JP2008106950A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air conditioner capable of supplying a peak current generated during operation by suppressing a current supplied from a commercial power source even if contract amperage is left in the present condition, and moreover of preventing a reverse tidal current to the commercial power source from a storage part. <P>SOLUTION: An indoor unit 11 supplies heat of a refrigerant indoors while an indoor temperature is set, and an outdoor unit 12 compresses and expands the refrigerant heat-exchanged in the indoor unit 11, exchanges heat of the refrigerant with outside air and circulates the refrigerant to the indoor unit 11 so that an indoor temperature becomes a set temperature. A power assist device 31 supplies a predetermined current from the commercial power source out of the peak current generated in operating the indoor unit 11 and outdoor unit 12, and a reverse tidal current preventing part 35 supplies a shortage part from the storage part 33 and prevents the reverse tidal flow of the current to the commercial power source from the storage part 33. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner that performs cooling and heating so that the indoor temperature becomes a set temperature.

  Generally, houses are supplied with electric power within the range of contracted amperages with electric power companies, and it is necessary to conclude a contract with a larger contracted amperage in order to increase the capacity of power supply.

  On the other hand, in the case of an apartment house, the total amount of power supplied to the entire building is often determined in advance, and thus the amount of power that can be increased is limited. In the case of such a housing complex, the permission of the management association or owner (in the case of rental) is required to increase the capacity at each dwelling unit, and the power supply capacity of the entire housing complex is expected to be insufficient. Needs to increase the total supply. In other words, it is necessary to repair the electric trunk line. Since this is a “change in common area”, the consent of all residents or the owner's permission is required through the management association. This is one factor that has been a negative effect of promoting electrification.

  Therefore, it is desired that all electrification can be realized even if the contracted amperage is as it is, and it is considered to suppress the peak current of the electric appliance that generates the peak current at the start of operation. Among electric appliances used in existing apartments, there is a room air conditioner (hereinafter referred to as an air conditioner) that tends to generate a peak current.

  FIG. 6 is an external configuration diagram showing an example of a conventional air conditioner. The air conditioner has an indoor unit 11 installed indoors and an outdoor unit 13 arranged outdoors as main components, and the remote controller 13 performs setting operations such as operation start / stop or room temperature setting on the indoor unit 11. It is like that. The outdoor unit 12 has a compressor, compresses and expands the refrigerant, exchanges heat with the outside air, circulates the refrigerant between the indoor unit 11 and the outdoor unit 12, and supplies the heat held by the refrigerant to the indoor unit 11. . For example, during the cooling operation, the cooling heat of the refrigerant is supplied from the indoor unit 11 to the room, and the heat of the refrigerant heated by the heat exchange in the indoor unit 11 is radiated from the refrigerant outdoor unit 12 to the outside air. On the other hand, during the heating operation, the heat of the refrigerant is supplied from the indoor unit 11 to the room, heat is exchanged by the indoor unit 11, and the heat of the cooled refrigerant is released from the outdoor unit 12 to the outside air and is received from the outside air.

  FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of a conventional air conditioner, FIG. 7 (a) is a device configuration diagram, and FIG. 7 (b) is an electrical connection configuration diagram. As shown in FIG. 7 (a), the remote controller 13 has a microcomputer 14, and information such as operation start / stop or room temperature setting set by the setting button 15 is transmitted wirelessly (for example, by infrared) to the indoor unit. 11 to send. A part of the setting information is displayed on the LCD display 16. As a power source for the remote controller 13, for example, a dry battery 17 is used.

  The indoor unit 11 receives setting information from the remote controller 13 by the microcomputer 18 and inputs the indoor temperature and humidity. And based on these information, the fan motor 19 and the wind direction motor 20 are driven, and the state of the indoor unit 11 is displayed on the LCD display 21. In addition, command information necessary for air conditioning is transmitted to the outdoor unit 12 via the communication line 22. The power for the indoor unit 11 is supplied from a commercial power source.

  The outdoor unit 12 receives command information from the indoor unit by the microcomputer 23 via the communication line 22 and inputs the temperature of the outside air, and switches between cooling and heating based on these information, and the compressor 24 and the fan motor 25 are switched on. To drive. The power of the outdoor unit 12 is supplied from a commercial power source.

  As shown in FIG. 7B, the indoor unit 11 and the outdoor unit 12 have three electrical connection terminals. Two terminals are used for power and one terminal is used for communication. A single-phase 100 V / 200 V commercial power supply is connected to the indoor unit 11 and supplied from the indoor unit 11 to the outdoor unit 12 via the cable 26.

  Next, FIG. 8 is a characteristic diagram showing an example of current consumption and room temperature from immediately after the operation of the air conditioner to the target room temperature, and FIG. 8A is a set temperature at an outside air temperature of 35 ° C. FIG. 8B is a characteristic diagram during heating operation when the outside air temperature is 2 ° C. and the set temperature is 25 ° C. FIG. As shown in FIG. 8A, in the case of the cooling operation, the consumption current I becomes a peak current of 12A to 13A about 10 minutes after the start of the operation. At this peak current, the room temperature T steeply approaches the set temperature. ing. The current consumption I gradually decreases after about 15 minutes to about 60 minutes, and has a characteristic of about 3 A after about 60 minutes.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 8B, in the heating operation, the consumption current I becomes a peak current of 16A to 17A about 14 minutes after the start of the operation, and at this peak current, the room temperature T is steeply set temperature. Is approaching. The current consumption gradually decreases between about 45 minutes and about 60 minutes, and has a characteristic of about 5 A after about 60 minutes.

  In a general house, the contracted amperage is often 30A or 40A, so when the peak current reaches 12A to 13A or 16A to 17A, it becomes difficult to use other electric appliances at the same time. In addition, after about 60 minutes from the start of operation, it becomes a stable operation state, and in the stable operation state, the current consumption is about 3A or about 5A. Therefore, if the peak current is suppressed, the contracted amperage remains the same. But it turns out that an air conditioner can be used.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, it is conceivable to provide a peak cut device 27 for suppressing the peak current at the start of the operation of the air conditioner. The peak cut device 27 includes a forward converter 28 that converts AC commercial power to DC, and an inverse converter 29 that converts DC to AC, and further stores the direct current converted by the forward converter 28 to store air. It has a power storage unit 30 that supplies the power stored in the inverse converter 29 when the conditioner requires a peak current.

  That is, when operating the air conditioner, the current from the commercial power source is kept constant, and when the air conditioner requires a peak current, the shortage is supplied from the power storage unit 30. This eliminates the need to supply the peak current during operation of the air conditioner from the commercial power supply, so that the air conditioner can be used even if the contracted amperage remains unchanged. In this case, since the direct current from the power storage unit 30 is converted into alternating current by the reverse converter 29 and supplied to the outdoor unit 12 and further to the indoor unit 11, the power from the power storage unit 30 does not flow backward to the commercial power source side. Absent.

Here, a storage battery is provided in the air conditioner, and at the peak of the daytime power demand, the storage battery power is supplied to the inverter circuit to operate the air conditioner. When charging the storage battery, the terminal voltage of the storage battery is equal to or lower than the discharge end voltage. Charging starts at the time of discharge, but when the discharge end voltage is exceeded, the load is discharged to the discharge end voltage and then charged, increasing the amount of power shift during the daytime power peak with high efficiency and reducing the equipment capacity (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-137652

  However, the thing of patent document 1 uses the storage battery for the air conditioner in order to suppress the peak electric power of the whole electric power system, and keeps the peak current of an air conditioner, maintaining the contract amperage for general houses. It does not suppress. Moreover, in the thing shown in FIG. 9, since a lead storage battery is used as the electrical storage part 30, an installation area becomes large. Moreover, since two converters, the forward converter 28 and the reverse converter 29, are required, the power conversion loss increases and the efficiency also decreases.

  In addition, the power storage unit 30 is connected between the forward converter 28 and the reverse converter 29, and the direct current of the power storage unit 30 is converted by the reverse converter 29 and supplied to the air conditioner. However, when the forward converter 28 and the reverse converter 29 are combined into one converter, the alternating current obtained by converting the direct current from the power storage unit 30 with the converter is Since it is connected to both the air conditioner and the commercial power supply, the alternating current obtained by converting the direct current from the power storage unit 30 by the converter may flow backward to the commercial power supply side.

  The object of the present invention is to suppress the current supplied from the commercial power source even when the contracted amperage is as it is, to supply the peak current generated during operation, and to prevent the reverse power flow from the power storage unit to the commercial power source. It is to provide an air conditioner that can be prevented.

  An air conditioner according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an indoor unit in which the indoor temperature is set and the heat of the refrigerant is supplied to the room, and the refrigerant heat-exchanged in the indoor unit is compressed and expanded to exchange heat with the outside air. An outdoor unit that circulates refrigerant to the indoor unit so that the indoor temperature becomes a set temperature, and a predetermined current out of the peak current that is generated during operation of the indoor unit and the outdoor unit is supplied from a commercial power source to reduce the shortage. And a power assist device having a reverse power flow prevention unit that prevents a current from flowing backward from the power storage unit to a commercial power supply.

  An air conditioner according to a second aspect of the present invention is the air conditioner according to the first aspect, wherein the power assist device inputs operating states of the indoor unit and the outdoor unit via a communication line, It is characterized by controlling discharge.

  An air conditioner according to a third aspect of the invention is characterized in that, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the power assist device is provided outside the indoor unit and the outdoor unit.

  According to the present invention, the predetermined current out of the peak current generated during the operation of the air conditioner is supplied from the commercial power source, and the shortage is supplied from the power storage unit of the power assist device. The current supplied from the commercial power source can be suppressed even if it remains. In addition, the power assist device includes the reverse power flow preventing unit that prevents the current from flowing backward from the power storage unit to the commercial power supply. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the current from flowing backward from the power storage unit to the commercial power supply.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. In contrast to the conventional example shown in FIG. 7B, a power assist device 31 is provided between the indoor unit 11 and the outdoor unit 12. The indoor unit 11 and the outdoor unit 12 have three electrical connection terminals. Two terminals are used for power and one terminal is used for communication. In FIG. 1, the terminals 1 and 2 are connected to the power supply line 32, and the terminal 3 is connected to the communication line 22. A single-phase 100V / 200V commercial power supply is connected to the indoor unit 11 and is supplied from the indoor unit 11 to the power assist device 31 and the outdoor unit 12 via the power line 32.

  The indoor unit 11 is configured as shown in FIG. 7A. When information such as operation start / stop or room temperature setting is set from a remote controller 13 (not shown), the indoor unit 11 circulates from the outdoor unit 12 based on the information. The heat of the refrigerant is supplied into the room. The outdoor unit 12 is also configured as shown in FIG. 7A, and the refrigerant heat-exchanged in the indoor unit 11 is compressed and expanded to exchange heat with the outside air, and the refrigerant temperature is adjusted to a predetermined temperature. Then, a refrigerant having a predetermined temperature is circulated through the indoor unit 11.

  The power assist device 31 includes a power storage unit 33, a power assist unit 34, and a reverse power flow prevention unit 35. The power assist unit 34 inputs operation states of the indoor unit 11 and the outdoor unit 12 via the communication line 22 and controls storage and discharge of the power storage unit 33. That is, the power assist unit 34 is supplied with AC power from the single-phase 100V / 200V commercial power source through the indoor unit 11 through the power line 32, and when the outdoor unit 12 is stopped or in a light load operation. Then, the alternating current is converted to direct current and stored in the power storage unit 33. In addition, the power assist unit 34 converts a part of the peak current generated during the operation of the indoor unit 11 and the outdoor unit 12 to DC power stored in the power storage unit 33 into alternating current and supplies the alternating current to the outdoor unit 12. . The reverse power flow prevention unit 35 prevents a current obtained by converting the DC power from the power storage unit 33 into an alternating current by the power assist unit 34 from flowing back to the commercial power source, and details thereof will be described later.

  Next, FIG. 2 is a characteristic diagram showing an example of current consumption and room temperature from immediately after the operation of the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention to the target room temperature, and FIG. FIG. 2B is a characteristic diagram of an example during cooling operation when the outside air temperature is 35 ° C. and the set temperature is 28 ° C., and FIG. 2B is a characteristic diagram during heating operation when the outside air temperature is 2 ° C. and the set temperature is 25 ° C.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b), for a peak current generated during operation of the air conditioner, the power assist unit 34 supplies a current supplied from a commercial power source to a predetermined current Ia (for example, , 6A), and a shortage with respect to the predetermined current Ia is supplied from the power storage unit 33.

  In the case of the cooling operation, as shown in FIG. 2A, the consumption current I reaches the predetermined current Ia in about 2.5 minutes from the start of operation, and becomes equal to or less than the predetermined current Ia in about 30 minutes from the start of operation. Therefore, a shortage of current is supplied from the power storage unit 33 between about 2.5 minutes and about 30 minutes from the start of operation. The shaded area in FIG. 2A is the shortage current, and T is room temperature.

  On the other hand, in the case of heating operation, as shown in FIG. 2 (b), the consumption current I reaches the predetermined current Ia in about 2.5 minutes from the start of operation, and becomes less than the predetermined current Ia in about 55 minutes from the start of operation. Become. Therefore, a shortage of current is supplied from the power storage unit 33 between about 2.5 minutes and about 55 minutes from the start of operation. The shaded area in FIG. 2 (b) is the insufficient current, and T is room temperature.

  As a result, even if a peak current is generated when operating the air conditioner, the power consumption supplied from the commercial power supply can be suppressed to a predetermined current Ia (for example, 6A). Even if it is 30A or 40A, for example, there is a margin of 24A to 34A, so an air conditioner can be used.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 1, the power assist unit 34 of the power assist device 31 is supplied with AC power from the single-phase 100 V / 200 V commercial power source through the indoor unit 11 through the power line 32, and converts the AC to DC. And is stored in the power storage unit 33, and a part of the peak current generated during the operation of the indoor unit 11 and the outdoor unit 12 is converted from the power storage unit 33 to alternating current and output to the power line 32 to be outdoor. Is supplied to the machine 12. Therefore, when power from the power storage unit 30 is supplied from the power assist device 31 to the power supply line 32, there is a possibility that the power flows backward to the commercial power supply not only through the outdoor unit 12 but also through the indoor unit 11. Therefore, the reverse power flow prevention unit 35 prevents this reverse power flow.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the reverse power flow prevention unit 35 according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3A shows an example of the reverse power flow prevention unit 35 when two thyristor elements are connected in reverse parallel. FIG. 3B is an operation explanatory diagram of the reverse power flow prevention unit 35 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the voltage phase detector 36 detects the voltage phase of the commercial power source 37 and outputs it to the synchronization circuit 38. The synchronization circuit 38 outputs a synchronization signal synchronized with the voltage phase of the power supply voltage of the commercial power supply 37 to the gate signal generation circuit 39. The gate signal generation circuit 39 alternately outputs gate signals to the thyristor elements 40a and 40b based on the synchronization signal of the synchronization circuit 38.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, the synchronization circuit 38 outputs the synchronization signal 1 between the time when the power supply voltage is zero-crossed from negative to positive and the time when the power supply voltage is zero-crossed from positive to negative, and the power supply voltage is zero-crossed from positive to negative. The synchronization signal 2 is output between the time when the signal is crossed and the time when the zero crossing occurs from negative to positive. The gate signal generation circuit 39 outputs the gate signal 1 to the thyristor 40a when the synchronization signal 1 is input, and outputs the gate signal 2 to the thyristor 40b when the synchronization signal 2 is input.

  Here, since the outdoor unit 12 as a load has a power factor of 1, a current having the same phase as the power supply voltage flows to the outdoor unit 12 as a load. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3A, when the power supply voltage is positive, current is supplied from the commercial power supply 37 to the outdoor unit 12 as a load in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 3 through the thyristor 40a. On the other hand, when the power supply voltage is negative, current is supplied from the commercial power supply 37 through the thyristor 40b to the outdoor unit 12 as a load in the direction of arrow B in FIG. Thereby, the alternating current synchronized with the power supply voltage is supplied, and it is possible to prevent the current from flowing backward from the outdoor unit 12 side which is a load to the alternating current power supply 37 side.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the reverse power flow prevention unit 35 in the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 (a) shows a reverse power flow when two switching elements having diodes connected in parallel are connected in series. FIG. 4B is a circuit configuration diagram illustrating an example of the prevention unit 35, and FIG. 4B is an operation explanatory diagram of the reverse power flow prevention unit 35 illustrated in FIG. 4A.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the voltage phase detector 36 detects the voltage phase of the commercial power supply 37 and outputs it to the synchronization circuit 38. The synchronization circuit 38 synchronizes with the voltage phase of the power supply voltage of the commercial power supply 37. Is output to the gate signal generation circuit 39. Based on the synchronization signal of the synchronization circuit 38, the gate signal generation circuit 39 alternately outputs gate signals to the switching element 41a connected in parallel with the diode D1 or the switching element 41b connected in parallel to the diode D2.

  As shown in FIG. 4B, the synchronization circuit 38 outputs the synchronization signal 1 between the time when the power supply voltage zero-crosses from negative to positive and the time when the power supply voltage zero-crosses from positive to negative, and the power supply voltage is zero-crossed from positive to negative. The synchronization signal 2 is output between the time when the signal is crossed and the time when the zero crossing occurs from negative to positive. The gate signal generation circuit 39 outputs the gate signal 1 to the switch element 41a when the synchronization signal 1 is input, and outputs the gate signal 2 to the switch element 41b when the synchronization signal 2 is input.

  Here, since the outdoor unit 12 as a load has a power factor of 1, a current having the same phase as the power supply voltage flows to the outdoor unit 12 as a load. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4A, when the power supply voltage is positive, current is supplied from the commercial power source 37 through the switch element 41a and the diode D2 to the outdoor unit 12 as a load in the direction of arrow A in FIG. The On the other hand, when the power supply voltage is negative, current is supplied from the commercial power supply 37 through the switch element 41b and the diode D1 to the outdoor unit 12 that is a load in the direction of arrow B in FIG. Thereby, the alternating current synchronized with the power supply voltage is supplied, and it is possible to prevent the current from flowing backward from the outdoor unit 12 side which is a load to the alternating current power supply 37 side.

  Thus, the reverse power flow prevention unit 35 is provided between the indoor unit 11 on the AC power source 37 side and the outdoor unit 12 as the load, and the power from the power storage unit 33 output from the power assist unit 34 is supplied to the AC power source side. To avoid reverse currents.

  For example, solar power generation systems, fuel cell systems, power storage systems, etc. are configured on the assumption that they will be linked to the power system, and monitoring relays are installed to prevent reverse power flow at power receiving points from power companies. However, it is expensive to install a monitoring relay in order to prevent reverse power flow for a power assist device that assists electric power to a residential electrical appliance as in the present invention. It becomes difficult to introduce the power assist device into the home. In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, a configuration in which reverse power flow is prevented by hardware using a thyristor element, a switching element, etc. can be configured at low cost.

  Next, FIG. 5 is an external configuration diagram showing an example of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. In contrast to the conventional example shown in FIG. 6, a power assist device 31 provided between the indoor unit 11 and the outdoor unit 12 is provided in the outdoor unit 12 outside. By installing the power assist device 31 in the outdoor unit 12 outside the room, the indoor space can be used widely as in the existing air conditioner.

  According to the embodiment of the present invention, a predetermined current (for example, 6 A) is supplied from the commercial power source among the peak current generated during the operation of the air conditioner, and the shortage is supplied from the power storage unit 33 of the power assist device 31. Since it supplies, the power consumption from a commercial power source can be suppressed also at the time of use of an air conditioner. Therefore, the air conditioner can be used simultaneously with other electric appliances even if the contracted amperage (for example, 30A or 40A).

  In addition, the power assist device 31 is provided between the indoor unit 11 and the outdoor unit 12, and the operation state of the indoor unit 11 and the outdoor unit 12 is input via the communication line 22 to control the storage and discharge of the power storage unit 33. To achieve high efficiency. In addition, since the power assist device 31 includes the reverse flow prevention unit 35 that prevents the current from flowing backward from the power storage unit 33 to the commercial power supply, the current assist device 31 prevents the current from flowing backward from the power storage unit 33 to the commercial power supply. it can. Furthermore, since the power assist device 31 is provided in the outdoor unit 12 outside the room, the indoor space can be used widely as in the existing air conditioner.

The block diagram of the air conditioning apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention. The characteristic view which shows an example of the consumption current from the time of operation | movement of the air conditioner concerning embodiment of this invention to target indoor temperature, and indoor temperature. Explanatory drawing which shows an example of the reverse power flow prevention part in embodiment of this invention. Explanatory drawing which shows another example of the reverse power flow prevention part in embodiment of this invention. The external appearance block diagram which shows an example of the air conditioner concerning embodiment of this invention. The external appearance block diagram which shows an example of the conventional air conditioner. The block block diagram which shows an example of the conventional air conditioner. The characteristic view which shows an example of the consumption current and room temperature from right after driving | running of an air conditioner to target indoor temperature. The block block diagram which shows another example of the conventional air conditioner.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Indoor unit, 12 ... Outdoor unit, 13 ... Remote control, 14 ... Microcomputer, 15 ... Setting button, 16 ... LCD display, 17 ... Dry cell, 18 ... Microcomputer, 19 ... Fan motor, 20 ... Wind direction motor, 21 ... LCD Indicator 22 ... Communication line 23 ... Microcomputer 24 ... Compressor 25 ... Fan motor 26 ... Cable 27 ... Peak cut device 28 ... Forward converter 29 ... Reverse converter 30 ... Power storage unit 31 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Power assist apparatus, 32 ... Power supply line, 33 ... Power storage part, 34 ... Power assist part, 35 ... Backflow prevention part, 36 ... Voltage phase detector, 37 ... Commercial power supply, 38 ... Synchronous circuit, 39 ... Gate signal generation circuit 40 ... Thyristor element, 41 ... Switch element

Claims (3)

The indoor unit that sets the indoor temperature and supplies the heat of the refrigerant to the room, and the refrigerant that is compressed and expanded by the refrigerant heat-exchanged by the indoor unit and exchanges heat with the outside air so that the indoor temperature becomes the set temperature. An outdoor unit to be circulated to the indoor unit, and a predetermined current out of a peak current generated during operation of the indoor unit and the outdoor unit is supplied from a commercial power source, and a shortage is supplied from the power storage unit, and a commercial power source from the power storage unit An air conditioner comprising: a power assist device having a reverse power flow prevention unit that prevents current from flowing backward. 2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the power assist device inputs operation states of the indoor unit and the outdoor unit via a communication line and controls storage and discharge of the power storage unit. . The air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the power assist device is provided outside the indoor unit and the outdoor unit.

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