KR100749058B1 - Capacity variable air conditioner and its operation control method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a variable-capacity air conditioner using a plurality of compressors and a method for controlling the operation thereof, the preset operation program being stored in consideration of the power situation and temperature change in the air conditioner installation area, and stored by a simple dip switch operation when installing the product. The purpose of this program is to select the operation program suitable for the use environment and to control the capacity and current according to the use environment.

To this end, the present invention is a variable capacity air conditioner having a plurality of compressors, comprising: a selection unit for selecting an operation program for operating the plurality of compressors; A temperature sensing unit sensing an ambient temperature at which the air conditioner is installed; And a controller configured to control the operation of the plurality of compressors according to a selected operation program when the detected ambient temperature is compared with a predetermined set temperature when the ambient temperature is higher than the set temperature.

Description

Variable capacity air conditioner and method for control operating of variable capacity air conditioner}

1 is a cycle configuration diagram of a variable capacity air conditioner according to the present invention,

2 is a control block diagram of a variable capacity air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is an operation flowchart of an operation control method of a variable capacity air conditioner according to the present invention;

4 is a compressor operation state when the dip switch is set to ON in the variable displacement air conditioner of the present invention;

5 is a compressor operating state when the dip switch is set to OFF in the present invention variable capacity air conditioner,

Figure 6 is a graph comparing the cooling performance according to the variable capacity of the compressor in the variable capacity air conditioner of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

10: Outdoor unit 12a, 12b: Compressor A, B

50,60: Indoor unit 70: Signal input unit

72: indoor temperature detection unit 74: outdoor temperature detection unit

76 control unit 78 compressor driving unit

The present invention relates to a variable capacity air conditioner using a plurality of compressors, and more particularly, to a variable capacity air conditioner for varying the capacity according to the use environment in consideration of the power situation and temperature change in the air conditioner installation area and its operation control method.

In general, an air conditioner is a device used for cooling or heating a room. The air conditioner circulates a refrigerant between an indoor unit and an outdoor unit to absorb ambient heat when the liquid refrigerant evaporates and release the heat when liquefied. Cooling or heating is performed by the characteristics.

In general, air conditioners connect one indoor unit to one outdoor unit. However, in recent years, the capacity of a product has increased due to the increase in the residential environment and the increase in the demand for two or more multi-room multi-products. Doing.

The multi-room multi-type air conditioner uses a plurality of compressors (for example, two) to adjust the driving capability of the air conditioner, and the air conditioner is disclosed in Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 2002-0075603.

The air conditioner disclosed in the publication includes two compressors having different capacities, and determines the cooling load according to the operating time of the compressor, and reduces the power consumption by adjusting the cooling capacity by varying the compression capacity of the compressor according to the determined cooling load. And proper temperature control.

This variable air conditioner has the advantage of efficient air conditioning, and its use is increasing.However, unlike the past, there is an abnormal high temperature and continuous temperature increase due to problems such as global warming, and the size of the product is increasing. However, housing and its power situation do not keep up with these changes. The higher the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the higher the current consumption due to unstable voltage conditions (the lower the voltage) .In a typical house (especially older buildings), installation and use environments are limited because no large-capacity breakers or thick wires are used. If ignored, the breaker will go down or other electrical problems will occur.

Accordingly, the present invention is to solve the conventional problems as described above, the object of the present invention is to store the different operation program set in consideration of the power situation and temperature change in the air conditioner installation area in advance to vary the capacity according to the usage environment The present invention provides a variable capacity air conditioner that can be controlled and an operation control method thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a variable-capacity air conditioner and its operation control method by selecting an operation program suitable for the use environment among the stored operation programs by simple dip switch operation when the product is installed. It is.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a variable capacity air conditioner having a plurality of compressors, comprising: a selection unit for selecting an operation program for operating the plurality of compressors; A temperature sensing unit sensing an ambient temperature at which the air conditioner is installed; And a controller configured to control the operation of the plurality of compressors according to a selected operation program when the ambient temperature is greater than or equal to a predetermined set temperature by comparing the sensed ambient temperature with a predetermined set temperature.

In addition, the control unit is characterized in that for storing a plurality of operating programs based on the ambient temperature condition is installed.

In addition, the selection unit is characterized in that the dip switch to the installer to select any one of the operation program suitable for the ambient temperature is installed among the plurality of operation programs stored.

The controller may be configured to stop some of the plurality of compressors according to the ambient temperature when the dip switch is set to off, and to vary the operating capacity of the compressors not stopped.

The temperature detecting unit may detect at least one of an outdoor temperature and an indoor temperature of an air conditioner.

In addition, the present invention provides a control method of a variable capacity air conditioner having a plurality of compressors, the method comprising: selecting an operation program for operating the plurality of compressors; Detecting an ambient temperature at which the air conditioner is installed; And operating all of the plurality of compressors or only some of the plurality of compressors according to a selected operation program when the detected ambient temperature is compared with a predetermined set temperature and according to a selected operation program. It features.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a cycle configuration diagram of a variable air conditioner according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the variable-capacity air conditioner according to the present invention includes one outdoor unit 10 forming a conventional refrigerant cycle, a first indoor unit 50 (stand type indoor unit) and a second indoor unit 60 (wall-mounted) 60 connected to the outdoor unit 10. Type indoor unit), and a refrigerant pipe is installed between the indoor units (50, 60) and the outdoor unit (10).

The outdoor unit 10 includes a plurality of compressors A and B 12a and 12b for compressing a refrigerant into a gaseous state of high temperature and high pressure, and are compressed by the compressors A and B 12a and 12b. An outdoor heat exchanger 14 which receives a gas refrigerant having a high temperature and high pressure and exchanges heat with the outdoor air, and an outdoor fan forcibly blowing outdoor air by the outdoor fan motor 18 so that heat exchange occurs in the outdoor heat exchanger 14 ( 16).

Of the pipes connected to the outdoor heat exchanger 14, the high-pressure side pipe connected to the first chamber 50 is provided with an electronic expansion valve 20 for controlling the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing in the first room 50 through superheat control. And a solenoid valve 22 for supplying or blocking the refrigerant flowing to the second indoor unit 60 through on / off control to the high pressure side pipe connected to the second indoor unit 60 from the pipe connected to the outdoor heat exchanger 14. ) Is installed, and one side of the solenoid valve 22 is provided with a capillary tube 24 for expanding the refrigerant under reduced pressure.

In addition, when only one of the two compressors 12a and 12b is driven on the discharge side of the compressors A and B 12a and 12b, when the other one is to be driven, the starting pressure of the compressor to be driven later by the discharge pressure of the compressor that is driven first In order to prevent this from happening, check valves 26a and 26b are provided, and the refrigerant flowing into the compressors A and B 12a and 12b on the suction side of the compressors A and B 12a and 12b is a gas in a completely gaseous state. The accumulator 30 for converting into a is installed.

In addition, a hot gas bypass pipe 28a for bypassing a part of the hot gas from the compressors A and B 12a and 12b between the discharge side high pressure pipe and the suction side low pressure pipe of the compressors A and B 12a and 12b. In the middle of the hot gas bypass pipe 28a, a bypass valve 28 for adjusting the amount of refrigerant of the hot gas to be bypassed is provided.

The compressors A and B 12a and 12b have two different capacities (60% and 40%), and the TANDEM compressor changes capacity by three stages (60%, 40% and 100%) as a single or simultaneous operation. Can be used and can be configured in various ways as needed.

In addition, the first and second indoor units (50, 60) are the first and second indoor heat exchangers (52, 62) and heat exchange with the indoor air receives the refrigerant, and the first and second indoor heat exchangers (52) And 62, first and second indoor fans 54 and 64 for forcibly blowing the indoor air by the first and second indoor fan motors 56 and 66 so as to perform heat exchange.

Meanwhile, the first high pressure side pipe connection service valve 40 and the first low pressure side pipe connection service valve 42 are installed on the refrigerant pipe between the outdoor unit 10 and the first indoor unit 50. The second high pressure side pipe connection service valve 44 and the second low pressure side pipe connection service valve 46 are installed in the refrigerant pipes 10 and the second chamber 60.

2 is a control block diagram of a variable-capacity air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention, which includes a signal input unit 70, an indoor temperature detector 72, an outdoor temperature detector 74, a controller 76, and a compressor driver ( 78), the outdoor fan motor driving unit 80, the indoor fan motor driving unit 82, the valve driving unit 84 and the display unit 86 is configured.

The signal input unit 70 includes a plurality of indoor units 50 and 60 or remote controllers for inputting operation information such as operation modes (stage 1, 2, 3, etc.) selected by a user, set temperature, and set air volume. It includes a switch, the installer includes a program selection switch for the installer to select a program suitable for the installation environment from the stored operating program in consideration of the installation environment (power conditions and temperature changes in the installation area) when installing the variable capacity air conditioner. This program selection switch consists of a dip switch that can be switched on or off. The general operation of operating a plurality of compressors A and B (12a, 12b) regardless of the operating environment according to the dip switch on or off, and the operating environment Accordingly, some of the plurality of compressors A and B 12a and 12b are turned off so that some of the compressors B 12b are operated so that the capacity variable control operation of driving only some of the compressor compressors A 12a is performed.

The indoor temperature detecting unit 72 detects the temperature Tr of indoor air sucked into the first or second indoor units 50 and 60, and the outdoor temperature detecting unit 74 sucks the outdoor unit 10 into the outdoor unit 10. Sensing air temperature (outside air temperature)

The controller 76 selectively controls the operation of the compressors A and B 12a and 12b by adjusting the operating capacity (cooling capacity) according to the selection of the first, second and third stages of operation. Or indoor units 50 and 60 microcomputers.

In addition, the control unit 76 controls to operate the air conditioner by selecting one of two pre-stored operation programs according to the on or off operation of the dip switch when the variable air conditioner is installed, the outdoor temperature when the dip switch is set to on Even if the indoor temperature rises above the predetermined first set temperature, the operation is controlled by a program for simultaneously operating the plurality of compressors A and B 12a and 12b, and the outdoor temperature when the dip switch is set to off. (Or the indoor temperature) rises above the first set temperature Tos1 (outdoor temperature in which the current consumption cannot be made stable due to an increase in current consumption due to an overload condition), a plurality of compressors A and B 12a, Some of the compressors (compressor A) to turn off one of the 12b) (typically a small capacity compressor; for example, compressor B) to variably control the capacity and reliably consume current. Control your driving with a program that only drives you.

The compressor driver 78 controls the operation of the compressors A and B 12a and 12b alone or simultaneously according to the compressor control signal of the controller 76, and the outdoor fan motor driver 80 is an outdoor fan of the controller 76. The driving of the outdoor fan motor 18 is controlled according to the control signal.

The indoor fan motor driver 82 controls the driving of the indoor fan motors 56 and 66 according to the indoor fan control signal of the controller 76, and the valve driver 84 according to the valve control signal of the controller 76. The driving of the electromagnetic expansion valve 20, the solenoid valve 22, the check valves 26a and 26b, the bypass valve 28, and the like are controlled.

The display unit 86 displays an operation state, an error mode, and the like of the variable variable air conditioner according to the display control signal of the control unit 76.

Hereinafter, the operation process and the effect of the variable capacity air conditioner and its operation control method configured as described above will be described.

3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation control method of a variable capacity air conditioner according to the present invention.

As an initial condition for explaining the operation of the present invention, it is assumed that the first compressor 12a is a large capacity (60%) and the second compressor 12b is a small capacity (40%) TANDEM compressor.

First, in order to install a variable air conditioner, an operator installs the outdoor unit 10 and the first and second indoor units 50 and 60 at appropriate locations in the outdoor and indoor spaces, respectively, and then uses the refrigerant pipes with the outdoor unit 10. Connect the indoor unit (50, 60).

At this time, the first high pressure side pipe connection service valve 40 and the first low pressure side pipe connection service valve 42 are installed in the refrigerant pipe of the outdoor unit 10 and the first indoor unit 50, and the outdoor unit 10 is installed. And a second high pressure side pipe connection service valve 44 and a second low pressure side pipe connection service valve 46 are installed in the refrigerant pipe of the second chamber 60.

When installing the variable capacity air conditioner, the installer selects an operation program of the air conditioner in consideration of the installation environment (power situation and temperature change in the installation area), and for this purpose, a dip switch (program selection switch) provided in the signal input unit 70 is selected. Select on or off (S100).

When the dip switch is set to ON, the controller 76 performs a general operation with a program for simultaneously operating the plurality of compressors A and B 12a and 12b even when the outdoor temperature rises above a predetermined first predetermined temperature. Is set to off, the control unit 76 changes the capacity by turning off one of the plurality of compressors A and B 12a and 12b (typically a small capacity compressor; for example, the compressor B) when the outdoor temperature rises above the set value. In order to control and reliably consume current, a variable capacity operation is performed by a program that operates only a part of the compressor (compressor A).

As such, when the corresponding program for operating the air conditioner is selected according to the on or off operation of the dip switch, the controller 76 determines whether the operation is on (S102) and controls the compressor driver 78 when the operation is on. The compressors A and B 12a and 12b both start to operate (S104).

When the plurality of compressors A and B 12a and 12b operate, the temperature To of the outdoor air sucked into the outdoor unit 10 is detected by the outdoor temperature sensing unit 74 and output to the control unit 76 (S106). The controller 76 is a state in which the current consumption is not stable because the current consumption increases due to an overload condition of the first predetermined temperature Tos1; It is determined whether the outdoor temperature (To) is greater than or equal to the first set temperature Tos1 (S108).

If the outdoor temperature To is not equal to or greater than the first set temperature Tos1, since the ambient temperature in which the air conditioner is installed is a normal operating condition instead of an overload condition, the controller 76 is fed back to the S104 without any control such as variable capacity. As shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, a general operation of driving all of the plurality of compressors A and B 12a and 12b is performed.

On the other hand, if the outdoor temperature To is greater than or equal to the first set temperature Tos1, since the ambient temperature in which the air conditioner is installed is an overload condition, the controller 76 performs general operation or variable capacity operation of the air conditioner according to an operation program selected by the installer. In order to determine whether the dip switch is off (S110).

When the dip switch is not off (on), the control unit 76 is fed back to the S104, even if the outdoor temperature rises above the first set temperature, as shown in Figure 4, a plurality of compressors A, B (12a, 12b) ) Is a program that drives all of them. In the case of such a general operation, it is a matter of course that the conventional protection control, such as the bypass made in the conventional variable-capacity air conditioner can be made according to the characteristics of the product.

On the other hand, when the dip switch is turned off, the controller 76 stops the compressor B 12b (usually a small capacity compressor) among the plurality of compressors A and B 12a and 12b, as shown in FIG. By operating only the compressor A (12a) to limit the capacity and to make the current consumption stable (S112).

In the case of variable capacity operation, as shown in FIG. 6, the cooling performance (%) decreases, but the haptic cooling ability can be maintained, so that the stable operation can be performed even in the constraint condition considering the power situation or ambient temperature condition of the air conditioner installed area. It can be guaranteed.

The outdoor temperature To that changes during the variable capacity operation is detected by the outdoor temperature detector 74 and output to the controller 76 (S114), and the controller 76 is an outdoor input from the outdoor temperature detector 74. The outdoor temperature To is compared to the second predetermined temperature Tos2 by comparing the temperature To with a second predetermined temperature Tos2; It is determined whether or not the set temperature (Tos2) or less (S116).

If the outdoor temperature To is less than or equal to the second set temperature Tos2, since the ambient temperature in which the air conditioner is installed is an overload condition, the controller 76 is fed back to S112 to continuously perform the variable variable operation shown in FIG. 5. As described above, a variable-capacitance operation for driving only some of the compressors A 12a among the plurality of compressors A, B 12a, 12b is performed.

On the other hand, if the outdoor temperature To is less than or equal to the second set temperature Tos2, since the ambient temperature in which the air conditioner is installed is a normal operating condition out of an overload condition, the controller 76 is fed back to the S104 to provide no control such as variable capacity. As shown in FIG. 5, a general operation of driving all of the plurality of compressors A and B 12a and 12b is performed.

On the other hand, in the embodiment of the present invention has been described by taking an example of the variable control of the capacity of the compressors A, B (12a, 12b) by determining the overload condition of the ambient temperature according to the outdoor temperature (To), the present invention is not limited to this. Of course, it is possible to variably control the capacity of the compressors A and B (12a, 12b) by determining the overload condition of the ambient temperature (indoor temperature is more than 28 ℃) according to the room temperature (Tr), the purpose of this invention And effects can be achieved in the same way.

As described above, according to the variable capacity air conditioner and the operation control method according to the present invention, by varying the capacity according to the use environment by storing in advance different operating programs set in consideration of power conditions and temperature changes in the air conditioning installation area There is an effect that can be controlled.

In addition, the present invention has the effect that it is possible to control the capacity and current according to the use environment by selecting the operation program suitable for the use environment of the stored operation program by a simple dip switch operation when installing the product.

Claims (6)

In the variable capacity air conditioner having a plurality of compressors, A selection unit for selecting an operation program for operating the plurality of compressors; A temperature sensing unit sensing an ambient temperature at which the air conditioner is installed; And A control unit for controlling the operation of the plurality of compressors according to the selected operation program when the ambient temperature is higher than the preset temperature by comparing the detected ambient temperature with a predetermined preset temperature; A variable capacity air conditioner comprising a. The method of claim 1, The control unit has a variable capacity air conditioner, characterized in that for storing a plurality of operating programs based on the ambient temperature condition is installed. The method of claim 2, The selection unit is variable capacity air conditioner, characterized in that consisting of a dip switch to the installer to select any one of the operation program suitable for the ambient temperature is installed among the plurality of operation programs stored. The method of claim 3, wherein The controller may be configured to stop some of the plurality of compressors according to the ambient temperature when the dip switch is set to off, and to vary the operating capacity of the compressor not stopped. The method of claim 1, The temperature sensing unit variable capacity air conditioner, characterized in that for detecting at least one of the outdoor temperature and the room temperature where the air conditioner is installed. In the control method of a variable capacity air conditioner having a plurality of compressors, Selecting an operation program for operating the plurality of compressors; Detecting an ambient temperature at which the air conditioner is installed; And Comparing the detected ambient temperature with a predetermined set temperature and operating all of the plurality of compressors or only some of the plurality of compressors according to a selected operation program when the ambient temperature is higher than the set temperature; Operation control method of a variable capacity air conditioner comprising a.

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