High Efficiency Low Cost Low Noise Variable Speed Compressor Drive for Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems

Funding: 2002: $120,000
2003: $100,000
2004: $100,000

Project Member(s): Zhu, J., Ha, Q.

Funding or Partner Organisation: Australian Research Council (ARC Linkage Projects)
Kirby Refrigeration Pty Limited

Start year: 2002

Summary: This project aims to break the major barriers to the commercial production of efficient refrigerators and air conditioners by developing a high efficiency low cost low noise variable speed compressor drive. High performance PM motors, power electronic fault tolerant converters/inverters, and intelligent algorithms for motor control and temperature control will be developed to meet the specific requirements of compressor drives in collaboration with Kirby Refrigeration. The new technology will contribute to the reduction of CO2 greenhouse gas emission by reducing the energy consumption of refrigerators and air conditioners and once commercialised will greatly enhance the competitiveness of Australian industry in the world market.

Keywords: Variable speed drives Refrigeration systems Permanent magnet motors Power electronic inverters Sensories brushless motor drive Variable speed compressor drive

FOR Codes: Electrical Engineering, Other Electronic Engineering, Neural Networks, Genetic Alogrithms and Fuzzy Logic, Appliances and electrical machinery and equipment, Residential and commercial, Conservation and efficiency, Electrical and Electronic Engineering not elsewhere classified, Neural, Evolutionary and Fuzzy Computation, Evolutionary computation, Electrical machines and drives, Electrical machinery and equipment (incl. appliances)