United States. New autonomous sensor technology can help companies monitor cooling and heating systems in real time much faster and easier than current options.
Researchers at Purdue University developed the sensor to monitor the real-time oil circulation ratio for heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration systems. The Oil Circulation Ratio (OCR) provides data on the health and functionality of the overall system.
"Our technology is needed as more companies use variable-speed HVAC systems," said Orkan Kurtulus, a senior research engineer at Purdue's Ray W. Herrick Laboratories. "The ability to measure OCR is critical to ensuring the system is using the right amount of oil to achieve effectiveness and efficiency. Our sensor allows companies to check oil circulation without disrupting the system or requiring the tedious process that was previously used to monitor circulation."
Capacity control in HVAC&R systems is being used by a growing number of companies because it increases efficiency and reduces costs by decreasing the speed and energy level when a system does not need to operate at full capacity.
"Our cutting-edge approach to OCR quantification makes it possible to separate and analyze pairs of refrigerants that would otherwise be immiscible using a sensor in the suction line of HVAC&R systems," said Vatsal Shah, research assistant at Herrick Labs. "There remains an unmet need to mitigate oil retention in vapor compression systems, as this can cause inefficiency and even shorten the life of HVAC&R equipment, especially instead of new tandem and variable speed compressor technologies, which implement repeated cycles."
The Purdue team verified the standalone sensor method using the latest ASHRAE standards.
The other members of the Purdue team are James Braun, the Herrick engineering professor; Eckhard Groll, Chief mechanical engineer for William E. and Florence E. Perry; and Travis Horton, associate professor of civil engineering.
The team worked with partners at Ray W. Herrick Labs and the Center for High Performance Buildings. Founded in 1957, Herrick Labs supports world-class mechanical engineering research for students, faculty, and industry. Facilities in the 83,000 square feet of space include HVAC&R and indoor air quality labs; advanced motor test cells; acoustics, noise and vibration tests; and unique engineering laboratories based on perception.
Purdue innovators worked with the Purdue Research Foundation's Office of Technology Commercialization to patent this technology.
Source: Perdue University.
