JP2011052937A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air conditioner accurately detecting an abnormality of a refrigerating cycle for a short time. <P>SOLUTION: The air conditioner comprises: an outdoor unit 1 constituted of a compressor 2, a four-way valve 3, a decompression means 4, an outdoor heat exchanger 5 and an outdoor fan 6; an indoor unit 7 constituted of an indoor heat exchanger 8, an indoor fan 9, an indoor piping temperature detection means 10 and an indoor temperature detection means 11; a two-way valve 13 installed between the indoor side heat exchanger 8 and the decompression means 4; and a three-way valve 14 installed between the indoor side heat exchanger 8 and the four-way valve 3. During initial operation immediately after installation, clogging detection operation is performed. The operation is performed for a fixed time after start of the clogging detection operation, and operation frequency is controlled so that the temperature of the compressor 2 becomes a predetermined temperature. When a difference between temperatures detected by the indoor piping temperature detection means 10 and the indoor temperature detection means 11, respectively exceeds a predetermined temperature, it is recognized that the refrigerating cycle is normal. When the difference is below the predetermined temperature, clogging of the refrigerant cycle is detected. Thus, an abnormality of the refrigerating cycle can be highly accurately detected for a short time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner, and more particularly to detection of blockage of a refrigeration cycle during a cooling / heating operation by a heat pump operation.

  Conventionally, in this type of air conditioner, the compressor surface temperature or operating current has exceeded a certain value in order to protect the compressor by assuming a malfunction such as when a foreign object is clogged in the refrigeration cycle. If the temperature difference between the room temperature and the indoor heat exchanger is detected for the purpose of reducing the cost or the method of stopping the operation of the compressor, the compressor is stopped if the temperature difference is within a predetermined temperature. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a conventional air conditioner control method described in Patent Document 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the air conditioner is started to operate by cooling or heating, and it is determined whether or not the operation of the compressor has elapsed for 30 minutes or more. When the temperature difference between the room temperature and the indoor heat exchanger temperature is within 2 ° C, or the temperature difference between the outside air temperature and the outdoor heat exchange temperature is within 2 ° C, the refrigerant is not flowing through the refrigeration cycle, that is, the refrigeration cycle A problem such as a complete gas leak from which a large amount of gas has escaped, a locked electronic expansion valve closed, a foreign object entering the valve, or a fully closed state, or forgetting to open a two-way or three-way valve And the compressor can be stopped and protected.

JP 2003-90582 A

  However, the conventional air conditioner described in Patent Document 1 confirms the temperature difference between the indoor temperature and the indoor heat exchanger temperature for each operation, so that the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the pipe length, and the compressor lie down. Depending on the external conditions, such as when the temperature is sufficiently lowered, there is a possibility that a predetermined temperature difference does not occur even though there is no abnormality in the refrigeration cycle, and it is erroneously detected that an abnormality has occurred in the refrigeration cycle.

  In addition, clogging in the refrigeration cycle and forgetting to open the two-way and three-way valves are basically generated immediately after the air conditioner is installed. To expand the risk.

  The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and is limited to immediately after the installation of an air conditioner in which an abnormality is likely to occur in the refrigeration cycle, and performs an obstruction detection operation to detect an abnormality in a shorter time with higher accuracy. It aims at providing the air conditioner which can do.

In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, an air conditioner of the present invention includes an outdoor unit including a compressor, a four-way valve, a pressure reducing unit, an outdoor heat exchanger, an outdoor fan, an indoor heat exchanger, An indoor unit constituted by a fan, an indoor pipe temperature detection means, an indoor temperature detection means, a connection pipe for connecting the outdoor unit and the indoor unit, and the indoor side heat installed adjacent to the outdoor unit In an air conditioner constituted by a two-way valve installed between an exchanger and the pressure reducing means, and a three-way valve installed adjacent to the outdoor unit and installed between the indoor heat exchanger and the four-way valve In the first operation immediately after installation, a blockage detection operation is performed, the operation frequency is controlled so that the compressor is operated for a predetermined time from the start of the blockage detection operation, and the temperature of the compressor becomes a predetermined temperature. Each of the room temperature detection means Check the known temperature difference, when the temperature difference exceeds a predetermined temperature, after recognizing that the refrigeration cycle is normal, to shift to normal operation, if it is below, detecting the blockage of the refrigeration cycle, Abnormalities in the refrigeration cycle can be detected with high accuracy in a short time.

  The air conditioner according to the present invention can determine the normality / abnormality of the refrigeration cycle with higher accuracy by performing the blockage detection operation immediately after installation where the refrigeration cycle abnormality is most likely to occur.

The block diagram of the refrigerating cycle of the air conditioner in Embodiment 1 of this invention Flow chart showing the control method of the air conditioner Flowchart showing a conventional air conditioner control method

  The first invention includes an outdoor unit constituted by a compressor, a four-way valve, a pressure reducing means, an outdoor heat exchanger, an outdoor fan, an indoor heat exchanger, an indoor fan, an indoor pipe temperature detecting means, and an indoor temperature detecting means. An indoor unit constituted by: a connection pipe for connecting the outdoor unit and the indoor unit; and a unit installed adjacent to the outdoor unit and installed between the indoor heat exchanger and the pressure reducing means. In an air conditioner composed of a three-way valve installed adjacent to the outdoor unit and between the indoor heat exchanger and the four-way valve, a blockage detection operation is performed at the first operation immediately after installation. The operation frequency is controlled so that the temperature of the compressor becomes a predetermined temperature from the start of the blockage detection operation, and the temperature detected by each of the indoor pipe temperature detection means and the indoor temperature detection means is controlled. Check the difference, the temperature difference is When it exceeds a certain temperature, it recognizes the refrigeration cycle as normal and then shifts to normal operation, and when it falls below, it detects the refrigeration cycle blockage and detects the refrigeration cycle abnormality in a short time with high accuracy. Can do.

  In particular, the second invention is operated for a certain period of time from the start of the closed operation of the first invention, and the difference between the temperatures detected by the indoor pipe temperature detecting means and the indoor temperature detecting means is confirmed. When the temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature, the compressor operating frequency is forcibly controlled, and further, the refrigeration cycle is blocked by checking the difference between the temperatures detected by the indoor pipe temperature detecting means and the indoor temperature detecting means for a certain period of time. When the refrigeration cycle is in a normal state and the temperature difference is difficult to occur, the temperature difference can be reliably generated.

  In particular, the third aspect of the invention is equipped with an electronic expansion valve in the outdoor compressor of the first or second aspect of the invention, and after the temperature of the compressor reaches a predetermined temperature, the indoor pipe temperature detection means and the indoor temperature detection The temperature difference detected by each of the means is confirmed, and when the temperature difference falls below a predetermined temperature, the opening of the electronic expansion valve is regulated within a certain number, and the indoor pipe temperature is detected for a certain time. By detecting the difference in temperature detected by each of the means and the indoor temperature detection means, the blockage of the refrigeration cycle is detected. A temperature difference can be produced.

  In a fourth aspect of the invention, in particular, in the air conditioner of any one of the first to third aspects of the invention, at least an indoor fan is set to a minimum operating rotational speed, and the indoor fan is always operated at the minimum operation during a blockage detection operation. When the refrigerant is operated at a rotational speed or higher and the refrigerant does not continuously circulate, it is possible to prevent a temperature difference from occurring between the indoor pipe temperature detecting means and the indoor temperature detecting means.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a refrigeration cycle of an air conditioner according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a control method of the air conditioner.

  1 and 2, an outdoor unit 1 of an air conditioner in the present embodiment includes a compressor 2, a four-way valve 3, a pressure reducing means 4, an outdoor heat exchanger 5, an outdoor fan 6, and a compressor. The indoor unit 7 includes an indoor heat exchanger 8, an indoor fan 9, an indoor pipe temperature detection means 10, and an indoor temperature detection means 11. It is configured.

  A two-way valve 13 and a three-way valve 14 for connecting to the indoor unit 7 through the connection pipe 12 are provided outside the outdoor unit 1, and the two-way valve 13 includes a decompression unit 4 and a three-way valve 14. The four-way valve 3 is connected to each other to constitute a refrigeration cycle.

  The operation and action of the air conditioner control method according to the present embodiment configured as described above will be described below.

  When the installation of the air conditioner is completed and the power is turned on and the operation is started by heating or cooling operation, the blockage detection operation is first performed. Here, in the case of normal control heating operation, in order to ensure indoor comfort, when the indoor temperature is low, the operation of the indoor fan 9 is stopped, and the indoor pipe temperature detecting means 10 is kept at a constant temperature (for example, 20 ° C.). However, when a certain amount of refrigerant flows from the outdoor side to the indoor side as in the case where only the two-way valve 13 is closed, the indoor fan 9 is also operated in the closed state. Regardless, there is a case where the temperature detected by the indoor pipe temperature detecting means 10 is raised and does not fall. Therefore, during the blockage detection operation, a minimum operation speed of a very low speed (for example, 340 rpm) is set. However, it prevents the temperature difference between the indoor pipe temperature detecting means 10 and the indoor temperature detecting means 11 from occurring when the air does not circulate continuously.

  In this state, heating operation or cooling operation is performed under normal control for a certain time (for example, 20 minutes for heating and 5 minutes for cooling), respectively. When a certain time has elapsed and the temperature of the compressor 2 reaches a predetermined temperature, the temperature detected by each of the indoor pipe temperature detecting means 10 and the indoor temperature detecting means 11 is confirmed, and the temperature difference between the two is constant temperature ( For example, if it exceeds 4K), it is determined that the refrigeration cycle is normal without clogging or blockage, and the blockage detection operation is terminated.

  If it is within a certain temperature, the refrigeration cycle is likely to be clogged or clogged, but it may be affected by the operation settings of various devices. The operating frequency of the machine 2, the operating rotational speed of the indoor fan 9, and the opening of the decompression means 4 are adjusted.

  For the compressor 2, when the minimum operating frequency (for example, 70 Hz during heating and 40 Hz during cooling) is set as the operating frequency of the compressor 2 and the operation is performed below this frequency during normal control, the frequency reaches a predetermined frequency. Increase the frequency to operate.

  For the indoor fan 9, when the maximum operating speed (for example, 1000 rpm) is set as the operating speed of the indoor fan 9 and the operation is performed exceeding this speed during normal control, the speed reaches the maximum operating speed. Drive down.

For the decompression means 4, the maximum operation opening (for example, 300 pulses) is set as the opening of the decompression means 4, and if the operation is performed exceeding this opening during normal control, the decompression means 4 opens to the maximum operation opening. Adjust the degree of operation. As described above, the blockage detection operation is performed in the operation mode in which it is verified that a certain temperature difference is surely generated if the refrigeration cycle is normal.

  In such an operation mode, the heating operation or the cooling operation is performed for a maximum period of time (for example, 5 minutes for heating and 2 minutes for cooling). During this fixed time, the temperatures detected by the indoor pipe temperature detecting means 10 and the indoor temperature detecting means 11 are always checked, and if the temperature difference between the two exceeds a fixed temperature (for example, 4K), the refrigeration cycle It is determined that there is no clogging or blockage, and it is normal, and the blockage detection operation is terminated.

  If the temperature is still within a certain temperature even after reaching a certain time, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the refrigeration cycle, an abnormality is displayed, and the operation of the air conditioner is stopped.

  Note that the various materials and numerical values shown in the above embodiment are not necessarily limited to these, and there is no problem with other materials and numerical values as long as they can play a predetermined role.

  As described above, since the air conditioner according to the present invention can determine the normality / abnormality of the refrigeration cycle in a short time immediately after installation, it can be applied to all air conditioners in which the indoor unit and the outdoor unit are separated. .

1 outdoor unit
2 Compressor 3 Four-way valve 4 Pressure reducing means 5 Outdoor heat exchanger 6 Outdoor fan 7 Indoor unit 8 Indoor heat exchanger 9 Indoor fan 10 Indoor pipe temperature detecting means 11 Indoor temperature detecting means 12 Connection pipe 13 Two-way valve 14 Three-way Valve 15 Compressor temperature detection means

Claims (4)

An outdoor unit constituted by a compressor, a four-way valve, a pressure reducing means, an outdoor heat exchanger, an outdoor fan, and an indoor unit constituted by an indoor heat exchanger, an indoor fan, an indoor pipe temperature detecting means, and an indoor temperature detecting means A connection pipe for connecting the outdoor unit and the indoor unit, a two-way valve installed adjacent to the outdoor unit and installed between the indoor heat exchanger and the pressure reducing means, and the outdoor unit In an air conditioner configured by a three-way valve installed adjacent to the indoor side heat exchanger and the four-way valve, a blockage detection operation is performed at the first operation immediately after installation, and the blockage detection operation is started. The operation frequency is controlled so that the temperature of the compressor becomes a predetermined temperature, and the difference between the temperatures detected by the indoor pipe temperature detecting means and the indoor temperature detecting means is confirmed, The temperature difference exceeds the specified temperature If that, the refrigeration cycle shifts to normal operation after recognizing normal, air conditioner and detecting a blockage of the refrigeration cycle when below. Operate for a certain period of time from the start of closed operation, check the difference in temperature detected by the indoor pipe temperature detection means and the indoor temperature detection means, and if the temperature difference is below a predetermined temperature, set the compressor operating frequency. 2. The blockage of the refrigeration cycle is detected by forcibly controlling and confirming a difference in temperature detected by each of the indoor pipe temperature detecting means and the indoor temperature detecting means for a predetermined time. Air conditioner. An electronic expansion valve is mounted on the outdoor compressor, and after the temperature of the compressor reaches a predetermined temperature, a difference in temperature detected between the indoor pipe temperature detecting means and the indoor temperature detecting means is confirmed, and the temperature When the difference falls below a predetermined temperature, the opening degree of the electronic expansion valve is regulated within a certain number, and the difference between the temperatures detected by the indoor pipe temperature detecting means and the indoor temperature detecting means for a predetermined time. The air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the blockage of the refrigeration cycle is detected by confirming the above. The minimum operation rotation speed is set to at least the indoor fan, and the indoor fan is always operated at the minimum operation rotation speed or more during the blockage detection operation. Air conditioner.

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