Systems and methods for defrost control in heat pumps

Abstract

Systems and methods for defrost control in a heat pump are disclosed. In some embodiments, a system comprises at least one processor; and memory storing instructions executable by the at least one processor, the instructions when executed cause the system to: determine a heat load forecast; determine a frost growth forecast based on the determined heat load forecast; determine one or more control parameters of the heat pump based on the determined frost growth forecast.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for defrost control in a heat pump, the system comprising:
 at least one processor; and   memory storing instructions executable by the at least one processor, the instructions when executed cause the system to:
 determine a heat load forecast; 
 determine a frost growth forecast based on the determined heat load forecast; and 
 determine one or more control parameters of the heat pump based on the determined frost growth forecast. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control parameters of the heat pump include defrost control parameters. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the defrost control parameters comprise adjusting one or more of a schedule, duration, frequency, and heat source of a defrost cycle of the heat pump. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the system to:
 detect a frost growth condition in the determined frost growth forecast, and wherein the control parameters are determined based on the detected condition.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the instructions further cause the system to:
 determine a duration of the detected frost condition, wherein the control parameters are based on the determined duration of the frost condition.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the control parameters comprise pre-heating instructions based on the detected frost condition. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the system to:
 obtain a weather forecast, and wherein the heat load forecast is determined based on the weather forecast.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the system to:
 obtain an occupation forecast, and wherein the heat load forecast is determined based on the occupation forecast.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the instructions further cause the system to:
 generate a recommendation for the determined control parameters for the heat pump; and   responsive to a user accepting the recommendation, applying the determined control parameters.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat pump is configured to operate in a building, the building having one or more subsystems, and wherein the instructions further cause the system to:
 determine one or more control parameters of the building subsystems based on determined frost growth forecast.   
     
     
         11 . A method for defrost control in a heat pump, the method being implemented in system comprising at least one processor, and memory storing instructions, the method comprising:
 determining a heat load forecast;   determining a frost growth forecast based on the determined heat load forecast; and   determining one or more control parameters of the heat pump based on the determined frost growth forecast.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the control parameters of the heat pump include defrost control parameters. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the defrost control parameters comprise adjusting one or more of a schedule, duration, and frequency of a defrost cycle of the heat pump. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 detecting a frost growth condition in the determined frost growth forecast, and wherein the control parameters are determined based on the detected condition.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 determining a duration of the detected frost condition, wherein the control parameters are based on the determined duration of the frost condition.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the control parameters comprise pre-heating instructions based on the detected frost condition. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 obtaining a weather forecast, and wherein the heat load forecast is determined based on the weather forecast.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising
 obtaining an occupation forecast, and wherein the heat load forecast is determined based on the occupation forecast.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising
 generating a recommendation for the determined control parameters for the heat pump; and   responsive to a user accepting the recommendation, applying the determined control parameters.   
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions, wherein the program instructions are computer-executable to implement:
 determining a heat load forecast;   determining a frost growth forecast based on the determined heat load forecast; and   determining one or more control parameters of the heat pump based on the determined frost growth forecast.