JP2005221107A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air conditioner, efficiently ventilating in an energy-saving manner on the basis of a detection value of a sensor and restraining noise from a blower for ventilation at night. <P>SOLUTION: In this air conditioner, a control means 21 controls a blower 16 for ventilation on the basis of a detection value of a sensor 22 to ventilate the air in the interior. In the control means, a reduced sound time zone (e.g. at night) for reducing the blowing sound is preset, and it is determined whether the current time is within the reduced noise time zone. When the current time is outside the reduced sound time zone, the blowing amount of the blower for ventilation is switched to be large or small on the basis of a detection value of the sensor, and when it is within the reduced noise time zone, the blowing amount of the blower for ventilation is controlled to be small or the blower for ventilation is stopped. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner, and more particularly to ventilation thereof.

  Conventionally, air conditioners such as room air conditioners generally do not have a ventilation function, and when indoor air gets dirty, people open the windows as appropriate to ventilate outside air. There was a need to do.

  Therefore, conventionally, an air conditioner provided with a ventilation device has been proposed. For example, as described in Patent Document 1, there is an air conditioner in which the ventilation rate of a ventilation fan is changed according to the concentration of carbon dioxide gas.

  By the way, if the ventilation volume of the ventilation fan is increased, noise such as blowing noise generated from the ventilation fan increases. Therefore, at night, etc., the noise from the ventilation blower or the like is bothering and may cause a problem. Therefore, the user who is interested needs to operate the remote control etc. to reduce the air volume of the ventilation fan. By reducing the air volume, the noise from the ventilation fan can be reduced. , It will make the user troublesome.

On the other hand, if the ventilation volume of the ventilation fan is determined by the user's operation, the ventilation volume of the ventilation fan is set to be strong even though the concentration of carbon dioxide gas is low, and energy is wasted. There is.
JP 2001-304645 A

  The problem to be solved is that if the air volume of the ventilation fan is changed according to the concentration of carbon dioxide gas, the noise from the ventilation fan will be a concern at night. When the ventilation volume of the ventilation fan is determined by the user's operation and the user's operation, the ventilation volume of the ventilation fan is set strong even though the carbon dioxide gas concentration is low, and energy is wasted. It may be consumed.

  In the air conditioner of the present invention, the control means (21) controls the ventilation fan (16) based on the detection value of the sensor (22) to ventilate the indoor air. The control means sets a sound reduction time zone for reducing the blowing sound, determines whether or not the current time is within the range of the sound reduction time zone, and the current time is other than the sound reduction time zone. At the time, based on the detected value of the sensor, the ventilation amount of the ventilation fan is controlled to be switched between strong and weak, and when it is within the range of the sound reduction time zone, the ventilation amount of the ventilation fan is weakened. Or stop the ventilation fan.

  In addition, when the control means designates the amount of ventilation by manual operation, the ventilation amount of the ventilation fan is switched between strong and weak based on the ventilation amount commanded by manual operation even during the sound reduction time zone. .

  According to the present invention, it is determined whether or not the current time is within the range of the sound reduction time zone, and when the current time is outside the sound reduction time zone, the ventilation fan is operated based on the detection value of the sensor. The air flow rate is switched between strong and weak, and when it is within the range of the sound reduction time zone, the air flow rate of the ventilation fan is weakened or the ventilation fan is stopped. At times other than the belt, the air flow rate of the ventilation fan can be switched between strong and weak based on the detection value of the sensor, and the optimal ventilation capacity can be selected for efficient and energy efficient ventilation. At the time of the sound reduction time zone, it is possible to suppress the blowing sound by automatically weakening the ventilation amount of the ventilation fan or stopping the ventilation fan.

  In addition, when the control means specifies the level of ventilation by manual operation, the ventilation volume of the ventilation fan is switched between strong and weak based on the ventilation volume commanded by manual operation even during the sound reduction time zone. Therefore, the ventilation volume can be increased as necessary even at the time of the sound reduction time zone such as at night.

  In an air conditioner, the ventilation fan is controlled by introducing the concept of time for the purpose of efficiently ventilating energy-saving based on the detection value of the sensor and suppressing noise from the ventilation fan at night. That was realized.

  Next, an embodiment of an air conditioner according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an air conditioner according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an input / output diagram of the control device. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the operation of the ventilation fan. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a modified example of the operation of the ventilation fan. In FIG. 2, only main components related to ventilation are shown, and other components not shown are also connected to the control device.

First, the overall configuration of the air conditioner will be described.
In FIG. 1, the air conditioner includes an indoor unit 1 and an outdoor unit 3 connected to the indoor unit 1 through a refrigerant pipe 2. The indoor unit 1 is installed indoors, while the outdoor unit 3 is installed outdoors, and the refrigerant pipe 2 connects the indoor unit 1 and the outdoor unit 3 through a hole 4 formed in the building. Yes. The outdoor unit 3 includes devices such as a compressor 6 that compresses the refrigerant, an outdoor heat exchanger 7, and a heat exchanger blower 8. During operation of the outdoor unit 3, the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle circulates from the outdoor unit 3 to the indoor unit 1 via the refrigerant pipe 2 for heating and cooling.

  The indoor unit 1 includes devices such as an indoor heat exchanger 11 and a circulation fan 12. When the circulation fan 12 is in operation, the indoor air is circulated through the room while heat is exchanged by the indoor heat exchanger 11.

  A ventilation fan 16 is provided in the indoor unit 1. An air supply / exhaust pipe 17 from the ventilation fan 16 extends outdoors through a hole 4 formed in the building. The ventilation blower 16 ventilates indoor air (that is, an air supply operation in which outdoor air flows into the room and an exhaust operation in which indoor air is discharged to the outside are possible). Moreover, the rotation speed of the ventilation fan 16 can be changed, and the amount of ventilation, that is, the amount of ventilation can be changed in multiple steps or continuously.

  The control device 21 which is a control unit of the air conditioner is configured by a microcomputer or the like in the indoor unit 1 and controls the operation of the air conditioner. In particular, regarding ventilation, as shown in FIG. 2, the control device 21 receives signals from a CO 2 sensor 22 that detects the concentration of carbon dioxide gas in the room and an operation unit 23 such as a remote controller. Further, a drive signal is output from the control device 21 to the ventilation fan 16 or the like. Further, various devices of the indoor unit 1 and various devices of the outdoor unit 3 are connected to the control device 21 so as to be able to input and output. The control device 21 is set with a sound reduction time zone such as nighttime for reducing the blowing sound of the ventilation fan 16. This sound reduction time zone is, for example, from 10 pm to 7 am. In addition, a silent ventilation level for switching the amount of ventilation and a ventilation stop level for stopping or operating the ventilation fan 16 are set in the control device 21. That is, when the concentration of carbon dioxide gas detected by the CO2 sensor 22 or the ventilation volume set based on the detection value of the CO2 sensor 22 exceeds the silent ventilation level, the ventilation volume increases and the blowing sound increases. On the other hand, when the ventilation amount set from the concentration of carbon dioxide gas or the detected value is less than the silent ventilation level, the ventilation amount becomes small and the blowing sound becomes small, so that the value becomes almost unattractive. If the concentration of carbon dioxide gas detected by the CO2 sensor 22 or the ventilation amount set based on the detected value of the CO2 sensor 22 exceeds the ventilation stop level, the ventilation blower 16 operates, while the carbon dioxide gas If the ventilation amount is set from the concentration or the detected value and is below the ventilation stop level, the ventilation fan 16 stops.

Next, the flow of the ventilation operation performed based on the indoor carbon dioxide gas concentration detected by the CO2 sensor 22 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. 3.
The ventilation operation mode is instructed to the control device 21 from the operation unit 23 by a human operation. The ventilation operation mode includes a stop mode in which the operation of the ventilation fan 16 is stopped, an automatic operation mode in which the ventilation fan 16 is automatically operated based on a detection value of the CO2 sensor 22, and the like, and is operated by a human operation. There is a manual operation mode in which the ventilation amount (for example, the intensity of ventilation amount) is instructed from the unit 23.

  In step 1, the control device 21 determines the ventilation operation mode, and goes to step 2 in the stop mode, to step 3 in the automatic operation mode, and to step 11 in the manual operation mode.

  In the case of the stop mode in step 1, in step 2, the control device 21 stops the ventilation fan 16 and returns to step 1. And it waits until ventilation operation mode changes to automatic operation mode or manual operation mode.

  Further, in the case of the automatic operation mode in Step 1, in Step 3, the CO2 sensor 22 detects the concentration of carbon dioxide gas in the room, inputs the detected value to the control device 21, and goes to Step 4. In step 4, the control device 21 calculates (that is, generates) a ventilation amount based on the concentration of carbon dioxide gas, and goes to step 5.

  In step 5, the control device 21 determines whether or not the calculated ventilation amount is equal to or lower than the ventilation stop level. If the calculated ventilation amount is equal to or lower than the ventilation stop level, the control device 21 goes to step 6 and after the ventilation fan 16 is stopped. Return to step 1. On the other hand, if the calculated ventilation volume exceeds the ventilation stop level in step 5, the process goes to step 7.

  In step 7, the control device 21 determines whether or not the calculated ventilation amount is lower than the silent ventilation level. If the calculated ventilation amount is lower than the silent ventilation level, the control device 21 goes to step 8 and the control device 21 calculates the ventilation fan 16. After operating at the set ventilation volume (this ventilation volume is lower than the silent ventilation level and a small value), the process returns to Step 1. On the other hand, if the calculated ventilation volume exceeds the silent ventilation level in step 7, the process goes to step 9.

  In step 9, the control device 21 determines whether or not the current time is in the sound reduction time zone. If the current time is a sound reduction time zone, the control device 21 determines that the current time is in step 8 or a time other than the sound reduction time zone. If it is daytime, go to Step 10. In step 8, since it is necessary to reduce the ventilation volume by reducing the ventilation volume at night, the control device 21 keeps the ventilation fan 16 below the silent ventilation level even when the calculated ventilation volume is large. Operate at low ventilation.

  In step 9, in the case of daytime, the control device 21 causes the ventilation fan 16 to operate at the calculated ventilation amount (this ventilation amount is a large value exceeding the silent ventilation level), and then to step 1. Return.

  In step 1, if the manual operation mode is selected, the process goes to step 11. In step 11, if the ventilation amount instructed from the operation unit 23 is weak, the procedure goes to step 12, and the control device 21 operates the ventilation fan 16 with a small ventilation amount and returns to step 1. On the other hand, when the ventilation amount instructed from the operation unit 23 is strong in step 11, the process goes to step 13, and the control device 21 operates the ventilation fan 16 at a large ventilation amount and returns to step 1.

  In this way, the ventilation volume is switched between strong and weak depending on the concentration of carbon dioxide gas, and the ventilation volume is automatically reduced during a sound reduction time zone such as at night when quietness is required. In the manual operation mode, ventilation can be performed with the instructed ventilation amount regardless of the time of day.

  In the flow of FIG. 3 described above, the ventilation amount is generated according to the concentration of carbon dioxide gas, and can be finely changed. However, if the ventilation amount is changed finely, the cost of the ventilation fan and the control device increases. Further, in an air conditioner for home use or the like, a strong and weak two-stage with a large ventilation amount and a small ventilation amount is sufficient. Therefore, the optimal flow for the strength and weakness will be described based on the flowchart of FIG.

  The flow of FIG. 4 is the same as the flow of FIG. 3, except that step 4 of FIG. 3 is deleted, and instead of steps 5, 7 and 9 of the flow of FIG. 3, steps 5a, 7a and 9a. It is the same except that is provided. Step 4 in FIG. 3 is deleted because it is not necessary to obtain the ventilation amount from the concentration of carbon dioxide gas.

  In step 3 of the flowchart of FIG. 4, the CO2 sensor 22 detects the concentration of carbon dioxide gas in the room, and the process goes to step 5a. In step 5a, the control device 21 determines whether or not the concentration of carbon dioxide gas is equal to or lower than the ventilation stop level. If the concentration is lower than the ventilation stop level, the control device 21 goes to step 6 and puts the ventilation fan 16 in the stopped state. After that, go back to step 1. On the other hand, if the concentration of carbon dioxide gas exceeds the ventilation stop level in step 5a, the process goes to step 7a.

  In step 7a, the control device 21 determines whether or not the current time is in the sound reduction time zone. If it is nighttime, which is the sound reduction time zone, the control device 21 goes to step 8 or a time other than the sound reduction time zone. If it is daytime, go to step 9a. In step 8, the control device 21 causes the ventilation fan 16 to operate with a small ventilation amount, and then returns to step 1.

  In step 9a, the control device 21 determines whether or not the concentration of carbon dioxide gas is lower than the silent ventilation level. If the concentration is lower than the silent ventilation level, the control device 21 goes to step 8 and the control device 21 turns off the ventilation fan 16. After operating at a low ventilation, return to step 1. On the other hand, if the concentration of carbon dioxide gas exceeds the silent ventilation level in step 9a, the process goes to step 10, and the control device 21 operates the ventilation fan 16 at a large ventilation amount, and then returns to step 1. .

  In this way, the control means 1) time determination means for determining whether or not the current time is within the range of the sound reduction time zone, and 2) detection of the sensor when the current time is outside the sound reduction time zone. Based on the value, means for switching the ventilation amount of the ventilation fan to be strong or weak, 3) When the air volume is within the range of the sound reduction time zone, the ventilation amount of the ventilation fan is weakened or the ventilation fan is stopped Means.

  Thus, the control means includes means for executing each process corresponding to each process to be executed, in addition to the above means. Further, it is not always necessary to have all the above means.

As mentioned above, although the Example of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention is not limited to the said Example, A various change is performed within the range of the summary of this invention described in the claim. It is possible. Examples of modifications of the present invention are illustrated below.
(1) The sensor is not necessarily limited to the CO 2 sensor 22, for example, a sensor such as an outside air temperature sensor, a room temperature sensor, or an indoor humidity sensor is provided, and a ventilation fan is provided based on the temperature difference between the outside air temperature and the room temperature, the room humidity, or the like. Can be controlled.

(2) The order of the steps in each flowchart can be changed as appropriate. For example, step 3 is possible even before step 1.
(3) The control means is constituted by a microcomputer, but other configurations are possible.
(4) In the flow of FIG. 4, the ventilation fan 16 is switched between two rotation speeds, but a ventilation fan is provided at each of the indoor side end and the outdoor side end of the air supply / exhaust pipe. It is also possible to switch the ventilation amount to two stages by rotating both ventilation fans.
(5) The sound reduction time zone is generally at night, but it is also possible to set the sound reduction time zone in the daytime because it is desirable for night shift workers to reduce the blowing sound during the daytime. The specific time can be changed as appropriate.

  Judge whether the current time is within the range of the sound reduction time zone, and when the current time is outside the sound reduction time zone, switch the ventilation volume of the ventilation fan to strong or weak based on the detection value of the sensor Control and select the optimum ventilation capacity based on the detection value of the sensor by reducing the ventilation volume of the ventilation fan or by stopping the ventilation fan when it is within the range of the sound reduction time zone. In addition, the air can be efficiently and efficiently ventilated, and noise from the ventilation fan can be suppressed at night. Therefore, it is optimal to apply to an air conditioner that efficiently performs ventilation with energy saving and suppresses noise from the ventilation fan during a sound reduction time zone such as at night.

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an air conditioner according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an input / output diagram of the control device. FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the operation of the ventilation fan. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a modified example of the operation of the ventilation fan.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Indoor unit 3 Outdoor unit 16 Blower for ventilation 21 Control apparatus (control means)
22 CO2 sensor 23 Operation unit

Claims (2)

In the air conditioner in which the control means controls the ventilation fan based on the detection value of the sensor to ventilate the indoor air,
The control means sets a sound reduction time zone for reducing the blowing sound, determines whether the current time is within the range of the sound reduction time zone, and when the current time is outside the sound reduction time zone. On the basis of the detected value of the sensor, the air flow rate of the ventilation fan is switched between strong and weak, and the air flow rate of the ventilation fan is weakened within the range of the sound reduction time zone. Or an air conditioner characterized in that the ventilation fan is stopped. When the ventilation level is specified by manual operation, the control means switches the ventilation volume of the ventilation fan between strong and weak, based on the ventilation volume commanded by manual operation, even in the sound reduction time zone. The air conditioner according to claim 1.

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