GB2550697A

GB2550697A - Air conditioning device and control method for air conditioning device

Info

Publication number: GB2550697A
Application number: GB1709238.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kawaguchi Tomoyuki; Takata Shigeo
Original assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Current assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Priority date: 2015-02-23
Filing date: 2015-02-23
Publication date: 2017-11-29
Anticipated expiration: 2035-02-23
Also published as: GB201709238D0; JP6305621B2; WO2016135802A1; GB2550697B; JPWO2016135802A1

Abstract

This air conditioning device is provided with a plurality of heat-source devices connected in parallel with each other, a plurality of use-side units connected in parallel with the plurality of heat-source devices via heat-medium pipes, and an integrated management device that communicates with the plurality of heat-source devices and the plurality of use-side units. In addition, each of the plurality of heat-source devices is provided with a heat-source-side control device which performs operation control, and which transmits operation status information to the integrated management device, and each of the plurality of use-side units is provided with a use-side control device which performs operation control, and which transmits operation status information to the integrated management device. Still further, the integrated management device is provided with a control information generating unit which generates control information for each of the plurality of heat-source devices on the basis of the operation status information on the plurality of heat-source devices and the operation status information on the plurality of use-side units, and the heat-source-side control device performs operation control in accordance with the control information generated by the control information generating unit.

Description

DESCRIPTION Title of Invention AIR-CONDITIONING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF Technical Field [0001]

The present invention relates to an air-conditioning apparatus including a plurality of heat source apparatuses and a plurality of use-side units, and to a control method of the air-conditioning apparatus.

Background Art [0002]

An air-conditioning apparatus has thus far been known that includes a plurality of heat source apparatuses and a plurality of use-side units, and is configured to exchange heat between a primary-side heat medium such as refrigerant and a secondary-side heat medium such as water in the heat source apparatus, and transport the secondary-side heat medium to a use-side heat exchanger of the use-side unit. Such an air-conditioning apparatus is called a fan coil-type air-conditioning apparatus.

[0003]

To perform efficient operation of existing fan coil-type air-conditioning apparatuses, a plurality of heat source apparatuses are automatically controlled according to loads of a plurality of use-side units. For example, in the air-conditioning apparatus according to Patent Literature 1, a plurality of use-side units are divided into groups on the basis of load patterns, and a pipe system is built for each of the groups. Signals indicating the operation status of the plurality of use-side units are transmitted to a computer executing centralized management, and the computer calculates the number of heat source apparatuses required for operation, according to the operation status information. In the air-conditioning apparatus according to Patent Literature 1, in addition, not only the signals indicating the operation status of the plurality of use-side units but also information regarding the status of the heat source apparatuses, electric valves, and pumps is collected into the computer, so that the computer executes the control of the heat source apparatuses, the use-side units, the electric valves and the pumps.

Citation List Patent Literature [0004]

Patent Literature 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 5-196277

Summary of Invention Technical Problem [0005]

In the case of the fan coil-type air-conditioning apparatus, the use-side units and the heat source apparatuses may be provided from different manufacturers. In addition, the number of use-side units and heat source apparatuses, as well as the installation condition (way of grouping) may differ depending on the configuration of the air-conditioning apparatus. Now, in the case where the centralized management apparatus controls each of the units as in Patent Literature 1, the centralized management apparatus has to be set up according to the configuration and number of use-side units and heat source apparatuses, the installation condition, and so forth, for each air-conditioning apparatus. More specifically, control of operation of the use-side units and the heat source apparatuses, and a program for calculating the number of heat source apparatuses required for operation have to be installed in the centralized management apparatus, for each air-conditioning apparatus.

[0006]

In some of the fan coil-type air-conditioning apparatuses, the centralized management apparatus is not provided, but each of the heat source apparatuses and the use-side units is provided with a controller. To integrally control the plurality of use-side units and heat source apparatuses in such an air-conditioning apparatus, a control of operation by the controller that controls the use-side unit and control of operation by the controller that controls the heat source apparatus have to be individually set, depending on the number of use-side units and heat source apparatuses and the installation condition. In this case, in addition, the control system of the air-conditioning apparatus becomes complicated.

[0007]

The present invention has been made in view of the foregoing situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide an air-conditioning apparatus and a control method that enable use-side units and heat source apparatuses to be integrally controlled, and prevent complication of settings according to the configuration of the air-conditioning apparatus.

Solution to Problem [0008]

In an embodiment, the present invention provides an air-conditioning apparatus including a plurality of heat source apparatuses connected in parallel, a plurality of use-side units connected in parallel to the plurality of heat source apparatuses via a heat medium pipe, and an integral management apparatus that communicates with the plurality of heat source apparatuses and the plurality of use-side units. The plurality of heat source apparatuses each include a heat source-side controller that performs operation control and transmits operation status information to the integral management apparatus. The plurality of use-side units each include a use-side controller that performs operation control and transmits operation status information to the integral management apparatus. The integral management apparatus includes a control information generation unit that generates control information for each of the plurality of heat source apparatuses on a basis of the operation status information from the plurality of heat source apparatuses and the operation status information from the plurality of use-side units. The heat source-side controller performs the operation control in accordance with the control information generated by the control information generation unit.

[0009]

In another embodiment, the present invention provides a control method of an air-conditioning apparatus including a plurality of heat source apparatuses connected in parallel, and a plurality of use-side units connected in parallel to the plurality of heat source apparatuses via a heat medium pipe, the plurality of heat source apparatuses each including a heat source-side controller that performs operation control, and the plurality of use-side units each including a use-side controller that performs operation control. The method includes causing the heat source-side controller to transmit operation status information of the heat source apparatus, causing the use-side controller to transmit operation status information of the use-side units, generating control information for each of the plurality of heat source apparatuses on a basis of the operation status information from the plurality of heat source apparatuses and the operation status information from the plurality of use-side units, and causing the heat source-side controller to perform the operation control in accordance with the control information generated.

Advantageous Effects of Invention [0010]

In the air-conditioning apparatus configured as above, the plurality of heat source apparatuses and use-side units each include the heat source-side controller and the use-side controller respectively, for controlling functional components, and the integral management apparatus integrally controls the operation of the heat source apparatuses according to the operation status of the plurality of use-side units. Such an arrangement eliminates the need to individually set up the integral management apparatus depending on the configuration (number of units installed and installation condition) of the air-conditioning apparatus, and improves the operation efficiency. Brief Description of Drawings [0011] [Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a general configuration of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1.

[Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a general configuration of a heat source apparatus according to Embodiment 1.

[Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a circuit diagram showing a general configuration of a use-side unit according to Embodiment 1.

[Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1.

[Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of a remote controller according to Embodiment 1.

[Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of the use-side unit according to Embodiment 1.

[Fig. 7] Fig. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of an integral management apparatus according to Embodiment 1.

[Fig. 8] Fig. 8 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of a heat source apparatus according to Embodiment 1.

[Fig. 9] Fig. 9 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 2.

[Fig. 10] Fig. 10 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of a heat source apparatus according to Embodiment 2.

[Fig. 11 ] Fig. 11 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of a heat source apparatus according to Embodiment 3.

[Fig. 12] Fig. 12 is a flowchart showing a status information sharing operation according to Embodiment 3.

Description of Embodiments [0012]

Flereafter, an air-conditioning apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The configurations described hereunder are merely exemplary and not intended to limit the present invention. In the drawings, the same components are given the same numeral.

[0013]

Embodiment 1

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a general configuration of the air-conditioning apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 1, the air-conditioning apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 includes a plurality of heat source apparatuses and a plurality of use-side units. Although the air-conditioning apparatus 100 shown in Fig. 1 includes three heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c and six use-side units 3a to 3f, the number of heat source apparatuses and the number of use-side units are not specifically limited. The heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c are connected in parallel to a secondary-side heat medium pipe 5 via respective pumps 2a to 2c for circulating secondary-side heat medium. The use-side units 3a to 3f are connected in parallel to the secondary-side heat medium pipe 5 via respective valves 4a to 4f. The use-side units 3a to 3f respectively include remote controllers 7a to 7f, which individually control the operation of the corresponding use-side unit. Further, an integral management apparatus 8 that integrally controls the air-conditioning apparatus 100 is connected to the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c and the use-side units 3a to 3f, via a transmission line 6 for communication.

[0014]

In the air-conditioning apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1, a primary-side heat medium and a secondary-side heat medium exchange heat in the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c, and the secondary-side heat medium is transported to the use-side units 3a to 3f through the pumps 2a to 2c and the secondary-side heat medium pipe 5. Then the indoor air and the secondary-side heat medium exchange heat in each of the use-side units 3a to 3f, so that a cooling operation of heating operation is performed. The secondary-side heat medium which has undergone the heat exchange with the indoor air in the use-side units 3a to 3f again flows into the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c through the secondary-side heat medium pipe 5. Here, examples of the primary-side heat medium include HFC refrigerant such as R410A, R407C, R404A, and R32, HCFC refrigerants such as R22 and R134a, and natural refrigerants such as hydrocarbon, helium, and propane. The secondary-side heat medium may be, for example, water or antifreeze.

[0015]

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a general configuration of the heat source apparatus 1a according to Embodiment 1. The heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c have the same configuration, out of which the heat source apparatus 1a is taken up for the description. As shown in Fig. 2, the heat source apparatus 1a includes a refrigerant circuit composed of a compressor 10, a flow switching device 11, a heat source-side heat exchanger 12, a depressurizing device 13, and an intermediate heat exchanger 14, which are sequentially connected via a pipe. Refrigerant, serving as the primary-side heat medium, circulates through the refrigerant circuit of the heat source apparatus 1 a. The heat source apparatus 1 a also includes a fan 15 that supplies air to the heat source-side heat exchanger 12 and a heat source-side controller 50 that controls the functional components of the heat source apparatus 1a.

[0016]

The compressor 10 compresses the refrigerant introduced from the suction side and discharges the refrigerant in the form of high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant, from the discharge side. The operation capacity of the compressor 10 is controlled by the heat source-side controller 50. The flow switching device 11 is, for example, constituted of a four-way valve for switching the flow direction of the refrigerant. In the cooling operation and defrosting operation, the flow switching device 11 is set as indicated by solid lines in Fig. 2, to allow the discharge side of the compressor 10 to communicate with the heat source-side heat exchanger 12, and the intermediate heat exchanger 14 to communicate with the suction side of the compressor 10. In the heating operation, the flow switching device 11 is set as indicated by broken lines in Fig. 2, to allow the discharge side of the compressor 10 to communicate with the intermediate heat exchanger 14, and the heat source-side heat exchanger 12 to communicate with the suction side of the compressor 10. The switching of the flow direction of the flow switching device 11 is controlled by the heat source-side controller 50.

[0017]

The heat source-side heat exchanger 12 serves as condenser of the refrigerant in the cooling operation and defrosting operation, and as evaporator of the refrigerant in the heating operation. The fan 15 is, for example, constituted of a propeller fan driven by a non-illustrated fan motor, and serves to introduce outdoor air into the heat source apparatus 1a and discharge the air that has undergone the heat exchange with the refrigerant in the heat source-side heat exchanger 12. The volume of the air supplied by the fan 15 is controlled by the heat source-side controller 50.

[0018]

The depressurizing device 13 is an expansion valve that depressurizes and expands the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit. The opening degree (throttling) of the depressurizing device 13 is controlled by the heat source-side controller 50. The intermediate heat exchanger 14 exchanges heat between the primary-side heat medium circulating in the refrigerant circuit in the heat source apparatus 1a and the secondary-side heat medium circulating in the secondary-side heat medium pipe 5. In the intermediate heat exchanger 14, the secondary-side heat medium is cooled in the cooling operation and defrosting operation, and heated in the heating operation.

[0019]

Between the intermediate heat exchanger 14 and the secondary-side heat medium pipe 5, the pump 2a is provided to circulate the secondary-side heat medium heated or cooled in the intermediate heat exchanger 14 to the secondary-side heat medium pipe 5. The volume of the secondary-side heat medium delivered from the pump 2a is controlled by the heat source-side controller 50.

[0020]

Fig. 3 is a circuit diagram showing a general configuration of the use-side unit 3a according to Embodiment 1. The use-side units 3a to 3f have the same configuration, out of which the use-side unit 3a is taken up for the description. The use-side unit 3a is an indoor unit that is also called a fan coil unit, for example embedded in or suspended from the ceiling. In Embodiment 1, the use-side unit 3a includes a use-side heat exchanger 30, a fan 31, and a use-side controller 60.

[0021]

The use-side heat exchanger 30 exchanges heat between the secondary-side heat medium circulating in the secondary-side heat medium pipe 5 and indoor air supplied by the fan 31. The fan 31 is, for example, constituted of a propeller fan driven by a non-illustrated fan motor, and serves to introduce outdoor air into the use-side unit 3a and discharge the air that has undergone the heat exchange with the secondary-side heat medium in the use-side heat exchanger 30. The volume of the air supplied by the fan 31 is controlled by the use-side controller 60.

[0022]

Between the use-side heat exchanger 30 and the secondary-side heat medium pipe 5, a valve 4a is provided to restrict the secondary-side heat medium flowing in the secondary-side heat medium pipe 5 from flowing into the use-side heat exchanger 30. The opening and closing of the valve 4a is controlled by the use-side controller 60.

[0023]

Hereunder, a configuration of the air-conditioning apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 will be described from a viewpoint of operation control. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing afunctional configuration of the air-conditioning apparatus 100. Although only the heat source-side controller 50 of the heat source apparatus 1a and the use-side controller 60 of the use-side unit 3a are connected to the integral management apparatus 8 in Fig. 4, actually the respective heat source-side controllers 50 of the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c, and the respective use-side controllers 60 of the use-side units 3a to 3f are connected to the integral management apparatus 8.

[0024]

The heat source-side controllers 50 respectively provided in the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c are configured to perform the same functions, and the heat source-side controller 50 of the heat source apparatus 1a will hereafter be taken up for the description. The heat source-side controller 50 is constituted of a microcomputer, a digital signal processor (DSP), or a similar device, and connected to the integral management apparatus 8 via the transmission line 6 for communication. As shown in Fig. 4, the heat source-side controller 50 includes a communication unit 51 that communicates with the integral management apparatus 8, a control unit 52 that controls the functional components of the heat source apparatus 1a, and an information acquisition unit 53 that acquires operation status information of the heat source apparatus 1 a. The functions of the units may be realized by software when a CPU constituting the heat source-side controller 50 executes a program, or by electronic circuits such as a DSP, an application specific IC (ASIC), or a programmable logic device (PLD).

[0025]

The information acquisition unit 53 acquires the operation status information of the heat source apparatus 1a, from the control unit 52. The operation status information of the heat source apparatus 1a includes, for example, operationg or nonoperating state of the heat source apparatus 1a, operation mode (heating, cooling, or defrosting), heat exchange capacity, or working time of the compressor 10. The operation status information of the heat source apparatus 1a will hereinafter be referred to as "heat source-side information". The communication unit 51 transmits the heat source-side information acquired by the information acquisition unit 53, to the integral management apparatus 8. The communication unit 51 also transmits the control information received from the integral management apparatus 8 to the control unit 52. The control unit 52 controls the amount of energy to be supplied from the heat source apparatus 1a to the secondary-side heat medium, according to the control information received. More specifically, the control unit 52 controls the operation capacity of the compressor 10, the air volume of the fan 15, and the rotation speed of the pump 2a, according to the control information.

[0026]

The use-side controllers 60 respectively provided in the use-side units 3a to 3f are configured to perform the same functions, and the use-side controller 60 of the use-side unit 3a will hereafter be taken up for the description. The use-side controller 60 is constituted of a microcomputer, a DSP, or a similar device. The use-side controller 60 is connected to the integral management apparatus 8 via the transmission line 6 for communication, and to the remote controller 7a so as to make wireless communication. As shown in Fig. 4, the use-side controller 60 includes a communication unit 61 that communicates with the integral management apparatus 8 and the remote controller 7a, a control unit 62 that controls the functional components of the use-side unit 3a, and an information acquisition unit 63 that acquires operation status information of the use-side unit 3a. The functions of the units may be realized by software when a CPU constituting the use-side controller 60 executes a program, or by electronic circuits such as a DSP, an ASIC, or a PLD.

[0027]

The communication unit 61 receives instruction information from the remote controller 7a, and transmits an instruction signal to the control unit 62. Upon receipt of the instruction signal from the communication unit 61, the control unit 62 controls, for example, operating and non-operating of the fan 31, and opening and closing of the valve 4a, according to the instruction signal. The information acquisition unit 63 acquires the operation status information of the use-side unit 3a from the control unit 62, after the control unit 62 performs the control according to the instruction information from the remote controller 7a. The operation status information of the use-side unit 3a includes, for example, operating or non-operating state of the use-side unit 3a, operation mode (heating, cooling, or defrosting), or target room temperature. The operation status information of the use-side unit 3a will hereinafter be referred to as "use-side information". The communication unit 61 transmits the use-side information acquired by the information acquisition unit 63, to the integral management apparatus 8.

[0028]

The integral management apparatus 8 is constituted of a microcomputer, a DSP, or a similar device, and connected to the heat source-side controller 50 and the use-side controller 60 via the transmission line 6 for communication. As shown in Fig. 4, the integral management apparatus 8 includes a communication unit 81 that communicates with the heat source-side controller 50 and the use-side controller 60, a storage unit 82 for storing the heat source-side information and the use-side information, an update unit 83 that updates the heat source-side information and the use-side information stored in the storage unit 82, a capacity calculation unit 84 that calculates the total operation capacity of the use-side units 3a to 3f on the basis of the use-side information, and a control information generation unit 85 that generates control information for the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c on the basis of the total operation capacity calculated by the capacity calculation unit 84. The functions of the cited units may be realized by software when a CPU constituting the integral management apparatus 8 executes a program, or by electronic circuits such as a DSP, an ASIC, or a PLD.

[0029]

The communication unit 81 is configured to receive the heat source-side information of all the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c connected to the integral management apparatus 8, as well as the use-side information of all the use-side units 3a to 3f connected to the integral management apparatus 8. The storage unit 82 is for example a non-volatile memory, and stores the heat source-side information of the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c and the use-side information of the use-side units 3a to 3f received through the communication unit 81, in association with the corresponding heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c and the use-side units 3a to 3f, which are the transmission source. The update unit 83 updates, upon newly receiving the heat source-side information and the use-side information from the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c and the use-side units 3a to 3f, the heat source-side information and the use-side information stored in the storage unit 82.

[0030]

The capacity calculation unit 84 sums the operation capacity (cooling capacity or heating capacity) of the use-side units that are in the operating state, among the use-side units 3a to 3f, on the basis of the use-side information of the use-side units 3a to 3f stored in the storage unit 82, to thereby obtain the total operation capacity.

[0031]

The control information generation unit 85 calculates the operation capacity for control of the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c, on the basis of the total operation capacity calculated by the capacity calculation unit 84 and the heat source-side information of the heat source apparatuses 1 a to 1 c stored in the storage unit 82. To be more specific, the control information generation unit 85 calculates the operation capacity for control of the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c, by distributing the total operation capacity to each of the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c according to the heat source-side information. Here, in order to maximize the operation efficiency of the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c, any of the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c may be forcibly stopped, when the total operation capacity is distributed. For example, when the air-conditioning apparatus 100 is performing the heating operation and the heat source apparatus 1a is performing the defrosting operation, the heating capacity and the defrosting capacity borne by the heat source apparatus 1 a performing the defrosting operation may be distributed to another heat source apparatus 1 b or 1c, so that the total heating capacity of the heat source apparatuses 1 a to 1 c covers the total operation capacity. More specifically, when the heat source-side information indicates that the operation mode of the heat source apparatuses 1b and 1c is the heating operation, and that the operation mode of the heat source apparatus 1a is the defrosting operation, the control information generation unit 85 proportionally distributes the total operation capacity to the heat source apparatuses 1b and 1c, the operation mode of which is the heating operation, to thereby calculate the operation capacity for control.

[0032]

The calculation method of the operation capacity for control is not limited to the above. For example, the total operation capacity may be evenly distributed to the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c. Alternatively, the total operation capacity may be proportionally distributed, for example, by a ratio according to the heat exchange capacity of the heat source apparatuses 1 a to 1 c. Further, the total operation capacity may be proportionally distributed according to the working time of the compressor 10 of each of the heat source apparatuses 1 a to 1 c. In this case, the portion for the heat source apparatus in which the compressor 10 has been working for a longer time may be reduced, or the operation of such heat source apparatus may be stopped. Still further, the total operation capacity may be proportionally distributed, for example using a weighting factor preset as desired. The operation capacity for control of each of the heat source apparatuses 1 a to 1 c generated by the control information generation unit 85 is transmitted to the respective heat source-side controllers 50 of the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c as control information, through the communication unit 81.

[0033]

Hereunder, operations of the components of the air-conditioning apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 will be described.

[Remote Controller 7a to 7f]

Fig. 5 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of the remote controller 7a.

The other remote controllers 7b to 7f are configured to perform the same operation as the remote controller 7a. In the remote controller 7a the operation mode of the use-side unit 3a is set to off, as initial setting (S1). Then it is determined whether a user has made an instruction to start an operation (S2). In the case where the user has not made the instruction (NO at S2), the operation returns to step S1.

[0034]

In the case where the user has made the instruction to start the operation (YES at S2), the remote controller 7a transmits instruction information indicating the content of the instruction, to the use-side controller 60 (S3), and the operation mode is set to the on state (S4). Then it is determined whether the user has made an instruction to stop the operation (S5). In the case where the user has not made the instruction to stop the operation (NO at S5), the operation enters a standby state.

[0035]

In the case where the user has made the instruction to stop the operation (YES at S5), the remote controller 7a transmits instruction information indicating that the operation is to be stopped, to the use-side controller 60 (S3). The operation then returns to step S1, after which the mentioned process is repeated.

[0036] [Use-Side Units 3a to 3f]

Fig. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of the use-side unit 3a. The other use-side units 3b to 3f are configured to perform the same operation as the use-side unit 3a. First, the communication unit 61 determines whether the instruction information has been received from the remote controller 7a (S11). In the case where the instruction information has not been received from the remote controller 7a (NO at S11), the operation enters a standby state for the reception. In the case where the instruction information has been received from the remote controller 7a (YES at S11), the instruction information is transmitted to the control unit 62. Then the control unit 62 performs the control of the air volume of the fan 31 and the opening and closing of the valve 4a, according to the instruction information (S12). The information acquisition unit 63 then acquires the current use-side information of the use-side unit 3a, and the use-side information is transmitted to the integral management apparatus 8 through the communication unit 61 (S13).

[0037] [Integral Management Apparatus 8]

Fig. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of the integral management apparatus 8. First, the communication unit 81 determines whether the heat source-side information has been received from heat source-side controller 50 of the heat source apparatuses 1 a to 1 c (S21). In the case where the heat source-side information has not been received from heat source-side controller 50 of the heat source apparatuses 1 a to 1 c (NO at S21), the operation proceeds to step S23. In the case where the heat source-side information has been received from heat source-side controller 50 of the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c (YES at S21), the update unit 83 updates the heat source-side information of the heat source apparatus that is the transmission source, among the heat source-side information of the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c stored in the storage unit 82 (S22).

[0038]

Then the communication unit 81 determines whether the use-side information has been received from the use-side controller 60 of the use-side units 3a to 3f (S23). In the case where the use-side information has not been received from the use-side controller 60 of the use-side units 3a to 3f (NO at S23), the operation returns to step S21. In the case where the use-side information has been received from the use-side controller 60 of the use-side units 3a to 3f (YES at S23), the update unit 83 updates the use-side information of the use-side unit that is the transmission source, among the use-side information of the use-side units 3a to 3f stored in the storage unit 82 (S24).

[0039]

The capacity calculation unit 84 then calculates the total operation capacity, which is the total of the operation capacity of the use-side units, the operation status of which is on among the use-side units 3a to 3f, on the basis of the use-side information of the use-side units 3a to 3f stored in the storage unit 82 (S25). Then the control information generation unit 85 calculates, on the basis of the total operation capacity and the heat source-side information of the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c stored in the storage unit 82, the operation capacity for control of each of the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c, as the control information (S26). The control information is transmitted to the respective heat source-side controllers 50 of the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c through the communication unit 81 (S27), and the operation returns to step S21.

[0040] [Heat Source Apparatus 1a to 1c]

Fig. 8 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of the heat source apparatus 1 a. The other heat source apparatuses 1 b and 1c are configured to perform the same operation as the heat source apparatus 1a. First, the communication unit 51 determines whether the control information has been received from the integral management apparatus 8 (S31). In the case where the control information has not been received from the integral management apparatus 8 (NO at S31), the operation enters a standby state for the reception. In the case where the control information has been received from the integral management apparatus 8 (YES at S31), the control unit 52 performs the control of the operation capacity of the compressor 10, the air volume of the fan 15, and the rotation speed of the pump 2a, according to the control information (S32), and the operation returns to step S31.

[0041]

In parallel to the mentioned operation, the information acquisition unit 53 acquires the heat source-side information of the heat source apparatus 1a, and the heat source-side information is transmitted to the integral management apparatus 8 through the communication unit 51 (S33). Then the operation is suspended for a predetermined time (S34), after which the operation returns to step S33. Although the heat source-side information is periodically transmitted in this example, the heat source-side information may be transmitted only when the operation status of the heat source apparatus 1a has changed.

[0042]

As described above, in the air-conditioning apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1, the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c and the use-side units 3a to 3f respectively include the heat source-side controllers 50 and the use-side controllers 60 to control the functional components, and the integral management apparatus 8 automatically controls the operation of the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c according to the operation status of the use-side units 3a to 3f. The plurality of heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c and the use-side units 3a to 3f are connected in parallel to the same pair of secondary-side heat medium pipes 5. Such configurations allow the same control to be performed in the remote controllers 7a to 7f, the heat source-side controllers 50, the use-side controllers 60, and the integral management apparatus 8, irrespective of the number of heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c and the number of use-side units 3a to 3f connected to the air-conditioning apparatus 100, and eliminates the need to execute troublesome settings such as individually modifying the control program of the integral management apparatus 8 according to the configuration of the air-conditioning apparatus. In addition, since it is not necessary to associate the plurality of heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c and the plurality of use-side units 3a to 3f with each other, no limitation is required when setting the addresses of the respective units.

[0043]

In addition, since the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c and the use-side units 3a to 3f each include the heat source-side controller 50 and the use-side controller 60 that control the corresponding unit, the system designing similar to that of existing direct-expansion air-conditioning apparatuses can be easily achieved. Further, the components intended for use in the direct-expansion air-conditioning apparatuses, such as the remote controller and the centralized management apparatus can be shared and effectively utilized and, still further, a mixed system of the fan coil type and the direct expansion type can be easily constituted. In addition, effectively utilizing the heat source-side controller 50 and the use-side controller 60 leads to increased degree of freedom in selecting the heat source apparatus and the use-side unit, which facilitates apparatuses having a special shape or capacity to be combined, in accordance with the specification of the site.

[0044]

In the air-conditioning apparatuses including a plurality of heat source apparatuses and a plurality of use-side units of the existing type, the operation capacity required for the heat source apparatuses may vary depending on the operation status of the plurality of use-side units. In such a case, the operation capacity of the plurality of heat source apparatuses may become unbalanced, and the efficiency of the overall system may be degraded. With the air-conditioning apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1, in contrast, the integral management apparatus 8 controls the plurality of heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c in linkage, to thereby efficiently operate the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c. Further, generating the control information on the basis of the heat source-side information regarding the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c suppresses an impact on the use-side units 3a to 3f in an operation in which the air-conditioning capacity fluctuates, such as the defrosting operation.

[0045]

Embodiment 2

Hereunder, Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described. In Embodiment 1 the integral management apparatus 8 is provided independently from the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c and the use-side units 3a to 3f, however an air-conditioning apparatus 100A according to Embodiment 2 is different from Embodiment 1 in that the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c each include a heat source-side controller 500 incorporated with the function of the integral management apparatus 8. The configuration of the remaining portion of the air-conditioning apparatus 100A is the same as Embodiment 1.

[0046]

Fig. 9 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the air-conditioning apparatus 100A according to Embodiment 2. Although only the heat source-side controller 500 of the heat source apparatus 1a and the use-side controller 60 of the use-side unit 3a are connected to each other via the transmission line 6 in Fig. 9, actually the respective heat source-side controllers 500 of the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c, and the respective use-side controllers 60 of the use-side units 3a to 3f are connected to one another via the transmission line 6. The use-side controllers 60 according to Embodiment 2 are the same as those of Embodiment 1.

[0047]

The heat source-side controllers 500 respectively provided in the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c are configured to perform the same functions, and the heat source-side controller 500 of the heat source apparatus 1a will hereafter be taken up for the description. The heat source-side controller 500 is constituted of a microcomputer, a DSP, or a similar device, and connected to the respective heat source-side controllers 500 of the heat source apparatuses 1b and 1c, and the respective use-side controllers 60 of the use-side units 3a to 3f, via the transmission line 6 for communication. As shown in Fig. 9, the heat source-side controller 500 includes a communication unit 501 that communicates with the heat source-side controllers 500 and the use-side controllers 60, a storage unit 502 for storing the heat source-side information and the use-side information, an update unit 503 that updates the heat source-side information and the use-side information stored in the storage unit 502, a capacity calculation unit 504 that calculates the total operation capacity of the use-side units 3a to 3f on the basis of the use-side information, a control information generation unit 505 that generates control information for the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c on the basis of the total operation capacity calculated by the capacity calculation unit 504, a control unit 506 that controls functional components of the heat source apparatus 1a, and an information acquisition unit 507 that acquires the heat source-side information of the heat source apparatus 1 a. The functions of the cited units may be realized by software when a CPU constituting the heat source-side controller 500 executes a program, or by electronic circuits such as a DSP, an ASIC, ora PLD.

[0048]

The communication unit 501 receives the heat source-side information of the heat source apparatuses 1b and 1c, and the use-side information of the use-side units 3a to 3f. The storage unit 502 is for example a non-volatile memory, and stores the heat source-side information of the heat source apparatus 1a acquired by the information acquisition unit 507, and the heat source-side information of the heat source apparatuses 1 b and 1 c and the use-side information of the use-side units 3a to 3f received through the communication unit 501, in association with the corresponding heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c and the use-side units 3a to 3f, which are the transmission source. The update unit 503 updates, upon newly receiving the heat source-side information and the use-side information from the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c and the use-side units 3a to 3f, the heat source-side information and the use-side information stored in the storage unit 502.

[0049]

The capacity calculation unit 504 calculates the total operation capacity which is the sum the operation capacity of the use-side units that is in the on state, among the use-side units 3a to 3f, on the basis of the use-side information of the use-side units 3a to 3f stored in the storage unit 502. The control information generation unit 505 calculates the operation capacity for control of the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1 c for use as the control information, on the basis of the total operation capacity calculated by the capacity calculation unit 504 and the heat source-side information of the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c stored in the storage unit 502. In Embodiment 2, all of the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c included in the air-conditioning apparatus 100A generate the control information (operation capacity for control) with the same algorithm. The calculation method of the operation capacity for control by the control information generation unit 505 is the same as that performed by the control information generation unit 85 according to Embodiment 1.

[0050]

The control unit 506 controls the amount of energy to be supplied from the heat source apparatus 1a to the secondary-side heat medium, according to the control information generated by the control information generation unit 505. For example, the control unit 506 controls the operation capacity of the compressor 10, the air volume of the fan 15, and the rotation speed of the pump 2a, according to the control information.

[0051]

The information acquisition unit 507 acquires the heat source-side information of the heat source apparatus 1 a. The heat source-side information includes, for example, the on or off state of the heat source apparatus 1a, the operation mode (heating, cooling, or defrosting), the heat exchange capacity, or the working time of the compressor 10. The heat source-side information acquired by the information acquisition unit 507 is stored in the storage unit 502, and also transmitted to an address indicating all of the constituent components of the air-conditioning apparatus 100A, through the communication unit 501. Here, the heat source-side information is transmitted to the address indicating all the components because in this way the heat source-side information can reach the heat source-side controller 500 of the other heat source apparatuses 1b and 1c. Therefore, any transmission method may be adopted without limitation to the above, provided that the information reaches the heat source-side controller 500 of the other heat source apparatuses 1 b and 1 c. For example, the information may be transmitted to a predefined address indicating all of the heat source-side controllers 500. Alternatively, instead of predefining the address indicating all of the apparatuses or all of the heat source-side controllers 500, the information may be individually transmitted to all the apparatuses or all the heat source-side controllers 500. Further, in the case where the heat source-side controller 500 is capable of acquiring data flowing on the communication line and addressed to another device, the destination does not have to be the address indicating the heat source-side controller 500.

[0052]

Hereunder, operations of the components of the air-conditioning apparatus 100A according to Embodiment 2 will be described.

[Remote Controller 7a to 7f]

The remote controllers 7a to 7f according to Embodiment 2 perform the same functions as those of Embodiment 1 shown in Fig. 5.

[0053] [Use-Side Unit 3a to 3f]

The use-side units 3a to 3f according to Embodiment 2 perform the same functions as those of Embodiment 1 shown in Fig. 6, except for the following points.

In Embodiment 1, at step S13 in Fig. 6 the current use-side information of the use-side unit is transmitted to the integral management apparatus 8, however in Embodiment 2 the use-side information is transmitted to the predefined address indicating all of the constituent components of the air-conditioning apparatus 100A, through the communication unit 501. Here, the use-side information is transmitted to the address indicating all the components because in this way the use-side information can reach the heat source-side controllers 500 of all the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c. Therefore, any transmission method may be adopted without limitation to the above, provided that the information reaches the heat source-side controllers 500 of the heat source apparatuses 1 a to 1 c. The same specific methods described with reference to the transmission of the heat source-side information may be adopted.

[0054] [Heat Source Apparatus 1 a to 1 c]

Fig. 10 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of the heat source apparatus 1 a according to Embodiment 2. The other heat source apparatuses 1 b and 1 c are configured to perform the same operation as the heat source apparatus 1a. First, the communication unit 501 determines whether the heat source-side information has been received from the heat source-side controller 500 of the heat source apparatuses 1 a to 1 c, inclusive of itself (S41). In the case where the heat source-side information has not been received from the heat source apparatus 1a to 1c (NO at S41), the operation proceeds to S43. In the case where the heat source-side information has been received from the heat source apparatus 1a to 1c (YES at S41), the update unit 503 updates the heat source-side information of the heat source apparatus that is the transmission source, among the heat source-side information of the heat source apparatus 1a to 1c stored in the storage unit 502 (S42).

[0055]

Then the communication unit 501 determines whether the use-side information has been received from the use-side controller 60 of the use-side units 3a to 3f (S43). In the case where the use-side information has not been received from the use-side controller 60 of the use-side units 3a to 3f (NO at S43), the operation returns to step S41. In the case where the use-side information has been received from the use-side controller 60 of the use-side units 3a to 3f (YES at S43), the update unit 503 updates the use-side information of the use-side unit that is the transmission source, among the use-side information of the use-side units 3a to 3f stored in the storage unit 502 (S44).

[0056]

The capacity calculation unit 504 then calculates the total operation capacity, which is the total of the operation capacity of the use-side units the operation status of which is on among the use-side units 3a to 3f, on the basis of the use-side information of the use-side units 3a to 3f stored in the storage unit 502 (S45). Then the control information generation unit 505 calculates, on the basis of the total operation capacity and the heat source-side information of the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c stored in the storage unit 502, the operation capacity for control of each of the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c, as the control information (S46). Thereafter, the control unit 506 performs the control of the operation capacity of the compressor 10, the air volume of the fan 15, and the rotation speed of the pump 2a, according to the generated control information (S47), and the operation returns to step S41.

[0057]

Parallel to the mentioned operation, the information acquisition unit 507 acquires the heat source-side information of the heat source apparatus 1a, and the heat source-side information is transmitted through the communication unit 501 (S48). Then the operation is suspended for a predetermined time (S49), after which the operation returns to step S48. Although the heat source-side information is periodically transmitted in this example, the heat source-side information may be transmitted only when the operation status of the heat source apparatus 1a has changed.

[0058]

In Embodiment 2, as described above, the heat source-side information and the use-side information necessary for the calculation are transmitted from all of the use-side controllers 60 and the heat source-side controllers 500 to each of the heat source apparatuses 1 a to 1 c. Accordingly, the same calculation result of the operation capacity for control with respect to the heat source apparatuses 1 a to 1 c can be obtained. Therefore, unlike in Embodiment 1, there is no need to transmit the calculation result to the other heat source apparatuses 1b and 1c, and it suffices to control the heat source apparatus 1a, which is itself, in order to achieve the purpose. Further, since the function of the integral management apparatus is distributed to each of the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c, the operation as the air-conditioning apparatus 100A can be continued even though any of the heat source apparatuses has failed. In addition, although each of the units is configured to spontaneously transmit the information to the heat source-side controller 500 in Embodiment 2, the heat source-side controller 500 may request each unit to provide the information when necessary.

[0059]

Further, in the air-conditioning apparatus 100A according to Embodiment 2, the respective heat source-side controllers 500 automatically control the operation of the heat source apparatuses 1 a to 1c respectively, according to the operation status of the use-side units 3a to 3f. In addition, the plurality of heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c and the use-side units 3a to 3f are connected in parallel to the same pair of secondary-side heat medium pipes 5. Such configurations provide the same advantageous effects as those provided by Embodiment 1. Still further, since the integral management apparatus 8 can be omitted in Embodiment 2, the number of parts, and hence the cost of the product can be reduced.

[0060]

Embodiment 3

Hereunder, Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described. In the air-conditioning apparatus 100A according to Embodiment 2, the heat source apparatus 1a may temporarily fail to receive the heat source-side information of the other heat source apparatuses 1b and 1c, and the use-side information of the use-side units 3a to 3f, for example owing to a malfunction of communication. In such a case, the calculation result of the operation capacity for control may differ from the other heat source apparatuses 1b and 1c, which may lead to failure in performing a control of a quality expected as air-conditioning apparatus 100. Embodiment 3 is, accordingly, different from Embodiment 2 in including an arrangement for sharing the status information among the plurality of heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c. The remaining portions of the configuration of the air-conditioning apparatus 100A are the same as those of Embodiment 2.

[0061]

The functional configuration for control in Embodiment 3 is the same as that of Embodiment 2 shown in Fig. 9. The functions of the remote controllers 7a to 7f and the use-side units 3a to 3f are also the same as those of Embodiment 2.

[0062] [Heat Source Apparatus 1 a to 1 c]

Fig. 11 is a flowchart for explaining an operation of the heat source apparatus 1 a according to Embodiment 3. The other heat source apparatuses 1 b and 1 c are configured to perform the same operation as the heat source apparatus 1a. In

Embodiment 3, first, the information acquisition unit 507 determines whether there has been a change in the heat source-side information of the heat source apparatus 1 a (S50). In the case where there has been no change in the heat source-side information of the heat source apparatus 1a (NO at S50), the operation enters a standby state for any change. In the case where there has been a change in the heat source-side information of the heat source apparatus 1a (YES at S50), the information acquisition unit 507 acquires the heat source-side information after the change, and the changed information is transmitted through the communication unit 501 (S51), after which the operation returns to step S50.

[0063]

Parallel to the mentioned operation, step S41 to step S46 shown in Fig. 10 are performed, as in Embodiment 2. When the control information is generated at step S46, a status information sharing process is performed (S52). Fig. 12 is a flowchart showing a status information sharing process. In this operation, the control information generated at step S46 is transmitted through the communication unit 501, such that, as with the heat source-side information, the other heat source apparatuses 1 b and 1 c can also receive the control information (S53). Then the communication unit 501 determines whether control information has been received from the other heat source apparatus 1 b or 1 c (S54). In the case where the control information has been received from the other heat source apparatus 1b or 1c (YES at S54), the control information generation unit 505 determines whether the control information generated by itself and the received control information agree with each other (S55). In the case where the control information generated by itself and the received control information agree with each other (YES at S55), the operation proceeds to step S61.

[0064]

In the case where the control information generated by itself and the received control information do not agree (NO at S55), the heat source apparatus 1b or 1c, which is the transmission source, is requested to provide the heat source-side information and the use-side information of each of the units utilized to generate the control information, through the communication unit 501 (S56). Then the update unit 503 compares between the heat source-side information and use-side information received from the other heat source apparatus 1 b or 1c and the heat source-side information and use-side information stored in the storage unit 502, and determines whether the heat source-side information and use-side information stored in the storage unit 502 is the latest (S57).

[0065]

Now, in Embodiment 3, when the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c and the use-side units 3a to 3f transmit the heat source-side information and the use-side information, the information is transmitted together with a series of ID numbers, with respect to each of the units. Thus, the update unit 503 compares between the ID numbers of the heat source-side information and the use-side information stored in the storage unit 502 and the ID numbers of the heat source-side information and the use-side information received from the other heat source apparatus 1b or 1c, and in the case where the ID numbers of the heat source-side information and the use-side information stored in the storage unit 502 are higher than the ID numbers of the heat source-side information and the use-side information received from the other heat source apparatus 1 b or 1c, the update unit 503 determines that the heat source-side information and the use-side information stored in the storage unit 502 are the latest. Upon deciding that the heat source-side information and the use-side information stored in the storage unit 502 are the latest (Yes at S57), the operation proceeds to step S61.

[0066]

In the case where the heat source-side information and the use-side information stored in the storage unit 502 are not the latest (NO at S57), it is assumed that the heat source-side information from the other heat source apparatus 1 b or 1 c, or the use-side information from the use-side units 3a to 3f has temporarily failed to reach, for example owing to a malfunction of communication. Accordingly, the update unit 503 updates the heat source-side information and the use-side information stored in the storage unit 502 to the heat source-side information and the use-side information received from the other heat source apparatus 1b or 1c (S58). Then the total operation capacity is calculated on the basis of the heat source-side information and the use-side information updated as above (S59), as at steps S45 and S46, and the control information is generated from the calculated total operation capacity (S60). The total operation capacity and the control information calculated and generated at steps S45 and S46 are updated to the total operation capacity and the control information calculated and generated at steps S59 and S60.

[0067]

At step S61, it is determined whether the control information has been received from all of the heat source apparatuses 1 b and 1 c connected to the heat source apparatus 1 a (S61). In the case where the control information has not been received from all of the heat source apparatuses 1 b and 1 c connected to the heat source apparatus 1a, the operation returns to step S54. Then the subsequent steps are repeated, to compare and share the control information of all of the heat source apparatuses 1 b and 1 c. When the control information has been received from all of the heat source apparatuses 1b and 1c (YES at S61), the operation is finished and proceeds to step S47 of Fig. 11.

[0068]

In the case where the control information has not been received at step S54 (NO at S54), it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed (S62), and unless the predetermined time has elapsed (NO at S62) the operation remains in a standby state for the control information until. At this point, the heat source apparatus 1a may request the heat source apparatus 1b or 1c, from which the control information has not been received, to transmit the control information, because it is probable that the control information has failed to reach. Then when the predetermined time has elapsed (YES at S62) the operation is finished and proceeds to S47 of Fig. 11. In this case the heat source apparatus from which the control information has not been received may have failed, and therefore the comparison and status information sharing is performed with respect to the control information from the heat source apparatuses except the heat source apparatus from which the control information has not been received (S55 to S60). Here, in another Embodiment, a warning notifying the communication malfunction may be outputted instead of proceeding to step S47 of Fig. 11, and the operation may by suspended.

[0069]

Referring back to Fig. 11, at step S47 the components of the heat source apparatus 1a are controlled on the basis of the control information generated at step S46 or the control information generated (updated) at step S60 (S47).

[0070]

In the case where the heat source-side information and the use-side information stored in the storage unit 502 are the latest at step S57 (YES at S57), or where the predetermined time has elapsed at step S62 without the receipt of the control information (YES at S62), the heat source apparatus 1a may assume that the use-side information has failed to reach owing to a communication malfunction in the heat source apparatus 1 b or 1 c, which is the transmission source of the heat source-side information and the use-side information, and transmit the heat source-side information of its own and the use-side information to the heat source apparatus 1b or 1c, to thereby cause the heat source apparatus 1b or 1c to regenerate the control information.

[0071]

As described above, the arrangement according to Embodiment 3 enables the plurality of heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c to generate the same control information (operation capacity for control) to thereby perform the control of a quality expected as air-conditioning apparatus 100A, even though the heat source-side information and the use-side information have temporarily failed to be received from the other heat source apparatuses 1b and 1c and the use-side units 3a to 3f, for example owing to a communication malfunction. In addition, the failure resistance of the air-conditioning apparatus 100Acan be improved.

[0072]

Although some Embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the drawings, the specific configurations are not limited to the above, but may be modified within the scope of the present invention. For example, the heat source-side controller 50, the use-side controller 60, and the integral management apparatus 8 are connected via the transmission line 6, however wireless communication may instead be performed among these components. Although Embodiment 1 refers to the case where the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c are air-cooled heat pump chillers, the structure of the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c is not limited thereto. The present invention is also applicable when the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c are, for example, water-cooled heat pump chillers or absorption refrigerating machines. The present invention is also applicable when the use-side units 3a to 3f each include four pipes instead of two pipes.

[0073]

Further, although Embodiment 3 refers to the case where the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c transmit the heat source-side information and the use-side information when the operation status of the transmission target has changed, a different arrangement may be adopted. For example, in the configuration according to Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2, in which the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c and the use-side units 3a to 3f periodically transmit the heat source-side information, it may be assumed that a communication malfunction has occurred when the heat source-side information has failed to be received at the specified period. In this case, an inquiry may be made to one of the heat source apparatuses 1a to 1c or use-side units 3a to 3f from which the heat source-side information or use-side information has not been received, and it may be determined that the corresponding unit has failed in the case where no response to the inquiry is received. In the case where a response is received, a request for the heat source-side information and the use-side information may be made, to generate the control information on the basis of the latest heat source-side information and the use-side information.

[0074]

Further, although at step S53 of the status information sharing operation according to Embodiment 3 the control information is transmitted to the other heat source apparatuses 1 b and 1 c, the total operation capacity calculated at step S45 may be transmitted. In this case, the total operation capacity may be compared with the total operation capacity of the other heat source apparatus 1 b or 1 c at step S55, to thereby share the status information.

Reference Signs List [0075] 1a to 1c: heat source apparatus, 2a to 2c: pump, 3a to 3f: use-side unit, 4a to 4f: valve, 5: secondary-side heat medium pipe, 6: transmission line, 7a to 7f: remote controller, 8: integral management apparatus, 10: compressor, 11: flow switching device, 12: heat source-side heat exchanger, 13: depressurizing device, 14: intermediate heat exchanger, 15: fan, 30: use-side heat exchanger, 31: fan, 50: heat source-side controller, 51: communication unit, 52: control unit, 53: information acquisition unit, 60: use-side controller, 61: communication unit, 62: control unit, 63: information acquisition unit, 81: communication unit, 82: storage unit, 83: update unit, 84: capacity calculation unit, 85: control information generation unit, 100, 100A: air-conditioning apparatus, 500: heat source-side controller, 501: communication unit, 502: storage unit, 503: update unit, 504: capacity calculation unit, 505: control information generation unit, 506: control unit, 507: information acquisition unit.

Claims

CLAIMS [Claim 1] An air-conditioning apparatus comprising: a plurality of heat source apparatuses connected in parallel; a plurality of use-side units connected in parallel to the plurality of heat source apparatuses via a heat medium pipe; and an integral management apparatus configured to communicate with the plurality of heat source apparatuses and the plurality of use-side units, the plurality of heat source apparatuses each including a heat source-side controller configured to perform operation control and transmit operation status information to the integral management apparatus, the plurality of use-side units each including a use-side controller configured to perform operation control and transmit operation status information to the integral management apparatus, the integral management apparatus including a control information generation unit configured to generate control information for each of the plurality of heat source apparatuses on a basis of the operation status information from the plurality of heat source apparatuses and the operation status information from the plurality of use-side units, and the heat source-side controller being configured to perform the operation control in accordance with the control information generated by the control information generation unit. [Claim 2] The air-conditioning apparatus of claim 1, wherein the integral management apparatus further includes a capacity calculation unit configured to sum operation capacity of at least one of the use-side units that are in an operating state among the plurality of use-side units, on a basis of the operation status information of the plurality of use-side units, to thereby calculate total operation capacity, and the control information generation unit is configured to calculate operation capacity for control for each of the plurality of heat source apparatuses, on a basis of the total operation capacity calculated by the capacity calculation unit and the operation status information of the plurality of heat source apparatuses, and adopt the calculated operation capacity for control as the control information. [Claim 3] The air-conditioning apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control information generation unit is configured to distribute the total operation capacity calculated by the capacity calculation unit to the plurality of heat source apparatuses according to the operation status information of each of the plurality of heat source apparatuses, to calculate the operation capacity for control for each of the plurality of heat source apparatuses. [Claim 4] The air-conditioning apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the operation status information of the heat source apparatus includes at least one of an operating and non-operating state of the heat source apparatus, an operation mode, a heat exchange capacity, and a working time of a compressor, and the operation status information of the use-side unit includes at least one of an operating and non-operating state of the use-side unit, an operation mode, and a target temperature. [Claim 5] The air-conditioning apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the plurality of use-side units each further include a remote controller configured to communicate with the use-side controller, the remote controller is configured to transmit instruction information indicating the operation status of the use-side unit to the use-side controller, and the use-side controller is configured to perform the operation control in accordance with the instruction information received from the remote controller, and transmit operation status information acquired after the operation control to the integral management apparatus. [Claim 6] The air-conditioning apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the integral management apparatus further includes: a storage unit configured to store the operation status information of the plurality of heat source apparatuses and the operation status information of the plurality of use-side units; and an update unit configured to update the operation status information of the plurality of heat source apparatuses and the operation status information of the plurality of use-side units stored in the storage unit. [Claim 7] The air-conditioning apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the integral management apparatus is provided in the heat source-side controller of each of the plurality of heat source apparatuses. [Claim 8] The air-conditioning apparatus of claim 7, wherein the heat source-side controller further includes a communication unit configured to transmit the control information generated by the control information generation unit to the plurality of heat source apparatuses and receive the control information generated by the plurality of heat source apparatus, and the control information generation unit is configured to determine whether the control information generated by the control information generation unit and the control information received by the communication unit agree with each other. [Claim 9] The air-conditioning apparatus of claim 8, wherein the heat source-side controller further includes: a storage unit configured to store the operation status information of the plurality of heat source apparatuses and the operation status information of the plurality of use-side units; and an update unit configured to update the operation status information of the plurality of heat source apparatuses and the operation status information of the plurality of use-side units stored in the storage unit, when it is determined that the control information generated by the control information generation unit and the control information received by the communication unit are different from each other. [Claim 10] A control method of an air-conditioning apparatus including a plurality of heat source apparatuses connected in parallel, and a plurality of use-side units connected in parallel to the plurality of heat source apparatuses via a heat medium pipe, the plurality of heat source apparatuses each including a heat source-side controller configured to perform operation control, and the plurality of use-side units each including a use-side controller configured to perform operation control, the method comprising: transmitting, by the heat source-side controller, operation status information of the heat source apparatus; transmitting, by the use-side controller, operation status information of the use-side units; generating control information for each of the plurality of heat source apparatuses on a basis of the operation status information from the plurality of heat source apparatuses and the operation status information from the plurality of use-side units; and performing, by the heat source-side controller, the operation control in accordance with the control information generated.