Variable differential and offset control for refrigeration systems

摘要

A beverage dispensing apparatus is characterized by a beverage dispenser and a refrigeration system for chilling beverage to be dispensed by the beverage dispenser. The refrigeration system has a compressor coupled to an evaporator for chilling the beverage, and a controller determines the amount of chilling that must be provided by the refrigeration system to chill the beverage and adjusts cut-in and cut-out beverage temperature set-points for the compressor accordingly. Advantageously, the cut-in and cut-out set-points are adjusted to beverage temperature values such that the chilling capacity of the refrigeration system is made to closely match to the amount of chilling required by the beverage, and also such that on/off cycles of the refrigeration system are decreased.

主权项

1. A method of operating a beverage dispensing system comprising a beverage dispensing valve and a refrigeration system having a compressor and an evaporator that is heat transfer coupled to a beverage to be dispensed via the beverage dispensing valve, wherein the beverage dispensing system has a cut-in beverage temperature set point that represents a maximum temperature that the beverage to be dispensed via the beverage dispensing valve is permitted to reach before the compressor is turned on and a cut-out beverage temperature set point that represents a minimum temperature that the beverage to be dispensed via the beverage dispensing valve is permitted to reach before the compressor is turned off, the method comprising:
sensing a temperature of the beverage to be dispensed via the beverage dispensing valve; sensing an amount or rate of beverage being dispensed via the beverage dispensing valve; calculating a cooling load demand on the beverage dispensing system based upon the temperature of the beverage to be dispensed via the beverage dispensing valve and the amount or rate of beverage being dispensed via the beverage dispensing valve; and adaptively changing the cut-in beverage temperature set point and the cut-out beverage temperature set-point based upon the cooling load demand on the beverage dispensing system.