KR102184543B1 - Apparatus and method for air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an air conditioner and a method of operation thereof, wherein the length of a refrigerant pipe, which varies depending on the number of indoor units connected to the outdoor unit or the distance to the indoor unit, is measured by the outdoor unit so that the operation setting is varied according to the length of the refrigerant pipe. As a result, the operation efficiency is prevented from deteriorating due to the location of the indoor unit or the length of the pipe, and the operation is performed differently according to the length of the refrigerant pipe for the same indoor unit load, so that the performance according to the cooling and heating operation increases, thereby improving the user's satisfaction. There is.

Description

Air conditioner and its operation method {Apparatus and method for air conditioner}

The present invention relates to an air conditioner and a method of operating the same, and more particularly, to an air conditioner and a method of operating the same, which improves operation efficiency by varying an operation setting according to the length of a refrigerant pipe of the air conditioner.

The air conditioner is installed to provide a more comfortable indoor environment to humans by discharging cold and hot air into the room, adjusting the indoor temperature, and purifying the indoor air to create a pleasant indoor environment. In general, an air conditioner includes an indoor unit configured as a heat exchanger and installed indoors, and an outdoor unit configured with a compressor and a heat exchanger to supply refrigerant to the indoor unit.

The air conditioner is controlled separately from an indoor unit composed of a heat exchanger and an outdoor unit composed of a compressor and a heat exchanger, and is operated by controlling power supplied to the compressor or heat exchanger.

In addition, the air conditioner may be connected to at least one indoor unit to the outdoor unit, and is operated in a cooling or heating mode by supplying a refrigerant to the indoor unit according to a requested operation state.

At this time, the outdoor unit and the indoor unit are connected by a refrigerant pipe, and heating or cooling operation is performed through heat exchange using the refrigerant according to the flow of the refrigerant.

When a plurality of indoor units are connected to the outdoor unit or the length of the refrigerant pipe connected to the outdoor unit and the indoor period varies according to the installation position of the indoor unit, there is a problem that the operation efficiency is deteriorated when the indoor unit is installed too far.

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Republic of Korea Patent Publication 10-2011-0018770

In the air conditioner and its operation method of the present invention, the outdoor unit of the air conditioner measures the length of a refrigerant pipe that varies according to the number of indoor units or the distance to the indoor unit, thereby determining the degree of load that varies according to the length of the refrigerant pipe. Thus, it is to provide an air conditioner and an operation method for changing the operation setting.

The air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention is an air conditioner including an outdoor unit and a plurality of indoor units connected to the outdoor unit, wherein the outdoor unit is connected to a refrigerant pipe supplying a refrigerant to the indoor unit and measures a phase difference of an input signal. Phase detection unit; And a controller configured to calculate a length of a refrigerant pipe connecting the outdoor unit and the indoor unit in response to a phase difference of the signal measured by the phase detection unit.
The present invention is an air conditioner comprising an outdoor unit and a plurality of indoor units connected to the outdoor unit, the outdoor unit comprising: a phase detection unit connected to a refrigerant pipe supplying a refrigerant to the indoor unit and measuring a phase difference of an input signal; And a control unit calculating a length of a refrigerant pipe connecting the outdoor unit and the indoor unit in response to a phase difference of the signal measured from the phase detection unit, and changing an operation setting of the compressor in response to the length of the refrigerant pipe, wherein the The phase detection unit includes a first signal applied from the second pipe to the first pipe and inputted around the first pipe with respect to the high frequency signal applied to the second pipe among the refrigerant pipes, and directly from the second pipe. The phase difference is measured by comparing the input second signal, and the controller calculates a length of the refrigerant pipe from the phase difference between the first signal and the second signal.

The method of operating an air conditioner of the present invention includes: transmitting a signal through a refrigerant pipe connecting the outdoor unit and the indoor unit; Inputting the signal transmitted through the refrigerant pipe as a reference signal and a feedback signal to a phase detection unit; Measuring a phase difference between the reference signal and the feedback signal by the phase detection unit; And calculating a length of the refrigerant pipe in response to the phase difference.

The air conditioner and its operation method of the present invention are such that the outdoor unit measures the length of the refrigerant pipe depending on the number of indoor units or the distance from the indoor unit so that the operation setting is varied according to the length of the refrigerant pipe, As a result, the operation efficiency is prevented from deteriorating, and the operation is performed differently according to the length of the refrigerant pipe for the same indoor unit load, so that the performance according to the cooling and heating operation increases, thereby improving user satisfaction.

1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a control configuration of an outdoor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a phase detection unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a diagram showing an impedance according to connection of an outdoor unit and an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a flow chart illustrating an operation method for measuring a pipe length using a phase difference of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Advantages and features of the present invention, and a method of achieving them will become apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail together with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but may be implemented in a variety of different forms, and only these embodiments make the disclosure of the present invention complete, and are common knowledge in the technical field to which the present invention pertains. It is provided to completely inform the scope of the invention to those who have, and the invention is only defined by the scope of the claims. The same reference numerals refer to the same components throughout the specification.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention includes at least one outdoor unit 10 and a plurality of indoor units 20, 21 to 24 connected to the outdoor unit.

In this case, the outdoor unit 10 includes a phase detection unit 120 connected to the refrigerant pipes L1 and L2 connected to the indoor unit to detect the phase of the signals S1 and S2 flowing along the refrigerant pipe.

The outdoor unit 10 calculates the length of a refrigerant pipe connected to the indoor unit according to the phase difference of the phase detection unit 120 and adjusts the supply of the refrigerant accordingly when the indoor unit is operated.

In addition, the air conditioner may further include a central controller for controlling the outdoor unit and the indoor unit, and a remote control connected to the plurality of indoor units. In addition, the air conditioner can be operated in conjunction with units such as a ventilation device, a defrosting device, a humidifying device, a heater, and a showcase in addition to the indoor unit and the outdoor unit.

An air conditioner is a cooling/heating system that cools the room by repetitive action of inhaling hot air in the room, exchanging heat with a low-temperature refrigerant, and discharging it to the room, or heating the room by the opposite action. Compressor-Condenser- It consists of an expansion valve-evaporator to form a series of cycles.

The outdoor unit 10 includes a compressor (not shown) that receives and compresses a refrigerant, an outdoor heat exchanger (not shown) that heats the refrigerant with outdoor air, an outdoor unit fan (not shown), and extracts gaseous refrigerant from the supplied refrigerant to a compressor. It includes a supply accumulator (not shown) and a four-way valve (not shown) for selecting a flow path of the refrigerant according to the cooling and heating operation.

In addition, the outdoor unit 10 includes a pressure sensor (not shown) for measuring the pressure of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor and the pressure of the refrigerant supplied to the compressor, and a temperature sensor (not shown) connected to the refrigerant pipe to measure the refrigerant temperature. ). In addition, a number of sensors, valves, oil collectors, and the like are further included, but a description thereof will be omitted below.

The outdoor unit 10 operates in a cooling mode or a heating mode in response to a request of the connected indoor unit, a central controller or an external control command, and supplies refrigerant to a plurality of indoor units. In this case, the outdoor unit 10 supplies the refrigerant to the indoor unit by controlling the operation of the compressor according to the number or operation setting of the indoor units to be operated among the plurality of indoor units, that is, the degree of the load.

The indoor unit 20 includes an expansion valve (not shown) that expands the refrigerant supplied from the connected outdoor unit, an indoor heat exchanger that heats the refrigerant, and an indoor fan that allows indoor air to flow into the indoor heat exchanger and expose the heat-exchanged air to the room. (Not shown), a plurality of sensors (not shown), and a control means (not shown) for controlling the operation of the indoor unit.

The indoor unit 20 includes a discharge port for discharging heat-exchanged air, and a wind direction control means (not shown) for opening and closing the discharge port and controlling a direction of discharged air is provided at the discharge port. The indoor unit adjusts the air volume by controlling the intake air and the discharged air by controlling the rotational speed of the indoor fan.

The air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention can be applied to any case such as a stand type air conditioner, a wall-mounted type air conditioner, and a ceiling type air conditioner, but for convenience of explanation, a stand type air conditioner is described as an example. .

2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a control configuration of an outdoor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the outdoor unit 10 includes an input unit 150, an output unit 140, a communication unit 130, a phase detection unit 120, a data unit 160, and a control unit 110 that controls overall operation of the outdoor unit. Includes.

As described above, the outdoor unit 10 further includes components such as a compressor, a heat exchanger, an outdoor unit fan, a valve, and a sensor, but a description thereof will be omitted below.

The input unit 150 may include at least one input means such as at least one button, switch, or wheel, and in some cases, may include a touch pad that recognizes an input by pressure or power failure. The input unit 150 applies input data to the control unit 110.

For example, the input unit 150 inputs a power signal or setting information, including a power button according to driving of the outdoor unit and a switch according to operation setting of the outdoor unit.

The output unit 140 may include a speaker that outputs sound or a display device that emits light to display a visual display.

The output unit 140 includes an LED, a 7-segment, a light emitting polymer display (LPD), a liquid crystal display, a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display, and an organic light-emitting diode. diode), a flexible display, and a 3D display, may be configured as a touch-sensitive touch screen, and various methods, not limited thereto, may be applied.

The output unit 140 may display information on an operation state of the outdoor unit or a unit such as an indoor unit connected to the outdoor unit.

For example, the output unit 140 may simply indicate whether power is input or whether it is operating through lamp lighting, and may output a warning lamp or a warning message when an error occurs. In addition, the output unit 140 may display an operation mode such as cooling, heating, dehumidification, or air cleaning of the air conditioner, and may display an indoor temperature, a wind direction, and whether or not a heat source exists in the room.

In this case, an input/output control unit for relaying and processing data between the input unit 150 and the output unit 140 and the control unit 110 may be further included. In addition, the input unit 150 and the output unit 140 may include a plurality of interfaces corresponding to a program stored in the data unit 160 or a command for performing the above-mentioned function.

The communication unit 130 transmits and receives data to and from a plurality of connected indoor units according to a control command of the controller 110. In addition, the communication unit 130 may transmit and receive data with the central controller, and in some cases, transmit and receive data by accessing an external network such as the Internet.

The communication unit 130 reads an address set in the outdoor unit and address information on a plurality of indoor units from the data unit 160, and communicates with a specific indoor unit or a plurality of indoor units.

At this time, the communication unit 130 includes at least one wired or wireless communication module, and communicates with an indoor unit or an external network by wire/wireless. For example, the communication unit 130 includes Bluetooth, an electronic tag (Radio Frequency Identification), an infrared communication (IrDA, infrared Data Association), an ultra wideband communication (Ultra Wideband), ZigBee, and Wi-Fi. ) Can be used, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

The communication unit 130 modulates data according to a communication method according to a communication method and transmits the data to a predetermined indoor unit according to a control command transmitted from the control unit 110, confirms a destination for the received data, converts the data, and applies it to the control unit 110 do.

The data unit 160 stores control data for controlling the operation of the outdoor unit, communication data transmitted and received through the communication unit 130, and measurement data input from a plurality of sensors or measuring devices provided in the outdoor unit.

In addition, the data unit 160 stores data on a plurality of indoor units connected to the outdoor unit, and stores data on a pipe connected to each indoor unit.

The phase detection unit 120 is connected to a refrigerant pipe connecting the outdoor unit and the indoor unit, and detects a signal input through the refrigerant pipe and calculates a phase difference of the detected signal.

The controller 110 controls the operation of the indoor unit and the outdoor unit in response to a command input through the input unit 150 or a command received through the communication unit 130.

The control unit 110 calculates the length of the refrigerant pipe between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit in response to the phase difference of the signal sensed by the phase detection unit 120. At this time, when the indoor unit is driven, the control unit 110 controls the operation according to the number of the indoor units operating, but controls the degree of operation of the compressor or the like according to the length of the refrigerant pipe.

That is, with respect to the indoor unit load, if the length of the refrigerant pipe is long, the load is set to be higher, and the compressor and the heat exchanger are controlled to control the operation of the outdoor unit. In addition, the control unit 110 performs the operation according to the load, but compensates the value in consideration of the length of the refrigerant pipe.

In this case, when the outdoor unit is initially operated, the controller 110 may calculate the length of the refrigerant pipe using the phase difference of the signal and change the operation setting accordingly.

In addition, the controller 110 may calculate the length of the refrigerant pipe in any one of a case where the number of connected indoor units is changed or a measurement command is input through the input unit 150.

3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a phase detection unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the phase detection unit 120 is configured with at least one logic circuit.

The phase detection unit 120 includes an XOR gate 121, a NOT gate 122, a diode 123, and a resistor 124. Further, the phase detection unit 120 is connected to the basic voltage VDD.

The XOR gate 121 of the phase detection unit 120 outputs a predetermined value according to the value of the input signal, which is input to the NOT gate 122. The output terminal of the NOT gate 122 is connected to the cathode of the diode 123, and the anode of the diode 123 is connected to one end of the resistor 124. In addition, the other end of the resistor 124 is connected to the XOR gate 121 and the basic voltage VDD. In addition, the XOR gate 121 and the NOT gate 122 are connected to the basic voltage VDD, and one side is grounded.

The phase detection unit 120 is connected to refrigerant pipes L1 and L2 connecting the outdoor unit and the indoor unit. At this time, the phase detection unit 120 is connected to the engine (gas refrigerant pipe) as the first pipe (L1) of the refrigerant pipes and the liquid pipe (liquid refrigerant pipe) as the second pipe (L2), and connects the first pipe and the second pipe to the The flowing first signal S1 and the second signal S2 are input.

The first signal S1 and the second signal S2 are respectively input to the XOR gate 121 of the phase detection unit 120. At this time, since the XOR gate 121 outputs 0 if the two input values are the same and 1 if they are different, the XOR gate 121 outputs a value of 0 or 1 corresponding to the first signal and the second signal. The output of the XOR gate 121 is input to the NOT gate 122, and the NOT gate 122 outputs a value opposite to the input value.

For example, if the first signal and the second signal have the same value, 0 is output from the XOR gate, which becomes 1 through the NOT gate, and when the first signal and the second signal have different values, 1 is output from the XOR gate. 0 is output from the NOT gate. Meanwhile, since the resistor 124 connected to the basic voltage VDD applies a value of 5V, that is, 1 to the anode of the diode 123, when 0 is output to the NOT gate, the diode 123 is conducted.

The control unit 110 controls a high-frequency signal to be transmitted through the second pipe L2, which is a liquid pipe, and when the transmitted high-frequency signal is input to the phase detection unit 120, the length of the refrigerant pipe is calculated according to the phase difference.

At this time, the high-frequency signal transmitted through the liquid pipe, which is the second pipe L2, is fed back to the engine, which is the first pipe L1, and is input to the phase detector 120 as the first signal S2, and further, the second signal It is input to the phase detection unit 120 as (S2). At this time, the second signal is a reference signal.

That is, since the first signal S1 input from the second pipe L2 to the phase detection unit 120 through the first pipe L1, which is an engine, is input through all of the refrigerant pipes, it is transmitted to the second pipe L2 and immediately Since a delay is generated compared to the second signal S2 input to the phase detection unit 120, the phase difference between the first signal and the second signal is detected through the phase detection unit 120.

Since the phase difference between the first signal and the second signal increases according to the length of the refrigerant pipe, the control unit 110 calculates the length of the refrigerant pipe based on this. At this time, the control unit 110 calculates the length of the refrigerant pipe based on the reference data stored in the data unit 160.

For example, the length of the refrigerant pipe may be calculated by comparing the phase difference of the signal measured in the refrigerant pipe of a specific length as a reference value and the phase difference detected through the phase detection unit 120.

At this time, when the length of the refrigerant pipe increases, the control unit 110 increases the time required for the refrigerant discharged from the compressor to be delivered to the indoor unit, and also decreases the efficiency of heat exchange using the refrigerant. By controlling the drive of the compressor according to the length, effective cooling and heating operation is performed.

4 is a diagram showing an impedance according to connection of an outdoor unit and an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 4, the indoor units 20 connected to the outdoor unit 10 each have their own impedance, and a refrigerant pipe connected to supply the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 11 of the indoor unit and the outdoor unit to the indoor unit ( L1 and L2) also have their own impedance values.

As shown in FIG. 4A, when the number of indoor units 21 to 25 connected to the outdoor unit 10 increases, the impedance of the indoor unit increases as the number of indoor units increases.

In addition, as shown in b of FIG. 4, since the length of the refrigerant pipe is increased to connect the outdoor unit and the indoor unit, the impedance of the refrigerant pipe is also increased.

Therefore, as the number of indoor units increases, not only the impedance of the indoor unit increases, but also the length of the refrigerant pipe increases, so that the impedance of the refrigerant pipe increases, so that the phase difference between the first signal and the second signal input to the phase detection unit 120 is It gets bigger.

5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation method for measuring a pipe length using a phase difference of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, the controller 110 transmits a high frequency signal through a refrigerant pipe connecting the outdoor unit and the indoor unit (S310). At this time, the controller 110 controls to transmit a high frequency signal through a liquid pipe among liquid pipes and engines.

The high-frequency signal transmitted through the liquid tube is input to the phase detection unit 120 as a second signal, which is a reference signal, and is transmitted from the liquid tube to the engine, and is input to the phase detection unit 120 as a first signal through the engine.

When a first signal, which is a feedback signal, is input to the phase detection unit 120, the phase detection unit 120 detects the first signal (S320).

The phase detection unit 120 compares the second signal, which is a reference signal, and the fed back first signal to measure a delay degree of the first signal and a phase difference between the two signals (S330).

The phase detection unit 120 applies a degree of delay and a phase difference between the two signals to the control unit 110.

The controller 110 calculates the length of the refrigerant pipe in response to the phase difference between the first signal and the second signal (S340). At this time, the controller 110 calculates a total length of the refrigerant connecting the outdoor unit and the indoor unit. The control unit 110 calculates the length of the refrigerant pipe based on the reference data stored in the data unit.

In addition, when the length of the refrigerant pipe is calculated, the control unit 110 determines an increase or decrease in a load and a decrease in operation efficiency due to the refrigerant pipe, and changes the operation setting. Accordingly, the compressor operates in response to the changed operation setting.

For example, when the length of the refrigerant pipe is increased, the operating frequency of the compressor can be increased for the same indoor unit load.

Accordingly, the present invention can measure the length of the refrigerant pipe by using the phase difference, and accordingly, the required cooling or heating operation can be performed by variably controlling the operation setting.

Even if all constituent elements constituting an embodiment of the present invention are described as being combined and operated as one, the present invention is not necessarily limited to this embodiment. As long as it is within the scope of the object of the present invention, depending on the embodiment, all the constituent elements may be selectively combined into one or more to operate.

All components may be implemented as one independent hardware, but a computer having a program module that performs some or all functions combined in one or more hardware by selectively combining some or all of the components It can also be implemented as a program.

The above description is merely illustrative of the technical idea of the present invention, and those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains will be able to make various modifications and variations without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention.

10: outdoor unit 20, 21 to 25: indoor unit
110: control unit 120: phase detection unit
130: communication unit 140: output unit
150: input unit 160: data unit

Claims (12)

In an air conditioner comprising an outdoor unit and a plurality of indoor units connected to the outdoor unit,
The outdoor unit,
A phase detection unit connected to a refrigerant pipe supplying a refrigerant to the indoor unit and measuring a phase difference of an input signal; And
Comprising a control unit for calculating a length of a refrigerant pipe connecting the outdoor unit and the indoor unit in response to a phase difference of the signal measured from the phase detection unit, and changing an operation setting of the compressor in response to the length of the refrigerant pipe,
The phase detection unit includes a first signal applied from the second pipe to a first pipe and inputted around the first pipe with respect to the high frequency signal applied to the second pipe among the refrigerant pipes, and the second pipe The phase difference is measured by comparing the immediately input second signal,
The control unit calculates a length of the refrigerant pipe from a phase difference between the first signal and the second signal. The method of claim 1,
The first pipe is a gas refrigerant pipe,
The second pipe is an air conditioner, characterized in that the liquid refrigerant pipe. The method of claim 1,
The control unit is an air conditioner, characterized in that for controlling the high-frequency signal to be transmitted through the refrigerant pipe. delete The method of claim 1,
The second signal is a reference signal for signal comparison,
The first signal is an air conditioner, characterized in that the feedback signal. The method of claim 1,
The phase detection unit
An XOR gate to which two signals are input;
A NOT gate connected to the output terminal of the XOR gate;
A diode connected to the output terminal of the NOT gate; And
Air conditioner including a resistor connected to the diode. The method of claim 1,
The control unit calculates the length of the refrigerant pipe when the outdoor unit is initially operated, when the number of connected indoor units is changed, or when a measurement command is input through the input unit. The method of claim 1,
The control unit calculates a total length of the refrigerant pipe connecting the outdoor unit and the indoor unit. Transmitting a high-frequency signal through a refrigerant pipe connecting the outdoor unit and the indoor unit;
Inputting the signal transmitted through the refrigerant pipe to a phase detector as a second signal through a second pipe among the refrigerant pipes;
The signal is applied from the second pipe to a first pipe and is input to the phase detection unit as a first signal around the first pipe;
Measuring a phase difference by comparing the phase detection unit with the first signal and the second signal;
Calculating a length of the refrigerant pipe in response to the phase difference; And
A method of operating an air conditioner comprising the step of changing an operation setting of a compressor in correspondence with the length of the refrigerant pipe. The method of claim 9,
Air, characterized in that the length of the refrigerant pipe is calculated by transmitting the signal through the refrigerant pipe in any one of a case where the number of connected indoor units is changed during the initial operation of the outdoor unit, or a measurement command is input through the input unit. How the conditioner works. delete The method of claim 9,
The second signal is input to the phase detection unit as a reference signal through the second pipe, which is a liquid refrigerant pipe,
And the first signal is applied from the second pipe to the first pipe, which is a gas refrigerant pipe, is fed back around the first pipe, and input to the phase detection unit.

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