JP2001208402A - Controller for air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a controller for air conditioner in which high accuracy refrigeration cycle control operation and high speed communication control operation can be executed even when an indoor/outdoor multi-branch type air conditioner is included. SOLUTION: At the time of controlling an indoor/outdoor multi-branch type air conditioner coupled with a plurality of indoor units, a variable capacity outdoor unit and a fixed capacity outdoor unit, each of the plurality of indoor units, the variable capacity outdoor unit and the fixed capacity outdoor unit is provided with a processing section connected with a common communication bus. When the processing section of the indoor unit executes at least transmission of capacity request data, reception of abnormal data and room temperature control, and the processing section each of the variable capacity outdoor unit and the fixed capacity outdoor unit executes at least transmission of abnormal data, reception of capacity request data and control of refrigeration cycle, a plurality of processing units sharing the processing function at the processing section of a multi-branch outdoor unit are mounted on the variable capacity outdoor unit.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the control of an indoor / outdoor multi-branch air conditioner having a variable capacity outdoor unit and a fixed capacity outdoor unit for supplying a refrigerant to a plurality of indoor units. In particular, the present invention relates to a control device for an air conditioner including an arithmetic processing unit in which a plurality of indoor units, a variable capacity type outdoor unit and a fixed capacity type outdoor unit are respectively connected to a common communication bus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An air conditioner has an indoor / outdoor one-to-one correspondence type in which one outdoor unit is connected to one indoor unit, and an indoor multiple unit in which a plurality of indoor units are connected to one outdoor unit. There are a plurality of types such as a branch type, a multi-branch outdoor unit that connects a plurality of indoor units to a multi-branch type outdoor unit combining a plurality of outdoor units of variable capacity type and a fixed capacity type outdoor unit. Exists. Many of the indoor units and outdoor units constituting these air conditioners are equipped with arithmetic processing units mainly composed of a microcomputer, and these arithmetic processing units are connected by a communication bus. In this case, while the arithmetic processing units share data necessary for air-conditioning control, the arithmetic processing unit of the indoor unit performs at least transmission of performance request data, reception of abnormal data, and room temperature control, and the arithmetic processing unit of the outdoor unit. Executes at least transmission of abnormal data, reception of capacity request data, and control of the refrigeration cycle.

On the other hand, there has also been proposed a centralized management system for executing the temperature setting and air volume management of the indoor units of the above-mentioned plural types of air conditioners prior to the indoor unit setting means. FIG. 4 shows an example of the configuration of this centralized management system, in which an outdoor unit 10, an indoor unit 11, and a remote control device 12,
Two indoor / outdoor one-to-one air conditioners each including an outdoor unit 20, an indoor unit 21, and a remote control device 22, and an outdoor unit 30,
Indoor units 31, 32, 33, remote control units 34, 35, 3
6 and a multi-branch outdoor unit 4
0, indoor units 41, 42, 43 and remote controllers 44, 4
In order to manage the indoor / outdoor multi-branch type air conditioner including the indoor and outdoor air conditioners 5 and 46 by the central control remote control device 1, the central control remote control device 1 and all the indoor units 11, 21, 31, 32, 33, and 4 are controlled.
1, 42, and 43 are sequentially connected by the communication bus 2.
In this case, the outdoor unit 30 constituting the indoor branch type air conditioner
And the indoor units 31, 32, 33 are commonly connected by a communication bus 3. Further, variable capacity outdoor units (hereinafter, referred to as master units) 40a and fixed-capacity type outdoor units (hereinafter, referred to as slave units) 40b and indoor units 41, 42 constituting the indoor / outdoor multi-branch type air conditioner. , 43 are commonly connected by a communication bus 4.

In the centralized management system shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of types of air conditioners independently installed in a building are connected to a centralized remote controller 1 via a communication bus 2, and the outdoor unit and the indoor unit are respectively connected to the air conditioner. There is an advantage that the software of the installed arithmetic processing unit needs to be slightly changed. However, when focusing on the indoor / outdoor multi-branch air conditioner having many processing functions in the arithmetic processing unit, the indoor units 41, 4
2 and 43 are provided with a terminal for connecting the communication bus 2 and a terminal for connecting the communication bus 4, respectively.
Since it is necessary to perform wiring work for the system, manufacturing and wiring work have been complicated.

FIG. 5 shows another example of the configuration of a centralized management system devised to eliminate the complexity. In the figure, the same elements as those in FIG. Is omitted. In this centralized management system, a master unit 40a, a slave unit 40b, and indoor units 41, 42, 43 are connected by a communication bus 4, and a communication bus 2 connected to the central management remote controller 1 is connected to the master unit 40a. is there. With such a configuration, transmission and reception of centralized management data to and from the indoor units 41, 42, and 43 are always performed via the master unit 40a. Will be done.

In this case, for mutual communication between a plurality of indoor units and outdoor units, or for mutual communication with the central control remote controller 1, for example, a terminal connected to the communication bus 3 or 4 is connected to a terminal unit. It is necessary to connect a communication data converter called HBS (Home Bus System). The indoor units 41, 42, and 43 shown in FIG. 4 are connected to two communication data converters because two-system wiring is performed. However, the indoor units 41, 42, and 43 shown in FIG. However, there is also an advantage that only one communication data conversion unit needs to be provided.

[0007]

In constructing the above-mentioned centralized management system, an arithmetic processing unit is mounted on each of the master unit 40a and the slave unit 40b constituting the indoor / outdoor multi-branch type air conditioner. The arithmetic processing unit mounted on the master unit 40a is forced to perform complicated refrigeration cycle control calculations in accordance with the air-conditioning capacity demand sent from the indoor units 41, 42, and 43. The communication control calculations for 42 and 43 must also be performed at the same time, and the data processing capacity approaches the limit, which may reduce the accuracy of the refrigeration cycle control calculation or delay the communication control calculation.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, and even when an indoor / outdoor multi-branch model is included,
It is an object of the present invention to provide an air conditioner control device capable of executing a high-precision refrigeration cycle control operation and a high-speed communication control operation.

[0009]

The invention according to claim 1 is
In controlling an indoor / outdoor multi-branch air conditioner in which a plurality of indoor units are connected to a multi-branch outdoor unit combining a variable capacity outdoor unit and a fixed capacity outdoor unit, a plurality of indoor units are controlled. The indoor unit, the variable-capacity outdoor unit and the fixed-capacity outdoor unit each have an arithmetic processing unit connected to a common communication bus, and the arithmetic processing unit of the indoor unit transmits at least the capability request data and transmits the abnormal data. The processing units of the outdoor unit of variable capacity type and the outdoor unit of fixed capacity type execute reception and room temperature control, and each processing unit of the air conditioner executes at least transmission of abnormal data, reception of capacity request data and control of the refrigeration cycle. The control device is characterized in that a variable capacity outdoor unit is equipped with a plurality of arithmetic processing units that share the arithmetic processing function of the arithmetic processing unit of the multi-branch outdoor unit.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the control device for an air conditioner according to the first aspect, the first operation in which the refrigeration cycle control operation is mainly performed by the communication control operation is performed on the variable capacity outdoor unit. A processing device and a second arithmetic processing device that executes only the communication control operation are mounted.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the control device for an air conditioner according to the second aspect, the first and second arithmetic processing units are connected by a communication line capable of directly transmitting and receiving data. It is characterized by the following.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the control device for an air conditioner according to the third aspect, the communication line is used for transmitting and receiving a communication permission signal for permitting another communication with each other. .

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the control apparatus for an air conditioner according to the second aspect, the arithmetic processing unit mounted on the fixed-capacity outdoor unit mainly performs a refrigeration cycle operation and a communication control operation. Characterized by comprising only a first arithmetic processing unit.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the control device for an air conditioner according to the fifth aspect, the first arithmetic processing unit determines the model according to the presence or absence of the second arithmetic processing unit. It is assumed that.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the control device for an air conditioner according to the first aspect, the setting of at least the room temperature and the air volume of the plurality of indoor units is executed prior to the indoor unit setting means. A central control remote control device is provided, and at least one of the arithmetic processing devices mounted on the outdoor unit of variable capacity type is dedicated to communication with the central control remote control device.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the control device for an air conditioner according to the seventh aspect, the central control remote control device, together with the indoor / outdoor multi-branch type air conditioner, has one outdoor unit. Centralized management of at least one type of indoor / outdoor one-to-one air conditioner that connects two indoor units and one indoor multi-branch air conditioner that connects multiple indoor units to one outdoor unit In such a case, the central management remote controller determines the model according to the presence or absence of an arithmetic processing unit dedicated to communication.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the control device for an air conditioner according to any one of the first to eighth aspects,
The substrate of the processing unit of the variable-capacity outdoor unit and the substrate of the processing unit of the fixed-capacity outdoor unit are shared.

[0018]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on preferred embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a main part of a first embodiment of a control device for an air conditioner according to the present invention. In particular, FIG. 1 shows a main processor 40a of an indoor / outdoor multi-branch type air conditioner shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration. Here, the master unit 40a is a variable-capacity outdoor unit and includes a numerical operation processor 100 and a numerical operation processor 200 as first and second arithmetic processing units mainly including microcomputers having a master-slave relationship. . These numerical processors 100 and 200 are connected by a communication line 9 capable of directly communicating with each other. Further, the numerical processor 100 is connected to a communication bus 4 via a communication data converter 5 whose configuration is well known. The numerical processor 200 is also connected to the communication bus 4 via the same communication data converter 6. The numerical processor 100 has a function of mainly performing refrigeration cycle control calculations and a subordinate function of communication control calculations, and the numerical processor 200 has only a function of communication control calculations.

These numerical processors 100 and 2
00 can communicate with each other via the communication data converters 5 and 6, and can also directly exchange data via the communication line 9. However, in this case, in consideration of the fact that the functions of the refrigeration cycle control operation and the communication control operation are distributed to the two numerical processors, the communication line 9 is used to transmit and receive the communication permission signal so that the communication does not conflict with each other. The communication of the numerical operation processor 200 is controlled by using this.

As described above, the function of the arithmetic processing section of the master unit 40a constituting the multi-branch outdoor unit 40 is separated into two numerical processors, so that the indoor / outdoor multi-branch air conditioner has a large capacity. That is, even when the number of connected outdoor units of the variable capacity type and the outdoor units of the fixed capacity type increases or the number of indoor units increases, the refrigeration cycle control calculation with high accuracy and the communication control calculation with high speed can be executed.

FIG. 2 shows a main part of a second embodiment of an air conditioner control apparatus according to the present invention. In particular, FIG. 2 shows a main processor 40a of an indoor / outdoor multi-branch type air conditioner shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration. In the figure, the same elements as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. Here, the numerical processor 100 is connected to the communication bus 4 via the communication data converter 5, and the numerical processor 200 is also connected to the communication bus 4 via the same communication data converter 6. Via one communication data converter 7
Communication bus 2 for transmitting and receiving to central control remote control device 1
It is connected to the.

In this embodiment, the numerical processor 20
0 is provided with a communication function with the central control remote control device 1 and employs a single system wiring as shown in FIG. 5. Accurate refrigeration cycle control calculations and high-speed communication control calculations can be performed.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an arithmetic processing unit of a slave unit 40b used in combination with the master unit 40a shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2. The slave unit 40b is a fixed-capacity outdoor unit. Since the refrigeration cycle control calculation is mainly performed and the communication control calculation is small, the numerical calculation processor 1 described above is used.
1 and the communication data converter 8 shown in FIG. 1 or FIG.
Are mounted on the same board (not shown) as the master unit 40a shown in FIG.

As described above, by sharing the board on which the arithmetic processing unit of the slave unit 40b is mounted with the board on which the arithmetic processing unit of the master unit 40a is mounted, the standardization of the arithmetic processing unit can be realized, and the user can be reduced in cost. Another advantage is that the device can be provided at a low cost.

By the way, the numerical processor 100
Since both the master unit 40a and the slave unit 40b are commonly used, it is necessary to determine whether the outdoor unit is a master unit or a slave unit. This model discrimination is performed by the numerical processor 100
It is determined based on the presence or absence of communication with 0. In addition, when the arithmetic processing unit according to the present embodiment is mounted on the multi-branch outdoor unit 40 shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. It is necessary to determine whether the air conditioner is an indoor multi-branch type air conditioner or an indoor / outdoor multi-branch air conditioner on the central control remote control device 1 side. In determining the model, at least the indoor / outdoor multi-branch type air conditioner is determined to be a numerical processor 2 dedicated to communication control calculation.
The effect that determination can be made very easily by obtaining or not providing 00 is also obtained.

Although each of the above embodiments has been described with reference to a case where a plurality of types of air conditioners are centrally managed, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of indoor units may be provided. The present invention can be applied to most of indoor / outdoor multi-branch air conditioners each including an arithmetic processing unit in which a unit, a variable-capacity outdoor unit and a fixed-capacity outdoor unit are connected to a common communication bus.

In the above embodiment, the function of the arithmetic processing unit mounted on the variable capacity outdoor unit is distributed to two numerical processors. However, if the processing capacity is insufficient, three or more numerical processors are used. It is also possible to distribute to arithmetic processors.

[0029]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an air conditioner control device capable of executing a high-precision refrigeration cycle control operation and a high-speed communication control operation. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an arithmetic processing unit mounted on a variable capacity outdoor unit in a first embodiment of an air conditioner control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an arithmetic processing unit mounted on a variable capacity outdoor unit in a second embodiment of the control device for an air conditioner according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an arithmetic processing unit mounted on the fixed capacity outdoor unit of the first and second embodiments of the control device for an air conditioner according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a centralized management system including an air conditioner to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of another centralized management system including an air conditioner to which the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Central control remote control device 2-4 Communication bus 5-8 Communication data conversion part 9 Communication line 10,20,30 Outdoor unit 11,21,31-33,41-43 Indoor unit 12,22,34-36,44- 46 Remote control device 40 Multi-branch outdoor unit 40a Variable-capacity outdoor unit 40b Fixed-capacity outdoor unit 100, 200 Numerical processor (arithmetic processing unit)

Claims (9)

[Claims] An indoor / outdoor multi-branch air conditioner connected to a plurality of indoor units and a multi-branch outdoor unit formed by combining a variable capacity outdoor unit and a fixed capacity outdoor unit. In doing so, the plurality of indoor units, the variable-capacity outdoor unit and the fixed-capacity outdoor unit each include a processing unit connected to a common communication bus, and the processing unit of the indoor unit has at least a capacity. Transmission of request data, reception of abnormal data and execution of room temperature control, each processing unit of the variable capacity outdoor unit and fixed capacity outdoor unit transmits at least the abnormal data, reception of the capability request data and In the control device for an air conditioner that executes control of a refrigeration cycle, the variable capacity outdoor unit includes a plurality of arithmetic processing units that share the arithmetic processing function of an arithmetic processing unit of the multi-branch outdoor unit. Features Control device for air conditioners. 2. A variable processing type outdoor unit includes a first processing unit mainly performing refrigeration cycle control calculation and a secondary processing unit performing communication control calculation, and a second processing unit executing only communication control calculation. The control device for an air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the control device is mounted. 3. The control device for an air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein the first and second processing units are connected by a communication line capable of directly transmitting and receiving data. 4. The communication line according to claim 3, wherein said communication line is used for transmitting and receiving a communication permission signal for permitting another communication with each other.
3. The control device for an air conditioner according to claim 1. 5. The arithmetic processing unit mounted on the fixed capacity outdoor unit comprises only the first arithmetic processing unit which mainly performs a refrigeration cycle operation and a communication control operation. 3. The control device for an air conditioner according to 2. 6. The control device for an air conditioner according to claim 5, wherein the first arithmetic processing unit determines a model according to the presence or absence of the second arithmetic processing unit. 7. A centralized remote control device for executing at least room temperature and air volume setting of the plurality of indoor units prior to the indoor unit setting means, wherein the remote control device is mounted on the variable capacity outdoor unit. The control device for an air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the arithmetic processing devices is dedicated to communication with the central control remote control device. 8. The indoor / outdoor one-to-one air conditioner, wherein the central control remote control device connects one indoor unit to one outdoor unit in combination with the indoor / outdoor multi-branch type air conditioner. When centrally managing at least one type of indoor multi-branch type air conditioner in which a plurality of indoor units are connected to one outdoor unit, the central management remote control device is provided with or without the arithmetic processing unit dedicated to communication. The control device for an air conditioner according to claim 7, wherein the model is determined in accordance with the following. 9. The substrate of the arithmetic processing unit of the variable capacity outdoor unit and the substrate of the arithmetic processing unit of the fixed capacity outdoor unit are commonly used. The control device for an air conditioner according to item 10.