Device, system, and method for determining charge settings for a refrigeration circuit

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a system for determining charge settings for a refrigeration circuit of an HVAC unit. The system comprises a controller comprising one or more processors coupled to a memory storing instructions executable by the processors, wherein the controller is configured to receive a set of data pertaining to an operating environment of the HVAC unit and an internal volume of the refrigeration circuit, estimate a saturated suction temperature of a refrigerant in the refrigeration circuit based on the operating environment, and determine a weight of the refrigerant to be added to the refrigeration circuit or a subcooling target temperature for a liquid line associated with the refrigeration circuit based on the estimated saturated suction temperature and the internal volume.

1 . A system for determining charge settings for a refrigeration circuit of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit, the system comprising:
 the HVAC unit; and   a controller comprising one or more processors coupled to a memory storing instructions executable by the one or more processors, wherein the controller is configured to:
 receive a set of data pertaining to an operating environment of the HVAC unit and an internal volume of the refrigeration circuit; 
 estimate a saturated suction temperature of a refrigerant in the refrigeration circuit based on the operating environment; and 
 determine a weight of the refrigerant to be added to the refrigeration circuit or a subcooling target temperature for a liquid line of the refrigeration circuit based on the estimated saturated suction temperature and the internal volume. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the operating environment is selected from one of: a humid condition, a semi-arid condition, and a desert condition. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the humid condition pertains to a first range of humidity, a semi-arid condition pertains to a second range of humidity, and a desert condition pertains to a third range of humidity, and wherein the first range is greater than the second range and the second range is greater than the third range. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 receive another set of data pertaining to one or more of: an internal volume of an evaporator of the HVAC unit, configuration of the evaporator, and characteristics of the refrigerant; and   determine the weight of the refrigerant to be allocated for the evaporator based on the received another set of data and the operating environment of the HVAC unit.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is in communication with an input unit, the input unit configured to enable a registered user to select or enter environment type and/or the internal volume into the controller. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the controller is in communication with an output unit, the output unit configured to display the determined weight of the refrigerant to be added to the refrigeration circuit or the determined subcooling target temperature for the liquid line, and/or the weight of the refrigerant to be allocated for an evaporator associated with the HVAC unit. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the input unit and the output unit are associated with a thermostat of the HVAC unit, and the controller is associated with a central server. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the input unit, the controller, and the output unit are associated with a thermostat of the HVAC unit. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a humidity sensor in communication with the controller and configured to monitor specific humidity or relative humidity around an outdoor coil of the HVAC unit, and wherein the controller is further configured to determine the operating environment of the HVAC unit based on the monitored humidity. 
     
     
         10 . A device for determining charge settings for a refrigeration circuit of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit, the device comprising:
 an input unit configured to enable selection or entering of an operating environment of the HVAC unit and an internal volume of the refrigeration circuit; and   a controller operatively connected to the input unit, the controller comprising one or more processors coupled to a memory storing instructions executable by the one or more processors, wherein the controller is configured to:
 receive a set of data pertaining to the selected or entered operating environment and the internal volume; 
 estimate a saturated suction temperature of a refrigerant in the refrigeration circuit based on the operating environment; and 
 determine a weight of the refrigerant to be added to the refrigeration circuit or a subcooling target temperature for a liquid line of the refrigeration circuit based on the estimated saturated suction temperature and the internal volume. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the operating environment is selected from one of: a humid condition, a semi-arid condition, and a desert condition. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the humid condition pertains to a first range of humidity, a semi-arid condition pertains to a second range of humidity, and a desert condition pertains to a third range of humidity, and wherein the first range is greater than the second range and the second range is greater than the third range. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 receive another set of data pertaining to one or more of an internal volume of an evaporator of the HVAC unit, configuration of the evaporator, and characteristics of the refrigerant; and   determine the weight of the refrigerant to be allocated for the evaporator based on the received another set of data and the operating environment of the HVAC unit.   
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the device further comprises an output unit operatively connected to the controller, the output unit configured to display the determined weight of the refrigerant to be added to the refrigeration circuit or the determined subcooling target temperature for the liquid line, and/or the weight of the refrigerant to be allocated for an evaporator associated with the HVAC unit. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the device is in communication with a humidity sensor to monitor specific humidity or relative humidity around an outdoor coil of the HVAC unit, and wherein the controller is further configured to determine the operating environment of the HVAC unit based on the monitored humidity. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the device is a thermostat associated with the HVAC unit. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the device is a mobile device associated with a registered user, and wherein the input unit is configured to enable the registered user to select or enter the operating environment and the internal volume. 
     
     
         18 . A method for determining charge settings for a refrigeration circuit of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit, the method comprising:
 receiving, by an input unit or a controller, a set of data pertaining to an operating environment of the HVAC unit and an internal volume of the refrigeration circuit;   estimating, by the controller, a saturated suction temperature of a refrigerant in the refrigeration circuit based on the operating environment; and   determining, by the controller, a weight of the refrigerant to be added to the refrigeration circuit or a subcooling target temperature for a liquid line associated with the refrigeration circuit based on the estimated saturated suction temperature and the internal volume.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the operating environment is selected from one of a humid condition, a semi-arid condition, and a desert condition, wherein the humid condition pertains to a first range of humidity, a semi-arid condition pertains to a second range of humidity, and a desert condition pertains to a third range of humidity, and wherein the first range is greater than the second range and the second range is greater than the third range. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the method comprises the step of displaying, by an output unit, the determined weight of the refrigerant to be added to the refrigeration circuit or the determined subcooling target temperature for the liquid line.