Dynamic misting control for outdoor condensers

Abstract

A dynamic misting control system can supply water to a condenser coil in varying degrees. The control system can include a controller, flow regulator (e.g., pump or separate), and mist generator (e.g., spray nozzles or otherwise). The controller can read outdoor humidity and temperature and vary power to the pump accordingly. The controller can also compare temperatures of the condenser coil to the outdoor humidity and temperature in adjusting the voltage. This can include calculating a voltage based on a first temperature of a coolant supply line and a second temperature in a return line and comparing those temperatures to the outside temperature and humidity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A misting system co control signal mprising:
 mist generators for attaching to an outside condenser unit of an air conditioning system;   a flow regulator coupled to the mist generators; and   a controller that communicates with the flow regulator, wherein the controller performs stages comprising:
 detecting an outdoor humidity level; 
 detecting that the condenser unit is on; 
 opening a valve for supplying water to the flow regulator when the condenser is on; and 
 adjusting a control signal to the flow regulator based on the outdoor humidity level, 
 wherein the flow regulator supplies water to mist generators attached to the condenser unit according to the control signal. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein detecting that the condenser is on includes receiving a signal from a thermostat. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , the stages further comprising:
 detecting an outside air temperature by receiving information from a sensor; and   wherein adjusting the control signal to the flow regulator is further based on the outside air temperature.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the controller opens the valve based on calculating that a condenser coil temperature is greater than a function of the outdoor temperature and outdoor humidity. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the control signal to the flow regulator varies a water flow rate. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control signal is adjusted based on a first temperature of coolant in a suction return line and a second temperature in a liquid supply line, the first and second temperatures being weighted relative to an outdoor temperature and the outdoor humidity. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , the stages further comprising sending a sanitation signal that causes an ultraviolet light panel in an indoor unit to sanitize an evaporator coil. 
     
     
         8 . A method for providing mist control for an outside condenser unit of an air conditioning system, comprising:
 detecting, at a controller, an outdoor humidity level based on outdoor sensor information;   detecting, at the controller, that the condenser unit is on;   opening a valve for supplying water to a flow regulator when the condenser unit is on; and   adjusting a control signal to the flow regulator based on the outdoor humidity level,   wherein the flow regulator supplies water to mist generators attached to the condenser unit according to the control signal.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein detecting that the condenser unit is on includes receiving a signal from a thermostat. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 detecting an outside air temperature by receiving information from a sensor; and   wherein adjusting the control signal to the flow regulator is further based on the outside air temperature.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the controller opens the valve based on calculating that a condenser coil temperature is greater than a function of the outdoor temperature and outdoor humidity. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the control signal causes a pump to vary a pump motor speed. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the control signal is adjusted based on a first temperature of coolant in a suction return line and a second temperature in a liquid supply line, the first and second temperatures being weighted relative to an outdoor temperature and the outdoor humidity. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising sending a sanitation signal that causes an ultraviolet light panel in an indoor unit to sanitize an evaporator coil. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory, computer-readable medium containing instructions for providing mist control for an outdoor condenser unit, the instructions executed by a controller to perform stages comprising:
 detecting, at a controller, an outdoor humidity level based on outdoor sensor information;   detecting, at the controller, that the condenser unit is on;   opening a valve for supplying water to a pump when the condenser unit is on; and   adjusting a control signal to the pump based on the outdoor humidity level,   wherein the pump supplies water to mist generators attached to the condenser unit according to the control signal.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein detecting that the condenser unit is on includes receiving a signal from a thermostat. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , the stages further comprising:
 detecting an outside air temperature by receiving information from a sensor; and   wherein adjusting the control signal to the pump is further based on the outside air temperature, and wherein the control signal is sent to a flow regulator that is attached to the mist generators.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the controller opens the valve based on calculating that a condenser coil temperature is greater than a function of the outdoor temperature and outdoor humidity. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein the control signal to the pump varies a pump motor speed. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the control signal is adjusted based on a first temperature of coolant in a suction return line and a second temperature in a liquid supply line, the first and second temperatures being weighted relative to an outdoor temperature and the outdoor humidity.