EP4170253A1 - Air treatment system control method and air treatment system - Google Patents
Air treatment system control method and air treatment system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP4170253A1 EP4170253A1 EP21828425.5A EP21828425A EP4170253A1 EP 4170253 A1 EP4170253 A1 EP 4170253A1 EP 21828425 A EP21828425 A EP 21828425A EP 4170253 A1 EP4170253 A1 EP 4170253A1
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- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- treatment system
- air treatment
- conditioning apparatus
- indoor
- air conditioning
- Prior art date
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- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 45
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 63
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 56
- 230000002265 prevention Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 53
- 238000004378 air conditioning Methods 0.000 claims description 126
- 238000007791 dehumidification Methods 0.000 claims description 34
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 claims description 8
- 238000003303 reheating Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000003507 refrigerant Substances 0.000 description 13
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 8
- WSFSSNUMVMOOMR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Formaldehyde Chemical compound O=C WSFSSNUMVMOOMR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 5
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000002699 waste material Substances 0.000 description 4
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000000470 constituent Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000010981 drying operation Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000036541 health Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000002159 abnormal effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000004566 building material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229920006395 saturated elastomer Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 231100000678 Mycotoxin Toxicity 0.000 description 1
- 230000002411 adverse Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000844 anti-bacterial effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000843 anti-fungal effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229940121375 antifungal agent Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 230000001276 controlling effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000002474 experimental method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000009434 installation Methods 0.000 description 1
- WSFSSNUMVMOOMR-NJFSPNSNSA-N methanone Chemical compound O=[14CH2] WSFSSNUMVMOOMR-NJFSPNSNSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000002636 mycotoxin Substances 0.000 description 1
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Images
Classifications
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- 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
- F24F11/62—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
- F24F11/65—Electronic processing for selecting an operating mode
-
- 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
- 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
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- 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
- F24F3/12—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 treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling
- F24F3/14—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 treatment of the air otherwise than by heating and cooling by humidification; by dehumidification
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- 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
- F24F11/0008—Control or safety arrangements for air-humidification
-
- 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
- F24F2110/00—Control inputs relating to air properties
- F24F2110/20—Humidity
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F2120/00—Control inputs relating to users or occupants
- F24F2120/10—Occupancy
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an air treatment system control method and an air treatment system.
- mycotoxin produced by mold adhering to the surface of a building material or the like also affects human health, particularly children's health.
- most of currently available air treatment facilities have no antibacterial and antifungal function.
- an object of the present invention is to provide an air treatment system control method and an air treatment system that contribute to prevention of the appearance of mold.
- the present invention provides an air treatment system control method including permitting an air treatment system to implement a mold preventing operation on condition that a relative humidity in a target space to be adjusted by the air treatment system is higher than a first target relative humidity, permitting the air treatment system to implement one of or both a cooling operation and a dehumidifying operation on condition that an indoor temperature is higher than a first indoor temperature in the mold preventing operation, and permitting the air treatment system to implement a heating operation on condition that the indoor temperature is lower than a second indoor temperature in the mold preventing operation.
- the second indoor temperature is lower than the first indoor temperature.
- dehumidifying operation may involve not only a dehumidifying operation using a dehumidifier, but also a dehumidifying operation to be implemented by an indoor unit of an air conditioning apparatus with a weak cooling scheme.
- the term “dehumidifying operation” as used herein may also involve a reheating and dehumidifying operation to be implemented in such a manner that at least one of the heat exchangers carries out a cooling operation while at least one of the heat exchangers carries out a heating operation.
- the first target relative humidity may be set in advance by, for example, experiment and may be adjusted in accordance with an indoor temperature.
- the first target relative humidity takes a certain value when the indoor temperature is high and takes another value when the indoor temperature is low.
- the first indoor temperature and the second indoor temperature may be set in advance as necessary.
- the first indoor temperature may be set at 22°C
- the second indoor temperature may be set at 18°C.
- the air treatment system control method permits the air treatment system to implement the mold preventing operation on condition that the relative humidity in the indoor space to be adjusted by the air treatment system is higher than the first target relative humidity, permits the air treatment system to implement one of or both the cooling operation and the dehumidifying operation on condition that the indoor temperature is higher than the first indoor temperature in the mold preventing operation, and permits the air treatment system to implement the heating operation on condition that the indoor temperature is lower than the second indoor temperature that is lower than the first indoor temperature, in the mold preventing operation.
- This configuration therefore adjusts an indoor humidity in an appropriate mode, and avoids a situation in which an air conditioning apparatus is in a thermo-off state for long hours due to an inappropriate selection of a mode in the mold preventing operation, which results in a waste of energy and fails to produce an effect of mold prevention as expected.
- the air treatment system control method may include preferably permitting the air treatment system to implement one of or both the cooling operation and the dehumidifying operation on condition that the indoor temperature is higher than the first indoor temperature and an outdoor temperature is higher than a first outdoor temperature in the mold preventing operation, and permitting the air treatment system to implement a heating operation on condition that the indoor temperature is lower than the second indoor temperature and the outdoor temperature is lower than a second outdoor temperature in the mold preventing operation, and the second outdoor temperature may be lower than the first outdoor temperature.
- the first indoor temperature and the second indoor temperature may be set in advance as necessary.
- the first indoor temperature may be set at 20°C
- the second indoor temperature may be set at 16°C.
- the air treatment system control method permits the air treatment system to implement one of or both the cooling operation and the dehumidifying operation on condition that the indoor temperature is higher than the first indoor temperature and the outdoor temperature is higher than the first outdoor temperature in the mold preventing operation, and permits the air treatment system to implement the heating operation on condition that the indoor temperature is lower than the second indoor temperature and the outdoor temperature is lower than the second outdoor temperature in the mold preventing operation.
- This configuration therefore avoids a situation in which an effect of mold prevention is decreased since the air treatment system does not operate in accordance with a preset mold preventing operation scheme, owing to an erroneous value of an indoor humidity that is detected by addition of an outdoor temperature as a condition for selection of the mold preventing operation.
- the air treatment system may include preferably an air conditioning apparatus, the air conditioning apparatus may include at least one outdoor unit, and the at least one outdoor unit may include a four-way valve configured to switch between the cooling operation and the heating operation or between the dehumidifying operation and the heating operation by the air conditioning apparatus (i.e., the four-way valve of the air conditioning apparatus has two switching states of a state switched to the cooling operation or the dehumidifying operation and a state switched to the heating operation).
- the air treatment system control method according to the present invention may include detecting a current switching state of the four-way valve at a start of the mold preventing operation.
- the air treatment system control method detects a current switching state of the four-way valve at the start of the mold preventing operation. This configuration therefore facilitates a determination as to whether the air conditioning apparatus needs to switch between the cooling operation or dehumidifying operation and the heating operation in carrying out the mold preventing operation.
- the air treatment system control method may include preferably upon detection that the four-way valve is in a switching state of permitting the air conditioning apparatus to carry out the heating operation at the start of the mold preventing operation, switching the four-way valve to a switching state of permitting the air conditioning apparatus to carry out the cooling operation or the dehumidifying operation on condition that the indoor temperature is higher than the first indoor temperature, on the other hand, upon detection that the four-way valve is in the switching state of permitting the air conditioning apparatus to carry out the cooling operation or the dehumidifying operation at the start of the mold preventing operation, switching the four-way valve to the switching state of permitting the air conditioning apparatus to carry out the heating operation on condition that the indoor temperature is lower than the second indoor temperature.
- the air conditioning apparatus may further include preferably one first indoor unit and one or more second indoor units, and the first indoor unit may be configured to carry out the mold preventing operation.
- the air treatment system control method according to the present invention may include upon detection that the four-way valve is in a switching state of permitting the air conditioning apparatus to carry out the heating operation, with at least one of the second indoor units carrying out the heating operation, at a start of the mold preventing operation by the first indoor unit, not switching the four-way valve in the switching state of permitting the air conditioning apparatus to carry out the cooling operation or the dehumidifying operation on condition that the indoor temperature is higher than the first indoor temperature, on the other hand, upon detection that the four-way valve is in a switching state of permitting the air conditioning apparatus to carry out the cooling operation or the dehumidifying operation, with at least one of the second indoor units carrying out the cooling operation, at the start of the mold preventing operation by the first indoor unit, not switching the four-way valve in the switching state of permitting the air conditioning apparatus to
- the air treatment system control method readily avoids a situation in which the switching between the cooling operation (or the dehumidifying operation) and the heating operation by the first indoor unit exerts an adverse influence on the comfortability of a person in a place where another indoor unit is installed.
- the air conditioning apparatus may be configured preferably to carry out a reheating and dehumidifying operation as the dehumidifying operation in the mold preventing operation.
- the air treatment system may include preferably an air conditioning apparatus and a dehumidification apparatus.
- the air treatment system control method according to the present invention may include permitting the air conditioning apparatus to carry out the cooling operation or the dehumidifying operation and permitting the dehumidification apparatus to carry out a powerful dehumidifying operation on condition that the indoor temperature is higher than the first indoor temperature in the mold preventing operation, and permitting the air conditioning apparatus to carry out the heating operation and permitting the dehumidification apparatus to carry out a normal dehumidifying operation on condition that the indoor temperature is lower than the second indoor temperature in the mold preventing operation.
- the air treatment system control method permits the air conditioning apparatus to carry out the cooling operation or the dehumidifying operation and permits the dehumidification apparatus to carry out the powerful dehumidifying operation on condition that the indoor temperature is higher than the first indoor temperature. This configuration therefore reduces a heavy dehumidifying load on the air conditioning apparatus during the cooling operation and improves an effect of humidification.
- the air treatment system may have preferably a mold prevention mode
- the mold prevention mode may include an information acquiring step of acquiring the relative humidity in the target space to be adjusted by the air treatment system, an information determining step of determining whether the relative humidity acquired in the information acquiring step is higher than the first target relative humidity, and an implementing step of permitting the air treatment system to implement the mold preventing operation on condition that it is determined in the information determining step that the relative humidity is higher than the first target relative humidity.
- the air treatment system control method may include preferably stopping the mold prevention mode on condition that a time during which the air treatment system implements the mold prevention mode reaches a preset total time or on condition that the relative humidity becomes equal to a second target relative humidity, and the second target relative humidity may be lower than the first target relative humidity.
- the air treatment system control method stops the mold prevention mode on condition that the operating time in the mold prevention mode reaches the preset total time or on condition that the relative humidity becomes equal to the second target relative humidity. This configuration therefore appropriately controls the operating time in the mold prevention mode and avoids a situation in which energy is consumed wastefully since the operating time in the mold prevention mode by the air treatment system is too long.
- the air treatment system control method may include preferably permitting a mobile terminal to perform at least one of starting or stopping the mold prevention mode, displaying an operating state in the air treatment system, setting a temperature, and setting a length of an operating time in the mold prevention mode.
- the air treatment system control method permits the mobile terminal to perform at least one of starting or stopping the mold prevention mode, displaying the operating state in the air treatment system, setting a temperature, and setting a length of the operating time in the mold prevention mode. This configuration therefore readily controls the process of operation in the mold prevention mode by the air treatment system.
- the air treatment system control method may include preferably upon reception of a command from a remote controller after the air treatment system is placed into the mold prevention mode, preferentially performing an operation based on the command from the remote controller and terminating the mold prevention mode.
- the air treatment system control method according to the present invention preferentially satisfies a request from an operator of the remote controller.
- the present invention provides an air treatment system including: an air conditioning apparatus; a controller configured to control an operation in the air treatment system; and a detector including an indoor detector configured to acquire indoor temperature data and indoor humidity data or further including an outdoor detector configured to acquire outdoor temperature data.
- the controller controls the operation in the air treatment system in accordance with the air treatment system control method described above, based on the data acquired by the detector.
- the air treatment system according to the present invention contributes to an adjustment to an indoor humidity and prevents the appearance of mold.
- the air treatment system may have preferably a mold prevention mode including an information acquiring step of acquiring the relative humidity in the target space to be adjusted by the air treatment system, an information determining step of determining whether the relative humidity acquired in the information acquiring step is higher than the first target relative humidity, and an implementing step of permitting the air treatment system to implement the mold preventing operation on condition that it is determined in the information determining step that the relative humidity is higher than the first target relative humidity.
- the air treatment system according to the present invention may further include a mobile terminal configured to perform at least one of starting or stopping the mold prevention mode, displaying an operating state in the air treatment system, setting a temperature, and setting a length of an operating time in the mold prevention mode.
- the air treatment system according to the present invention further includes the mobile terminal configured to perform at least one of starting or stopping the mold prevention mode, displaying the operating state in the air treatment system, setting a temperature, and setting a length of the operating time in the mold prevention mode.
- This configuration therefore readily controls the process of operation in the mold prevention mode by the air treatment system.
- the air conditioning apparatus may include preferably one first indoor unit and at least one second indoor unit, the first indoor unit may be configured to carry out the mold preventing operation, and the controller may prohibit the second indoor unit from selecting a cooling operation or a heating operation at a start of the mold preventing operation by the first indoor unit.
- the air treatment system avoids a situation in which the first indoor unit fails to perform the function of the mold prevention mode due to the interruption of the mold prevention mode caused by the switching between the cooling operation and the heating operation by the second indoor unit at the start of the mold preventing operation by the first indoor unit.
- the controller may permit preferably the air conditioning apparatus to terminate the mold prevention mode and permit the air conditioning apparatus to operate in an operating mode in carrying out the mold preventing operation, on condition that the controller unusually communicates with the detector or the air conditioning apparatus in the mold preventing operation by the air conditioning apparatus.
- the air conditioning apparatus may include preferably a plurality of indoor units.
- the air treatment system according to the present invention may further include a plurality of human detectors respectively installed in rooms where the indoor units are respectively installed.
- the controller may prohibit the air conditioning apparatus from carrying out the mold preventing operation on condition that each of the human detectors detects presence of a human, and the controller may permit the air conditioning apparatus to carry out the mold preventing operation on condition that the motion sensor detects absence of a human.
- the air treatment system according to the present invention prevents a person in the room from feeling uncomfortable due to implementation of the operation in the mold prevention mode.
- the air treatment system according to the present invention may further include a dehumidification apparatus.
- the air treatment system according to the present invention assists dehumidification by the air conditioning apparatus during the operation in the mold prevention mode, using the dehumidification apparatus, and thus improves the efficiency and effect of dehumidification.
- the dehumidification apparatus may include preferably the indoor detector.
- the dehumidification apparatus includes the indoor detector. This configuration therefore reduces the number of components in the system and simplifies the system.
- the dehumidification apparatus may have preferably a function of displaying a current humidity value.
- the dehumidification apparatus has the function of displaying a current humidity value, which allows a user to visually recognize an effect of dehumidification with ease.
- the controller may permit preferably the dehumidification apparatus to carry out a powerful dehumidifying operation on condition that the air conditioning apparatus carries out a cooling operation or a dehumidifying operation, and the controller may permit the dehumidification apparatus to carry out a normal dehumidifying operation on condition that the air conditioning apparatus carries out a heating operation.
- the controller permits the dehumidification apparatus to carry out the powerful dehumidifying operation on condition that the air conditioning apparatus carries out the cooling operation.
- This configuration therefore reduces a heavy dehumidifying load on the air conditioning apparatus in the cooling operation and improves an effect of dehumidification.
- the air treatment system implements the mold preventing operation on condition that the relative humidity in the target space to be adjusted by the air treatment system is higher than the first target relative humidity, implements one of or both the cooling operation and the dehumidifying operation on condition that the indoor temperature is higher than the first indoor temperature in the mold preventing operation, and implements the heating operation on condition that the indoor temperature is lower than the second indoor temperature that is lower than the first indoor temperature, in the mold preventing operation.
- This configuration therefore adjusts an indoor humidity in an appropriate mode, and avoids a situation in which the air treatment system is in a thermo-off state for long hours due to an inappropriate selection of a mode in the mold preventing operation, which results in a waste of energy and fails to produce an effect of mold prevention as expected.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a structure of the air treatment system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a circuit structure of an air conditioning apparatus in the air treatment system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an exemplary operation in the air treatment system according to the embodiment of the present invention.
- an air treatment system 1 includes an indoor unit 112 of an air conditioning apparatus 110, an indoor detector 120, and a controller 130.
- the indoor unit 112 is installed in a room corresponding to a target space to be adjusted by the air treatment system 1, and has a cooling function and a heating function.
- the indoor detector 120 is configured to acquire indoor temperature data and indoor humidity data on the room.
- the controller 130 is configured to control an operation in the air treatment system 1, based on the data acquired by the indoor detector 120.
- the air treatment system 1 also includes a mobile terminal 140 configured to perform at least one of displaying an operating state in the air treatment system 1, setting a first indoor temperature and a second indoor temperature (to be described later), starting or stopping a mold prevention mode (to be described later), and setting a length of an operating time in the mold prevention mode.
- the indoor unit 112 of the air conditioning apparatus 110 has the cooling function and the heating function as described above.
- the air conditioning apparatus 110 is a multiple-type air conditioning apparatus and includes one outdoor unit 111 and a plurality of indoor units 112.
- the outdoor unit 111 and the indoor units 112 are connected with a liquid pipe P1 and a gas pipe P2 to constitute a refrigerant circuit.
- Figures illustrate two indoor units, that is, a first indoor unit 112A and a second indoor unit 112B.
- the air conditioning apparatus 110 may include a plurality of first indoor units each capable of carrying out a mold preventing operation.
- the outdoor unit 111 includes a compressor 1111, a four-way valve 1112, an outdoor heat exchanger 1113, an outdoor fan 1114, and an outdoor expansion valve 1115.
- the compressor 1111 compresses a low-pressure refrigerant and discharges the high-pressure refrigerant, and the four-way valve 1112 changes a direction of the refrigerant circulating in the refrigerant circuit.
- the air conditioning apparatus 110 thus switches between a state capable of carrying out a cooling operation and a state capable of carrying out a heating operation.
- the high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor 1111 flows toward an indoor heat exchanger 1112 (to be described later) of each indoor unit 112 via the four-way valve 1112.
- the high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor 1111 flows toward the outdoor heat exchanger 1113 of the outdoor unit 111 via the four-way valve 1112.
- the outdoor heat exchanger 1114 performs heat exchange between outdoor air and the refrigerant.
- the outdoor fan 1114 provides the outdoor air to the outdoor heat exchanger 1113.
- the outdoor expansion valve 1115 controls a flow rate of the refrigerant.
- the indoor units 112 include the first indoor unit 112A and the second indoor unit 112B. Each of the first indoor unit 112A and the second indoor unit 112B includes an indoor expansion valve 1121, the indoor heat exchanger 1122, and an indoor fan 1123.
- the indoor expansion valve 1121 controls a flow rate of the refrigerant.
- the indoor heat exchanger 1122 performs heat exchange between indoor air and the refrigerant.
- the indoor fan 1123 provides the indoor air to the indoor heat exchanger 1122.
- the indoor detector 120 acquires indoor temperature data and indoor humidity data, specifically, a relative humidity H% and an indoor temperature Ti (to be described later).
- the indoor detector 120 is provided separately from the air conditioning apparatus 110.
- the indoor detector 120 includes, for example, a sensor.
- the controller 130 controls an operation in the air treatment system 1, based on data acquired by the indoor detector 120.
- the controller 130 is provided separately from the air conditioning apparatus 110 and the indoor detector 120.
- the controller 130 receives a command from the mobile terminal 140, subjects the command to identification processing, and transmits the command to the air conditioning apparatus 110 (specifically, one of or both the outdoor unit 111 and each indoor unit 112) in a wired communication manner or a wireless communication manner.
- the controller 130 thus controls an action by the air conditioning apparatus 110.
- the mobile terminal 140 performs at least one of displaying an operating state in the air treatment system 1, setting a first indoor temperature and a second indoor temperature (to be described later), starting or stopping the mold prevention mode (to be described later), and setting a length of an operating time in the mold prevention mode.
- the mobile terminal 140 is a smartphone.
- the mobile terminal 140 communicates with the controller 130 via a router (not illustrated).
- the mobile terminal 140 communicates with the air conditioning apparatus 110 via the controller 130.
- the mobile terminal 140 is thus able to control an action by the air conditioning apparatus 110.
- the controller 130 controls the operation in the air treatment system 1, based on temperature data and humidity data acquired by the indoor detector 120.
- the controller 130 permits the air treatment system 1 to implement the mold preventing operation.
- the mold preventing operation when the indoor temperature Ti is higher than the first indoor temperature T1, the controller 130 permits the air treatment system 1 to implement the cooling operation.
- the controller 130 permits the air treatment system 1 to implement the heating operation.
- the second indoor temperature T2 is lower than the first indoor temperature T 1.
- the air treatment system 1 has the mold prevention mode including an information acquiring step of acquiring the relative humidity in the target space to be adjusted by the air treatment system 1, an information determining step of determining whether the relative humidity acquired in the information acquiring step is higher than a first target relative humidity, and an implementing step of permitting the air treatment system 1 to implement the mold preventing operation when it is determined in the information determining step that the relative humidity is higher than the first target relative humidity.
- the air conditioning apparatus 110 is started.
- the compressor 1111 and the outdoor fan 1114 are operated.
- the indoor fan 1123 is operated.
- the air conditioning apparatus 110 thus carries out the cooling operation or the heating operation in accordance with the flow of the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit.
- the controller 130 detects a current switching state of the four-way valve 1112 (step ST2).
- the controller 130 determines whether the indoor temperature Ti is higher than the first indoor temperature T1 (e.g., 22°C) (step ST3). When the indoor temperature Ti is higher than the first indoor temperature T1, the controller 130 switches the four-way valve 1112 to a switching state of permitting the air conditioning apparatus 110 to carry out the cooling operation. When the indoor temperature Ti is equal to or lower than the first indoor temperature T1, the controller 130 permits the air conditioning apparatus 110 to directly carry out a heating and drying operation (step ST5).
- the indoor temperature Ti is higher than the first indoor temperature T1 (e.g., 22°C)
- the controller 130 switches the four-way valve 1112 to a switching state of permitting the air conditioning apparatus 110 to carry out the cooling operation.
- the indoor temperature Ti is equal to or lower than the first indoor temperature T1
- the controller 130 permits the air conditioning apparatus 110 to directly carry out a heating and drying operation (step ST5).
- the controller 130 determines whether the indoor temperature Ti is lower than the second indoor temperature T2 (e.g., 18°C) (step ST6).
- the controller 130 switches the four-way valve 1112 to a switching state of permitting the air conditioning apparatus 110 to carry out the heating operation.
- the controller 130 permits the air conditioning apparatus 110 to directly carry out the cooling operation (step ST4).
- step ST4 is implemented by a predetermined cooling operation to be carried out by the air conditioning apparatus 110.
- a predetermined cooling operation for example, a temperature of air to be blown out of the first indoor unit 112A is set at 16°C.
- step ST5 is implemented by a predetermined heating operation to be carried out by the air conditioning apparatus 110.
- a predetermined heating operation for example, a temperature of air to be blown out of the indoor unit is set to be higher than the indoor temperature by 2°C.
- the cooling operation (see step ST4 in FIG. 3 ) and the heating and drying operation (see step ST5 in FIG. 3 ) each enable dehumidification, but are different in dehumidification process from each other.
- a decrease in indoor temperature causes a decrease in concentration of saturated moisture in the air. Therefore, the moisture in the air is condensed and precipitated by decreasing the temperature to lower an absolute humidity of the air and to lower a relative humidity of the air.
- an increase in indoor temperature causes an increase in concentration of saturated moisture in the air and, accordingly, causes a decrease in relative humidity of the air.
- the air conditioning apparatus 110 includes one first indoor unit 112A and one second indoor unit 112B.
- the first indoor unit 112A is capable of carrying out the mold preventing operation.
- the controller 130 does not switch the air conditioning apparatus 110 to the cooling operation.
- the controller 130 does not switch the air conditioning apparatus 110 to the heating operation.
- the controller 130 permits the air treatment system 1 to implement the mold preventing operation when the relative humidity H% in the target space to be adjusted by the air treatment system 1 is higher than the first target relative humidity Hst%, permits the air treatment system 1 to implement the cooling operation when the indoor temperature Ti is higher than the first indoor temperature T1 in the mold preventing operation, and permits the air treatment system 1 to implement the heating operation when the indoor temperature Ti is lower than the second indoor temperature T2 that is lower than the first indoor temperature T1, in the mold preventing operation.
- This configuration therefore adjusts an indoor humidity in an appropriate mode, thereby preventing the appearance of mold in the appropriate mode, and avoids a situation in which the air conditioning system 1 is in a thermo-off state for long hours due to an inappropriate selection of a mode, which results in a waste of energy and fails to produce an effect of mold prevention as expected.
- the air treatment system 1 may further include a dehumidification apparatus.
- the dehumidification apparatus may include the indoor detector 120.
- the dehumidification apparatus may have a function of displaying a current humidity value.
- the controller 130 permits the air treatment system 1 to implement one of or both the cooling operation and the dehumidifying operation.
- step ST4 only the air conditioning apparatus 110 may carry out the cooling operation, the air conditioning apparatus 110 may carry out the cooling operation while the dehumidification apparatus may carry out the dehumidifying operation, or only the dehumidification apparatus may carry out the dehumidifying operation.
- the controller 130 permits the dehumidification apparatus to carry out a powerful dehumidifying operation.
- the controller 130 permits the dehumidification apparatus to carry out a normal dehumidifying operation.
- the indoor detector 120 acquires indoor temperature data and indoor humidity data.
- the controller 130 permits the air treatment system 1 to implement one of or both the cooling operation and the dehumidifying operation.
- the indoor temperature Ti is lower than the second indoor temperature T2
- the controller 130 permits the air treatment system 1 to implement the heating operation.
- the present invention is not limited to this configuration.
- the air treatment system 1 may include an outdoor detector configured to acquire outdoor temperature data, in addition to the indoor detector 120. As illustrated in FIG.
- step ST3: YES when the indoor temperature Ti is higher than the first indoor temperature T1 and an outdoor temperature To is higher than a first outdoor temperature T3 (e.g., 20°C) (step ST3: YES), the controller 130 may permit the air treatment system 1 to implement one of or both the cooling operation and the dehumidifying operation.
- the controller 130 may permit the air treatment apparatus 1 to implement the heating operation.
- the air conditioning apparatus 110 includes the outdoor unit 111 and the indoor units 112 connected with the liquid pipe P1 and the gas pipe P2. That is, the air conditioning apparatus 110 is a two-pipe air conditioning apparatus.
- the air conditioning apparatus may be a three-pipe air conditioning apparatus in which an outdoor unit and at least some indoor units are connected with a liquid pipe, a gas pipe, and a high-pressure pipe.
- the air conditioning apparatus 110 may have a structure illustrated in FIG. 5 .
- constituent components corresponding to those of the air conditioning apparatus 110 according to the foregoing embodiment are denoted with the same reference signs as those denoting the constituent components of the air conditioning apparatus 110 according to the foregoing embodiment.
- the air conditioning apparatus may carry out a reheating and dehumidifying operation as the dehumidifying operation.
- the air conditioning apparatus includes, in addition to the same constituent components as those of the air conditioning apparatus 110 according to the foregoing embodiment, a high-pressure pipe, a four-way valve 1116, a flow rate adjustment valve 1124, an indoor heat exchanger 1125, a pipe P102, a pipe P103, and a flow rate adjustment device 1117.
- the high-pressure pipe branches off a discharge pipe Po of the compressor 1111 in the outdoor unit 111, and extends to the first indoor unit 112A.
- the high-pressure pipe includes a pipe P101-1, a pipe P101-2, a pipe P3, and a pipe P202 that are connected in sequence.
- the four-way valve 1116 is installed between the pipe P101-1 and pipe P101-2 of the high-pressure pipe in the outdoor unit 111.
- the flow rate adjustment valve 1124 is installed on the high-pressure pipe at a position inside the first indoor unit 112A.
- the indoor heat exchanger 1125 is disposed on the high-pressure pipe at a position inside the first indoor unit 112A and is located between the flow rate adjustment valve 1124 and the four-way valve 1116 on the high-pressure pipe.
- the indoor heat exchanger 1125 is also located downstream of the indoor heat exchanger 1122 in an airflow path formed by the outdoor fan 1123.
- the pipe P102 branches off a suction pipe Pi of the compressor 1111 in the outdoor unit 111.
- the pipe P103 branches off the pipe P102.
- the flow rate adjustment device 1117 is, for example, a capillary pipe and is installed at a position where in the middle of the pipe P103.
- the four-way valve 1112 is switchable between a first state in which a port a communicates with a port b while a port c communicates with a port d and a second state in which the port a communicates with the port d while the port b communicates with the port c.
- the four-way valve 1116 is switchable between a first state in which a port a1 communicates with a port b1 while a port c1 communicates with a port d1 and a second state in which the port a1 communicates with the port d1 while the port b1 communicates with the port c1.
- the air conditioning apparatus switches the four-way valve 1112 and the four-way valve 1116, thereby switching among a cooling operation (during which the four-way valve 1112 is in the first state while the four-way valve 1116 is in the second state), a reheating and dehumidifying operation as a dehumidifying operation (during which the four-way valve 1112 is in the first state while the four-way valve 1116 is in the first state (see the state illustrated in FIG. 5 )), and a heating operation (during which the four-way valve 1112 is in the second state while the four-way valve 1116 is in the first state).
- the cooling operation or the reheating and dehumidifying operation can be selectively carried out in step ST4 described above.
- a temperature of air to be blown out of the first indoor unit 112A may be set to be lower than the indoor temperature by 2°C.
- the indoor heat exchanger 1125 may be installed downstream of the indoor heat exchanger 1122 and the air conditioning apparatus does not necessarily include the four-way valve 1116 in some cases. In this case, the air conditioning apparatus does not necessarily include the pipe P 102, the pipe P103, and the flow rate adjustment device 1117.
- the controller 130 may prohibit the remaining indoor units 112 from selecting the cooling operation or the heating operation.
- the air conditioning apparatus 110 includes one second indoor unit 112B.
- the air conditioning apparatus 110 may alternatively include a plurality of second indoor units 112B.
- the air conditioning apparatus 110 includes the plurality of indoor units 112.
- the air conditioning apparatus 110 may alternatively include one indoor unit 112.
- the air conditioning apparatus 110 includes one outdoor unit 111.
- the air conditioning apparatus 110 may alternatively include a plurality of outdoor units 111.
- the controller 130 may permit the air conditioning apparatus 110 to terminate the mold prevention mode.
- the air treatment system 1 may further include motion sensors respectively installed in the rooms where the indoor units 112 are respectively installed.
- the controller 130 may prohibit the air conditioning apparatus 110 from carrying out the mold preventing operation.
- the controller 130 may permit the air conditioning apparatus 110 to carry out the mold preventing operation.
- the air treatment system 1 may stop the mold prevention mode when a time during which the air treatment system 1 implements the mold prevention mode reaches a preset total time or when the relative humidity H% becomes equal to a second target relative humidity that is lower than the first target relative humidity by a certain level (e.g., 5%).
- a certain level e.g., 5%
- the air treatment system 1 may transmit a notification indicative of an abnormal situation.
- an abnormal situation e.g., the insufficient ability, erroneous sensor data due to installation position and failure of an indoor unit, or a door or a window cannot be closed due to a high outdoor humidity, and others.
- the air treatment system 1 may include a hot air blower, an oil heater, and the like.
- the mobile terminal 140 is a smartphone.
- the mobile terminal 140 may as well as be a tablet personal computer, a cloud server, or the like.
- the controller 130 is provided separately from the air conditioning apparatus 110 and the indoor detector 120.
- the controller 130 may as well as be integrated in the air conditioning apparatus 110 or the indoor detector 120.
- the air treatment system 1 may further include a remote controller for controlling an operation in the air treatment system.
- a remote controller for controlling an operation in the air treatment system.
- the command from the remote controller may be executed preferentially.
- the first indoor unit 112A when the first indoor unit 112A carries out the mold preventing operation first, the first indoor unit 112A may have a right to select the cooling operation or the heating operation, so that the subsequent start mode by the second indoor unit 112B may be regulated by the action of the first indoor unit 112A.
- the present invention may be made by freely combining the components, the steps, and the like in the embodiment or appropriately changing or omitting the components, the steps, and the like in the embodiment, within the scope of the present invention.
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to an air treatment system control method and an air treatment system.
- With improvements in living standards, people are increasingly placing importance on issues of health in their office and residential environments.
- For example, in recent years, problems caused by formaldehyde released from building materials, furniture, and the like have increasingly been emphasized; therefore, there is an increase in demand for various air treatment facilities, such as purifiers and air conditioning apparatuses, having a function of removing formaldehyde.
- As well as formaldehyde, mycotoxin produced by mold adhering to the surface of a building material or the like also affects human health, particularly children's health. However, most of currently available air treatment facilities have no antibacterial and antifungal function.
- In view of the circumstances described above, an object of the present invention is to provide an air treatment system control method and an air treatment system that contribute to prevention of the appearance of mold.
- In order to achieve the object described above, the present invention provides an air treatment system control method including permitting an air treatment system to implement a mold preventing operation on condition that a relative humidity in a target space to be adjusted by the air treatment system is higher than a first target relative humidity, permitting the air treatment system to implement one of or both a cooling operation and a dehumidifying operation on condition that an indoor temperature is higher than a first indoor temperature in the mold preventing operation, and permitting the air treatment system to implement a heating operation on condition that the indoor temperature is lower than a second indoor temperature in the mold preventing operation. The second indoor temperature is lower than the first indoor temperature.
- The term "dehumidifying operation" as used herein may involve not only a dehumidifying operation using a dehumidifier, but also a dehumidifying operation to be implemented by an indoor unit of an air conditioning apparatus with a weak cooling scheme. In a case where the indoor unit of the air conditioning apparatus includes two or more heat exchangers, the term "dehumidifying operation" as used herein may also involve a reheating and dehumidifying operation to be implemented in such a manner that at least one of the heat exchangers carries out a cooling operation while at least one of the heat exchangers carries out a heating operation. The first target relative humidity may be set in advance by, for example, experiment and may be adjusted in accordance with an indoor temperature. For example, the first target relative humidity takes a certain value when the indoor temperature is high and takes another value when the indoor temperature is low. The first indoor temperature and the second indoor temperature may be set in advance as necessary. For example, the first indoor temperature may be set at 22°C, and the second indoor temperature may be set at 18°C.
- The air treatment system control method according to the present invention permits the air treatment system to implement the mold preventing operation on condition that the relative humidity in the indoor space to be adjusted by the air treatment system is higher than the first target relative humidity, permits the air treatment system to implement one of or both the cooling operation and the dehumidifying operation on condition that the indoor temperature is higher than the first indoor temperature in the mold preventing operation, and permits the air treatment system to implement the heating operation on condition that the indoor temperature is lower than the second indoor temperature that is lower than the first indoor temperature, in the mold preventing operation. This configuration therefore adjusts an indoor humidity in an appropriate mode, and avoids a situation in which an air conditioning apparatus is in a thermo-off state for long hours due to an inappropriate selection of a mode in the mold preventing operation, which results in a waste of energy and fails to produce an effect of mold prevention as expected.
- The air treatment system control method according to the present invention may include preferably permitting the air treatment system to implement one of or both the cooling operation and the dehumidifying operation on condition that the indoor temperature is higher than the first indoor temperature and an outdoor temperature is higher than a first outdoor temperature in the mold preventing operation, and permitting the air treatment system to implement a heating operation on condition that the indoor temperature is lower than the second indoor temperature and the outdoor temperature is lower than a second outdoor temperature in the mold preventing operation, and the second outdoor temperature may be lower than the first outdoor temperature.
- The first indoor temperature and the second indoor temperature may be set in advance as necessary. For example, the first indoor temperature may be set at 20°C, and the second indoor temperature may be set at 16°C.
- The air treatment system control method according to the present invention permits the air treatment system to implement one of or both the cooling operation and the dehumidifying operation on condition that the indoor temperature is higher than the first indoor temperature and the outdoor temperature is higher than the first outdoor temperature in the mold preventing operation, and permits the air treatment system to implement the heating operation on condition that the indoor temperature is lower than the second indoor temperature and the outdoor temperature is lower than the second outdoor temperature in the mold preventing operation. This configuration therefore avoids a situation in which an effect of mold prevention is decreased since the air treatment system does not operate in accordance with a preset mold preventing operation scheme, owing to an erroneous value of an indoor humidity that is detected by addition of an outdoor temperature as a condition for selection of the mold preventing operation.
- In the air treatment system control method according to the present invention, the air treatment system may include preferably an air conditioning apparatus, the air conditioning apparatus may include at least one outdoor unit, and the at least one outdoor unit may include a four-way valve configured to switch between the cooling operation and the heating operation or between the dehumidifying operation and the heating operation by the air conditioning apparatus (i.e., the four-way valve of the air conditioning apparatus has two switching states of a state switched to the cooling operation or the dehumidifying operation and a state switched to the heating operation). The air treatment system control method according to the present invention may include detecting a current switching state of the four-way valve at a start of the mold preventing operation.
- The air treatment system control method according to the present invention detects a current switching state of the four-way valve at the start of the mold preventing operation. This configuration therefore facilitates a determination as to whether the air conditioning apparatus needs to switch between the cooling operation or dehumidifying operation and the heating operation in carrying out the mold preventing operation.
- The air treatment system control method according to the present invention may include preferably upon detection that the four-way valve is in a switching state of permitting the air conditioning apparatus to carry out the heating operation at the start of the mold preventing operation, switching the four-way valve to a switching state of permitting the air conditioning apparatus to carry out the cooling operation or the dehumidifying operation on condition that the indoor temperature is higher than the first indoor temperature, on the other hand, upon detection that the four-way valve is in the switching state of permitting the air conditioning apparatus to carry out the cooling operation or the dehumidifying operation at the start of the mold preventing operation, switching the four-way valve to the switching state of permitting the air conditioning apparatus to carry out the heating operation on condition that the indoor temperature is lower than the second indoor temperature.
- In the air treatment system control method according to the present invention, the air conditioning apparatus may further include preferably one first indoor unit and one or more second indoor units, and the first indoor unit may be configured to carry out the mold preventing operation. The air treatment system control method according to the present invention may include upon detection that the four-way valve is in a switching state of permitting the air conditioning apparatus to carry out the heating operation, with at least one of the second indoor units carrying out the heating operation, at a start of the mold preventing operation by the first indoor unit, not switching the four-way valve in the switching state of permitting the air conditioning apparatus to carry out the cooling operation or the dehumidifying operation on condition that the indoor temperature is higher than the first indoor temperature, on the other hand, upon detection that the four-way valve is in a switching state of permitting the air conditioning apparatus to carry out the cooling operation or the dehumidifying operation, with at least one of the second indoor units carrying out the cooling operation, at the start of the mold preventing operation by the first indoor unit, not switching the four-way valve in the switching state of permitting the air conditioning apparatus to carry out the heating operation on condition that the indoor temperature is lower than the second indoor temperature.
- The air treatment system control method according to the present invention readily avoids a situation in which the switching between the cooling operation (or the dehumidifying operation) and the heating operation by the first indoor unit exerts an adverse influence on the comfortability of a person in a place where another indoor unit is installed.
- In the air treatment system according to the present invention, the air conditioning apparatus may be configured preferably to carry out a reheating and dehumidifying operation as the dehumidifying operation in the mold preventing operation.
- In the air treatment system control method according to the present invention, the air treatment system may include preferably an air conditioning apparatus and a dehumidification apparatus. The air treatment system control method according to the present invention may include permitting the air conditioning apparatus to carry out the cooling operation or the dehumidifying operation and permitting the dehumidification apparatus to carry out a powerful dehumidifying operation on condition that the indoor temperature is higher than the first indoor temperature in the mold preventing operation, and permitting the air conditioning apparatus to carry out the heating operation and permitting the dehumidification apparatus to carry out a normal dehumidifying operation on condition that the indoor temperature is lower than the second indoor temperature in the mold preventing operation.
- The air treatment system control method according to the present invention permits the air conditioning apparatus to carry out the cooling operation or the dehumidifying operation and permits the dehumidification apparatus to carry out the powerful dehumidifying operation on condition that the indoor temperature is higher than the first indoor temperature. This configuration therefore reduces a heavy dehumidifying load on the air conditioning apparatus during the cooling operation and improves an effect of humidification.
- In the air treatment system control method according to the present invention, the air treatment system may have preferably a mold prevention mode, and the mold prevention mode may include an information acquiring step of acquiring the relative humidity in the target space to be adjusted by the air treatment system, an information determining step of determining whether the relative humidity acquired in the information acquiring step is higher than the first target relative humidity, and an implementing step of permitting the air treatment system to implement the mold preventing operation on condition that it is determined in the information determining step that the relative humidity is higher than the first target relative humidity.
- The air treatment system control method according to the present invention may include preferably stopping the mold prevention mode on condition that a time during which the air treatment system implements the mold prevention mode reaches a preset total time or on condition that the relative humidity becomes equal to a second target relative humidity, and the second target relative humidity may be lower than the first target relative humidity.
- The air treatment system control method according to the present invention stops the mold prevention mode on condition that the operating time in the mold prevention mode reaches the preset total time or on condition that the relative humidity becomes equal to the second target relative humidity. This configuration therefore appropriately controls the operating time in the mold prevention mode and avoids a situation in which energy is consumed wastefully since the operating time in the mold prevention mode by the air treatment system is too long.
- The air treatment system control method according to the present invention may include preferably permitting a mobile terminal to perform at least one of starting or stopping the mold prevention mode, displaying an operating state in the air treatment system, setting a temperature, and setting a length of an operating time in the mold prevention mode.
- The air treatment system control method according to the present invention permits the mobile terminal to perform at least one of starting or stopping the mold prevention mode, displaying the operating state in the air treatment system, setting a temperature, and setting a length of the operating time in the mold prevention mode. This configuration therefore readily controls the process of operation in the mold prevention mode by the air treatment system.
- The air treatment system control method according to the present invention may include preferably upon reception of a command from a remote controller after the air treatment system is placed into the mold prevention mode, preferentially performing an operation based on the command from the remote controller and terminating the mold prevention mode.
- The air treatment system control method according to the present invention preferentially satisfies a request from an operator of the remote controller.
- In order to achieve the object described above, the present invention provides an air treatment system including: an air conditioning apparatus; a controller configured to control an operation in the air treatment system; and a detector including an indoor detector configured to acquire indoor temperature data and indoor humidity data or further including an outdoor detector configured to acquire outdoor temperature data. In the air treatment system, the controller controls the operation in the air treatment system in accordance with the air treatment system control method described above, based on the data acquired by the detector.
- The air treatment system according to the present invention contributes to an adjustment to an indoor humidity and prevents the appearance of mold.
- In the air treatment system according to the present invention, the air treatment system may have preferably a mold prevention mode including an information acquiring step of acquiring the relative humidity in the target space to be adjusted by the air treatment system, an information determining step of determining whether the relative humidity acquired in the information acquiring step is higher than the first target relative humidity, and an implementing step of permitting the air treatment system to implement the mold preventing operation on condition that it is determined in the information determining step that the relative humidity is higher than the first target relative humidity. The air treatment system according to the present invention may further include a mobile terminal configured to perform at least one of starting or stopping the mold prevention mode, displaying an operating state in the air treatment system, setting a temperature, and setting a length of an operating time in the mold prevention mode.
- The air treatment system according to the present invention further includes the mobile terminal configured to perform at least one of starting or stopping the mold prevention mode, displaying the operating state in the air treatment system, setting a temperature, and setting a length of the operating time in the mold prevention mode. This configuration therefore readily controls the process of operation in the mold prevention mode by the air treatment system.
- In the air treatment system according to the present invention, the air conditioning apparatus may include preferably one first indoor unit and at least one second indoor unit, the first indoor unit may be configured to carry out the mold preventing operation, and the controller may prohibit the second indoor unit from selecting a cooling operation or a heating operation at a start of the mold preventing operation by the first indoor unit.
- The air treatment system according to the present invention avoids a situation in which the first indoor unit fails to perform the function of the mold prevention mode due to the interruption of the mold prevention mode caused by the switching between the cooling operation and the heating operation by the second indoor unit at the start of the mold preventing operation by the first indoor unit.
- In the air treatment system according to the present invention, the controller may permit preferably the air conditioning apparatus to terminate the mold prevention mode and permit the air conditioning apparatus to operate in an operating mode in carrying out the mold preventing operation, on condition that the controller unusually communicates with the detector or the air conditioning apparatus in the mold preventing operation by the air conditioning apparatus.
- In the air treatment system according to the present invention, the air conditioning apparatus may include preferably a plurality of indoor units. The air treatment system according to the present invention may further include a plurality of human detectors respectively installed in rooms where the indoor units are respectively installed. In the air treatment system according to the present invention, the controller may prohibit the air conditioning apparatus from carrying out the mold preventing operation on condition that each of the human detectors detects presence of a human, and the controller may permit the air conditioning apparatus to carry out the mold preventing operation on condition that the motion sensor detects absence of a human.
- The air treatment system according to the present invention prevents a person in the room from feeling uncomfortable due to implementation of the operation in the mold prevention mode.
- The air treatment system according to the present invention may further include a dehumidification apparatus.
- The air treatment system according to the present invention assists dehumidification by the air conditioning apparatus during the operation in the mold prevention mode, using the dehumidification apparatus, and thus improves the efficiency and effect of dehumidification.
- In the air treatment system according to the present invention, the dehumidification apparatus may include preferably the indoor detector.
- In the air treatment system according to the present invention, the dehumidification apparatus includes the indoor detector. This configuration therefore reduces the number of components in the system and simplifies the system.
- In the air treatment system according to the present invention, the dehumidification apparatus may have preferably a function of displaying a current humidity value.
- In the air treatment system according to the present invention, the dehumidification apparatus has the function of displaying a current humidity value, which allows a user to visually recognize an effect of dehumidification with ease.
- In the air treatment system according to the present invention, the controller may permit preferably the dehumidification apparatus to carry out a powerful dehumidifying operation on condition that the air conditioning apparatus carries out a cooling operation or a dehumidifying operation, and the controller may permit the dehumidification apparatus to carry out a normal dehumidifying operation on condition that the air conditioning apparatus carries out a heating operation.
- In the air treatment system according to the present invention, the controller permits the dehumidification apparatus to carry out the powerful dehumidifying operation on condition that the air conditioning apparatus carries out the cooling operation. This configuration therefore reduces a heavy dehumidifying load on the air conditioning apparatus in the cooling operation and improves an effect of dehumidification.
- The air treatment system according to the present invention implements the mold preventing operation on condition that the relative humidity in the target space to be adjusted by the air treatment system is higher than the first target relative humidity, implements one of or both the cooling operation and the dehumidifying operation on condition that the indoor temperature is higher than the first indoor temperature in the mold preventing operation, and implements the heating operation on condition that the indoor temperature is lower than the second indoor temperature that is lower than the first indoor temperature, in the mold preventing operation. This configuration therefore adjusts an indoor humidity in an appropriate mode, and avoids a situation in which the air treatment system is in a thermo-off state for long hours due to an inappropriate selection of a mode in the mold preventing operation, which results in a waste of energy and fails to produce an effect of mold prevention as expected.
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FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a structure of an air treatment system according to an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a circuit structure of an air conditioning apparatus in the air treatment system according to the embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an exemplary operation in the air treatment system according to the embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an exemplary operation in an air treatment system according to a modification of the present invention. -
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a circuit structure of an air conditioning apparatus in the air treatment system according to the modification of the present invention. - With reference to
FIGS. 1 to 3 , a description will be given of an air treatment system according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a structure of the air treatment system according to the embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a circuit structure of an air conditioning apparatus in the air treatment system according to the embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an exemplary operation in the air treatment system according to the embodiment of the present invention. - As illustrated in
FIG. 1 , anair treatment system 1 includes anindoor unit 112 of anair conditioning apparatus 110, anindoor detector 120, and acontroller 130. Theindoor unit 112 is installed in a room corresponding to a target space to be adjusted by theair treatment system 1, and has a cooling function and a heating function. Theindoor detector 120 is configured to acquire indoor temperature data and indoor humidity data on the room. Thecontroller 130 is configured to control an operation in theair treatment system 1, based on the data acquired by theindoor detector 120. - As illustrated in
FIG. 1 , theair treatment system 1 also includes amobile terminal 140 configured to perform at least one of displaying an operating state in theair treatment system 1, setting a first indoor temperature and a second indoor temperature (to be described later), starting or stopping a mold prevention mode (to be described later), and setting a length of an operating time in the mold prevention mode. - The
indoor unit 112 of theair conditioning apparatus 110 has the cooling function and the heating function as described above. - As illustrated in
FIGS. 1 and 2 , theair conditioning apparatus 110 is a multiple-type air conditioning apparatus and includes oneoutdoor unit 111 and a plurality ofindoor units 112. Theoutdoor unit 111 and theindoor units 112 are connected with a liquid pipe P1 and a gas pipe P2 to constitute a refrigerant circuit. Figures illustrate two indoor units, that is, a firstindoor unit 112A and a secondindoor unit 112B. Not limited to those, theair conditioning apparatus 110 may include a plurality of first indoor units each capable of carrying out a mold preventing operation. Theoutdoor unit 111 includes acompressor 1111, a four-way valve 1112, anoutdoor heat exchanger 1113, anoutdoor fan 1114, and anoutdoor expansion valve 1115. Thecompressor 1111 compresses a low-pressure refrigerant and discharges the high-pressure refrigerant, and the four-way valve 1112 changes a direction of the refrigerant circulating in the refrigerant circuit. Theair conditioning apparatus 110 thus switches between a state capable of carrying out a cooling operation and a state capable of carrying out a heating operation. During the cooling operation, the high-pressure refrigerant discharged from thecompressor 1111 flows toward an indoor heat exchanger 1112 (to be described later) of eachindoor unit 112 via the four-way valve 1112. During the heating operation, the high-pressure refrigerant discharged from thecompressor 1111 flows toward theoutdoor heat exchanger 1113 of theoutdoor unit 111 via the four-way valve 1112. Theoutdoor heat exchanger 1114 performs heat exchange between outdoor air and the refrigerant. Theoutdoor fan 1114 provides the outdoor air to theoutdoor heat exchanger 1113. Theoutdoor expansion valve 1115 controls a flow rate of the refrigerant. Theindoor units 112 include the firstindoor unit 112A and the secondindoor unit 112B. Each of the firstindoor unit 112A and the secondindoor unit 112B includes anindoor expansion valve 1121, theindoor heat exchanger 1122, and anindoor fan 1123. Theindoor expansion valve 1121 controls a flow rate of the refrigerant. Theindoor heat exchanger 1122 performs heat exchange between indoor air and the refrigerant. Theindoor fan 1123 provides the indoor air to theindoor heat exchanger 1122. - As described above, the
indoor detector 120 acquires indoor temperature data and indoor humidity data, specifically, a relative humidity H% and an indoor temperature Ti (to be described later). - In this embodiment, the
indoor detector 120 is provided separately from theair conditioning apparatus 110. Theindoor detector 120 includes, for example, a sensor. - As described above, the
controller 130 controls an operation in theair treatment system 1, based on data acquired by theindoor detector 120. - In this embodiment, the
controller 130 is provided separately from theair conditioning apparatus 110 and theindoor detector 120. Thecontroller 130 receives a command from themobile terminal 140, subjects the command to identification processing, and transmits the command to the air conditioning apparatus 110 (specifically, one of or both theoutdoor unit 111 and each indoor unit 112) in a wired communication manner or a wireless communication manner. Thecontroller 130 thus controls an action by theair conditioning apparatus 110. - As described above, the
mobile terminal 140 performs at least one of displaying an operating state in theair treatment system 1, setting a first indoor temperature and a second indoor temperature (to be described later), starting or stopping the mold prevention mode (to be described later), and setting a length of an operating time in the mold prevention mode. - In this embodiment, the
mobile terminal 140 is a smartphone. Themobile terminal 140 communicates with thecontroller 130 via a router (not illustrated). Themobile terminal 140 communicates with theair conditioning apparatus 110 via thecontroller 130. Themobile terminal 140 is thus able to control an action by theair conditioning apparatus 110. - In the
air treatment system 1, thecontroller 130 controls the operation in theair treatment system 1, based on temperature data and humidity data acquired by theindoor detector 120. When the relative humidity H% in the target space to be adjusted by theair treatment system 1 is higher than the first target relative humidity Hst%, thecontroller 130 permits theair treatment system 1 to implement the mold preventing operation. In the mold preventing operation, when the indoor temperature Ti is higher than the first indoor temperature T1, thecontroller 130 permits theair treatment system 1 to implement the cooling operation. In the mold preventing operation, when the indoor temperature Ti is lower than the second indoor temperature T2, thecontroller 130 permits theair treatment system 1 to implement the heating operation. In this embodiment, the second indoor temperature T2 is lower than the firstindoor temperature T 1. - The
air treatment system 1 has the mold prevention mode including an information acquiring step of acquiring the relative humidity in the target space to be adjusted by theair treatment system 1, an information determining step of determining whether the relative humidity acquired in the information acquiring step is higher than a first target relative humidity, and an implementing step of permitting theair treatment system 1 to implement the mold preventing operation when it is determined in the information determining step that the relative humidity is higher than the first target relative humidity. - As illustrated in
FIG. 3 , after theair treatment system 1 starts the mold preventing operation (step ST1), theair conditioning apparatus 110 is started. In theoutdoor unit 111, thecompressor 1111 and theoutdoor fan 1114 are operated. For example, when the firstindoor unit 112A is started, theindoor fan 1123 is operated. Theair conditioning apparatus 110 thus carries out the cooling operation or the heating operation in accordance with the flow of the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit. In this state, when the firstindoor unit 112A starts the mold preventing operation, thecontroller 130 detects a current switching state of the four-way valve 1112 (step ST2). At the start of the mold preventing operation, when thecontroller 130 detects that the four-way valve 1112 is in a switching state of permitting theair conditioning apparatus 110 to carry out the heating operation, then thecontroller 130 determines whether the indoor temperature Ti is higher than the first indoor temperature T1 (e.g., 22°C) (step ST3). When the indoor temperature Ti is higher than the first indoor temperature T1, thecontroller 130 switches the four-way valve 1112 to a switching state of permitting theair conditioning apparatus 110 to carry out the cooling operation. When the indoor temperature Ti is equal to or lower than the first indoor temperature T1, thecontroller 130 permits theair conditioning apparatus 110 to directly carry out a heating and drying operation (step ST5). On the other hand, at the start of the mold preventing operation, when thecontroller 130 detects that the four-way valve 1112 is in a switching state of permitting theair conditioning apparatus 110 to carry out the cooling operation, then thecontroller 130 determines whether the indoor temperature Ti is lower than the second indoor temperature T2 (e.g., 18°C) (step ST6). When the indoor temperature Ti is lower than the second indoor temperature T2, thecontroller 130 switches the four-way valve 1112 to a switching state of permitting theair conditioning apparatus 110 to carry out the heating operation. When the indoor temperature Ti is equal to or higher than the second indoor temperature T2, thecontroller 130 permits theair conditioning apparatus 110 to directly carry out the cooling operation (step ST4). - In this embodiment, step ST4 is implemented by a predetermined cooling operation to be carried out by the
air conditioning apparatus 110. During the predetermined cooling operation, for example, a temperature of air to be blown out of the firstindoor unit 112A is set at 16°C. Also in this embodiment, step ST5 is implemented by a predetermined heating operation to be carried out by theair conditioning apparatus 110. During the predetermined heating operation, for example, a temperature of air to be blown out of the indoor unit is set to be higher than the indoor temperature by 2°C. - The cooling operation (see step ST4 in
FIG. 3 ) and the heating and drying operation (see step ST5 inFIG. 3 ) each enable dehumidification, but are different in dehumidification process from each other. Specifically, during the cooling operation, a decrease in indoor temperature causes a decrease in concentration of saturated moisture in the air. Therefore, the moisture in the air is condensed and precipitated by decreasing the temperature to lower an absolute humidity of the air and to lower a relative humidity of the air. On the other hand, during the heating and drying operation, an increase in indoor temperature causes an increase in concentration of saturated moisture in the air and, accordingly, causes a decrease in relative humidity of the air. - In this embodiment, the
air conditioning apparatus 110 includes one firstindoor unit 112A and one secondindoor unit 112B. The firstindoor unit 112A is capable of carrying out the mold preventing operation. At the start of the mold preventing operation by the firstindoor unit 112A, in a case where the four-way valve 1112 is in the switching state of permitting theair conditioning apparatus 110 to carry out the heating operation and the secondindoor unit 112B carries out the heating operation, when the indoor temperature Ti is higher than the first indoor temperature T1, thecontroller 130 does not switch theair conditioning apparatus 110 to the cooling operation. At the start of the mold preventing operation by the firstindoor unit 112A, in a case where the four-way valve 1112 is in the switching state of permitting theair conditioning apparatus 110 to carry out the cooling operation and the secondindoor unit 112B carries out the cooling operation, when the indoor temperature Ti is lower than the second indoor temperature T2, thecontroller 130 does not switch theair conditioning apparatus 110 to the heating operation. - In the
air treatment system 1 according to this embodiment, thecontroller 130 permits theair treatment system 1 to implement the mold preventing operation when the relative humidity H% in the target space to be adjusted by theair treatment system 1 is higher than the first target relative humidity Hst%, permits theair treatment system 1 to implement the cooling operation when the indoor temperature Ti is higher than the first indoor temperature T1 in the mold preventing operation, and permits theair treatment system 1 to implement the heating operation when the indoor temperature Ti is lower than the second indoor temperature T2 that is lower than the first indoor temperature T1, in the mold preventing operation. This configuration therefore adjusts an indoor humidity in an appropriate mode, thereby preventing the appearance of mold in the appropriate mode, and avoids a situation in which theair conditioning system 1 is in a thermo-off state for long hours due to an inappropriate selection of a mode, which results in a waste of energy and fails to produce an effect of mold prevention as expected. - The present invention has been exemplified above with reference to the drawings; however, it is obvious that a specific embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiment.
- In the foregoing embodiment, for example, the
air treatment system 1 may further include a dehumidification apparatus. In this case, for example, the dehumidification apparatus may include theindoor detector 120. Also in this case, the dehumidification apparatus may have a function of displaying a current humidity value. Also in this case, in the mold preventing operation, when the indoor temperature Ti is higher than the first indoor temperature T1, thecontroller 130 permits theair treatment system 1 to implement one of or both the cooling operation and the dehumidifying operation. Specifically, in step ST4, only theair conditioning apparatus 110 may carry out the cooling operation, theair conditioning apparatus 110 may carry out the cooling operation while the dehumidification apparatus may carry out the dehumidifying operation, or only the dehumidification apparatus may carry out the dehumidifying operation. For example, when eachindoor unit 112 carries out the cooling operation in the mold preventing operation, thecontroller 130 permits the dehumidification apparatus to carry out a powerful dehumidifying operation. On the other hand, when eachindoor unit 112 carries out the heating operation, thecontroller 130 permits the dehumidification apparatus to carry out a normal dehumidifying operation. - Also in the foregoing embodiment, the
indoor detector 120 acquires indoor temperature data and indoor humidity data. In the mold preventing operation, when the indoor temperature Ti is higher than the first indoor temperature T1, thecontroller 130 permits theair treatment system 1 to implement one of or both the cooling operation and the dehumidifying operation. When the indoor temperature Ti is lower than the second indoor temperature T2, thecontroller 130 permits theair treatment system 1 to implement the heating operation. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, theair treatment system 1 may include an outdoor detector configured to acquire outdoor temperature data, in addition to theindoor detector 120. As illustrated inFIG. 4 , in the mold preventing operation, when the indoor temperature Ti is higher than the first indoor temperature T1 and an outdoor temperature To is higher than a first outdoor temperature T3 (e.g., 20°C) (step ST3: YES), thecontroller 130 may permit theair treatment system 1 to implement one of or both the cooling operation and the dehumidifying operation. When the indoor temperature Ti is lower than the second indoor temperature T2 and the outdoor temperature To is lower than a second outdoor temperature T4 (e.g., 16°C) that is lower than the first outdoor temperature T3 (step ST6: YES), thecontroller 130 may permit theair treatment apparatus 1 to implement the heating operation. - Also in the foregoing embodiment, the
air conditioning apparatus 110 includes theoutdoor unit 111 and theindoor units 112 connected with the liquid pipe P1 and the gas pipe P2. That is, theair conditioning apparatus 110 is a two-pipe air conditioning apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The air conditioning apparatus may be a three-pipe air conditioning apparatus in which an outdoor unit and at least some indoor units are connected with a liquid pipe, a gas pipe, and a high-pressure pipe. For example, theair conditioning apparatus 110 may have a structure illustrated inFIG. 5 . InFIG. 5 , constituent components corresponding to those of theair conditioning apparatus 110 according to the foregoing embodiment are denoted with the same reference signs as those denoting the constituent components of theair conditioning apparatus 110 according to the foregoing embodiment. In this case, the air conditioning apparatus may carry out a reheating and dehumidifying operation as the dehumidifying operation. Specifically, the air conditioning apparatus includes, in addition to the same constituent components as those of theair conditioning apparatus 110 according to the foregoing embodiment, a high-pressure pipe, a four-way valve 1116, a flowrate adjustment valve 1124, anindoor heat exchanger 1125, a pipe P102, a pipe P103, and a flowrate adjustment device 1117. The high-pressure pipe branches off a discharge pipe Po of thecompressor 1111 in theoutdoor unit 111, and extends to the firstindoor unit 112A. The high-pressure pipe includes a pipe P101-1, a pipe P101-2, a pipe P3, and a pipe P202 that are connected in sequence. The four-way valve 1116 is installed between the pipe P101-1 and pipe P101-2 of the high-pressure pipe in theoutdoor unit 111. The flowrate adjustment valve 1124 is installed on the high-pressure pipe at a position inside the firstindoor unit 112A. Theindoor heat exchanger 1125 is disposed on the high-pressure pipe at a position inside the firstindoor unit 112A and is located between the flowrate adjustment valve 1124 and the four-way valve 1116 on the high-pressure pipe. Theindoor heat exchanger 1125 is also located downstream of theindoor heat exchanger 1122 in an airflow path formed by theoutdoor fan 1123. The pipe P102 branches off a suction pipe Pi of thecompressor 1111 in theoutdoor unit 111. The pipe P103 branches off the pipe P102. The flowrate adjustment device 1117 is, for example, a capillary pipe and is installed at a position where in the middle of the pipe P103. The four-way valve 1112 is switchable between a first state in which a port a communicates with a port b while a port c communicates with a port d and a second state in which the port a communicates with the port d while the port b communicates with the port c. The four-way valve 1116 is switchable between a first state in which a port a1 communicates with a port b1 while a port c1 communicates with a port d1 and a second state in which the port a1 communicates with the port d1 while the port b1 communicates with the port c1. The air conditioning apparatus switches the four-way valve 1112 and the four-way valve 1116, thereby switching among a cooling operation (during which the four-way valve 1112 is in the first state while the four-way valve 1116 is in the second state), a reheating and dehumidifying operation as a dehumidifying operation (during which the four-way valve 1112 is in the first state while the four-way valve 1116 is in the first state (see the state illustrated inFIG. 5 )), and a heating operation (during which the four-way valve 1112 is in the second state while the four-way valve 1116 is in the first state). In this case, the cooling operation or the reheating and dehumidifying operation can be selectively carried out in step ST4 described above. In carrying out the reheating and dehumidifying operation, for example, a temperature of air to be blown out of the firstindoor unit 112A may be set to be lower than the indoor temperature by 2°C. Theindoor heat exchanger 1125 may be installed downstream of theindoor heat exchanger 1122 and the air conditioning apparatus does not necessarily include the four-way valve 1116 in some cases. In this case, the air conditioning apparatus does not necessarily include the pipe P 102, the pipe P103, and the flowrate adjustment device 1117. - Also in the foregoing embodiment, when one of the
indoor units 112 carries out the mold preventing operation, thecontroller 130 may prohibit the remainingindoor units 112 from selecting the cooling operation or the heating operation. - Also in the foregoing embodiment, the
air conditioning apparatus 110 includes one secondindoor unit 112B. Theair conditioning apparatus 110 may alternatively include a plurality of secondindoor units 112B. - Also in the foregoing embodiment, the
air conditioning apparatus 110 includes the plurality ofindoor units 112. Theair conditioning apparatus 110 may alternatively include oneindoor unit 112. - Also in the foregoing embodiment, the
air conditioning apparatus 110 includes oneoutdoor unit 111. Theair conditioning apparatus 110 may alternatively include a plurality ofoutdoor units 111. - Also in the foregoing embodiment, if the
controller 130 unusually communicates with thesensor 120 or theair conditioning apparatus 110 in the mold preventing operation carried out by theair conditioning apparatus 110, thecontroller 130 may permit theair conditioning apparatus 110 to terminate the mold prevention mode. - Also in the foregoing embodiment, the
air treatment system 1 may further include motion sensors respectively installed in the rooms where theindoor units 112 are respectively installed. When each of the motion sensors detects the presence of a human in the corresponding room, thecontroller 130 may prohibit theair conditioning apparatus 110 from carrying out the mold preventing operation. When the motion sensor detects the absence of a human in the corresponding room, thecontroller 130 may permit theair conditioning apparatus 110 to carry out the mold preventing operation. - Also in the foregoing embodiment, when a time during which the
air treatment system 1 implements the mold prevention mode reaches a preset total time or when the relative humidity H% becomes equal to a second target relative humidity that is lower than the first target relative humidity by a certain level (e.g., 5%), theair treatment system 1 may stop the mold prevention mode. - Also in the foregoing embodiment, when the mold preventing operation continues for a preset time (e.g., four hours) or more, that is, when the relative humidity is always higher than the first target relative humidity, the
air treatment system 1 may transmit a notification indicative of an abnormal situation. This configuration thus avoids a waste of energy owing to an abnormal situation (e.g., the insufficient ability, erroneous sensor data due to installation position and failure of an indoor unit, or a door or a window cannot be closed due to a high outdoor humidity, and others). - Also in the foregoing embodiment, the
air treatment system 1 may include a hot air blower, an oil heater, and the like. - Also in the foregoing embodiment, the
mobile terminal 140 is a smartphone. Themobile terminal 140 may as well as be a tablet personal computer, a cloud server, or the like. - Also in the foregoing embodiment, the
controller 130 is provided separately from theair conditioning apparatus 110 and theindoor detector 120. Thecontroller 130 may as well as be integrated in theair conditioning apparatus 110 or theindoor detector 120. - Also in the foregoing embodiment, the
air treatment system 1 may further include a remote controller for controlling an operation in the air treatment system. In addition, after the start of the mold preventing operation in theair treatment system 1, in response to reception of a command from the remote controller (e.g., a command about a start or stop of an indoor unit, a command about an operating mode), the command from the remote controller may be executed preferentially. - Also in the foregoing embodiment, when the first
indoor unit 112A carries out the mold preventing operation first, the firstindoor unit 112A may have a right to select the cooling operation or the heating operation, so that the subsequent start mode by the secondindoor unit 112B may be regulated by the action of the firstindoor unit 112A. - It should be understood that the present invention may be made by freely combining the components, the steps, and the like in the embodiment or appropriately changing or omitting the components, the steps, and the like in the embodiment, within the scope of the present invention.
-
- 1: air treatment system
- 110: air conditioning apparatus
- 111: outdoor unit
- 1111: compressor
- 1112: four-way valve
- 1113: outdoor heat exchanger
- 1114: outdoor fan
- 1115: outdoor expansion valve
- 1116: four-way valve
- 1117: flow rate adjustment device
- 112: indoor unit
- 112A: first indoor unit
- 112B: second indoor unit
- 1121: indoor expansion valve
- 1122: indoor heat exchanger
- 1123: indoor fan
- 1124: flow rate adjustment valve
- 1125: indoor heat exchanger
- 120: indoor detector
- 130: controller
- 140: mobile terminal
- P1: liquid pipe
- P2: gas pipe
- P3: pipe
- Po: discharge pipe
- Pi: suction pipe
- P101-1: pipe
- P101-2: pipe
- P 102: pipe
- P103: pipe
- P202: pipe
Claims (20)
- An air treatment system control method comprisingpermitting an air treatment system to implement a mold preventing operation on condition that a relative humidity in a target space to be adjusted by the air treatment system is higher than a first target relative humidity,permitting the air treatment system to implement one of or both a cooling operation and a dehumidifying operation on condition that an indoor temperature in the target space is higher than a first indoor temperature in the mold preventing operation, andpermitting the air treatment system to implement a heating operation on condition that the indoor temperature is lower than a second indoor temperature in the mold preventing operation,whereinthe second indoor temperature is lower than the first indoor temperature.
- The air treatment system control method according to claim 1, comprisingpermitting the air treatment system to implement one of or both the cooling operation and the dehumidifying operation on condition that the indoor temperature is higher than the first indoor temperature and an outdoor temperature is higher than a first outdoor temperature in the mold preventing operation, andpermitting the air treatment system to implement a heating operation on condition that the indoor temperature is lower than the second indoor temperature and the outdoor temperature is lower than a second outdoor temperature in the mold preventing operation,whereinthe second outdoor temperature is lower than the first outdoor temperature.
- The air treatment system control method according to claim 1, whereinthe air treatment system includes an air conditioning apparatus,the air conditioning apparatus includes at least one outdoor unit,the at least one outdoor unit includes a four-way valve configured to switch between the cooling operation and the heating operation or between the dehumidifying operation and the heating operation by the air conditioning apparatus,the air treatment system control method comprisingdetecting a current switching state of the four-way valve at a start of the mold preventing operation.
- The air treatment system control method according to claim 3, comprisingupon detection that the four-way valve is in a switching state of permitting the air conditioning apparatus to carry out the heating operation at the start of the mold preventing operation, switching the four-way valve to a switching state of permitting the air conditioning apparatus to carry out the cooling operation or the dehumidifying operation on condition that the indoor temperature is higher than the first indoor temperature, andupon detection that the four-way valve is in the switching state of permitting the air conditioning apparatus to carry out the cooling operation or the dehumidifying operation at the start of the mold preventing operation, switching the four-way valve to the switching state of permitting the air conditioning apparatus to carry out the heating operation on condition that the indoor temperature is lower than the second indoor temperature.
- The air treatment system control method according to claim 3, whereinthe air conditioning apparatus further includes one first indoor unit and one or more second indoor units, andthe first indoor unit is configured to carry out the mold preventing operation,the air treatment system control method comprisingupon detection that the four-way valve is in a switching state of permitting the air conditioning apparatus to carry out the heating operation, with at least one of the second indoor units carrying out the heating operation, at a start of the mold preventing operation by the first indoor unit, not switching the four-way valve in the switching state of permitting the air conditioning apparatus to carry out the cooling operation or the dehumidifying operation on condition that the indoor temperature is higher than the first indoor temperature, andupon detection that the four-way valve is in a switching state of permitting the air conditioning apparatus to carry out the cooling operation or the dehumidifying operation, with at least one of the second indoor units carrying out the cooling operation, at the start of the mold preventing operation by the first indoor unit, not switching the four-way valve in the switching state of permitting the air conditioning apparatus to carry out the heating operation on condition that the indoor temperature is lower than the second indoor temperature.
- The air treatment system control method according to claim 3, wherein
the air conditioning apparatus is configured to carry out a reheating and dehumidifying operation as the dehumidifying operation in the mold preventing operation. - The air treatment system control method according to claim 1, whereinthe air treatment system includes an air conditioning apparatus and a dehumidification apparatus,the air treatment system control method comprisingpermitting the air conditioning apparatus to carry out the cooling operation or the dehumidifying operation and permitting the dehumidification apparatus to carry out a powerful dehumidifying operation on condition that the indoor temperature is higher than the first indoor temperature in the mold preventing operation, andpermitting the air conditioning apparatus to carry out the heating operation and permitting the dehumidification apparatus to carry out a normal dehumidifying operation on condition that the indoor temperature is lower than the second indoor temperature in the mold preventing operation.
- The air treatment system control method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, whereinthe air treatment system has a mold prevention mode, andthe mold prevention mode includesan information acquiring step of acquiring the relative humidity in the target space to be adjusted by the air treatment system,an information determining step of determining whether the relative humidity acquired in the information acquiring step is higher than the first target relative humidity, andan implementing step of permitting the air treatment system to implement the mold preventing operation on condition that it is determined in the information determining step that the relative humidity is higher than the first target relative humidity.
- The air treatment system control method according to claim 8, comprisingstopping the mold prevention mode on condition that a time during which the air treatment system implements the mold prevention mode reaches a preset total time or on condition that the relative humidity becomes equal to a second target relative humidity,whereinthe second target relative humidity is lower than the first target relative humidity.
- The air treatment system control method according to claim 8, comprising
permitting a mobile terminal to perform at least one of starting or stopping the mold prevention mode, displaying an operating state in the air treatment system, setting a temperature, and setting a length of an operating time in the mold prevention mode. - The air treatment system control method according to claim 8, comprising
upon reception of a command from a remote controller after the air treatment system is placed into the mold prevention mode, preferentially performing an operation based on the command from the remote controller and terminating the mold prevention mode. - An air treatment system comprising:an air conditioning apparatus (110);a controller (130) configured to control an operation in the air treatment system; anda detector including an indoor detector (120) configured to acquire indoor temperature data and indoor humidity data or further including an outdoor detector configured to acquire outdoor temperature data,whereinthe controller controls the operation in the air treatment system in accordance with the air treatment system control method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, based on the data acquired by the detector.
- The air treatment system according to claim 12, whereinthe air treatment system has a mold prevention mode, andthe mold prevention mode includesan information acquiring step of acquiring the relative humidity in the target space to be adjusted by the air treatment system,an information determining step of determining whether the relative humidity acquired in the information acquiring step is higher than the first target relative humidity, andan implementing step of permitting the air treatment system to implement the mold preventing operation on condition that it is determined in the information determining step that the relative humidity is higher than the first target relative humidity,the air treatment system further comprisinga mobile terminal configured to perform at least one of starting or stopping the mold prevention mode, displaying an operating state in the air treatment system, setting a temperature, and setting a length of an operating time in the mold prevention mode.
- The air treatment system according to claim 12, whereinthe air conditioning apparatus includes one first indoor unit and at least one second indoor unit,the first indoor unit is configured to carry out the mold preventing operation, andthe controller prohibits the second indoor unit from selecting a cooling operation or a heating operation at a start of the mold preventing operation by the first indoor unit.
- The air treatment system according to claim 13, wherein
the controller permits the air conditioning apparatus to terminate the mold prevention mode on condition that the controller unusually communicates with the detector or the air conditioning apparatus in the mold preventing operation by the air conditioning apparatus. - The air treatment system according to claim 12, whereinthe air conditioning apparatus includes a plurality of indoor units,the air treatment system further comprising
a plurality of human detectors respectively installed in rooms where the indoor units are respectively installed,whereinthe controller prohibits the air conditioning apparatus from carrying out the mold preventing operation on condition that each of the human detectors detects presence of a human, andthe controller permits the air conditioning apparatus to carry out the mold preventing operation on condition that the motion sensor detects absence of a human. - The air treatment system according to claim 16, further comprising a dehumidification apparatus.
- The air treatment system according to claim 17, wherein
the dehumidification apparatus includes the indoor detector. - The air treatment system according to claim 17, wherein
the dehumidification apparatus has a function of displaying a current humidity value. - The air treatment system according to claim 17, whereinthe controller permits the dehumidification apparatus to carry out a powerful dehumidifying operation on condition that the air conditioning apparatus carries out a cooling operation or a dehumidifying operation, andthe controller permits the dehumidification apparatus to carry out a normal dehumidifying operation on condition that the air conditioning apparatus carries out a heating operation.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
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CN202010575585.5A CN113899058A (en) | 2020-06-22 | 2020-06-22 | Control method of air treatment system and air treatment system |
PCT/JP2021/023485 WO2021261460A1 (en) | 2020-06-22 | 2021-06-21 | Air treatment system control method and air treatment system |
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EP4170253A1 true EP4170253A1 (en) | 2023-04-26 |
EP4170253A4 EP4170253A4 (en) | 2023-12-13 |
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EP21828425.5A Pending EP4170253A4 (en) | 2020-06-22 | 2021-06-21 | Air treatment system control method and air treatment system |
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EP (1) | EP4170253A4 (en) |
JP (1) | JP7343825B2 (en) |
CN (1) | CN113899058A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2021261460A1 (en) |
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CN114517969A (en) * | 2022-04-02 | 2022-05-20 | 珠海市金品创业共享平台科技有限公司 | Control system and method for constant temperature of air conditioner, related equipment and air conditioner |
CN114719426A (en) * | 2022-04-22 | 2022-07-08 | 广州豪特节能环保科技股份有限公司 | Intelligent energy management system and management method based on air conditioner distribution strategy |
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JP3801268B2 (en) * | 1996-08-19 | 2006-07-26 | 株式会社日立製作所 | Air conditioner |
JP2001343144A (en) * | 2000-03-30 | 2001-12-14 | Daikin Ind Ltd | Air conditioner |
JP2001317796A (en) * | 2000-05-09 | 2001-11-16 | Daikin Ind Ltd | Air conditioner |
JP2003232551A (en) * | 2002-02-07 | 2003-08-22 | Fujitsu General Ltd | Air conditioner controlling method |
JP2003329288A (en) * | 2003-05-13 | 2003-11-19 | Sharp Corp | Mildew restraining method and air conditioner |
JP3864982B2 (en) * | 2005-05-30 | 2007-01-10 | ダイキン工業株式会社 | Air conditioning system |
JP4597942B2 (en) * | 2006-11-10 | 2010-12-15 | ダイキン工業株式会社 | Air conditioner |
CN102506488B (en) * | 2011-10-20 | 2014-01-22 | 美的集团股份有限公司 | Control method of air conditioner dehumidification mode control device |
CN103411341B (en) * | 2013-09-02 | 2016-03-23 | 海信(山东)空调有限公司 | Type constant temperature dehumidifying air conditioner and dehumanization method |
JP6650557B2 (en) * | 2015-11-09 | 2020-02-19 | パナソニックIpマネジメント株式会社 | Dehumidifier |
CN105526672B (en) * | 2015-12-11 | 2018-12-18 | 珠海格力电器股份有限公司 | A kind of reheat dehumidification system temperature/humidity control method |
CN111765568A (en) * | 2020-07-02 | 2020-10-13 | 珠海格力电器股份有限公司 | Air conditioning system and control method thereof |
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2020
- 2020-06-22 CN CN202010575585.5A patent/CN113899058A/en active Pending
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- 2021-06-21 EP EP21828425.5A patent/EP4170253A4/en active Pending
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WO2021261460A1 (en) | 2021-12-30 |
JP7343825B2 (en) | 2023-09-13 |
JPWO2021261460A1 (en) | 2021-12-30 |
CN113899058A (en) | 2022-01-07 |
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