JP2005300016A - Air conditioning system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To extend a service life of an air conditioning system. <P>SOLUTION: The air conditioning system is provided with a plurality of air conditioners comprising indoor units 1 and outdoor units 3, and a controller 11 controlling the plurality of air conditioners. The indoor units 1 of the air conditioners are installed in the same room 7, the controller 11 determines the number of air conditioners to be operated in response to an air conditioning load of the room (S1), it compares cumulative operating times of the air conditioners (S2 and S3), and it operates an air conditioner with a short cumulative operating time in preference (S4). By this, for example, when the air conditioning load is small, unnecessary air conditioners are stopped, and since the cumulative operating times of the air conditioners can be smoothed, the service life as a system composed of the plurality of air conditioners can be extended. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioning system, and more particularly to an air conditioning system in which a plurality of air conditioners including indoor units and outdoor units are provided in the same room.

As an example of the air conditioning system, there is a configuration in which a plurality of air conditioners including indoor units and outdoor units are provided, and the indoor units of each air conditioner are arranged in the same room (for example, Patent Document 1). reference). The system of Patent Document 1 is configured to keep the indoor temperature uniform by turning on and off the operation of each indoor unit based on the difference between the indoor temperature at the installation position of each indoor unit and the set indoor temperature. Has been. The outdoor unit is adapted to operate in accordance with the operation of the indoor unit connected to itself.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-65410 (see FIGS. 1-2 and 2-3)

  However, Patent Document 1 is controlled based on the temperature at the installation position of each indoor unit, and basically all the air conditioners are operated, and the lifetime as a system is not considered.

  The subject of this invention is extending the lifetime of an air conditioning system.

  In order to solve the above problems, an air conditioning system according to the present invention includes a plurality of air conditioners including an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, and a controller that controls the plurality of air conditioners. The indoor units are arranged in the same room, and the controller determines the number of air conditioners to be operated in accordance with the air conditioning load in the room, compares the accumulated operation time of each air conditioner, It is characterized by prioritizing the harmonic machine.

  According to this, for example, when the air conditioning load is small, unnecessary air conditioners can be stopped and the cumulative operating time of each air conditioner can be smoothed. The life of the harmony system can be extended.

  In addition, the controller determines the number of operating air conditioners according to the air conditioning load in the room, compares the difference between the indoor temperature at the installation position of the indoor unit of each air conditioner and the set indoor temperature, An air conditioner with a large difference can be preferentially operated. Thereby, for example, when the air conditioning load is small, unnecessary air conditioners are stopped to extend the life of the system, and the room temperature can be made uniform.

  In this case, the controller sets the set operation time based on the accumulated operation time of each air conditioner, and excludes the air conditioner having the accumulated operation time longer than the set operation time from the operation target. Thereby, the accumulated operating time of each air conditioner can be smoothed while achieving uniform room temperature. For example, the set operation time can be set to a time obtained by adding an allowable time (for example, 10 to 100 hours) to the reference, with the air conditioner having the shortest accumulated operation time as a reference. According to this, the cumulative operating time of all the air conditioners can be controlled within the allowable time range. In addition, this set operation time can also be made into the average value of the accumulation operation time of all the air conditioners.

  Here, the controller can determine the number of operating units based on the average value of the differences between the indoor temperature at the installation position of the indoor unit of each air conditioner and the set indoor temperature. That is, when the average value of the temperature difference is large, it is determined that the air conditioning load is large and the number of operating units is increased, and when the average value of the temperature difference is small, it is determined that the air conditioning load is small and the operating unit is decreased.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the lifetime of an air conditioning system can be extended.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the control operation of Example 1 of the air-conditioning system of the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the air conditioning system of the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the air conditioning system of the present embodiment includes a plurality of air conditioners that are configured to include an indoor unit 1 and an outdoor unit 3. The indoor unit 1 and the indoor unit 3 are connected by a refrigerant pipe 5 to form a refrigeration cycle in which the refrigerant circulates. Each indoor unit 1 is arranged in a relatively large same room 7 such as an office or an experimental facility. Each indoor unit 1 is provided with a temperature detector 9 that detects the temperature of the same room 7 at the position where each indoor unit 1 is installed, for example, at the suction port of the indoor unit 1.

  Each outdoor unit 3 is provided with a controller 11. The controller 11 is connected to the indoor unit 1 via a signal line (not shown), and operation state information of the indoor unit 1 including the temperature of the room 7 detected by the temperature detector 9 is input via this signal line. It is like that. The controller 11 controls the indoor unit 1 and the outdoor unit 3 based on the operating state information of the indoor unit 1 and the outdoor unit 3. Each controller 11 is connected to another controller 11 via a signal line 13 and is configured to exchange the operation state and control information of each air conditioner. The control operation of the controller 11 that is a characteristic part of the present embodiment will be described in Examples 1 and 2.

  The first embodiment is characterized in that the cumulative operation times of a plurality of air conditioners are compared, and the air conditioner having a short cumulative operation time is preferentially operated. In the first embodiment, first, as shown in FIG. 1, the controller 11 determines the number of operating units based on the air conditioning load in the same room 7 (step S1). Specifically, the number of operating units in step S1 is determined by the subprogram shown in FIG. In this subprogram, the detected temperature T of the temperature detector 9 of its own indoor unit 1 is fetched (step S11), and ΔT is calculated by subtracting the set temperature To of the room 7 from the fetched detected temperature T (step S12). . And while outputting (DELTA) T to the other controller 11, taking (DELTA) T of the other air conditioner input from the other controller 11, the average value (DELTA) Tm of (DELTA) T is calculated, calculated (DELTA) Tm, threshold value T1 and T2 (T1 <T2) are compared (step S13). As a result of step S13, when ΔTm <T1, the number of operating units is 1, 2 units when ΔT1 ≦ ΔTm <ΔT2, and 3 units when ΔT2 <ΔTm (steps S14, S15, S16). FIG. 3 is an example in which there are three air conditioners installed in the same room 7.

  Next, the accumulated operating time of the self air conditioner is detected and output to the other controller 11 (step S2), and the accumulated operating time of the other air conditioner input from the other controller 11 is captured. (Step S3). The air conditioners are selected from the smaller cumulative operation time obtained in step S3 by the number of operating units determined in step S1 (step S4). If the air conditioner selected in step S4 is the own air conditioner, the own air conditioner is operated, and if not, the own air conditioner is stopped (step S5). When time t has elapsed (step S6), the process returns to step S1. The time t is appropriately set so that the operation of the air conditioner does not frequently change, and is set to about 2 to 3 hours, for example.

  Specifically, FIG. 4 illustrates an example in which three air conditioners a, b, and c are provided in the same room 7 and the number of operating units determined in step S1 is one. For example, when the accumulated operation time is compared at time t1 (steps S3 and S4), the controller 11 of the air conditioner a determines that its own air conditioner a has the shortest accumulated operation time ta of the air conditioner a. The controller 11 of the air conditioners b and c is operated and stops its own air conditioners b and c (step S5). After time t has elapsed (step S6), at time t2, the cumulative operating time of the air conditioner a is ta + t. Here, returning to step S1, again comparing the accumulated operating time ta + t, tb, tc of the air conditioners a, b, c (steps S3, 4), the accumulated operating time tb of the air conditioner b is the shortest, The controller 11 of the air conditioner b operates its own air conditioner b, and the controller 11 of the air conditioners a and c stops the respective air conditioners a and c (step S5). After the elapse of time t (step S6), the control for returning to step S1 is repeated.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the air conditioner with a small cumulative operation time is operated with priority, in other words, the air conditioner with a large cumulative operation time is prioritized and stopped. The cumulative operating time of the machine can be smoothed. Thereby, the reliability of the air conditioner can be improved, and the product life as a system can be extended.

  In this embodiment, the case where the number of operating units is one is shown. However, when there are a plurality of operating units, cumulative operation is performed by selecting and operating the air conditioners corresponding to the operating units with a short cumulative operating time. The time can be smoothed.

  Further, in this embodiment, when a malfunction such as a failure occurs in the operating air conditioner, the malfunctioned air conditioner is excluded from the comparison target of the cumulative operation time in step S3, and the remaining air conditioning It is possible to perform control for comparison by machine. By setting the control to remove the failed air conditioner from the control target, backup can be performed when the air conditioner fails. This makes it possible to repair a malfunctioning air conditioner without impairing indoor comfort.

  The second embodiment is characterized in that the difference between the indoor temperature at the installation position of the indoor unit of each air conditioner and the set indoor temperature is compared, and the air conditioner having a large temperature difference is preferentially operated. is there. In the second embodiment, first, the controller 11 determines the number of operating units based on the air conditioning load in the room 7 as shown in FIG. 5 (step S21). The number of operating units in step S21 is determined by the program shown in FIG. Then, the room temperature T of the own air conditioner is detected (step S22), the difference ΔT between the room temperature T and the set room temperature To is calculated (step S23), and output to the other controller 11, The ΔT input from the other controller 11 is fetched and compared (step S24). From the side with the larger temperature difference ΔT determined in step S24, the air conditioners are selected by the number of operating units determined in step S21 (step S25). If the air conditioner selected in step S25 is its own air conditioner, its own air conditioner is operated; otherwise, its own air conditioner is stopped (step S26). When time t has elapsed (step S27), the process returns to step S21. The time t is appropriately set so that the operation of the air conditioner does not frequently change, and is set to about 2 to 3 hours, for example.

  The relationship between the operation and stop of the air conditioner controlled as described above and the accumulated operation time will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 6, the case where three air conditioners a, b, and c are provided in the same room 7 and the number of operating units determined in step S21 is one is taken as an example.

  For example, when the temperature differences ΔTa, ΔTb, ΔTc of the air conditioners a, b, c are compared at time t1, the temperature difference ΔTa of the air conditioner a is the largest (step S24). Therefore, the controller 11 of the air conditioner a operates its own air conditioner a, and the controller 11 of the air conditioners b and c stops the respective air conditioners b and c (step S25, S26). Thereby, temperature difference (DELTA) Ta of the air conditioner a becomes small. When the temperature differences ΔTa, ΔTb, ΔTc of the air conditioners a, b, c are compared again at time t2 after the elapse of time t (step S27), the temperature difference ΔTa falls below the temperature differences ΔTb, ΔTc, and the temperature difference ΔTb Is the largest. Thereby, the operation of the air conditioner a is stopped and the air conditioner b is operated. The same control is performed at time t3.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, by controlling the air conditioner with the largest temperature difference, the temperature in the air-conditioned room can be made uniform. Thereby, a user's comfort improvement can be aimed at and an energy saving driving | operation becomes possible.

  In addition, in the present embodiment, the case where the number of operating units is one is shown, but when there are a plurality of operating units, the air conditioners for the operating units having a large temperature difference between the temperature sensor detected temperature and the indoor set temperature. The room temperature can be made uniform by selecting and operating.

  Further, in this embodiment, the controller determines the number of operating air conditioners according to the air conditioning load in the room and, for example, stops unnecessary air conditioners as a system when the air conditioning load is small. As a result, the room temperature can be extended and the room temperature can be made uniform.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, the controller 11 sets a set operation time based on the accumulated operation time of each air conditioner, and operates the air conditioner having a longer accumulated operation time than the set operation time. It is set as the structure excluded from object. In the control of FIG. 7, the same control as in FIG.

  In step S28, the accumulated operating time of each air conditioner is detected and compared, the air conditioner with the shortest accumulated operating time is defined as a reference, and an allowable time (for example, 10 to 100 hours) is added to this reference. To calculate the set operating time. If cumulative operating time <set operating time, the process proceeds to step S26. If cumulative operating time> set operating time, the air conditioner is excluded and the process returns to step S24. According to this, the air conditioner in which the accumulated operation time protrudes compared to the other is excluded from the comparison target of the temperature difference ΔT. In this way, by controlling the air conditioner with the largest temperature difference while observing the cumulative operating time, the temperature inside the air-conditioned room is made uniform and the cumulative operating time of the air conditioner is smoothed. Can be made. Thereby, the reliability and comfort of the air conditioner can be improved. In the present embodiment, the set operation time can be set to an average value of the accumulated operation time of all the air conditioners.

It is a flowchart which shows the control action of Example 1 of the air conditioning system of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows one Embodiment of the air conditioning system of this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the subprogram which determines the number of operation. It is a figure which shows the driving | running pattern and time chart of the air conditioner of Example 1. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the control action of Example 2 of the air conditioning system of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the driving | running pattern and time chart of the air conditioner of Example 2. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a modification of the control operation of the second embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Indoor unit 3 Outdoor unit 7 Same room 9 Temperature detector 11 Controller

Claims (4)

In an air conditioning system comprising a plurality of air conditioners composed of an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, and a controller for controlling the plurality of air conditioners, wherein the indoor units of the air conditioners are arranged in the same room,
The controller determines the number of operating air conditioners according to the air conditioning load in the room, compares the accumulated operating time of each air conditioner, and prioritizes the air conditioner with a short accumulated operating time. Air conditioning system characterized by operating as In an air conditioning system comprising a plurality of air conditioners composed of an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, and a controller for controlling the plurality of air conditioners, wherein the indoor units of the air conditioners are arranged in the same room,
The controller determines the number of operating air conditioners according to the air conditioning load in the room, compares the difference between the indoor temperature of the installation position of the indoor unit of each air conditioner and the set indoor temperature, An air conditioning system characterized in that the air conditioner having a large temperature difference is operated with priority.   The controller sets a set operating time based on a cumulative operating time of each air conditioner, and excludes the air conditioner having a cumulative operating time longer than the set operating time from an operation target. The air conditioning system according to claim 2. The said controller determines the said operating number based on the average value of the difference of the indoor temperature of the installation position of the indoor unit of each said air conditioner, and setting indoor temperature. The air conditioning system according to claim 1.

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