EP3578897B1 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Air conditioner Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3578897B1
EP3578897B1 EP17895231.3A EP17895231A EP3578897B1 EP 3578897 B1 EP3578897 B1 EP 3578897B1 EP 17895231 A EP17895231 A EP 17895231A EP 3578897 B1 EP3578897 B1 EP 3578897B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
air
temperature
reduction control
cold air
heat exchanger
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
EP17895231.3A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3578897A1 (en
EP3578897A4 (en
Inventor
Takahiro Nakata
Tomoharu ASHIZAWA
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Daikin Industries Ltd
Original Assignee
Daikin Industries Ltd
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Publication date
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Publication of EP3578897A1 publication Critical patent/EP3578897A1/en
Publication of EP3578897A4 publication Critical patent/EP3578897A4/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3578897B1 publication Critical patent/EP3578897B1/en
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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
    • F24F11/70—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof
    • F24F11/72—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof for controlling the supply of treated air, e.g. its pressure
    • F24F11/74—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof for controlling the supply of treated air, e.g. its pressure for controlling air flow rate or air velocity
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F1/00—Room units for air-conditioning, e.g. separate or self-contained units or units receiving primary air from a central station
    • F24F1/0007—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil 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
    • F24F11/70—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof
    • F24F11/72—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof for controlling the supply of treated air, e.g. its pressure
    • F24F11/74—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof for controlling the supply of treated air, e.g. its pressure for controlling air flow rate or air velocity
    • F24F11/75—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof for controlling the supply of treated air, e.g. its pressure for controlling air flow rate or air velocity for maintaining constant air flow rate or air velocity
    • 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
    • F24F11/72—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof for controlling the supply of treated air, e.g. its pressure
    • F24F11/79—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof for controlling the supply of treated air, e.g. its pressure for controlling the direction of the supplied air

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an air conditioner, and particularly to an air conditioner that performs heating through a vapor compression refrigeration cycle.
  • conditioned air blown out from an indoor unit of the air conditioner is at substantially the same low temperature as a room temperature at the time point of starting the heating operation, until an indoor heat exchanger of the air conditioner warms up. If the conditioned air at such a low temperature or the conditioned air mixed with indoor air is blown onto a user in the room, the user may feel uncomfortable by cold air blow out from the indoor unit.
  • Patent Literature 1 JP 9-303844 A
  • Another air conditioner is disclosed in patent document JPH05141755A .
  • Aim of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner which improves the state of the art indicated above. This aim is achieved by the air conditioner according to the corresponding appended independent claims 1 and 7. Preferred embodiments of the invention are provided according to the dependent claims.
  • object of the present invention is to reduce uncomfortable feeling due to cold air and promote a rise in room temperature in an air conditioner that performs heating through a vapor compression refrigeration cycle.
  • an air conditioner in a first aspect, includes: an indoor heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between refrigerant and indoor air in a vapor compression refrigeration cycle; and an indoor fan configured to be able to change an air volume at a time of blowing out, into a room, conditioned air obtained through the heat exchange by the indoor heat exchanger, wherein the air conditioner is configured to perform, when starting heating, first cold air reduction control for performing an air volume restriction of the indoor fan until a temperature of the indoor heat exchanger reaches a first temperature, and second cold air reduction control for cancelling the air volume restriction at the indoor fan when the temperature of the indoor heat exchanger reaches a second temperature lower than the first temperature.
  • the air conditioner according to the first aspect performs the first cold air reduction control for restricting the air volume of the indoor fan until the temperature of the indoor heat exchanger reaches the first temperature, and the second cold air reduction control for cancelling the air volume restriction at the indoor fan when the temperature of the indoor heat exchanger reaches the second temperature lower than the first temperature. Therefore, the air conditioner can selectively perform the first cold air reduction control in order to preferentially reduce uncomfortable feeling due to cold air, or the second cold air reduction control in order to preferentially promote a rise in room temperature, wherein wherein the first cold air reduction control or the second cold air reduction control is selected in accordance with a preset selection condition.
  • the air conditioner according to the first aspect further includes a flap configured to swing a direction of blowing out the conditioned air from the indoor fan, wherein the selection condition includes, as a condition for selecting the second cold air reduction control, a condition requiring that the flap not be swinging.
  • the selection condition includes, as a condition for selecting the second cold air reduction control, the condition requiring that the flap not be swinging, and thus the second cold air reduction control is not performed while the flap is swinging to blow out conditioned air to a wide range. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the conditioned air being blown directly onto a user, even if the second cold air reduction control is performed while the user is in the room. If the swing is stopped in order to select the second cold air reduction control, the user is very likely to mistake the stop for a malfunction. The present invention can avoid such a mistake.
  • An air conditioner includes alternatively to the first aspect of the present invention, a horizontal flap configured to change an up-down direction of blowing out the conditioned air from the indoor fan, wherein the selection condition includes, as a condition for selecting the second cold air reduction control, a condition requiring that the horizontal flap be oriented upward relative to a predetermined angle.
  • the selection condition includes, as a condition for selecting the second cold air reduction control, the condition requiring that the horizontal flap be oriented upward relative to the predetermined angle, and thus the second cold air reduction control is not performed when the horizontal flap is oriented at, or downward relative to, the predetermined angle. Therefore, if the predetermined angle is set such that the conditioned air is not blown onto the user in the room, it is possible to reduce the conditioned air being blown directly onto the user, even if the second cold air reduction control is performed while the user is in the room.
  • the air conditioner according of the present invention makes it possible to reduce uncomfortable feeling due to cold air and to promote a rise in room temperature.
  • the air conditioner according of the present invention makes it easy to reduce uncomfortable feeling due to cold air and to promote a rise in room temperature.
  • the second cold air reduction control is not performed when the room is already warm and there is little need to raise the room temperature quickly. This makes it possible to improve an effect of reducing uncomfortable feeling due to cold air.
  • the air conditioner according to the present invention during the second cold air reduction control, it is possible to prevent a movement of the flap that may be mistaken for a malfunction and a movement of the flap that increases the uncomfortable feeling due to cold air.
  • the air conditioner according to aspects of the present invention makes it possible to improve the function of reducing uncomfortable feeling due to cold air.
  • the air conditioner according to another aspect of the present invention improves the function of promoting a rise in room temperature.
  • FIG. 1 A schematic configuration of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 .
  • An air conditioner 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes an indoor unit 3 attached to, for example, a wall surface WL in a room, and an outdoor unit 2 installed outdoors.
  • the outdoor unit 2 is illustrated by a broken line since the outdoor unit 2 is located outdoors on the opposite side of the indoor unit 3 with the wall surface WL interposed therebetween.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a circuit configuration of the air conditioner 1.
  • the air conditioner 1 includes a refrigerant circuit 10, and can execute a vapor compression refrigeration cycle by circulating refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 10.
  • the air conditioner 1 also includes a control unit 50 in order to control internal devices.
  • a remote controller 5 is attached to the air conditioner 1.
  • the remote controller 5 has a function of communicating with the control unit 50 using, for example, an infrared ray. A user can use the remote controller 5 to make various settings for the air conditioner 1.
  • the refrigerant circuit 10 includes a compressor 11, an outdoor heat exchanger 13, an expansion mechanism 14, an accumulator 15, and an indoor heat exchanger 16.
  • the compressor 11 sucks the refrigerant through a suction port, and discharges the refrigerant compressed inside the compressor 11 to the indoor heat exchanger 16 through a discharge port.
  • the compressor 11 is a variable-capacity inverter compressor that controls the number of rotations by an inverter. As an operating frequency of the compressor 11 increases, the amount of circulating refrigerant increases. As the operating frequency of the compressor 11 decreases, on the other hand, the amount of circulating refrigerant decreases.
  • the outdoor heat exchanger 13 includes a first port and a second port.
  • the first port allows the refrigerant to flow between the outdoor heat exchanger 13 and the suction port of the compressor 11 via the accumulator 15.
  • the second port allows the refrigerant to flow between the outdoor heat exchanger 13 and the expansion mechanism 14.
  • the outdoor heat exchanger 13 exchanges heat between outdoor air and the refrigerant flowing through a heat transfer tube (not illustrated) connected between the second port and the first port of the outdoor heat exchanger 13.
  • the expansion mechanism 14 is disposed between the outdoor heat exchanger 13 and the indoor heat exchanger 16.
  • the expansion mechanism 14 has a function of expanding and thus decompressing the refrigerant flowing between the outdoor heat exchanger 13 and the indoor heat exchanger 16.
  • the expansion mechanism 14 is configured to change the opening degree thereof. A decrease in the opening degree increases a flow path resistance of the refrigerant passing through the expansion mechanism 14. An increase in the opening degree decreases the flow path resistance of the refrigerant passing through the expansion mechanism 14.
  • a change in the opening degree of the expansion mechanism 14 changes a flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit 10, even if the state of the other devices attached to the refrigerant circuit 10 does not change.
  • the indoor heat exchanger 16 includes a first port and a second port.
  • the first port allows gas refrigerant to flow between the indoor heat exchanger 16 and the discharge port of the compressor 11.
  • the second port allows liquid refrigerant to flow between the indoor heat exchanger 16 and the expansion mechanism 14.
  • the indoor heat exchanger 16 exchanges heat between indoor air and the refrigerant flowing through heat transfer tubes 16b (see FIG. 3 ) connected between the second port and the first port of the indoor heat exchanger 16.
  • the accumulator 15 is disposed between the outdoor heat exchanger 13 and the suction port of the compressor 11.
  • the refrigerant flowing from the outdoor heat exchanger 13 toward the compressor 11 is separated into gas refrigerant and liquid refrigerant. Then, the gas refrigerant is mainly supplied from the accumulator 15 to the suction port of the compressor 11.
  • the outdoor unit 2 includes an outdoor fan 21 that generates a flow of the outdoor air passing through the outdoor heat exchanger 13.
  • the outdoor fan 21 is driven by an outdoor fan motor 21a, whose number of rotations is changeable.
  • the indoor unit 3 includes an indoor fan 31 that generates a flow of the indoor air passing through the indoor heat exchanger 16.
  • the indoor fan 31 is driven by an indoor fan motor 31a, whose number of rotations is changeable.
  • the indoor unit 3 includes a casing 61, an air filter 62, and a plurality of vertical flaps 63 and horizontal flaps 64 and 65, in addition to the indoor heat exchanger 16 and the indoor fan 31 described above.
  • the casing 61 has a box shape that is elongated in the longitudinal direction (hereinafter also referred to as the right-left direction) and provided with a plurality of openings.
  • a suction port 71 is provided in a top surface portion of the casing 61.
  • the indoor air taken in through the suction port 71 passes through the air filter 62 provided on the top surface portion of the casing 61, then passes through the indoor heat exchanger 16, and is sent to the indoor fan 31.
  • a blow-out port 72 is formed in a bottom surface portion of the casing 61.
  • the blow-out port 72 communicates with the interior of the casing 61 via a scroll flow path 72b continuing from the indoor fan 31.
  • the indoor air sucked through the suction port 71 is subjected to heat exchange in the indoor heat exchanger 16, and then blown out from the blow-out port 72 into a room RS through the scroll flow path 72b.
  • a flow path lower surface 72a is provided on the rear side of the scroll flow path 72b.
  • a cross-sectional shape of the flow path lower surface 72a draws a curve that goes away from the rotation center of the indoor fan 31 as the flow path lower surface 72a goes downward.
  • the blow-out port 72 is provided with the two horizontal flaps 64 and 65 that extend in the right-left direction.
  • the horizontal flaps 64 and 65 are turnably attached to the casing 61.
  • the horizontal flaps 64 and 65 are configured to independently turn around their respective centers of rotation that extend in the right-left direction, by horizontal flap drive motors 37 provided for the respective horizontal flaps 64 and 65.
  • the horizontal flap drive motors 37 are controlled by an indoor control device 35 (see FIG. 4 ) provided in the indoor unit 3.
  • the horizontal flaps 64 and 65 adjust, independently or in cooperation with each other, an up-down flow direction of air that is blown out from the blow-out port 72.
  • the plurality of vertical flaps 63 having surfaces crossing the right-left direction is provided at the back of the blow-out port 72.
  • the vertical flaps 63 are configured to turn right and left around centers of rotation extending in an up-down direction (direction crossing the right-left direction), by a vertical flap drive motor 38 (see FIG. 4 ).
  • the indoor control device 35 also controls the vertical flap drive motor 38 that drives the vertical flaps 63.
  • the plurality of vertical flaps 63 adjust the right-left flow direction of air blown out from the blow-out port 72.
  • the indoor heat exchanger 16 includes a plurality of fins 16a and the plurality of heat transfer tubes 16b penetrating the plurality of fins 16a.
  • the indoor heat exchanger 16 functions as an evaporator or a radiator in accordance with an operating state of the indoor unit 3, and exchanges heat between the refrigerant flowing through the heat transfer tubes 16b and the air passing through the indoor heat exchanger 16.
  • the indoor heat exchanger 16 including the fins 16a and the heat transfer tubes 16b has been described herein, the indoor heat exchanger 16 used in the present invention is not limited to a fin-and-tube heat exchanger.
  • a heat exchanger including a flat multi-hole tube instead of the heat transfer tube 16b may be used.
  • the indoor fan 31 is located substantially at the center of the interior of the casing 61.
  • the indoor fan 31 is a cross-flow fan having a substantially cylindrical shape elongated in the longitudinal direction (right-left direction) of the indoor unit 3.
  • indoor air is sucked through the suction port 71 and passes through the air filter 62, and then passes through the indoor heat exchanger 16.
  • Conditioned air generated in this manner is blown out from the blow-out port 72 into the room RS.
  • the indoor fan 31 rotates in accordance with the number of rotations of the indoor fan motor 31a. The larger the number of rotations, the larger the volume of conditioned air blown out from the blow-out port 72.
  • the control unit 50 includes an outdoor control device 26 incorporated in the outdoor unit 2, and the indoor control device 35 incorporated in the indoor unit 3.
  • the outdoor control device 26 and the indoor control device 35 are connected to each other by a signal line, and are configured to transmit and receive signals therebetween.
  • the outdoor control device 26 of the outdoor unit 2 controls, for example, the compressor 11, the expansion mechanism 14, and the outdoor fan 21 and the like.
  • the outdoor unit 2 includes an outdoor temperature sensor 22, an outdoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 23, a discharge pipe temperature sensor 24, and a suction pipe temperature sensor 25.
  • the outdoor temperature sensor 22 measures a temperature of outdoor air.
  • the outdoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 23 measures a temperature of refrigerant flowing in a specific part of the outdoor heat exchanger 13.
  • the discharge pipe temperature sensor 24 detects a temperature of refrigerant discharged from the compressor 11.
  • the suction pipe temperature sensor 25 detects a temperature of gas refrigerant sucked into the compressor 11.
  • the outdoor control device 26 is connected to the outdoor temperature sensor 22, the outdoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 23, the discharge pipe temperature sensor 24, and the suction pipe temperature sensor 25 in order to receive signals related to the temperatures measured by these sensors 22 to 25.
  • the outdoor control device 26 includes, for example, a CPU (not illustrated) and a memory 26a, and is configured to control the outdoor unit 2 in accordance with a program or the like stored in the memory 26a.
  • the indoor control device 35 of the indoor unit 3 controls the indoor fan 31 and the like.
  • the indoor unit 3 includes a room temperature sensor 32 and an indoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 33.
  • the room temperature sensor 32 measures a temperature of indoor air.
  • the indoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 33 measures a temperature of refrigerant flowing in a specific part of the indoor heat exchanger 16.
  • the indoor control device 35 is connected to the room temperature sensor 32 and the indoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 33 in order to receive signals related to the temperatures measured by the room temperature sensor 32 and the indoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 33.
  • the indoor control device 35 includes, for example, a CPU (not illustrated) and a memory 35a, and is configured to control the indoor unit 3 in accordance with a program or the like stored in the memory 35a.
  • the remote controller 5 includes a liquid crystal display device 5a and buttons 5b illustrated in FIG. 1 .
  • the buttons 5b correspond to, for example, an operation switch 51, a temperature setting switch 52, a wind direction setting switch 53, and an air volume setting switch 54 illustrated in FIG. 4 .
  • a user can operate these switches using the buttons 5b.
  • the operation switch 51 is for switching between start and stop of the operation of the air conditioner 1. The start and stop of the operation are switched every time the operation switch 51 is operated.
  • the temperature setting switch 52 is used to input a room temperature desired by the user.
  • the wind direction setting switch 53 is for setting a wind direction.
  • the air volume setting switch 54 is used to input an air volume.
  • the control unit 50 sets a target room temperature Tt based on a set temperature Ts input through the temperature setting switch 52.
  • a temperature (Ts + ⁇ 1) obtained by adding a constant value ⁇ 1 to the set temperature Ts is set as the target room temperature Tt.
  • a temperature (Ts + ⁇ 1) obtained by adding a value ⁇ 1 calculated in accordance with a predetermined function f1(x) to the set temperature Ts may be set as the target room temperature Tt.
  • the control unit 50 sets the air conditioner 1 to a thermo-off state.
  • the control unit 50 sets the air conditioner 1 to a thermo-on state.
  • the control unit 50 may set the air conditioner 1 to the thermo-on state when the room temperature Tr becomes lower than a temperature (Ts - ⁇ 2) obtained by subtracting a value ⁇ 2 calculated in accordance with a predetermined function f2(x) from the set temperature Ts.
  • the compressor 11 In the thermo-on state, the compressor 11 is driven and heat is transferred by the refrigerant.
  • the compressor 11 In the thermo-off state, on the other hand, the compressor 11 is stopped, thus stopping the heat transfer by the refrigerant.
  • the control unit 50 controls various devices constituting the air conditioner 1 based on measurement values of the various sensors as described above and a command input from the remote controller 5.
  • the control unit 50 also notifies the user of the status of the input command and the status of control using the liquid crystal display device 5a of the remote controller 5.
  • wind directions called “frontward flow”, “rightward flow”, and “leftward flow” can be set in the right-left direction.
  • the vertical flaps 63 stop while extending in the frontrear direction, and conditioned air is blown out forward.
  • the vertical flaps 63 stop while being inclined to the right, and conditioned air is blown out rightward.
  • the indoor unit 3 is also configured to select, for example, wind directions called “ceiling flow”, “upward flow”, “downward flow”, and “vertical flow” in the up-down direction.
  • the indoor unit 3 directs the tips of the horizontal flaps 64 and 65 to their respective highest positions, and blows out conditioned air from the blow-out port 72 in a direction indicated by an arrow Ar1 in FIG. 3 , such that the conditioned air flows along a ceiling CE.
  • the indoor unit 3 When the "upward flow” is selected as the wind direction, the indoor unit 3 slightly lowers the tips of the horizontal flaps 64 and 65 as compared with the case of the "ceiling flow”, and blows out conditioned air in an upward direction relative to the horizontal direction as indicated by an arrow Ar2 in FIG. 5 .
  • the indoor unit 3 blows out conditioned air in a downward direction relative to the horizontal direction.
  • the indoor unit 3 directs the tips of the horizontal flaps 64 and 65 to their respective lowest positions as illustrated in FIG. 6 , and blows out conditioned air such that the conditioned air flows along the wall surface WL.
  • the air flow indicated by an arrow Ar2 in FIG. 7 is an example of the air flow generated when the "upward flow” is selected as the wind direction.
  • the air flow indicated by an arrow Ar3 in FIG. 7 is an example of the air flow generated when the "downward flow” is selected as the wind direction.
  • the air flow indicated by an arrow Ar4 in FIG. 7 is an example of the air flow generated when the "vertical flow” is selected as the wind direction.
  • the wind direction setting switch 53 of the remote controller 5 can select how the vertical flaps 63 swing.
  • the wind direction setting switch 53 of the remote controller 5 can also select how the horizontal flaps 64 and 65 swing. Furthermore, the wind direction setting switch 53 can select how the vertical flaps 63 and the horizontal flaps 64 and 65 swing together.
  • the wind direction setting switch 53 of the remote controller 5 can be used to select a wind direction automatic mode in which the control unit 50 sets the wind direction.
  • the control unit 50 automatically sets the wind direction in accordance with the program stored in the memory 35a.
  • the control unit 50 automatically sets the air volume in accordance with the program stored in the memory 35a.
  • the manual setting mode the user can use the air volume setting switch 54 of the remote controller 5 to set, for example, five different air volumes.
  • the five different air volumes are called a first air volume, a second air volume, a third air volume, a fourth air volume, and a fifth air volume in ascending order of air volume.
  • the indoor heat exchanger 16 functions as a radiator. Therefore, as the refrigerant flows through the indoor heat exchanger 16, the refrigerant warms indoor air by exchanging heat with the indoor air, and the refrigerant is cooled by radiation.
  • the low-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant, the temperature of which has been lowered by the indoor heat exchanger 16, is decompressed by the expansion mechanism 14 to change into low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant.
  • the refrigerant that has flowed into the outdoor heat exchanger 13 via the expansion mechanism 14 is warmed by exchanging heat with outdoor air.
  • the outdoor heat exchanger 13 functions as an evaporator. Then, mainly low-temperature gas refrigerant flowing from the outdoor heat exchanger 13 via the accumulator 15 is sucked into the compressor 11.
  • the first cold air reduction control and the second cold air reduction control will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 8 .
  • the control unit 50 determines whether a first start condition has been satisfied (step S2).
  • the first start condition is for determining whether or not to start the first cold air reduction control or the second cold air reduction control. If the first start condition has not been satisfied, neither the first cold air reduction control nor the second cold air reduction control is performed. Therefore, if the first start condition has not been satisfied, the processing proceeds to step S9. If the first start condition has been satisfied, the processing proceeds to next step S3, where it is determined whether a second start condition has been satisfied.
  • the second start condition is for determining whether the first cold air reduction control or the second cold air reduction control is performed. The details of the first start condition and the second start condition will be described later.
  • step S4 the second cold air reduction control is started (step S4) to restrict the air volume.
  • the first start condition and the second start condition are not usually changed after the second cold air reduction control is started. Therefore, until the temperature of the indoor heat exchanger 16 reaches a second temperature, steps S2, S3, S4 and S5 are repeated in a loop and the second cold air reduction control continues.
  • step S5 the processing proceeds from step S5 to step S6, where the air volume restriction of the second cold air reduction control is cancelled. After the air volume restriction is cancelled, the processing proceeds to step S9, where it is determined whether or not to cancel the first cold air reduction control and the second cold air reduction control.
  • step S7 the first cold air reduction control is started (step S7) to restrict the air volume.
  • the first start condition and the second start condition are not usually changed after the first cold air reduction control is started. Therefore, until the temperature of the indoor heat exchanger 16 reaches a first temperature, steps S2, S3, S7 and S8 are repeated in a loop.
  • step S8 the processing proceeds from step S8 to step S6, where the air volume restriction of the first cold air reduction control is cancelled. After the air volume restriction is cancelled, the processing proceeds to step S9, where it is determined whether or not to cancel the first cold air reduction control and the second cold air reduction control.
  • step S9 the control unit 50 determines whether the room temperature Tr measured by the room temperature sensor 32 has exceeded a threshold temperature Th close to the set temperature Ts.
  • the setting of the threshold temperature Th is a design matter.
  • the threshold temperature Th is set to a value lower than the set temperature Ts by y degrees. In this case, if Tr > (Ts - y) is satisfied, the control unit 50 cancels the cold air reduction control (step S10), and ends the cold air reduction control routine.
  • the air conditioner 1 is configured such that, when the temperature of the indoor heat exchanger 16 rises to the first temperature or higher and then falls below the first temperature again during the first cold air reduction control, the air volume is restricted again even after the air volume restriction is once cancelled. Similarly, the air conditioner 1 is configured such that, when the temperature of the indoor heat exchanger 16 rises to the second temperature or higher and then falls below the second temperature again during the second cold air reduction control, the air volume is restricted again even after the air volume restriction is once cancelled.
  • the second temperature is set lower than the first temperature in the above-described control. Therefore, the temperature of the indoor heat exchanger 16 at the time when the air volume restriction is cancelled in the second cold air reduction control is lower than the temperature of the indoor heat exchanger 16 at the time when the air volume restriction is cancelled in the first cold air reduction control.
  • the second cold air reduction control prioritizes the function of raising the room temperature Tr over the effect of reducing uncomfortable feeling due to cold air. Meanwhile, in order to reliably reduce the uncomfortable feeling due to cold air, the second cold air reduction control is performed only in a case where the second start condition is satisfied, in which case it is easy to reduce the uncomfortable feeling due to cold air.
  • the first start condition includes a condition requiring that the air conditioner be in operation.
  • the air conditioner being in operation is an AND condition; unless the air conditioner is in operation, the first start condition is not satisfied even if the other conditions are satisfied.
  • the first start condition may include a condition requiring that the compressor 11 be driven.
  • the compressor 11 being driven is an additional AND condition, the cold air reduction control is started only in a case where the air conditioner is in operation and the compressor 11 is driven.
  • the first start condition may also include a condition requiring that the ongoing heating operation not have been reserved.
  • the first start condition may include a condition requiring that the "ceiling flow" not be forcibly selected for removing a warm air accumulation near the ceiling. This additional condition makes it possible to prevent the air volume restriction when it is desired to generate a strong air flow along the ceiling.
  • the second start condition includes a condition requiring that the horizontal flaps 64 and 65 be oriented upward relative to a predetermined angle. For example, when the wind direction is the "upward flow” as illustrated in FIG. 5 , the horizontal flaps 64 and 65 are oriented upward relative to a predetermined angle An1 from the horizontal plane. Therefore, if the second start condition requires that the horizontal flaps 64 and 65 be oriented upward relative to the predetermined angle An1, the horizontal flaps 64 and 65 at the time of selecting the "ceiling flow" or "upward flow” as the wind direction satisfy the second start condition.
  • the second start condition requiring that the horizontal flaps 64 and 65 be oriented upward relative to the predetermined angle may be instead a condition requiring that the horizontal flaps 64 and 65 be at angles at which conditioned air is blown out horizontally or upward relative to the horizontal direction.
  • the angles of the horizontal flaps 64 and 65 in the state of the "ceiling flow” satisfy the second start condition.
  • the conditioned air is blown out horizontally or upward relative to the horizontal direction. Therefore, the angles of the horizontal flaps 64 and 65 in the state of the "upward flow” also satisfy the second start condition.
  • the second start condition requiring that the horizontal flaps 64 and 65 be oriented upward relative to the predetermined angle may be instead a condition requiring that the horizontal flaps 64 and 65 be at angles at which the conditioned air is blown out along the ceiling, as well as being blown out horizontally or upward relative to the horizontal direction.
  • the angles of the horizontal flaps 64 and 65 in the state of the "ceiling flow" satisfy the second start condition.
  • the second start condition may include a condition requiring that the flaps not be swinging.
  • the horizontal flaps 64 and 65 and the vertical flaps 63 not being swinging is an additional AND condition
  • the second cold air reduction control is started only in a case where none of the horizontal flaps 64 and 65 and the vertical flaps 63 is swinging and the horizontal flaps 64 and 65 are oriented upward relative to the predetermined angle.
  • it is possible to set a condition requiring that some specific flaps not be swinging for example, only the horizontal flaps 64 and 65 not be swinging.
  • the second start condition may include a condition requiring that the difference between the target room temperature Tt and the room temperature Tr be larger than a threshold. For example, if the difference between the target room temperature Tt and the room temperature Tr being larger than the threshold is an additional AND condition, the second cold air reduction control is started only in a case where none of the horizontal flaps 64 and 65 and the vertical flaps 63 is swinging, the horizontal flaps 64 and 65 are oriented upward relative to the predetermined angle, and the difference between the target room temperature Tt and the room temperature Tr is larger than the threshold.
  • Examples of the method of restricting the air volume restriction include a method of restricting the air volume to the first air volume that is the smallest among those that can be set by the user using the air volume setting switch 54 of the remote controller 5.
  • a dedicated air volume smaller than the first air volume may be set for the first cold air reduction control and the second cold air reduction control. In this case, when the air volume is restricted in the first cold air reduction control and the second cold air reduction control, the air volume is restricted to the dedicated air volume smaller than the first air volume.
  • the simplest method of cancelling the air volume is a method of cancelling all the air volume restrictions such that any of the first to fifth air volumes is selectable, when the first temperature is reached during the first cold air reduction control or the second temperature is reached during the second cold air reduction control.
  • Other examples of the method of cancelling the air volume restriction include the following. For example, a plurality of first temperatures is set, including temperatures 1a, 1b, 1c, and Id in ascending order of temperature. When the temperature of the indoor heat exchanger 16 becomes higher than the temperature la, the air volume restriction in the first cold air reduction control is partially cancelled such that the first or second air volume can be selected.
  • the air volume restriction in the first cold air reduction control is further partially cancelled such that any of the first to third air volumes can be selected.
  • the air volume restriction in the first cold air reduction control is further partially cancelled such that any of the first to fourth air volumes can be selected.
  • all the air volume restrictions are further cancelled. As described above, for example, the air volume restrictions may be cancelled stepwise.
  • the second cold air reduction control may also be cancelled stepwise.
  • a plurality of second temperatures is set, including temperatures 2a and 2b.
  • the following relationship is satisfied, in terms of the temperature value: the temperature 2a ⁇ the temperature 2b ⁇ the temperature 1a ⁇ the temperature 1b ⁇ the temperature 1c ⁇ the temperature 1d.
  • the air volume restriction in the second cold air reduction control is partially cancelled such that any of the first to third air volumes can be selected.
  • all the air volume restrictions in the second cold air reduction control are further cancelled.
  • Examples of the cancellation of the air volume restriction include a full cancellation with which all the air volumes selectable by the user, in this case the first to fifth air volumes, become selectable at once, and another full cancellation with which the selectable air volumes increase stepwise until all the air volumes become finally selectable.
  • Examples of the cancellation of the air volume restriction also include a partial cancellation with which only a part of the air volumes becomes selectable.
  • Examples of the partial cancellation include one with which only a part of the air volumes becomes selectable at once and the cancellation process ends, and one with which the selectable air volumes increase stepwise but a part of the air volumes remains unselectable till the end.
  • the air conditioner 1 of the above embodiment is configured to perform the first cold air reduction control for restricting the air volume of the indoor fan 31 until the temperature of the indoor heat exchanger 16 reaches the first temperature, and the second cold air reduction control for cancelling the air volume restriction at the indoor fan 31 when the temperature of the indoor heat exchanger 16 reaches the second temperature lower than the first temperature.
  • the control unit 50 is configured to selectively perform the first cold air reduction control in order to preferentially reduce the uncomfortable feeling due to cold air, or the second cold air reduction control in order to preferentially promote a rise in room temperature. Therefore, it is possible to preferentially reduce the uncomfortable feeling due to cold air through the first cold air reduction control, and to preferentially promote a rise in room temperature through the second cold air reduction control.
  • the air conditioner 1 of the present embodiment has enhanced effects of reducing the uncomfortable feeling due to cold air and promoting a rise in room temperature as compared with the conventional case.
  • the case where the air volume restriction is cancelled at the first temperature has been described as an example of the first cold air reduction control for restricting the air volume of the indoor fan 31 until the temperature of the indoor heat exchanger 16 reaches the first temperature.
  • the first cold air reduction control only needs to restrict the air volume of the indoor fan 31 until the temperature of the indoor heat exchanger 16 reaches the first temperature.
  • the first cold air reduction control does not necessarily have to cancel the air volume restriction at the first temperature.
  • the first cold air reduction control or the second cold air reduction control is selected in accordance with a selection condition, i.e., the second start condition. Therefore, this selection condition is set in advance such that the first cold air reduction control is selected in order to preferentially reduce the uncomfortable feeling due to cold air, whereas the second cold air reduction control is selected in order to preferentially promote a rise in room temperature.
  • this selection condition is set in advance such that the first cold air reduction control is selected in order to preferentially reduce the uncomfortable feeling due to cold air
  • the second cold air reduction control is selected in order to preferentially promote a rise in room temperature.
  • the horizontal flaps 64 and 65 are not in the state of the "ceiling flow" being selected as the wind direction
  • the first cold air reduction control is selected.
  • the horizontal flaps 64 and 65 are in the state of the "ceiling flow” being selected as the wind direction and another second start condition is satisfied
  • the second cold air reduction control is selected. That is, the following selection is achieved.
  • the second start condition as the selection condition includes, as the condition for selecting the second cold air reduction control, the condition requiring that the temperature difference (Tt - Tr) between the target room temperature Tt and the room temperature Tr be larger than the threshold, the second cold air reduction control is not performed when the temperature difference is small and a capacity requirement is low.
  • the temperature difference (Tt - Tr) is small, the user has less desire to quickly raise the room temperature Tr.
  • the second cold air reduction control is not performed when the room RS is already warm and there is little need to raise the room temperature quickly. As a result, it is possible to focus on improving the effect of reducing the uncomfortable feeling due to cold air, thus improving the user's comfort.
  • the second start condition as the selection condition for selecting the second cold air reduction control includes the condition requiring that the horizontal flaps 64 and 65 not be swinging
  • the second cold air reduction control is not performed while the horizontal flaps 64 and 65 are swinging to blow out air to a wide range.
  • Such control makes it possible to reduce conditioned air being blown directly onto the user, even if the second cold air reduction control is performed while the user is in the room RS. If control is performed for stopping the swing of the horizontal flaps 64 and 65 in order to select the second cold air reduction control, the user is very likely to mistake the stop for a malfunction. It is possible to prevent such a mistake by performing control for not stopping the swing under the condition for selecting the second cold air reduction control requiring that the flaps not be swinging.
  • the second start condition may include a condition requiring that the vertical flaps 63 not be swinging, in addition to the horizontal flaps 64 and 65.
  • the horizontal flaps are not limited to the two horizontal flaps 64 and 65, but may be one horizontal flap, or three or more horizontal flaps.
  • the second start condition as the selection condition for selecting the second cold air reduction control includes the condition requiring that the horizontal flaps 64 and 65 be oriented upward relative to the predetermined angle An1
  • the second cold air reduction control is not performed when the horizontal flaps 64 and 65 are oriented at, or downward relative to, the predetermined angle An1. Therefore, the predetermined angle An1 is set to an angle at which the conditioned air is not blown onto the user in the room RS.
  • the predetermined angle An1 is set to an angle at which the conditioned air is not blown onto the user in the room RS.
  • the second start condition as the selection condition includes the condition requiring that the horizontal flaps 64 and 65 be at predetermined angles at which the conditioned air is blown out horizontally or upward relative to the horizontal direction
  • the conditioned air is blown out horizontally or upward relative to the horizontal direction when the second cold air reduction control is performed.
  • the indoor unit 3 at a high position can be set such that the conditioned air is not blown directly onto the user in the room even if the second cold air reduction control is performed while the user is standing up, making it possible to improve the function of reducing the uncomfortable feeling due to cold air.
  • the second start condition as the selection condition includes the condition requiring that the horizontal flaps 64 and 65 be at predetermined angles at which the conditioned air is blown out along the ceiling
  • the conditioned air is blown out along the ceiling when the second cold air reduction control is performed.
  • the case where the two types of cold air reduction control, i.e., the first cold air reduction control and the second cold air reduction control are performed has been described.
  • another cold air reduction control may be further performed.
  • third cold air reduction control may be further performed, with which the air volume restriction at the indoor fan 31 is cancelled when the temperature of the indoor heat exchanger 16 reaches a third temperature lower than the second temperature.
  • the third cold air reduction control is further performed with which the air volume restriction at the indoor fan 31 is cancelled when the temperature of the indoor heat exchanger 16 reaches the third temperature lower than the second temperature. Therefore, it is possible to rapidly raise the room temperature through the third cold air reduction control in a case of more preferentially promoting a rise in room temperature than in the second cold air reduction control.
  • the third cold air reduction control may be added to the control of the air conditioner 1 as illustrated in FIG. 9 , with the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 8 partially changed. It is determined whether a third start condition has been satisfied (step S11) between step S3 and step S4 of the flowchart of FIG. 8 . If the third start conditions has been satisfied, the third cold air reduction control is started (step S12). If the third start condition has not been satisfied, on the other hand, the processing proceeds to step S4, where the second cold air reduction control is started, and then steps S2 to S5 are repeated in a loop.
  • step S13 it is then determined whether the temperature of the indoor heat exchanger 16 has reached the third temperature.
  • step S14 the temperature of the indoor heat exchanger 16 reaches the third temperature
  • step S14 the air volume restriction is cancelled.
  • step S9 or step S2 the operation after the processing proceeds to step S9 or step S2 is the same as the already described corresponding operation of the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 8 , and thus will not be described again.
  • the control unit 50 is programmed to perform control such that the second start condition includes, for example, a condition requiring that the wind direction be the "ceiling flow” or "upward flow”, and the third start condition includes, for example, a condition requiring that the wind direction be the "ceiling flow”. That is, the third cold air reduction control focuses on promoting a rise in room temperature as compared with the second cold air reduction control. Therefore, when the temperature of the indoor heat exchanger 16 reaches the third temperature lower than the second temperature, the air volume restriction is cancelled such that, for example, any of the first to fifth air volumes is selectable (step S14).
  • the air conditioner 1 can further perform the third cold air reduction control with which the air volume restriction at the indoor fan 31 is cancelled when the temperature of the indoor heat exchanger 16 reaches the third temperature lower than the second temperature.
  • the third cold air reduction control is performed to improve the function of promoting a rise in room temperature.
  • the third cold air reduction control is started only in a case where it is easier to reduce the uncomfortable feeling due to cold air than when starting the second cold air reduction control. It is thus possible to achieve both reduction of the uncomfortable feeling due to cold air and promotion of a rise in room temperature.
  • the air conditioner 1 is configured exclusively for heating.
  • the air conditioner 1 may further include, for example, a four-way switching valve 12 such that heating and cooling can be switched.
  • the compressor 11 discharges refrigerant compressed inside the compressor 11 to a first port of the four-way switching valve 12 from the discharge port of the compressor 11.
  • the four-way switching valve 12 includes, in addition to the first port, a second port connected to the outdoor heat exchanger 13, a third port connected to the accumulator 15, and a fourth port connected to the indoor heat exchanger 16.
  • the four-way switching valve 12 causes the refrigerant to flow between the first port and the fourth port and simultaneously causes the refrigerant to flow between the second port and the third port (as illustrated by the broken lines).
  • the four-way switching valve 12 causes the refrigerant to flow between the first port and the second port and simultaneously causes the refrigerant to flow between the third port and the fourth port (as illustrated by the solid lines).
  • the first start condition of the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 8 only needs to include, for example as an AND condition, a condition requiring that the heating operation be selected. Since the outdoor control device 26 controls the four-way switching valve 12, the control unit 50 can obtain, from the outdoor control device 26, information indicating which of the heating operation and the cooling operation is currently being performed.
  • the cold air reduction control is allowed to change.
  • the method of selecting the first cold air reduction control or the second cold air reduction control is not limited to the method of the above embodiment.
  • the flowchart may be partially changed as illustrated in FIG. 12 .
  • the determination in steps S5 and S8 is "No"
  • the processing returns to steps S4 and S7, respectively.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Air Conditioning Control Device (AREA)
  • Compression-Type Refrigeration Machines With Reversible Cycles (AREA)
EP17895231.3A 2017-02-06 2017-12-26 Air conditioner Active EP3578897B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2017019544A JP6428804B2 (ja) 2017-02-06 2017-02-06 空気調和機
PCT/JP2017/046695 WO2018142817A1 (ja) 2017-02-06 2017-12-26 空気調和機

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3578897A1 EP3578897A1 (en) 2019-12-11
EP3578897A4 EP3578897A4 (en) 2020-02-26
EP3578897B1 true EP3578897B1 (en) 2021-04-14

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JP (1) JP6428804B2 (zh)
CN (1) CN110249187B (zh)
AU (1) AU2017397385B2 (zh)
WO (1) WO2018142817A1 (zh)

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CN114811907B (zh) * 2022-03-14 2024-01-26 青岛海信日立空调系统有限公司 空调控制方法及空调
CN115076887A (zh) * 2022-05-26 2022-09-20 重庆海尔空调器有限公司 一种防止空调过热的控制方法和装置

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JPH0579687A (ja) * 1991-09-18 1993-03-30 Toshiba Corp 空気調和機
JP3176402B2 (ja) * 1991-11-25 2001-06-18 三洋電機株式会社 空気調和機の風量制御方式
JP3446478B2 (ja) 1996-05-10 2003-09-16 ダイキン工業株式会社 空気調和機
JP3433072B2 (ja) * 1997-10-29 2003-08-04 三洋電機株式会社 空気調和機
JPH11287502A (ja) * 1998-03-31 1999-10-19 Sanyo Electric Co Ltd 空気調和機
KR100522878B1 (ko) * 2002-10-21 2005-10-24 위니아만도 주식회사 냉난방 겸용 에어컨의 냉풍토출 방지 제어방법
JP3686963B2 (ja) * 2003-11-28 2005-08-24 シャープ株式会社 空気調和機
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JP2010078254A (ja) * 2008-09-26 2010-04-08 Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd 空気調和装置
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JP2018128157A (ja) 2018-08-16
EP3578897A1 (en) 2019-12-11
EP3578897A4 (en) 2020-02-26
WO2018142817A1 (ja) 2018-08-09
AU2017397385B2 (en) 2020-10-01
AU2017397385A1 (en) 2019-09-26
JP6428804B2 (ja) 2018-11-28
CN110249187A (zh) 2019-09-17
CN110249187B (zh) 2021-12-24

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