JP2004003728A - Air conditioner and diagnostic method of air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air conditioner which is convenient in diagnosing whether air conditioning is executed properly. <P>SOLUTION: A memory part 12 memorizes a maximum value Δ T<SB>m</SB>of a difference between a set temperature T<SB>s</SB>on each day till the predetermined number of days (m-th day) and an indoor temperature T<SB>i</SB>together with the date when the maximum value was recorded as an maximum temperature difference table 17. The memory part 12 also memorizes the number of times when t > t<SB>max</SB>is obtained during the period from the start of operation of the air conditioner 10 to the present time. A display part 14 displays the number of time when t > t<SB>max</SB>is obtained during the period from the start of operation of the air conditioner 10 to the present time and the contents of the maximum temperature difference table 17. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an air conditioner and a method for diagnosing the air conditioner.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Among air conditioners, there are air conditioners in which information such as a target temperature for air conditioning and an allowable continuous operation time which is a maximum value of a continuous operation time can be set by a remote controller or the like. Based on these set values, the control unit of the air conditioner operates to match the target temperature with the room temperature, or when the continuous operation time of the air conditioner reaches the allowable continuous operation time, Or to stop the operation of the machine.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, there is no history of the continuous operation time of the air conditioner reaching the allowable continuous operation time, or no history of the target temperature and the room temperature not matching and the difference between the two being filled. This is inconvenient when diagnosing whether it has been properly performed.
[0004]
An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner and a method of diagnosing the air conditioner that are convenient when diagnosing whether or not air conditioning is properly performed.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
An air conditioner according to a first aspect includes an air conditioning operation unit and a storage unit. The air conditioning operation means performs air conditioning. The storage means stores diagnosis use information to be used when performing a diagnosis relating to air conditioning when the air conditioning operation means is operating.
Here, during operation of the air-conditioning operation means, the diagnosis use information is stored in a storage means such as a FROM (non-volatile memory). Here, the diagnosis is a determination as to whether or not the air-conditioning operation is properly performed. For example, when the continuous time of the air-conditioning operation exceeds a predetermined allowable continuous operation time, it is determined that the operation is not appropriately performed. And so on. The diagnosis use information is, for example, a continuous time of the air conditioning operation.
[0006]
As described above, it is possible to make a diagnosis as to whether or not the air conditioning is properly performed by using the stored diagnosis use information.
In the air conditioner according to a second aspect, in the air conditioner according to the first aspect, the diagnosis use information is information regarding that the continuous operation time of the air-conditioning operation means has exceeded a predetermined allowable continuous operation time.
[0007]
Here, information relating to the fact that the continuous operation time of the air-conditioning operation means has exceeded a predetermined allowable continuous operation time, for example, the number of times the continuous time of the air-conditioning operation has exceeded the predetermined allowable continuous operation time within a predetermined period, Are stored.
As described above, the number of times the continuous operation time exceeds the predetermined allowable continuous operation time or the date and time when the continuous operation time exceeds the predetermined allowable continuous operation time can be used for the diagnosis of the air conditioner. For example, the user of the air conditioner refers to the number of times that the continuous time of the air-conditioning operation has exceeded the predetermined allowable continuous operation time for each predetermined period, so that the user has forgotten to turn off the air conditioner, It is possible to know that there are many and few, and it is possible to help prevent forgetting to turn off the air conditioner and save energy. In addition, the diagnostician of the air conditioner can know the number of times the user of the air conditioner has forgotten to cut the air conditioner. If the number is large, it is necessary to introduce a schedule control device that controls the operation of the air conditioner according to a schedule. A suggestion to that effect can be made available to the user.
[0008]
An air conditioner according to a third aspect is the air conditioner according to the first aspect, wherein the air conditioning operation means performs an air conditioning operation for adjusting the temperature of the air so that the indoor temperature approaches the set temperature. The diagnostic use information is information relating to a difference between the set temperature and the room temperature acquired at a predetermined timing.
Here, information on the difference between the set temperature and the room temperature acquired at a certain timing, for example, the calculated difference and its calculation time, the number of times the difference has become equal to or more than a predetermined value, and the like are stored.
[0009]
As described above, the calculated difference, the calculated date and time, the number of times the difference has become equal to or more than the predetermined value, and the like can be used for the diagnosis of the air conditioner. For example, when there are many days in which this difference is large, it can be determined that the air conditioner has insufficient capacity. Also, in this case, the diagnostician of the air conditioner can make a proposal to introduce an air conditioner with higher capability.
[0010]
The method for diagnosing an air conditioner according to claim 4 includes a first step and a second step. In the first step, diagnostic use information is acquired from the storage unit of the air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 3. In the second step, a diagnosis is made as to whether the air conditioner is operating properly, based on the diagnostic use information acquired in the first step.
[0011]
Here, the diagnostic use information such as the continuous time of the air conditioning operation and the difference between the set temperature and the indoor temperature is obtained from the storage unit of the air conditioner in the first step at the time of diagnosis of the air conditioner. Secondly, the continuous time of air conditioning operation is often long and the user forgets to turn off the power, and the time when the difference between the set temperature and the room temperature is large and the air conditioner lacks capacity is considered as the second problem. Diagnose in two steps.
[0012]
As described above, when the diagnosis of the air conditioner is performed constantly using the diagnosis use information stored in the storage unit of the air conditioner, the diagnosis is performed based on the information temporarily collected at the time of diagnosis. As compared with the above, a high quality and effective diagnosis can be performed.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
<First embodiment>
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an air conditioner 10 using the present invention. The air conditioner 10 includes an indoor unit 1, a thermistor 2, a remote controller 3, and an outdoor unit 4. Room temperature thermistor 2 is transmitted to the indoor unit 1 detects the indoor temperature T _i. The remote controller 3 receives an input of the set temperature T _S of the indoor unit 1.
[0014]
The outdoor unit 4 includes a compressor 4a, a four-way switching valve, an outdoor heat exchanger, and an outdoor blower (not shown). The indoor unit 1 has an indoor heat exchanger (not shown) and an indoor blower. Then, a compressor 4a, a four-way switching valve, an outdoor heat exchanger, an indoor heat exchanger, and the compressor 2a are sequentially connected in an annular manner by a refrigerant pipe to form a cooling cycle for circulating the refrigerant. Further, a heating cycle is formed in which the compressor 4a, the four-way switching valve, the indoor heat exchanger, the outdoor heat exchanger, and the compressor 4a are sequentially connected in an annular manner by a refrigerant pipe to circulate the refrigerant. These operation commands are issued by an air-conditioning operation command unit 13 described later.
[0015]
The indoor unit 1 has a control unit 11, a storage unit 12, and a display unit 14. The storage unit 12 has a DRAM 15 and a FROM 16. The FROM 16 stores a maximum temperature difference table 17. Control unit 11 performs has an air conditioning operation command unit 13, a control command such as to match the room temperature T _i the set temperature T _S, for example, a command to increase or decrease the rotational speed of the compressor 4a. The display unit 14 displays predetermined information.
[0016]
FIG. 2 is a conceptual explanatory diagram of information stored in the maximum temperature difference table 17. This table stores the maximum value ΔT _m of the difference between the room temperature T _i and the set temperature T _S on each day (m day) from a certain day to a predetermined number of days, together with the date and time when the maximum value was recorded. It is. This information is stored by a maximum temperature difference storage process described later.
[Processing flow]
(1) Process of storing the number of times of continuous operation time excess FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of the process of storing the number of times of continuous operation time excess. In this process, the number of times the continuous operation time of the air-conditioning operation unit 13 exceeds the maximum scheduled operation time t _max is stored and displayed by operating the remote controller 3. This process is started when the operation of the air conditioner 10 is started.
[0017]
In step S11, it is determined whether or not the current continuous operation time t> t _max . If t> t _max , the process proceeds to step S12. If t <= t _max , the process proceeds to step S13. It is assumed that t _max is stored in the FROM 122 in advance.
In step S12, j is incremented and stored in the FROM 122. Note that the default value of j is 0.
[0018]
In step S13, it is determined whether or not a command to display the current value of j has been received from the remote controller 3. If there is a display command, the process proceeds to step S14. If there is no display command, the process returns to step S11.
In step S14, the current value of j is displayed on the display unit 14. The current value of j may be displayed on the display unit 14 every predetermined time regardless of the operation of the air conditioner 10.
[0019]
As described above, the current value of j, that is, the number of times that t> t _max has been satisfied from the start of the operation of the air conditioner 10 to the present time is displayed on the display unit 14 by operating the remote controller 3. It is possible to grasp the number of times 10 has been operated continuously beyond the maximum scheduled operation time t _max . Therefore, for example, the user of the air conditioner 10 refers to the number of times that the continuous operation time has exceeded the predetermined allowable continuous operation time for each predetermined period, so that the air conditioner 10 has been forgotten to be turned off. It is possible to know that the air conditioner 10 is frequently used, and it is possible to prevent the air conditioner 10 from forgetting to turn it off and save energy. In addition, the diagnostician of the air conditioner 10 can know the number of times the user of the air conditioner 10 has forgotten to cut the air conditioner 10, and if the number is large, introduces a schedule control device that controls the operation of the air conditioner 10 according to a schedule. Can be made available to the user to the effect that is required.
[0020]
(2) Maximum Temperature Difference Storage Processing FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of the maximum temperature difference storage processing. In this process, the maximum value ΔT _m (hereinafter referred to as the maximum temperature difference) of the difference between the set temperature T _S and the room temperature T _i on each day (m day) from a certain day to a predetermined number of days is recorded. The stored date and time are stored, and the stored content is displayed by operating the remote controller 3. This process starts when the air conditioner 10 is first started.
[0021]
In step S20, m = 1 is stored in the FROM 122.
In step S21, n = 1 is stored in the DRAM 121.
In step S22, a ΔT ⁿ storage subroutine is performed. In this process, after a predetermined time T ₁ has passed since the current setting temperature T _S is stored, [Delta] T n ⁼ room temperature T _i - set temperature T _S is stored. This processing will be described later.
[0022]
In step S23, it is determined whether the current date has changed from the date on which the processing in step S22 was performed. If the date has changed, the process moves to step S24. If the date has not changed, the process returns to step S22.
In step S24, the largest one among ΔT ⁿ (n = 1, 2,...) Stored in the DRAM 121 is stored in the maximum temperature difference table 1221 together with the current time as ΔT _m .
[0023]
In step S25, m is incremented and stored in the FROM 122.
In step S26, it is determined whether m = _{m 0.} In the case of _m = m _0, the process proceeds to step S27. If not, _m = m _0, returns to the step S21. Note that m ₀ indicates the number of times ΔT _m is stored, and is assumed to be stored in the FROM 122 in advance. For example, when storing 60 times, m ₀ = 60.
[0024]
In step S27, it is determined whether or not a command to display the contents of maximum temperature difference table 1221 has been received from remote controller 3. If there is a display command, the process proceeds to step S28. If there is no display command, repeat this step.
In step S28, the contents of the maximum temperature difference table are displayed on the display unit 14.
(3) ΔT ⁿ storage subroutine FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing of the ΔT ⁿ storage subroutine. This process starts when the maximum temperature difference storage process proceeds to step S22.
[0025]
In step S221, it stores the current set temperature _{T S} in DRAM 221.
In step S222, it is determined whether the current set temperature T _S has been changed from the stored set temperature T _S. If it has been changed, the process returns to step S23 of the maximum temperature difference storage process. If not changed, the process moves to step S223.
In step S223, it is determined whether a predetermined time T ₁ , for example, one hour, has elapsed from the start of step S221. If the time has elapsed, the process moves to step S224. If not, the process returns to step S222, and repeats the steps S222 and S223 until the _{T 1} is passed. Incidentally, T ₁ is set after the air conditioning operation of the set temperature T _S is the time required to produce a sufficient effect, and those stored in advance FROM122.
[0026]
In step S224, ΔT ⁿ = room temperature T _i −set temperature T _S is stored in the DRAM 121.
In step S225, n is incremented and stored in the DRAM 121, and the process returns to the maximum temperature difference storage processing step S23.
As described above, since the maximum temperature difference of each day in a certain period is displayed together with the stored date and time, for example, when there are many days where the maximum temperature difference is large, whether the air conditioner 10 has insufficient capacity is determined. Alternatively, it can be determined that a failure has occurred. In this case, the diagnostician of the air conditioner 10 can propose the introduction of the air conditioner 10 having a higher capacity or can suggest that the air conditioner 10 needs to be repaired.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to diagnose whether or not air conditioning is properly performed by using the stored use information at the time of diagnosis.
In the invention according to claim 2, the number of times that the continuous time of the air-conditioning operation exceeds the predetermined allowable continuous operation time within the predetermined period, the date and time when the continuous time has exceeded, or the like can be used for diagnosis of the air conditioner.
[0028]
In the invention according to claim 3, the difference between the set temperature and the room temperature, the calculation date and time of the difference, the number of times the difference has reached a predetermined value or more, and the like can be used for the diagnosis of the air conditioner.
In the invention according to claim 4, since the air conditioner is diagnosed using the diagnosis use information constantly stored in the storage unit of the air conditioner, based on the information temporarily collected at the time of diagnosis. Compared to the case of making a diagnosis, a high-quality and effective diagnosis can be made.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an air conditioner using the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a conceptual explanatory diagram of information stored in a maximum temperature difference table.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of a continuous operation time excess number storage process.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the flow of a maximum temperature difference storage process.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing of a ΔT ⁿ storage subroutine.
1: Indoor unit 2: Thermistor 3: Remote controller 4: Outdoor unit 4a: Compressor 10: Air conditioner 11: Control unit 12: Storage unit 13: Air conditioning operation command unit 14: Display unit 15: DRAM
16: FROM
17: Maximum temperature difference table

Claims (4)

Air conditioning operation means (13) for performing air conditioning;
Storage means (12) for storing diagnosis use information to be used when making a diagnosis relating to the air conditioning when the air conditioning operation means (13) is operating;
An air conditioner provided with (10). The diagnosis use information is information regarding that the continuous operation time of the air-conditioning operation means (13) has exceeded a predetermined allowable continuous operation time.
The air conditioner (10) according to claim 1. The air-conditioning operation means (13) performs an air-conditioning operation for adjusting the temperature of the air so that the room temperature approaches the set temperature,
The diagnostic use information is information on a difference between the set temperature and the room temperature acquired at a predetermined timing.
The air conditioner (10) according to claim 1. A first step of acquiring the diagnostic use information from the storage means (12) of the air conditioner (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3;
A second step of diagnosing whether the air conditioner (10) is operating properly based on the diagnostic use information acquired in the first step;
Diagnostic method of an air conditioner equipped with

Images