JP2007101050A - Air conditioner with prime mover - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To install the conditioner even in a place without a commercial power source, to eliminate the need for wiring work of a communication line between an outdoor unit and an indoor unit, and to prevent leakage of high harmonic noise to other electric appliances due to superimposition of control signals to electric power wire arrangements in an air conditioner with a prime mover. <P>SOLUTION: In the air conditioner with a prime mover, wire arrangements connecting the outdoor unit 100 and the indoor unit 600 are composed of only the electric power wire arrangements 50, 400, 51 supplied with electric power from a power generating device 300. It is provided with an outdoor PLC module 201 superimposing a control signal from an outdoor control module 200 on the electric power wire arrangement 50, separating a control signal from an indoor control module 500 superimposed on the electric power wire arrangement 50, and inputting it into the outdoor control module 200, and an indoor PLC module 500 superimposing a control signal from the indoor control module 200 on the electric power wire arrangement 51, separating the control signal from the outdoor control module 200 superimposed on the electric power wire arrangement 51, and inputting it into the outdoor control module 502. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner with a prime mover, and is particularly suitable for an air conditioner with a prime mover that performs control by transmitting and receiving control signals through a wiring connecting an outdoor unit and an indoor unit.

  As a conventional motor-equipped air conditioner, there is a gas engine driven heat pump type air conditioner disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-201379 (Patent Document 1). This air conditioner has an outdoor unit (outdoor unit), an indoor unit (indoor unit), and a power converter, and an outdoor refrigerant pipe of the outdoor unit and an indoor refrigerant pipe of the indoor unit are connected by a connecting pipe. Yes. A compressor is disposed in the outdoor refrigerant piping of the outdoor unit, an accumulator is disposed on the suction side of the compressor, and an oil separator, a check valve and a four-way valve are sequentially disposed on the discharge side of the compressor. The outdoor heat exchanger and the outdoor expansion valve are sequentially arranged on the four-way valve side. The outdoor heat exchanger is disposed adjacent to an outdoor fan that blows outside air to the outdoor heat exchanger using negative pressure. This outdoor fan is driven by an outdoor fan motor. The compressor is connected to and driven by a gas engine as a rotary prime mover. The air conditioning control device controls the rotational speed of the gas engine (that is, the compressor) in the outdoor unit, switching of the four-way valve, the rotational speed of the outdoor fan, the opening degree of the outdoor expansion valve, and the like. A generator as a power source other than a commercial power source is connected to the gas engine that drives the compressor. The power converter supplies power to the outdoor fan motor, which is the load of the air conditioner, from the generator side if the power generation amount of the generator among the commercial power supply and generator of the three-phase AC power supply is sufficient. If the amount of power generation is insufficient, power is supplied from the commercial power supply side to the outdoor fan motor that is the load of the air conditioner.

  Moreover, there exists a thing shown by Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 2003-110471 (patent document 2) as a conventional power wiring connection apparatus control system. This power wiring connection device control system is applied with a power wiring carrier signal transmission / reception system introduced into a home network, and has a total of three outlets as connection ports on terminals of power wiring laid in the house. A connection device is attached. The electric devices applied to the power wiring connection device control system are a video device, an air conditioner, and a microwave oven that comply with the standards for the power wiring carrier signal transmission / reception system, and are connected to outlets, respectively. A home server serving as a control device is connected to the power wiring via a PLC (Power Line Communication) modem compatible with the power wiring carrier signal transmission / reception system. The connection device intervenes connection between the power wiring and each electric device, and the internal power wiring connecting the terminal and one end of the power wiring is routed as an internal circuit. The control unit of the connection device is connected to the internal power wiring via an internal PLC modem. The control unit is connected to the home server via the internal PLC modem, the internal power wiring, the power wiring, and the PLC modem, and transmits and receives home server signals. Further, the control unit monitors data related to various device signals output from the video apparatus, the air conditioner, and the microwave oven connected to each outlet so that the data content can be determined.

JP 2004-201379 A JP 2003-110471 A

  In Patent Document 1 described above, it is shown that electric power is supplied to an outdoor fan motor by a generator driven by using the power of a gas engine. ) Is not shown, and the indoor unit is not shown in the indoor unit, and the communication method of the control signal between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit is not shown. Assuming that the connection between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit in the air conditioner of Patent Document 1 is the same as that of a general air conditioner, the outdoor unit and the indoor unit include the refrigerant pipe of the refrigeration cycle, The connection work between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit is extremely troublesome, as with a general air conditioner, because it must be connected via power wiring from a commercial power source and a dedicated communication wiring that transmits control signals. However, there is a problem that it cannot be installed in a place where there is no commercial power source.

  On the other hand, Patent Document 2 shows that a home server and a connection device superimpose a control signal on an electric power line to control an electric device, but the electric power line of a commercial power supply that supplies electric power to a plurality of electric devices Therefore, there is a problem that harmonic noise due to a control signal of a certain electric device leaks to other electric devices through the power wiring.

  The object of the present invention is that it can be installed in a place where there is no commercial power supply, eliminates the need for a dedicated communication line between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit, simplifies the wiring work, and allows other electric power by superimposing control signals on the power wiring. It is to realize an air conditioner with a prime mover that can prevent leakage of harmonic noise to equipment.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes an outdoor unit, an indoor unit, and a wiring for connecting them, and the outdoor unit is driven by a prime mover using gas or liquid as fuel and the power of the prime mover. An air conditioner with a prime mover comprising a compressor, a power generation device that outputs generated power to power wiring, and an outdoor control module that inputs and outputs control signals, and the indoor unit includes an indoor control module that inputs and outputs control signals In the machine, the wiring for connecting the outdoor unit and the indoor unit is configured only by power wiring supplied with power from the power generation device, and a control signal from the outdoor control module is superimposed on the power wiring and An outdoor PLC that separates a control signal from the indoor control module superimposed on the power wiring and inputs the control signal to the outdoor control module An indoor PLC module that superimposes a control signal from the indoor control module on the power wiring and separates a control signal from the outdoor control module superimposed on the power wiring and inputs the control signal to the indoor control module. Be prepared.

More preferred specific examples of the present invention are as follows.
(1) The power generator is configured to generate power using the power of the prime mover, and includes a start-time power supply device that supplies power to each part through the power wiring when the air conditioner is started.
(2) The start-time power supply device is a power storage device charged by the power generation device.
(3) A plurality of indoor units having the indoor PLC module are connected to each other via a power wiring to which power is supplied from the power generator of the outdoor unit.
(4) The prime mover is a gas engine using gas as fuel, and the power generation device is a fuel cell that generates electric power using a part of gas fuel supplied to the gas engine.

  According to the motor-equipped air conditioner of the present invention, the control signal to the power wiring can be installed even in a place without a commercial power supply, and the dedicated communication line between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit is not required, simplifying the wiring work. Leakage of harmonic noise to other electrical equipment due to the superimposition of can be prevented.

Hereinafter, a plurality of embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The same reference numerals in the drawings of the respective embodiments indicate the same or equivalent.
(First embodiment)
First, an air conditioner with a motor according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the overall configuration of an air conditioner with a prime mover according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

  The air conditioner with a prime mover includes an outdoor unit 100, an indoor unit 600, wiring for connecting them (power wiring 400 in the present embodiment), a refrigerant pipe (not shown), and a fuel pipe 30 for supplying fuel to the outdoor unit 100. , And is configured.

  The outdoor unit 100 inputs and outputs control signals to and from the prime mover 20 that uses gas or liquid as fuel, the compressor 10 that is driven by the power of the prime mover 20, the power generation device 300 that outputs the generated power to the power wiring, and the like. An outdoor control module 200, an outdoor PLC module 201, a start-time power supply device 70 that supplies power to each part through power wiring when the air conditioner is started, and an outdoor fan 40 that blows air to an outdoor heat exchanger (not shown). It is prepared for.

  The prime mover 20 is constituted by an engine that is rotated by burning fuel, and the fuel is supplied through the fuel pipe 30. The fuel pipe 30 is provided with a fuel valve 31. Fuel adjusted by the fuel valve 31 is supplied to the prime mover 20 through the fuel pipe 30, and the compressor 10 and the power generator 300 are driven by the power of the prime mover 20.

  The compressor 10 compresses the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle. In the present embodiment, the refrigeration cycle is omitted, but a known refrigeration cycle is applied. For example, the refrigeration cycle shown in the related art 1 can be applied.

  The power wiring to which power is supplied from the power generation device 300 includes the outdoor power wiring 50 that supplies power to each part of the outdoor unit 100 (such as the outdoor fan 40), the outdoor unit 100 and the indoor unit 600, and the indoor unit 600. Are connected to each other of the indoor unit 600 and the indoor power wiring 51 for supplying power to each part of the indoor unit 600. With such a configuration, no external power supply from a commercial power source is required.

  The power generation device 300 generates power using the power of the prime mover 20, and the start-time power supply device 70 is configured by a battery (power storage device such as an electric double layer capacitor) charged by the power generation device 300. Specifically, when the air conditioner is started, power is supplied to each unit by the start-time power supply device 70, and power supply by the start-time power supply device 70 is continued until power is supplied from the power generation device 300. Then, when the supply of power by the power generation device 300 is started, charging is performed so that the power is stored in the startup power supply device 70.

  The outdoor PLC module 201 superimposes the control signal from the outdoor control module 200 on the outdoor power wiring 50 and transmits the control signal to the indoor unit 600 through the connection power wiring 400, and the control signal of the indoor control module 500 superimposed on the power wiring 50. Are provided in the outdoor unit 100 so as to be separated and demodulated and input to the outdoor control module 200. The outdoor PLC module 201 and the outdoor control module 200 are connected via a control signal line (outdoor communication wiring) 60. The outdoor control module 200 controls each control of the outdoor unit 100 and the outdoor unit 100-indoor unit. 600 is communicated via the control signal line 60 via the outdoor PLC module 201.

  The indoor unit 600 includes an indoor control module 502 that inputs and outputs control signals, and an indoor PLC module 201. That is, the indoor unit 600 separates the power power wiring 51 and the control signal line (indoor communication wiring) 61 from the power wiring 400 output from the outdoor PLC module 201 and superimposed with the control signal, and demodulates the control signal. A PLC module 500 and an indoor control module 502 for controlling the indoor unit 600 are incorporated.

  A plurality of indoor units 600 having such a configuration are provided, and the indoor units 600 are connected to each other via a power wiring 400 to which power is supplied from the power generation device 300.

  The indoor PLC module 500 superimposes the control signal from the indoor control module 502 on the power wiring 51 and transmits the control signal to the outdoor unit 100 through the connection power wiring 400, and transmits the control signal of the outdoor control module 200 superimposed on the power wiring 51. The indoor unit 502 is provided so as to be separated and demodulated and input to the indoor control module 502. The electric power supplied from the power wiring 400 and the control signal from the outdoor control module 200 are separated and demodulated by the indoor PLC module 500 and input to the indoor control module 502 through the control signal line 61. The electric power from which the control signal is separated is supplied to the indoor control module through the electric power wiring 51 and used as indoor unit driving electric power.

  According to the present embodiment, the wiring that connects the outdoor unit 100 and the indoor unit 600 is configured by only the power wirings 50, 400, and 51 to which power is supplied from the power generation device 300, and the control signal from the outdoor control module 200 is the power. An outdoor PLC module 201 that superimposes on the wiring 50 and separates a control signal from the indoor control module 500 superimposed on the power wiring 50 and inputs the control signal to the outdoor control module 200 is provided, and the control signal from the indoor control module 200 is connected to the power wiring. 51. The indoor PLC module 500 that separates the control signal from the outdoor control module 200 that is superimposed on the power wiring 51 and that is input to the indoor control module 502 is provided. It is possible to establish a dedicated space between outdoor unit 100 and indoor unit 600. While simplifying the wiring work communication lines as required, it is possible to realize a motorized air conditioner capable of preventing leakage of harmonic noise to other electrical equipment by superposition of the control signal to the power lines 50 and 51.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the power generation device 300 generates power using the power of the prime mover 20, and the start-time power supply device 70 is provided that supplies power to each part through the power wiring when the air conditioner is started. Therefore, electric power can be supplied immediately after starting the air conditioner, and electric power can be efficiently supplied using the power of the prime mover 20 in a steady operation state. In addition, since the starting power supply device 70 is a battery charged by the power generation device 300, the battery 70 discharged at the start of operation is charged at the time of steady operation, and power can be reliably supplied from the battery 70 at the next start of operation. it can.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, since a plurality of indoor units 600 having the indoor PLC module 500 are connected via the power wiring 400 supplied with power from the power generation device 300 of the outdoor unit 100, a plurality of indoor units 600 are connected. The unit 600 can be installed even in a place without a commercial power supply, and a dedicated communication line between the plurality of indoor units 600 is not required, simplifying the wiring work, and adding harmonics to other electric devices by superimposing the control signal on the power wiring 51. Wave noise leakage can be prevented.
(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the overall configuration of a motor-equipped air conditioner according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment as described below, and is basically the same as the first embodiment in other points.

  In the second embodiment, the prime mover 20 is a gas engine using gas as fuel, and the power generation apparatus 300 is a fuel cell that generates power using a part of the gas fuel supplied to the gas engine 20. Since the fuel cell 300 generates power with gas fuel, it can supply power to the outdoor control module 200 and the indoor control module 502 even when the power of the gas engine 20 is not present. Therefore, there is an advantage that the starting power supply device 70 in the first embodiment is not necessary.

It is a functional block diagram which shows the whole structure of the air conditioner with a motor | power_engine of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows the whole structure of the air conditioner with a motor | power_engine of 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Compressor, 20 ... Motor | power_engine, 30 ... Fuel piping, 31 ... Fuel valve, 40 ... Outdoor fan module, 50 ... Outdoor electric power wiring, 51 ... Indoor electric power wiring, 60 ... Wiring for outdoor communication, 61 ... Wiring for indoor communication 70 ... Power supply device at start-up, 100 ... Outdoor unit, 200 ... Outdoor control module, 201 ... Outdoor PLC module, 300 ... Power generation device, 400 ... Connection power wiring, 500 ... Indoor PLC module, 502 ... Indoor control module, 600 ... indoor unit.

Claims (5)

An outdoor unit, an indoor unit, and wiring for connecting them,
The outdoor unit includes a prime mover that uses gas or liquid as a fuel, a compressor that is driven by the power of the prime mover, a power generation device that outputs generated power to a power line, and an outdoor control module that inputs and outputs control signals. With
In the air conditioner with a prime mover provided with an indoor control module that inputs and outputs control signals,
The wiring connecting the outdoor unit and the indoor unit is configured only by power wiring supplied with power from the power generator,
An outdoor PLC module that superimposes a control signal from the outdoor control module on the power wiring and separates a control signal from the indoor control module superimposed on the power wiring and inputs the control signal to the outdoor control module;
An indoor PLC module that superimposes a control signal from the indoor control module on the power wiring and separates a control signal from the outdoor control module superimposed on the power wiring and inputs the control signal to the indoor control module is provided. An air conditioner with a prime mover.   The air conditioner with a prime mover according to claim 1, wherein the power generator generates power using the power of the prime mover, and power at start-up that supplies power to each part through the power wiring when the air conditioner is started. A motor-equipped air conditioner comprising a supply device.   The air conditioner with a prime mover according to claim 2, wherein the power supply device at the time of starting is a power storage device charged by the power generation device.   2. The motor-equipped air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of indoor units having the indoor PLC module are connected via a power wiring to which power is supplied from a power generator of the outdoor unit. With air conditioner.   2. The air conditioner with a prime mover according to claim 1, wherein the prime mover is a gas engine using gas as fuel, and the power generation device is a fuel cell that generates power using a part of gas fuel supplied to the gas engine. A motor-equipped air conditioner characterized by being.

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