Technology Explained
Technology in all our lives continues to improve and increase our quality of life. Air Conditioning systems are no exceptions. When the technology advanced, we embraced it live and up to our company name: Advanced Cooling Systems. If you want your Air Conditioner to have the most advanced features and functionality, we are the ones to get the job done. At Advanced Cooling we have a firm grasp on these technologies and you can too, just read on.
The Best in Technology
We are in the position to offer our customers the highest level of technology and efficiency. We have systems that vary output to save energy and meet the exact need of your Clearwater home as the temperature outdoors changes. We have system controls that will link to an app in your phone. But that’s not all, Amazon Alexa integration is available on select thermostats which lets you control your cooling system with your voice.
Understand the best Technologys
Compressors
The compressor is the big orange part in the center of the cutaways. Your power bill is mainly due to this compressor running. Single speed is a simple electric motor driving a pump. Dual speed is the same motor, but the pump has a section that can engage and increase it’s capacity. Variable speed compressors change the power coming to the unit into DC voltage, convert that further into 3 phase, and in controlling the frequency of the power, drive the compressor at any speed needed. Trane logic can chose from around 750 speeds.
Metering Devices
Metering Devices control the flow of refrigerant into heat exchanging coils. Orifices were used originally. A precision restriction drilled to only allow a certain amount to flow. Next step up was the TXV a device with a valve balanced a spring with refrigerant pressure and refrigerant temperature. Top tech in this device is the EEV. A stepper motor controlled by temperature of the refrigerant enter v/s leaving a heat exchanger, or pressure and temp of refrigerant entering.
Blower Motors
Externally, blower motors look very similar. One difference you might notice is that some have a few to a bunch more wires going to them. The oldest tech blowers are the speed selectable style called Permanent Split Capacitor (PSC). On this type the speed tap wire was plugged in to the relay controlling the blower and it ran either Low, Medium, or High speed until the A/H is opened up and a new speed was set. A step up in tech is the Constant Torque Motor (CTM). A similar manual speed selection is made (up to five speed choices). This style has an onboard logic module that drives the blower to maintain airflow even if restricted by a dirty air filter
The Third type of blower motor is the Electronically Commutated Motor (ECM). The ECM is very similar to the CTM style mechanically, but differs immensely in the logic used to drive the speed. ECMv1 has many control wires that enable many advanced functions. 50% speed running logic for start and end cycle, 20% speed reduction for extra humidity control. Programmed start up and run on delays. ECMv2 blowers run on 4 wires (similar to USB) giving the Air Handler logic board total control of the speed. These blowers can match speeds with a variable compressor or allow a thermostat to control their speed with PWM logic.
Internet Connected Abilities
The Internet is everywhere making our lives easier and more convenient. We can combine Smart phones, smart speakers, and smart thermostats. The Trane smart thermostat will connect to your internet via Wifi or even wired Ethernet. After setting up a secure connection between your smart thermostat and the internet, you will have access to all the features for free. The Nexia app for your phone can be used to change your homes temp up and down at will. Linking your Amazon Alexa to your nexia account will allow you to control your thermostat via your voice. After making an account with the Nexia portal, our customers can opt in for diagnostics. the Nexia portal then assigns that thermostats diagnostics to Advanced Cooling Systems and allows us access to historical graphing of HVAC run data. High end HVAC systems can even supply telemetry for running in the form of sensor data to the historical portal. The Nexia portal also monitors system health and sends ACS an email when it feels the system is unhealthy.
Indoor Air Quality
Electronic Air Cleaners (EAC) are a supplement to normal filtration. You must maintain a clean filter before the EAC for it to function correctly. The EACs job is to catch the very small particles a filter will miss. The EAC system also needs a complete cleaning every 6 months.
Standard UV system kill all living organisms (mold, bacteria, germs) that they shine on. The Advanced Air Purification goes a step further and broadcasts safe Hydro-Peroxide plasma in the air which is deadly to the same unwanted particles and freshens the air by eliminating smells
Understanding the Logic behind the electronics
Thermostat Control Logic
Compressors have a rest period (5 minute delay) from the time it shuts down, until it is allowed to run again. A cycle is the time the compressor is on and the adjacent time which it is off. Short-cycling is when a struggling unit turns on and then shuts down quickly (in seconds). Staging logic determines a Load Value based on the temperature change over time, after the inhibits are met it can then switch to 2nd stage and/or increase airflow.
Leaps ahead in technology is the Trane variable speed system. As a day warms it starts up and runs all day at the exact capacity needed to keep your home cool. Since is runs all day it dehumidifys all day. This lower capacity running uses over 50% less electricity than last generation on/off units.
Dehumidification logic has be around a long time in our area. Variable speed blower motors started in 1987 and allowed a simple program to operate that held the blower motor to 50% speed (slower air over the coil dehumidifys quicker) to dehumidify for about 8 minutes, then running full speed and capacity to cool the area. The “Florida Logic” allowed a further 20% reduction over all speeds to further increase dehumdification, but also allows full speed operation after the inhibit time expires.
Air Handler Control Logic
The external display shows the current operational mode, while the lights flashing through the window (center left of air handler) give further immediate health information. A Trane certified technician can use the display controls to set operation variables or to monitor the current operation of the system without removing the door. Nexia linked thermostats will also have the option to have this current and historical data securely available to the customers chosen dealer. Among the data available is 3 strategically placed temperature sensors, metering valve position, blower RPM, CFM, and calculated pressure in duct system.
Freeze logic is able to modulate the compressor running so that even if there is something drastically wrong, the unit is able to keep the coil thawed and use the icing up to cool your home.
Metering Valve (EEV) logic. With careful monitoring of coil temperatures, the EEV can be controlled supply more refrigerant when extra heat needs to be carried away.
Air Flow (AFC) logic. AFC constantly monitors blower RPM and amp draw. It uses precision calculations to pull air harder as it calculates your air filter is getting dirty and limit itself to prevent electrical damage.
VX Variable Speed Control Logic
Starting in 2013 Trane moved their high end product to Variable speed compressor technology (They had tried in the mid 90s but service technician were not up to the task and replaced many expensive components that had not failed). The redesigned technology has an array of 4 temperature sensors, refrigerant pressure sensor, EEV metering valve, latching switch over valve, high pressure cut out, outdoor diagnostic display, temperature controlled single board control unit with upgradeable onboard firmware. Inverter compressor capable of running 900- 6000 RPM cooled with an EMC fan motor running 200 – 1200 RPM.
The firmware algorithm used to control this system was comprehensibly tested and has worked incredibly well. We started installing them as soon as they were available. Due to the many speeds and modes they operate in, the unit can sound different every time you walk by. They run a lubrication cycle (speeds up) every time they run 20 minutes continual low RPM. Oil return mode (refrigerant contains oil) runs when the unit runs slow over several cycles. Limp mode runs when a sensor fails and it can use an alternate sensor to stay safe. All the parts that used to commonly fail (contactors, capacitors, defrost boards) are not used in this design.
Contact Us
Advanced Cooling Systems, Inc.
1660 N Hercules Ave STE E
Clearwater FL 33765
Phone (727) 738-6006
License#: CAC058664