Systems and methods for indoor air temperature control for heat pump systems

Abstract

Methods and related systems for controlling an indoor air temperature for a heat pump system are disclosed. In an embodiment, the method includes (a) determining an outdoor coil temperature of an outdoor heat exchanger and a speed of a compressor of a heat pump system. In addition, the method includes (b) determining a target indoor coil temperature of the indoor coil based on the outdoor coil temperature and the speed of the compressor. Further, the method includes (c) adjusting a speed of air flowing across the indoor coil based on a difference between a current indoor coil temperature and the target indoor coil temperature to reduce the difference between the current indoor coil temperature and the target indoor coil temperature.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method of controlling indoor air temperature of a heat pump system, the method comprising:
 determining, during a heating mode, an outdoor coil temperature of an outdoor heat exchanger and a speed of a compressor of a heat pump system, wherein the outdoor coil temperature is a saturation temperature for a refrigerant vaporized at the outdoor coil;   determining, during the heating mode, a target indoor coil temperature of the indoor coil based on the outdoor coil temperature and the speed of the compressor, wherein the target indoor coil temperature corresponds to a desired parameter for a leaving air temperature associated with the indoor coil; and   adjusting, during the heating mode, an operation of a component of the heat pump based on a difference between a current indoor coil temperature and the target indoor coil temperature to reduce the difference between the current indoor coil temperature and the target indoor coil temperature.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein determining the outdoor coil temperature includes monitoring a pressure downstream of the outdoor heat exchanger and upstream of a compressor. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein determining the outdoor coil temperature includes converting a pressure measurement to the saturation temperature. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the desired parameter for the leaving air temperature is a desired leaving air temperature. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the desired parameter of the leaving air temperature is a desired leaving air temperature rise. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein determining the target indoor coil temperature includes:
 determining a range of values for the indoor coil temperature based on the outdoor coil temperature and the speed of the compressor; and   selecting the target indoor coil temperature from the range of values.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein selecting the target indoor coil temperature includes selecting a predetermined value within the range of values. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the component of the heat pump in an indoor fan. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein adjusting the operation of the component further includes:
 decreasing a speed of air flowing across the indoor coil if the current indoor coil temperature is below the target indoor coil temperature; or   increasing the speed of air flowing across the indoor coil if the current indoor coil temperature is above the target indoor coil temperature.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising determining the current indoor coil temperature before adjusting the operation of the component, wherein determining the current indoor coil temperature comprises measuring a pressure of the refrigerant downstream of the indoor coil and upstream of the outdoor heat exchanger. 
     
     
         12 . A heat pump system, comprising:
 an indoor heat exchanger comprising an indoor coil to flow refrigerant therethrough;   an outdoor heat exchanger comprising an outdoor coil to flow refrigerant therethrough;   a sensor configured to detect a value indicative of a temperature of the outdoor coil;   an indoor fan configured to flow air over the indoor coil;   a compressor configured to compress the refrigerant that is to be flowed through the indoor coil and the outdoor coil; and   a controller to be coupled to the first sensor, the indoor fan, and the compressor, wherein the controller is configured to:
 determine, during a heating mode, an outdoor coil temperature of an outdoor heat exchanger and a speed of a compressor of a heat pump system, wherein the outdoor coil temperature is a saturation temperature for a refrigerant vaporized at the outdoor coil; 
 determine, during the heating mode, a target indoor coil temperature of the indoor coil based on the outdoor coil temperature and the speed of the compressor, wherein the target indoor coil temperature corresponds to a desired parameter for a leaving air temperature associated with the indoor coil; and 
 adjust, during the heating mode, an operation of a component of the heat pump based on a difference between a current indoor coil temperature and the target indoor coil temperature to reduce the difference between the current indoor coil temperature and the target indoor coil temperature. 
   
     
     
         13 . The heat pump of  claim 12 , wherein the sensor is a pressure sensor, and
 wherein the controller configured to determine the outdoor coil temperature is further configured to determine the outdoor coil temperature, in part, by monitoring a pressure downstream of the outdoor heat exchanger and upstream of a compressor via the pressure sensor, and converting the pressure measurement to the saturation temperature.   
     
     
         14 . The heat pump of  claim 12 , wherein the controller configured to determine the target indoor coil temperature is further configured to:
 determine a range of values for the indoor coil temperature based on the outdoor coil temperature and the speed of the compressor; and   select the target indoor coil temperature from the range of values.   
     
     
         15 . The heat pump of claim  15 , wherein the controller configured to select the target indoor coil temperature is further configured to select a predetermined value within the range of values. 
     
     
         16 . The heat pump of  claim 12 , wherein the controller configured to adjust the operation of the component is further configured to:
 decrease a speed of air flowing across the indoor coil if the current indoor coil temperature is below the target indoor coil temperature; or   increase the speed of air flowing across the indoor coil if the current indoor coil temperature is above the target indoor coil temperature.   
     
     
         17 . The heat pump of  claim 12 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 determine the current indoor coil temperature before adjusting the operation of the component, wherein determining the current indoor coil temperature comprises measuring a pressure of the refrigerant downstream of the indoor coil and upstream of the outdoor heat exchanger.   
     
     
         18 . A controller for controlling an operation of a heat pump system, the controller comprising:
 a memory configured to store computer-readable program code including a control-related software application; and   a processor configured to access the memory, and execute the computer-readable program code to cause the processor to at least:   determine, during a heating mode, an outdoor coil temperature of an outdoor heat exchanger and a speed of a compressor of a heat pump system, wherein the outdoor coil temperature is a saturation temperature for a refrigerant vaporized at the outdoor coil;
 determine, during the heating mode, a target indoor coil temperature of the indoor coil based on the outdoor coil temperature and the speed of the compressor, wherein the target indoor coil temperature corresponds to a desired parameter for a leaving air temperature associated with the indoor coil; and 
 adjust, during the heating mode, an operation of a component of the heat pump based on a difference between a current indoor coil temperature and the target indoor coil temperature to reduce the difference between the current indoor coil temperature and the target indoor coil temperature. 
   
     
     
         19 . The controller of  claim 18 , wherein the processor configured to determine the outdoor coil temperature is further configured to determine the outdoor coil temperature, in part, by monitoring a pressure downstream of the outdoor heat exchanger and upstream of a compressor, and converting the pressure measurement to the saturation temperature. 
     
     
         20 . The controller of  claim 18 , wherein the processor configured to determine the target indoor coil temperature is further configured to:
 determine a range of values for the indoor coil temperature based on the outdoor coil temperature and the speed of the compressor; and   select the target indoor coil temperature from the range of values.   
     
     
         21 . The controller of  claim 18 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine the current indoor coil temperature before adjusting the operation of the component, wherein determining the current indoor coil temperature comprises measuring a pressure of the refrigerant downstream of the indoor coil and upstream of the outdoor heat exchanger.