Binary control compressor system

Abstract

The invention is a control system for controlling compressors that are used to cool a building or a manufacturing process. The control system utilizes compressors of different sizes, including a series of compressors in which each compressor is double the size of the previous one. A control system chooses a possible combination of compressors to closely match the building or process cooling needs. The compressors are chosen so that the cooling capacity closely matches the building cooling needs, so that all of the compressors tend to run in a steady state fashion, and the comfort level of the building or the temperature stability of the process is increased.

1 . A graduated compressor system for use in building air conditioning management and process cooling, comprising: 
 a plurality of compressors of graduated output capacities, for providing air conditioning to a building;    a temperature sensing system, for determining the cooling needs of a building; and    a control logic system, containing information about comparative compressor capacity; wherein said control logic system compares the cooling needs of said building with the available compressor capacity, and selects a compressor or combination of compressors with combined capacities which substantially match the current cooling need of a building.    
   
   
       2 . The graduated compressor system for use in building air conditioning management and process cooling of  claim 1 , in which each of said compressors is approximately double the capacity of the next smaller compressor, in which a first compressor with a capacity of A, will be followed by a second compressor with a capacity of approximately 2 A, and a third compressor with a capacity of approximately 4 A, and so on with each compressor in the series having approximately double the capacity of the previous compressor.  
   
   
       3 . The graduated compressor system for use in building air conditioning management and process cooling of  claim 1 , in which said compressors are in a generally capacity doubling configuration, in which a first compressor with a capacity of A, will be followed by a second compressor with a capacity of 2 A, and a third compressor with a capacity of 4 A, and so on with each compressor in the series having approximately double the capacity of the previous compressor.  
   
   
       4 . The graduated compressor system for use in building air conditioning management and process cooling of  claim 1 , which comprises two compressors.  
   
   
       5 . A graduated compressor system for use in building air conditioning management and process cooling, comprising: 
 a first compressor, with a pre-selected capacity, for providing air conditioning to a building;    a second compressor, with a larger capacity of said first compressor, for providing air conditioning to a building;    a temperature sensing system, for determining the cooling needs of a building;    a control logic system, containing information about compressor capacity; wherein said control logic system compares the cooling needs of said building with the available compressor capacity, and selects a compressor or a combination of compressors with combined capacities which match the current cooling need of a building.    
   
   
       6 . A graduated compressor system for use in building air conditioning management and process cooling, comprising: 
 a first compressor, with a preselected capacity, for providing air conditioning to a building;    a second compressor, roughly double the capacity of said first compressor, for providing air conditioning to a building;    a temperature sensing system, for determining the cooling needs of a building;    a control logic system, containing information about compressor capacity; wherein said control logic system compares the cooling needs of said building with the available compressor capacity, and selects a compressor or a combination of compressors with combined capacities which match the current cooling need of a building.    
   
   
       7 . The graduated compressor system for use in building air conditioning management and process cooling of  claim 1 , which comprises three compressors.  
   
   
       8 . A graduated compressor system for use in building air conditioning management and process cooling, comprising: 
 a first compressor, with a preselected capacity, for providing air conditioning to a building;    a second compressor, with a larger capacity than said first compressor, for providing air conditioning to a building;    a third compressor, with a larger capacity than said second compressor, for providing air conditioning to a building:    a temperature sensing system, for determining the cooling needs of a building;    a control logic system, containing information about compressor capacity; wherein said control logic system compares the cooling needs of said building with the available compressor capacity, and selects a compressor or a combination of compressors with combined capacities which match the current cooling need of a building.    
   
   
       9 . A graduated compressor system for use in building air conditioning management and process cooling, comprising: 
 a first compressor, with a preselected capacity, for providing air conditioning to a building;    a second compressor, roughly double the capacity of said first compressor, for providing air conditioning to a building;    a third compressor, roughly double the capacity of said second compressor, for providing air conditioning to a building:    a temperature sensing system, for determining the cooling needs of a building;    a control logic system, containing information about compressor capacity; wherein said control logic system compares the cooling needs of said building with the available compressor capacity, and selects a compressor or a combination of compressors with combined capacities which match the current cooling need of a building.    
   
   
       10 . The graduated compressor system for use in building air conditioning management and process cooling of  claim 1 , which comprises four compressors.  
   
   
       11 . A graduated compressor system for use in building air conditioning management and process cooling, comprising: 
 a first compressor, with a preselected capacity, for providing air conditioning to a building;    a second compressor, with a capacity larger than the capacity of said first compressor, for providing air conditioning to a building;    a third compressor, with a capacity larger than the capacity of said second compressor for providing air conditioning to a building:    a fourth compressor, with a capacity larger than the capacity of said third compressor, for providing air conditioning to a building;    a temperature sensing system, for determining the cooling needs of a building;    a control logic system, containing information about compressor capacity; wherein said control logic system compares the cooling needs of said building with the available compressor capacity, and selects a compressor or a combination of compressors with combined capacities which match the current cooling need of a building.    
   
   
       12 . A graduated compressor system for use in building air conditioning management and process cooling, comprising: 
 a first compressor, with a preselected capacity, for providing air conditioning to a building;    a second compressor, roughly double the capacity of said first compressor, for providing air conditioning to a building;    a third compressor, roughly double the capacity of said second compressor, for providing air conditioning to a building:    a fourth compressor, roughly double the capacity of said third compressor, for providing air conditioning to a building;    a temperature sensing system, for determining the cooling needs of a building;    a control logic system, containing information about compressor capacity; wherein said control logic system compares the cooling needs of said building with the available compressor capacity, and selects a compressor or a combination of compressors with combined capacities which match the current cooling need of a building.    
   
   
       13 . The graduated compressor system for use in building air conditioning management and process cooling of  claim 1 , which comprises five compressors.  
   
   
       14 . A graduated compressor system for use in building air conditioning management and process cooling, comprising: 
 a first compressor, with a preselected capacity, for providing air conditioning to a building;    a second compressor, with a capacity larger than the capacity of said first compressor, for providing air conditioning to a building;    a third compressor, with a capacity larger than the capacity of said second compressor for providing air conditioning to a building:    a fourth compressor, with a capacity larger than the capacity of said third compressor, for providing air conditioning to a building;    a fifth compressor, with a capacity larger than the capacity of said fourth compressor, for providing air conditioning to a building;    a temperature sensing system, for determining the cooling needs of a building;    a control logic system, containing information about compressor capacity; wherein said control logic system compares the cooling needs of said building with the available compressor capacity, and selects a compressor or a combination of compressors with combined capacities which match the current cooling need of a building.    
   
   
       15 . A graduated compressor system for use in building air conditioning management and process cooling, comprising: 
 a first compressor, with a preselected capacity, for providing air conditioning to a building;    a second compressor, roughly double the capacity of said first compressor, for providing air conditioning to a building;    a third compressor, roughly double the capacity of said second compressor, for providing air conditioning to a building:    a fourth compressor, roughly double the capacity of said third compressor, for providing air conditioning to a building;    a fifth compressor, roughly double the capacity of said fourth compressor, for providing air conditioning to a building;    a temperature sensing system, for determining the cooling needs of a building;    a control logic system, containing information about compressor capacity; wherein said control logic system compares the cooling needs of said building with the available compressor capacity, and selects a compressor or a combination of compressors with combined capacities which match the current cooling need of a building.    
   
   
       16 . A method of cooling a building using a graduated compressor system comprising: 
 sensing temperatures within said building or process equipment, utilizing a temperature sensing system;    providing a plurality of compressors of graduated output capacities, for cooling said building, with each of said compressors in a range of increasing capacity;    determining whether said temperatures exceed a target temperature;    supplying cooled air to said building, when temperatures exceed a target temperature, using a control logic system connected to said plurality of compressors of graduated output capacities, wherein said control logic system compares the cooling needs of said building with the available compressor capacity, and selects a compressor or a combination of said plurality of compressors with combined capacities which substantially match the current cooling need of a building activating said compressor or said combination of compressors.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said plurality of compressors approximately double in size from one compressor to another.