Energy Saving Device And Method For Cooling And Heating Apparatus

Abstract

An energy saving device, a heating/cooling system and a method for controlling a heating/cooling system control the on/off state of an apparatus which is used for heating or cooling a working medium. A timer ( 24 ) has an adjustable timer value and provides a signal for controlling the on/off state of the apparatus. A temperature sensor ( 21 ) measures temperature of the working medium. A controller ( 20 ) adjusts the adjustable timer value in response to changes in temperature of the working medium.

1 . An energy saver device intended for use with a heating or cooling system having an apparatus for changing the temperature of a working medium, the device comprising contacts for providing an on/off signal to the apparatus, a timer having an adjustable timer value and providing a signal for opening or closing the contacts, a temperature sensor for measuring temperature the working medium, and a controller arranged to adjust the adjustable timer value in response to changes in temperature of the working medium. 
     
     
         2 . An energy saver device intended for use with an air-conditioner or refrigeration system having a compressor for compressing a supply of a refrigerant and an evaporator in which the compressed refrigerant expands for cooling a stream of cold supply air, the device comprising contacts for providing an on/off signal to the compressor, a timer having an adjustable timer value and providing a signal for opening or closing the contacts, a temperature sensor for measuring the cold supply air, and a controller arranged to adjust the adjustable timer value in response to a measured cold supply air temperature. 
     
     
         3 . The energy saver device of  claim 2  wherein the timer is arranged to open the contacts and the controller is arranged to activate the time and to closes the contacts. 
     
     
         4 . The energy saver device of  claim 2  wherein the controller comprises a microprocessor or electronic circuit adapted to detect signals from the temperature sensor representing a minimum cold supply air temperature and a high cold supply air temperature. 
     
     
         5 . An heating or cooling system, comprising a apparatus for changing the temperature of a working medium, a temperature sensor located to measure temperature of the working medium and a controller for turning the apparatus on and off in response to a sensed temperature of the working medium. 
     
     
         6 . An air-conditioner or refrigeration system, comprising a compressor apparatus for compressing a supply of a refrigerant, an evaporator in which the compressed refrigerant expands for cooling a stream of cold supply air, a temperature sensor located to measure temperature of the cold supply air and a controller for turning the compressor on and off in response to a sensed temperature of the cold supply air. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the controller comprises a timer having an adjustable timer value, the timer provided to turn the apparatus off at the end of the adjustable timer value. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6  wherein the controller comprises a microprocessor or electronic circuit adapted to detect signals from the temperature sensor representing a maximum temperature and a minimum temperature and to calculate a timer value. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6  further comprising a second temperature sensor located to measure ambient temperature of a space to be heated or cooled such that the apparatus can also be turned on and off in response to a sensed temperature of the space. 
     
     
         10 . A method of controlling a heating or cooling system having an apparatus for changing the temperature of a working medium, the method comprising:
 providing a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the working medium,   determining when the temperature reaches a steady state value and stopping the apparatus after a delay time T,   determining when the temperature reaches a threshold value and staring the apparatus,   determining a loading on the hearing or cooling system, and calculating a new delay time T based on the loading.   
     
     
         11 . A method of controlling the compressor of an air-conditioner or refrigeration system having a compressor for compressing a supply of a refrigerant and an evaporator in which the compressed refrigerant expands for cooling a stream of cold supply air, comprising:
 providing a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the stream of cold supply air,   determining when the temperature of the stream of cold supply air reaches a desired minimum value and stopping the compressor after a delay time T,   determining when the temperature of the stream of cold supply air reaches a desired maximum threshold value and staring the compressor.   determining a loading on the air-conditioner or refrigeration system, and   calculating a new delay time T based on the loading.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the desired minimum value of the stream of cold supply air temperature is a minimum steady state temperature. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the desired maximum value of the stream of cold supply air temperature is lower than a desired ambient room temperature. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein determining a loading on the system comprises measuring an overshoot of the temperature past the threshold value. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein calculating a new delay time T based on the overshoot comprises increasing the delay time T if the overshoot exceeds a desired overshoot value and reducing the delay time T if the overshoot is less than a desired overshoot value. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein determining a loading on the system comprises measuring a rate of change in the temperature.