System and Method for Controlling Multi-Zone Vapor Compression System

• Main Authors: Di Cairano Stefano, Zhou Junqiang, Burns Daniel J, Danielson Claus
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 07.12.2017
• Subjects: BLASTING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; HEATING; LIGHTING; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; WEAPONS

A system controls a multi-zone vapor compression system (MZ-VCS). The system includes a controller to control a vapor compression cycle of the MZ-VCS using a set of control inputs determined by optimizing a cost function including a set of control parameters. The optimizing is subject to constraints, and wherein the cost function is optimized over a prediction horizon. The system also includes a memory to store an optimization function parameterized by a configuration of the MZ-VCS defining active or inactive modes of each heat exchanger, the optimization function modifies, according to a current configuration, values of the control parameters of the cost function determined for a full configuration that includes all heat exchangers in the active mode. The system also includes a processor to determine the current configuration of the MZ-VCS and to update the cost function by submitting the current configuration to the optimization function.