Patent ID: 7134291
Filing Date: 2006-11-14
Classification: B60H,B64D,F25B,G01K

Abstract:
1. A process for determining the charge level of a vapor cycle environmental control system, having a condenser, evaporator, compressor, and an expansion valve comprising the steps of: providing a neural network having four input neurons, two hidden neurons and one output neuron; determining the number of degrees below the saturation temperature of the liquid refrigerant exiting the condenser and providing this measurement to the first input neuron; sensing the condenser sink temperature and providing the measurement to the second input neuron; sensing either the refrigerant outlet temperature from the condenser or the evaporator exhaust air temperature and providing the measurement to the third input neuron; sensing the evaporator air inlet temperature and providing the measurement to the fourth input neuron; training the neural network by providing known refrigerant charge levels to the system and operating the system under varying operating conditions, such that weighting factors for the neural network are determined; and using the trained neural network to monitor the charge level in the system.