigerant entering the expansion device (4); and operating the expansion device (4) on the basis of the obtained superheat value and on the basis of the obtained subcooling value. It is an advantage that the subcooling value is taken into account when operating the expansion device (4), because variations in the subcooling value has significant influence on the refrigerating capacity of the evaporator (5) at a given opening degree of the expansion device (4). A more stable operation of the vapour compression system (1) is therefore obtained when taking the subcooling value into consideration. The vapour compression system (1) may advantageously further comprise an internal heat exchanger (6), e.g. in the form of a suction line heat exchanger.
Abstract:
A method for operating a vapour compression system (1) comprising a heat recovery heat exchanger (4) is disclosed. The heat recovery system requests a required level of recovered heat to be provided by the heat recovery heat exchanger (4) to the heat recovery system, generates a signal indicating the required level of recovered heat, and supplies the generated signal to a control unit of the vapour compression system (1). A setpoint value for at least one control parameter of the vapour compression system (1) is calculated, based on the generated signal, and the vapour compression system (1) is operated in accordance with the calculated setpoint value(s).
Abstract:
A control arrangement for cooling of apparatus comprising a compressor (1), a condenser (2) and at least one branch (3) with an expansion valve (4) and an evaporator (5) in series, contains a controller (6), a superheat temperature measuring device (8) and an ambient temperature sensor (7). The controller (6) controls the expansion valve (4) for maintaining the superheat temperature substantially at the desired value. The flow of coolant to the evaporator (5) is controlled by the signal from the temperature sensor (7) for maintaining the ambient temperature constant. The controller (6) operates continuously and in two operating modes in which in the first mode the superheat temperature is controlled to the maximum admissible state of fill of liquid coolant in the evaporator (5), and is switchable to a second mode in which the state of fill of liquid coolant is controlled by the expansion valve (4).