JP2011047647A - Air conditioning device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve comfort by executing an operation not lowering a room temperature while keeping a dehumidifying capacity of a certain degree in the entire room, even in cooling of low load. <P>SOLUTION: This air conditioning device has a plurality of air conditioners respectively having an indoor unit and an outdoor unit to form a complete one refrigerating cycle by the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, and an operating section for control. The plurality of indoor units are disposed in one air conditioning area, so that the indoor units performing an operation improved in a dehumidifying capacity, and the indoor unit performing an operation to adjust the load so that the indoor temperature is not lowered to a set temperature, coexist by allowing the operating section for control to execute intercommunication among the air conditioners. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner that can improve energy saving performance and comfort by performing communication between those that normally operate independently when a plurality of air conditioners are installed.

  Commercial air conditioners are often installed in large spaces in offices and stores, and it has been practiced to operate and control multiple air conditioners as a group with a single remote controller. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 07-167519 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 03-001031 JP 2005-049022 A

  However, in this case as well, a plurality of air conditioners are merely operated individually so that the operation is stopped with one remote controller and the set temperature is reached by cooling or heating.

  For this reason, an air conditioner installed in a place with a relatively large load, such as near a doorway or window, even in a single room requires capacity, and the efficiency (= capacity / input) decreases when operating at high capacity. If the operation is controlled to a short time, the efficiency of the entire group will decrease due to temperature unevenness.

  Further, during heating operation, when the outside air temperature is low, frost is generated and grows in the heat exchanger of the outdoor unit. Therefore, it is necessary to perform the defrosting operation every certain time. The defrosting operation is generally performed by stopping the indoor unit that blows hot air into the room and moving only the outdoor unit in the cooling cycle, but at this time the heating operation is temporarily stopped, so the room temperature decreases. End up. In addition, since one group starts operation at the same time, it is often the case that the defrosting operation is almost completed at the same time. There is something serious.

  Furthermore, during cooling and low-load operation (temperature is not so high, but the rainy season is high due to high humidity, etc.), the evaporation temperature is high and the sensible heat ratio (sensible heat) Comfortability is not improved because the room is not dehumidified because it is operated with high (capacity / total capacity) (low dehumidification capacity). Therefore, when the set temperature of the room is lowered, the power consumption increases or the user feels cold and the comfort is lowered.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and a plurality of air conditioners communicate with each other so that a plurality of air conditioners are not affected by a load variation due to temperature unevenness. Aims to reduce power consumption by demonstrating leveled air conditioning capability.

  In addition, multiple air conditioners communicate with each other to prevent multiple air conditioners from defrosting at a time during heating operation, and avoid deterioration of comfort due to a decrease in room temperature. With the goal.

  In addition, when multiple air conditioners communicate with each other during cooling operation, not all of them operate equally at low capacity, high evaporation temperature and high sensible heat ratio, but several of them are high. By operating at low evaporating temperature and low sensible heat ratio with the capacity, and adjusting the load for the remaining several units, the room temperature is lowered while having a certain degree of dehumidifying capacity even in a low cooling load. The purpose is to improve driving comfort and to improve comfort.

  In addition, it is intended that a plurality of air conditioners communicate with each other during cooling operation, so that some of the plurality can perform heating operation and can perform pseudo reheat dehumidification operation. And

  An air conditioner according to the present invention includes an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, a plurality of air conditioners that form one refrigeration cycle completed by the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, and a control arithmetic unit The plurality of indoor units are arranged in one air-conditioning area, and the control calculation unit communicates between the air conditioners to perform dehumidifying capacity increase operation at the time of a cooling operation command. There are a mix of what is performed and what is performed to perform load adjustment so that the room temperature does not drop with respect to the set temperature.

  An air conditioner according to the present invention includes an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, a plurality of air conditioners that form one refrigeration cycle completed by the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, and a control arithmetic unit The plurality of indoor units are arranged in one air-conditioning area, and the control calculation unit communicates between the air conditioners to perform dehumidifying capacity increase operation at the time of a cooling operation command. Because there is a mix of what to perform and the operation to adjust the load so that the room temperature does not drop with respect to the set temperature, the room as a whole has a certain degree of dehumidification capability even at low cooling loads. This makes it possible to drive without lowering the comfort level and improve comfort.

FIG. 5 shows the first to fourth embodiments and is a configuration diagram of the air conditioning apparatus 100. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the first embodiment and is a flowchart illustrating temperature adjustment control. The figure which shows the characteristic of COP (= capacity | capacitance / input) which shows the capability with respect to the compressor frequency by an inverter drive used with a general air conditioner, input, and operation efficiency. The figure which shows Embodiment 2, and is a flowchart figure which shows the defrost operation control of the outdoor unit at the time of heating. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the third embodiment and is a flowchart illustrating dehumidification control. FIG. 5 shows the third embodiment, and is a configuration diagram of the air conditioning apparatus 100.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
1 and 2 are diagrams showing Embodiment 1, FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an air conditioner 100, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing temperature adjustment control. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the characteristics of COP (= capacity / input) indicating the capacity, the input, and the operation efficiency with respect to the compressor frequency by the inverter drive used in a general air conditioner.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioner 100 includes a plurality of air conditioners, a plurality of outdoor units 1a, 1b, ... 1x, a plurality of indoor units 2a, 2b, ... 2x, and an outdoor unit 1a. , 1b,... 1x and the indoor units 2a, 2b,... 2x, a crossover 4 that communicates between the indoor units 2a, 2b,. ing. The piping of the piping / wiring 3 is a refrigerant piping, and the wiring is a power supply and communication wiring.

  In the example shown in FIG. 1, the remote controller 5 of one wired remote controller is provided in the indoor unit 2b. However, this is only an example, and the remote controller 5 may be wireless, and the number to be installed may be arbitrary.

  The air conditioner is, for example, a ceiling-embedded air conditioner. Generally, a ceiling-embedded air conditioner is a separate type air conditioner that includes an indoor unit installed on a ceiling in the room and an outdoor unit connected to the indoor unit and installed outdoors. Then, one complete refrigeration cycle is formed by the indoor unit and the outdoor unit.

  Each of the plurality of air conditioners of the air conditioner 100 shown in FIG. 1 has one complete refrigeration cycle, and what is called a multi-type that includes one outdoor unit and a plurality of indoor units. It has a different configuration.

  The indoor units 2a, 2b,... 2x and the outdoor units 1a, 1b,... 1x communicate with the inside / outside communication lines and the crossover lines 4 of the respective pipes / wirings 3 to thereby compress the outdoor units 1a, 1b,. It is possible to grasp the operating frequency.

  The compressors of the outdoor units 1a, 1b, ... 1x are driven by inverters. Therefore, the operating frequency is not constant and changes based on the command. A rotary compressor, a scroll compressor, etc. are used for a compressor.

  Assume that three air conditioners are connected as shown in FIG. If the outdoor unit 1a operates at 80% of the maximum air conditioning capacity, the outdoor unit 1b operates at 50% of the maximum air conditioning capacity, and the outdoor unit 1c operates at 50% of the maximum air conditioning capacity, the average is taken. Since it is possible to cope with the load of the room by operating all three units at 60% of the maximum air conditioning capacity, the indoor units 2a, 2b, and 2c and the outdoor units 1a, 1b, and 1c are three units in a calculation unit (not shown). Both are adjusted to operate at 60% air conditioning capacity.

  The control arithmetic unit is provided in any one of the outdoor units 1a, 1b,... 1x, the indoor units 2a, 2b,. It may be performed by newly adding a device having the.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, each outdoor unit 1a, so that the average value of the intake air temperature of each indoor unit 2a, 2b,... 2x becomes a set temperature set by the remote controller 5 at regular intervals. It can be implemented by leveling the operation frequencies 1b,.

  In FIG. 2, when the regular processing is started (S10), the intake air temperature of each indoor unit 2a, 2b,... 2x is measured by a temperature detector (for example, a thermistor) (not shown) installed at the intake port. The statistics are taken (S11).

  Next, it is determined whether the cooling capacity or the heating capacity is sufficient by comparing the average intake air temperature of each indoor unit 2a, 2b,... 2x with the set temperature (S12). The set temperature of the intake air at the suction port is a temperature set by the user with the remote controller 5.

  In the case of the cooling operation, if the average intake air temperature of each indoor unit 2a, 2b,... 2x ≦ the set temperature, it is determined that the cooling capacity is sufficient (* of S12 in FIG. 2).

  In the case of heating operation, if the average intake air temperature of each indoor unit 2a, 2b,... 2x ≧ the set temperature, it is determined that the heating capacity is sufficient (in () of S12 in FIG. 2).

  When the air conditioning capability (cooling capability or heating capability) is sufficient in S12, the air conditioning capability is maintained or reduced as it is (S13).

  When the air conditioning capacity is insufficient (in the cooling operation, the average intake air temperature of each indoor unit 2a, 2b,... 2x> set temperature, and in the heating operation, the average intake air temperature of each indoor unit 2a, 2b,. The temperature) increases the air conditioning capacity uniformly in the connected outdoor unit (S14).

  Thus, the scheduled processing is completed (S15), and thereafter the same processing is repeated.

  FIG. 3 shows the characteristics of COP (coefficient of performance = capacity / input) indicating capacity / input and operating efficiency with respect to the frequency of the compressor driven by an inverter used in a general air conditioner. The capacity is the air conditioning capacity. The example shown in FIG. 3 shows the relationship between the compressor frequency and the capacity / input and COP when the compressor frequency is changed in the range of 25 to 90 Hz.

  As shown in FIG. 3, it can be seen that the COP decreases when the frequency of the compressor is increased to cope with a high load, and the COP increases when the frequency of the compressor is decreased.

  When changing the frequency of the compressor, for example, the air conditioning capacity increases about 2.5 times the minimum at the maximum frequency, and the input increases about 5 times the minimum at the maximum frequency. To do. Therefore, the COP (coefficient of performance = air conditioning capacity / input) is reduced to about ½ at the maximum frequency when the frequency is maximum.

  As described above, according to this embodiment, a plurality of air conditioners of the air conditioner 100 communicate with each other, so that a plurality of air conditioners are not affected by load variations due to temperature unevenness. Power consumption can be reduced by demonstrating the leveled air conditioning capability.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In the air conditioner 100 shown in FIG. 1, in the case of heating operation, each of the indoor units 2 a, 2 b,... 2 x and each outdoor unit 1 a, 1 b,. It is possible to grasp the frosting state of each outdoor unit 1a, 1b,. The state of frost formation of each of the outdoor units 1a, 1b,... 1x can be grasped from the piping temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger and its duration.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the embodiment and is a flowchart of the defrosting control. Defrosting control will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the heating operation scheduled processing is started (S20), the outdoor heat exchanger temperature of each air conditioner is measured, and statistics are taken (S21). The outdoor heat exchanger temperature is measured by attaching a temperature detector (for example, a thermistor) (not shown) to the outdoor heat exchanger.

  It is determined whether each air conditioner is approaching the defrosting permission time from the outdoor heat exchanger temperature of each air conditioner obtained by measurement / statistics in S21 (S22).

  Here, the defrost permission time means that when the air conditioner starts the heating operation, the temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger, which is an evaporator, gradually decreases. And the time of the heating operation in which the outdoor heat exchanger temperature is below a predetermined “defrosting permission temperature Tdef” (for example, −5 ° C. to −2 ° C.) is integrated. A predetermined value (for example, 60 minutes) of the accumulated time of the heating operation time that is equal to or lower than the predetermined minus temperature (for example, −5 ° C. to −2 ° C.) is defined as “defrosting permission time”.

  In S22, when the integrated time of the heating operation in which a plurality of air conditioners satisfy the outdoor heat exchanger temperature ≦ defrosting permission temperature Tdef is approaching a predetermined defrosting permission time, the air conditioning currently in the defrosting operation is performed. It is determined whether there is a machine (S23).

  When there is no air conditioner currently performing the defrosting operation in S23, the defrosting operation of the air conditioner that is closest to the defrosting permission time is started (S25).

  And a heating operation regular time process is completed (S27) and it returns to S20.

  The defrosting operation is performed by stopping the indoor unit that blows warm air into the room (stops the blower) and moving only the outdoor unit in the cooling cycle. At this time, the outdoor heat exchanger of the outdoor unit operates as a condenser.

  If there is an air conditioner currently performing a defrosting operation in S23, the outdoor time of the air conditioner in which the accumulated time of the heating operation that satisfies the outdoor heat exchanger temperature ≦ the defrosting permission temperature Tdef is approaching the predetermined defrosting permission time It is determined whether the temperature of the heat exchanger is lower than the forced defrost temperature (for example, −20 ° C. to −10 ° C.) (S24).

  The temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger of the air conditioner in which the accumulated time of the heating operation satisfying the outdoor heat exchanger temperature ≦ defrosting permission temperature Tdef in S24 approaches the predetermined defrosting permission time is lower than the forced defrosting temperature. In this case, the defrosting operation of the air conditioner that has fallen below the forced defrosting temperature is started regardless of the presence or absence of the air conditioner during the defrosting operation (S26).

  The temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger of the air conditioner in which the accumulated time of the heating operation that satisfies the outdoor heat exchanger temperature ≦ defrosting permission temperature Tdef in S24 is approaching the predetermined defrosting permission time is not lower than the forced defrosting temperature. In this case, since there are other air conditioners during the defrosting operation, if the number of air conditioners performing the defrosting operation further increases, the heating capacity of the air conditioner 100 as a whole decreases, so the defrosting operation does not start. Return to S21.

  In S22, if there is no air conditioner in which the accumulated time of the heating operation satisfying the outdoor heat exchanger temperature ≦ defrosting permission temperature Tdef is approaching the predetermined defrosting permission time or there is only one, one of them It is determined whether the temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger of the air conditioner is lower than the forced defrost temperature (for example, −20 ° C. to −10 ° C.) (S24).

  When the temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger of one air conditioner is lower than the forced defrost temperature (for example, −20 ° C. to −10 ° C.), the defrost operation of the air conditioner is started (S26). .

  When the temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger of one air conditioner is not lower than the forced defrosting temperature in S24, the defrosting operation is not started and the process returns to S21.

  After S26, the heating operation scheduled process is completed as in S25 (S27), and the process returns to S20.

  The above processing is performed by the control arithmetic unit as in the first embodiment. The control calculation unit is provided in any one of the outdoor units 1a, 1b,... 1x, the indoor units 2a, 2b,. It may be performed by adding a new device.

  As described above, when other air conditioners are in the defrosting operation at the time of low outside air temperature during heating, the defrosting operation is not performed or the defrosting is performed at the same time except when the temperature is lower than the forced defrosting temperature. When it is likely to be in operation, the air conditioner communicates with each other by making adjustments to start defrosting operation early, so that multiple air conditioners can be defrosted at the same time during heating operation. As much as possible, it is possible to prevent the room temperature from being lowered due to insufficient heating capacity of the air conditioner 100 and the comfort from being deteriorated.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
The plurality of air conditioners having the configuration shown in FIG. 1 are the indoor units 2a, 2b,... 2x and the outdoor units 1a, 1b,. By communicating through the crossover line 4, the indoor heat exchanger temperature (= evaporation temperature) of each indoor unit 2a, 2b,.

  When a person in the room (air-conditioning area) gives a command to prioritize dehumidification from the remote controller 5, the air-conditioning capacity of some of the multiple air conditioners is increased to lower the evaporation temperature, and the remaining air-conditioning In order to adjust the increased air conditioning capacity, the machine reduces the air conditioning capacity or stops the cooling operation, and prevents the room temperature from dropping excessively as a blowing operation.

  In order to adjust the increased air-conditioning capacity, the air-conditioning capacity is lowered in the operation of adjusting the load so that the room temperature does not decrease with respect to the set temperature.

  FIG. 5 shows the third embodiment and is a flowchart showing dehumidification control. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, when dehumidification priority is set from the remote controller 5, 10% to 50% (predetermined number) of the number of connected indoor units 2a, 2b,. Run up and let the air conditioning capacity of other indoor units follow the set temperature. If the room temperature becomes low even after the operation of the indoor unit other than the operation for increasing the dehumidifying capacity is stopped, the air conditioner performing the operation for increasing the dehumidifying capacity is stopped to prevent the room temperature from being lowered excessively.

  An operation in which the sensible heat ratio (sensible heat capacity / total capacity) is lowered by lowering the evaporation temperature in the cooling operation is defined as “dehumidifying capacity increasing operation”.

  5, when a person in the room (air conditioning area) gives a command to give priority to dehumidification from the remote controller 5 (S30), 10% to 50% (predetermined) of the number of connected indoor units 2a, 2b,. ) Increase the dehumidification capacity. In this case, the compressor is operated at a high frequency regardless of the set temperature, and the operation of lowering the evaporation temperature of the indoor heat exchanger temperature is performed (S31).

  Subsequently, a scheduled process is started (S32), and the intake air temperature of each indoor unit 2a, 2b,... 2x is measured by a temperature detector (not shown) (for example, a thermistor) installed at the intake port to obtain statistics. (S33).

  Next, the average intake air temperature of each indoor unit 2a, 2b,... 2x is compared with the set temperature (S34).

  In the case of the cooling operation, if the average intake air temperature of each indoor unit 2a, 2b,... 2x ≦ the set temperature, it is determined that the air conditioning capability is sufficient.

  In the heating operation, if the average intake air temperature of each indoor unit 2a, 2b,... 2x ≧ the set temperature, it is determined that the air conditioning capability is sufficient.

  If the air conditioning capability is sufficient in S34, it is determined whether the air conditioning capability is over (S35).

  In that case, if the operation of the indoor unit other than the dehumidifying capacity increasing operation is stopped and the average intake air temperature of the indoor unit <the set temperature−Tdif, it is determined that the air conditioning capacity is over. Here, Tdif is a predetermined temperature difference.

  When the air conditioning capacity is exceeded, the number of indoor units that perform the dehumidifying capacity increasing operation is reduced (S38), and the process returns to S32.

  If the air conditioning capacity is not over, the air conditioning capacity is maintained (S37), the scheduled processing is completed (S39), and the process returns to S32.

  If the air conditioning capacity is insufficient in S34, the air conditioning capacity of the indoor units other than the dehumidifying capacity increasing operation is increased (S36), the air conditioning capacity is maintained (S37), the scheduled processing is completed (S39), and the process goes to S32 Return.

  If you fix the air conditioner that increases the cooling capacity, people around the indoor unit feel cold, so the air conditioner that increases the dehumidification capacity every 10 to 20 minutes and other air conditioners that adjust the (temperature) capacity Rotating roles prevents comfort deterioration.

  The above processing is performed by the control arithmetic unit as in the first embodiment. The control calculation unit is provided in any one of the outdoor units 1a, 1b,... 1x, the indoor units 2a, 2b,. It may be performed by adding a new device.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the third embodiment and is a configuration diagram of the air-conditioning apparatus 100. As described above, when the indoor units 2a, 2b,... 2x do not have a sensor for detecting humidity, the evaporating temperature is lowered and the dehumidifying ability is increased qualitatively. However, as shown in FIG. If the humidity sensor 6 is retrofitted to one unit and the operation is performed so that the detected value of the humidity sensor 6 becomes a predetermined target value, the comfort is further improved.

  When dehumidifying, lowering the evaporation temperature increases the dehumidifying capacity, so the air volume of the indoor unit is reduced. As a result, it is possible to avoid as much as possible that people around the indoor unit feel cold. Similarly, in consideration of comfort, the direction of the wind should be set to an angle that reduces the air volume as much as possible, and is set to an angle at which direct wind does not strike.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
As shown in the third embodiment, when a person in the room gives a command to further increase the dehumidification priority level from the remote controller 5, several of the plurality of air conditioners are set in the heating operation. It is possible to increase the amount of dehumidification without lowering the overall temperature. In this case as well, it is desirable to set the air volume and direction so that warm air does not directly hit the human body in consideration of comfort.

  1a, 1b, ... 2x outdoor unit, 2a, 2b, ... 2x indoor unit, 3 piping / wiring, 4 crossover, 5 remote control, 6 humidity sensor, 100 air conditioner.

Claims (2)

  An indoor unit and an outdoor unit, and a plurality of air conditioners that form one refrigeration cycle completed by the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, and a control arithmetic unit, A plurality of the indoor units are arranged, and the control calculation unit communicates with each other between the air conditioners to perform a dehumidifying capacity up operation at the time of a cooling operation command, An air conditioner characterized by a mixture of those that perform an operation for adjusting a load so that the temperature does not decrease.   The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein some of the plurality of air conditioners are operated for heating.

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