York International Corporation

Borgwarner Inc.

Other

Work Smart Energy Enterprises, Inc.

Frank E Wills

Harold R Schnetzka, Ii

Harold Robert Schnetzka

Dean K Norbeck

Roy D Hoffer

Douglas Alan Kester

John Francis Judge

Israel Federman

Mahesh Valiya-Naduvath

Donald L Tollinger

Jacob E Shaffer, Jr

A system and method are provided for variable speed operation of a screw compressor to obtain increased capacity and efficiency. The screw compressor is connected to an induction motor driven by a variable speed drive, wherein the screw compressor has a variable output capacity that is dependent on the output speed of the motor. To obtain increased capacity and efficiency, the screw compressor is operated at a speed greater than the screw compressor's rated speed and does not include a slide valve. The maximum operating speed of the screw compressor, which speed is greater than the rated speed, is related to the maximum operating speed of the motor when operated at a voltage and frequency provided by the variable speed drive that is greater than the motor's rated voltage and frequency in a constant flux or constant volts/Hz mode.

System and method for variable speed operation of a screw compressor

A system and method are provided to increase the horsepower of an induction motor. One technique for increasing the horsepower of a motor is to connect the motor to a variable speed drive that is providing an output voltage and frequency greater than the standard line voltage and frequency. The connection of the variable speed drive to the induction motor enables the motor to be operated in constant flux or constant volts/Hz mode and provide a greater output horsepower. Another technique for increasing the horsepower of a motor is to use a dual voltage motor configured for lower voltage operation and then provide the motor with the corresponding voltage and frequency for higher voltage operation. The higher voltage and higher frequency can be provided by a variable speed drive with or without voltage boost. A variable speed drive without voltage boost, but with frequency boost, can be used in situations where the standard main voltage is greater than the lower voltage rating.

System and method for increasing output horsepower and efficiency in a motor

A single-phase variable-frequency power supply with two output voltages drives a single-phase AC motor that has a start circuit and main winding. For permanent split-capacitor motors, the power supply maintains a constant voltage to the start winding while it reduces the voltage to the main winding at lower frequencies. The power supply can similarly control the speed of capacitor-start and split-phase motors. For fans and pumps and other variable-torque applications, the power supply maintains approximately a constant ratio of main-winding voltage to the square of frequency. The power supply is preferably an electronic pulse-width modulated inverter.

Variable-speed drive for single-phase motors

A driver circuit for a semiconductor power switch. The driver circuit supplies a high voltage pulse to the gate of an IGBT. The driver circuit also monitors the voltage on the collector of the IGBT with respect to the emitter. If the voltage at the collector of the IGBT does not drop when the IQBT is turned on, the IGBT driver circuit detects a short circuit and triggers a linear integrator within the driver circuit. The linear integrator gently ramps down the voltage on the gate of the IGBT.

Switch driver circuit

A motor starter circuit for minimizing the amount of current drawn by the motor from a power source during starting of the motor through current transformation achieved by selectively controlling actuation of a plurality of high speed switches. The circuit is for use with a alternating current power source that provides positive and negative voltage alternations, and an alternating current motor. The motor starter circuit comprises a first bidirectional switch through which line current from the power source is provided to the motor, and a pair of switch-diode combinations electrically configured to carry the current in the motor when the bidirectional switch, which is controlled to cycle between an open and a closed position, is in an open position. Actuation of the pair of switch-diode combinations is controlled based on the polarity of the motor current alternation. The resulting current transformation minimizes the current drawn by the motor during starting, and enables equalized input volt-amp product and output volt-amp product. The starting current drawn is reduced from the available line current in proportion to the duty cycle of the bidirectional switch.

Solid state, reduced voltage motor starter enabling equalized

A refrigeration system includes a temperature sensor in a freezing compartment, a temperature sensor in a cooling compartment, an adjustable damper controlling the flow of cooled air from the freezing compartment to the cooling compartment and variable speed drives for fan motors and a compressor motor. The desired set point temperatures for the compartment are compared with the actual sensed temperatures through a controller that controls the speed of the compressor and fan motors, to achieve the desired temperature in a fast and efficient manner. When excessive ice is detected on freezing compartment coils, the controller reverses the heat transfer cycle of the refrigerant to defrost the freezing compartment coils.

Refrigeration system and method

By employing a single phase pulse width modulated inverter system, a-c power line voltage may be effectively converted to single phase, variable amplitude and frequency sinusoidal voltage for driving a single phase a-c induction motor at an adjustable speed. The motor may be driven directly in response to the power line voltage (such as during start-up or when it is desired to run the motor at the power line frequency) by bypassing the inverter system and connecting the motor across the power line. Reduced energy consumption may be obtained by operating the motor in response to a reduced inverter output frequency. Switching the motor from the power line to the inverter, and vice versa, is accomplished without interruption. Immediately prior to each, switchover the inverter output voltage is synchronized to the power line voltage to minimize any electrical disturbance during the switching transition.

Driving system for single phase A-C induction motor

A motor drive system for driving a conventional single phase PSC motor from a two-phase power source which allows for convenient motor direction reversal. In one embodiment, the PSC motor is supplied from a three-phase inverter that is controlled to generate two-phase power. In another embodiment, the PSC motor is connectable through a double-pole double-throw switch to either a single phase source including a run capacitor or a two-phase inverter source.

AC motor drive system with a two phase power supply

A motor drive system for driving a single-phase PSC motor, in which the two motor windings are conductively isolated from each other, from a two phase power source. In one embodiment, the PSC motor is supplied from a two phase inverter circuit. The PSC motor is also connectable through a four-pole double-throw switch to either a single phase source including a run capacitor or the two phase inverter circuit.

AC motor drive system

A motor drive system for driving a conventional single phase PSC motor from a two-phase power source. In one embodiment, the PSC motor is supplied from a three-phase inverter that is controlled to generate two-phase power. In another embodiment, the PSC motor is connectable through a double-pole double-throw switch to either a single phase source including a run capacitor or a two-phase inverter source.

A snubber circuit for use with a power seimconductor switching device of a power converting circuit. The snubber circuit includes a snubber capacitor, coupled across the switching device for charging with current bypassing the switching device when the switching device is turned off. The snubber circuit also includes a transformer having a primary winding coupled in series with the snubber capacitor to conduct the flow of current discharged by the snubber capacitor when the switching device is turned on. The snubber circuit further includes an inductor, coupled in series with a secondary winding of the transformer, for regulating the flow of discharged current from the capacitor. The snubber circuit is coupled to return the energy discharged from the snubber capacitor to a power source to which the power converting circuit is coupled.

Energy efficient voltage snubber circuit

A control circuit for generating gating signals to drive the SCRs of an AC switch coupled between a three phase AC source and a three phase load. A reference voltage signal is derived from the source and, after filtering, is applied to a squaring amplifier. The amplifier output is applied to a phase-locked loop (PLL). The output signal of the voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) of the PLL is fed back to the phase comparator thereof via two dividing counters. The output of one counter is applied to a logic block for generating a ramp reset signal in phase with a selected source phase-to-neutral voltage. The ramp reset signal is applied to a ramp forming circuit the output of which is applied to a first input of a comparator. The comparator receives a DC control voltage on its second input and provides on its output a gating signal corresponding to the source selected phase. Alternate pulses of that gating signal are separated to form two selected phase gating signals that are respectively applied as data inputs to two shift registers. The shift registers receive the VCO output as a clock signal and the remaining gating signals are provided, with appropriate phase delay, on the shift register outputs.

Control for three terminal power semiconductor devices

A substantially perfect single phase sinusoidal shaped voltage waveform may be generated for driving a single phase a-c induction motor by employing a sinusoidally weighted pulse width modulated signal to switch a pair of solid state power switches on and off in alternation in order to connect the motor alternately across positive and negative power supplies. A low pass filter is effectively connected in series with the single phase motor to filter out all of the signal components except the fundamental of the sine wave modulating frequency. In this way, only a sinusoidal voltage is applied to the motor. By making the switching frequency very high relative to the sine wave modulation component, the filter size and cost are minimized and it is unnecessary to correlate or synchronize the sine wave modulation and switching frequencies.

Pulse width modulated inverter system for driving single phase a-c

A sinusoidally weighted pulse width modulated switching signal may be developed, for operating an inverter to apply sinusoidal voltage to a single phase a-c induction motor, by comparing a triangular voltage waveform of fixed frequency with a variable frequency sine wave voltage, the switching signal varying between its high and low states whenever the triangular waveform and modulating sine wave intercept one another. A constant ratio of the amplitude of the sinusoidal motor voltage relative to the voltage's frequency, and thus motor speed, may be obtained simply by translating the sinusoidal modulating waveform through a high pass filter before it is compared with the triangular wave. By setting the filter cut-off frequency above the operating frequency range (preferably from about 12 to 60 hertz) of the sine wave generator, the sine wave voltage will be attenuated by the filter in an amount inversely proportional to the sine wave frequency. In this way, the amplitude of the sine wave will vary in step with, and directly proportional to, frequency changes to achieve a constant motor voltage/frequency ratio.

Growing community of inventors

York, PA, United States of America

Frank E Wills