System for monitoring the performance of a gas absorption cooling unit and related method

Abstract

The present teachings provide control systems and methods for monitoring the performance of an absorption refrigerator. The system includes a temperature sensor that senses the temperature of a generator of a cooling arrangement. The circuit may communicate with the sensor and turn off a heat source of the cooling unit if a sensed temperature condition of the generator exceeds a predetermined temperature condition.

1 . A control system for a refrigerator having an absorption cooling arrangement with a generator, the control system having:
 a temperature sensor adapted to sense a temperature proximate the generator;   a control device selectively operative to turn off a heat source of the control system; and   a circuit in communication with the sensor and the control device, the circuit adapted to determine a sensed temperature condition and control the control device to turn off the heat source if the sensed temperature condition exceeds a predetermined temperature condition.   
   
   
       2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the control device is operative in a first mode for allowing operation of the heat source and a second mode for preventing operation of the heat source. 
   
   
       3 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the circuit controls the control device to operate in the first mode when the sensed temperature condition is above the predetermined temperature condition and in the second mode when the sensed temperature condition is below the predetermined temperature condition. 
   
   
       4 . The system according to  claim 3 , further comprising a memory device to store an indication of whether the circuit has operated the control device in the second mode. 
   
   
       5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the control device is a valve in line with a gas source. 
   
   
       6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the control device is a switch in series with a power source for the refrigerator. 
   
   
       7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensed temperature condition is a sensed temperature and the predetermined temperature condition is a predetermined temperature. 
   
   
       8 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensed temperature condition is a function of time of a sensed temperature within one or more temperature bands above a predetermined temperature. 
   
   
       9 . The system according to  claim 1 , in combination with the refrigerator. 
   
   
       10 . An absorption refrigerator comprising:
 an interior volume;   an absorption system to cool the interior volume, the absorption cooling system including a generator;   a heat source to provide the energy to drive the absorption cooling system by heating the generator;   a temperature sensor adapted to sense a temperature of the generator; and   a circuit in communication with the sensor and the control device, the circuit adapted to determine a sensed temperature condition and control the control device to turn off the heat source if the sensed temperature condition exceeds a predetermined temperature condition.   
   
   
       11 . The absorption refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the circuit includes a control device for turning off the heat source. 
   
   
       12 . The absorption refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein the absorption refrigerator further comprises a power source and wherein the control device comprises a switch in series with the power source. 
   
   
       13 . The absorption refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the absorption refrigerator includes a burner flame powered by a source of fuel and the control device comprises a valve positioned between the source of fuel and the burner flame. 
   
   
       14 . The absorption refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the sensed temperature condition is a sensed temperature and the predetermined temperature condition is a predetermined temperature. 
   
   
       15 . The absorption refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the sensed temperature condition is a function of time of a sensed temperature within one or more temperature bands above a predetermined temperature. 
   
   
       16 . The absorption refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the temperature sensor is positioned proximate the generator. 
   
   
       17 . The absorption refrigerator of  claim 10 , further comprising a canister, the generator and the temperature sensor disposed within the canister. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the generator includes a boiler tube and a plurality of electric heater tubes, each heater tube mounted to the boiler tube with a pair of welds extending substantially along the length of the respective heater tube. 
   
   
       19 . A method of controlling a cooling system of an absorption refrigerator, the method comprising:
 sensing a temperature of a generator of the cooling system;   determining a sensed temperature condition;   comparing the sensed temperature condition to a predetermined temperature condition; and   turning off a heat source of the cooling system when the sensed temperature condition is above the predetermined temperature condition.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the turning off a heat source of the cooling system when the sensed temperature condition is above the predetermined temperature condition includes one of:
 the step of opening a switch positioned between a power source of the refrigerator and the heat source; and   closing a valve positioned between a gas source and a burner flame of the cooling system.