High efficiency dc compressor and hvac/r system using the compressor

Abstract

A DC powered compressor and an HVAC/R system having the compressor are disclosed. The compressor comprises an AC powered compressor and a DC/AC inverter configured to receive power from a DC power source and to provide the power to the AC compressor.

1 . A DC compressor, configured to be powered with a DC power source, the DC compressor comprising:
 a DC/AC inverter configured to receive power from a DC power source and to provide AC power; and   an AC compressor configured to be powered from the AC power from the DC/AC inverter.   
     
     
         2 . The DC compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the AC compressor is configured to be powered with a three-phase AC signal from the inverter. 
     
     
         3 . The DC compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the AC compressor is configured to be powered with a single-phase AC signal from the inverter. 
     
     
         4 . The DC compressor of  claim 1 , wherein the inverter comprises a variable frequency drive (VFD). 
     
     
         5 . The DC compressor of  claim 4 , further comprising a control module configured to vary the speed of the AC compressor with the VFD. 
     
     
         6 . The DC compressor of  claim 4 , further comprising a step up module configured to provide a DC power voltage to the VFD based on a DC input voltage, wherein the DC power voltage is less than the DC input voltage. 
     
     
         7 . The DC compressor of  claim 6 , wherein the DC input voltage is about 24V DC. 
     
     
         8 . The DC compressor of  claim 6 , wherein the DC input voltage is about 12V DC. 
     
     
         9 . The DC compressor of  claim 6 , wherein the DC power voltage is about 330V DC. 
     
     
         10 . The DC compressor of  claim 6 , wherein the step up module comprises a plurality of inverters each connected to a rectifier. 
     
     
         11 . The DC compressor of  claim 10 , wherein the rectifiers are connected in series so as to sum the voltages produced by the rectifiers. 
     
     
         12 . The DC compressor of  claim 10 , wherein each of the inverters comprises a pair of input terminals, and the DC input voltage is applied across the pair of terminals of each of the inverters. 
     
     
         13 . The DC compressor of  claim 10 , wherein each of the inverters comprises a pair of input terminals, and the inverters are connected in a series such that a positive terminal of a first inverter is connected to a negative terminal of a next inverter, and the DC input voltage is applied across a negative terminal of the first inverter and a positive terminal of a last inverter of the series. 
     
     
         14 . An HVAC/R system comprising:
 a compressor configured to be powered with an AC power source; and   a power supply configured to receive power from a DC power source and to provide the power to the compressor.   
     
     
         15 . The HVAC/R system of  claim 14 , wherein the power supply comprises a DC/AC inverter. 
     
     
         16 . The HVAC/R system of  claim 14 , wherein the compressor is configured to be powered with a three-phase AC signal from the power supply. 
     
     
         17 . The HVAC/R system of  claim 14 , wherein the compressor is configured to be powered with a single-phase AC signal from the power supply. 
     
     
         18 . The HVAC/R system of  claim 14 , wherein the power supply comprises a variable frequency drive (VFD). 
     
     
         19 . The HVAC/R system of  claim 18 , further comprising a control module configured to vary the speed of the compressor with the VFD. 
     
     
         20 . The HVAC/R system of  claim 19 , further comprising a condenser, an evaporator, and a refrigerant loop including piping for directing refrigerant from the compressor to the condenser and from the condenser to the evaporator, and a pulsed operation control valve in said piping for controlling refrigerant flow to said evaporator. 
     
     
         21 . The HVAC/R system of  claim 18 , further comprising a step up module configured to provide a DC power voltage to the VFD based on a DC input voltage, wherein the DC power voltage is less than the DC input voltage. 
     
     
         22 . The HVAC/R system of  claim 21 , wherein the DC input voltage is about 24V DC. 
     
     
         23 . The HVAC/R system of  claim 21 , wherein the DC input voltage is about 12V DC. 
     
     
         24 . The HVAC/R system of  claim 21 , wherein the DC power voltage is about 330V DC. 
     
     
         25 . The HVAC/R system of  claim 21 , wherein the step up module comprises a plurality of inverters each connected to a rectifier. 
     
     
         26 . The HVAC/R system of  claim 25 , wherein the rectifiers are connected in series so as to sum the voltages produced by the rectifiers. 
     
     
         27 . The HVAC/R system of  claim 25 , wherein each of the inverters comprises a pair of input terminals, and the DC input voltage is applied across the pair of terminals of each of the inverters. 
     
     
         28 . The HVAC/R system of  claim 25 , wherein each of the inverters comprises a pair of input terminals, and the inverters are connected in a series such that a positive terminal of a first inverter is connected to a negative terminal of a next inverter, and the DC input voltage is applied across a negative terminal of the first inverter and a positive terminal of a last inverter of the series. 
     
     
         29 . The HVAC/R system of  claim 14 , further comprising a condenser, an evaporator, and a refrigerant loop including piping for directing refrigerant from the compressor to the condenser and from the condenser to the evaporator, and a pulsed operation control valve in said piping for controlling refrigerant flow to said evaporator.