Motor and system controller

Abstract

A beverage cooler has a low voltage DC supply ( 311 ) usable by the controller ancillaries, such as lighting ( 318 ), the DC supply also providing the supply voltage to a microprocessor ( 313 ) which electronically commutates at least one of the motors ( 305, 306, 307 ) associated with beverage cooling to provide a required speed or loading. The microprocessor also responds to and controls the cooler ancillaries, such as lighting, temperature and status reporting thereby allowing a reduced component count.

1 . A refrigeration system containing at least one motor driven refrigerant compressor ( 309 ), at least one motor driven fan ( 308 ,  310 ), at least one temperature sensor ( 316 ), and a refrigeration system controller ( 301 ), at least one of the compressor or fan motors ( 308 ,  309 ,  310 ) being an electronically commutated motor, and the refrigeration system controller ( 310 ) containing at least one microprocessor ( 313 ) determining the commutation of at least one of the electronically commutated motors driven from the system controller and the operation of any other motors in the refrigeration system, characterised in that the microprocessor ( 313 ) additionally determines the operation of at least said electronically commutated motor in relation to the temperature sensor output. 
     
     
         2 . A refrigeration system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the microprocessor ( 313 ) receives inputs from or provides outputs to other ancillaries of the refrigeration system. 
     
     
         3 . A refrigeration system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the microprocessor ( 313 ) receives inputs from door position sensors, fan speed sensors, and other environment sensors ( 317 ) and determines the operating conditions of any motors from these inputs. 
     
     
         4 . A refrigeration system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the system controller contains means to switch on and off any motors which are not commutated by the system controller in response to signals from the temperature sensing means. 
     
     
         5 . A refrigeration system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the algorithm by which the compressor is controlled includes as an input information as to the operating status of the EC motor, the compressor behaviour being controlled such as to avoid system damage if the EC motor's actual operating status does not match the desired status. 
     
     
         6 . A refrigeration system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the system controller also contains a convertor to convert mains-voltage input power into one or more low voltage outputs suitable for driving LED lighting ( 318 ). 
     
     
         7 . A method of controlling a refrigeration system having at least one electronically commutated motor and other electrical ancillaries by:
 providing a microprocessor ( 313 ) to at least control the commutation of the electronically commutated motor;   providing to the microprocessor inputs from any sensors ( 316 ,  317 ) associated with the refrigeration system;   
       characterised in controlling from the microprocessor any outputs to a refrigeration controller ( 310 ) and other electrical ancillaries associated with the refrigeration system. 
     
     
         8 . A method of controlling a refrigeration system as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the method includes controlling any cooling fan motors ( 308 ,  310 ) using the microprocessor ( 313 ). 
     
     
         9 . A method of controlling a refrigeration system as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the method includes detecting any stalled fan motors using the microprocessor ( 313 ). 
     
     
         10 . A method of controlling a refrigeration system as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the method includes providing a single low voltage power supply ( 311 ) for the microprocessor and the lighting system.