JP2004061036A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air conditioner capable of setting a rotational frequency of a fan in multistages within a wide setting range width. <P>SOLUTION: The air conditioner is provided with a heat exchanging coil, an air blowing fan, and an electric motor driving and rotating the fan in an interior of a casing. It is provided with a converter converting power from an alternating current to a direct current, an inverter outputting the direct current supplied from the converter at a predetermined voltage, a DC motor rotated by a current outputted from the inverter, and an operation command means for determining the voltage outputted from the inverter. It is composed so that the operation command means is provided with a rotational frequency setting means for setting a value of a rotational frequency of the DC motor in multistages, and a microcomputer means for outputting a specified rotational frequency responding to the value set by the rotational frequency setting means as an operation command to the inverter. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an air conditioner used for an air conditioning system.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, there are known various types of air conditioners, such as a floor-exposed type, a floor-mounted type, a ceiling-mounted exposed type and a ceiling-mounted type, and a heat exchange coil and a fan for blowing air inside a casing. And an electric motor for driving and rotating the fan.
[0003]
The electric motor is an AC motor that rotates by an alternating current, and an optimal AC motor is selected and adopted according to the specifications of the unit.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Since it is very difficult to match the setting of the number of revolutions of the AC motor to the desired number of revolutions, an AC motor corresponding to the load of each unit is required when designing the air conditioner. Therefore, it is necessary to select the optimal AC motor every time the specifications of the unit regarding the size of the air conditioning capacity or the like change, and when the load changes after the air conditioner is installed, the motor must be replaced. There is a problem that it does not.
[0005]
In addition, since the motor characteristics of the AC motor vary depending on the frequency, in the electric power situation in Japan where the frequency differs depending on the region, there is an inconvenience that the frequency division is required even when manufacturing the air conditioner.
[0006]
By the way, in the case of an AC motor that is very difficult to match the desired rotation speed, in order to guarantee the desired air conditioning performance, the rotation speed of the rotation speed is slightly higher than the maximum rotation speed as a design value. An AC motor must be used. However, in this case, since the fan is rotated at a higher rotation speed than the design value during normal operation, there is a problem that wind noise and other noises exceed the design value.
[0007]
Further, for example, if the load of the fan fluctuates due to clogging of the filter or the like, the number of revolutions of the AC motor changes, and in that case, there is a problem that a predetermined air conditioning capacity cannot be exhibited.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention provides an air conditioner in which a DC motor is driven by an AC power supply. In particular, the present invention solves the above-described problem by configuring the number of rotations of the DC motor to be arbitrarily set in multiple stages. It is an object to provide an improved air conditioner.
[0009]
Therefore, the present invention is configured as a means in an air conditioner provided with a heat exchange coil, a blower fan, and an electric motor that drives and rotates the fan inside the casing, and converts a power supply from AC to DC. Converter, an inverter that outputs a DC current supplied from the converter at a predetermined voltage, a DC motor that rotates by the current output from the inverter, and operation command means that determines a voltage output from the inverter. The operation command means includes: a rotation speed setting means for setting a value of the rotation speed of the DC motor in multiple stages; and an operation command for a designated rotation speed in accordance with the value set by the rotation speed setting means. And a microcomputer means for outputting to the inverter.
[0010]
It is preferable that the rotation speed setting means includes a memory storing a rotation speed table and a dip switch for selecting a rotation speed based on the rotation speed table.
[0011]
The air conditioner has an air volume control switch for converting a voltage level by switching at least three steps of high speed, medium speed, and low speed, and a sub-microcomputer for outputting a speed ratio to microcomputer means by detecting the voltage level conversion. Preferably, means are provided.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0013]
Although the mechanical configuration of the air conditioner is not shown, a heat exchange coil, a blower fan, and an electric motor for driving and rotating the fan are provided inside the casing. Various types such as a mounting type, a ceiling hanging exposure type, a ceiling hanging type, and other types can be freely adopted.
[0014]
FIG. 1 shows an electrical configuration of the air conditioner of the present invention, and FIG. 2 illustrates an operation flow corresponding to the electrical configuration.
[0015]
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the electric configuration of the air conditioner includes a DC motor 1 for driving and rotating a fan, a control unit 2 for controlling the motor, an air volume control switch 3, and an AC power supply 4 (AC100V). ). It is preferable that the DC motor 1 constitutes a brushless motor. The fan is arbitrarily designed in a range of 200 mmφ or less in consideration of downsizing of the air conditioner.
[0016]
The control unit 2 determines a converter 5 that converts a power supply from AC to DC, an inverter 6 that outputs a DC current supplied from the converter 5 to the DC motor 1 at a predetermined voltage, and a voltage that is output from the inverter 6. And an operation command means 7 to be executed.
[0017]
The operation command means 7 includes a rotation number setting means 8 that enables the value of the rotation number of the DC motor 1 to be set in multiple stages, and a designated rotation number corresponding to the value set by the rotation number setting means 8 as an operation command. A microcomputer means 9 for outputting to the inverter 6 and a sub microcomputer means 10 described later are provided.
[0018]
The rotation speed setting means 8 is composed of a memory 11 (EEPROM in the case of the figure) storing a rotation speed table, and a dip switch 12 for selecting a rotation speed based on the rotation speed table. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rotation speed setting range width has a range from a minimum rotation speed of 450 rpm to a maximum rotation speed of 1395 rpm, and 64 rotation speed setting patterns are possible. I have. Therefore, in this case, it is possible to set the rotation speed at an interval of about 15 rpm in the set range width.
[0019]
The air volume switch 3 constitutes a remote switch that converts a voltage level by switching at least three steps of high speed (HI), medium speed (MID), and low speed (LO) in addition to turning on / off the power supply, and is illustrated and implemented. In the case of the embodiment, a charged three-speed switch is employed. Note that the voltage level conversion of the air volume switch 3 may be configured to have three or more stages, and further may be configured to allow stepless switching. Therefore, the voltage level conversion (any of HI, MID, and LO) by the air volume switch 3 is detected by the sub microcomputer means 10, and the speed ratio is outputted to the microcomputer means 9 by the sub microcomputer means 10. For example, assuming that the operating voltage of the DC motor 1 at high speed (HI) is 100%, the operating voltage at medium speed (MID) is 70%, and the operating voltage at low speed (LO) is 60%. As described above, the speed ratio is set in advance.
[0020]
The DC motor 1 is provided with a sensor 1a for detecting the position of a rotor of the motor. A rotor position detection signal is output from the sensor 1a to the microcomputer means 9 during rotation of the motor.
[0021]
Although the illustrated embodiment shows one air conditioner provided with one air volume switch corresponding to one DC motor, the present invention uses a single air volume switch 3 to control a plurality of air conditioners. It can be configured to be driven. In this case, the air conditioner provided with the air volume switch 3 and the air conditioner not provided with the air volume switch may be connected to each other by a LAN cable using a connector connection method.
[0022]
The operation of the air conditioner having such an electrical configuration will be described with reference to FIG. 2. When a power switch (100 V AC) is turned on by turning on a power switch (not shown) (step S1), the converter 5 After the current is converted to a DC current, it is supplied to the inverter 6 (step S2).
[0023]
When the air volume switch 3 is switched (step S3), the selection state of the switch by the conversion of the voltage level is detected by the sub microcomputer means 10, and the corresponding speed ratio is output to the microcomputer means 9 (step S4).
[0024]
The microcomputer 9 reads the rotation speed table stored in the memory 11 (step S5), and selects the rotation speed specified by the dip switch 12 based on the rotation speed table (step S6). Therefore, the microcomputer means 9 outputs to the inverter 6 a designated rotation number corresponding to the speed ratio input from the sub-microcomputer means 10 as an operation command for the setting of the rotation number selected in this way. (Step S7). As described above, in the preferred embodiment, the set range of the rotational speed is 450 rpm to 1400 rpm, and the set rotational speed can be freely selected and set at an interval of about 15 rpm within the range. When a sirocco fan having a diameter of 140 mmφ is driven and rotated, the rotation speed setting pitch of 15 rpm corresponds to a noise level of the fan of about 0.5 dB (A) or less. Therefore, when the rotation speed of the fan is changed by about 15 rpm, the noise level also changes by about 0.5 dB (A). Therefore, the rotation speed is set almost pinpoint so that the fan blowing capacity and low noise performance are optimized. It becomes possible to do.
[0025]
In response to the operation command output from the microcomputer means 9, the inverter 6 outputs a voltage corresponding to the operation command to the DC motor 1 (step S8). As a result, the DC motor 1 The rotation is performed according to the rotation speed (step S9).
[0026]
During the rotation of the DC motor 1, a rotor position detection signal is output from the sensor 1a to the microcomputer means 9 (step S10). Therefore, the microcomputer means 9 monitors whether the DC motor 1 is rotating at the set rotation speed, and if the microcomputer means 9 determines that the actual rotation speed is different from the set rotation speed, the microcomputer means 9 sends the signal to the inverter 6. Is corrected (step S11).
[0027]
By the way, the microcomputer means 9 has a function of stopping the motor by detecting an error in addition to the functions described above. That is, when the microcomputer means 9 detects (1) overload protection, (2) overcurrent, and (3) a rotor position detection error, the microcomputer means 9 restarts. Stop 1 At this time, it is preferable that the LED be turned on.
[0028]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the DC motor 1 is driven and rotated in accordance with the set rotation speed arbitrarily selected and set in multiple stages by the operation command means 7 of the control unit 2, so that the fan is designed to rotate at the designed rotation speed. The air conditioner can be rotated according to the number, and thus an air conditioner that realizes low noise can be provided. That is, since the optimum rotation speed can be set almost pinpoint in order to satisfy the predetermined air volume desired by the fan, the wind noise and other noise generated by the fan can be ensured while ensuring the air blowing ability of the fan. The number of revolutions that can minimize noise can be set, which can contribute to lower noise.
[0029]
Since the number of rotations can be set in multiple stages by one type of DC motor 1, one type of DC motor 1 can cope with all types of air conditioners having different specifications regarding the magnitude of air conditioning capacity and others. As a result, it is possible to greatly contribute to speedy product development of the air conditioner and cost reduction of production.
[0030]
In addition, during the actual operation after the air conditioner was installed in a building or the like, a miscalculation of the resistance value of the air duct was found, or the load at the time of the initial design was changed due to the indoor shape or layout. Even in this case, the rotational speed of the DC motor 1 can be freely changed and set again by multi-stage switching simply by switching the dip switch 12 of the installed air conditioner, so that the motor replacement is of course unnecessary. The DC motor 1 can be rotated at an optimum rotation speed by correcting the rotation speed according to the environmental conditions.
[0031]
Furthermore, since the DC motor 1 is not affected by the frequency of the AC power supply, there is the convenience that there is no need to change the specifications of the motor for each region, and the output from the sensor 1a of the DC motor 1 as in the above embodiment. By inputting the detected rotor position detection signal to the microcomputer means 9 and controlling the inverter 6 so that the actually measured rotation speed becomes equal to the set rotation speed, for example, due to clogging of the filter, etc., Even if the load fluctuates, there is an advantage that the DC motor 1 can always be rotated at a constant speed according to the set rotation speed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an operation flow corresponding to the electrical configuration of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 1 DC motor 1a Sensor 2 Control unit 3 Air volume switch (electric three-speed switch)
4 Power supply (AC100V)
5 Converter 6 Inverter 7 Operation command means 8 Revolution setting means 9 Microcomputer means 10 Sub-microcomputer means 11 Memory (EEPROM)
12 DIP switch

Claims (3)

In an air conditioner provided with a heat exchange coil, a fan for blowing air, and an electric motor for driving and rotating the fan inside the casing,
A converter 5 for converting a power supply from an AC to a DC, an inverter 6 for outputting a DC current supplied from the converter at a predetermined voltage, a DC motor 1 rotating by a current output from the inverter, and an output from the inverter Operation command means 7 for determining the voltage to be applied,
The operation command means 7 includes a rotation number setting means 8 that enables the value of the rotation number of the DC motor 1 to be set in multiple stages, and a specified rotation number corresponding to the value set by the rotation number setting means 8. An air conditioner comprising: a microcomputer means 9 for outputting to the inverter 6. 2. The air according to claim 1, wherein the rotation speed setting means includes a memory for storing a rotation speed table and a dip switch for selecting a rotation speed based on the rotation speed table. Harmony machine. An air volume adjusting switch 3 for converting a voltage level by switching at least three steps of high speed, medium speed and low speed; and a sub microcomputer means 10 for outputting a speed ratio to the microcomputer means 9 by detecting the voltage level conversion. The air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising:

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