US 12,410,957 B2
Systems and methods for controlling variable refrigerant flow systems using artificial intelligence
Bo Fan, Wuxi (CN); Zhigang Wu, Suzhou (CN); Hayato Mori, Tokyo (JP); Zhongyue Sun, Milwaukee, WI (US); Liming Yang, Mequon, WI (US); and Robert D. Turney, Watertown, WI (US)
Assigned to TYCO FIRE & SECURITY GMBH, Neuhausen am Rheinfall (CH)
Filed by Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP, Milwaukee, WI (US)
Filed on Feb. 16, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/110,723.
Application 18/110,723 is a continuation of application No. PCT/CN2021/122767, filed on Oct. 9, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0194137 A1, Jun. 22, 2023
Int. Cl. F25B 49/02 (2006.01); F25B 13/00 (2006.01); F25B 45/00 (2006.01)
CPC F25B 49/02 (2013.01) [F25B 13/00 (2013.01); F25B 45/00 (2013.01); F25B 2345/001 (2013.01); F25B 2500/06 (2013.01); F25B 2500/222 (2013.01); F25B 2700/04 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A refrigerant charge controller for heating, ventilation, or air conditioning (HVAC) equipment, the controller comprising a processing circuit configured to:
analyze usage data for the HVAC equipment using a machine learning model to estimate an amount of refrigerant in one or more first devices of the HVAC equipment;
identify a refrigerant deficiency based on the amount of refrigerant; and
initiate a corrective action comprising returning a portion of the refrigerant from the one or more first devices of the HVAC equipment to one or more second devices of the HVAC equipment in response to identifying the refrigerant deficiency.
 
13. A controller for variable refrigerant flow (VRF) equipment, the controller comprising one or more processing circuits configured to:
analyze a first set of usage data for the VRF equipment using a first machine learning model to estimate an amount of refrigerant used by the VRF equipment;
analyze a second set of usage data for the VRF equipment using a second machine learning model to estimate an amount of liquid in the VRF equipment;
identify a liquid deficiency based on the amount of liquid; and
initiate a corrective action in response to identifying the liquid deficiency.