JP2001174029A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air conditioner, capable of accurately detecting connecting capacity faults without special setting, even if it is installed at a place having a different commercial power frequency. SOLUTION: This air conditioner comprises an operating means 13 for setting the type of the commercial power frequency, a connectable capacity deciding means 14 for deciding the capacity of an indoor unit connectable to each outdoor unit, in response to the frequency decided by the means 13, a capacity detecting means 12 for detecting the capacity of the indoor unit connected to the each outdoor unit by the communication of a bus communication channel 1, and a fault-deciding means 15 for deciding the presence or the absence of the capacity by comparing the detected capacity with the connectable capacity. Thus, the presence or the absence of the fault of the connecting capacity can be accurately detected, even by installing at a place having the different power frequency.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-type air conditioner in which a plurality of indoor units are connected to an outdoor unit by piping and signal lines.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a large-sized air-conditioning system in which one outdoor unit is connected to a plurality of indoor units to constitute one refrigeration cycle unit, and a plurality of such refrigeration cycle units are provided has also appeared. For example, JP-A-7-139
784).

Hereinafter, a conventional air conditioner will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a conventional air conditioner. In FIG. 5, 1 is a bus communication line, 2 is an outdoor unit control unit, and 3 is a capacity detecting means for detecting an indoor unit capacity from the bus communication line. Reference numeral 4 denotes abnormality determining means for comparing the predetermined connectable capacity of the outdoor unit with the indoor unit capacity obtained by the capacity detecting means 3 to determine whether there is an abnormal connection capacity, and 5A and 5B are bus communication lines. The indoor unit is connected to the outdoor unit control unit 2. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the conventional example.

The operation of the air conditioner configured as described above will be described below.

First, when the power of the outdoor unit 2 is turned on, capacity information of the indoor units 5A and 5B is acquired by the capacity detecting means 3 through the bus communication line 1 until a predetermined time has elapsed (STEP 1).

After a lapse of a predetermined time, the abnormality determining means 4 compares the acquired indoor unit capacity with a predetermined connectable capacity of the outdoor unit 2 (ST).
EP2), detecting the presence or absence of connection capacity abnormality.

[0008]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional configuration, the connectable capacity of the outdoor unit, which is a reference for the abnormality determination in the abnormality determination unit 4, is predetermined, so that the compression function due to the difference in the frequency of the commercial power supply. There was a drawback that it was not possible to cope with a change in force, and it was not possible to detect an abnormal connection capacity accurately.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner capable of accurately detecting an abnormal connection capacity even when the air conditioner is installed in a place where a commercial power supply frequency is different.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an operation means for setting the type of commercial power supply frequency, and connection to each outdoor unit according to the commercial power supply frequency determined by the operation means. Connectable capacity determining means for determining the capacity of a possible indoor unit, capacity detecting means for detecting the capacity of an indoor unit connected to each outdoor unit by communication of a bus communication line, and the detected capacity and the connectable capacity. And an abnormality judging means for judging the presence or absence of the connection capacity abnormality by comparing

Thus, even if the power supply is installed at a place where the commercial power supply frequency is different, the presence or absence of the connection capacity abnormality can be accurately detected.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is directed to a method in which a plurality of indoor units each having an indoor heat exchanger are connected to one outdoor unit having a compressor and an outdoor heat exchanger. An air conditioner in which one refrigeration cycle unit is connected by piping to connect an outdoor unit and each indoor unit by a bus communication line, and an operation unit for setting a type of a commercial power supply frequency, and the operation unit determines the frequency. Connectable capacity determining means for determining the capacity of an indoor unit connectable to each outdoor unit in accordance with the commercial power supply frequency, and capacity detection for detecting the capacity of the indoor unit connected to each outdoor unit by communication of a bus communication line Means for comparing the detected capacity with the connectable capacity to determine the presence or absence of a connection capacity abnormality. Be located in different places in the number, it can detect the presence or absence of the exact connection capacity abnormal.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a plurality of indoor units each having an indoor heat exchanger are connected to one outdoor unit having a compressor and an outdoor heat exchanger by a refrigerant pipe to form one refrigeration unit. In an air conditioner that constitutes a cycle unit and connects an outdoor unit and each indoor unit by a bus communication line, a power supply frequency detection unit connected to a power supply and detecting a commercial power supply frequency, and a commercial power supply frequency determined by the detection unit. Connectable capacity determination means for determining the capacity of an indoor unit connectable to each outdoor unit in accordance therewith; capacity detection means for detecting the capacity of an indoor unit connected to each outdoor unit by communication of a bus communication line; Abnormality determining means for comparing the capacity with the connectable capacity to determine the presence or absence of a connection capacity abnormality. Be located different locations source frequency, it is possible to detect the presence or absence of precise connection capacity abnormality without any special settings.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of an air conditioner according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The same components as those in the related art are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description is omitted.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment.

In FIG. 1, 11 is an outdoor unit controller, 12 is a capacity detecting means for detecting the indoor unit capacity from the bus communication line 1, 13 is an operating means for setting the type of commercial power frequency, and 14 is an operating means. A connectable capacity determining means for determining a connectable capacity of the outdoor unit according to the commercial power frequency determined by the reference numeral 13, a connectable capacity obtained by the connectable capacity determining means 14, and an indoor capacity obtained by the capacity detecting means 12. This is an abnormality determining unit that compares the unit capacity with the unit capacity to determine whether there is an abnormality in the connection capacity.

The operation of the air conditioner configured as described above will be described below.

First, when the power of the outdoor unit is turned on, the capacity information of the indoor units 5A and 5B is acquired by the capacity detecting means 12 through the bus communication line 1 until a predetermined time has elapsed (STEP 1).

After a lapse of a predetermined time, the commercial power supply frequency is determined based on the setting contents of the operating means 13 (STEP 2), and the connectable capacity according to the determined frequency is determined by the connectable capacity determining means 14 (STEP 3).

Next, the abnormality determining means 15 compares the determined connectable capacity with the indoor unit capacity obtained by the capacity detecting means 12 (STEP 4), and detects the presence or absence of a connection capacity abnormality.

As described above, in the air conditioner of the present embodiment, the type of the commercial power supply frequency is set by the operation means 13 and the connectable capacity according to the commercial power supply frequency is determined by the connectable capacity determination means 14. Even if it is installed in a place where the commercial power supply frequency is different, the presence or absence of the connection capacity abnormality can be accurately detected.

Embodiment 2 FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an air conditioner according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 21 denotes an outdoor unit control unit; 22, a capacity detecting means for detecting the indoor unit capacity from the bus communication line 1; 23, a power supply frequency detecting means connected to a commercial power supply for detecting a commercial power supply frequency; 24 is a connectable capacity determining means for determining the connectable capacity of the outdoor unit according to the commercial power frequency determined by the power frequency detecting means 23; 25 is a connectable capacity obtained from the connectable capacity determining means 24; This is an abnormality determination unit that compares the indoor unit capacity obtained by the capacity detection unit 22 and determines whether there is a connection capacity abnormality.

The operation of the air conditioner configured as described above will be described below.

First, when the power of the outdoor unit is turned on, the capacity information of the indoor units 5A and 5B is acquired by the capacity detecting means 22 through the bus communication line 1 until a predetermined time has elapsed (STEP 1).

After a lapse of a predetermined time, the power supply frequency detecting means 23
Then, the connectable capacity according to the determined frequency is determined by the connectable capacity determining means 24 (STEP 3).

Next, the abnormality determining means 25 compares the determined connectable capacity with the indoor unit capacity acquired by the capacity detecting means 22 (STEP 4) to detect the presence or absence of a connection capacity abnormality.

As described above, in the air conditioner of the present embodiment, the type of the commercial power supply frequency is automatically detected by the power supply frequency detecting means 23, and the connectable capacity according to the commercial power supply frequency is determined by the connectable capacity determining means 24. Therefore, even if the power supply is installed in a place having a different commercial power supply frequency, the presence or absence of an abnormal connection capacity can be accurately detected without special setting.

[0029]

As described above, the present invention provides an operation unit for setting the type of the commercial power supply frequency, and an indoor unit connectable to each outdoor unit according to the commercial power supply frequency determined by the operation unit. Connectable capacity determining means for determining the capacity, capacity detecting means for detecting the capacity of the indoor unit connected to each outdoor unit by communication of the bus communication line, and comparing the detected capacity with the connectable capacity for connection The provision of the abnormality determination means for determining the presence / absence of the capacity abnormality enables accurate detection of the presence / absence of the connection capacity abnormality even if the apparatus is installed in a place where the commercial power frequency is different.

A power supply frequency detecting means connected to the power supply for detecting a commercial power supply frequency, and a connectable capacity for determining a capacity of an indoor unit connectable to each outdoor unit according to the commercial power supply frequency determined by the detecting means. Determining means, capacity detecting means for detecting the capacity of the indoor unit connected to each outdoor unit by communication of a bus communication line, and comparing the detected capacity with the connectable capacity to determine the presence or absence of abnormal connection capacity With the provision of the abnormality determination means, the presence / absence of a connection capacity abnormality can be accurately detected without special setting even if the apparatus is installed in a place where the commercial power supply frequency is different.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of Embodiment 1 of an air conditioner according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of Embodiment 2 of the air conditioner according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a conventional air conditioner.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the conventional air conditioner.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Bus communication line 5A, 5B Indoor unit 12 Capacity detecting means 13 Operating means 14, 24 Connectable capacity determining means 15, 25 Abnormality determining means 22 Capacity detecting means 23 Power frequency detecting means

Claims (2)

[Claims] An outdoor unit having a compressor and an outdoor heat exchanger is connected to a plurality of indoor units each having an indoor heat exchanger by a refrigerant pipe to constitute one refrigeration cycle unit. In an air conditioner in which the unit and each indoor unit are connected by a bus communication line, operation means for setting the type of commercial power frequency and connectable to each outdoor unit according to the commercial power frequency determined by the operation means Connectable capacity determining means for determining the capacity of the indoor unit, capacity detecting means for detecting the capacity of the indoor unit connected to each outdoor unit by communication of the bus communication line, and comparing the detected capacity with the connectable capacity An air conditioner provided with abnormality determination means for determining whether there is an abnormality in the connection capacity. 2. A refrigeration cycle unit comprising a plurality of indoor units each having an indoor heat exchanger connected to one outdoor unit having a compressor and an outdoor heat exchanger by refrigerant piping. In an air conditioner in which a unit and each indoor unit are connected by a bus communication line, a power supply frequency detecting unit connected to a power supply and detecting a commercial power supply frequency, and connected to each outdoor unit according to the commercial power supply frequency determined by the detecting unit Connectable capacity determining means for determining the capacity of a possible indoor unit, capacity detecting means for detecting the capacity of an indoor unit connected to each outdoor unit by communication of a bus communication line, and the detected capacity and the connectable capacity. And an abnormality determining means for determining the presence or absence of a connection capacity abnormality by comparing.