EP2363654B1 - Climatiseur - Google Patents

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Publication number
EP2363654B1
EP2363654B1 EP11152696.8A EP11152696A EP2363654B1 EP 2363654 B1 EP2363654 B1 EP 2363654B1 EP 11152696 A EP11152696 A EP 11152696A EP 2363654 B1 EP2363654 B1 EP 2363654B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
refrigerant
outdoor
refrigerant pressure
pressure
indoor
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP11152696.8A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP2363654A2 (fr
EP2363654A3 (fr
Inventor
Satoshi Watanabe
Masashi Maeno
Shinichi Isozumi
Tatsuhiro Yasuda
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Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd
Original Assignee
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd
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Publication date
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Publication of EP2363654A2 publication Critical patent/EP2363654A2/fr
Publication of EP2363654A3 publication Critical patent/EP2363654A3/fr
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Publication of EP2363654B1 publication Critical patent/EP2363654B1/fr
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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
    • F24F11/30—Control or safety arrangements for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F3/00—Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems
    • F24F3/06—Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the arrangements for the supply of heat-exchange fluid for the subsequent treatment of primary air in the room units
    • F24F3/065—Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems characterised by the arrangements for the supply of heat-exchange fluid for the subsequent treatment of primary air in the room units with a plurality of evaporators or condensers
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
    • F24F11/30—Control or safety arrangements for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
    • F24F11/41—Defrosting; Preventing freezing
    • F24F11/42—Defrosting; Preventing freezing of outdoor units
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
    • F24F11/62—Control or safety arrangements characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
    • F24F11/63—Electronic processing
    • F24F11/64—Electronic processing using pre-stored data
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
    • F24F11/70—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof
    • F24F11/80—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof for controlling the temperature of the supplied air
    • F24F11/83—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof for controlling the temperature of the supplied air by controlling the supply of heat-exchange fluids to heat-exchangers
    • F24F11/84—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof for controlling the temperature of the supplied air by controlling the supply of heat-exchange fluids to heat-exchangers using valves
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B47/00—Arrangements for preventing or removing deposits or corrosion, not provided for in another subclass
    • F25B47/02—Defrosting cycles
    • F25B47/022—Defrosting cycles hot gas defrosting
    • F25B47/025—Defrosting cycles hot gas defrosting by reversing the cycle
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
    • F24F11/30—Control or safety arrangements for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
    • F24F11/41—Defrosting; Preventing freezing
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F2110/00—Control inputs relating to air properties
    • F24F2110/10—Temperature
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F2110/00—Control inputs relating to air properties
    • F24F2110/10—Temperature
    • F24F2110/12—Temperature of the outside air
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F2140/00—Control inputs relating to system states
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F2140/00—Control inputs relating to system states
    • F24F2140/10—Pressure
    • F24F2140/12—Heat-exchange fluid pressure
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B2600/00—Control issues
    • F25B2600/25—Control of valves
    • F25B2600/2513—Expansion valves
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B2600/00—Control issues
    • F25B2600/25—Control of valves
    • F25B2600/2519—On-off valves
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B5/00—Compression machines, plants or systems, with several evaporator circuits, e.g. for varying refrigerating capacity
    • F25B5/02—Compression machines, plants or systems, with several evaporator circuits, e.g. for varying refrigerating capacity arranged in parallel

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an air conditioner that includes a plurality of indoor units with respect to a set of outdoor unit and performs a cooling operation and a heating operation.
  • An outdoor unit of an air conditioner mainly includes a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, and a four-way valve.
  • An indoor unit of the air conditioner mainly includes an indoor heat exchanger and an electronic expansion valve.
  • the outdoor heat exchanger gives heat to outdoor air and condenses a high temperature and high pressure gas refrigerant compressed by the compressor by switching the four-way valve, thereby forming a liquid refrigerant.
  • an electronic expansion valve of the indoor unit expands the gas refrigerant to form a low temperature and low pressure gas-liquid refrigerant
  • the indoor heat exchanger draws heat from indoor air and evaporates the refrigerant to change it into a low temperature and low pressure gas refrigerant
  • the gas refrigerant is again sent to the compressor through the gas refrigerant pipe.
  • a high temperature and high pressure gas refrigerant compressed by the compressor is sent to the indoor heat exchanger through the gas refrigerant pipe by switching the four-way valve, heat is given to indoor air to condense the indoor air to form a liquid refrigerant.
  • the electronic expansion valve of the outdoor unit expands the liquid refrigerant to form a low temperature and low pressure two-phase refrigerant
  • the outdoor heat exchanger draws heat from outdoor air and evaporates the refrigerant to form a low temperature and low pressure gas refrigerant, and the gas refrigerant is again sent to the compressor.
  • Patent Literature 1 discloses an example of air conditioner as recited in the preamble of the independent claims.
  • the outdoor unit When the air conditioner described above is used in an intermediate-rise building or a high-rise building, the outdoor unit is installed on a rooftop of the building, and the indoor units are provided in respective rooms in many cases.
  • a liquid refrigerant is sent from above to below to the liquid refrigerant pipe at the time of a defrost operation, and a refrigerant pressure at the electronic expansion valve on a side of the outdoor heat exchanger becomes higher than a refrigerant pressure at the electronic expansion valve on a side of the indoor heat exchanger due to a pressure head difference.
  • the present invention has been achieved to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner capable of favorably starting a heating operation when a defrost operation is switched to the heating operation.
  • an air conditioner including a set of outdoor unit having a compressor that compresses a refrigerant, an outdoor heat exchanger, and a four-way valve; and a plurality of indoor units respectively having indoor heat exchangers connected to the outdoor unit through a liquid refrigerant pipe and a gas refrigerant pipe, and which the outdoor unit is arranged above the indoor units, includes: on-off valves respectively provided in the indoor units on a side of the liquid refrigerant pipe; and a controller that performs a defrost operation for circulating a refrigerant through the compressor, the outdoor heat exchanger, the liquid refrigerant pipe, the on-off valves, the indoor heat exchangers, and the gas refrigerant pipes in this order by switching the four-way valve, and the controller once controls the on-off valves in a closing direction when the four-way valve switches the defrost operation to a heating operation that is performed for circulating the refrigerant through the compressor, the gas refrigerant pipe, the
  • the on-off valve is controlled in a closing direction.
  • This control avoids a case that a liquid refrigerant in the liquid refrigerant pipe reversely flows into the indoor heat exchanger due to the pressure head difference.
  • the refrigerant pressure is not reduced and therefore, it is possible to favorably start the heating operation when the defrost operation is switched to the heating operation.
  • the controller controls the on-off valves in a closing direction when the defrost operation is switched to the heating operation, and the controller controls the on-off valves in an opening direction after a predetermined time is elapsed.
  • the on-off valve is controlled in a closing direction and after a predetermined time is elapsed, the on-off valve is controlled in an opening direction. Therefore, the case that the liquid refrigerant in the liquid refrigerant pipe reversely flows into the indoor heat exchanger due to the pressure head difference is avoided for a predetermined time that is elapsed until the effect of the pressure rise of the liquid refrigerant caused by the pressure head difference ceases, the case that the refrigerant stays in the indoor heat exchanger of the indoor unit and the refrigerant becomes deficient is avoided, and the heating operation is started in a state where the refrigerant pressure is not reduced. As a result, it is possible to quickly and favorably start the heating operation when the defrost operation is switched to the heating operation.
  • the air conditioner further includes: a first indoor-refrigerant pressure detector that detects a refrigerant pressure in the liquid refrigerant pipe in the indoor unit at the on-off valve on a side of the outdoor heat exchanger; and a second indoor-refrigerant pressure detector that detects a refrigerant pressure in the liquid refrigerant pipe in the indoor unit at the on-off valve on a side of the indoor heat exchanger.
  • the controller controls the on-off valves when a refrigerant pressure that is input from the first indoor-refrigerant pressure detector becomes equal to or lower than a refrigerant pressure that is input from the second indoor-refrigerant pressure detector after the controller controls the on-off valves in a closing direction when the defrost operation is switched to the heating operation.
  • the on-off valve is controlled in a closing direction and when the refrigerant pressure becomes equal to or lower than the refrigerant pressure, the on-off valve is controlled in an opening direction. Therefore, the case that the liquid refrigerant in the liquid refrigerant pipe reversely flows into the indoor heat exchanger due to the pressure head difference is avoided, the case that the refrigerant stays in the indoor heat exchanger of the indoor unit and the refrigerant becomes deficient is avoided, and the heating operation is started in a state where the refrigerant pressure is not reduced. As a result, it is possible to favorably and quickly start the heating operation when the defrost operation is switched to the heating operation.
  • each of the indoor units includes the first indoor-refrigerant pressure detector and the second indoor-refrigerant pressure detector, the on-off valve can be controlled in an opening direction according to the pressure head difference in each of the indoor units. Therefore, it is possible to favorably and quickly start the heating operation in each of the indoor units when the defrost operation is switched to the heating operation.
  • the air conditioner further includes: an outdoor-refrigerant temperature detector that detects a refrigerant temperature of a liquid refrigerant in the liquid refrigerant pipe in the outdoor unit; and an outdoor-refrigerant pressure detector that detects a refrigerant pressure at a discharging position of the compressor in the outdoor unit.
  • the controller calculates a saturated refrigerant pressure from a refrigerant temperature that is input from the outdoor-refrigerant temperature detector after the controller controls the on-off valves in a closing direction when the defrost operation is switched to the heating operation, the controller calculates an estimated refrigerant pressure in which a liquid refrigerant pressure of a level corresponding to a pressure head difference is added to the saturated refrigerant pressure, and the controller controls the on-off valves in an opening direction when the estimated refrigerant pressure becomes equal to or lower than a refrigerant pressure that is input from the outdoor-refrigerant pressure detector.
  • the refrigerant pressure in the liquid refrigerant pipe in the indoor unit at the on-off valve on the side of the outdoor heat exchanger is calculated as the estimated refrigerant pressure at the point based on the refrigerant temperature T1 that is input from the outdoor-refrigerant temperature detector, and the refrigerant pressure in the liquid refrigerant pipe in the indoor unit at the on-off valve on the side of the indoor heat exchanger corresponds to the refrigerant pressure that is input from the outdoor-refrigerant pressure detector, and the on-off valve is controlled in an opening direction when the calculated estimated refrigerant pressure becomes equal to or lower than the refrigerant pressure.
  • control is performed based on detection of the outdoor-refrigerant temperature detector and the outdoor-refrigerant pressure detector provided on the side of the outdoor unit.
  • no detector is provided on the side of each of the indoor units. Therefore, the cost required for providing the detector in each of the indoor units can be reduced.
  • the air conditioner further includes an outdoor-refrigerant pressure detector that detects a refrigerant pressure at a discharging position of the compressor in the outdoor unit.
  • the controller obtains in advance a saturated refrigerant pressure under a using restriction on an outdoor air temperature in the heating operation after the on-off valves are controlled in a closing direction when the defrost operation is switched to the heating operation, calculates an estimated refrigerant pressure in which a liquid refrigerant pressure of a level corresponding to a pressure head difference is added to the saturated refrigerant pressure, and controls the on-off valves in an opening direction when the estimated refrigerant pressure becomes equal to or lower than a refrigerant pressure that is input from the outdoor-refrigerant pressure detector.
  • the refrigerant pressure in the liquid refrigerant pipe in the indoor unit at the on-off valve on the side of the outdoor heat exchanger is calculated as the estimated refrigerant pressure at the point where the liquid refrigerant pressure of the level corresponding to the pressure head difference is added to the saturated refrigerant pressure under the using restriction on the outdoor air temperature in the heating operation
  • the refrigerant pressure in the liquid refrigerant pipe in the indoor unit at the on-off valve on the side of the indoor heat exchanger corresponds to the refrigerant pressure that is input from the outdoor-refrigerant pressure detector
  • the on-off valve is controlled in an opening direction.
  • control is performed based on detection of the outdoor-refrigerant pressure detector provided on the side of the outdoor unit. With this control, no detector is provided on the side of each of the indoor units. Therefore, the cost required for providing the detector in each of the indoor units can be reduced.
  • the air conditioner further includes: an outdoor-air temperature detector that is provided outside of a room and detects an outdoor air temperature; and an outdoor-refrigerant pressure detector that detects a refrigerant pressure at a discharging position of the compressor in the outdoor unit.
  • the controller calculates a saturated refrigerant pressure from an outdoor air temperature that is input from the outdoor-air temperature detector after the controller controls the on-off valves in a closing direction when the defrost operation is switched to the heating operation, calculates an estimated refrigerant pressure in which a liquid refrigerant pressure of a level corresponding to a pressure head difference is added to the saturated refrigerant pressure, and controls the on-off valves in an opening direction when the estimated refrigerant pressure becomes equal to or lower than a refrigerant pressure that is input from the outdoor-refrigerant pressure detector.
  • the refrigerant pressure in the liquid refrigerant pipe in the indoor unit at the on-off valve on the side of the outdoor heat exchanger is calculated as the estimated refrigerant pressure at the point where the liquid refrigerant pressure of a level corresponding to the pressure head difference is added to the saturated refrigerant pressure corresponding to the outdoor air temperature
  • the refrigerant pressure in the liquid refrigerant pipe in the indoor unit at the on-off valve on the side of the indoor heat exchanger corresponds to the refrigerant pressure that is input from the outdoor-refrigerant pressure detector
  • the on-off valve is controlled in an opening direction when the calculated estimated refrigerant pressure becomes equal to or lower than the input refrigerant pressure.
  • control is performed based on detection of the outdoor-air temperature detector and the outdoor-refrigerant pressure detector provided outside of a room, and a detector for performing this control is not provided on the side of the indoor unit. Therefore, the cost required for providing the detector in each of the indoor units can be reduced.
  • the controller once closes the on-off valves when the defrost operation is switched to the heating operation.
  • this air conditioner it is able to avoid the case that the liquid refrigerant in the liquid refrigerant pipe reversely flows into the indoor heat exchanger due to the pressure head difference.
  • Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of an air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
  • an air conditioner 1 includes a set of outdoor unit 2 and a plurality of indoor units 3.
  • the outdoor unit 2 is provided in a machine room 101 arranged on a rooftop or the top floor of an intermediate-rise or high-rise building 100.
  • the indoor units 3 are provided in respective rooms 102.
  • the indoor units 3 are connected to the outdoor unit 2.
  • a pressure head difference H is generated between the outdoor unit 2 and the indoor unit 3 due to a difference in height therebetween.
  • Fig. 1 depicts the pressure head difference H between the outdoor unit 2 and the indoor unit 3 provided at the lowest position.
  • Fig. 2 is a configuration diagram of the air conditioner according to the present embodiment.
  • the outdoor unit 2 includes a compressor 21, an outdoor heat exchanger 22, and a four-way valve 23.
  • the compressor 21 sucks and compresses a gas refrigerant.
  • the outdoor heat exchanger 22 functions as a condenser that condenses a high pressure gas refrigerant passing through the compressor 21 at the time of a cooling operation and of a defrost operation, and also functions as an evaporator that evaporates a low temperature liquid refrigerant at the time of a heating operation.
  • the four-way valve 23 includes an introducing unit 23a connected to a discharging side of the compressor 21 through a refrigerant pipe 4a, a discharging unit 23b connected to a suction side of the compressor 21 through a refrigerant pipe 4b, and a first introducing/discharging unit 23c and a second introducing/discharging unit 23d, which are selectively switched between the side of the introducing unit 23a or the discharging units 23b.
  • the four-way valve 23 selectively switches between destinations of supply of a gas refrigerant compressed by the compressor 21 at the time of the cooling operation, at the time of the defrost operation, and at the time of the heating operation.
  • the indoor unit 3 includes an indoor heat exchanger 31 and an on-off valve 32.
  • the indoor heat exchanger 31 functions as an evaporator that evaporates a low temperature liquid refrigerant at the time of the cooling operation and of the defrost operation, and also functions as a condenser that condenses a high pressure gas refrigerant passing through the compressor 21 at the time of the heating operation.
  • the on-off valve 32 is provided on the side of a liquid refrigerant pipe 5 connected to the indoor heat exchanger 31, and opens or closes the liquid refrigerant pipe 5, thereby making a refrigerant flow or stop. To adjust a flow rate of a refrigerant flowing into the liquid refrigerant pipe 5, an electronic expansion valve is used as the on-off valve 32 in many cases.
  • the first introducing/discharging unit 23c is connected to the outdoor heat exchanger 22 through a refrigerant pipe 4c.
  • the outdoor heat exchanger 22 is connected to one end of the liquid refrigerant pipe 5.
  • the liquid refrigerant pipe 5 extends to outside of the outdoor unit 2, branches into the respective indoor units 3, and the branched other ends are connected to the respective indoor heat exchangers 31.
  • the on-off valve 32 is provided on each of the branched other ends of the liquid refrigerant pipe 5.
  • the second introducing/discharging unit 23d is connected to one end of a gas refrigerant pipe 6.
  • the gas refrigerant pipe 6 extends to outside the outdoor unit 2, branches into the respective indoor units 3, and the branched other ends are connected to the indoor heat exchangers 31.
  • the air conditioner 1 circulates a refrigerant through the compressor 21, the outdoor heat exchanger 22, the liquid refrigerant pipe 5, the on-off valves 32, the indoor heat exchangers 31, and the gas refrigerant pipe 6 in this order by switching the four-way valve 23, as shown with arrows of broken lines in Fig. 2 , and cools indoor air in the rooms 102 by the cooling operation, or prevents, by the defrost operation, the outdoor heat exchanger 22 from being frozen at the time of the heating operation.
  • the air conditioner 1 circulates a refrigerant through the compressor 21, the gas refrigerant pipe 6, the indoor heat exchangers 31, the on-off valves 32, the liquid refrigerant pipe 5, and the outdoor heat exchanger 22 in this order by switching the four-way valve 23 as shown with arrows of solid lines in Fig. 2 , and heats indoor air by the heating operation.
  • Fig. 3 is an operation diagram (a P-h line drawing) of the air conditioner according to the present embodiment at the time of the defrost operation. Symbols of points A to F in Fig. 3 correspond to positions of points A to F in Fig. 2 . As shown in Fig.
  • a refrigerant pressure at the point D that is, in the liquid refrigerant pipe 5 in the indoor unit 3 at the on-off valve 32 on the side of the outdoor heat exchanger 22 is increased by the pressure head difference H, and this refrigerant pressure becomes higher than a refrigerant pressure at the point E, that is, in the liquid refrigerant pipe 5 in the indoor unit 3 at the on-off valve 32 on the side of the indoor heat exchanger 31.
  • the air conditioner 1 includes a controller 71.
  • the controller 71 includes a microcomputer.
  • the controller 71 is connected to the four-way valve 23 and the on-off valves 32.
  • the controller 71 has a storage unit (not shown) that includes a RAM, a ROM and the like and in which a program and data are stored.
  • the data stored in the storage unit is time measuring information. More specifically, the time measuring information is obtained in advance by an experiment or the like by measuring a time that is elapsed until a refrigerant pressure at the point D becomes equal to or lower than a refrigerant pressure at the point E after the on-off valve 32 is once operated in its closing direction when the defrost operation is switched to the heating operation.
  • the controller 71 controls the on-off valves 32 based on the switching operation of the four-way valve 23 according to the program and data stored in the storage unit.
  • Control performed by the controller 71 is described with reference to the flowchart in Fig. 4 .
  • the controller 71 first switches from the defrost operation to the heating operation (Step S1). Next, the controller 71 controls the on-off valve 32 in a closing direction based on the switching operation of the four-way valve 23 (Step S2). Next, the controller 71 measures a time that is elapsed after the controller 71 controls the on-off valve 32 in a closing direction (Step S3). Next, when a predetermined time is elapsed (YES at Step S4), the controller 71 controls the on-off valve 32 in an opening direction (Step S5). In the opening control of the on-off valve 32 at Step S5, an opening degree of the on-off valve 32 is set such that the temperature in the room 102 becomes equal to a value that is set in the indoor unit 3.
  • the on-off valve 32 is controlled in a closing direction.
  • This control avoids a case that a liquid refrigerant in the liquid refrigerant pipe 5 reversely flows into the indoor heat exchanger 31 due to the pressure head difference H.
  • the refrigerant pressure is not reduced and therefore, it is possible to favorably start the heating operation when the defrost operation is switched to the heating operation.
  • the on-off valve 32 is controlled in a closing direction and after a predetermined time is elapsed, the on-off valve 32 is controlled in an opening direction. Therefore, the case that the liquid refrigerant in the liquid refrigerant pipe 5 reversely flows into the indoor heat exchanger 31 due to the pressure head difference H is avoided for a predetermined time that is elapsed until the effect of the pressure rise of the liquid refrigerant caused by the pressure head difference H ceases, the case that the refrigerant stays in the indoor heat exchanger 31 of the indoor unit 3 and the refrigerant becomes deficient is avoided, and the heating operation is started in a state where the refrigerant pressure is not reduced. As a result, it is possible to quickly and favorably start the heating operation when the defrost operation is switched to the heating operation.
  • a predetermined time that is elapsed until the effect of the pressure rise of the liquid refrigerant caused by the pressure head difference H ceases is set for each of the indoor units 3.
  • the control of the on-off valve 32 at Step S2 fully closes the liquid refrigerant pipe 5 by the on-off valve 32. This control can reliably avoid the case that the liquid refrigerant in the liquid refrigerant pipe 5 reversely flows into the indoor heat exchanger 31 due to the pressure head difference H.
  • the control of the on-off valve 32 at Step S2 is not limited to the fully closing operation, and the liquid refrigerant pipe 5 can be closed about 90% by the on-off valve 32. With this arrangement, the heating operation can be started substantially at the same time when the effect of the pressure rise of the liquid refrigerant caused by the pressure head difference H ceases, and therefore it is possible to start the heating operation at a relatively early timing.
  • Fig. 5 is a configuration diagram of an air conditioner according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
  • constituent elements equivalent to those of the first embodiment described above are denoted with like reference numerals and explanations thereof will be omitted.
  • the air conditioner 1 includes first indoor-refrigerant pressure detectors 81 each of which detects a refrigerant pressure P1 at the point D, that is, in the liquid refrigerant pipe 5 in the indoor unit 3 at the on-off valve 32 on the side of the outdoor heat exchanger 22.
  • the air conditioner 1 includes second indoor-refrigerant pressure detectors 82 each of which detects a refrigerant pressure P2 at the point E, that is, in the liquid refrigerant pipe 5 in the indoor unit 3 at the on-off valve 32 on the side of the indoor heat exchanger 31.
  • the refrigerant pressure P1 detected by the first indoor-refrigerant pressure detector 81 and the refrigerant pressure P2 detected by the second indoor-refrigerant pressure detector 82 are input to a controller 72.
  • the controller 72 includes a microcomputer.
  • the controller 72 is connected to the first indoor-refrigerant pressure detectors 81, the second indoor-refrigerant pressure detectors 82, the four-way valve 23, and the on-off valves 32.
  • the controller 72 has a storage unit (not shown) that includes a RAM, a ROM and the like and in which a program and data are stored.
  • the data stored in the storage unit is comparing information for comparing whether the refrigerant pressure P1 is equal to or lower than the refrigerant pressure P2 by the refrigerant pressure P1 that is input from the first indoor-refrigerant pressure detector 81 and the refrigerant pressure P2 that is input from the second indoor-refrigerant pressure detector 82.
  • the controller 72 switches the four-way valve 23 and controls the on-off valves 32 based on inputs of the refrigerant pressure P1 and the refrigerant pressure P2, according to the program and the data stored in the storage unit.
  • Control performed by the controller 72 is described with reference to the flowchart in Fig. 6 .
  • the controller 72 switches the four-way valve 23 from the defrost operation to the heating operation (Step S11).
  • the controller 72 controls the on-off valve 32 in a closing direction based on the switching operation of the four-way valve 23 (Step S12).
  • the controller 72 inputs the refrigerant pressure P1 detected by the first indoor-refrigerant pressure detector 81 (Step S13).
  • the controller 72 inputs the refrigerant pressure P2 detected by the second indoor-refrigerant pressure detector 82 (Step S14).
  • the controller 72 controls the on-off valve 32 in an opening direction (Step S16). If the refrigerant pressure P1 is not equal to or lower than the refrigerant pressure P2 (NO at Step S15), the controller 72 repeats the control operations at Steps S13 to S15 until the refrigerant pressure P1 becomes equal to or lower than the refrigerant pressure P2. In the opening control of the on-off valve 32 at Step S16, an opening degree of the on-off valve 32 is set such that the temperature in the room 102 becomes equal to a value that is set in the indoor unit 3.
  • the on-off valve 32 is controlled in a closing direction. Accordingly, this control avoids the case that the liquid refrigerant in the liquid refrigerant pipe 5 reversely flows into the indoor heat exchanger 31 due to the pressure head difference H. As a result, the case that the refrigerant stays in the indoor heat exchanger 31 of the indoor unit 3 and the refrigerant becomes deficient can be avoided, the refrigerant pressure is not reduced and therefore, it is possible to favorably start the heating operation when the defrost operation is switched to the heating operation.
  • the on-off valve 32 is controlled in a closing direction and when the refrigerant pressure P1 becomes equal to or lower than the refrigerant pressure P2, the on-off valve 32 is controlled in an opening direction. Therefore, the case that the liquid refrigerant in the liquid refrigerant pipe 5 reversely flows into the indoor heat exchanger 31 due to the pressure head difference H is avoided, the case that the refrigerant stays in the indoor heat exchanger 31 of the indoor unit 3 and the refrigerant becomes deficient is avoided, and the heating operation is started in a state where the refrigerant pressure is not reduced. As a result, it is possible to favorably and quickly start the heating operation when the defrost operation is switched to the heating operation.
  • each of the indoor units 3 includes the first indoor-refrigerant pressure detector 81 and the second indoor-refrigerant pressure detector 82, the on-off valve 32 can be controlled in an opening direction according to the pressure head difference H in each of the indoor units 3. Therefore, it is possible to favorably and quickly start the heating operation in each of the indoor units 3 when the defrost operation is switched to the heating operation.
  • the control of the on-off valve 32 at Step S12 fully closes the liquid refrigerant pipe 5 by the on-off valve 32. This control can reliably avoid the case that the liquid refrigerant in the liquid refrigerant pipe 5 reversely flows into the indoor heat exchanger 31 due to the pressure head difference H.
  • the control of the on-off valve 32 at Step S12 is not limited to the fully closing operation, and the liquid refrigerant pipe 5 can be closed about 90% by the on-off valve 32. With this arrangement, the heating operation can be started substantially at the same time when the effect of the pressure rise of the liquid refrigerant caused by the pressure head difference H ceases, and therefore it is possible to start the heating operation at a relatively early timing.
  • Fig. 7 is a configuration diagram of an air conditioner according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
  • constituent elements equivalent to those of the first embodiment described above are denoted with like reference numerals and explanations thereof will be omitted.
  • the outdoor unit 2 includes an outdoor-refrigerant temperature detector 83 that detects a refrigerant temperature T1 of the liquid refrigerant in the liquid refrigerant pipe 5.
  • an outdoor-refrigerant pressure detector 84 that detects a refrigerant pressure P3 at a discharging position of the compressor 21 is provided in the outdoor unit 2.
  • the refrigerant pressure P3 corresponds to the refrigerant pressure at the point E, that is, in the liquid refrigerant pipe 5 in the indoor unit 3 at the on-off valve 32 on the side of the indoor heat exchanger 31.
  • the refrigerant temperature T1 detected by the outdoor-refrigerant temperature detector 83 and the refrigerant pressure P3 detected by the outdoor-refrigerant pressure detector 84 are input to a controller 73.
  • the controller 73 includes a microcomputer.
  • the controller 73 is connected to the outdoor-refrigerant temperature detector 83, the outdoor-refrigerant pressure detector 84, the four-way valve 23, and the on-off valves 32.
  • the controller 73 has a storage unit (not shown) that includes a RAM, a ROM and the like, and in which a program and data are stored.
  • the data stored in the storage unit includes saturated-refrigerant-pressure calculating information for calculating a refrigerant pressure in a saturated state from the refrigerant temperature T1 that is input from the outdoor-refrigerant temperature detector 83, estimated-refrigerant-pressure calculating information for calculating an estimated refrigerant pressure P4 at the point D where a liquid refrigerant pressure of a level corresponding to the pressure head difference H is added to a saturated refrigerant pressure, and comparing information for comparing whether the estimated refrigerant pressure P4 is equal to or lower than the refrigerant pressure P3 by the estimated refrigerant pressure P4 and the refrigerant pressure P3 that is input from the outdoor-refrigerant pressure detector 84.
  • the controller 73 switches the four-way valve 23 and controls the on-off valves 32 based on the inputs of the refrigerant temperature T1 and the refrigerant pressure P3, according to the program and the data stored in the storage unit.
  • Control performed by the controller 73 is described with reference to the flowchart in Fig. 8 .
  • the controller 73 switches the four-way valve 23 from the defrost operation to the heating operation (Step S21).
  • the controller 73 controls the on-off valve 32 in a closing direction based on the switching operation of the four-way valve 23 (Step S22).
  • the controller 73 inputs the refrigerant temperature T1 detected by the outdoor-refrigerant temperature detector 83 (Step S23).
  • the controller 73 calculates the saturated refrigerant pressure based on the refrigerant temperature T1, and calculates the estimated refrigerant pressure P4 at the point D where a liquid refrigerant pressure of a level corresponding to the pressure head difference H is added to the saturated refrigerant pressure (Step S24).
  • the controller 73 inputs the refrigerant pressure P3 detected by the outdoor-refrigerant pressure detector 84 (Step S25).
  • the controller 73 controls the on-off valve 32 in an opening direction (Step S27).
  • the controller 73 repeats the control operations at Steps S23 to S26 until the refrigerant pressure P4 becomes equal to or lower than the refrigerant pressure P3.
  • an opening degree of the on-off valve 32 is set such that the temperature in the room 102 becomes equal to a value that is set in the indoor unit 3.
  • the on-off valve 32 is controlled in a closing direction. Accordingly, this control avoids the case that the liquid refrigerant in the liquid refrigerant pipe 5 reversely flows into the indoor heat exchanger 31 due to the pressure head difference H. As a result, the case that the refrigerant stays in the indoor heat exchanger 31 of the indoor unit 3 and the refrigerant becomes deficient can be avoided, the refrigerant pressure is not reduced and therefore, it is possible to favorably start the heating operation when the defrost operation is switched to the heating operation.
  • the refrigerant pressure in the liquid refrigerant pipe 5 in the indoor unit 3 at the on-off valve 32 on the side of the outdoor heat exchanger 22 is calculated as the estimated refrigerant pressure P4 at the point D based on the refrigerant temperature T1 that is input from the outdoor-refrigerant temperature detector 83, and the refrigerant pressure in the liquid refrigerant pipe 5 in the indoor unit 3 at the on-off valve 32 on the side of the indoor heat exchanger 31 corresponds to the refrigerant pressure P3 that is input from the outdoor-refrigerant pressure detector 84, and the on-off valve 32 is controlled in an opening direction when the calculated estimated refrigerant pressure P4 becomes equal to or lower than the refrigerant pressure P3.
  • control is performed based on detection of the outdoor-refrigerant temperature detector 83 and the outdoor-refrigerant pressure detector 84 provided on the side of the outdoor unit 2. With this control, no detector is provided on the side of each of the indoor units 3. Therefore, the cost required for providing the detector in each of the indoor units 3 can be reduced.
  • the estimated refrigerant pressure P4 is calculated while adding the pressure head difference H of each of the indoor units 3 to the saturated refrigerant pressure.
  • the on-off valve 32 can be controlled in an opening direction according to the pressure head difference H of each of the indoor units 3, it is possible to favorably and quickly start the heating operation when the defrost operation is switched to the heating operation in each of the indoor units 3.
  • the control of the on-off valve 32 at Step S22 fully closes the liquid refrigerant pipe 5 by the on-off valve 32. This control can reliably avoid the case that the liquid refrigerant in the liquid refrigerant pipe 5 reversely flows into the indoor heat exchanger 31 due to the pressure head difference H.
  • the control of the on-off valve 32 at Step S22 is not limited to the fully closing operation, and the liquid refrigerant pipe 5 can be closed about 90% by the on-off valve 32. With this arrangement, the heating operation can be started substantially at the same time when the effect of the pressure rise of the liquid refrigerant caused by the pressure head difference H ceases, and therefore it is possible to start the heating operation at a relatively early timing.
  • Fig. 9 is a configuration diagram of an air conditioner according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
  • constituent elements equivalent to those of the first embodiment described above are denoted with like reference numerals and explanations thereof will be omitted.
  • the outdoor-refrigerant pressure detector 84 that detects the refrigerant pressure P3 at the discharging position of the compressor 21 is provided in the outdoor unit 2.
  • the refrigerant pressure P3 corresponds to the refrigerant pressure at the point E, that is, in the liquid refrigerant pipe 5 in the indoor unit 3 at the on-off valve 32 on the side of the indoor heat exchanger 31.
  • the refrigerant pressure P3 detected by the outdoor-refrigerant pressure detector 84 is input to a controller 74.
  • the controller 74 includes a microcomputer.
  • the controller 74 is connected to the outdoor-refrigerant pressure detector 84, the four-way valve 23, and the on-off valves 32.
  • the controller 74 has a storage unit (not shown) that includes a RAM, a ROM and the like, and in which a program and data are stored.
  • the data stored in the storage unit includes saturated-refrigerant-pressure obtaining information in which a saturated refrigerant pressure is obtained in advance under a using restriction on an outdoor air temperature in the heating operation, estimated-refrigerant-pressure calculating information for calculating an estimated refrigerant pressure P5 at the point D where the liquid refrigerant pressure of a level corresponding to the pressure head difference H is added to a saturated refrigerant pressure, and comparing information for comparing whether the estimated refrigerant pressure P5 is equal to or lower than the refrigerant pressure P3 by the estimated refrigerant pressure P5 and the refrigerant pressure P3 and that is input from the outdoor-refrigerant pressure detector 84.
  • the controller 74 switches the four-way valve 23 and controls the on-off valves 32 based on the input of the refrigerant pressure P3, according to the program and the data stored in the storage unit.
  • the use of the air conditioner 1 is restricted such that the heating operation is not performed at a predetermined outdoor air temperature that is set by the air conditioner 1.
  • the predetermined outdoor air temperature is 24°C, for example. That is, when the outdoor air temperature is 24°C, the saturated refrigerant pressure is about 1.5 megapascals.
  • the estimated refrigerant pressure P5 becomes 2.4 megapascals because the pressure head difference H of 0.9 megapascal is applied.
  • Control performed by the controller 74 is described with reference to the flowchart in Fig. 10 .
  • the controller 74 switches the four-way valve 23 from the defrost operation to the heating operation (Step S31).
  • the controller 74 controls the on-off valve 32 in a closing direction based on the switching operation of the four-way valve 23 (Step S32).
  • the controller 74 calculates the estimated refrigerant pressure P5 at the point D where the liquid refrigerant pressure of a level corresponding to the pressure head difference H is added to a saturated refrigerant pressure under the using restriction on the outdoor air temperature in the heating operation (Step S33).
  • the controller 74 inputs the refrigerant pressure P3 detected by the outdoor-refrigerant pressure detector 84 (Step S34).
  • the controller 74 controls the on-off valve 32 in an opening direction (Step S36).
  • the controller 74 repeats the control operations at Steps S34 to S35 until the refrigerant pressure P5 becomes equal to or lower than the refrigerant pressure P3.
  • an opening degree of the on-off valve 32 is set such that the temperature in the room 102 becomes equal to a value that is set in the indoor unit 3.
  • the on-off valve 32 is controlled in a closing direction. Accordingly, this control avoids the case that the liquid refrigerant in the liquid refrigerant pipe 5 reversely flows into the indoor heat exchanger 31 due to the pressure head difference H. As a result, the case that the refrigerant stays in the indoor heat exchanger 31 of the indoor unit 3 and the refrigerant becomes deficient can be avoided, the refrigerant pressure is not reduced and therefore, it is possible to favorably start the heating operation when the defrost operation is switched to the heating operation.
  • the refrigerant pressure in the liquid refrigerant pipe 5 in the indoor unit 3 at the on-off valve 32 on the side of the outdoor heat exchanger 22 is calculated as the estimated refrigerant pressure P5 at the point D where the liquid refrigerant pressure of the level corresponding to the pressure head difference H is added to the saturated refrigerant pressure under the using restriction on the outdoor air temperature in the heating operation
  • the refrigerant pressure in the liquid refrigerant pipe 5 in the indoor unit 3 at the on-off valve 32 on the side of the indoor heat exchanger 31 corresponds to the refrigerant pressure P3 that is input from the outdoor-refrigerant pressure detector 84, and when the calculated estimated refrigerant pressure P5 becomes equal to or lower than the input refrigerant pressure P3, the on-off valve 32 is controlled in an opening direction.
  • control is performed based on detection of the outdoor-refrigerant pressure detector 84 provided on the side of the outdoor unit 2. With this control, no detector is provided on the side of each of the indoor units 3. Therefore, the cost required for providing the detector in each of the indoor units 3 can be reduced.
  • the estimated refrigerant pressure P5 is calculated while adding the pressure head difference H of each of the indoor units 3 to the saturated refrigerant pressure.
  • the on-off valve 32 can be controlled in an opening direction according to the pressure head difference H of each of the indoor units 3, and it is possible to favorably and quickly start the heating operation when the defrost operation is switched to the heating operation in each of the indoor units 3.
  • the control of the on-off valve 32 at Step S32 fully closes the liquid refrigerant pipe 5 by the on-off valve 32. This control can reliably avoid the case that the liquid refrigerant in the liquid refrigerant pipe 5 reversely flows into the indoor heat exchanger 31 due to the pressure head difference H.
  • the control of the on-off valve 32 at Step S32 is not limited to the fully closing operation, and the liquid refrigerant pipe 5 can be closed about 90% by the on-off valve 32. With this arrangement, the heating operation can be started substantially at the same time when the effect of the pressure rise of the liquid refrigerant caused by the pressure head difference H ceases, and therefore it is possible to start the heating operation at a relatively early timing.
  • Fig. 11 is a configuration diagram of an air conditioner according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
  • constituent elements equivalent to those of the first embodiment described above are denoted with like reference numerals and explanations thereof will be omitted.
  • the air conditioner 1 includes an outdoor-air temperature detector 85 that is provided outside of a room and detects an outdoor air temperature T2.
  • the outdoor-refrigerant pressure detector 84 that detects a refrigerant pressure P3 at a discharging position of the compressor 21 is provided in the outdoor unit 2.
  • the refrigerant pressure P3 corresponds to the refrigerant pressure at the point E, that is, in the liquid refrigerant pipe 5 in the indoor unit 3 at the on-off valve 32 on the side of the indoor heat exchanger 31.
  • the outdoor air temperature T2 detected by the outdoor-air temperature detector 85 and the refrigerant pressure P3 detected by the outdoor-refrigerant pressure detector 84 are input to a controller 75.
  • the controller 75 includes a microcomputer.
  • the controller 75 is connected to the outdoor-air temperature detector 85, the outdoor-refrigerant pressure detector 84, the four-way valve 23, and the on-off valves 32.
  • the controller 75 has a storage unit (not shown) that includes a RAM, a ROM and the like, and in which a program and data are stored.
  • the data stored in the storage unit includes saturated-refrigerant-pressure obtaining information for calculating a saturated refrigerant pressure corresponding to the outdoor air temperature, estimated-refrigerant-pressure calculating information for calculating an estimated refrigerant pressure P6 at the point D where the liquid refrigerant pressure of a level corresponding to the pressure head difference H is added to the saturated refrigerant pressure, and comparing information for comparing whether the estimated refrigerant pressure P6 is equal to or lower than the refrigerant pressure P3 by the estimated refrigerant pressure P6 and the refrigerant pressure P3 that is input from the outdoor-refrigerant pressure detector 84.
  • the controller 75 switches the four-way valve 23 and controls the on-off valves 32 based on the inputs of the outdoor air temperature T2 and the refrigerant pressure P3, according to the program and the data stored in the storage unit.
  • Control performed by the controller 75 is described with reference to the flowchart in Fig. 12 .
  • the controller 75 switches the four-way valve 23 from the defrost operation to the heating operation (Step S41).
  • the controller 75 controls the on-off valve 32 in a closing direction based on the switching operation of the four-way valve 23 (Step S42).
  • the controller 75 inputs the outdoor air temperature T2 detected by the outdoor-air temperature detector 85 (Step S43).
  • the controller 75 calculates the saturated refrigerant pressure based on the outdoor air temperature T2, and calculates the estimated refrigerant pressure P6 at the point D where the liquid refrigerant pressure of a level corresponding to the pressure head difference H is added to the saturated refrigerant pressure (Step S44).
  • the controller 75 inputs the refrigerant pressure P3 detected by the outdoor-refrigerant pressure detector 84 (Step S45).
  • the controller 75 controls the on-off valve 32 in an opening direction (Step S47).
  • the controller 75 repeats the control operations at Steps S43 to S46 until the refrigerant pressure P6 becomes equal to or lower than the refrigerant pressure P3.
  • an opening degree of the on-off valve 32 is set such that the temperature in the room 102 becomes equal to a value that is set in the indoor unit 3.
  • the on-off valve 32 is controlled in a closing direction. Accordingly, this control avoids the case that the liquid refrigerant in the liquid refrigerant pipe 5 reversely flows into the indoor heat exchanger 31 due to the pressure head difference H. As a result, the case that the refrigerant stays in the indoor heat exchanger 31 of the indoor unit 3 and the refrigerant becomes deficient can be avoided, the refrigerant pressure is not reduced and therefore, it is possible to favorably start the heating operation when the defrost operation is switched to the heating operation.
  • the refrigerant pressure in the liquid refrigerant pipe 5 in the indoor unit 3 at the on-off valve 32 on the side of the outdoor heat exchanger 22 is calculated as the estimated refrigerant pressure P6 at the point D where the liquid refrigerant pressure of a level corresponding to the pressure head difference H is added to the saturated refrigerant pressure corresponding to the outdoor air temperature T2, the refrigerant pressure in the liquid refrigerant pipe 5 in the indoor unit 3 at the on-off valve 32 on the side of the indoor heat exchanger 31 corresponds to the refrigerant pressure P3 that is input from the outdoor-refrigerant pressure detector 84, and the on-off valve 32 is controlled in an opening direction when the calculated estimated refrigerant pressure P6 becomes equal to or lower than the input refrigerant pressure P3.
  • control is performed based on detection of the outdoor-air temperature detector 85 and the outdoor-refrigerant pressure detector 84 provided outside of a room, and a detector for performing this control is not provided on the side of the indoor unit 3. Therefore, the cost required for providing the detector in each of the indoor units 3 can be reduced.
  • the air conditioner 1 it is preferable to calculate the estimated refrigerant pressure P6 while adding the pressure head difference H to the saturated refrigerant pressure.
  • the on-off valve 32 can be controlled in an opening direction in accordance of the pressure head difference H of each of the indoor units 3. Therefore, it is possible to favorably and quickly start the heating operation when the defrost operation is switched to the heating operation in each of the indoor units 3.
  • the control of the on-off valve 32 at Step S42 fully closes the liquid refrigerant pipe 5 by the on-off valve 32. This control can reliably avoid the case that the liquid refrigerant in the liquid refrigerant pipe 5 reversely flows into the indoor heat exchanger 31 due to the pressure head difference H.
  • the control of the on-off valve 32 at Step S42 is not limited to the fully closing operation, and the liquid refrigerant pipe 5 can be closed about 90% by the on-off valve 32. With this arrangement, the heating operation can be started substantially at the same time when the effect of the pressure rise of the liquid refrigerant caused by the pressure head difference H ceases, and therefore it is possible to start the heating operation at a relatively early timing.
  • the air conditioner according to the present invention is suitable for favorably starting a heating operation when a defrost operation is switched to the heating operation.

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Claims (5)

  1. Climatiseur (1) comprenant un ensemble d'unité d'extérieur (2) comportant un compresseur (21) qui comprime un réfrigérant, un échangeur de chaleur d'extérieur (22), et une vanne à quatre voies (23) ; et une pluralité d'unités d'intérieur (3) comportant respectivement des échangeurs de chaleur d'intérieur (31) reliés à l'unité d'extérieur (2) par l'intermédiaire d'un tuyau de réfrigérant liquide (5) et d'un tuyau de réfrigérant gazeux (6), dans lequel l'unité d'extérieur (2) est agencée au-dessus des unités d'intérieur (3), comprend :
    des vannes tout ou rien (32) respectivement prévues dans les unités d'intérieur (3) d'un côté du tuyau de réfrigérant liquide (5) ; et
    un contrôleur (71 ; 72 ; 73 ; 74 ; 75) qui effectue une opération de dégivrage pour faire circuler un réfrigérant à travers le compresseur (21), l'échangeur de chaleur d'extérieur (22), le tuyau de réfrigérant liquide (5), les vannes tout ou rien (32), les échangeurs de chaleur d'intérieur (31), et les tuyaux de réfrigérant gazeux (6) dans cet ordre en commutant la vanne à quatre voies (23), et le contrôleur (71 ; 72 ; 73 ; 74 ; 75) commande une fois les vannes tout ou rien (32) dans une direction de fermeture lorsque la vanne à quatre voies (23) commute l'opération de dégivrage vers une opération de chauffage qui est effectuée pour faire circuler le réfrigérant à travers le compresseur (21), le tuyau de réfrigérant gazeux (6), les échangeurs de chaleur d'intérieur (31), les vannes tout ou rien (32), le tuyau de réfrigérant liquide (5), et l'échangeur de chaleur d'extérieur (22) dans cet ordre, caractérisé en ce que le climatiseur comprend en outre :
    un premier détecteur de pression de réfrigérant d'intérieur (81) qui détecte une pression de réfrigérant dans le tuyau de réfrigérant liquide (5) dans l'unité d'intérieur (3) au niveau de la vanne tout ou rien (32) d'un côté de l'échangeur de chaleur d'extérieur (22) ; et
    un deuxième détecteur de pression de réfrigérant d'intérieur (82) qui détecte une pression de réfrigérant dans le tuyau de réfrigérant liquide (5) dans l'unité d'intérieur (3) au niveau de la vanne tout ou rien (32) d'un côté de l'échangeur de chaleur d'intérieur (3) ; dans lequel
    le contrôleur (71 ; 72 ; 73 ; 74 ; 75) commande les vannes tout ou rien (32) lorsqu'une pression de réfrigérant qui est entrée à partir du premier détecteur de pression de réfrigérant d'intérieur (81) devient inférieure ou égale à une pression de réfrigérant qui est entrée à partir du deuxième détecteur de pression de réfrigérant d'intérieur (82) après que le contrôleur (71 ; 72 ; 73 ; 74 ; 75) a commandé les vannes tout ou rien (32) dans une direction de fermeture lorsque l'opération de dégivrage est commutée vers l'opération de chauffage.
  2. Climatiseur (1) comprenant un ensemble d'unité d'extérieur (2) comportant un compresseur (21) qui comprime un réfrigérant, un échangeur de chaleur d'extérieur (22), et une vanne à quatre voies (23) ; et une pluralité d'unités d'intérieur (3) comportant respectivement des échangeurs de chaleur d'intérieur (31) reliés à l'unité d'extérieur (2) par l'intermédiaire d'un tuyau de réfrigérant liquide (5) et d'un tuyau de réfrigérant gazeux (6), dans lequel l'unité d'extérieur (2) est agencée au-dessus des unités d'intérieur (3), comprend :
    des vannes tout ou rien (32) respectivement prévues dans les unités d'intérieur (3) d'un côté du tuyau de réfrigérant liquide (5) ; et
    un contrôleur (71 ; 72 ; 73 ; 74 ; 75) qui effectue une opération de dégivrage pour faire circuler un réfrigérant à travers le compresseur (21), l'échangeur de chaleur d'extérieur (22), le tuyau de réfrigérant liquide (5), les vannes tout ou rien (32), les échangeurs de chaleur d'intérieur (31), et les tuyaux de réfrigérant gazeux (6) dans cet ordre en commutant la vanne à quatre voies (23), et le contrôleur (71 ; 72 ; 73 ; 74 ; 75) commande une fois les vannes tout ou rien (32) dans une direction de fermeture lorsque la vanne à quatre voies (23) commute de l'opération de dégivrage vers une opération de chauffage qui est effectuée pour faire circuler le réfrigérant à travers le compresseur (21), le tuyau de réfrigérant gazeux (6), les échangeurs de chaleur d'intérieur (31), les vannes tout ou rien (32), le tuyau de réfrigérant liquide (5), et l'échangeur de chaleur d'extérieur (22) dans cet ordre, comprenant en outre :
    un détecteur de température de réfrigérant d'extérieur (83) qui détecte une température de réfrigérant d'un réfrigérant liquide dans le tuyau de réfrigérant liquide (5) dans l'unité d'extérieur (2) ; et
    un détecteur de pression de réfrigérant d'extérieur (84) qui détecte une pression de réfrigérant à une position de déchargement du compresseur (21) dans l'unité d'extérieur (2) ; caractérisé en ce que
    le contrôleur (71 ; 72 ; 73 ; 74 ; 75) calcule une pression de réfrigérant saturée à partir d'une température de réfrigérant qui est entrée à partir du détecteur de température de réfrigérant d'extérieur (83) après que le contrôleur (71 ; 72 ; 73 ; 74 ; 75) a commandé les vannes tout ou rien (32) dans une direction de fermeture lorsque l'opération de dégivrage est commutée vers l'opération de chauffage, le contrôleur (71 ; 72 ; 73 ; 74 ; 75) calcule une pression de réfrigérant estimée dans laquelle une pression de réfrigérant liquide d'un niveau correspondant à une différence de hauteur de pression est ajoutée à la pression de réfrigérant saturée, et le contrôleur (71 ; 72 ; 73 ; 74 ; 75) commande les vannes tout ou rien (32) dans une direction d'ouverture lorsque la pression de réfrigérant estimée devient inférieure ou égale à une pression de réfrigérant qui est entrée à partir du détecteur de pression de réfrigérant d'extérieur (84).
  3. Climatiseur (1) comprenant un ensemble d'unité d'extérieur (2) comportant un compresseur (21) qui comprime un réfrigérant, un échangeur de chaleur d'extérieur (22), et une vanne à quatre voies (23) ; et une pluralité d'unités d'intérieur (3) comportant respectivement des échangeurs de chaleur d'intérieur (31) reliés à l'unité d'extérieur (2) par l'intermédiaire d'un tuyau de réfrigérant liquide (5) et d'un tuyau de réfrigérant gazeux (6), dans lequel l'unité d'extérieur (2) est agencée au-dessus des unités d'intérieur (3), comprend :
    des vannes tout ou rien (32) respectivement prévues dans les unités d'intérieur (3) d'un côté du tuyau de réfrigérant liquide (5) ; et
    un contrôleur (71 ; 72 ; 73 ; 74 ; 75) qui effectue une opération de dégivrage pour faire circuler un réfrigérant à travers le compresseur (21), l'échangeur de chaleur d'extérieur (22), le tuyau de réfrigérant liquide (5), les vannes tout ou rien (32), les échangeurs de chaleur d'intérieur (31), et les tuyaux de réfrigérant gazeux (6) dans cet ordre en commutant la vanne à quatre voies (23), et le contrôleur (71 ; 72 ; 73 ; 74 ; 75) commande une fois les vannes tout ou rien (32) dans une direction de fermeture lorsque la vanne à quatre voies (23) commute de l'opération de dégivrage vers une opération de chauffage qui est effectuée pour faire circuler le réfrigérant à travers le compresseur (21), le tuyau de réfrigérant gazeux (6), les échangeurs de chaleur d'intérieur (31), les vannes tout ou rien (32), le tuyau de réfrigérant liquide (5), et l'échangeur de chaleur d'extérieur (22) dans cet ordre, comprenant en outre un détecteur de pression de réfrigérant d'extérieur (84) qui détecte une pression de réfrigérant à une position de déchargement du compresseur (21) dans l'unité d'extérieur (2) ; caractérisé en ce que
    le contrôleur (71 ; 72 ; 73 ; 74 ; 75) obtient à l'avance une pression de réfrigérant saturée sous une restriction d'utilisation concernant une température d'air extérieur dans l'opération de chauffage après que les vannes tout ou rien (32) ont été commandées dans une direction de fermeture lorsque l'opération de dégivrage est commutée vers l'opération de chauffage, calcule une pression de réfrigérant estimée dans laquelle une pression de réfrigérant liquide d'un niveau correspondant à une différence de hauteur de pression est ajoutée à la pression de réfrigérant saturée, et commande les vannes tout ou rien (32) dans une direction d'ouverture lorsque la pression de réfrigérant estimée devient inférieure ou égale à une pression de réfrigérant qui est entrée à partir du détecteur de pression de réfrigérant d'extérieur (84).
  4. Climatiseur (1) comprenant un ensemble d'unité d'extérieur (2) comportant un compresseur (21) qui comprime un réfrigérant, un échangeur de chaleur d'extérieur (22), et une vanne à quatre voies (23) ; et une pluralité d'unités d'intérieur (3) comportant respectivement des échangeurs de chaleur d'intérieur (31) reliés à l'unité d'extérieur (2) par l'intermédiaire d'un tuyau de réfrigérant liquide (5) et d'un tuyau de réfrigérant gazeux (6), dans lequel l'unité d'extérieur (2) est agencée au-dessus des unités d'intérieur (3), comprend :
    des vannes tout ou rien (32) respectivement prévues dans les unités d'intérieur (3) d'un côté du tuyau de réfrigérant liquide (5) ; et
    un contrôleur (71 ; 72 ; 73 ; 74 ; 75) qui effectue une opération de dégivrage pour faire circuler un réfrigérant à travers le compresseur (21), l'échangeur de chaleur d'extérieur (22), le tuyau de réfrigérant liquide (5), les vannes tout ou rien (32), les échangeurs de chaleur d'intérieur (31), et les tuyaux de réfrigérant gazeux (6) dans cet ordre en commutant la vanne à quatre voies (23), et le contrôleur (71 ; 72 ; 73 ; 74 ; 75) commande une fois les vannes tout ou rien (32) dans une direction de fermeture lorsque la vanne à quatre voies (23) commute de l'opération de dégivrage vers une opération de chauffage qui est effectuée pour faire circuler le réfrigérant à travers le compresseur (21), le tuyau de réfrigérant gazeux (6), les échangeurs de chaleur d'intérieur (31), les vannes tout ou rien (32), le tuyau de réfrigérant liquide (5), et l'échangeur de chaleur d'extérieur (22) dans cet ordre, comprenant en outre :
    un détecteur de température d'air extérieur (85) qui est prévu à l'extérieur d'une salle et qui détecte une température d'air extérieur ; et
    un détecteur de pression de réfrigérant d'extérieur (84) qui détecte une pression de réfrigérant à une position de déchargement du compresseur (21) dans l'unité d'extérieur (2) ; caractérisé en ce que
    le contrôleur (71 ; 72 ; 73 ; 74 ; 75) calcule une pression de réfrigérant saturée à partir d'une température d'air extérieur qui est entrée à partir du détecteur de température d'air extérieur (85) après que le contrôleur (71 ; 72 ; 73 ; 74 ; 75) a commandé les vannes tout ou rien (32) dans une direction de fermeture lorsque l'opération de dégivrage est commutée vers l'opération de chauffage, calcule une pression de réfrigérant estimée dans laquelle une pression de réfrigérant liquide d'un niveau correspondant à une différence de hauteur de pression est ajoutée à la pression de réfrigérant saturée, et commande les vannes tout ou rien (32) dans une direction d'ouverture lorsque la pression de réfrigérant estimée devient inférieure ou égale à une pression de réfrigérant qui est entrée à partir du détecteur de pression de réfrigérant d'extérieur (84).
  5. Climatiseur (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 4, dans lequel le contrôleur (71 ; 72 ; 73 ; 74 ; 75) ferme une fois les vannes tout ou rien (32) lorsque l'opération de dégivrage est commutée vers l'opération de chauffage.
EP11152696.8A 2010-02-24 2011-01-31 Climatiseur Active EP2363654B1 (fr)

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JP2017142017A (ja) * 2016-02-10 2017-08-17 株式会社富士通ゼネラル 空気調和装置
CN108344128B (zh) * 2018-02-11 2020-05-05 四川虹美智能科技有限公司 多联机空调系统及其室外机模块的加载方法、管理装置
CN109990517B (zh) * 2019-04-15 2019-11-05 宁波工程学院 空调器智能快速除霜及保护控制方法

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