JP2012102926A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve comfort of a person in the space to be air-conditioned during defrosting operation, and to improve efficiency in the defrosting operation.SOLUTION: Flaps 45a-45d control direction of the air-conditioned air blown through a plurality of outlets 41a-41d on a casing 41, respectively. An indoor fan 42 controls air volume of the air-conditioned air blown through the outlets 41a-41d. A plurality of infrared sensors 46a-46d detect whether there is a person in division areas A1-D1, A2-D2. An operation determination part 51a applies a ratio obtained based on the detection result of the infrared sensors 46a-46d during defrosting operation to an outlet data 50a, so as to determine the direction and volume of the air-conditioned air to be blown through the outlets 41a-41d. A fan control part 51b and a flap control part 51c perform angular control of flaps 45a-45d as well as rotational speed control of the indoor fan 42, based on the determination result of the operation determination part 51a.

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner, and more particularly to an air conditioner capable of performing a defrosting operation for removing frost attached to an outdoor heat exchanger.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an office, a store, and the like, an air conditioner configured by a pair of outdoor units and indoor units is installed as a unit for harmonizing the air in the office or store. The indoor unit is installed on the ceiling of a space to be air-conditioned such as an office and has a plurality of outlets. The outdoor unit is installed outside the building and has an outdoor heat exchanger and the like. Such air conditioners include those that perform air conditioning by blowing conditioned air evenly from each outlet of an indoor unit, and those that perform airflow control on a space to be air conditioned rather than simply blowing conditioned air. As what performs airflow control, there exists a thing currently disclosed by patent document 1 (patent 3807305 gazette), for example. In patent document 1, the position of the user in the air-conditioning target space is detected using an infrared sensor, and airflow control is performed based on the detection result. Thereby, for example, the conditioned air that has been blown evenly from the respective outlets of the indoor unit is locally blown out from any of the outlets according to the detection result of the sensor.

  By the way, in patent document 1, the outdoor heat exchanger in an outdoor unit functions as an evaporator during heating operation. Therefore, frost adheres to the outdoor heat exchanger, and the performance of the outdoor heat exchanger itself deteriorates.

  On the other hand, it is conceivable to temporarily stop the heating operation and perform the defrosting operation, but the idea that some control is performed according to the presence or absence of a person in the air-conditioning target space during the defrosting operation has been conventionally performed. There wasn't. Therefore, even if the frost adhering to the outdoor heat exchanger is removed by the defrosting operation, the cooled air is blown out into the air-conditioning target space during the defrosting operation. The comfort of the person in the air-conditioning target space will be impaired.

  The subject of this invention is improving the comfort of the person who exists in the air-conditioning object space at the time of a defrost operation, and aiming at the efficiency improvement of a defrost operation.

  The air conditioning apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention is an apparatus capable of performing a defrosting operation for removing frost adhering to an outdoor heat exchanger. The air conditioner includes a casing, a flap, a fan, a plurality of human detection sensors, a storage unit, a determination unit, and a control unit. The casing is formed with a plurality of outlets for blowing conditioned air into the air-conditioning target space. The flap controls the direction of the conditioned air blown from the outlet. The fan controls the air volume of the conditioned air blown from the blowout port. The plurality of human detection sensors detect the presence or absence of a person in each divided area. The divided area refers to an area in which the air-conditioning target space is divided into a plurality of areas based on the blowing area where the airflow of conditioned air blown from each blowing outlet arrives. The storage unit stores the combination of presence / absence information in association with at least one of the air direction and the air volume of the conditioned air blown out from each air outlet as air outlet data. The presence / absence information indicates the presence / absence of a person in each divided area. The determination unit determines at least one of the air direction and the air volume of the conditioned air blown from each air outlet by applying the detection result of each person detection sensor to the air outlet data during the defrosting operation. The control unit performs flap angle control and fan rotation speed control based on the determination result of the determination unit.

  Here, in the air outlet data, the air direction and the air volume blown out from each air outlet are based on the combination of the presence / absence of the person in each divided area and the person in the air-conditioning target space during the defrosting operation. In consideration of the balance between comfort and efficiency of defrosting operation, it is set in detail in advance. According to this air conditioner, during the defrosting operation, the air direction and the air volume of the conditioned air are determined by the detection result of the human detection sensor and the pre-stored outlet data. The air volume and direction can be finely controlled according to the presence or absence of people in each area. Therefore, it is possible to improve the comfort of people in the air-conditioning target space during defrosting operation and the efficiency of defrosting operation in a well-balanced manner.

  An air conditioner according to a second aspect of the present invention is the air conditioner according to the first aspect, wherein the human detection sensor can detect the number of persons in each divided area. Then, according to the ratio of the number of persons detected by the human detection sensor to the predetermined number of persons, it is determined whether or not there is a person in each divided area.

  According to this air conditioner, the presence or absence of a person in each divided area is not determined based on whether or not there is a person, but is determined according to the ratio of the number of persons. For example, if the ratio of the number of persons to a predetermined number of people in a certain divided area is equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio, it is determined that there is a person in the area. It can be determined that there is no. Thereby, according to the state of the number of people in each divided area, it is possible to determine the wind direction and the air volume, and to improve the comfort of people in the air-conditioning target space during defrosting operation and the efficiency of defrosting operation with a better balance. It becomes possible to improve.

  The air conditioner according to a third aspect of the present invention is the air conditioner according to the first aspect or the second aspect, wherein the casing is formed with at least four outlets for blowing out the conditioned air in different directions. This is a ceiling-mounted indoor unit casing. At least four flaps are provided so as to correspond to the respective outlets. A control part changes the angle of each flap independently based on the determination result by a determination part at the time of a defrost operation.

  According to this air conditioner, the angle of each flap is independently controlled during the defrosting operation. Therefore, during the defrosting operation, the conditioned air sent from each outlet into the air-conditioning target space can be sent in different directions depending on the angle of each flap. Therefore, fine airflow control can be performed even during the defrosting operation.

  According to the air conditioner according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to improve the comfort of a person in the air-conditioning target space during defrosting operation and the efficiency of the defrosting operation in a well-balanced manner.

  According to the air conditioner pertaining to the second aspect of the present invention, the wind direction and the air volume can be determined according to the state of the number of persons in each divided area, and the comfort of the person in the air-conditioning target space during defrosting operation and It is possible to improve the efficiency of the defrosting operation with a better balance.

  According to the air conditioner pertaining to the third aspect of the present invention, fine airflow control can be performed even during the defrosting operation.

The schematic block diagram of the air conditioning apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. The figure which shows simply the structure of the refrigerant circuit which concerns on this embodiment. The figure which shows schematically the structure of the indoor unit which concerns on this embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows the detection range (division area) of each infrared sensor which concerns on the airflow of the conditioned air which blows off from the blower outlet of the indoor unit which concerns on this embodiment, and a human detection sensor group. The figure which shows typically the structure of the human detection sensor group which concerns on this embodiment. The figure which shows typically each infrared sensor (division area) which concerns on the detection range group of the human detection sensor in the side view of the indoor unit which concerns on this embodiment. The figure which shows notionally the outlet data concerning this embodiment. The figure which shows typically the flap position which each flap which concerns on this embodiment can take. The figure which shows typically the structure of the remote controller which concerns on this embodiment. The setting screen of the predetermined ratio which is a judgment standard displayed on the operation panel which concerns on this embodiment. The flowchart which shows the whole operation | movement of the air conditioning apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. The flowchart which shows the whole operation | movement of the air conditioning apparatus which concerns on this embodiment. The figure which shows typically the structure of the human detection sensor which concerns on the modification A.

  Hereinafter, an air conditioner according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment>
(1) Outline of Air Conditioner FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of an air conditioner 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The air conditioner 100 includes one outdoor unit 20 installed outside the building, and one ceiling-mounted indoor unit 40 installed on the ceiling of the air-conditioning target room (corresponding to the air-conditioning target space) RA in the building. And a remote controller 60 for remotely controlling the indoor unit 40. That is, the air conditioning apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is configured by a pair of outdoor units and indoor units.

  The outdoor unit 20 and the indoor unit 40 are connected by a liquid refrigerant communication pipe P5 and a gas refrigerant communication pipe P6 (both corresponding to refrigerant pipes), and constitute a vapor compression refrigerant circuit 10 as shown in FIG. ing. Such an air conditioner 100 can perform a defrosting operation for removing frost attached to the outdoor heat exchanger 23 during the heating operation in addition to the cooling operation and the heating operation.

  The remote controller 60 is electrically connected to the outdoor unit 20 and the indoor unit 40 via the wiring L7. The remote controller 60 may be installed in the same air-conditioning target room RA as the indoor unit 40, or may be installed in another room in the building although it is not the air-conditioning target room RA. Then, the case where the remote controller 60 is installed in the air conditioning target room RA in which the indoor unit 40 is installed is taken as an example.

(2) Detailed Configuration Next, detailed configurations of the outdoor unit 20, the indoor unit 40, and the remote controller 60 included in the air conditioning apparatus 100 will be described in order.

(2-1) Outdoor unit As shown in FIG. 2, the outdoor unit 20 mainly includes a compressor 21, a four-way switching valve 22, an outdoor heat exchanger 23, an expansion valve 24, a liquid side closing valve 25, and a gas side closing. A valve 26, an outdoor fan 27, and an outdoor control unit 28 are included.

  The compressor 21 is a mechanism that sucks low-pressure gas refrigerant and discharges it after compressing it into a high-pressure gas refrigerant. Here, as the compressor 21, a volumetric compression element (not shown) such as a rotary type or a scroll type accommodated in a casing (not shown) is used by a compressor motor 21a also accommodated in the casing. A driven hermetic compressor is employed. The compressor motor 21a can change the rotation speed (namely, operating frequency) with an inverter apparatus (not shown), and the capacity | capacitance control of the compressor 21 is attained by this.

  The four-way switching valve 22 is a valve for switching the direction of refrigerant flow when switching between cooling operation (or defrosting operation) and heating operation. In the cooling operation (or defrosting operation), the four-way switching valve 22 connects the discharge side of the compressor 21 and the gas side of the outdoor heat exchanger 23, and connects the gas side closing valve 26 and the suction side of the compressor 21. Can be connected (see the solid line of the four-way selector valve 22 in FIG. 2). In addition, the four-way switching valve 22 connects the discharge side of the compressor 21 and the gas side shut-off valve 26 and connects the gas side of the outdoor heat exchanger 23 and the suction side of the compressor 21 during heating operation. (Refer to the broken line of the four-way switching valve 22 in FIG. 2).

  The outdoor heat exchanger 23 is a heat exchanger that functions as a refrigerant radiator during cooling operation (or defrosting operation) and functions as a refrigerant evaporator during heating operation. The outdoor heat exchanger 23 has a liquid side connected to the expansion valve 24 and a gas side connected to the four-way switching valve 22.

  The expansion valve 24 is an electric expansion valve. In the cooling operation (or defrosting operation), the expansion valve 24 reduces the pressure of the high-pressure liquid refrigerant radiated in the outdoor heat exchanger 23 before sending it to the indoor heat exchanger 43 (described later). Further, during the heating operation, the expansion valve 24 reduces the pressure before sending the high-pressure liquid refrigerant radiated in the indoor heat exchanger 43 to the outdoor heat exchanger 23.

  The liquid side shutoff valve 25 and the gas side shutoff valve 26 are valves provided at connection ports with external devices and pipes (specifically, the liquid refrigerant communication pipe P5 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe P6). The liquid side closing valve 25 is connected to the expansion valve 24. The gas side closing valve 26 is connected to the four-way switching valve 22.

  The outdoor fan 27 sucks outdoor air into the outdoor unit 20, supplies the outdoor air to the outdoor heat exchanger 23, and then discharges the air to the outside of the outdoor unit 20. With the outdoor fan 27, the outdoor heat exchanger 23 can cool or heat the outdoor air to release or evaporate the refrigerant. Here, as the outdoor fan 27, a propeller fan driven by an outdoor fan motor 27a is employed. The outdoor fan motor 27a can vary the rotation speed (that is, the operating frequency) by an inverter device (not shown), thereby enabling the air volume control of the outdoor fan 27.

  The outdoor control unit 28 is configured by a microcomputer including a CPU and a memory, and is connected to each device configuring the outdoor unit 20. The outdoor control unit 28 controls the operation of each device constituting the outdoor unit 20. The outdoor control unit 28 can transmit and receive various signals such as control signals to and from the indoor control unit 51 (described later) of the indoor unit 40 and the remote controller 60.

  Although not shown, the outdoor unit 20 includes a sensor for detecting suction pressure and discharge pressure, a sensor for detecting the temperature of the refrigerant on the liquid side of the outdoor heat exchanger 23, a sensor for detecting the outside air temperature, and the like. Is provided.

(2-2) Indoor Unit As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the indoor unit 40 mainly includes a casing 41, an indoor fan 42 (corresponding to a fan), an indoor heat exchanger 43, a flow rate adjusting valve 44, and four flaps 45a. , 45b, 45c, 45d, human detection sensor group 46, floor temperature sensor 47, outdoor unit communication unit 48, controller communication unit 49, storage unit 50, and indoor control unit 51.

(2-2-1) Casing The casing 41 is inserted and arranged in an opening (not shown) formed in the ceiling of the air conditioning target room RA, and has a box shape. Specifically, the side surface of the casing 41 has an approximately octagonal shape in which long sides and short sides are alternately and continuously formed in a top view, and the bottom surface has a substantially quadrangular shape. Yes.

  And four blower outlets 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d are formed in the lower surface of the casing 41 of the indoor unit 40 so that the peripheral part of a lower surface may be followed. One suction port 41e is provided at the position of the lower surface of the casing 41 surrounded by these blowing ports 41a to 41d. That is, the suction port 41 e is provided at the approximate center of the lower surface of the casing 41 of the indoor unit 40. The outlets 41a to 41d each have a substantially rectangular shape that is elongated in the peripheral direction of the lower surface of the casing 41, and the suction port 41e has a substantially rectangular shape. Air-conditioned air in the air-conditioning target room RA is sucked into the casing 41 from the suction port 41e, and air (that is, conditioned air) after being conditioned in the casing 41 is air-conditioned from the blow-out ports 41a to 41d. It is blown out to the target room RA. In particular, since the outlets 41a to 41d are provided along the peripheral edge of the lower surface of the casing 41, the conditioned air can be blown out in different directions.

  A portion (not shown) through which the indoor refrigerant pipe P8 for connecting the indoor heat exchanger 43 and the refrigerant communication pipes P5 and P6 passes is formed on the side surface of the casing 41. Further, in the vicinity of the suction port 41e, a suction filter (not shown) for removing dust in the air sucked from the suction port 41e is provided.

  Here, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the area where the airflow of the conditioned air blown from each of the outlets 41a to 41d arrives (that is, the outlet areas A ′, B ′, C ′ of FIG. 4). , D ′), the air-conditioned room RA is divided into a plurality of areas A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2, D1, D2 (hereinafter referred to as divided areas). In other words, the divided areas A1 to A2, B1 to B2, C1 to C2, and D1 to D2 in plan view are aligned with the respective blowing areas A ′ to D ′. Specifically, the divided areas A1 and A2, B1, and B2, corresponding to the blowing areas A ′, B ′, C ′, and D ′ at the outlets 41a, 41b, 41c, and 41d of the indoor unit 40, respectively. C1 and C2, D1 and D2 are defined. Then, the area of the divided areas A1 to A2 is divided at about half the distance from the position of the outlet 41a to the outline of the divided areas A1 to A2, and the area closer to the outlet 41a in the divided areas. The area is defined as “divided area A1”, and the far area is defined as “divided area A2.” Similarly, the areas of the divided areas B1 to B2, C1 to C2, and D1 to D2 are respectively determined from the positions of the outlets 41b to 41d to the outlines of the divided areas B1 to B2, C1 to C2, and D1 to D2. Of the divided areas, the area closer to each of the outlets 41b to 41d is defined as “divided areas B1 to D1”, and the far area is defined as “divided areas B2 to D2”. is doing. That is, the air-conditioning target room RA according to the present embodiment is divided into four around the indoor unit 40 in plan view, and further divided into two in the distance direction from the indoor unit 40, and thus is divided into eight in total.

(2-2-2) Indoor Fan The indoor fan 42 sucks the air in the air-conditioning target room RA into the casing 41 through the suction port 41e and heats the air after being heat-exchanged by the indoor heat exchanger 43. It is a centrifugal blower that blows out from the casing 41 through the blowout ports 41a to 41d. That is, the indoor fan 42 produces | generates the flow of the conditioned air which blows off from each blower outlet 41a-41d.

  The indoor fan 42 includes an indoor fan motor M42 provided approximately at the center of the lower surface of the casing 41, and an impeller (not shown) that is connected to the motor M42 and driven to rotate. The impeller is an impeller having turbo blades, and can suck air into the impeller from below and blow out toward the outer peripheral side of the impeller in plan view. The indoor fan motor M42 can vary the rotation speed (that is, the operating frequency) by an inverter device (not shown), whereby the indoor fan 42 can control the air volume of the conditioned air blown from the outlets 41a to 41d. Can be controlled.

(2-2-3) Indoor Heat Exchanger The indoor heat exchanger 43 is disposed inside the casing 41. The indoor heat exchanger 43 is connected to the refrigerant communication pipes P5 and P6 via the indoor refrigerant pipe P8, and is a finned tube heat exchange that is bent and arranged so as to surround the periphery of the indoor fan 42 in a plan view. It is composed of a vessel. The indoor heat exchanger 43 exchanges heat with the air in the air-conditioning target room RA sucked from the suction port 41e.

  Specifically, the indoor heat exchanger 43 functions as a refrigerant evaporator during cooling operation (or defrosting operation). As a result, the air sucked into the casing 41 through the suction port 41 e is deprived of heat by the refrigerant flowing in the heat transfer pipe (not shown) constituting the indoor heat exchanger 43 and cooled. Conversely, the indoor heat exchanger 43 functions as a refrigerant radiator during heating operation. As a result, the air sucked into the casing 41 through the suction port 41e is deprived of heat from the refrigerant flowing through the heat transfer tubes constituting the indoor heat exchanger 43 and is warmed. The air after heat exchange is performed by the indoor heat exchanger 43 is returned again into the air-conditioning target room RA through the opened outlets 41a to 41d.

  A drain pan (not shown) is installed below the indoor heat exchanger 43 and below the casing 41. The drain pan is for receiving drain water generated by condensation of moisture in the air by the indoor heat exchanger 43. A bell mouth (not shown) for guiding the air sucked from the suction port 41e to the indoor fan 42 is disposed near the drain pan.

(2-2-4) Flow Control Valve The flow control valve 44 is provided on the indoor refrigerant tank P8, and flows through the indoor refrigerant pipe P8 via the refrigerant communication pipes P5 and P6, thereby causing the interior of the indoor unit 40 to flow. Adjust the flow rate of refrigerant flowing through The flow rate adjustment valve 44 is composed of an electric expansion valve connected to the liquid side of the indoor heat exchanger 43, and the amount of refrigerant flowing in the indoor unit 40 is increased or decreased by changing the opening of the valve itself. Or the passage of the refrigerant can be blocked, that is, the flow rate of the refrigerant can be changed.

  As shown in FIG. 3, such a flow rate adjustment valve 44 is connected to the adjustment valve drive motor M44, and the opening degree is changed by driving the motor M44.

(2-2-5) Flap The four flaps 45a to 45d are provided so as to correspond to the respective sides of the peripheral portion of the lower surface of the casing 41 and to correspond to the respective outlets 41a to 41d. ing. The four flaps 45a to 45d are provided so as to be able to open and close the air outlets 41a to 41d, and are provided so as to be rotatable with respect to the air outlets 41a to 41d. It is possible to change the air direction angle in the vertical direction of the air. That is, each of the flaps 45a to 45d is for guiding the conditioned air blown from each of the outlets 41a to 41d into the air conditioned room RA, and can control the air direction of the conditioned air.

  Such flaps 45a to 45d are plate-like members that are elongated along the long side direction of the outlets 41a to 41d. Both ends of the flaps 45a to 45d in the longitudinal direction are supported on the lower surface of the casing 41 so as to be rotatable around the longitudinal axis by a support member (not shown). The flaps 45a to 45d are respectively driven by flap motors M45a, M45b, M45c, and M45c corresponding to the flaps 45a to 45d. As a result, the flaps 45a to 45d can independently change the airflow direction angle in the vertical direction, and can reciprocate in the vertical direction with respect to the outlets 41a to 41d. . The flap motors M45a to M45d are connected to the support member.

(2-2-6) Human detection sensor group The human detection sensor group 46 detects the presence or absence of a person in the air conditioning target room RA. The human detection sensor group 46 is arranged so as to protrude downward from the surface of the lower surface of the casing 41 at a position where the lower surface of the casing 41 can be arranged, in this case, at one corner of the lower surface of the casing 41 (FIG. 1). 4). As shown in FIG. 5, the human detection sensor group 46 includes four infrared sensors 46a, 46b, 46c, and 46d (corresponding to human detection sensors), and a substantially hemispherical cover member made of a material that transmits infrared rays ( (Not shown). The cover member covers the four infrared sensors 46 a to 46 d, whereby the human detection sensor group 46 has a substantially circular shape in plan view of the lower surface of the casing 41.

  Specifically, each of the infrared sensors 46a to 46d according to the present embodiment is arranged so as to correspond to each of the outlets 41a to 41d of the indoor unit 40, and the divided areas A1 to D1 and A2 according to FIG. The presence or absence of a person in each D2 is detected. That is, each infrared sensor 46a-46d detects the presence or absence of a person in each divided area A1-D1, A2-D2 by the fluctuation | variation of the infrared radiation energy radiated | emitted from an object.

  Further, the divided areas A1 to D1, A2 to D2 that are detection ranges of the infrared sensors 46a to 46d are areas in which the detection angles α, β, γ, and δ are about 90 degrees in plan view, Each infrared sensor 46a-46d is arrange | positioned so that division area A1-D1 in the indoor unit 40 and division area A2-D2 may not overlap (FIG. 5). In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, the divided areas A1 to D1 and A2 to D2 indicate the presence or absence of a person in any of the blowing areas A1 ′ to D1 ′ and A2 ′ to D2 ′ when viewed from the side. Even when 46d detects, the area is such that each detection angle ε is about 135 degrees. Furthermore, each infrared sensor 46a-46d is provided so that it may face a different corner | angular part side among the corner | angular parts of the lower surface of the casing 41, and may face diagonally downward, and, thereby, mutually differs. The presence / absence of persons in the divided areas A1 to D1 and A2 to D2 can be detected.

  Furthermore, each infrared sensor 46a-46d which concerns on this embodiment not only detects the presence or absence of the person in each division | segmentation area A1-D1, A2-D2, but based on the amount of infrared radiation energy, It is possible to detect the number of people in the divided areas A1 to D1, A2 to D2. For example, since the total value of the amount of radiant energy radiated from each person increases as the number of people increases, the amount of radiant energy of infrared rays changes according to the number of people in the divided areas A1 to D1 and A2 to D2. Accordingly, the infrared sensors 46a to 46d detect the amount of infrared radiation energy in each of the divided areas A1 to D1 and A2 to D2 at predetermined time intervals (for example, every minute). In particular, the detailed grasping operation for each divided area A1 to D1, A2 to D2 by each of the infrared sensors 46a to 46d is performed during the defrosting operation.

(2-2-7) Other sensors The floor temperature sensor 47 is an infrared sensor that detects the temperature of the floor surface in the air conditioning target room RA. Similar to the human detection sensor group 46, the floor temperature sensor 47 is disposed at a corner portion of the lower surface of the casing 41 in the indoor unit 40, and the floor surface sensor in the air conditioning target room RA is radiated by infrared radiation energy radiated from the object. Detect temperature.

  In addition, the indoor unit 40 has an intake air temperature sensor (not shown). The suction air temperature sensor is provided in the vicinity of the suction port 41e, and detects the temperature of air in the air-conditioning target room RA sucked into the casing 41 through the suction port 41e.

(2-2-8) Various Communication Units The outdoor unit communication unit 48 is for transmitting and receiving various signals to and from the outdoor unit 20 and is electrically connected to the outdoor unit 20. For example, when the user of the air conditioner 100 is instructed to start the cooling operation or the heating operation via the remote controller 60, the outdoor unit communication unit 48 instructs the switching of the four-way switching valve 22 and the outdoor fan. Driving instructions for the motor 27 a and the compressor motor 21 a are output to the outdoor unit 20. The outdoor unit communication unit 48 receives a sensor for detecting the temperature of the refrigerant on the liquid side of the outdoor heat exchanger 23 from the outdoor unit 20, and when the indoor control unit 51 determines the start of the defrosting operation. Outputs that effect to the outdoor unit 20.

  The controller communication unit 49 is for transmitting and receiving various signals to and from the remote controller 60 and is electrically connected to the remote controller 60. For example, the controller communication unit 49 receives a cooling operation or heating operation start instruction from the remote controller 60.

(2-2-9) Storage Unit The storage unit 50 is configured by, for example, an HDD or a flash memory. The memory | storage part 50 has mainly memorize | stored the outlet data 50a which the operation | movement determination part 51a of the indoor control part 51 uses at the time of a defrost operation. As shown in FIG. 7, the outlet data 50a is data in which various types of operation information about the indoor unit 40 and a combination of presence / absence information are associated with each other.

-Outlet data-
The various operation information about the indoor unit 40 includes fan operation information, air volume information, wind direction angle information, and opening / closing information of the air outlets 41a to 41d. As the operation information of the fan in each record of the outlet data 50a, either the indoor fan 42 is operated or the operation is stopped is selected. In the air volume information, one of “strong”, “weak”, and “sudden” is selected as the air volume of the indoor fan 42. The information of the wind direction angle includes any one of “horizontal”, “upper”, “middle”, and “lower” as the direction of the airflow of the conditioned air blown out from the outlets 41a to 41d. Is selected. As the opening / closing information of the outlets 41a to 41d, one of the states "open state" and "closed state" that can be taken by each of the outlets 41a to 41d is selected. In FIG. 7, the case where the indoor fan 42 is operated is represented as “rotation”, the case where the operation is stopped is represented as “stop”, and the case where each of the outlets 41 a to 41 d is opened is represented by “◯”. Is represented by “×”.

  The presence / absence information is information indicating the presence / absence of a person in each of the divided areas A1 to D1, A2 to D2, and the outlet data 50a includes presence / absence in the divided areas A1 to D1 and A2 to D2. A combination of absence information is stored as one record. The combination of the presence / absence information shown in FIG. 7 does not reflect the actual detection result detected by the human detection sensor group 46 when the defrosting operation is performed as a history. When determining the various operation information of the machine 40, it is used to apply a value based on the detection result by the actual human detection sensor group 46, and is determined before the defrosting operation is performed.

  Further, the presence / absence information indicates that there is a person in a divided area where the ratio of the number of persons in each divided area A1 to D1, A2 to D2 is higher than a predetermined ratio that is a criterion. It has become. Conversely, for the divided areas where the ratio of the number of persons in each divided area A1 to D1, A2 to D2 to the predetermined number is lower than the predetermined ratio, “absent” (indicated as “−” in FIG. 7) indicating that there is no person. ) ”. In FIG. 7, the outlet data 50a when the predetermined ratio is “20%” is shown as an example. In FIG. 7, the numerical value on the left side in each column of the presence / absence information represents the ratio of the number of people in the corresponding divided areas A1 to D1 and A2 to D2 with respect to the predetermined number of people. Represents a case where the ratio in the corresponding divided areas A1 to D1, A2 to D2 is equal to or greater than a predetermined ratio (that is, 20% or more in this case), and “-” represents the corresponding divided areas A1 to D1 and A2 to D2. This represents a case where the ratio is equal to or less than a predetermined ratio (that is, 20% or less here). For example, in FIG. In the record of 2, when the defrosting operation is performed, the ratio of the number of people in each divided area A1 to D1, A2 to D2 is 50%, 35%, 0%, 0%, 35%, 40%, in order. The cases of 10% and 10% are shown. In this case, since the ratio of each divided area A1, B1, A2, B2 exceeds 20%, the right side of each column of presence / absence information corresponding to the areas A1, B1, A2, B2 is “present”. ". On the other hand, since the ratio of the remaining divided areas C1, D1, C2, and D2 does not exceed 20%, the right side of each column of the presence / absence information corresponding to the areas C1, D1, C2, and D2 is It is expressed as “−”. In the No. 2 record having such a combination of presence / absence information, the indoor fan 42 is operated with the air volume “low”, only the air outlets 41c and 41d are opened, and the wind direction angles of the flaps 45c and 45d are “ “Horizontal” is set.

  In addition, the ratio with respect to the number of people in each divided area A1-D1, A2-D2 at the time of defrosting operation is calculated for every divided area A1-D1, A2-D2 by the operation control part 51a of the indoor control part 51 mentioned later. The comparison result between the calculation result and the predetermined ratio is applied to the presence / absence information shown in FIG.

  In the outlet data 50a shown in FIG. 7, the outlets 41a to 41d corresponding to the divided areas A1 to A2, B1 to B2, C1 to C2, and D1 to D2 whose presence / absence information is “present” are “closed”. The blowout ports 41a to 41d corresponding to the divided areas A1 to A2, B1 to B2, C1 to C2, and D1 to D2 whose presence / absence information is “absent” are determined to be “open”. As an example, record No. 4, the presence / absence information of the divided areas B1, C1 on the side closer to the indoor unit 40 and the divided areas B2, C2 on the far side are “present”, but the remaining divided areas A1, D1, A2, D2 The presence / absence information is “absent”. This record No. 4, the outlets 41 b and 41 c corresponding to the divided areas B1 to B2 and C1 to C2 are determined to be “closed”, and the outlets 41 a and 41 d corresponding to the divided areas A1 to A2 and D1 to D2 are determined to be “open”. Has been. This is because human comfort is impaired by preventing the air cooled by heat exchange during the defrosting operation from being sent to the divided areas B1 to B2 and C1 to C2 that are determined to have people. I am trying not to do it. And even if the cooled air is sent to the divided areas A1 to A2 and D1 to D2 which are determined to have no people, the comfort of people is not significantly impaired, and the defrosting operation is completed in a short time instead. As a result, the dehumidifying operation is promoted.

  Further, in the outlet data 50a shown in FIG. 7, the presence / absence information in each of the divided areas A1 to D1 on the side close to the indoor unit 40 and the presence / absence information in each of the divided areas A2 to D2 on the side far from the indoor unit 40. Thus, fan operation information, air volume information, and wind direction angle information are determined. Basically, the presence / absence information of the divided areas A1 to D1 on the side close to the indoor unit is “-”, and at least one of the presence / absence information of the divided areas A2 to D2 on the side far from the indoor unit is In the case of “present”, fan operation information “operation”, fan air volume information “strong”, and wind direction angle information “upward” are determined (record No. 3, 5, 6 in FIG. 7). , 8). At least one of the presence / absence information of the divided areas A2 to D2 on the side far from the indoor unit 40 is “present”, and at least one of the presence / absence information of the divided areas A to D1 on the side closer to the indoor unit 40 is “ In the case of “present”, fan operation information “operation”, fan air volume information “weak”, and wind direction angle information “horizontal direction” are determined (see record Nos. 2, 4 and 7 in FIG. 7). When the presence / absence information in all the divided areas A1 to D1 and A2 to D2 is “−”, the fan operation information “operation”, the fan air volume information “strong”, and the wind direction angle information “upward” are Has been determined (see record No. 1 in FIG. 7).

  That is, the air volume information and the wind direction angle information according to FIG. 7 are mainly a combination of “strong” and “upward” depending on whether or not there are people in the divided areas A1 to D1 on the side close to the indoor unit 40. Or it can be said that it is determined to be a combination of “weak” and “horizontal”. The operation information of the indoor fan 42 is determined to be “stop” if the presence / absence information in all the divided areas A1 to D1 and A2 to D2 is “present” (see record No. 9 in FIG. 7). In other cases, it is determined as “driving” (see record Nos. 1 to 8 in FIG. 7). That is, if there is no person in any of the divided areas A1 to D1 on the side close to the indoor unit 40, the air cooled toward the far side divided areas A2 to D2 on the far side where there is no person is upward with a strong air volume. By sending, the air cooled slightly to the indoor unit 40 side rather than the case where a wind direction is a horizontal direction will be sent. As a result, the defrosting operation is promoted by the air volume “strong”, and the comfort of the person is protected because the cooled air is not sent to the side where the person is present. On the other hand, when there is a person in any of the divided areas A1 to D1 on the side close to the indoor unit 40, the divided areas A1 to A1 without a person are provided so that the cooled air is not exposed to the person. Air cooled in the horizontal direction with a weak air volume will be sent to the D1, A2-D2 side. Thereby, the cooled air is sent farther than the case where the wind direction angle is “upward”, and the protection of human comfort is given priority over the promotion of the defrosting operation.

(2-2-10) Indoor Control Unit The indoor control unit 51 is a microcomputer including a CPU and a memory, and as shown in FIG. 3, an indoor fan motor M42, flap motors M45a to M45d, and a control valve drive motor. M44, various sensors 46 and 47, and various communication units 48 and 49 are electrically connected. The indoor control unit 51 controls the operation of each of these connected devices.

  For example, the indoor control unit 51 drives the indoor fan motor M42 based on the detection results of the various sensors 46 and 67, various instructions given via the remote controller 60, and the control signal sent from the outdoor control unit 28. Control is performed, and drive control of each of the flap motors M45a to M45d is performed. For example, when the user gives an instruction to start heating operation or cooling operation via the remote controller 60, the indoor control unit 51 starts driving the motors M42 and M45a to M45d. Moreover, the indoor control part 51 stops the drive of each motor M42, M45a-M45d, when the stop instruction | indication of operation is made via the remote controller 60. FIG. Furthermore, the indoor control unit 51 compares the refrigerant temperature on the liquid side of the outdoor heat exchanger 23 acquired from the outdoor unit 20 with a predetermined temperature, and when the temperature is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature, starts the defrosting operation. To decide.

  In particular, during the defrosting operation, the indoor control unit 51 according to the present embodiment blows out from the outlets 41a to 41d based on the detection results of the infrared sensors 46a to 46d of the human detection sensor group 46 and the outlet data 50a. The air direction and air volume of the conditioned air are determined, and drive control of each motor M42, M45a to M45d is performed. In order to perform such an operation, the indoor control unit 51 functions as an operation determining unit 51a, a fan control unit 51b, and a flap control unit 51c.

-Operation decision part-
Based on the presence or absence of a person for each of the divided areas A1 to D1 and A2 to D2, the operation determining unit 51a is determined based on the detection results of the infrared sensors 46a to 46d of the human detection sensor group 46 during the defrosting operation. The direction and amount of air-conditioning air blown out from the blowout ports 45a to 45d are determined. Specifically, the operation determining unit 51a calculates the ratio of the number of persons per predetermined number of people from the detection results of the infrared sensors 46a to 46d, that is, the number of people in each of the divided areas A1 to D1 and A2 to D2. Calculating for each of D1 to A2 to D2. Then, the operation determination unit 51a determines whether or not the calculation result is higher than a predetermined ratio for each of the divided areas A1 to D1 and A2 to D2, and applies the result to the presence / absence information of the outlet data 50a. . Then, the operation determination unit 51a determines the operation information of the indoor fan 42, the air volume information, the information on the wind direction angle, and the opening / closing information of each of the air outlets 41a to 41d based on the record in the corresponding air outlet data 50a.

  Here, the predetermined number of people means the maximum number of people that can be in each of the divided areas A1 to D1, A2 to D2, and based on the area, environment, etc. of each divided area A1 to D1, A2 to D2 It is determined appropriately by calculation or the like. The predetermined number of people may be a common value in each of the divided areas A1 to D1 and A2 to D2, or may be a value that is different for each area.

−Fan control unit−
The fan control unit 51b controls the operation of the indoor fan 42 by controlling the driving of the indoor fan motor M42. In particular, the fan control unit 51b performs control of operating or stopping the indoor fan 42 according to the operation information of the indoor fan 42 determined by the operation determining unit 51a during the defrosting operation. Further, when the operation determining unit 51a determines the air volume information together with the operation information of the indoor fan 42 during the defrosting operation, the fan control unit 51b increases or decreases the rotation number of the indoor fan 42 based on the information. Take control. Here, the air volume of the indoor fan 42 according to the present embodiment is taken as an example in which there are three types, “weak”, “strong”, and “sudden”. The air volume “steep” is the air volume when the indoor fan 42 rotates at the maximum rotation speed, and is stronger than “strong”.

-Flap control unit-
The flap controller 51c independently controls the wind direction angles of the flaps 45a to 45d by individually controlling the driving of the flap motors M45a to M45d. In particular, during the defrosting operation, the flap control unit 51c opens and closes the air outlets 41a to 41d and the flaps 45a according to the information on the wind direction angle determined by the operation determining unit 51a and the opening / closing information of the air outlets 41a to 41d. Control the wind direction angle of ~ 45d. That is, the flap control unit 51c drives each flap motor M45a to M45d according to the information on the airflow direction angle and the opening / closing information of each outlet 41a to 41d during the defrosting operation, so that each of the flaps 45a to 45d is driven. The angle can be changed independently.

  Here, as the states that the flaps 45a to 45d according to the present embodiment can take, generally, as shown in FIG. 8, a closed state in which the outlets 41a to 41d are closed (flap position 0), and the outlets 41a to 41a. There is an open state in which 41d is opened. And when flap 45a-45d takes an open state, five flap positions 1-5 are set further. The flap position 1 refers to a state in which the flaps 45a to 45d are rotated downward by about 15 degrees from the lower surface of the casing 41. In this case, the conditioned air is sent in the horizontal direction. The flap position 2 is a state in which the flaps 45a to 45d are rotated downward by about 30 degrees from the lower surface of the casing 41. In this case, the conditioned air is sent in the “upward direction” which is slightly below the horizontal direction. Will be. Similarly, the flap positions 3, 4, and 5 are states in which the flaps 45a to 45d are rotated downward by about 45 degrees, about 60 degrees, and about 75 degrees from the lower surface of the casing 41, respectively. The conditioned air is sent in the “middle direction” which is further lower than the upper direction, the “down direction” which is further lower than the middle direction, and the “about vertical direction” which is further lower than the lower direction. In particular, any of the flap positions 0 to 4 is employed during the defrosting operation.

(2-3) Remote Controller As shown in FIG. 9, the remote controller 60 mainly includes a control unit 61, an indoor unit communication unit 62, an outdoor unit communication unit 63, and an operation panel 64.

  The control unit 61 is a microcomputer composed of a CPU and a memory, and is electrically connected to various communication units 62 to 63 and an operation panel 64 as shown in FIG. The control unit 61 controls the operation of each connected device. For example, the control unit 61 performs display control of a screen to be displayed on the operation panel 64 and operation control of the air conditioner 100 according to various instructions from the user input via the operation panel 64.

  The indoor unit communication unit 62 is for transmitting and receiving various signals to and from the indoor unit 40. When the user inputs an instruction to start a cooling operation or a heating operation via the operation panel 64, the indoor unit communication unit 62 transmits an instruction to start the cooling operation or the heating operation to the indoor unit 40. In particular, when a predetermined ratio is set by the user via the operation panel 64, the indoor unit communication unit 62 according to the present embodiment transmits this to the indoor unit 40.

  The outdoor unit communication unit 63 is for transmitting and receiving various signals to and from the outdoor unit 20. The outdoor unit communication unit 63 transmits an instruction to start the cooling operation or the heating operation to the outdoor unit 20 when the user inputs an instruction to start the cooling operation or the heating operation via the operation panel 64. To do.

  The operation panel 64 is a touch panel configured with, for example, a liquid crystal display and a matrix switch, and can display various screens such as a menu screen and can receive various instructions. For example, the user of the air conditioning apparatus 100 can input the start of the cooling operation and the heating operation or input the setting of the wind direction and the air volume from the operation panel 64.

  Here, as a screen other than the menu screen displayed on the operation panel 64, the screen shown in FIG. FIG. 10 shows an example of a predetermined ratio used when the control unit 61 described above determines the presence / absence of a person in each of the divided areas A1 to D1 and A2 to D2, that is, an example of a determination criterion setting screen. In FIG. 10, the predetermined ratio can be set to any one of five levels of “10%”, “20%”, “30%”, “40%”, and “50%”. The higher the predetermined ratio, the more the number of people in each of the divided areas A1 to D1, A2 to D2 is judged as “there is a person”. Conversely, the lower the predetermined ratio, the more the divided areas A1 to D1, A2 Even if the number of persons in D2 is small, it is easy to determine that “there is a person”. Thereby, the user of the air conditioning apparatus 100 can use the air conditioning target room RA in each of the divided areas A1 to D1 and A2 to D2 depending on the environment or the like of the air conditioning target room RA (for example, the purpose of use of the air conditioning target room RA such as an office or a store). It is possible to set how much the ratio of the number of persons to the predetermined number of persons is considered as “there is a person”. For example, in the case where the air-conditioning target room RA is a store, it is not preferable that the customer in the store is exposed to the cold air during the defrosting operation. Therefore, the user is determined to have a predetermined ratio of people. It is easy to set “10%”. On the other hand, when the air-conditioned room RA is an office, people should go in and out of the office, so it should be prioritized to end the defrosting operation early and warm the room. Therefore, in this case, the user gives priority to the promotion of the defrosting operation over the protection of human comfort by setting the predetermined ratio to “50%” that is difficult to determine that there is a person. be able to. As described above, the air conditioner 100 according to the present embodiment can change the predetermined ratio, which is a determination criterion for the presence or absence of a person, in accordance with the environment in which the air conditioner 100 is installed, and more air conditioner. It can be said that this is a highly flexible device that can be adapted to the environment in which the device is installed.

  When the predetermined ratio is set via the operation panel 64, the predetermined ratio is stored in the storage unit (not shown) of the remote controller 60 and is also stored in the indoor unit 40 via the indoor unit communication unit 62. Sent. The predetermined ratio sent to the indoor unit 40 is stored in a region different from the outlet data 50a of the storage unit 50 of the indoor unit 40, and the operation determining unit 51a related to the indoor control unit 51 during the subsequent defrosting operation. It is used in the calculation of If the predetermined ratio is not set by the user from the screen of FIG. 10, the default predetermined ratio (for example, “for example” is used in determining whether or not there is a person in each of the divided areas A1 to D1 and A2 to D2. 20% ") is used.

(3) Overall Operation (3-1) Flow of Overall Operation of Air Conditioner FIGS. 11 and 12 are flowcharts showing the flow of overall operation of the air conditioner 100 according to this embodiment.

  Steps S1 and S2: When a cooling operation of the air conditioning apparatus 100 is instructed by the user via the remote controller 60 (Yes in S1), the outdoor unit 20 and the indoor unit 40 start the cooling operation (S2). . At this time, the indoor control unit 51 performs air volume control based on the wind direction and air volume requested via the remote controller 60 so that the air-conditioned room RA is cooled according to a desired setting.

  Steps S3 to S4: When the heating operation of the air conditioning apparatus 100 is instructed by the user via the remote controller 60 (Yes in S3), the outdoor unit 20 and the indoor unit 40 start the heating operation (S4). . At this time, the indoor control unit 51 performs air volume control based on the wind direction and air volume requested via the remote controller 60 so that the air-conditioned room RA is heated according to a desired setting.

  Step S5: When the indoor control unit 51 determines that the defrosting operation is necessary because the temperature of the refrigerant on the liquid side of the outdoor heat exchanger 23 is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature (Yes in S5), The effect is sent to the outdoor unit 20.

  Step S6: After step S5, each of the infrared sensors 46a to 46d of the human detection sensor group 46 in the indoor unit 40 detects the person in each divided area A1 to D1, A2 to D2 (specifically, each divided area A1). (Detection of the number of persons in D1, A2 to D2).

  Step S7: The indoor control unit 51 (hereinafter referred to as the operation determining unit 51a) functioning as the operation determining unit 51a calculates the ratio of the number of persons to the predetermined number of persons from the detection results of the infrared sensors 46a to 46d. , A2 to D2 are calculated. Then, the operation determining unit 51a determines the corresponding record by applying the calculation result to the presence / absence information of the outlet data 50a. Then, the operation determining unit 51a determines the fan operation information, the air volume information, the air direction angle information, and the opening / closing information of each of the outlets 41a to 41d based on the corresponding record.

  Step S8: In the indoor unit 40 and the outdoor unit 20, the defrosting operation is started. At this time, the indoor control unit 51 functioning as the fan control unit 51b performs the operation and air volume control of the indoor fan 42 based on the fan operation information and the air volume information determined in step S7. The indoor control unit 51 functioning as the flap control unit 51c controls the opening / closing states of the air outlets 41a to 41d based on the information on the wind direction angle determined in step S7 and the opening / closing information of the air outlets 41a to 41d, and Wind direction angle control of the flaps 45a to 45d is performed.

  Steps S9 to S10: The defrosting operation is started in Step S8, but when the temperature of the refrigerant on the liquid side of the outdoor heat exchanger 23 is still equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature (No in S9), the indoor control unit 51 Determines to continue the defrosting operation. In this case, each of the infrared sensors 46a to 46d of the human detection sensor group 46 detects the person in each of the divided areas A1 to D1, A2 to D2 (specifically, the divided areas A1 to D1, A2 to D2) every predetermined time. Detection of the number of people for each) (S10).

  Step S11: Based on the detection results of the infrared sensors 46a to 46d in step S10, the operation determination unit 51a performs fan operation information, air volume information, air direction angle information, and each outlet 41a in the same manner as in step S8. Re-determine the opening / closing information of ~ 41d. As a result, in the indoor unit 40, the operation and air volume of the indoor fan 42, the wind direction angles of the flaps 45a to 45d, and the open / closed states of the air outlets 41a to 41d are changed (S11). In step S9, when the indoor controller 51 determines that the temperature of the refrigerant on the liquid side of the outdoor heat exchanger 23 is equal to or higher than the predetermined temperature and the defrosting operation should be terminated (Yes in S9), the operation after step S4 That is, the heating operation is performed again.

  Step S12: While the refrigerant operation according to Step S2 is being performed, it is determined in Step S5 that the defrosting operation is not necessary, and while the heating operation is being performed (No in S5), the cooling operation or the heating operation is completed. Until the instruction is given by the user (No in S12), the operation after Step S1, that is, the cooling operation or the heating operation is continuously performed. However, when an instruction to end the cooling operation or the heating operation is given by the user via the remote controller 60 (Yes in S12), the air conditioner 100 ends a series of operations.

(3-2) Cooling operation and defrosting operation Below, the air conditioner 100 performs the cooling operation (S1 to S2 in FIG. 11) and the defrosting operation (S8 in FIG. 11) of the refrigerant circuit 10 described above. The operation will be described.

  The cooling operation and the defrosting operation are performed by circulating the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 10 so that the outdoor heat exchanger 23 functions as a refrigerant radiator and the indoor heat exchanger 43 functions as a refrigerant evaporator. In this operation, the air in the air-conditioned room is cooled and supplied to the air-conditioned room as air-conditioned air.

  First, the outdoor heat exchanger 23 functions as a refrigerant radiator, and the indoor heat exchanger 43 functions as a refrigerant evaporator (that is, a state indicated by a solid line of the four-way switching valve 22 in FIG. 2). The four-way switching valve 22 is switched so that

  In the refrigerant circuit 10 in such a state, the low-pressure refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle is sucked into the compressor 21 and is discharged after being compressed to a high pressure in the refrigeration cycle. The high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor 21 is sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 23 through the four-way switching valve 22. The high-pressure refrigerant sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 23 radiates heat by exchanging heat with outdoor air supplied by the outdoor fan 27 in the outdoor heat exchanger 23. The high-pressure refrigerant that has dissipated heat in the outdoor heat exchanger 23 is sent to the expansion valve 24 and is decompressed to a low pressure in the refrigeration cycle. The low-pressure refrigerant decompressed in the expansion valve 24 is sent to the flow rate adjusting valve 44 through the liquid side closing valve 25 and the liquid refrigerant communication pipe P5. Then, a refrigerant having a flow rate corresponding to the opening degree of the flow control valve 44 is sent to the indoor heat exchanger 43. The low-pressure refrigerant sent to the indoor heat exchanger 43 evaporates by exchanging heat with the air in the air-conditioned room supplied by the indoor fans 42 in the indoor heat exchanger 43. Thereby, the air in the air-conditioned room is cooled to become air-conditioned air, and is blown out from the open outlets 41a to 41d to the divided areas A1 to D1 and A2 to D2. The low-pressure refrigerant evaporated in the indoor heat exchanger 43 is again sucked into the compressor 21 through the gas refrigerant communication pipe P6, the gas-side closing valve 26, and the four-way switching valve 22.

  In the cooling operation, the intake air temperature is controlled to be the target air temperature requested from the remote controller 60 or the like. That is, in the cooling operation, when the intake air temperature is higher than the target air temperature, the above operation control is performed. When the intake air temperature reaches the target air temperature, the compressor 21 is stopped so as not to circulate the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 10, and the air volume of the indoor fan 42 is made to be “steep”. Control to change.

  Further, in the cooling operation, when the control based on the required air direction and the required air volume according to step S2 is performed, the indoor control unit 51 is configured so that the user comfort in the air-conditioning target room RA can be improved. Based on the detection results of the detection sensor group 46, the floor temperature sensor 47, and the like, it is possible to control the wind direction angles of the flaps 45a to 45d and the air volume of the indoor fan 42 while setting them to various wind directions and air volumes. For example, when the human detection sensor group 46 detects the presence of a person in the divided areas A1 to A2, the indoor control unit 51 detects the presence of a person based on the detection result of the sensor group 46. The wind direction angle of the flap 45a of the outlet 41a corresponding to A2 can be set to "horizontal direction". On the other hand, in the divided areas B1 to D1 and B2 to D2 where no person is present, the indoor control unit 51 can set the wind direction “upward” downward than “horizontal”. Thereby, the discomfort by the user's draft in division area A1-A2 can be suppressed, and a user's comfort can be improved.

(3-3) Heating operation Below, the operation | movement in case the air conditioning apparatus 100 performs the heating operation (S3-S4 of FIG. 11) mentioned above is demonstrated.

  The heating operation is performed by circulating the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 10 so that the outdoor heat exchanger 23 functions as a refrigerant evaporator and the indoor heat exchanger 43 functions as a refrigerant radiator. In this operation, air is heated and supplied as air-conditioned air into the air-conditioned room.

  First, the outdoor heat exchanger 23 functions as a refrigerant evaporator and the indoor heat exchanger 43 functions as a refrigerant radiator (that is, a state indicated by a broken line of the four-way switching valve 22 in FIG. 2). The four-way switching valve 22 is switched so that

  In the refrigerant circuit 10 in such a state, the low-pressure refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle is sucked into the compressor 21 and is discharged after being compressed to a high pressure in the refrigeration cycle. The high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor 21 is sent to the indoor heat exchanger 43 through the four-way switching valve 22, the gas side closing valve 26, and the gas refrigerant communication pipe P6. Here, the flow rate of the refrigerant sent to the indoor heat exchanger 43 is an amount corresponding to the opening degree of the flow rate control valve 44. The high-pressure refrigerant sent to the indoor heat exchanger 43 radiates heat by exchanging heat with the air in the air-conditioned room supplied by the indoor fan 42 in the indoor heat exchanger 43. Thereby, the air in the air-conditioned room is heated to become air-conditioned air, and is blown out from the open outlets 41a to 41d to the divided areas A1 to D1 and A2 to D2. The high-pressure refrigerant that has dissipated heat in the indoor heat exchanger 43 is sent to the expansion valve 24 via the liquid refrigerant communication pipe P5 and the liquid-side closing valve 25, and is reduced to a low pressure in the refrigeration cycle. The low-pressure refrigerant decompressed by the expansion valve 24 is sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 23. The low-pressure refrigerant sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 23 evaporates by exchanging heat with the air in the air-conditioned room supplied by the outdoor fan 27 in the outdoor heat exchanger 23. The low-pressure refrigerant evaporated in the outdoor heat exchanger 23 is again sucked into the compressor 21 through the four-way switching valve 22.

  In such heating operation, the intake air temperature is controlled to be the target air temperature requested from the remote controller 60 or the like. That is, in the heating operation, when the intake air temperature is lower than the target air temperature, the above operation control is performed. When the intake air temperature reaches the target air temperature, the compressor 21 is stopped so as not to circulate the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 10, and the air volume of the indoor fan 42 is made to be “steep”. Control to change.

  When the control based on the required air direction and the required air volume according to step S4 is performed, the indoor control unit 51 includes a human detection sensor group so that the comfort of the user in the air conditioning target room RA can be improved. Based on the detection results of 46, the floor temperature sensor 47, etc., the airflow direction angle of each of the flaps 45a to 45d and the airflow amount of the indoor fan 42 can be controlled while being set to various airflow directions / airflow rates. For example, when the human detection sensor group 46 detects the presence of a person in the divided areas A1 to A2, the indoor control unit 51 detects the presence of the person based on the detection result of the sensor group 46. The wind direction angle of the flap 45a of the outlet 41a corresponding to A2 can be set to "horizontal direction". On the other hand, in the divided areas B1 to D1 and B2 to D2 where no person is present, the indoor control unit 51 can set the wind direction “upward” downward than “horizontal”. Thereby, the discomfort by the user's draft in division area A1-A2 can be suppressed, and a user's comfort can be improved.

  When the floor temperature in the air conditioning target room RA detected by the floor temperature sensor 47 is lower than the target floor surface temperature, the indoor control unit 51 sets the wind direction angle of each of the flaps 45a to 45d to the downward wind direction “ It can be set to “down”. On the other hand, when the temperature of the floor surface in the air-conditioning target room RA reaches the target floor surface temperature, the wind direction angle of each of the flaps 45a to 45d can be set to the upward wind direction “upward” or the like. Thereby, when the vicinity of the floor surface in the air-conditioning target room RA is not sufficiently warmed, warm air can reach the floor surface, and the comfort of the user in the air-conditioning target room RA can be improved. .

(4) Features (4-1)
In the air conditioner 100 according to the present embodiment, outlet data 50a as shown in FIG. 7 is stored in advance. In the air outlet data 50a, the air direction (air direction angle information) and the air volume (air volume information of the indoor fan 42) of the conditioned air blown out from the air outlets 41a to 41d are divided into the divided areas A1 to D1, A2 to D2. Is set in detail in consideration of the combination of the presence / absence of a person in the room, the comfort of the person in the air-conditioning room RA during the defrosting operation, and the balance of the efficiency of the defrosting operation. Therefore, according to the air conditioning apparatus 100, during the defrosting operation, the information on the wind direction angle and the air volume of the indoor fan 42 are the detection results of the infrared sensors 46a to 46d of the human detection sensor group 46 and the pre-stored outlet data 50a. Therefore, it is possible to finely control the information on the air volume and the wind direction angle of the indoor fan 42 according to the presence / absence of people in each divided area A1 to D1, A2 to D2 at the time of the defrosting operation. Become. Therefore, the comfort of the person in the air-conditioning target room RA during the defrosting operation and the efficiency of the defrosting operation can be improved in a balanced manner.

(4-2)
Moreover, in the air conditioning apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, each of the infrared sensors 46a to 46d in the human detection sensor group 46 can detect the number of people in each divided area RA, and the ratio of the number of people to a predetermined number of people. Accordingly, the presence or absence of a person in each of the divided areas A1 to D1 and A2 to D2 is determined. That is, the presence or absence of a person in each of the divided areas A1 to D1 and A2 to D2 is determined based on the ratio of the number of persons, not simply based on whether or not there is a person. For example, if the ratio of the number of persons in the divided area A1 to the predetermined number is greater than or equal to the predetermined ratio, it is determined that there is a person in the area A1, and conversely if the ratio is equal to or less than the predetermined ratio, It can be determined that there are no people.

  As described above, the information on the wind direction angle and the air volume information of the indoor fan 42 are determined according to the state of the number of persons in each of the divided areas A1 to D1 and A2 to D2. It is possible to improve the comfort of the person and the efficiency of the defrosting operation in a balanced manner.

(4-3)
Moreover, according to the air conditioning apparatus 100 which concerns on this embodiment, the angle of each flap 45a-45d is independently controlled at the time of a defrost operation. Therefore, during the defrosting operation, the conditioned air sent from the outlets 41a to 41d into the air conditioning target room RA can be sent in different directions depending on the angles of the flaps 45a to 45d. Therefore, fine airflow control can be performed even during the defrosting operation.

(5) Modifications Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be changed without departing from the gist of the invention.

(5-1) Modification A
In the said embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the indoor unit 40 demonstrated that the human detection sensor group 46 which consists of an aggregate | assembly of four infrared sensors 46a-46d was provided. However, the human detection sensor according to the present invention may have any configuration as long as it can detect the presence or absence of a person for each of the divided areas A1 to D1 and A2 to D2.

  As another example of the human detection sensor 46 ′, as shown in FIG. 13, an opening 46′f for receiving infrared rays by an infrared light receiving element (not shown) is formed, and this opening 46 ′. A configuration in which f rotates about 360 degrees in a plan view of the lower surface of the casing 41 is given. In this case, the opening 46'f may be covered with a transmissive member that can cause the infrared light receiving element to receive infrared light.

  Furthermore, as another example of the human detection sensor, there is a configuration in which the infrared light receiving element rotates instead of the opening 46'f rotating.

(5-2) Modification B
In the above embodiment, the case where the indoor unit 40 is provided with four outlets 41 a to 41 d along the peripheral edge of the lower surface of the casing 41 has been described. However, the number of outlets according to the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, four may be provided so as to correspond to each of the four corners of the lower surface of the casing 41. Accordingly, the conditioned air is blown out not only in the direction corresponding to each side of the quadrangle on the lower surface of the casing 41 but also in the direction corresponding to each corner portion of the lower surface.

  Further, the number of the flaps 45a to 45d is not limited to four, and may be four or more.

(5-3) Modification C
In FIG. 7 of the above embodiment, an example of the balloon outlet data 50a is shown. However, the balloon outlet data 50a has records of various patterns other than the records shown in FIG. For example, the outlet data 50a includes a case where there is a person in at least one of the divided areas A1 to D1 on the near side and no person in the divided areas A2 to D2 on the far side.

  In FIG. 7, the case where the predetermined ratio as a criterion is “20%” is shown as an example, but the storage unit 50 also stores the outlet data 50 a corresponding to another predetermined ratio “10%” or the like. ing.

  Furthermore, the outlet data 50a in FIG. 7 may include all possible patterns for the ratio of the number of persons in each of the divided areas A1 to D1 and A2 to D2 to the predetermined number.

(5-4) Modification D
In the above-described embodiment, it has been described that the air volume information, the wind direction angle information, and the like are determined according to the presence / absence of persons for each of the divided areas A1 to D1 and A2 to D2. However, any one of the air volume information, the wind direction angle information, and the like may be determined according to the presence / absence of a person in each of the divided areas A1 to D1 and A2 to D2.

(5-5) Modification E
In the above embodiment, the operation of the indoor fan 42 is performed by applying the result of calculating whether or not the ratio of the number of persons for each divided area A1 to D1 and A2 to D2 is equal to or greater than the predetermined ratio to the presence / absence information. The case where information etc. was decided was explained. However, the presence / absence information does not represent the ratio in the number of people but may simply represent the presence / absence of the persons in the divided areas A1 to D1 and A2 to D2. In this case, each infrared sensor 46a to 46d detects whether or not there is a person in each of the divided areas A1 to D1 and A2 to D2, and the detection result is applied to the presence / absence information, whereby the operation of the indoor fan 42 is performed. Information etc. will be decided.

(5-6) Modification F
In the above embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, two types of “strong”, “upward”, “weak”, and “horizontal” are shown as examples of combinations of fan air volume information and wind direction angle information. However, the combination of fan air volume information and wind direction angle information is not limited to these. From the viewpoint of further presence / absence information combination, protection of human comfort and promotion of defrosting operation, the combination of fan air volume information and wind direction angle may be determined as appropriate. There may be combinations such as “under”.

(5-7) Modification G
In the above embodiment, it has been described that the outlet data 50a of FIG. 7 is used only during the defrosting operation. However, the outlet data 50a may be used not only during the defrosting operation but also during the heating operation.

(5-8) Modification H
In the above embodiment, the case where the air-conditioning target room RA is divided into eight divided areas A1 to D1 and A2 to D2 has been described. However, the number of divided areas is not limited to this, and it is only necessary that the air-conditioning target room RA is divided into a plurality of divided areas.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Air conditioning apparatus P5, P6 Refrigerant communication pipe 20 Outdoor unit 23 Outdoor heat exchanger 40 Indoor unit 41 Casing 41a-41d Outlet 41e Suction port 42 Indoor fan 43 Indoor heat exchanger 44 Flow rate control valve 45a-45d Flap 46 Person detection Sensor group 46a to 46d Infrared sensor 50 Storage unit 50a Outlet data 51 Indoor control unit 51a Operation control unit 51b Fan control unit 51c Flap control unit 60 Remote controller 61 Control unit 64 Operation panel

Japanese Patent No. 3807305

Claims (3)

An air conditioner capable of performing a defrosting operation to remove frost attached to an outdoor heat exchanger,
A casing (41) formed with a plurality of outlets (41a to 41d) for blowing out conditioned air into the air-conditioning target space;
Flaps (45a to 45d) for controlling the air direction of the conditioned air blown out from the outlet;
A fan (42) for controlling the air volume of the conditioned air blown out from the outlet;
The presence or absence of a person in each of the divided areas (A1 to D1, A2 to D2) in which the air-conditioning target space is divided into a plurality of areas based on the blowing area where the airflow of the conditioned air blown out from each of the outlets arrives. Detecting a plurality of human detection sensors (46a to 46d);
A combination of presence / absence information indicating the presence / absence of a person in each of the divided areas is associated with at least one of the air direction and the air volume of the conditioned air blown out from each of the air outlets as air outlet data (50a). A storage unit (50) for storing;
A determination unit (51a) that determines at least one of a wind direction and an air volume of conditioned air blown from each of the air outlets by applying a detection result of each of the human detection sensors to the air outlet data during the defrosting operation. When,
Control units (51b, 51c) for controlling the angle of the flap and the rotational speed of the fan based on the determination result by the determination unit;
An air conditioner (100) comprising: The human detection sensor can detect the number of persons in each of the divided areas,
According to the ratio of the number of persons detected by the human detection sensor to the predetermined number of persons, it is determined whether or not there is a person in each of the divided areas.
The air conditioner (100) according to claim 1. The casing is a ceiling-mounted indoor unit casing in which at least four outlets for blowing conditioned air in different directions are formed,
At least four flaps are provided so as to correspond to the outlets,
The controller is configured to independently change the angle of each flap based on a determination result by the determination unit during the defrosting operation.
The air conditioner (100) according to claim 1 or 2.

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