JP2001304651A - Air conditioner and its operation control method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent an air conditioner from being stopped unnecessarily a low voltage as in an alarm stop, even in the case of an environment where power conditions and power supply facilities are poor. SOLUTION: This air conditioner is provided with a power supply part 30, that supplies power to a compressor and a low-voltage detecting circuit 31 for detecting that a voltage detected from the power supply part is equal to or less than a specific voltage in an outdoor machine, while the outdoor machine and an indoor machine having a compressor 16 are controlled by a control device 13. In this air conditioner, the control device controls the compressor, based on a voltage detection signal (a) which is outputted from the low-voltage detection circuit. Also, the control device is configured, so that it controls the output of an alarm and the operation or stop of the compressor based on the voltage detection signal, after the lapse of detection mask time corresponding to the start time of the compressor.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioner provided with a low voltage detection circuit for detecting that an output voltage output from a power supply section is equal to or lower than a predetermined voltage, and an operation control method for the air conditioner. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An air conditioner having an outdoor unit, an indoor unit, and a control device for controlling the outdoor unit, a power supply unit for supplying electric power to the compressor to the outdoor unit, and an output from the power supply unit And a low voltage detection circuit for detecting that the output voltage to be output is equal to or lower than a predetermined voltage.

[0003] Such an air conditioner is used in an environment where power conditions and power supply facilities are poor, and the control device sends a voltage detection signal indicating that the output voltage output from the power supply unit is equal to or lower than a predetermined voltage to a low voltage. When the air conditioner is fetched from the detection circuit, an alarm is output and the compressor is stopped to stop the air conditioner. This avoids compressor failure due to low voltage.

[0004]

However, as shown in FIG. 6, the control device determines whether the output voltage from the power supply section is equal to or lower than the predetermined voltage, as shown in FIG. The output voltage from the power supply unit is changed to a predetermined voltage (L in FIG. 6) within the predetermined time t.
ow) As soon as the following occurs, an alarm is output and the air conditioner is stopped. For this reason, depending on the power situation and the state of the power supply equipment, when a decrease in the output voltage of the power supply unit caused by a voltage drop due to the activation of the compressor is detected, an alarm is output, and the air conditioner stops. There is.

[0005] Also, when an air conditioner is installed in an unmanned facility, the control device issues an alarm based on a voltage detection signal from a low voltage detection circuit when the output voltage from the power supply section falls below a predetermined voltage. Output and the air conditioner is stopped.

However, if the air conditioner is not provided with an automatic return function, the air conditioner will continue to be in a stopped state even when the output voltage from the power supply unit returns to a predetermined voltage or higher. There is.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and prevents unnecessary stoppage of a device (such as an alarm stop) due to a low voltage even in a power situation or a poor power supply environment. It is an object of the present invention to provide an air conditioner that can be operated and an operation control method thereof.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an outdoor unit having a compressor and an indoor unit are controlled by a control device, and power is supplied to the outdoor unit to the compressor. A power supply unit, and a low-voltage detection circuit that detects that a voltage output from the power supply unit is equal to or lower than a predetermined voltage, wherein the control device is configured to output a voltage based on a voltage detection signal output from the low-voltage detection circuit. In the air conditioner configured to control the compressor, the control device outputs an alarm and the compressor based on the voltage detection signal after a detection mask time corresponding to a start time of the compressor has elapsed. Characterized in that it is configured to control the operation or stop of the vehicle.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the control device sends a signal from the power supply unit based on a voltage detection signal after a detection mask time corresponding to a start-up time of the compressor has elapsed. Each time it is determined that the output voltage is low, a counter is operated, and when the counter has reached a predetermined number of times, an alarm is output and control is performed to stop the device.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the control device controls the compressor based on a voltage detection signal after a detection mask time corresponding to a start-up time of the compressor has elapsed. It is characterized in that the operation or the stop is controlled and these operations are repeated.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a power supply unit for supplying power to a compressor of an outdoor unit, and a low voltage detection circuit for detecting that a voltage output from the power supply unit is equal to or lower than a predetermined voltage. An operation control method for an air conditioner that controls the compressor based on a voltage detection signal output from the low-voltage detection circuit, the method further comprising: after the detection mask time corresponding to the start-up time of the compressor has elapsed, Based on the detection signal, the output of the alarm and the operation or stop of the compressor are controlled.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in accordance with the fourth aspect of the present invention, after the detection mask time corresponding to the start-up time of the compressor has elapsed, the output voltage from the power supply section is set based on the voltage detection signal. A counter is operated each time it is determined that the voltage is low, and when the counter reaches a predetermined number of times,
It is characterized by outputting an alarm and controlling to stop the device.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the fourth aspect, after the elapse of a detection mask time corresponding to the start time of the compressor, the compressor is operated or stopped based on a voltage detection signal. The invention according to claim 1 or 4 characterized by controlling and repeating these operations has the following operation.

A control device controls the output of an alarm and the operation or stop of the compressor based on a voltage detection signal output from the low voltage detection circuit after a detection mask time corresponding to a start time of the compressor has elapsed. With this configuration, since a decrease in the output voltage from the power supply unit that occurs when the compressor is started is not considered, unnecessary output of an alarm and stoppage of the air conditioner can be prevented.

The invention according to claim 2 or 5 has the following operation.

After the detection mask time corresponding to the start-up time of the compressor has elapsed, the control device operates the counter each time it determines that the output voltage from the power supply section is low based on the voltage detection signal. When the counter reaches a predetermined number of times, an alarm is output and the apparatus is controlled to stop. Therefore, it is determined that the output voltage from the power supply unit is low based on the voltage detection signal after the detection mask time has elapsed. The output of the alarm and the stop of the device are not executed just by judging
Since the output of the alarm and the stop of the device are executed only after the above determination is made a plurality of times, unnecessary output of the alarm due to low voltage and stop of the air conditioner can be more reliably prevented.

The invention according to claim 3 or 6 has the following operation.

The control device is configured to control the operation or stop of the compressor based on the voltage detection signal after the detection mask time corresponding to the start time of the compressor has elapsed, and to repeat these operations. When the output voltage from the unit becomes equal to or higher than the predetermined voltage, the air conditioner automatically returns. Therefore, even when the air conditioner is installed in the unmanned facility, it is possible to prevent the air conditioner from unnecessarily continuing the stop state based on the low voltage generated when the compressor is started.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. [A] First Embodiment (FIGS. 1 to 3) As shown in FIG. 1, an air conditioner 10 includes an outdoor unit 11,
An indoor unit 12 and a control device 13 are provided.
And the indoor refrigerant pipe 15 of the indoor unit 12 are connected via connection pipes 24 and 25.

The outdoor unit 11 is installed outdoors, and a compressor 16 is disposed on the outdoor refrigerant pipe 14. An accumulator 17 is provided on the suction side of the compressor 16 and a four-way valve 18 is provided on the discharge side of the compressor 16 via the outdoor refrigerant pipe 14. The four-way valve 1
8 is connected to an outdoor heat exchanger 19 via an outdoor refrigerant pipe 14. An outdoor fan 20 that blows air toward the outdoor heat exchanger 19 is disposed adjacent to the outdoor heat exchanger 19.

On the other hand, the indoor unit 12 is installed indoors, and the indoor heat exchanger 21 is disposed in the indoor refrigerant pipe 15.
An electric expansion valve 22 is provided near the indoor heat exchanger 21 in the indoor refrigerant pipe 15. An indoor fan 23 for blowing air to the indoor heat exchanger 21 is disposed adjacent to the indoor heat exchanger 21.

The control unit 13 controls the operation of the outdoor unit 11 and the indoor unit 12.
, The compressor 16, the four-way valve 18 and the outdoor fan 20,
In addition, it controls the electric expansion valve 22 and the indoor fan 23 in the indoor unit 12 respectively.

When the four-way valve 18 is switched by the control device 13, the air conditioner 10 is set to the cooling operation or the heating operation. That is, the control device 13 controls the four-way valve 1
8 is switched to the cooling side, the refrigerant flows as shown by the solid line arrow, and the outdoor heat exchanger 19 is connected to the condenser and the indoor heat exchanger 2
1 becomes an evaporator and enters a cooling operation state, and the indoor heat exchanger 21 of the indoor unit 12 cools the room. Also, the control device 1
When 3 switches the four-way valve 18 to the heating side, the refrigerant flows as indicated by the dashed arrow, the indoor heat exchanger 21 becomes a condenser, and the outdoor heat exchanger 19 becomes an evaporator, and enters a heating operation state.
The indoor heat exchanger 21 of the indoor unit 12 heats the room.

Further, the control device 13 controls the opening degree of the electric expansion valve 22 in the indoor unit 12 according to the air conditioning load of the indoor unit 12, and controls the fan drive system of the indoor fan 23 in the indoor unit 12.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the control device 13 outputs a voltage detection signal a output from the low voltage detection circuit 31.
, An alarm is output and the compressor 16 is operated or stopped to control the operation or stop of the air conditioner 10.

The low voltage detection circuit 31 and the power supply 30 are installed in the outdoor unit 11. The power supply unit 30 supplies power to electric devices such as the compressor 16. Also, the low voltage detection circuit 31
Detects whether the output voltage output from the power supply unit 30 is equal to or lower than a predetermined voltage (Low in FIG. 3), and outputs a voltage detection signal a to the control device 13. For example, the low voltage detection circuit 31 outputs a signal of 0 V if the output voltage from the power supply unit 30 is equal to or higher than a predetermined voltage, and outputs a signal of 5 V if the output voltage is equal to or lower than the predetermined voltage to the port of the control device 13 as a voltage detection signal a. .

The control device 13 takes in the voltage detection signal a output from the low voltage detection circuit 31 and determines whether or not the output voltage from the power supply section 30 is a specified voltage (High in FIG. 3), or It is determined whether the voltage is lower than the voltage. This determination is not performed during the detection mask time M corresponding to the activation time of the compressor 16 as shown in FIG. 3, but is performed within a predetermined detection time T after the detection mask time M has elapsed. The detection mask time M is, for example, about 2 seconds immediately after the compressor 16 is started, and the detection time T is about 400 msec.

As described above, the control device 13 does not execute the determination as to whether the output voltage from the power supply section 30 is the specified voltage or the low voltage during the detection mask time M. Of the output voltage of the power supply unit 30 caused by the voltage drop due to the start of the power supply is not detected and ignored. The control device 13 outputs an alarm and outputs a stop signal to the compressor 16 when the output voltage from the power supply unit 30 is a low voltage equal to or lower than a predetermined voltage within the detection time T after the detection mask time M has elapsed. b is output and stopped, and the air conditioner 10 is stopped.

Therefore, according to the first embodiment,
The following effects are obtained.

The control device 13 outputs an alarm based on the voltage detection signal a output from the low voltage detection circuit 31 within a detection time T after a detection mask time M corresponding to the activation time of the compressor 16 has elapsed. Also, since the compressor 16 is configured to control the operation or stop, the reduction of the output voltage from the power supply unit 30 that occurs when the compressor 16 is started is not taken into account. Apparatus 1
0 can be prevented from stopping.

[B] Second Embodiment (FIG. 4) FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an output voltage (power supply voltage) from a power supply unit and start-up of a compressor in a second embodiment of the air conditioner according to the present invention. 6 is a graph showing a relationship with the graph. In the second embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

In the air conditioner of the second embodiment, the control device 13 has a built-in counter (not shown). Then, as shown in FIG. 4A, the control device 13 sets the low-voltage detection circuit 3 within the detection time T after the detection mask time M corresponding to the activation time of the compressor 16 has elapsed.
When the output voltage from the power supply unit 30 is determined to be low based on the voltage detection signal a from 1, the counter is operated, +1 is added to the counter value, the compressor 16 is stopped, and the air conditioning is stopped. The device 10 is set to the thermo-off state. In this thermo-off state, although the compressor 16 is stopped, the outdoor fan 20, the indoor fan 23 and the control device 13
Is in operation.

After stopping the compressor 16 as described above, the control device 13 waits for a certain time S at which the refrigerant pressure in the compressor 16 is balanced (this certain time S is, for example, when the compressor 16 is stopped). 3 minutes after the start of the operation), the compressor 16 is started again when the operation command of the air conditioner 10 is input. When the compressor 16 is restarted, the control device 13 outputs the output from the power supply unit 30 based on the voltage detection signal a from the low voltage detection circuit 31 within the detection time T after the detection mask time M has elapsed. When it is determined that the voltage is low, the counter is operated, and the value of the counter is incremented by +
Add one. This counter value is counted a predetermined number of times (for example, 2
When the number of times) has been reached, the control device 13 outputs an alarm, outputs a stop signal b to the compressor 16, stops the compressor 16, and stops the air conditioner 10.

Further, when the compressor 16 is restarted after the counter value is "1", as shown in FIG. 4B, the output voltage from the power supply unit 30 is reduced to the detection mask time M.
Although the voltage is lower than the predetermined voltage within the range, the control device 13 continues to operate the compressor 16 and recovers the air conditioner 10 Continue driving. The control device 13 performs a predetermined time N (for example, about 25 seconds) immediately after the compressor 16 is started.
When the compressor 16 is still operating even after the elapse, the counter value of the counter is cleared.

Therefore, according to the second embodiment,
The following effects are obtained.

The control device 13 controls the voltage detection signal a output from the low voltage detection circuit 31 within the detection time T after the detection mask time M corresponding to the start time of the compressor 16 has elapsed.
, A counter is operated each time it is determined that the output voltage from the power supply unit 30 is a low voltage, and when the counter value of the counter reaches a predetermined number of times (for example, twice), an alarm is output and air conditioning is performed. Since the apparatus 10 is controlled to stop, the detection time T after the detection mask time M has elapsed
If the output voltage from the power supply unit 30 is determined to be a low voltage only once based on the voltage detection signal a, the output of the alarm and the stop of the air-conditioning apparatus 10 are not performed, and the above determination is performed a plurality of times (for example, The output of the alarm and the stop of the air conditioner 10 are executed only after the alarm is performed twice), so that the output of the unnecessary alarm and the stop of the air conditioner 10 due to the low voltage can be more reliably prevented.

[C] Third Embodiment (FIG. 5) FIG.
It is a graph which shows the output voltage (power supply voltage) from the power supply part in 2nd Embodiment of the air conditioner which concerns on this invention, and the relationship between starting of a compressor. In the third embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

The air conditioner according to the third embodiment is installed and used in unmanned facilities. The control device 13 of the air conditioner is set to the unmanned facility mode. In the unmanned equipment mode, as shown in FIG. 5, the compressor 16 is controlled based on the voltage detection signal a from the low voltage detection circuit 31 within the detection time T after the detection mask time M corresponding to the start-up time of the compressor 16 has elapsed. In this mode, the operation or stop of the compressor 16 is controlled, and the above-described operation is repeated at a predetermined time S after the compressor 16 stops.

Therefore, in the unmanned equipment mode, no alarm is output even if the output voltage from the power supply unit 30 is a low voltage equal to or lower than the predetermined voltage within the detection time T after the detection mask time M has elapsed. When the compressor 16 is stopped and the output voltage from the power supply unit 30 has recovered to a predetermined voltage (High in FIG. 5) or more after a lapse of a predetermined time S from the stop of the compressor 16, the compressor 16 is restarted. Then, the operation is automatically restored, and these operations are repeated.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

The controller 13 controls the voltage detection signal a output from the low-voltage detection circuit 31 within the detection time T after the detection mask time M corresponding to the start-up time of the compressor 16 has elapsed.
The operation or stop of the compressor 16 is controlled based on the above, and these operations are repeated, so that the output voltage from the power supply unit 30 has recovered to a predetermined voltage or more after a lapse of a predetermined time S from the stop of the compressor 16. At times, the air conditioner 10 automatically returns. Therefore, even when the air conditioner 10 is installed in an unmanned facility, it is possible to prevent the air conditioner 10 from unnecessarily continuing to stop based on the low voltage generated when the compressor 16 is started.

Although the present invention has been described based on the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this.

For example, in the second embodiment,
The predetermined number of counters for which the control device 13 outputs an alarm and stops the air conditioner 10 is not limited to two, and may be a counter value of three or more.

[0044]

According to the air conditioner of the present invention, the outdoor unit having the compressor and the indoor unit are controlled by the control device, and the outdoor unit is supplied with electric power to the compressor. And a low voltage detection circuit that detects that a voltage output from the power supply unit is equal to or lower than a predetermined voltage,
The control device controls output of an alarm and operation or stop of the compressor based on a voltage detection signal output from the low voltage detection circuit after a detection mask time corresponding to a start time of the compressor has elapsed. Because it was configured as
Unnecessary shutdown of the device due to low voltage (alarm stop, etc.) can be prevented even under poor power conditions and poor power supply facilities.

According to the operation control method for an air conditioner of the present invention, the power supply unit for supplying electric power to the compressor of the outdoor unit, and the voltage output from the power supply unit is equal to or lower than a predetermined voltage. And a low-voltage detection circuit for detecting the start-up time of the compressor, after the detection mask time corresponding to the start time,
Based on the voltage detection signal output from the low voltage detection circuit, the output of an alarm and the control of the operation or stop of the compressor are controlled. Equipment stop (alarm stop, etc.)
Can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a refrigerant circuit showing a first embodiment of an air conditioner according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system of the air-conditioning apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing a relationship between an output voltage (power supply voltage) from a power supply unit and activation of a compressor.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing a relationship between an output voltage from a power supply unit (power supply voltage) and a start of a compressor in the second embodiment of the air conditioner according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing a relationship between an output voltage (power supply voltage) from a power supply unit and a start of a compressor in a third embodiment of the air-conditioning apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing a relationship between an output voltage (power supply voltage) from a power supply unit and start of a compressor in a conventional air conditioner.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 air conditioner 11 outdoor unit 12 indoor unit 13 control device 16 compressor 30 power supply unit 31 low voltage detection circuit a voltage detection signal M detection mask time T detection time

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Masanori Mori 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka F-term (reference) in Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. 3L060 AA02 AA05 CC08 CC10 CC19 DD01 DD06 EE02

Claims (6)

[Claims] An outdoor unit having a compressor and an indoor unit are controlled by a control device. The outdoor unit has a power supply unit for supplying power to the compressor, and a voltage output from the power supply unit. A low voltage detection circuit for detecting that the voltage is equal to or lower than a predetermined voltage, wherein the control device is configured to control the compressor based on a voltage detection signal output from the low voltage detection circuit. In the above, the control device is configured to control output of an alarm and operation or stop of the compressor based on the voltage detection signal after a detection mask time corresponding to a start time of the compressor has elapsed. An air conditioner characterized by: 2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the controller operates a counter each time the output voltage from the power supply unit is determined to be low based on the voltage detection signal after a detection mask time corresponding to a start time of the compressor has elapsed. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein when the counter reaches a predetermined number of times, an alarm is output and control is performed to stop the device. 3. The control device controls the operation or stop of the compressor based on a voltage detection signal after a detection mask time corresponding to a start time of the compressor has elapsed, and repeats these operations. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein: 4. A power supply unit for supplying electric power to a compressor of an outdoor unit, and a low voltage detection circuit for detecting that a voltage output from the power supply unit is equal to or lower than a predetermined voltage. An operation control method for an air conditioner that controls the compressor based on a voltage detection signal output from a circuit, comprising: after a detection mask time corresponding to a start-up time of the compressor has elapsed, an alarm based on the voltage detection signal. An operation control method for an air conditioner, comprising controlling output and operation or stop of the compressor. 5. A counter is operated each time the output voltage from the power supply is determined to be low based on the voltage detection signal after a detection mask time corresponding to the start-up time of the compressor elapses. The method according to claim 4, wherein when the number of times reaches a predetermined number, an alarm is output and control is performed to stop the apparatus. 6. The compressor according to claim 4, wherein after a detection mask time corresponding to a start time of said compressor has elapsed, operation or stop of said compressor is controlled based on a voltage detection signal, and these operations are repeated. The operation control method for an air conditioner according to item 1.