JP3152615B2 - Address setting method and connection detection method for air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-system air conditioner, and more particularly to a technique for automatically setting an identification address for each indoor unit connected to a branch kit when using a branch kit for branch piping. About.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a multi-system type air conditioner in which a plurality of indoor units are connected to one outdoor unit is known. In this type of air conditioner, the outdoor unit is provided with a plurality of (for example, four) connection ports (joints) for connecting a plurality of refrigerant pipes (liquid pipes and gas pipes). One indoor unit is connected to the connection port.

[0003] In order to smoothly control the operation of such an air conditioner, it is necessary to clarify the connection relationship between the pipe connection port on the outdoor unit side and the indoor unit in the outdoor unit. Therefore, conventionally, when installing the air conditioner, the installer has manually set the address setting switch provided on the control board in the outdoor unit.

On the other hand, in order to enable connection of the indoor unit of exceed the number of connection ports provided in the outdoor unit, one provided between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit connection ports multiple There is a branch kit that branches to the connection port. Similarly, in such a branch kit, the connection relationship between the pipe connection port on the branch kit side and the indoor unit must be clarified.

[0005]

However, a setting error may occur in the manual address setting,
If the air conditioner is set incorrectly, the operation of the air conditioner may not be possible. Therefore, a method for accurately and automatically setting the air conditioner has been desired.

Moreover, in the air conditioner using the branch kit, the address setting of the refrigerant pipe becomes more complicated, and the setting error easily occurs.

In addition, as a problem before the address setting, there is a case where a wrong connection of the pipe to the connection port occurs, and a means for more reliably detecting the connection state is required.

An object of the present invention is to provide an address setting method capable of automatically setting an identification address for each indoor unit by using a branch kit alone and a connection detecting method capable of reliably detecting a connection state of an indoor unit.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 is directed to an outdoor unit having a plurality of refrigerant pipe connection ports for connecting indoor units and a plurality of indoor units for connecting indoor units . A branch kit having a refrigerant pipe connection port, a flow control valve provided at each of these refrigerant pipe connection ports, and a refrigerant liquid pipe temperature sensor and connected to any or all of the refrigerant pipe connection ports of the outdoor unit; in the address setting method for setting an address of the indoor unit of an air conditioner having a plurality of indoor units connected to the refrigerant pipe connecting port or a refrigerant pipe connection port of said branch kit machine, the branch kit is connected When supplying the refrigerant to the refrigerant pipe connection port on the outdoor unit side, all of the flow control valves are opened, and the refrigerant liquid pipe temperature is first set.
Of the refrigerant flowing into the branch kit according to the temperature detected by the temperature sensor.
After detecting the presence and absence of refrigerant inflow to the branch kit,
Detecting the first temperature of the heat exchanger in the indoor unit at that time,
Next, the flow control valves are closed one by one, a second temperature of the heat exchanger in the indoor unit at that time is detected, and a predetermined change from the second temperature based on the first temperature is performed. The indoor unit corresponding to the obtained heat exchanger is recognized as an indoor unit connected to the refrigerant pipe connection port corresponding to the closed flow control valve, and an identification address unique to the recognized indoor unit is recognized. Configured to set.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when supplying the refrigerant to the refrigerant pipe connection port on the outdoor unit side to which the branch kit is connected, first, when all the flow control valves are opened, the indoor chamber is opened. A first temperature of the heat exchanger in the machine is detected, and then a second temperature of the indoor heat exchanger when the flow control valves are closed one by one is detected, and the first temperature is detected as the second temperature. The indoor unit corresponding to the heat exchanger in which the predetermined change is obtained based on the temperature is recognized as the indoor unit connected to the refrigerant pipe connection port corresponding to the closed flow control valve, and the recognized indoor room A unique identification address is set for the device.

The invention according to claim 2 provides an outdoor unit having a plurality of refrigerant pipe connection ports for connecting indoor units , a plurality of refrigerant pipe connection ports for connecting indoor units, and each of these refrigerant pipes. A branch kit having a flow control valve provided at the connection port and connected to any or all of the refrigerant pipe connection ports of the outdoor unit, and a refrigerant pipe connection port of the outdoor unit or a refrigerant pipe connection port of the branch kit. In the connection detection method for an air conditioner including a plurality of indoor units to be connected, when supplying the refrigerant to the refrigerant pipe connection port on the outdoor unit side to which the branch kit is connected, all of the flow control valves are Open, first, refrigerant liquid pipe
Refrigerant flow into the branch kit according to the temperature detected by the temperature sensor
The presence or absence of refrigerant, and confirm that refrigerant has flowed into the branch kit
Thereafter, the first temperature of the heat exchanger in the indoor unit at that time is detected, and then the flow control valves are closed one by one to detect the second temperature of the heat exchanger in the indoor unit at that time. It is configured to determine whether or not a predetermined change is obtained from the second temperature with reference to the first temperature to detect the connection to the branch-side refrigerant pipe connection port.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when supplying the refrigerant to the refrigerant pipe connection port on the outdoor unit side to which the branch kit is connected, first, when all the flow control valves are opened, the indoor A first temperature of the heat exchanger in the machine is detected, and then a second temperature of the indoor heat exchanger when the flow control valves are closed one by one is detected, and the first temperature is detected as the second temperature. It is possible to detect whether or not the indoor unit corresponding to the heat exchanger in which a predetermined change has been obtained based on the temperature is connected to the refrigerant pipe connection port corresponding to the closed flow control valve.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(I) Configuration of Air Conditioner FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an air conditioner to which the present invention is applied.

The outdoor unit 100 includes a connection pipe (liquid pipe) 28.
a, 28b and two of the indoor unit groups 101 (heat exchangers 2a, 2a, 2b) through connection pipes (gas pipes) 29a, 29b.
b) is connected. Also, a connection pipe (liquid pipe) 28c
And three connection pipes (gas pipes) 29c (the heat exchangers 2c, 2c) of the indoor unit group 101 via the branch kit 30.
d, 2e).

This air conditioner can perform cooling and heating operations. In FIG. 1, the flow of the refrigerant during cooling is indicated by a solid line, and the flow of the refrigerant during heating is indicated by a broken line.

During cooling, the refrigerant is supplied to the compressor 3, the muffler 4, the four-way valve 5, the outdoor heat exchanger 6, the modulator 7, the strainer 8, the motor-operated expansion valve (a variable flow rate valve) 9 for controlling the refrigerant of the main refrigeration circuit , and the modulator. After exiting 10 , it is shunted to three circuits. Each of the branch circuits is provided with a refrigerant control electric expansion valve 11a to 11c, and the refrigerant is supplied to a strainer 12a to 12c and a liquid pipe side connection port 23a to 23c.
c, the indoor heat exchanger 2a via the connection pipes 28a to 28c.
~ 2e . The refrigerant that has exited the indoor heat exchangers 2a to 2e is connected to the gas pipe side connection port 2 via the connection pipes 29a to 29c.
The flow returns to 7a to 27c, and returns to the compressor 3 via the muffler 13, the four-way valve 5, and the accumulators 14 and 15.

On the other hand, during the heating, the refrigerant circulates in a path reverse to that during the above-described cooling, so that an arrow is indicated by a broken line and the details are omitted. In addition, 16 is an electromagnetic on-off valve for defrost,
When a part of the warm-air gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor 3 is started or is likely to form frost on the outdoor heat exchanger 6, a part of the warm-air gas refrigerant is supplied to the outdoor heat exchanger 6 to prevent defrosting or frost formation. Things.

Dividing liquid pipe temperature sensors 18a to 18c are attached to the respective dividing circuits on the liquid pipes 28a to 28c side. Similarly, each of the gas pipe side branch circuits is provided with a branch gas pipe temperature sensor 19a to 19c. A compressor discharge temperature sensor 20 is mounted on the discharge side of the compressor 3. Further, the outdoor heat exchanger 6 is provided with an outdoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 21, and an outdoor air temperature sensor 22 is provided on the windward side of the outdoor heat exchanger 6.
Is attached.

The outdoor unit 100 is a microcomputer 17
The microcomputer 17 includes the above-mentioned temperature sensors 18a to 18c, 19a to 19c, 20,
Upon receiving the temperature detection signals from 21 and 22, the outdoor unit 100 is controlled according to a control program stored in advance. The outdoor unit microcomputer 17 and each of the indoor unit microcomputers 27a to 27e to be described later are connected by a communication line (not shown), and communicate temperature data, frequency data of AC power supplied to the compressor, and the like. .

The microcomputer 17 includes a compressor discharge temperature sensor 20, a split liquid pipe temperature sensor 18
a to 18c and a refrigerant control electric expansion valve 11 based on temperature detection signals from the branch gas pipe temperature sensors 19a to 19c.
Calculation of the valve opening degree of a to 11c is performed.

The refrigerant control electric expansion valves 11a to 11c are
The valve opening is adjusted by an attached stepping motor. The microcomputer 17 increases or decreases the step rotation speed of the step motor of each of the electric expansion valves 11a to 11c for refrigerant control based on the calculation result by the microcomputer 17. Thereby, the refrigerant control of the main circuit and the branch circuit is performed. These refrigerant control electric expansion valves 11a to 11a
For example, the microcomputer 11 controls the valve opening with a resolution of one step unit from the microcomputer 17 after operating up to the full opening in 511 steps to perform initial position determination.

In this embodiment, the indoor unit group 101
It is composed of five indoor units , and each of the indoor units has indoor heat exchangers 2a to 2e . Although not shown, the air conditioner has a blower fan, and the basic structure of the indoor unit itself may be a general structure.

The indoor heat exchangers 2a to 2e are provided with heat exchanger temperature sensors 24a to 24e and indoor suction air temperature sensors 25a to 25e at their air inlets.

Each indoor unit has a microcomputer 26a.
26e are built in, and each microcomputer 2
6a to 26e execute calculation and control of the air volume and the like based on the temperature detection signals from the heat exchanger temperature sensors 24a to 24e and the indoor intake air temperature sensors 25a to 25e,
Also, necessary data is exchanged with the outdoor unit-side microcomputer 17 via a communication line (not shown).

The branch kit 30 has the same configuration as the configuration around the connection port in the outdoor unit.
31e , liquid pipe temperature sensors 32c to 32e , gas pipe temperature sensors 33c to 33e , and a strainer 35. The branch kit 30 is connected to the outdoor unit 1 via the strainer 35.
00 is connected to the liquid tube side connection port 23c. This branch kit 30 is a microcomputer of the indoor unit 100.
From the side, it is apparently treated as one indoor unit, and the branch state in the branch kit 30 is not considered.

Regarding the connection state in the branch kit 30,
The microcomputer 34 incorporated in the branch kit 30 applies the algorithm shown in FIG. 2 to independently or independently confirm and judge the connection relationship and set an address in the branch kit 30. . As described above, the address can be set by the branch kit alone, so that the microcomputer 17 on the outdoor unit 100 side
Burden is reduced.

(II) Address setting method In the above configuration, when installing the air conditioner, the outdoor unit 100 and the indoor heat exchangers 2a to 2e of each indoor unit are required.
The connection pipes 28a to 28c and 29a to 29c are provided between the branch kit 30. Since the number of the indoor units is further increased by the branch kit 30, the branch kit 30 determines which indoor and outdoor unit is connected to which connection port. It is necessary that the microcomputer 34 independently recognizes in the branch kit 30 separately from the microcomputer 17. For the recognition, the branch kit 30 alone sets an identification address in each indoor unit connected to the branch kit 30. This embodiment discloses an example in which the identification address is automatically set using the temperature of the liquid tube temperature sensors 32c to 32e and the temperature change of the indoor heat exchangers 2c to 2e during operation.

Detection of connection relation in this embodiment,
The determination and the address setting are performed in the ROM or EE in the microcomputer 34 provided in the branch kit 30.
This is executed according to an address setting program stored in a memory such as a PROM in advance.

FIG. 2 shows an algorithm of an address setting program according to the present invention. Hereinafter, description will be made in the order of steps.

Step S1: The outdoor unit microcomputer 17 transmits an address setting start signal to the microcomputers 26a to 26c of all the connected indoor units. Upon receiving the address setting start signal, the address setting in the branch kit 30 starts.

Step S2: microcomputer 34
Transmits an address setting start signal to each indoor unit connected to the outdoor unit 100, and starts the "cooling operation" with the air flow of "strong" and the flap "automatic" for each indoor unit.

Step S3: In preparation for detecting the inflow of the refrigerant into the branch kit 30, the temperatures of the divided liquid pipe temperature sensors 32c, 32d, and 32e at the start of the setting are input to the microcomputer 34.

Step S4: All the flow expansion valves 31c, 31d, 31e are opened to a predetermined opening, and the outdoor unit 100 is connected to the branch kit 30 and connected to the outdoor unit side flow expansion valve (FIG. 1). In this case, the process waits until 11c ) is opened.

Step S5: The outdoor unit 100 is driven by the electric expansion valve
When 11c is opened, the refrigerant flows into the branch kit 30.
This inflow is detected by utilizing the temperature drop of the branch refrigerant liquid tube temperature sensors 32c, 32d, and 32e in the branch kit 30. In this detection, when the temperature of each liquid pipe temperature sensor is lower than the initial temperature by 5 ° C. or more, it is determined that the refrigerant is “inflow”. However, the branched refrigerant liquid pipe temperature sensors 32c, 32c
If at least one of the conditions d and 32e is satisfied, it is determined that there is an inflow.

Step S6: After confirming the inflow of the refrigerant, input the initial temperatures of the heat exchanger temperature sensors 24c, 24d and 24e of the indoor unit.

Step S7: The electric expansion valve of the shunt circuit for setting the address (in the case of FIG. 1, 31c → 31d → 31e)
To the set in order) to fully closed.

Step S8: Prior to detecting the temperature change of the indoor heat exchanger temperature, first, the corresponding connection port ( 23c )
Check to see if piping has been established. That is, the detected temperature TP2 of the liquid tube temperature sensor 18c at this time is read, and it is detected whether or not the difference temperature ΔTPA (= TP1−TP2) from the detected temperature TP1 read in step S6 is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature. Therefore, whether or not the refrigerant has flowed can be confirmed by checking whether or not the temperature of the liquid pipe corresponding to the connection port ( 23c ) for which an address is to be set has dropped. If the determination in step S8 is NO, it means that the temperature does not decrease, and the connection port 2
There is a possibility that no piping is provided in 3c. For the confirmation, in step S11, a predetermined time (for example, 1
20 seconds), and when this time has elapsed, it is considered that the pipe is not connected to the connection port 23c, and the address is registered (stored) as an empty address in step S12.

On the other hand, the judgment in step S8 is YES
In this case, it means that the temperature is desired to be lowered, and it can be seen that a pipe is provided in the connection port 23c. In this case, the process proceeds to the next step S9.

Step S9: Among the connected indoor unit heat exchanger temperature sensors 24c, 24d and 24e, the highest temperature value is 5 ° C. lower than the other heat exchanger temperature sensors.
An indoor unit that is higher than the above and that is 5 ° C. higher than its own initial temperature is stored in the microcomputer 34 as an indoor unit corresponding to the electric expansion valve being set.

Step S13: When the result of the determination in step S9 has passed a predetermined time (for example, 15 minutes), it is still N
If the answer is O, it is determined in step S14 that the addressless setting has failed, and the process ends.

Step S15: This step S15 acts as a set number counter.
6 to S15 are sequentially performed by the electric expansion valves 31c, 31d, 3
1e, the number of address setting storages and the number of connected indoor units are compared and calculated, an identification address is set for each indoor unit until the numbers match, and a series of processing ends when the numbers become the same.

Step S16: When the numbers match, the address setting in the branch kit 30 ends, and a setting end signal is transmitted to the outdoor unit 100.

[0044]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, the setting of the identification address of the indoor unit connected to the branch kit can be performed by the branch kit alone separately from the outdoor unit. The burden on the outdoor unit required for address setting can be reduced. Further, even when an indoor unit is added using a branch kit, the address can be set independently irrespective of the number of indoor units connected to the branch kit, so that the degree of freedom of the number of additional indoor units is improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when setting the identification address of the indoor unit connected to the branch kit,
Since the branch kit alone can confirm the connection of the indoor unit to the connection port of the branch kit separately from the outdoor unit,
The burden on the outdoor unit required for connection confirmation can be reduced. In addition, even when an indoor unit is added using a branch kit, regardless of the number of indoor units connected to the branch kit,
Since the connection can be checked independently, the degree of freedom of the number of additional indoor units is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an address setting algorithm of the indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 outdoor unit, 101 indoor unit group 2 a to 2 c indoor unit heat exchanger 3 compressor 4 muffler 5 four-way valve 6 outdoor heat exchanger 7 modulator 8 strainer 9 electric expansion valve for refrigerant control of main refrigeration circuit 10 strainer 11 a to 11 c branch circuit Electric expansion valve for refrigerant control of 12a-12c Strainer of shunt circuit 13 Muffler 14 Accumulator 15 Accumulator 16 Electromagnetic on-off valve for defrost 17 Microcomputer 18a-18c Separating liquid pipe temperature sensor 19a-19c Separating gas pipe temperature sensor 20 Compressor discharge temperature Sensor 21 Outdoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 22 Outdoor air temperature sensor 23a to 23c Liquid tube side connection port 24a to 24c Heat exchanger temperature sensor 25a to 25e Indoor suction air temperature sensor 26a to 26e Indoor unit microcomputer 27a to 27c Gas pipe side connection port 28a-28c Connection pipe 29a-29c Connection pipe 30 Split flow kit 31a-31c Electric expansion valve for split flow circuit 32c-32e Liquid pipe temperature sensor 33c-33e Split gas pipe temperature sensor 34 Microcomputer

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Koichi Aoishi 2-5-1-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-4-273942 (JP, A) JP JP-A-3-55456 (JP, A) JP-A-2-133744 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F24F 11/02 103 F24F 11/02 102

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An outdoor unit having a plurality of refrigerant pipe connection ports for connecting indoor units , a plurality of refrigerant pipe connection ports for connecting indoor units , a flow control valve provided at each of these refrigerant pipe connection ports, and a refrigerant liquid. A branch kit having a pipe temperature sensor and connected to any or all of the refrigerant pipe connection ports of the outdoor unit; and a plurality of branch kits connected to the refrigerant pipe connection port of the outdoor unit or the refrigerant pipe connection port of the branch kit. In an address setting method for setting an address of the indoor unit of an air conditioner including an indoor unit, when supplying a refrigerant to a refrigerant pipe connection port on an outdoor unit side to which the branch kit is connected, the flow control valve And branch first according to the temperature detected by the refrigerant liquid pipe temperature sensor.
After detecting the presence or absence of refrigerant inflow into the kit and confirming the presence of refrigerant inflow into the branch kit, the first temperature of the heat exchanger in the indoor unit at that time is detected. It closes and detects the second temperature of the heat exchanger in the indoor unit at that time, and corresponds to a heat exchanger in which a predetermined change is obtained from the second temperature with reference to the first temperature. Indoor unit,
An address setting method for an air conditioner, comprising: recognizing an indoor unit connected to a refrigerant pipe connection port corresponding to the closed flow control valve, and setting a unique identification address to the recognized indoor unit. . 2. An outdoor unit having a plurality of refrigerant pipe connection ports for connecting indoor units , a plurality of refrigerant pipe connection ports for connecting indoor units, and a flow control valve provided at each of these refrigerant pipe connection ports. A branch kit connected to any or all of the refrigerant pipe connection ports of the outdoor unit; and a plurality of indoor units connected to the refrigerant pipe connection port of the outdoor unit or the refrigerant pipe connection port of the branch kit. In the method for detecting the connection of an air conditioner, when supplying the refrigerant to the refrigerant pipe connection port on the outdoor unit side to which the branch kit is connected, all of the flow control valves are opened, and first, the refrigerant liquid pipe Branch according to the temperature detected by the temperature sensor
After detecting the presence or absence of refrigerant inflow into the kit and confirming the presence of refrigerant inflow into the branch kit, the first temperature of the heat exchanger in the indoor unit at that time is detected. It closes and detects a second temperature of the heat exchanger in the indoor unit at that time, and determines whether a predetermined change has been obtained from the second temperature with reference to the first temperature. A method for detecting connection of an air conditioner, comprising detecting the presence or absence of connection to the branch-side refrigerant pipe connection port.