JP2002061995A - Method and apparatus for controlling air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent idle defrosting and to ensure appropriate defrosting while eliminating deficiency of air volume in an air conditioner. SOLUTION: In the method for controlling an air conditioner, an integration timer A for measuring the operating time of the air conditioner or an indoor fan supplying air of a specified temperature is provided. When the operating time measured by the integration timer A is shorter than 500 hours (Steps ST5), a decision is made that the filter of an indoor unit is not clogged significantly and constants (defrost start time, defrost time, r.p.m. of the indoor fan) pertaining to the control are set at first lowest reference values (Step ST4). When it is not shorter than 500 hours but shorter than 1,000 hours, the control advances from step ST6 to ST7 where the constants are set at second lowest reference values. When it is not shorter than 1,000 hours but shorter than 2,000 hours, the control advances from step ST8 to ST9 where the constants are set at third lowest reference values. When it is not shorter than 2,000 hours, the control advances from step ST8 to ST10 where the constants are set at fourth largest reference values.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control method for an air conditioner having a function of detecting clogging of a filter (air filter or air purifying filter), and more particularly, to a defrosting constant according to the degree of clogging. The present invention relates to a method and a device for controlling an air conditioner for switching comfort and the like to improve comfort.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An air conditioner controls a room temperature by blowing out intake air at a predetermined temperature by a refrigerating cycle, and its air intake port is provided with a filter for removing air dirt and odor, thereby providing a clean air conditioner. It is designed to blow air.

However, if the air conditioner is operated for a long time,
The filter is inevitably clogged, and the clogging reduces the air intake amount. For this reason, for example, during the heating operation, heat exchange efficiency is reduced due to frost formation of the heat exchangers (the indoor unit and the outdoor unit), and comfort is impaired. For this reason, for example, while the loading time during the operation of the air conditioner is measured, a notification that prompts the user to clean the filter or the like is issued when the accumulated operation time has elapsed for a predetermined time.

[0004] Further, even before the accumulated operation time reaches a predetermined time, in order to prevent the comfort from being impaired, constants serving as references for the control, for example, constants relating to the air volume of the indoor unit (protection). (Including a constant in the sense of) is determined on the assumption that the filter is clogged. For example, a constant is set to increase the air flow of strong wind, weak wind, light wind, or the like, that is, to increase the rotation speed of the indoor fans. Thereby, even if the filter is somewhat clogged, the indoor air environment can be suppressed from deteriorating due to the blowing air volume.

[0005]

However, in the control method of the air conditioner, since the defrost start constant as the constant relating to the protection is set to be relatively high, there is a possibility that the empty defrost is performed. . Conversely, in the worst case where the filter is clogged, for example, when the air inlet of the indoor unit is closed, the defrost must be performed because the temperature of the heat exchanger is higher than the defrost start constant. In other words, it will not operate unless frost is formed more than necessary. Further, there is a problem that defrosting remains even by the defrosting operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has as its object to switch constants serving as references for the control in accordance with a clogging state, prevent empty defrost, and perform appropriate defrost. It is an object of the present invention to provide a control method of an air conditioner and a device therefor, in which the shortage of air flow is eliminated and the deterioration of comfort is suppressed.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to a method of controlling an air conditioner for controlling room temperature by blowing air at a predetermined temperature obtained by a refrigeration cycle. It is characterized in that the operation time or the operation time of the indoor fan of the air conditioner is measured, and the constant related to control of the air conditioner is increased as the operation integration time becomes longer.

The clogging state of the filter is determined based on the difference between the temperature (heat exchange temperature) of the heat exchanger of the indoor unit constituting the refrigeration cycle and the room temperature, and the clogging state is changed to the constant. In addition, the worse the clogging state,
It is better to increase the constant. For this reason, since the clogging of the filter is severer as the temperature difference is larger, each constant is increased, for example, the defrost start temperature is increased, the defrost time is increased, and the rotation speed of the indoor fan is increased. By doing so, it is possible to prevent empty defrost, prevent the frost from remaining unmelted at the time of defrost, and eliminate insufficient air volume.

The above constants are at least the defrost start constant, the defrost time and the number of rotations of the indoor fan. The longer the integrated operation time, the higher the temperature of the defrost start constant and the longer the defrost time. It is preferable to set the rotation speed to a high value. As a result, at least the operation of empty defrost due to clogging of the filter of the indoor unit is prevented, the unmelted defrost is prevented, and the shortage of air volume is eliminated.

The present invention relates to a control device for an air conditioner, in which air exchanged by a heat exchanger of an indoor unit constituting a refrigeration cycle is blown into a room by rotation of an indoor fan to adjust a room temperature to a set temperature of a remote controller. Constants related to the control of the air conditioner are set in multiple stages according to the clogging state of the filter of the indoor unit and stored in a table format, and the operation time of the air conditioner or the indoor time of the indoor unit is stored. The operation time of the fan is measured by an internal timer, and a control means for selecting a larger constant in the table format as the operation integration time becomes longer is provided.

The temperature of the heat exchanger of the indoor unit (heat exchange temperature)
Based on the temperature difference between the filter and the room temperature, the clogging state of the filter is determined, and the clogging state is added to the selection of the constants in the table format. The worse the clogging state, the larger the constant in the table format. Good to choose. As a result, empty defrost due to clogging of the filter is prevented, and unmelted frost during defrost is prevented, and shortage of air volume is eliminated. Also,
The constants in the form of a table may be stored in the memory of the control means. For example, in the case of first to fourth reference values to be described later, the occupancy of the memory is not so large and the cost does not increase in hardware. Only

The above constants are at least the defrost start constant, the defrost time and the number of revolutions of the indoor fan. The longer the integrated operation time, the higher the temperature of the defrost start constant and the longer the defrost time. In addition, a table may be set as the first to fourth reference values in which the rotation speed is set to a high value. Thereby, at least the empty defrost is prevented, the unmelted frost at the time of the defrost is prevented, and the shortage of the air volume is eliminated. Further, the occupation of the memory by the first to fourth reference values is not large, and the cost does not increase in hardware.

[0013]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
This will be described in detail with reference to FIG. In FIG.
The indoor unit control apparatus 1 to which the control method of the air conditioner is applied, according to the accumulated operation time of the air conditioner (or the accumulated operation time of the indoor fan), controls each constant (for example, the start of defrosting). A control unit (microcomputer) 2 having a table 2a in which a constant, a defrosting operation time, and the number of rotations of an indoor fan) are stored in a plurality of patterns is provided.

The indoor unit control device 1 controls and drives the indoor fan 4 in order to perform the room temperature control in accordance with the setting operation of the remote controller 3, and sends commands such as the operating frequency of the compressor to the outdoor unit control device 5. , And a signal is exchanged with the outdoor unit control device 5. Further, the indoor unit and the outdoor unit are provided with parts of a refrigeration cycle necessary for controlling the room temperature. In addition, 6 is a room temperature sensor and 7 is a heat exchange sensor.

The control section 2 measures the accumulated operation time by an accumulation timer (internal timer) A, and increases the defrost start constant, the defrost operation time and the rotation speed by a predetermined value as the accumulated operation time increases. Table 2 shows the first to fourth reference values.
Select and set from a. The accumulation timer A is reset by pressing the reset button 8 of the indoor unit, for example, when the user cleans the filter.

Next, a control method of the air conditioner having the above configuration will be described with reference to a flowchart of FIG. First, when an operation operation (for example, a heating operation) is performed by the remote controller 3, the indoor unit controller 1 transmits the operation content of the remote controller 3 to the outdoor unit controller 5, and the room temperature sensor 7.
The operating frequency for driving the compressor is transmitted according to the difference between the detected temperature (room temperature) and the set temperature.

Accordingly, in the air conditioner,
The room temperature is controlled to bring the indoor environment closer to the set value of the remote controller 3 and the room temperature is maintained at the set temperature. The description of the room temperature control is omitted if it is already known.

At this time, the control section 2 starts an accumulation timer A for the accumulated operation time t (step ST1). The integration timer starts when the air conditioner is installed and operated (at the first operation), and when the air conditioner has already been started, continues counting the operation integration time t unless reset. .

Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the reset button 8 of the indoor unit has been pressed (step ST2). For example, when the reset button 8 has been pressed, the integrating timer A is reset (step ST3), and A first reference value is selected and set as each constant serving as a reference (step ST
4).

The first reference value is the lowest level. For example, the defrosting start constant is set to 15 ° C., the defrosting operation time is set to 10 minutes, and the air volume (for example, medium wind) is set to 1200 rpm. The air volume is representative of the medium wind, but other strong winds, weak winds, and the like are set in the same manner. That is, at the beginning of operation, and at the beginning when the filter is cleaned and the reset button 8 is pressed, the filter is not noticeable,
Empty defrost is not performed even if each constant is not increased,
This is because other controls are not adversely affected.

Subsequently, if the reset button 8 has not been pressed, the process proceeds from step ST2 to ST5, and it is determined whether or not the integration timer A has exceeded 500 hours. If the accumulated operation time t is not 500 hours or more, the process returns to step ST2 to repeat the above-described processing, that is, each constant remains at the first reference value. That is, similarly to the above, even if the constants are not increased, the empty defrost is not performed, and the other controls are not adversely affected.

Subsequently, if the accumulation timer A is 500 hours or more, the process proceeds from step ST5 to ST6, and it is determined whether or not the accumulation timer A is 1000 hours or more. If the operation integration time t does not exceed 1000 hours, that is, if the operation integration time t is 500 hours or more and less than 1000 hours, a second reference value is selected and set as each constant (step ST7). The second reference value is at a higher level than the first reference value. For example, the defrost start constant is 1
6 ° C., defrosting operation time is 11 minutes, air volume (for example, medium wind) is 1
It is set to 230 rpm.

Subsequently, if the accumulation timer A is 1000 hours or more, the process proceeds from step ST6 to ST8, and it is determined whether or not the accumulation timer A is 2000 hours or more. When the operation integration time t has not reached 2000 hours, that is, when the operation integration time t is 1000 hours or more and less than 2000 hours, a third reference value is selected and set as each constant (step ST9). The third reference value is a higher level than the second reference value. For example, the defrost start constant is 17 ° C., the defrost operation time is 12 minutes, and the air volume (for example, medium wind)
Is set to 1260 rpm.

Subsequently, if the accumulated operation time t is 2000 hours or more, a fourth reference value is selected and set as each constant. The fourth reference value is a higher level than the third reference value. For example, the defrost start constant is set to 18 ° C., the defrost operation time is set to 13 minutes, and the air volume (for example, medium wind) is set to 1290 rpm.

As described above, while checking the reset button 8, it is determined that the filter clogging is gradually advanced as the operation integration time t becomes longer, and each constant is changed from the first reference value to the fourth reference value. , And each constant is set in accordance with the clogging state, so that empty defrost can be prevented, and unmelted frost during defrost can be prevented. Therefore, appropriate defrosting can be performed, and the shortage of the air volume can be resolved and the deterioration of comfort can be prevented.

As shown in FIG. 3, when the filter is not clogged, the difference between the temperature (heat exchange temperature) of the indoor heat exchanger and the room temperature is small (see the solid line and the dashed line in FIG. 3). When the filter becomes clogged, the temperature difference increases (see the solid line and the two-dot chain line in FIG. 3).

Therefore, the room temperature sensor 6 and the heat exchange sensor 7
To detect the room temperature Tr and the heat exchange temperature Tn, and monitor the difference between the heat exchange temperature Tn and the room temperature Tr. That is, the clogging state is determined based on this temperature difference, and this determination is made based on FIG.
Should be added to the routine. This is because the use environment of the air conditioner is various, and depending on the degree of air contamination, even if the accumulated operation time t is short, the clogging becomes severe,
This is because even if the operation integration time t is long, the clogging may not be so severe.

In this case, when the degree of contamination of the air is not so large and the difference between the heat exchange temperature Tn and the room temperature Tr is not so large, it is determined that the filter is not clogged, and the accumulated operation time t is long. Do not change each constant. For example, when the second reference value is set to each constant, when the accumulated operation time t exceeds 1000 hours, each constant is not changed to the third reference value, and the second reference value is not changed. I do.

On the other hand, when the difference between the heat exchange temperature Tn and the room temperature Tr is large due to severe contamination of the air,
It is determined that the filter clogging is advanced, and the respective constants are changed even if the accumulated operating time t is not long. For example, when the second reference value is set for each constant, the integrated operation time t
Is less than 1000 hours, each constant is changed to the third reference value.

As described above, more appropriate control can be performed by detecting clogging of the filter and changing each constant to the first to fourth reference values in consideration of the clogging state. That is, it is possible to prevent the empty defrost and to more appropriately solve the problems such as insufficient air volume and unmelted frost during defrost.

In the above-described embodiment, the first to fourth reference values are, for example, values empirically obtained in advance. In addition, although four of the first to fourth reference values are tabulated, more reference values may be tabulated to further divide the integrated operation time t. In this case, constants related to control of the air conditioner can be set more finely. Further, when the filter is an air purifier, a constant related to control of the air conditioner may be changed according to the accumulated operation time of the air purifier.

[0032]

According to the present invention described above, the following effects can be obtained. The present invention relates to a control method of an air conditioner for controlling room temperature by blowing out air of a predetermined temperature obtained by a refrigeration cycle, wherein the operation time of the air conditioner or the operation time of an indoor fan is measured, and the operation integration time is measured. Is longer, since the constant related to the control of the air conditioner is larger, it is possible to determine that the filter of the indoor unit is more clogged as the operation integration time becomes longer, and the constant When the defrosting start temperature, the defrosting time, and the number of rotations of the indoor fan are used, the temperature, the time, and the number of rotations are set to large values according to the accumulated operation time. Therefore, since each constant changes in accordance with the clogging of the filter, it is possible to prevent empty defrost, prevent undissolved frost due to defrost, eliminate insufficient air volume, and prevent deterioration of comfort. effective.

The control device for an air conditioner of the present invention sets constants relating to control of the air conditioner in a plurality of levels according to the clogging state of a filter of an indoor unit, and stores the values in a table format. An internal timer measures the operation time of the air conditioner or the operation time of the indoor fan of the indoor unit, and a control means for selecting a larger constant in the table format as the operation integration time becomes longer. Therefore, in addition to the above-described effects, the microcomputer of the indoor unit control device may be used as the control means, and if the number of constants in the table format is several, the memory capacity may be small, and hardware There is an effect that it can be realized at low cost without increasing the cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic flowchart illustrating a method for controlling an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram for explaining an indoor unit control device to which the control method of the air conditioner of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a schematic graph for explaining another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 indoor unit control device 2 control unit (microcomputer) 2a table 3 remote controller 4 indoor fan 6 room temperature sensor 7 heat exchange sensor 8 reset button A accumulation timer t operation accumulation time Tn heat exchange temperature Tr room temperature

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An air conditioner control method for controlling room temperature by blowing air at a predetermined temperature obtained by a refrigeration cycle to measure an operation time of the air conditioner or an operation time of an indoor fan of the air conditioner. And a control method for controlling the air conditioner, wherein a constant relating to control of the air conditioner is increased as the operation integration time becomes longer. 2. A clogging state of a filter of the indoor unit is determined based on a temperature difference between a temperature (heat exchange temperature) of a heat exchanger of an indoor unit constituting the refrigeration cycle and a room temperature, and the clogging state is determined. 2. The control method for an air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein in addition to the change in the constant, the constant is increased as the clogging state is worse. 3. The constant is at least a defrost start constant;
The defrosting time and the number of rotations of the indoor fan, the longer the integrated operation time, the higher the temperature of the defrosting start constant, the longer the defrosting time, and set the number of rotations to a higher value. The control of the air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least air defrosting due to clogging of a filter of the indoor unit is prevented to prevent unmelted frost at the time of defrosting, and to eliminate insufficient air volume. Method. 4. A control device for an air conditioner, in which air exchanged by a heat exchanger of an indoor unit constituting a refrigeration cycle is blown into a room by rotation of an indoor fan to adjust a room temperature to a set temperature of a remote controller. Constants related to the control of the air conditioner are set in a plurality of levels according to the clogging state of the filter of the indoor unit and stored in a table format, and the operation time of the air conditioner or the operation of the indoor fan of the indoor unit is operated. A control device for an air conditioner, comprising a control means for measuring time by an internal timer and selecting a larger constant in the table format as the operation integration time becomes longer. 5. A clogging state of the filter is determined based on a temperature difference between a temperature (heat exchange temperature) of a heat exchanger of the indoor unit and a room temperature, and the clogging state is added to the constant selection in the table format. 5. The air conditioner control device according to claim 4, wherein a larger constant in the table format is selected as the clogging state becomes worse. 6. The constant is at least a defrost start constant,
The defrosting time and the number of rotations of the indoor fan, the longer the integrated operation time, the higher the temperature of the defrosting start constant, the longer the defrosting time, and set the number of rotations to a higher value. 6. The air conditioner according to claim 4, wherein a table is set as the first to fourth reference values, and at least empty defrost is prevented to prevent unmelted frost at the time of defrost, thereby eliminating an insufficient air volume. Machine control device.