KR100827876B1 - Safe operation device and method of outdoor unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a safe driving apparatus and method for an outdoor unit, and more particularly, to a safe driving apparatus and method for an outdoor unit to protect the entire outdoor unit by measuring the pressure of the outdoor unit air and stopping the operation of the outdoor unit according to the pressure.

Safe operation apparatus of the outdoor unit of the present invention is installed in the outdoor unit pressure measuring means for measuring the first pressure of the air, and stores the critical pressure for the outdoor unit, and the measured pressure from the pressure measuring means and the stored critical pressure In comparison, according to the comparison result, the microcomputer is made to stop the operation of the outdoor unit.

Outdoor unit, pressure

Description

Safe operation device and method of outdoor unit {SAFETY OPERATION APPARATUS AND ITS METHOD FOR OUTDOOR'S UNIT}             

1 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view showing a structure of one embodiment of a wall-mounted outdoor unit for an air conditioner according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the outdoor unit shown in FIG. 1.

3A and 3B are partial perspective views and configuration diagrams of an outdoor unit in which a first embodiment of a safe driving device of an outdoor unit according to the present invention is installed.

4 is a flowchart of a first embodiment of a safe driving method of an outdoor unit according to the present invention.

5A and 5B are a partial cross-sectional view and a configuration diagram of an outdoor unit in which a second embodiment of a safe driving device of an outdoor unit according to the present invention is installed.

6 is a flowchart of a second embodiment of a safe driving method of an outdoor unit according to the present invention.

Description of the main drawing numbers

2: building exterior wall 4: exterior frame

6: inner frame 7a: suction area

7b: discharge area 8: louver blade                 

9: drive member 10: outdoor unit

20: compressor 30: condenser

40: cooling fan 50: control box

70: pressure sensor 80, 100: microcomputer

98: pressure measuring means

The present invention relates to a safe driving apparatus and method for an outdoor unit, and more particularly, to a safe driving apparatus and method for an outdoor unit to protect the entire outdoor unit by measuring the pressure of the outdoor unit air and stopping the operation of the outdoor unit according to the pressure.

Air conditioners including both air conditioners or heaters can be divided into one-piece and separate types. In the case of describing the air conditioner as an example, the separate type air conditioner, which is the object of the present invention, is installed indoors to cool the room, and is connected to the indoor unit and the refrigerant pipe, and is installed in the outdoor contact with the air to provide external air to the cooling medium. It consists of an outdoor unit that supplies the condensed refrigerant after condensation heat exchange with the refrigerant gas in the condenser to the evaporator of the indoor unit through the refrigerant pipe. The indoor unit includes an evaporator for cooling heat exchange to absorb evaporative heat from the indoor air by evaporating the refrigerant, and a ventilation fan for circulating the indoor air. An air-cooled condenser for condensing, and a cooling fan for cooling and condensing the refrigerant gas by forcibly blowing external air to the air-cooled condenser. The compressor, air-cooled condenser and cooling fan of the outdoor unit are housed inside the outdoor unit casing that forms the exterior. The conventional hexahedral outdoor unit casing has an air inlet for sucking air into an air-cooled condenser on three sides, and an air for discharging air absorbed from the refrigerant gas to the outside through heat exchange in an air-cooled condenser on its upper surface to the outside The discharge part is provided.

However, such a conventional outdoor unit for an air conditioner has been restricted in the installation place due to the high density of the city and the strengthening of environmental management, and has been subjected to complaints of the surroundings due to noise and heat emission. In particular, common residential facilities, such as large apartment complexes, require outdoor units to be installed inside the veranda due to aesthetics and noise problems.

In order to solve this problem, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 6-101873 is installed indoors of an air conditioner or adjacent to an indoor unit, and an outdoor unit of an air conditioner is installed outdoors. In the installed air conditioner-mounted building, an opening is installed in the outer wall or roof, a louver is installed in the opening, an outdoor unit of the air conditioner is installed inside the louver, and the intake or exhaust of the outdoor unit is a wing plate of the louver. Disclosed is a building equipped with an air conditioner, which is to be carried out through a gap.

In addition, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-213928 discloses an outdoor unit main body for an air conditioner having an outline having a thickness approximately the same as the wall embedded in the wall, and air for heat exchange disposed on the same side of the outdoor unit main body. An outdoor unit for a wall-mounted air conditioner having a suction port and a blowout port of air after heat exchange is disclosed.

This prior art does not propose a technical configuration and method for measuring a change in the pressure of the air that is sucked and discharged because an abnormality occurs in the outdoor unit itself or the louver. Therefore, such an abnormality cannot be detected and there is a problem of causing a failure in the entire outdoor unit by continuously operating the outdoor unit.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a safe driving apparatus and method for an outdoor unit capable of detecting a change in pressure of the air sucked into and / or discharged from the outdoor unit.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a safe driving device and method for an outdoor unit that can apply a variety of criteria by detecting a change in air pressure.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a safe operation apparatus and method for an outdoor unit to protect the outdoor unit by quickly stopping the operation of the outdoor unit by detecting an abnormality caused in the outdoor unit.

Safety operation apparatus of the outdoor unit of the present invention is installed in the outdoor unit pressure measuring means for measuring the first pressure of the air, and stores the critical pressure for the outdoor unit, and the measured pressure from the pressure measuring means and the stored critical pressure In comparison, according to the comparison result, the microcomputer is made to stop the operation of the outdoor unit.

In this case, the pressure measuring means includes a first pressure sensor which is installed in the discharge area of the outdoor unit to measure the first pressure of the discharged air, and the threshold pressure is a reference to the discharged air of the outdoor unit.

In addition, the micom preferably stops the entire operation of the outdoor unit when the first pressure is less than the threshold pressure.

The pressure measuring means may include a second pressure sensor installed in a suction area of the outdoor unit for measuring a second pressure of intake air, and a wind pressure switch for inputting a differential pressure between the first pressure and the second pressure to the microcomputer. It is preferably included additionally.

In addition, the micom further stores a critical differential pressure between the discharge air pressure and the intake air pressure for the outdoor unit, and compares the differential pressure and the critical differential pressure input from the wind pressure switch, if the input differential pressure is equal to the critical differential pressure or If it is large, it is preferable to stop the whole operation of the outdoor unit.

In addition, the microcomputer preferably stops the outdoor unit and transmits an outdoor unit stop message to the indoor unit.

In addition, the safe operation method of the outdoor unit according to the present invention comprises the steps of measuring the first pressure of the outdoor unit air, comparing the critical pressure and the first pressure for the outdoor unit, and stopping the operation of the outdoor unit according to the comparison result It includes.

In this case, the step of measuring the first pressure is to measure the pressure of the discharge air of the discharge area of the outdoor unit, the threshold pressure is a reference to the discharge air of the outdoor unit.

In addition, the stopping step stops the entire operation of the outdoor unit when the present pressure is less than the threshold pressure.

The safe driving method may further include measuring a second pressure of the intake air in the suction region of the outdoor unit, and calculating a differential pressure between the first pressure and the second pressure.

The safe driving method may further include comparing the differential pressure and the differential pressure between the pressure of the discharge air and the pressure of the intake air of the outdoor unit, and if the differential pressure is equal to or greater than the critical differential pressure, the entire operation of the outdoor unit is stopped. Stop it.

The safe driving method may further include transmitting an outdoor unit stop message to an indoor unit after stopping the outdoor unit.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments. However, the scope of the present invention should not be limited by the following description, and the scope of the present invention will be limited only by what is described in the following claims.

1 to 2 show an embodiment of a wall-mounted outdoor unit for an air conditioner installed with a safe driving device according to the present invention.

1 and 2, an outer frame 4 is fixedly installed on a rectangular inner wall of a space formed in the outer wall 2 of a residential and / or commercial building, and an inner frame (inside the outer frame 4) 6) is fixed to the outer frame 4. In some cases, the inner and outer frames 4 and 6 may be integrally formed. The inner region of the inner frame 6 is divided into a suction region 7a and a discharge region 7b, and a plurality of louver blades 8 are provided in each region to fill the gap between these louver blades 8. Air is sucked in or discharged through it. In the following, the outer frame 4, the inner frame 6 and the louver blades 8 are referred to as louver frames.

On the other hand, the outdoor unit 10 (only part of which is shown) fixedly installed inside the building exterior wall 2 so as to contact the outer frame 4 and / or the inner frame 6 has an outdoor unit casing. One side of the outdoor unit casing facing the suction area 7a and the discharge area 7b of the inner frame 6 is opened, and the open side part is divided into the suction part 11a and the discharge part 11b. It corresponds to the suction area 7a and the discharge area 7b of the inner frame.

On the other hand, the outdoor unit 10 fixedly installed inside the building outer wall 2 to be in contact with the outer frame 4 and / or the inner frame 6 has an outdoor unit casing, which is the component shown in FIG. In addition, the outdoor unit components shown in FIG. 2 are also installed inside the outdoor unit casing.

First, the casing of the outdoor unit 10 is open at one side facing the suction area 7a and the discharge area 7b of the inner frame 6, and the open side part is opened at the suction part 11a and the discharge part 11b. Are separated into a) to correspond to the suction region 7a and the discharge region 7b of the inner frame. The other three side covers 12a, 12b, and 12c, the bottom cover 14, and the top cover 16 are closed to form an overall cuboid shape. The bottom cover 14 is formed with a plurality of leg members 18a, 18b, 18c, and 18d protruding outwards, and these leg members 18a, 18b, 18c, and 18d are formed on the floor of the building, e.g. It is supported against the floor to support the heavy load of the outdoor unit 10. The number of leg members 18a, 18b, 18c, and 18d may be preferably about four when considering the shape of the bottom cover 14. In addition, a leg reinforcement 19 for connecting and reinforcing these leg members 18a, 18b, 18c, and 18d to each other is formed in the transverse direction under the bottom cover 14. In addition, the leg members 18a, 18b, 18c, and 18d further include a height-adjustable screw (not shown), so that when the flatness of the floor of the building, for example, the floor of the apartment veranda is not correct, the outdoor unit ( It can be used to level 10. In addition, when the two of the leg members (18a, 18b, 18c, 18d), for example, the front (building outer wall side) two leg members (18a, 18b) further comprises a wheel for movement (not shown), It becomes quite convenient to carry the heavy load outdoor unit 10.

In addition, the compressor 20 is installed on the compressor fastening part 22 in the outdoor unit suction part 11a, and the "cool" air-cooled condenser 30 has the condenser cover 32a, 32b, and 32c and the condenser bracket 34a. , 34b are fixedly supported to the side covers 12a and 12b and the bottom cover 14. Air-cooled condenser 30 has a plurality of rows of condenser piping between the many condenser fins has a zigzag shape. The structure and shape of the air-cooled condenser are not shown in detail because they are already known. The compressed refrigerant gas compressed from the compressor 20 flows through the pipe of the condenser 30 and is condensed by taking heat of condensation into air supplied from the outside. In this case, the air condenser covers 32a, 32b, and 32c and the condenser brackets 34a and 34b form an air path so that air introduced from the outside is not supplied to the discharge part 11b without passing through the condenser 30.

In addition, in the outdoor unit discharge part 11b, a blower fan 40 which supplies external air to the air-cooled condenser 30 through the suction area 7a and discharges heat-exchanged air through the discharge area 7b is provided. The blower fan support member 42, the blower fan bracket 44, and the fan front 46 are fixed to the side covers 12a, 12b, 12c and the top cover 16. The drawing shows a sirocco fan as an example of the blowing fan 40.

In addition, a control box 50 for controlling the operation of the outdoor unit is provided inside the side cover 12c constituting the rear side of the side cover, and a refrigerant pipe under which the refrigerant gas evaporated from the indoor unit flows under the control box 50. In addition, a valve assembly 52 which is a passage of a refrigerant pipe through which the condensed refrigerant condensed in the outdoor unit flows is provided.

In front of the outdoor unit 10, that is, in front of the open side surface facing the suction area 7a and the discharge area 7b of the inner frame 6, a mesh-shaped front grill 60 is additionally installed and Prevent invasion of animals (eg mice).

3A and 3B are partial perspective views and configuration diagrams of an outdoor unit in which a first embodiment of a safe driving device of an outdoor unit according to the present invention is installed.

In FIG. 3A, the pressure sensor 70 is installed inside the discharge part of the blower fan 40 housing, and in FIG. 3B, a safe driving device of the outdoor unit is installed in the discharge part of the blower fan 40. The pressure sensor 70 which measures the pressure of discharge air, and the operation | movement of the whole outdoor unit 10 according to the pressure measured from this pressure sensor 70, for example, the compressor 20, the condenser 30, It consists of a microcomputer 80 to stop the operation of the blowing fan 40 and the like. In addition, the microcomputer 80 is connected to enable the two-way communication with the indoor unit.

The pressure sensor 70 may be installed at a position suitable for measuring the pressure of the discharged air in the discharge region 11b of the outdoor unit 10 as well as the discharge portion of the housing of the blower fan 40.

The microcomputer 80 has a memory (not shown) therein, and the critical pressure for the discharged air of the outdoor unit 10 is stored in the memory, and the critical pressure and the pressure sensor 70 are measured. By comparing the pressure to control the overall operation of the outdoor unit (10).

4 is a flowchart of a first embodiment of a safe driving method of an outdoor unit according to the present invention. The safe driving method of the outdoor unit illustrated in FIG. 4 may be implemented in a safe driving unit of the outdoor unit such as FIG. 3B or a device that performs a similar operation.

The safe operation method of the outdoor unit includes the step (S41) of measuring the pressure by the pressure sensor 70, the step of comparing the measured pressure with the critical pressure (S42), and if the measured pressure is equal to or greater than the critical pressure, Normally operating the outdoor unit 10 (S43), and if the measured pressure is less than the threshold pressure (S44) to stop the operation of the entire outdoor unit 10, and transmitting the outdoor unit stop message to the indoor unit ( S45).

In detail, in step S41, the microcomputer 80 receives the measured pressure from the pressure sensor 70 and reads out the threshold pressure stored in the memory.

In step S42, the microcomputer 80 compares the measured pressure with the critical pressure, and if the measured pressure is equal to or greater than the critical pressure, determines that there is no abnormality in the louver frame as well as the operation of the outdoor unit 10 itself. Proceeding to S43, the outdoor unit 10 operates normally.

 However, if the measured pressure is less than the critical pressure, the microcomputer 80 has an abnormal operation of the outdoor unit 10 itself (for example, an operation of the condenser 30 or the blower fan 40), or the louver When the louver blade 8 of the frame is closed or the outside wind speed is too strong, it is determined that a problem such as a case where air is not properly discharged in the discharge region 11b occurs, and the flow proceeds to step S43, where the entire outdoor unit 10 is performed. The operation is stopped, and an outdoor unit stop message indicating that the operation of the entire outdoor unit 10 is stopped is transmitted to the indoor unit (step S45).

5A and 5B are a partial cross-sectional view and a configuration diagram of an outdoor unit in which a second embodiment of a safe driving device of an outdoor unit according to the present invention is installed.

In FIG. 5A, as some components of the safe driving device of the outdoor unit which is the second embodiment, a blower fan for measuring the pressure (hereinafter referred to as a first pressure) of the discharged air in the discharge region 11b of the outdoor unit 10 is described. 40) The condenser cover 32a is mounted to measure a pressure (hereinafter referred to as a second pressure) of the first pressure sensor 92 installed through the housing and the suction air of the suction region 11a of the outdoor unit 10. The second pressure sensor 94 installed therethrough and the wind pressure switch 96 connected to the first pressure sensor 92 and the second pressure sensor 94 to calculate the differential pressure between the first pressure and the second pressure are shown. . The first pressure sensor 92, the second pressure sensor 94, and the wind pressure switch 96 described above are collectively referred to as a pressure measuring means 98.

The first pressure sensor 92 and the second pressure sensor 94 may be configured to measure pressure with a single pressure sensor, respectively, or may be configured as a kind of tube to attract air to the wind pressure switch 96 to It may also be configured to measure pressure.                     

In FIG. 5B, the safe driving device of the outdoor unit includes a microcomputer 100 which receives the differential pressure from the above-described pressure measuring means 98 and controls the operation of the entire outdoor unit 10 according to the differential pressure.

The microcomputer 100 has a memory (not shown) therein, and in this memory a critical differential pressure with respect to a differential pressure between the pressure of the discharge region 11b and the pressure of the suction region 11a is stored. And the differential pressure input from the pressure measuring means 98 to control the overall operation of the outdoor unit 10.

6 is a flowchart of a second embodiment of a safe driving method of an outdoor unit according to the present invention. The safe driving method of the outdoor unit illustrated in FIG. 6 may be implemented in a safe driving apparatus of the outdoor unit such as FIG. 5B or a device that performs a similar operation.

The safe operation method of the outdoor unit includes the steps of measuring the first pressure and the second pressure (S61), calculating the differential pressure between the first pressure and the second pressure (S62), and comparing the differential pressure and the critical differential pressure ( S63), if the differential pressure is less than the threshold differential pressure, operating the outdoor unit 10 normally (S64), and if the differential pressure is equal to or greater than the threshold differential pressure, stopping the entire outdoor unit 10 (S65), and the indoor unit And transmitting the outdoor unit stop message to the mobile station (S66).

Specifically, in step S61, the first pressure sensor 92 and the second pressure sensor 94 in the pressure measuring means 98 measure the pressure of the air in the portions installed in the respective first pressure and the first pressure. 2 Pressure is transmitted to the wind pressure switch 96.

In step S62, the pressure measuring means 98 calculates and transmits the differential pressure between the first pressure and the second pressure to the microcomputer 100, and the microcomputer 100 reads the critical differential pressure stored in the memory.

In step S63, the microcomputer 100 compares the differential pressure and the critical differential pressure. If the differential pressure is less than the critical differential pressure, the microcomputer 100 determines that there is no abnormality in the louver frame as well as the operation of the outdoor unit 10 itself and proceeds to step S64. To operate the outdoor unit 10 normally.

If the differential pressure is equal to or greater than the critical differential pressure (i.e., the difference between the air pressure in the discharge region 11b and the air pressure in the suction region 11a is large), the microcomputer 80 may be operated abnormally (eg, by the outdoor unit 10 itself). , An abnormal operation of the condenser 30 or the blower fan 40), the louver blade 8 of the louver frame is closed, or the outside wind speed is too strong so that the air is not properly discharged from the discharge area 11b. When it is determined that the same problem has occurred, the process proceeds to step S65 where the entire operation of the outdoor unit 10 is stopped and an outdoor unit stop message indicating that the operation of the entire outdoor unit 10 is stopped is transmitted to the indoor unit (step S66).

As described above, the present invention has an effect of detecting a change in pressure of the air sucked into and / or discharged from the outdoor unit.

In addition, the present invention has the effect of detecting the abnormality of the outdoor unit by detecting a change in the air pressure and applying various criteria.

In addition, the present invention has the effect of protecting the outdoor unit by quickly stopping the operation of the outdoor unit by detecting the abnormality caused in and outside the outdoor unit.

Claims (12)

A first pressure sensor installed in a discharge area of the outdoor unit and measuring a first pressure of discharge air; And storing the critical pressure for the discharged air of the outdoor unit, comparing the measured first pressure from the first pressure sensor with the stored critical pressure, and stopping the operation of the outdoor unit according to the comparison result. Safe operation device of outdoor unit. delete The safe driving device of an outdoor unit according to claim 1, wherein the micom stops the entire operation of the outdoor unit when the first pressure is less than the threshold pressure. According to claim 1, The safe driving device is installed in the suction area of the outdoor unit, the second pressure sensor for measuring the second pressure of the intake air, and input the differential pressure between the first pressure and the second pressure to the microcomputer Safe operation device for an outdoor unit comprising a wind pressure switch. The method of claim 4, wherein the microcomputer stores the critical pressure difference between the pressure of the discharge air and the pressure of the intake air to the outdoor unit, and compares the differential pressure and the critical pressure input from the wind pressure switch, the input differential pressure is equal to the critical differential pressure If the same or greater, the safe driving device of the outdoor unit, characterized in that to stop the entire operation of the outdoor unit. The safe driving device of an outdoor unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the microcomputer transmits an outdoor unit stop message to an indoor unit after stopping the outdoor unit. Measuring a first pressure of the outdoor unit discharge air; Comparing the critical pressure with respect to the discharged air of the outdoor unit and the first pressure; Safe operation method of the outdoor unit comprising the step of stopping the operation of the outdoor unit according to the comparison result. delete The safe driving method of an outdoor unit as claimed in claim 7, wherein the stopping step stops the entire operation of the outdoor unit when the first pressure is less than the threshold pressure. The method of claim 7, wherein the measuring step comprises measuring a second pressure which is a pressure of intake air of the outdoor unit suction area, and the comparing step includes calculating a differential pressure between the first pressure and the second pressure. Safe operation method of outdoor unit. The method of claim 10, wherein the comparing step includes comparing the differential pressure and the critical pressure difference between the pressure of the discharge air and the pressure of the intake air of the outdoor unit, wherein the stopping step is performed when the differential pressure is equal to or greater than the critical pressure difference. Safe operation method of the outdoor unit, characterized in that to stop the entire operation of the outdoor unit. The method of claim 7 or 9, wherein the stopping step comprises stopping the outdoor unit and transmitting an outdoor unit stop message to an indoor unit after stopping the outdoor unit.

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