Technical Training

Its Not Your Fathers Air

Conditioner!
Your Instructors:
Don Fort
Courtney Gardner

Agenda
Welcome & Introductions
Basic Component Changes Why Change?
What Connections can be made by instructors when
introducing
new age technology?
Service & Troubleshooting How has this been enhanced?
Catch the Wave of the future
Closing Remarks with Q & A
Thanks for Coming !

Agenda
Welcome & Introductions
Basic Component Changes Why Change?
What Connections can be made by instructors when
introducing new age technology?
Service & Troubleshooting How has this been enhanced?
Catch the Wave of the future
Closing Remarks with Q & A
Thanks for Coming !

Reciprocating Compressors

Suction

Discharge

Back when I had

Teeth, this is
what I Cut them
On!

Why Change?
Reciprocating Compressor

Scroll and Rotary Compressors

Why Are
Manufactures
Moving Away
from
Reciprocating
Compressors?

Rotary Compressor

Scroll Compressor

Not as efficient as rotary or

scroll
Reliable speed control more
difficult

Fixed Speed Compressors Control

Scroll Compressor

OK.. Good Point about

compressor efficiency But
whats wrong with potential
relays & good old contactor
circuits?

Variable Speed Compressor Control

Rotary Compressor

Scroll Compressor
Inverter PCB

In a word INVERTER

Translates into reliable

and
efficient speed control
Less dependence on
electro-

Variable Speed Compressor Control

Control stages of the average inverter drive PCB

1 AC 60
Hz

Variable Speed Compressor Control

IGBTs gate at a maximum rate of 9,000 times per
second!

IGBT

Insulated Gate Bipolar

Transistor (IGBT)
Gating this electronic switch is
fast and the control
characteristics are very stable
and switching can take place at a
very high rate of speed.
This provides the type of DC
pulse width modulation
necessary for simulating the
three phase AC
3 AC, Variable
sine waveform.
Hz

Pulse Width Modulation

3 Phase

Variable Speed Compressor Control

Simply put the IGBTs are just single pole
switches

Variable Speed Compressor Control

Richard Mollier(1863 to1935,) was aGermenprofessor

ofApplied Physicsand Mechanics. A pioneer of experimental
research in thermodynamics.

Mollier diagrams (enthalpy-entropy charts) are routinely used in

the design work associated with power plants (fossil or nuclear),
compressors, steam turbines, refrigeration systems, and air
conditioning equipment to visualize the working cycles of
thermodynamic systems.

Old Thermostatic Expansion Valve

OK.. Great Point
about compressor
control But whats
wrong with a good old
TXV metering device?

Liquid
Refrigerant

Why Change?

Linear Expansion Valves LEV (EEV)

More precise control of refrigerant flow. Many

LEV
valves pulse between 3000 & 4000 times per
second!
No mechanical superheat adjustment required
Temperature sensors are generally not insulated

Temperature Control
Alright! But I know I
can hold on to my
Honeywell T87
Thermostat Right???

Well you Could

Just Not
Responsive
Enough!

Why Change?

Better Temp Control - NTC Thermistors

Resistance

NTC Thermistor Resistance

vs. Temperature Curve

IDU Piping Circuit Showing

Thermistor Locations

Temperature

Tight temperature control is possible

due to the deployment of 3 ranges of
NTC Thermistors:
Pipe (Low temp) 5K
Air (medium temp) 10K
Discharge Pipe (high temp) 200K

Refrigerant Pressure Monitoring

Well I get the fact that high
SEER equipment has to be
electronically controlled but I
just have to use my manifold
Gauges to determine proper
operation Dont I ???

Why Change?

Refrigerant Pressure Monitoring

Capacitive Sensing
Element

As the pressure varies, the diaphragm

flexes and the distance between the
capacitor plates changes. This ceramic
sensing element design produces a
variable capacitance that is highly stable
and reliable.

Agenda
Welcome & Introductions
Basic Component Changes Why Change?
What Connections can be made by instructors when
introducing new age technology?
Service & Troubleshooting How has this been enhanced?
Catch the Wave of the future
Closing Remarks with Q & A
Thanks for Coming !

19

Basic Refrigeration Cycle Is the Same

mm

Click for
Animation

Basic Components are the Same

VRF Technology Allows True Heat Recovery As
Demonstrated Here

mm

Play
Animation

Basic Cycle - the same, Control Complex

Modern VRF (Variable
Refrigerant Flow) Air
Conditioning system are
dynamic in that they flex
capacity to meet a wide range
of ambient conditions. The
control systems for this type
of air conditioner must
monitor the following:

Suction pressure
Suction temperature
Discharge pressure
Discharge temperature
Inverter Compressor Hz
Condenser fan speed
Sub-cooler superheat
Main LEV operation (ODU)
LEV operation for individual
IDUs

Agenda
Welcome & Introductions
Basic Component Changes Why Change?
What Connections can be made by instructors when
introducing new age technology?
Service & Troubleshooting How has this been enhanced?
Catch the Wave of the future
Closing Remarks with Q & A
Thanks for Coming !

23

Troubleshooting With Software

As seen from previous slides a very

large amount of data is collected and
managed by modern VRF systems.
This is transmitted via RS-485 protocol.
The only way to track system operation
is through computer software.

PRCTFE1 module

Troubleshooting With Software

Computer needed to analyze system operation
Main View (Target Value)

Current value / target of system

(Only Plus III)

Current value

Cycle View (Current value)

Only Plus III

Only Plus III

Troubleshooting With Software

A computer is needed to analyze system
operation

Troubleshooting With Software

Coming Soon A Blue Tooth Troubleshooting
Tool
Connection

Blue
Blue
tooth

tooth

Android Smart phone

Cable

Inverter ODU

Agenda
Welcome & Introductions
Basic Component Changes Why Change?
What Connections can be made by instructors when
introducing new age technology?
Service & Troubleshooting How has this been enhanced?
Catch the Wave of the future & the future is NOW!
Closing Remarks with Q & A
Thanks for Coming !

28

Multi Zone Systems

MULTI V (up to 32 zones pre piping module)

MULTI V (up to 32 zones pre piping module)

Agenda
Welcome & Introductions
Basic Component Changes Why Change?
What Connections can be made by instructors when
introducing new age technology?
Service & Troubleshooting How has this been enhanced?
Catch the Wave of the future & the future is NOW!
Closing Remarks with Q & A
Thanks for Coming !

30

Points to Take Away From This Presentation

Although the Refrigeration Cycle has not changed, the
way we manage the process has changed a great deal
Modern components call for modern means of control
and troubleshooting
Linkage between the refrigeration process that we all
have taught for years and new age technology must be
made in order to attract the next generation of HVAC
professionals to our industry.
Keep an open mind with a view to incorporating VRF
technology into your Future curriculum.

Points to Take Away From This Presentation

For More Information

Check Us Out At
www.lg-vrf.com

Thank you.