JP2007132632A - Operating method of air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an operating method capable of easily determining the operation state of a compression-expansion type air conditioner and improving a cooling capacity by suitably supercooling a heating medium fed from an outdoor unit to each indoor unit especially during a cooling operation. <P>SOLUTION: The operating method of the compression-expansion type air conditioner cools and heats an air conditioning space in a building. In the operating method, during cooling, the heating medium is returned from each indoor unit 10 to the outdoor unit 11, a surface temperature H of confluent piping 12 for feeding the heating medium from the outdoor unit 11 to each indoor unit 10 during heating is measured. The operation state of the air conditioner is determined to be a cooling operation when the surface temperature H is set in a range lower by 5 to 15°C than set room temperature, and determined to be a heating operation when the surface temperature H is set in a range higher by 20 to 50°C than the set room temperature. In the cases other than the above, the operation state is determined to be stopped. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for operating a compression / expansion air conditioner.

  A plurality of air-conditioned spaces divided into individual units exist inside commercial buildings such as rental buildings. As an air conditioning system that air-conditions such multiple air-conditioned spaces, a heat medium compressed by an outdoor unit is circulated and supplied to the indoor units. In the heat exchanger provided in each indoor unit, the heat medium is evaporated during cooling, and the heat medium is heated during heating. 2. Description of the Related Art A compression / expansion type air conditioner that cools and heats an air-conditioned space of a building by performing a refrigeration cycle that condenses a medium is generally known (see Patent Document 1). This air conditioner is called a package type air conditioner. In addition, as one of the compression-expansion type air conditioners, a so-called building multi-type air conditioner in which a heat medium is circulated and supplied from a common outdoor unit to a plurality of indoor units arranged in a building is also known ( Patent Document 2).

  This compression / expansion type air conditioner is relatively easy to install, and since the personality of the air conditioner is generally clear, the billing to the tenant is transparent to the rental building owner. There are advantages. Therefore, it is generally adopted for tenant buildings and small buildings.

  On the other hand, the compression / expansion type air conditioner needs to increase the number of outdoor units and indoor units as the cooling / heating load per floor area in the room increases. However, as the number of outdoor units increases and the density of outdoor units installed on the rooftop floor or on the verandas of each floor increases, the air temperature around the outdoor units increases during the cooling operation due to the exhaust of the outdoor units. As the intake air temperature rises, there is a problem that the cooling capacity decreases. Therefore, Patent Document 1 discloses a method of supercooling a heat medium sent to an indoor unit during cooling with water or brine.

JP 2004-211998 A JP 2002-174473 A

  In this way, the method of supercooling the heat medium during cooling aims to improve the cooling capacity. Therefore, during heating operation or low-load cooling operation, the amount of heat exchange in the supercooling of the heat medium is reduced or supercooling is performed. It is necessary to cancel. For this purpose, in a so-called building multi-type air conditioner, it is necessary to correctly grasp the operation status of the air conditioner and reduce the amount of heat exchange of supercooling at the correct timing during heating operation or low-load cooling operation. For example, when using water produced by a heat source other than an air conditioner, water supply, well water, etc. as the cooling water used for supercooling, in order to automatically control the heat exchange amount of supercooling, the cooling / heating mode information and Compressor start / stop (or operating frequency) information must be output to the outside of the outdoor unit and controlled using this information.

  Here, the operation status of the air conditioner such as the cooling / heating mode information and the compressor start / stop (or operation frequency) is grasped by a signal output from the control board included in the outdoor unit board, for example, When the compressor is stopped or operating at a frequency below a certain level during heating operation or cooling operation, the heat exchange amount for supercooling the heating medium can be reduced or reduced to zero. is there.

  However, commercially available building multi-type air conditioners are not designed to output cooling / heating mode information and compressor start / stop (or operating frequency) information to the outside. In order to externally output the operation information in these air conditioners, it is necessary to attach optional parts or remodel the outdoor unit board, resulting in an increase in equipment costs of the air conditioner and an extended delivery time. In addition, since the method of external output differs for each air conditioner manufacturer, it is difficult to construct a water-side control system for a building multi subcooling system that can be applied to all manufacturers.

  The compression / expansion type air conditioner performs an operation of sucking a gaseous heat medium into the compressor in the outdoor unit. At that time, if a part of the liquid heat medium is mixed into the compressor (hereinafter referred to as “liquid back”), the liquid heat medium will wash off the oil on the cylinder wall inside the compressor and become a mist, together with the gas heat medium. Is exhaled from. As a result, the oil inside the compressor is reduced, causing problems such as wear of the cylinder sliding part and bearing seal breakage. For this reason, in a compression / expansion type air conditioner, during cooling operation, for example, the temperature difference of the heat medium at the inlet / outlet of the indoor unit heat exchanger is measured, and the expansion valve installed at the inlet of the indoor unit heat exchanger is opened so as to make this more than a certain level. Control the degree. Because the heat medium at the inlet of the indoor unit heat exchanger is a mixture of liquid and gas (hereinafter referred to as “gas-liquid two-phase flow”), the temperature of the heat medium must be kept until it is completely gasified in the indoor unit heat exchanger. It becomes constant at the saturation temperature. If the temperature of the heat medium at the outlet of the indoor unit heat exchanger is, for example, 1 ° C. higher than the inlet, it can be determined that the heat medium is completely gasified in the indoor unit heat exchanger. Therefore, if this temperature difference (the heat medium temperature at the outlet of the indoor unit heat exchanger-the heat medium temperature at the inlet) is controlled to be positive, liquid back can be prevented. However, if the heat medium is supercooled so much that the state after being decompressed by the expansion valve becomes liquid, the heat medium temperature at the inlet of the indoor unit heat exchanger becomes lower than the saturation temperature, and the heat medium at the inlet / outlet of the indoor unit heat exchanger Despite controlling the temperature difference positively, the heat medium at the outlet may not be completely gasified.

  For this reason, for example, in the so-called ice heat storage building mulch where an outdoor unit, a supercooling heat exchanger, an ice heat storage tank, etc. are integrated, it is supercooled so that the enthalpy of the heat medium after supercooling does not become below a certain level. The amount of heat exchange is controlled. In this control, the lower limit value of the enthalpy where the state of the heating medium after depressurizing with the expansion valve does not become liquid phase is obtained, and the enthalpy of the heating medium after decooling with the expansion valve is assumed to be equal. The lower limit of the enthalpy of the heating medium is determined. However, this control ignores the rise in enthalpy due to pressure loss and external heat intrusion that occurs in the piping between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit after supercooling. For this reason, the amount of heat exchange to be supercooled is controlled to be less than necessary, and the effect of improving the cooling capacity is reduced.

  Furthermore, this control requires a pressure sensor and a special calculation mechanism to calculate the enthalpy of the heating medium from the temperature and pressure of the heating medium. These devices can be installed by manufacturers for devices that prevent liquid back such as ice heat storage building multi. However, when supercooling with a general pill mulch, it is not realistic from the viewpoint of facility costs and delivery time to install these devices later. For this reason, in order to improve the cooling capacity by supercooling the heat medium with water or plume with a general pill mulch, the emergence of a method that can correctly grasp the operating state from the outside without major modifications is desired. ing.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and can easily determine the operating state of a compression / expansion type air conditioner, and in particular, a heat medium sent from an outdoor unit to each indoor unit during cooling operation. An object of the present invention is to provide an operation method that can appropriately subcool to improve the cooling capacity.

  According to the present invention, the heat medium compressed by the compressor provided in the outdoor unit is circulated and supplied to each of the plurality of indoor units via the merging pipe on the outdoor unit side and the branch pipe on the indoor unit side, and is provided in each indoor unit. The operation method of a compression / expansion type air conditioner that cools and heats the air-conditioned space of a building by performing a refrigeration cycle that evaporates the heat medium during cooling and condenses the heat medium during heating. The heating medium is returned from each indoor unit to the outdoor unit, and the surface temperature H of the merging pipe that sends the heating medium from the outdoor unit to each indoor unit during heating is measured. When the temperature H is lower than the cooling reference temperature set in the range 5 to 15 ° C. lower than the set room temperature, the cooling operation is performed, and the surface temperature H is higher than the heating reference temperature set in the range 20 to 50 ° C. higher than the set room temperature. If it is high, heating operation Otherwise determining that stop, also characterized in that to estimate the number of driving horsepower by the difference between the set room temperature and the surface temperature H, the operating method of the air conditioner is provided.

  Further, when the surface temperature I of the inlet side pipe for introducing the heat medium into the compressor is measured and it is determined that the cooling operation is a certain operating horsepower number or more, the temperature difference I between the surface temperature I and the surface temperature H When -H is greater than or equal to the supercooling reference temperature difference set in the range of 0 to 1 ° C, the heat medium sent from the outdoor unit to each indoor unit is supercooled, and the temperature difference IH is supercooled. When the temperature difference is less than the reference temperature difference, the heating medium sent from the outdoor unit to each indoor unit is subcooled with a smaller heat exchange amount than when the temperature difference IH is equal to or greater than the supercooling reference temperature difference, Alternatively, it may not be overcooled. In addition, when it is determined that the cooling operation is performed in this way, when the temperature difference IH is equal to or greater than the supercooling reference temperature difference, the heat medium sent from the outdoor unit to each indoor unit is supercooled with cooling water. When the temperature difference IH is less than the supercooling reference temperature difference, the cooling water flow rate is reduced or the cooling water temperature is increased compared to when the temperature difference IH is greater than the supercooling reference temperature difference. However, it is possible to perform supercooling with a smaller heat exchange amount or not to flow cooling water.

  The method of judging the operating horsepower from the difference between the surface temperature H and the set room temperature is based on the operating horsepower of the compressor (operating frequency for an inverter machine, discharge / suction bypass pipe control valve open / closed for a step controller). Compared to the method to do, it is indirect and inaccurate. However, there is a correlation between the temperature difference between the surface temperature H and the set room temperature and the driving horsepower, and this temperature difference increases as the driving horsepower increases. Since the temperature difference between the surface temperature H and the set room temperature can be measured freely with a retrofit sensor, the operating horsepower of the compressor of the outdoor unit can be estimated without remodeling the so-called building multi-type air conditioner. . Note that the reason for wanting to know the operating horsepower is that when the engine is supercooled externally, if the operating horsepower is too small, the power of the cooling water system (pump, cooling tower fan, etc.) will increase compared to the energy saving effect, which is uneconomical. Because there is a fear. Therefore, the lower limit value of the temperature difference at which supercooling is performed is adjusted so that a certain level of energy saving effect can be obtained.

  According to the present invention, the operation of the air conditioner is performed by measuring the surface temperature H of the merging pipe that returns the heat medium from each indoor unit to the outdoor unit during cooling and sends the heat medium from the outdoor unit to each indoor unit during heating. It becomes possible to judge whether the state is air conditioning operation or stopped. In a so-called building multi-type air conditioner of the two-pipe type (cooling / heating switching type), during the cooling operation, the evaporation temperature in the indoor unit is 5 ° C. or more lower than the indoor air temperature, and the evaporated heat medium (gas) The temperature (surface temperature H) is also lowered by 2 to 3 ° C. or more. This temperature difference further increases as the operating horsepower of the outdoor compressor increases. On the other hand, for the indoor air temperature, it is troublesome to install the sensor to directly measure this, so the set room temperature is substituted. The actual indoor air temperature has an error of set room temperature ± 2 ° C. Considering the above, in the present invention, when the surface temperature H is lower than the cooling reference temperature set in the range of 5 to 15 ° C. lower than the set room temperature, it is determined that the cooling operation is being performed.

  During heating operation, the direction of flow of the heat medium is reversed from that of cooling operation, and a high-temperature heat medium (gas) is sent from the outdoor unit to the indoor unit. In this case, the temperature of the heat medium (surface temperature H) is generally higher by 20 ° C. than the indoor air temperature. Therefore, in this invention, when surface temperature H is higher than the heating reference temperature set in the range 20-50 degreeC higher than setting room temperature, it judges that it is heating operation.

  In the three-tube type (cooling / heating free type) building multi-type air conditioner, the heat medium pipe is divided into two pipes, a discharge pipe and a suction pipe, and the above determination cannot be made. Even if sensors are installed in both pipes, it is not possible to distinguish between cooling operation and cooling / heating mixing, or heating operation and cooling / heating mixing. If it is overcooled externally when it is mixed with cooling and heating, the balance of heat recovery inside the building mulch will be lost, which is not a good idea.

  The surface temperature H of the merging pipe can be easily detected by simply attaching a temperature sensor to the merging pipe, for example, and does not require installation of optional parts or modification of the outdoor unit board. When the surface temperature H detected by the temperature sensor or the like is lower than the cooling reference temperature, the cooling operation is performed. When the surface temperature H is 20 to 50 ° C. higher than the heating reference temperature, the heating operation is performed. By judging, it becomes possible to accurately grasp the operating state of the air conditioner.

  In the present invention, furthermore, the surface temperature I of the inlet side pipe for introducing the heat medium into the compressor of the outdoor unit is measured, and the surface temperature H is compared with the surface temperature I in the cooling operation. ， Liquid back can be surely prevented. That is, when the cooling operation is determined based on the surface temperature H as described above, the supercooling reference temperature in which the temperature difference I-H between the surface temperature I and the surface temperature H is set in the range of 0 to 1 ° C. If the difference is greater than the difference, it is judged that the heat medium is completely gasified in the indoor unit heat exchanger, and high capacity cooling is performed by supercooling the heat medium sent from the outdoor unit to each indoor unit. Can do. On the other hand, when the temperature difference IH is less than the supercooling reference temperature difference, the heat exchange amount is smaller than the cooling capacity when it is determined that the heat medium is completely gasified in the indoor unit heat exchanger. Liquid back can be prevented by supercooling the heating medium sent from the outdoor unit to each indoor unit or by stopping the supercooling.

  In this case, if the heat medium sent from the outdoor unit to each indoor unit is supercooled with cooling water, when the temperature difference IH is less than the supercooling reference temperature difference, the temperature difference IH If the cooling water flow rate is reduced or the cooling water temperature is increased, the cooling water is subcooled with a smaller heat exchange amount, or the cooling water is not allowed to flow. good.

  In order to prevent liquid back, the compressor suction heat medium only needs to be completely vaporized, so there is no problem even if there is some liquid phase heat medium inside the junction pipe. However, if the temperature difference IH between the surface temperature H and the surface temperature I is less than the supercooling reference temperature difference, protection control for preventing liquid back may occur depending on the operating conditions (compressor's operating horsepower, condensation temperature, and evaporation temperature). Has been experimentally confirmed to work. The temperature difference between the surface temperature H and the surface temperature I varies depending on the location of the sensor equipment. To prevent liquid back to a minimum, it is better to install H as close to the outdoor unit as possible. Because, when there is a liquid phase heat medium inside the junction pipe, the temperature of the heat medium decreases as it approaches the outdoor unit, the temperature difference between the surface temperature H and the surface temperature I increases, and the limit of the supercooling heat exchange amount can be reduced. Because.

  If the surface temperature H is installed in the immediate vicinity of the outdoor unit, there will be no problem if the surface temperature I is 0 to 1 ° C or more higher than the surface temperature H, but if the amount of heat medium in the liquid phase inside the junction pipe increases, There may be a state in which the temperature I is lower. Most building multi-type air conditioner manufacturers have an accumulator that separates the refrigerant in the liquid phase on the compressor suction side. However, there is a possibility that protection control may be activated earlier by monitoring the oil level of the compressor. Yes, it can be said that it is a dangerous driving condition.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 are explanatory views of an air conditioner for carrying out an operation method according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 shows a cooling operation state, and FIG. 2 shows a heating operation state. In the figure, the right side of the boundary line L indicated by the alternate long and short dash line is a room A such as a building, and the left side of the boundary line L is an outdoor room B such as a building.

  In this embodiment, an arbitrary number of indoor units 10a, 10b, 10c,. In the figure, two indoor units 10a, 10b, 10c,. The room A is, for example, a room, a floor, or a partial area of the room, and indicates a space in which the indoor units 10a, 10b, 10c,.

  In the outdoor B, an arbitrary number of outdoor units 11 are arranged. In the figure, two outdoor units 11 are shown. Then, a plurality of indoor units 10a, 10b, 10c,... Are connected to each outdoor unit 11 by means of merging pipes 12, 13, so that the common outdoor unit 11 can be connected to a plurality of indoor units 10a, 10b, 10c. ,... Constitutes a so-called building multi-type air conditioner that circulates and supplies a heat medium.

  As shown in FIG. 1, during cooling, the heat medium is returned from the indoor units 10 a, 10 b, 10 c,... To the outdoor unit 11 through one merging pipe 12, and from the outdoor unit 11 through the other merging pipe 13. A heating medium is sent to each indoor unit 10a, 10b, 10c,. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, during heating, a heating medium is sent from the outdoor unit 11 to each indoor unit 10 a, 10 b, 10 c,... Through one merging pipe 12, and each indoor unit 10 a through the other merging pipe 13. , 10b, 10c,... Are returned to the outdoor unit 11. Then, the heat medium compressed by the outdoor unit 11 is circulated and supplied to the indoor units 10a, 10b, 10c,... Through the junction pipes 12, 13, respectively, the heat medium is evaporated during cooling, and the heat medium is condensed during heating. A compression-expansion type air conditioner that cools and heats the room by performing a refrigeration cycle is configured.

  Each indoor unit 10a, 10b, 10c,... Is arranged inside a building or the like, and cools indoor air during cooling operation and heats indoor air during heating operation. Each indoor unit 10a, 10b, 10c,... Is provided with a control valve 20, such as an expansion valve, a heat exchanger 21, a fan 22, and the like. To the heat exchangers 21 of the indoor units 10a, 10b, 10c,..., The heat medium flowing through the junction pipes 12 and 13 is circulated and supplied via the branch pipes 25 and 26, respectively.

  The outdoor unit 11 is installed on a rooftop of a building, a veranda, an adjacent land, etc., and cools the heat medium with outside air during cooling operation, and heats the heat medium with outside air during heating operation. The outdoor unit 11 is provided with a compressor 30, and an inlet side pipe 31 that puts a heat medium into the compressor 30 and an outlet side pipe 32 that discharges the heat medium from the compressor 30 are connected. An accumulator 33 is interposed in the inlet side pipe 31.

  The inlet side piping 31 and the outlet side piping 32 are connected to the above-described merging piping 12 and 13 via a four-way valve 35. By the switching operation of the four-way valve 35, as shown in FIG. 1, the inlet side pipe 31 and one merging pipe 12 are connected, and the outlet side pipe 32 and the other merging pipe 13 are connected (during cooling operation). 2, the inlet side pipe 31 and the other merging pipe 13 are connected, and the outlet side pipe 32 and the one merging pipe 12 are connected (in heating operation). Yes.

  A heat exchanger 40, a control valve 41 such as an expansion valve, a supercooling heat exchanger 42, and a check valve 43 are interposed between the four-way valve 35 and the other junction pipe 13. The check valve 43 interposed in the merging pipe 13 allows the heat medium to flow only in the direction from the outdoor unit 11 to the indoor units 10a, 10b, 10c,. The heating medium does not flow in the direction returning from the ... to the outdoor unit 11.

  Further, a bypass pipe 45 is provided in which a heat medium flowing through the junction pipe 13 is provided so as to bypass the check valve 43 and the supercooling heat exchanger 42 interposed in the junction pipe 13. There is a check valve 46 interposed. The check valve 46 interposed in the bypass pipe 45 is opposite to the check valve 43 interposed in the merging pipe 13 described above, and from the indoor units 10a, 10b, 10c,. The heat medium is allowed to flow only in the direction returning to the unit 11, and the heat medium is not allowed to flow in the direction from the outdoor unit 11 to the indoor units 10a, 10b, 10c,.

  The outdoor unit 11 is provided with a fan 50 that takes outside air into the inside and brings the outside air into thermal contact with the heat exchanger 40.

  A cooling tower 55 is installed outside the building roof. Between the cooling tower 55 and the supercooling heat exchanger 42 attached to the other merging pipe 13 in the outdoor unit 11, cooling water circulation pipes 56 and 57 are connected. The cooling water cooled by the outside air in the cooling tower 55 is circulated and supplied to the supercooling heat exchanger 42 through the pipes 56 and 57 by the operation of the pump 58. Thus, the operation of the pump 58 that circulates and supplies the cooling water to the supercooling heat exchanger 42 is controlled via the inverter 61 in accordance with a command from the control unit 60.

  On the other hand, in the outdoor unit 11, the heat medium is returned to the outdoor unit 11 from one merging pipe 12 (at the time of cooling, the indoor units 10a, 10b, 10c,...) And from the outdoor unit 11 to the indoor units 10a, 10b at the time of heating. , 10c,..., A temperature sensor 65 is mounted on the surface of the joining pipe 12) for sending the heat medium. In addition, a temperature sensor 66 is mounted on the surface of the inlet side pipe 31 for introducing the heat medium into the compressor 30. In this way, the surface temperature H of one joining pipe 12 measured by the temperature sensor 65 and the surface temperature I of the inlet side pipe 31 measured by the temperature sensor 66 are input to the control unit 60 that controls the operation of the pump 58. . In addition, the control unit 60 also receives a set indoor temperature at which the air conditioning operation is performed by each of the indoor units 10a, 10b, 10c,. In this case, the indoor set temperature may be fixed at a constant temperature such as 27 ° C. throughout the year. In the case of a building multi-type air conditioner, the set temperature may be set to a temperature lower than 27 ° C. The controller 60 controls the operation of the pump 58 as will be described later based on the surface temperatures H and I and the set room temperature.

  Now, during the cooling operation mainly performed in summer in the air conditioner configured as described above, by switching the four-way valve 35, as shown in FIG. 1, the inlet side pipe 31 and one merging pipe 12 are connected, The outlet side pipe 32 and the other junction pipe 13 are connected. Then, the heat medium compressed and condensed by the compressor 30 and the heat exchanger 40 (condenser) of the outdoor unit 11 is supplied to each indoor unit 10a, 10b, 10c,... .

  Thus, the heat medium supplied to each indoor unit 10a, 10b, 10c,... Through the other merging pipe 13 is supercooled in the middle of flowing through the other merging pipe 13 where the check valve 43 is interposed. The heat is exchanged with the cooling water supplied from the cooling tower 55 via the pipe 56 through the heat exchanger 42, and is supercooled. The cooling water obtained by supercooling the heat medium is returned from the supercooling heat exchanger 42 to the cooling tower 55 via the pipe 57 and cooled again by the outside air.

  In this way, the supercooled heat medium is supplied from the other junction pipe 13 to the indoor units 10a, 10b, 10c,. In each indoor unit 10a, 10b, 10c,..., The heat medium is circulated in the order of the control valve 20 and the heat exchanger 21 (evaporator), and the room is cooled by the refrigeration cycle. In this case, the heat medium sent from the outdoor unit 11 to each indoor unit 10a, 10b, 10c,... Is cooled by the supercooling heat exchanger 42 before being decompressed and expanded, and is in a supercooled state. Therefore, the cooling capacity of each indoor unit 10a, 10b, 10c, ... is improved.

  Then, the heat medium evaporated in the heat exchanger 21 (evaporator) of each indoor unit 10a, 10b, 10c,... Is returned from the branch pipe 25 to the outdoor unit 11 through one joining pipe 12. Then, it returns to the compressor 30 of the outdoor unit 11 through the four-way valve 35 and the inlet side pipe 31.

  In this air conditioner, the surface temperature H of one merging pipe 12 measured by the temperature sensor 65, the surface temperature I of the inlet side pipe 31 measured by the temperature sensor 66, the indoor units 10a, 10b, 10c, The set temperature in the room where the cooling and heating operation is performed is input to the control unit 68 that controls the control valve 67 for cooling water. During cooling operation, the surface temperature H of one merging pipe 12 is 5 to 15 ° C. lower than the set room temperature, so the control unit 68 compares the surface temperature H of the one merging pipe 12 thus input with the set room temperature. , When the surface temperature H of one merging pipe 12 is lower than the cooling reference temperature set in the range of 5 to 15 ° C. lower than the set room temperature, it can be determined that the air conditioner is in the cooling operation. .

  When it is determined that the cooling operation has been performed, the control unit 68 further determines the surface temperature H of the one joining pipe 12 measured by the temperature sensor 65 and the surface temperature I of the inlet side pipe 31 measured by the temperature sensor 66. Compare When the surface temperature H is equal to or greater than the supercooling reference temperature difference in which the temperature difference IH of the surface temperature I is set in the range of 0 to 1 ° C., it is determined that no liquid back occurs. When it is determined that the liquid back does not occur in this way, the control unit 68 increases the opening degree of the cooling water control valve 67 and supplies the cooling water to the supercooling heat exchanger 42 from the cooling tower 55 via the pipe 56. Supply. As a result, the heat medium sent from the outdoor unit 11 to each indoor unit 10a, 10b, 10c,... Is supercooled, and the indoor units 10a, 10b, 10c,. .

  On the other hand, as a result of comparison with the surface temperature I of the inlet side pipe 31 measured by the temperature sensor 66, when the temperature difference I-H is less than the supercooling reference temperature difference, the control unit 68 may cause liquid back. Judge that there is sex. Then, the control unit 68 outputs such that the opening degree of the cooling water control valve 67 is decreased or the cooling water control valve 67 is closed. As a result, the flow rate of the cooling water supplied from the cooling tower 55 to the supercooling heat exchanger 42 decreases, or the cooling water is not supplied to the supercooling heat exchanger 42. Thus, the heat medium sent from the outdoor unit 11 to each of the indoor units 10a, 10b, 10c,... Has a smaller heat exchange amount than that when the temperature difference IH is equal to or greater than the supercooling reference temperature difference as described above. It will be cooled or not cooled at all. In this way, when it is determined that there is a possibility of liquid back, the supercooling of the heat medium sent from the outdoor unit 11 to each of the indoor units 10a, 10b, 10c,. Prevent the occurrence of back.

  The cooling water pump control unit 60 is input from a pressure gauge 69 that measures the discharge-side piping pressure of the cooling water pump, and outputs the pressure to the cooling water pump inverter 61. And the rotation speed of the inverter 61 for water rejection pumps is controlled so that the pressure measured with the pressure gauge 69 may be kept constant. A large number of pressure gauges 69 are installed in the cooling water piping system, and when the total of these opening degrees is large, the flow rate of the cooling water pump increases, and the cooling required to keep the pressure of the pressure gauge 69 constant. The rotation speed of the water pump inverter 61 increases. On the other hand, when the total of these opening degrees is small, the flow rate of the cooling water pump decreases, and the number of revolutions of the cooling water pump inverter 61 necessary to keep the pressure of the pressure gauge 69 constant decreases. If the pressure of the pressure gauge 69 exceeds the set value even if the number of revolutions of the cooling water pump inverter 61 is lowered to the lower limit value, it is determined that no cooling water is required in all outdoor units and the cooling water pump is stopped. .

  3 and 4 are Mollier diagrams showing the thermodynamic characteristics of the heat medium when the cooling operation is performed as described above, FIG. 3 shows a state with supercooling, and FIG. The state without cooling is shown. FIG. 5 shows a temperature difference between the surface temperature H of one merging pipe 12 measured by the temperature sensor 65 and the surface temperature I of the inlet pipe 31 measured by the temperature sensor 66 (surface temperature I−surface temperature H). It is a graph which shows the relationship of the superheat degree of the surface (I point) of the inlet side piping 31, and.

  In the case of supercooling (FIG. 3), the heat medium (A) from the compressor 30 of the outdoor unit 11 enters the heat exchanger 40 of the outdoor unit 11 (B) and is condensed (C). It is supercooled by the heat exchanger 42 for cooling (D), and then sent to the branch pipe 26 of each indoor unit 10a, 10b, 10c,... Via the other junction pipe 13 (E). Then, the heat medium evaporates during the period from the entry side (F) to the exit side (G) of the heat exchanger 21 of each indoor unit 10a, 10b, 10c,. 12 (H). Furthermore, the heat medium returned to the outdoor unit 11 passes through the inlet side piping 31 of the compressor 30 (I), and returns to the compressor 30 and is compressed (A). Thus, the heat medium compressed and condensed by the compressor 30 and the heat exchanger 40 (condenser) of the outdoor unit 11 is circulated and supplied to the heat exchangers 21 of the indoor units 10a, 10b, 10c,. By performing a refrigeration cycle that evaporates the heat medium, a compression-expansion cooling operation is performed. At that time, the heat medium sent from the outdoor unit 11 to the indoor units 10a, 10b, 10c,... Is cooled by the supercooling heat exchanger 42 to be in a supercooled state. A high-capacity cooling operation is performed at 10a, 10b, 10c,. In the so-called building multi-type air conditioner, the outdoor unit 11 and the indoor units 10a, 10b, 10c,... Are connected by merging pipes 12 and 13 having a maximum length of about 100 to 200 m and are insulated. In addition, heat exchange between the merging pipes 12 and 13 and the surrounding air is performed. Therefore, the enthalpy (E) of the heat medium when it is sent to the branch pipe 26 of each indoor unit 10a, 10b, 10c,... Is the heat medium when it is supercooled by the heat exchanger 42 for supercooling. Slightly larger than enthalpy (D). The enthalpies (E), (F), and (G) vary depending on the pressure loss between the outdoor unit 11 and the indoor units 10a, 10b, and 10c and the difference in the amount of intrusion heat.

  When there is no supercooling (FIG. 4), the heat medium (A) that has come out of the compressor 30 of the outdoor unit 11 enters the heat exchanger 40 of the outdoor unit 11 (B), is condensed (C), and then , The other merging pipe 13 is sent to the branch pipe 26 of each indoor unit 10a, 10b, 10c,... (E). Then, the heat medium evaporates during the period from the entry side (F) to the exit side (G) of the heat exchanger 21 of each indoor unit 10a, 10b, 10c,. 12 (H). Furthermore, the heat medium returned to the outdoor unit 11 passes through the inlet side piping 31 of the compressor 30 (I), and returns to the compressor 30 and is compressed (A). Thus, the heat medium compressed and condensed by the compressor 30 and the heat exchanger 40 (condenser) of the outdoor unit 11 is circulated and supplied to the heat exchangers 21 of the indoor units 10a, 10b, 10c,. By performing a refrigeration cycle that evaporates the heat medium, a compression-expansion cooling operation is performed. The enthalpies (E), (F), and (G) vary depending on the pressure loss between the outdoor unit 11 and the indoor units 10a, 10b, and 10c and the difference in the amount of intrusion heat.

  In FIG. 5, “the degree of superheating of the heat medium in the inlet side pipe 31 (point I)” on the vertical axis is an index that directly indicates the degree of drying of the suction side heat medium of the compressor 30. If this value is 0, the suction side heat medium of the compressor 30 is saturated, if it is positive, it is superheated steam, and if it is negative, it is a gas-liquid two-phase flow. In normal operation, it is 7 ° C or higher, but if the amount of supercooling heat exchange is increased under operating conditions (low load, low outside air temperature, high room temperature) that are liable to liquid back, it will drop to about -1 ° C. Actually, since there is a protection control operation by liquid back at 1 ° C. or lower, it is determined that “no liquid back” is given when “superheating degree at point I” is 1 ° C. or higher. However, in order to obtain the “superheat degree at point I”, the heat medium temperature and the heat medium pressure information on the suction side of the compressor 30 are necessary, and further, a sequencer for calculating these is necessary, so it is inconvenient to actually use it. It is. Therefore, a temperature difference (surface temperature I−surface temperature H) is used as data conforming to “superheating degree at point I”. As shown in FIG. 5, there is a good correlation between the two, and if the temperature difference (surface temperature I−surface temperature H) is 0 to 1 ° C. or higher, the “superheating degree at point I” can be 1 ° C. or higher. it can.

  As described above, during the cooling operation, the surface temperature H of one joining pipe 12 measured by the temperature sensor 65 is compared with the surface temperature I of the inlet side pipe 31 measured by the temperature sensor 66. Thus, it is possible to cool the indoor units 10a, 10b, 10c,. In this case, by using the cooling water of the cooling tower 55, the heat medium can be cooled without requiring a large amount of energy such as electric power, and the energy saving performance of the entire air conditioner can be improved. Further, since the exhaust heat to the outside is generated by the latent heat of evaporation of water by the cooling tower 55 in addition to the exhaust heat of the outdoor unit 11, it is compared with an air-cooled building mulch or the like that has only sensible heat exhaust to the outdoors. ， Can also suppress urban heat island phenomenon. Furthermore, unlike the system that sprinkles water to the outdoor unit, the cooling capacity can be improved without causing the problem of water around the outdoor unit.

  When comparing the surface temperature H and the surface temperature I, in this embodiment, since there is a certain pressure loss due to the four-way valve 35 interposed between the one merging pipe 12 and the inlet side pipe 31, If the state of the heating medium is gas in the merging pipe 12, the heating medium (gas) in the inlet side pipe 31 becomes slightly lower pressure and higher temperature than in the merging pipe 12. On the other hand, if the state of the heat medium in the one merging pipe 12 is a gas-liquid two-phase flow, the heat medium temperature decreases as the heat medium (liquid) evaporates. The temperature of the gas or gas-liquid two-phase) is not necessarily higher than the temperature of the heat medium (gas-liquid two-phase) in the junction pipe 12. Therefore, the superheat degree of the compressor 30 suction heat medium can be indirectly measured from the temperature difference between the two. That is, the degree of superheat of the compressor 30 suction heat medium can be estimated from (surface temperature I−surface temperature H). FIG. 5 shows the correlation between the temperature difference (surface temperature I−surface temperature H) and the degree of superheat on the surface of one merging pipe 12. By setting the surface temperature I to the surface temperature H> 0 to 1 ° C. (supercooling reference temperature difference), the compressor 30 suction heat medium can be completely gasified and liquid back can be prevented.

  Further, in the air conditioning apparatus configured as described above, during the heating operation mainly performed in winter, the switching operation of the four-way valve 35 connects the inlet side pipe 31 and the other merging pipe 13 as shown in FIG. The outlet side pipe 32 and one merging pipe 12 are connected. Then, the heat medium compressed by the compressor 30 of the outdoor unit 11 is supplied to each of the indoor units 10a, 10b, 10c,...

  In this way, the compressed heat medium is supplied to the indoor units 10a, 10b, 10c,... And in each indoor unit 10a, 10b, 10c, ..., a heat medium is circulated to the heat exchanger 21 (condenser), and the room is heated by the refrigeration cycle.

  And the heat medium liquefied in the heat exchanger 21 (condenser) of each indoor unit 10a, 10b, 10c, ... is returned to the outdoor unit 11 from the branch pipe 26 through the other junction pipe 13. In this way, the heat medium returned to the outdoor unit 11 through the other junction pipe 13 flows through the bypass pipe 45 in which the check valve 46 is interposed, thereby bypassing the heat exchanger 42 for supercooling and the outdoor unit. 11 is circulated in the order of the control valve 41 and the heat exchanger 40 (evaporator), and then returns to the compressor 30 of the outdoor unit 11 through the four-way valve 35 and the inlet side pipe 31.

  During such heating operation, the surface temperature H of one merging pipe 12 is higher than the heating reference temperature set in a range higher by 20 to 50 ° C. than the set room temperature. 12 is compared with the set room temperature, and when the surface temperature H of one merging pipe 12 is higher than the heating reference temperature, it can be determined that the air conditioner is in the heating operation.

  When the heating operation is determined, the control unit 68 of the cooling water control valve 67 outputs the opening degree of the cooling water control valve 67 to zero. Thereby, the cooling water is not supplied to the heat exchanger 42 for supercooling.

  Further, when the operation of the air conditioner configured as described above is stopped, the surface temperature H of one of the joining pipes 12 is lower than the cooling reference temperature set in the range of 5 to 15 ° C. lower than the set room temperature. It is not in a low state, nor is it in a state higher than the heating reference temperature set in a range 20 to 50 ° C. higher than the set room temperature. Therefore, when the surface temperature H measured by the temperature sensor 65 is not lower than the cooling reference temperature and not higher than the heating reference temperature, the control unit 60 stops the operation of the air conditioner. Can be determined.

  Even when it is determined that the operation is thus stopped, the control unit 68 of the cooling water control valve 67 outputs the opening degree of the cooling water control valve 67 to zero. Thereby, the cooling water is not supplied to the heat exchanger 42 for supercooling.

  3 and 4, the enthalpies (E), (F), and (G) of the heat medium in the indoor units 10a, 10b, 10c,. It varies by the influence of. However, in each of the indoor units 10a, 10b, 10c,..., The operating state of the air conditioner is judged based on the surface temperature H of one merging pipe 12 without measuring the temperature of the heat medium. Therefore, it is possible to accurately grasp the operating state of the air conditioner without being affected by pressure loss and intrusion heat. Further, during the cooling operation, by comparing the surface temperature H of the merging pipe 12 with the surface temperature I of the inlet side pipe 31, the occurrence of liquid back can be reliably avoided.

  As a result, supercooling is performed by supplying cooling water to the supercooling heat exchanger 42 only when high cooling capacity is required, so that the supercooling can be performed during heating operation or low-load cooling operation. By stopping and reducing the supply of cooling water to the heat exchanger 42 and reducing the cooling water conveyance power and the cooling heat source power, the entire air conditioner can be made highly efficient.

  The surface temperature H of the merging pipe 12 and the surface temperature I of the inlet side pipe 31 can be easily measured by retrofitting temperature sensors 65 and 66 from the outside. For this reason, modification of the air conditioner, etc. does not occur with the sensor installation. The sensor can be retrofitted and there is no need to tamper with the building mulch itself. Therefore, expensive optional parts and the like are unnecessary, which can be applied to any manufacturer's air conditioner, and wiring labor and cost can be reduced. The number of temperature sensors 65 and 66 may be one for each outdoor unit (one set when a plurality of outdoor units are used together). Since the surface temperatures H and I have a quick response to the start and stop of the compressor as compared with the air temperature, the time delay of the obtained information is small. For example, the compressor start / stop information can be obtained in increments of 1 to several seconds. Therefore, it is possible to quickly and inexpensively grasp the operating state of the building multi-type air conditioner.

  As shown in this embodiment, the lower limit value of the operating horsepower number for supercooling can be increased or decreased by appropriately adjusting the temperature difference between the surface temperature H and the set temperature.

  The present invention can be applied to air conditioning of business buildings such as office buildings, commercial buildings, and computer centers. It can also be applied to air conditioning of hospitals, food factories, hotels, elderly homes, apartment houses, and other buildings that supply hot water and steam in a central manner.

It is explanatory drawing of the air conditioner for enforcing the operating method concerning embodiment of this invention, and has shown the cooling operation state. It is explanatory drawing of the air conditioner for enforcing the operating method concerning embodiment of this invention, and has shown the heating operation state. FIG. 5 is a Mollier diagram showing the thermodynamic characteristics of the heat medium when cooling operation is performed, and shows a state with supercooling. FIG. 7 is a Mollier diagram showing the thermodynamic characteristics of the heat medium when cooling operation is performed, showing a state without supercooling. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the superheat degree of surface temperature I-surface temperature H and surface temperature I.

Explanation of symbols

A Indoor B Outdoor 10a, 10b, 10c, ... Indoor unit 11 Outdoor unit 12, 13 Merged pipe 20 Heat medium control valve 21 Heat exchanger 22 Fan 25, 26 Branch pipe 30 Compressor 31 Inlet pipe 32 Outlet Piping 35 Four-way valve 40 Heat exchanger 41 Heat medium control valve 42 Heat exchanger for supercooling 43 Check valve 45 Bypass piping 46 Check valve 50 Fan 55 Cooling tower 60 Cooling water pump controller 61 Cooling water pump inverter 61 65, 66 Temperature sensor 67 Control valve for cooling water 68 Control unit 69 Pressure gauge

Claims (3)

The heat medium compressed by the compressor installed in the outdoor unit is circulated and supplied to a plurality of indoor units via the merging pipe on the outdoor unit side and the branch pipe on the indoor unit side, and is cooled in the heat exchanger installed in each indoor unit. A method of operating a compression / expansion type air conditioner that cools and heats the air-conditioned space of a building by performing a refrigeration cycle that sometimes evaporates the heat medium and condenses the heat medium during heating,
Measuring the surface temperature H of the merging pipe that returns the heat medium from the indoor units to the outdoor unit during cooling, and sends the heat medium from the outdoor units to the indoor units during heating;
When the surface temperature H is lower than the reference cooling temperature set in the range of 5 to 15 ° C. lower than the set room temperature, the air conditioner is in the cooling operation, and the surface temperature H is 20 to 50 ° C. higher than the set room temperature. A method of operating an air conditioner, characterized in that a heating operation is determined when the temperature is higher than a heating reference temperature set in a range, and a stop is determined otherwise. Furthermore, the surface temperature I of the inlet side piping for introducing the heat medium into the compressor is measured,
When it is determined that the cooling operation is performed, when the temperature difference I-H between the surface temperature I and the surface temperature H is equal to or greater than a supercooling reference temperature difference set in a range of 0 to 1 ° C., the outdoor unit When the heat medium sent to each indoor unit is supercooled and the temperature difference I-H is less than the supercooling reference temperature difference, the heat medium sent from the outdoor unit to each indoor unit is changed to the temperature difference I- The method of operating an air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein H is supercooled with a small heat exchange amount or not supercooled as compared with a case where H is not less than a supercooling reference temperature difference. When it is determined that the cooling operation is performed, when the temperature difference IH is equal to or greater than the supercooling reference temperature difference, the heat medium sent from the outdoor unit to each indoor unit is supercooled with cooling water,
When the temperature difference IH is less than the supercooling reference temperature difference, the flow rate of the cooling water is reduced or the temperature of the cooling water is increased compared to when the temperature difference IH is greater than the supercooling reference temperature difference. The method of operating an air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein the cooling is performed with a smaller heat exchange amount or cooling water is not supplied.

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