Systems and methods for limiting air conditioner discharge rate

Abstract

An air conditioning appliance includes a housing with a heat exchanger. A compressor is in fluid communication with the heat exchanger. The compressor is operable to circulate refrigerant through the heat exchanger. A fan is disposed within the housing. The fan is operable to flow air over the heat exchanger. A temperature sensor is disposed at an indoor portion of the housing. The controller is configured to receive a signal from the temperature sensor corresponding to a temperature measurement, and to compare the temperature measurement to a set temperature. The controller is configured to operate the fan at a first operating speed until a temperature condition is met. The controller is also configured to operate the fan at a second operating speed when the temperature condition is met.

1 . An air conditioning appliance, comprising:
 a housing;   a heat exchanger disposed within the housing;   a compressor in fluid communication with the heat exchanger, the compressor operable to circulate refrigerant through the heat exchanger;   a fan disposed within the housing, the fan operable to flow air over the heat exchanger;   a plurality of temperature sensors, each one of the plurality of temperature sensors operable to measure a respective one of an external air temperature, an ambient indoor air temperature, and an indoor outlet air temperature; and   a controller in operative communication with the temperature sensor, the controller configured to receive a signal from the temperature sensor corresponding to a temperature measurement and to compare the temperature measurement to a set temperature, wherein when the air conditioner appliance begins one of a heat pump cycle or a refrigeration cycle, the controller configured to operate the fan at a first operating speed until a temperature condition is met, the controller configured to operate the fan at a second operating speed when the temperature condition is met, the second operating speed being greater than the first operating speed.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The air conditioning appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature condition comprises the temperature measurement above or below the ambient indoor air temperature by an offset amount. 
     
     
         4 . The air conditioning appliance of  claim 3 , wherein the temperature condition further comprises the temperature measurement above or below the ambient indoor air temperature by the offset amount for a set period of time. 
     
     
         5 . The air conditioning appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature condition comprises the temperature measurement of the heat exchanger temperature above or below the temperature measurement of the ambient indoor air temperature by an offset amount. 
     
     
         6 . The air conditioning appliance of  claim 5 , wherein the temperature condition further comprises the temperature measurement of the heat exchanger temperature above or below the temperature measurement of the ambient indoor air temperature by the offset amount for a set period of time. 
     
     
         7 . The air conditioning appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature condition comprises an integration of the temperature measurement above or below the ambient indoor air temperature over time is above or below a threshold value. 
     
     
         8 . The air conditioning appliance of  claim 7 , wherein the temperature condition further comprises the integration of the temperature measurement above or below the temperature of the ambient indoor air temperature over time is above or below the threshold value for a set period of time. 
     
     
         9 . The air conditioning appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature condition comprises an integration of the heat exchanger temperature above or below the ambient indoor air temperature over time is above or below a threshold value. 
     
     
         10 . The air conditioning appliance of  claim 9 , wherein the temperature condition further comprises the integration of the heat exchanger temperature above or below the ambient indoor air temperature over time being above or below the threshold value for a set period of time. 
     
     
         11 . A method of operating an air conditioning appliance, comprising:
 adjusting, at a controller, an operating speed of a fan to a first operating speed.   receiving, at the controller, a temperature measurement;   determining, at the controller, satisfaction of a temperature condition based at least in part on a difference between the temperature measurement and a set temperature, the temperature condition comprising an indoor ambient air temperature;   adjusting, at the controller, the operating speed of the fan to a second operating speed in response to the satisfaction of the temperature condition,   wherein adjusting the operating speed of the fan to the first operating speed occurs when the air conditioner appliance begins one of a heat pump cycle or a refrigeration cycle.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first operating speed of the fan is less than the second operating speed, and the fan remains at the first operating speed until the temperature condition is satisfied. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the temperature condition comprises the temperature measurement above or below the ambient indoor air temperature by an offset amount. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the temperature condition further comprises the temperature measurement above or below the ambient indoor air temperature by the offset amount for a set period of time. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the temperature condition comprises the temperature measurement of a heat exchanger temperature above or below the temperature measurement of the ambient indoor air temperature by an offset amount. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the temperature condition further comprises the temperature measurement of the heat exchanger temperature above or below the temperature measurement of the ambient indoor air temperature by the offset amount for a set period of time. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the temperature condition comprises an integration of the temperature measurement above or below the ambient indoor air temperature over time is above or below a threshold value. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the temperature condition further comprises the integration of the temperature measurement above or below the temperature of the ambient indoor air temperature over time is above or below the threshold value for a set period of time. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the temperature condition comprises an integration of the heat exchanger temperature above or below the ambient indoor air temperature over time is above or below a threshold value. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the temperature condition further comprises the integration of the heat exchanger temperature above or below the ambient indoor air temperature over time being above or below the threshold value for a set period of time.