JP2008241216A - Total current control system for air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To flexibly change the order of priority in securing a current and to set only an air conditioner in operation as a control object to efficiently control a current, coping with even a model on which a sudden control change cannot be made. <P>SOLUTION: The air conditioner comprises a management table for managing the state data of other air conditioners and the own air conditioner for every air conditioner, updates the state data of the own air conditioner in the management table while transmitting it successively to the other air conditioners (ST35), updates the management table with the received state data of each air conditioner (ST11), refers to the state data in the management table for every air conditioner, divides the limitation current value of the referred air conditioners based on the number of air conditioners (ST14), computes the limitation current value, taking information on a current consumption increase tendency into account (ST17, ST18), assigns the limitation current value to the air conditioner to update the management table, and operates the air conditioner so that the current consumption of the own air conditioner is within the limitation current value until the management table is updated next (ST20). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner, and more specifically, when a plurality of air conditioners are operated at the same time, each air conditioner is operated so as to suppress current consumption so as not to exceed a power breaker capacity. It relates to the system to perform.

  Conventionally, as an overall current control system for an air conditioner, the technology shown in the system configuration diagram of FIG. 7 has been disclosed. As shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of air conditioners 3 </ b> A, 3 </ b> B, and 3 </ b> C, each of which includes an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, are connected to a power supply line 82 that is supplied via a breaker 81. The breaker 1 is set to operate when the current flowing through the power supply line exceeds the limit current capacity.

  Each air conditioner 3A, 3B, 3C is divided into an indoor unit 90 and an outdoor unit 91, and the power line 82 from the breaker 81 is connected to the indoor unit 90 in each air conditioner 3A, 3B, 3C. And is distributed to the outdoor unit 91 by the wiring 92. Each outdoor unit 91 is provided with a transmission communication terminal 87 and a reception communication terminal 88, and the transmission communication terminal 87 is connected to a reception communication terminal 88 of an adjacent outdoor unit via a communication line 93. Yes. That is, the three outdoor units are cascade-connected.

  Since three air conditioners are provided, the communication terminal 88 for reception of the air conditioner 3A and the communication terminal 87 for transmission of the air conditioner 3C are vacant terminals. Therefore, the communication flow by the communication line 93 is formed with the air conditioner 3A as the upstream and the air conditioner 3C as the downstream.

  The transmission communication terminal 87 transmits the total current value of the consumption current value of the outdoor unit and the consumption current value received from the reception communication terminal 88. Therefore, if each air conditioner stores the current capacity value of the breaker 81, the air conditioner is operated within the remaining current value range obtained by subtracting the received current consumption value from the current capacity value. It is possible to prevent the current capacity value from being exceeded. If the current capacity value of the breaker 81 is exceeded by operating itself, the power supply of the circuit breaker is cut off, and the operation of the upstream air conditioner is prioritized.

  Moreover, information is transmitted to the next air conditioner by transmitting the total current value of the received current value and the current consumption value from the transmission communication terminal 87. The received air conditioner repeats the above operation. In this way, information can be transmitted from the upstream side to the downstream side so that the current consumption of the entire system does not exceed the current capacity value of the breaker 81. In addition, by changing the order of wiring and determining upstream and downstream, the priority order for securing the current of the air conditioner can be changed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  However, in the method described above, a communication line connecting each outdoor unit is necessary, and there is a problem that installation takes time. Furthermore, the priority order for securing the current of the air conditioner needs to be changed each time the communication line is wired, and the priority order cannot be changed flexibly between morning and night.

  In addition, when communication lines are cascade-connected, for example, when the power of a midstream air conditioner is not turned on, the downstream air conditioner cannot obtain current consumption information. In this case, the current control system was virtually not operating.

Further, in this system, since the control is based on the current consumption value obtained as a result of actual measurement, it must be operated so as to reduce the inverter capacity after exceeding the current capacity value of the breaker. If there is a compressor during acceleration operation, it cannot be suddenly changed to deceleration operation, so there is time to temporarily exceed the current capacity value of the breaker from acceleration to deceleration, and the breaker may cause a power failure. there were. In order to avoid this, a value obtained by subtracting a margin corresponding to the number of air conditioners from the current capacity value of the breaker had to be set as a control target, and only inefficient management was possible.
JP-A-6-2916 (page 3-4, FIG. 2)

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, can flexibly change the priority order related to securing current, and controls only the operating air conditioner, so that sudden control changes like an inverter-type outdoor unit can be made. The objective is to provide a comprehensive current control system for air conditioners that can handle even incompatible models and can perform efficient current control.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention connects a plurality of air conditioners including a current detection unit that detects a current consumption value thereof to a common power line, and the current consumption detected by the air conditioner. In the overall current control system of the air conditioner that controls the sum of the values within a predetermined current limit value,
The air conditioner includes a transmission / reception unit that performs transmission / reception of information notification data including a review request information indicating a trend of increase in current consumption and the current consumption value, and other air conditioners, and A management table for managing the received information notification data and the information notification data of the air conditioner for each air conditioner;
The air conditioner updates the information notification data of the air conditioner itself in the management table and sequentially transmits to other air conditioners, while based on the received information notification data of each air conditioner Updating the management table;
The information notification data in the management table is referenced for each air conditioner, the limit current value is divided based on the number of referenced air conditioners, and the divided based on the review request information is divided. Update the management table by assigning the limit current value as the limit current during operation,
Next, until the management table is updated, the current consumption of the air conditioner is operated so as to be within the limit current value.

  Further, when the air conditioner determines that the consumption current does not increase according to the review request information, the air conditioner allocates the consumption current value of the air conditioner as a limit current value during operation, and from the limit current value, the The management table is updated by allocating the limit current value of another air conditioner using the remaining value obtained by subtracting the limit current value.

  Further, when the air conditioner determines that there is a tendency to increase current consumption based on the review request information, the air conditioner allocates the divided limit current value as the limit current value to the corresponding air conditioner and updates the management table. .

In addition, in the information notification data, including priority order data for determining the priority assignment of the limit current value to each air conditioner,
When the air conditioner divides the limit current value based on the number of air conditioners in the management table, the air conditioner corresponding to the high priority data has priority over the division ratio of the limit current value. Assign a larger value.

  In addition, the air conditioner gives priority to an air conditioner that is powered on later when assigning the limit current value.

The air conditioner comprises a wireless remote control for controlling the air conditioner wirelessly,
The transmission / reception unit transmits / receives the information notification data to / from the air conditioner, while receiving operation instruction data from the wireless remote controller, and the air conditioner operates the air conditioner according to the data. .

By using the above means, according to the overall current control system of the air conditioner according to the present invention,
In the invention according to claim 1, since there is no control unit that controls the system, the system can be easily constructed at low cost. Furthermore, a system can be constructed from at least one air conditioner, and the power on / off of any air conditioner during system operation is free and flexible in operation.

  In addition, in the allocation of the limit current value, not only the number of air conditioners but also the information on the tendency to increase the current consumption is taken into account, so that it can be efficiently allocated in accordance with the change of the operating condition.

  In addition, since a limit current value after a specific time is assigned, even a model such as an inverter type outdoor unit that cannot be changed suddenly can be dealt with with sufficient time, resulting in efficient current control.

  In the invention according to claim 2, when it is determined that there is no tendency to increase current consumption in the corresponding air conditioner in the management table, the remaining current limit value excluding the current value necessary for maintaining the current state is used as another air conditioner. Therefore, it is possible to effectively use the limit current value margin.

  The invention according to claim 3 increases the capacity from the steady operation (increases the current) because the allocation is performed according to the number of air conditioners in the corresponding air conditioner in the management table when it is determined that there is a tendency to increase the current consumption. Can be transferred to the operation.

  In the invention according to claim 4, since the priority order for defining the size of the allocation frame of each air conditioner is added to the allocation condition of the limit current value, the air in a room where many people gather such as a living room The harmonic machine can be operated with priority.

  In the invention according to claim 5, since it is determined that the air conditioner that has been turned on later has a higher priority, even an inverter air conditioner in which a large current flows when the power is turned on can be reliably operated.

  In the invention according to claim 6, since the transmission / reception unit that transmits / receives information notification data to / from another air conditioner is also used as the transmission / reception unit used for communication with the wireless remote controller, the air conditioner is compared with the case where it is provided alone. Can be configured at low cost. Further, wiring for transmitting / receiving information notification data is not necessary.

  DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail as examples based on the attached drawings. The present invention uses the radio waves used by the wireless remote controller to notify other air conditioners of the current consumption information of the air conditioner, and receives the current consumption current and the operating state of all the air conditioners in operation. In addition, taking these into account, the limit current usage frame at the next timing is calculated for each air conditioner, the current limit of the own air conditioner is limited within this frame until the next timing, and this work is performed sequentially. This is characterized by keeping the current consumption of the entire system within a specified value.

  FIG. 1 is a control block showing a set of air conditioners. This air conditioner is composed of an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, which are connected by a power line. Note that illustration of a heat exchanger, a refrigerant circuit, and the like is omitted.

  The indoor unit includes an indoor unit power supply unit 3, a power supply relay 4 for turning on / off power supply to the outdoor unit, and an antenna 1, and transmits / receives data to / from a wireless remote controller (not shown) and other air conditioners by radio waves. A wireless transmission / reception unit 2, a fan motor driving unit 6 that drives a fan motor 7 of the indoor unit according to instructions, an indoor unit power communication unit 5 that transmits and receives data to and from the outdoor unit via a power line, and a power supply relay 4. An indoor unit control unit 8 that controls the wireless transmission / reception unit 2, the fan motor drive unit 6, and the indoor unit power communication unit 5 is provided.

  On the other hand, the outdoor unit transmits / receives data to / from the indoor unit via the outdoor unit power supply unit 13, a current detection unit 14 that measures the current consumption, a compressor drive unit 16 that drives the compressor motor 17, and a power line. An outdoor unit power communication unit 15, a current detection unit 14, a compressor driving unit 16, and an outdoor unit power control unit 18 that controls the outdoor unit power communication unit 15.

  When power is supplied to the power plug, the indoor unit power supply unit 3 supplies power to each unit of the indoor unit, and a control signal, for example, a power-on signal is transmitted from the wireless remote controller via the wireless transmission / reception unit 2 to the indoor unit control unit 8. , The indoor unit control unit 8 turns on the power supply relay 4 and then gives an operation instruction to the outdoor unit control unit 18 via the indoor unit power communication unit 5. The outdoor unit control unit 18 controls the compressor driving unit 16 in accordance with a given instruction and performs a specified operation. At this time, the current supplied to the outdoor unit power supply unit 13 is monitored by the outdoor unit control unit 18 via the current detection unit 14, and the operation is performed within the range of the limited current defined in advance. Yes.

  FIG. 2 is a floor plan of the house where the air conditioner described above is installed, and shows a situation where three sets of air conditioners are arranged. In addition, each air conditioner is a pair of a wireless remote controller, an indoor unit, and an outdoor unit. Moreover, each air conditioner is connected by one power line through one breaker 20. The current capacity of the breaker 20 is 30 A (ampere).

  In addition, power is supplied to the fluorescent lamps and other electrical products in each room via the breaker 20. In this embodiment, the total current consumption of these electric products other than the air conditioner is 5A. Therefore, if the current consumption of the entire air conditioner is within 25 A, the breaker 20 does not turn off the power.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a transmission frame configuration of wireless communication data used in the air conditioner described above.

  FIG. 3A shows a device control command transmitted from the wireless remote controller. In order from the first item, the frame type “operation instruction”, common ID “room 2”, operation data “power on” corresponding to the operation button of the remote controller are illustrated. ”, Priority“ 2 ”, reserved current“ 5 A ”, and breaker capacity“ 30 A ”.

  The frame type represents the type of this frame, and the common ID is an ID for confirming pairing between each indoor unit and the wireless remote controller. For example, the indoor unit 1 and the wireless remote controller 1 have the common ID “room 1”, and the indoor unit 1 that has received the data transmitted from the wireless remote controller 1 has confirmed that the common ID matches. The specified operation data is to be executed. Even if a signal is received from the wireless remote controller whose ID does not match, the indoor unit does not execute the designated operation data. However, in the indoor unit, when data with different IDs transmitted from other indoor units is received, it is information necessary for current control according to the present invention. Therefore, this data is captured only when the frame type is “information notification”. Store with.

  The priority item is a current frame that can be used by the air conditioner, that is, a distribution priority when 25 A is allocated. For example, an air conditioner is most frequently used, and a living room with a large area is given priority “1”, a child room is “2”, and a bedroom is “3”. In addition, as described above, the item of secured current is the total current consumption of electrical products other than the air conditioner, and is a current value that must be secured in order to use the electrical product. The breaker capacity item is the current capacity value of the breaker 20 described above.

  Among these items, the common ID is set when the air conditioner is installed. Further, the priority, the reserved current, and the breaker capacity can be set by the user at any time. These items are stored in advance in the wireless remote controller by a specific operation, and when the key operation of the remote controller is performed, the priority, the reserved current and the breaker capacity stored together with the operation data are transmitted. These items may be stored on the indoor unit side instead of being transmitted every time a key operation is performed.

  FIGS. 3B and 3C are information notification commands (information notification data) transmitted from the indoor unit, and are transmitted from the indoor unit to other outdoor units at a predetermined cycle, for example, at intervals of 2 seconds. Data for information notification. Each indoor unit uses radio waves of the same frequency for transmission, but it performs data collision detection and re-transmission after a random delay time, and information is received from all indoor units within a predetermined period of time. A notification command can be sent.

  The difference between FIG. 3 (A), FIG. 3 (B), and FIG. 3 (C) is that, in addition to the frame type, items of current consumption and review request are added, and the others are the same. Note that the operation data represents an instruction from the wireless remote controller or a control state of the indoor unit. In this embodiment, only the power-on state is referred to. As described later, this is for confirming the power-on timing of a new air conditioner in the system, but the timing when the current consumption item is “0” may be used as an alternative.

  Here, the item of current consumption is the current current consumption consumed by a certain air conditioner, and the outdoor unit control unit 18 transmits the value measured by the current detection unit 14 to the indoor unit control unit 8 for transmission. . In this embodiment, the current detection unit 14 is configured to measure the current of the outdoor unit power supply unit 13 and does not include current consumption in the indoor unit.

  In general, the current consumption of indoor units is much smaller than that of outdoor units, so it can be ignored as current consumption. However, the average value of the current consumption of indoor units calculated in advance is added to the current consumption of outdoor units. Then, the current consumption of the entire air conditioner may be used, or the current detection unit 14 may be provided on the indoor unit side to accurately obtain the total current consumption of the indoor unit and the outdoor unit.

  The review request item is that the heating set temperature is raised by turning on the outdoor unit on the indoor unit side or the user's operation, and in order to reach this set temperature, the number of rotations of the compressor is increased, that is, consumption When an increase in current is expected, another air conditioner is requested to review the current allocation frame described later.

  FIG. 4 is a graph showing the current consumption of each of the air conditioners 1 to 3, the total current consumption thereof, and the limit current value indicating the current consumption allocation frame at the next timing in each air conditioner. The axis represents current (A), and the horizontal axis represents time. In the time axis, timing points t1 to t10 divided by a predetermined interval, for example, 2 seconds are described.

  The current consumption is measured at each timing, and the number of air conditioners in the entire system, priority, reserved current, breaker capacity, current consumption, and review requests are confirmed, and the air conditioner is in accordance with certain rules. The current frame that can be used as a whole is divided and assigned to each air conditioner. Each air conditioner operates until the next timing within the range of the assigned current frame.

  Therefore, each air conditioner not only extracts its current consumption and review request, but also transmits this information to other air conditioners using the frames shown in FIG. 3 (B) and FIG. 3 (C). In addition, these pieces of information are received from other air conditioners, and a management table including its own information is created.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining this management table. This management table is stored in the indoor unit control unit 8 of each indoor unit, and is sequentially updated based on the information notification command of other air conditioners received at each timing and the information notification command transmitted by itself. . Therefore, in this table, only the information of the air conditioner currently operated is described. In addition, when the power supply of an air conditioner is newly turned on, it is added to this table, and when the air conditioner in operation is turned off, it is deleted from the table. These can be confirmed by the operation data of the information notification command.
In the items of FIG. 5, the time represents the timing from t1 to t10, and the table order represents the data description order of each air conditioner. The items of priority, reserved current, breaker capacity, current consumption, indoor unit ID, and review request have been described with reference to FIG.

  In this management table, basically, the air conditioners that are powered on are added and registered in order, but the priority value of the air conditioner added later is smaller than the registered priority values. In this case, this order is changed and registered in the table. In this embodiment, if the priorities are the same, data registered later is prioritized. In order to give the highest priority to data registered later as system specifications, it is recommended to insert it at the beginning of the table order. If the tables are managed in this way, the table order becomes the final priority.

  The indoor unit ID is used to identify the air conditioner. For example, “sky 1” indicates the air conditioner 1. Further, since the same value should be set for each wireless remote controller for the reserved current and the breaker capacity, if they are different, an error may be displayed at the time of setting.

  Also, from these two items, the current consumption frame that can be used for the entire air conditioner system, that is, the value obtained by subtracting the reserved current from the breaker capacity, in this case only 25A, is calculated. It may be excluded from the table management and only the current consumption frame: 25A may be stored.

  Next, the items of limit current will be described. As described above, this item is an assigned current value until the next timing in each air conditioner. This value is calculated according to the rules described below.

  First, as shown at t1, if there is only one air conditioner 1, the current consumption frame: 25A is assigned as a limit current as it is. When the power of the air conditioner 2 is turned on as shown at t2, first, the priorities of the air conditioner 1 and the air conditioner 2 are compared. Since the air conditioner has priority 2, data is added after the air conditioner 1.

  Here, since the table order (actual priority order) is 1 to 2, the current consumption frame is divided and allocated at a rate reverse to this order. That is, 2/3 is allocated to the air conditioner 1 and 1/3 is allocated to the air conditioner 2. Actually, this ratio is multiplied by a current consumption frame: 25 A, and 16.7 A is assigned to the air conditioner 1 and 8.3 A is assigned to the air conditioner 2 as limit currents. Accordingly, each air conditioner is operated so as not to exceed the limit current value until the next timing t2.

  In this embodiment, the current consumption frame is divided and allocated at a rate reverse to the table order. However, the present invention is not limited to this method, and the current consumption frame is simply divided by the number of operating air conditioners. A method of dividing and assigning may be used. This method has an advantage that the processing becomes simple because it is not necessary to consider the priority order regarding the current allocation of the air conditioner. However, in this method, when one allocation frame becomes smaller than the starting current as a result of the uniform allocation to a large number of air conditioners, there is a case where one air conditioner cannot be operated.

  On the other hand, the method of the present invention that divides and allocates the current consumption frames at a ratio reverse to the table order is an effective method when assigning the current consumption frames corresponding to the priority order, and has a high priority of air conditioning. The machine can be operated reliably. Therefore, the equal allocation method is effective when the number of air conditioners is relatively small because the processing is simple, and the method of the present invention is effective when the number of air conditioners is large.

  Then, as shown at t3, when the review request of the air conditioner 1 is “none”, it is determined that the current does not increase any more. In this case, the limit current of the air conditioner 1 is set to the current consumption current: 12A, and the value obtained by subtracting the limit current value of the air conditioner 1 from the overall consumption current frame: 25A: 13A is the limit current of the air conditioner 2. Assign as. That is, the excess current frame in the air conditioner 1 is transferred to the air conditioner 2.

  Then, as shown at t5, when the air conditioner 3 is turned on, the air conditioner 2 and the air conditioner 3 have the same priority “2”, but the air conditioner 3 later turns on the power. Since the order is changed, the order in the management table is changed, and the air conditioner 3 is arranged in the table order 2 and the data of the air conditioner 2 is arranged in the table order 3.

  Since the air conditioner 3 has a review request “Yes”, the current frame is recalculated. Since the air conditioner 1 does not have a review request, the limit current is assigned 10A, which is the current consumption current. Then, the remaining current frame: 15A is divided by the remaining air conditioner. Specifically, since the table order is 2 and 3, the remaining current frame: 15A is set at a ratio of the table order 2, that is, 3/5 for the air conditioner 3, and the table order 3, that is, 2/5 for the air conditioner 2. The air conditioner 3 is divided, 9A is assigned to the air conditioner 3, and 6A is assigned to the air conditioner 2, and each value is set as a limit current value.

  And as shown in t8, when the review request "existence" of the air conditioner 1 occurs, it reversely assigns in the ratio of the table order 1 to 3, and the current consumption frame: 25A, to the air conditioner 1 3/6 is assigned, and 12.5 A is set as the limit current value. Then, the remaining current frame: 12.5 A is divided and 3/5 7.5 A is allocated to the air conditioner 3. However, since the review request of the air conditioner 3 is “none”, the limit current is 3 A, which is the current consumption. Therefore, the air conditioner 2 sets the remaining current frame: 12.5A-3A = 9.5A as the limit current value.

  In this way, if the current frame is unnecessary, the surplus current frame is transferred to a low-priority air conditioner, and when the current frame is needed, a review request “Yes” is designated to designate a predetermined current frame. It can also be returned to. Note that the case where a current frame is required refers to the case where it is desired to rapidly cool and heat the entire room when the power is turned on, or the case where the set temperature is raised by the user during the heating operation.

  Next, processing related to current control in the indoor unit of FIG. 1 will be described using an operation flowchart of the indoor unit control unit 8 of the indoor unit shown in FIG. ST shown in FIG. 6 represents a step, the number following this represents a step number, Y represents Yes, and N represents No.

  When a power-on operation instruction is given by the wireless remote controller, indoor unit control unit 8 clears the management table and performs initialization (ST1). This creates an information notification command for the own air conditioner in FIG. 3 (B) based on the data in FIG. 3 (A) received from the wireless remote controller, and data in the management table corresponding thereto, for example, in FIG. Create data for t1.

  And the data of the own air conditioner in this management table are transmitted to another air conditioner (ST2). Then, it is confirmed whether a specified time, for example, 2 seconds has elapsed (ST3). If the specified time has not elapsed, it is confirmed whether there is received data for information notification (ST4). If there is received data (ST4-Y), this information notification data is added to the management table (ST5). At this time, it is registered in the management table according to the priority order in the data and the order in which the power is turned on. Then, the process jumps to ST3. If there is no received data (ST4-N), the process jumps to ST3.

  On the other hand, when the designated time has elapsed (ST3-Y), ST9 is executed. In addition, from ST1 to ST5, status notifications of other air conditioners are received, and the latest management table is created in the own air conditioner. Therefore, in this state, its own outdoor unit is not operated yet.

  Then, it is confirmed whether there is received data (ST9). If there is received data (ST9-Y), it is confirmed whether the received data is a remote control signal addressed to the own air conditioner (ST10). If the received data is not a remote control signal addressed to the own air conditioner (ST10-N), the management table is updated with this received data (ST11), and the total allowable current is calculated, that is, the current consumption that can be used by the entire air conditioner. (Limit current value) is obtained (ST12). This is a value obtained by subtracting the reserved current from the breaker current.

  Next, the entire management table is searched, and it is confirmed whether there is at least one review request “present” (ST13). If there is a review request “present” (ST13-Y), the allocated current is calculated according to the table order of the management table (ST14). Then, it is confirmed whether there is a review request “present” in the data of the corresponding air conditioner for which the allocated current is calculated (ST16). If the review request is “Yes” (ST16-Y), the allocated current calculated is stored in the limit current item of the management table (ST18), and if the review request is “None” (ST16). -N), the current consumption of the management table is stored in the item of limit current of the management table (ST17), and the process jumps to ST19.

  In ST19, it is confirmed whether the processing of the management table for all air conditioners has been completed. If not (ST19-N), the process jumps to ST14 to perform the processing of the next air conditioner. If this is the case (ST19-Y), the limit current of the local air conditioner is set as the current limit value, and the air conditioner is operated within this current limit value (ST20). If the data received in ST9 is received by the remote controller, the air conditioner is controlled in accordance with the operation instruction of this data. Then, the process jumps to ST9.

  If there is no review request “Yes” in ST13 (ST13-N), the operation jumps to ST20 and only the operation is performed without changing the management table.

On the other hand, if there is no received data in ST9 (ST9-N), it is confirmed whether the specified time has passed (ST30). If the specified time has not elapsed (ST30-N), the process jumps to ST9. If the specified time has elapsed (ST30-Y), the current consumption of the own air conditioner is measured (ST31). If the received data is the remote control signal addressed to itself in ST10 (ST10-Y), the process jumps to ST31. Next, the review request item of the local air conditioner in the management table is set to “None” (ST32). Then, it is confirmed whether the room temperature and the set temperature set by the user are substantially the same (ST33). If the room temperature and the set temperature are not the same (ST33-N), the review request item of the local air conditioner in the management table is set to “present” (ST34). And based on the data corresponding to the own air conditioner in a management table, an information notification command is produced and it transmits to another air conditioner (ST35). Then, the process jumps to ST12. If the room temperature and the set temperature are the same in ST33 (ST33-Y), the process jumps to ST35.

  By the way, in ST20, when the limit current is less than the minimum drive current of the local air conditioner, the operation of the outdoor unit is given up and stopped, and the display device or the like is displayed to exit ST20. In this case, since the room temperature does not reach the set temperature in ST33, the review request for the management table is set to “present”. Therefore, it will stand by until the margin of the limit electric current which can drive an own air conditioner is made in the consumption current frame of the whole system by progress of time. The user sees this display and makes an operational decision as to whether to change the priority to a higher rank, wait for it, or perform a power-off operation.

  As described above, in this system, there is no control unit that controls the system, and each air conditioner controls the operation of its own air conditioner while observing the status of the entire system. Easy to build. Furthermore, a system can be constructed from at least one air conditioner, and the power on / off of any air conditioner during system operation is free and flexible in operation.

  In addition, in the allocation of the limit current value, not only the number of air conditioners but also the information on the tendency to increase the current consumption is taken into account, so that it can be efficiently allocated in accordance with the change of the operating condition.

  In addition, since a limit current value after a specific time is assigned, even models that cannot be changed suddenly, such as inverter-type outdoor units, can be dealt with with sufficient time, resulting in efficient current control.

  In addition, when it is determined that there is no tendency to increase current consumption, the remaining current limit value that excludes the current value necessary to maintain the current status can be used with other air conditioners, so the margin of current limit value is effectively used. it can.

  If it is determined that there is a tendency to increase the consumption current, the allocation is performed according to the number of air conditioners, so that the operation can be shifted from steady operation to operation with increased capacity (current increased).

  In addition, since the priority order that prescribes the size of the allocation frame of each air conditioner is added to the allocation conditions of the limit current value, the air conditioner in a room where many people gather, such as a living room, is given priority. You can drive.

  In addition, when there are multiple air conditioners with the same priority, the air conditioner that has been turned on later is judged to have higher priority, so even an inverter type air conditioner in which a large current flows when the power is turned on operates reliably. be able to.

  Furthermore, since the transmission / reception unit that transmits / receives information notification data to / from other air conditioners is also used as the transmission / reception unit used for communication with the wireless remote controller, the air conditioner can be configured at a lower cost than the case where it is provided alone. Further, wiring for transmitting / receiving information notification data is not necessary.

  In this embodiment, the path for transmitting and receiving the information notification data is formed by radio waves. However, the path is not limited to this, and the path may be configured by a serial signal or the like.

  In this embodiment, information data exchange with other air conditioners and management table updating are performed in the indoor unit. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The management table is updated by replacement, and the indoor unit is operated according to the data of the updated management table. For example, the relationship between the function implemented in the system and the device that realizes this function is specified. is not.

It is a block diagram of an indoor unit and an outdoor unit showing an embodiment of an air conditioner according to the present invention. It is a floor plan of the house which installed the comprehensive electric current control system by this invention. It is explanatory drawing explaining the flame | frame structure which the air conditioner by this invention transmits / receives. It is a time chart showing the consumption current and limit current of the air conditioner by this invention. It is explanatory drawing explaining the management table by this invention in order of time. It is a flowchart explaining the process of the indoor unit control part by this invention. It is a system block diagram which shows the conventional comprehensive electric current control system.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Antenna 2 Wireless transmission / reception part 3 Indoor unit power supply part 4 Power supply relay 5 Indoor unit electric power communication part 6 Fan motor drive part 7 Fan motor 8 Indoor unit control part 13 Outdoor unit power supply part 14 Current detection part 15 Outdoor unit electric power communication part 16 Compressor drive unit 17 Compressor motor 18 Outdoor unit control unit 20 Breaker

Claims (6)

A plurality of air conditioners having a current detection unit for detecting their own current consumption values are connected to a common power supply line, and the total of the current consumption values detected by the air conditioners is designated in advance as a limit current value In the overall current control system of the air conditioner to be controlled within
The air conditioner includes a transmission / reception unit that performs transmission / reception of information notification data including a review request information indicating a trend of increase in current consumption and the current consumption value, and other air conditioners, and A management table for managing the received information notification data and the information notification data of the air conditioner for each air conditioner;
The air conditioner updates the information notification data of the air conditioner itself in the management table and sequentially transmits to other air conditioners, while based on the received information notification data of each air conditioner Updating the management table;
The information notification data in the management table is referenced for each air conditioner, the limit current value is divided based on the number of referenced air conditioners, and the divided based on the review request information is divided. Update the management table by assigning the limit current value as the limit current during operation,
Next, the total current control system for an air conditioner is operated so that the current consumption of the air conditioner is within the limit current value until the management table is updated.   When the air conditioner determines that the consumption current does not increase according to the review request information, the air conditioner allocates the consumption current value of the air conditioner as a limit current value during operation, and from the limit current value to the limit current The total current control system for an air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the management table is updated by assigning the limit current value of another air conditioner using the remaining value obtained by subtracting the value.   When the air conditioner determines that there is a tendency to increase current consumption based on the review request information, the divided air current limiter is assigned to the air conditioner as the limit current value and the management table is updated. The comprehensive current control system for an air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that In the information notification data, including priority order data for determining the priority of assignment of the limit current value to each air conditioner,
When the air conditioner divides the limit current value based on the number of air conditioners in the management table, the air conditioner corresponding to the high priority data has priority over the division ratio of the limit current value. The overall current control system for an air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the overall current control system is assigned to a large amount.   5. The overall current control system for an air conditioner according to claim 4, wherein the air conditioner prioritizes an air conditioner that is powered on later when assigning the limit current value. The air conditioner comprises a wireless remote control for controlling the air conditioner wirelessly,
The transmission / reception unit transmits / receives the information notification data to / from the air conditioner, while receiving operation instruction data from the wireless remote controller, and the air conditioner operates the air conditioner according to the data. An integrated current control system for an air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein

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