JP2012120291A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air conditioner capable of reducing noise and reducing power consumption as well by appropriately selecting a reactor corresponding to the change of operation loads.SOLUTION: By predicting the operation load from an operation mode and a set temperature specified by a user and detected indoor temperature and outside air temperature and predicting the operation state of an outdoor unit 1 corresponding to it, the reactor to be used is selected before the variation of the operation load. Thus, the noise is reduced and the power consumption is reduced more appropriately while improving a power factor. Also, since an inductance value is changed by switching the presence/absence of serial connection of a first reactor 16 and a second reactor 18, the two reactors may be the ones of the same inductance value. Thus, since a purchase unit price of the reactor can be lowered, the above-mentioned effect is realized at a lower cost.

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner, and more particularly to an air conditioner capable of appropriately reducing noise and reducing power consumption in a power supply device for an outdoor unit.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an inductor element such as a reactor is provided in a power supply device provided in an outdoor unit of an air conditioner in order to improve power factor and reduce noise. For example, in Patent Document 1, a booster chopper circuit including two types of reactors and switching elements having different inductance values is provided in a power supply device provided in an air conditioner or the like, and one of them is selected depending on the magnitude of the operating load. It has been proposed that the circuit loss due to high-frequency switching or the like in the step-up chopper circuit can be reduced while improving the power factor by selecting and using this reactor.

  In the air conditioner as described above, the operating load varies due to fluctuations in the room temperature and outside air temperature, etc., so the voltage applied to the compressor varies accordingly and the current flowing through the power supply also varies. To do. When the operating load is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, that is, when the current flowing through the power supply device is greater than or equal to the predetermined value, the operating load is smaller than the predetermined value so that a reactor having a large inductance value is used. When the current flowing through the power supply device becomes smaller than a predetermined value, the reactor connection of the power supply device is switched so as to use a reactor having a small inductance value. As a result, the power factor can be improved and the circuit loss can be reduced.

  Such switching of the reactor is performed based on periodically grasping the driving load. This is to prevent the operation of the power supply from becoming unstable and the operation of the air conditioner from becoming unstable if the control of switching the reactor connection is performed each time the operating load is grasped in real time. is there.

JP 2007-135254 A (pages 6 to 9, FIGS. 1 to 3)

  However, in the air conditioner described above, since the operation load is periodically grasped, even if the operation load fluctuates before the next operation load detection timing, it cannot be recognized. In such a case, for example, a state in which the driving load increases and a high current flows (hereinafter referred to as a high current operation) from a state in which the driving load is small and a low current flows through the power supply device (hereinafter referred to as low current operation). However, since the reactor with a small inductance value is still used, there is a problem that noise generated in the power supply circuit cannot be sufficiently reduced. In addition, even if the operation is changed from a high current operation to a low current operation, there is a problem in that power consumption in the reactor increases because a reactor having a large inductance value is still used.

  The present invention solves the above-described problems and provides an air conditioner capable of reducing noise without excess and deficiency and appropriately reducing power consumption by appropriately selecting a reactor according to fluctuations in operating load. With the goal.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, in the air conditioner of the present invention, the first reactor and the second reactor are connected in series to the rectifier circuit of the power supply device provided in the outdoor unit. There is provided switching means capable of connecting or opening between the reactor and the power supply device. In addition, an operation state prediction table in which the operation state of the outdoor unit corresponding to the operation load of the air conditioner for each set temperature is stored in advance corresponding to the operation mode such as cooling / heating operation, the indoor temperature, and the outdoor temperature. ing.

  The air conditioner predicts the operation state of the outdoor unit by referring to the operation state prediction table determined for each set temperature based on the operation mode, the set temperature, and the detected room temperature and outside air temperature. And according to the predicted operation state, the switching means is controlled so that only the second reactor is used, or the first reactor and the second reactor are connected in series so that both reactors are used. To do.

  In the air conditioner configured as described above, the operation load is predicted from the operation mode and set temperature specified by the user, the detected indoor temperature and the outside air temperature, and the operation state of the outdoor unit corresponding to this is predicted. Thus, it is possible to select a reactor to be used in advance of fluctuations in the operating load. Thereby, it is possible to more appropriately reduce noise and reduce power consumption while improving the power factor.

It is a principal part block diagram of the air conditioner which is an Example of this invention. It is an operation | movement state prediction table in the Example of this invention. It is a flowchart explaining the process in the outdoor unit control means in the Example of this invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. As an example, an air conditioner having an outdoor unit and an indoor unit will be described as an example. The present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and can be variously modified without departing from the gist of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioner of the present invention includes an outdoor unit 1 and an indoor unit 3. The outdoor unit 1 includes a rectifier circuit 11, an inverter 12, a compressor 13, a switching unit 14, a surge absorbing unit 15, a first reactor 16, a smoothing capacitor 17, a second reactor 18, and an energization line 19. And an outside air temperature sensor 6 and an outdoor unit control means 20. In addition to the above, the outdoor unit 1 includes various devices and parts necessary for the operation of the outdoor unit 1, such as heat exchangers, accumulators, valves such as four-way valves and expansion valves, exhaust fans, refrigerant piping, and various sensors. Although provided, it is not directly related to the present invention, and therefore detailed description thereof is omitted. Moreover, the power supply device of the outdoor unit 1 is configured by removing the compressor 13, the outside air temperature sensor 6, and the outdoor unit control means 20 from the above-described configuration.

  The rectifier circuit 11 is a circuit that rectifies AC power supplied from the AC power supply 2 and outputs the DC power as DC power, and includes a bridge diode or the like. A smoothing capacitor 17 is connected in parallel to the output side of the rectifier circuit 11. The DC power rectified by the rectifier circuit 11 is smoothed by the smoothing capacitor 17.

  The first line 4 is connected to the input side of the rectifier circuit 11 via the switching means 14, the surge absorbing means 15, the first reactor 16 and the energization line 19, and the other side of the input side is connected to the second reactor 18. The second lines 5 are connected to each other. The first line 4 and the second line 5 are connected to the AC power source 2 in the indoor unit 3 described later.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the surge absorbing means 15, the first reactor 16, and the energization line 19 are each connected at one end to the input side of the rectifier circuit 11 and at the other end to the switching means 14. The second reactor 18 has one end connected to the input side of the rectifier circuit 11 and the other end connected to the second line 5.

  The surge absorbing means 15 is composed of, for example, a resistance element, suppresses an inrush current when the outdoor unit 1 is turned on, and generates a surge generated when the switching means 14 switches the connection of the first reactor 16. Absorbs current.

  The first reactor 16 and the second reactor 18 are formed, for example, by winding an exciting coil around an EI type core a predetermined number of times, and the inductance value is an amount of power factor improvement and noise reduction required for the outdoor unit 1. It is decided according to. It should be noted that the inductance values of the first reactor 16 and the second reactor 18 may be the same value or different values.

  The switching means 14 has one end connected to the first line 4 and the other end connected to one end of each of the surge absorbing means 15, the first reactor 16 and the energization line 19 as described above. The switching means 14 is composed of a plurality of relays, and can individually connect / release the other ends of the surge absorbing means 15, the first reactor 16, and the energization line 19 and the first line 4, For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the surge absorbing means 15 and the energization line 19 are simultaneously connected to the first line 4 and the first reactor 16 is opened. You can choose.

  The inverter 12 is connected to the output side of the rectifier circuit 11 and converts the input DC power into AC power to drive a motor (not shown) such as a brushless DC motor of the compressor 13 (variable capacity compressor). To do. The inverter 12 includes a plurality of switching elements such as power transistors and a plurality of flyback diodes for protecting the switching elements. The outside air temperature sensor 6 is composed of, for example, a thermistor, and is installed near a suction port provided in a housing (not shown) of the outdoor unit 1.

  The outdoor unit control means 20 is provided on a control board (not shown) of the outdoor unit 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the outdoor unit control means 20 includes a microcomputer 21, a storage unit 22, a communication unit 23, and a sensor input unit 24. The microcomputer 21 inputs a detection signal from each sensor of the outdoor unit 1 via the sensor input unit 24 and also inputs a control signal transmitted from the indoor unit 3 via the communication unit 23 and compresses based on these signals. The machine 13 and the switching means 14 are controlled.

  The storage unit 22 includes a ROM and a RAM, and stores a control program for the outdoor unit 1, detection values corresponding to detection signals from the sensors, current setting information for the outdoor unit 1, and the like. The communication unit 23 is an interface that performs communication with the indoor unit 3. The sensor input unit 24 inputs detection signals from each sensor.

  The indoor unit 3 includes an indoor unit control means 30, an indoor temperature sensor 40, and a switch 50. In addition to the above, the indoor unit 3 includes various devices and parts necessary for the operation of the indoor unit 3, such as various valves such as a heat exchanger, a blower fan, and an expansion valve, refrigerant piping, and various sensors. However, detailed description is omitted because it is not directly related to the present invention.

  The indoor unit control means 30 is provided on a control board (not shown) of the indoor unit 3. As shown in FIG. 1, the indoor unit control means 30 includes a microcomputer 31, a storage unit 32, a communication unit 33, a sensor input unit 34, and a remote control reception unit 35. The microcomputer 35 inputs detection signals from the sensors of the indoor unit 3 via the sensor input unit 34 and inputs various setting signals related to air conditioning operation transmitted from a remote controller (not shown) via the remote control receiver 35. Moreover, the control signal transmitted from the outdoor unit 1 is input via the communication part 33, and the operation control of the indoor unit 3 based on these is performed.

  The storage unit 32 includes a ROM and a RAM, and stores a control program for the indoor unit 3, detection values corresponding to detection signals from the sensors, current setting information for the indoor unit 3, and the like. The communication unit 33 is an interface that performs communication with the outdoor unit 1. The sensor input unit 34 inputs detection signals from each sensor. The remote control receiving unit 35 receives various setting signals from the remote control as described above.

  The indoor temperature sensor 40 is composed of, for example, a thermistor, and is installed near a suction port provided in a housing (not shown) of the indoor unit 3. The switch 50 is configured by a relay, for example, and switches the AC voltage from the AC power supply 2 to the outdoor unit 1 via the first line 4 and the second line 5 so as to be supplied or cut off. The operation of the switch 50 is controlled by the indoor unit control means 30.

  Next, in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, in the air conditioner according to the present embodiment, the operation state of the outdoor unit 1 corresponding to the operating load of the air conditioner is predicted, and the reactor to be used is selected based on this. The operation and its effect will be described.

  In FIG. 2, the operation state of the outdoor unit 1 is predicted in correspondence with the operation mode of the air conditioner, the indoor temperature x detected by the indoor temperature sensor 40, and the outdoor temperature y detected by the outdoor temperature sensor 6. An example of the operation state prediction table 60 is shown. The operation state prediction table 60 is set for each set temperature, which is a target temperature for air conditioning operation, and is obtained and stored in advance in a storage unit 22 provided in the outdoor unit control means 20 of the outdoor unit 1 by a test or the like. Has been. In addition, the range of the set temperature in a present Example demonstrates between 16 degreeC and 30 degreeC at the time of air_conditionaing | cooling operation or heating operation.

  Hereinafter, the operation state prediction table 60 shown in FIG. 2 will be specifically described for each operation mode. In the following description, the operation state prediction table 60 when the set temperature during the cooling operation is 27 ° C. and when the set temperature during the heating operation is 20 ° C. will be described as an example. The operation state prediction table 60 defines the operation state of the outdoor unit 1 to be predicted when the indoor temperature is in the range of 0 ° C. to 40 ° C. and the outside air temperature is in the range of −20 ° C. to 40 ° C.

  First, the case where the operation mode is cooling, that is, the case where the air conditioner is performing the cooling operation according to an instruction by a user's remote control operation or the like will be described. When the room temperature x is less than 18 ° C., the operation state of the outdoor unit 1 is “stopped” regardless of the outside air temperature y. Here, “stop” refers to a state where the compressor 13 of the outdoor unit 1 is stopped, that is, a state where the refrigeration cycle of the air conditioner is stopped.

  When the indoor temperature x is 18 ° C. or higher and lower than 27 ° C., the state of the outdoor unit 1 is “low current operation” regardless of the outdoor air temperature y. Also, when the indoor temperature x is 27 ° C. or higher and 40 ° C. or lower and the outside air temperature y is −20 ° C. or higher and lower than 35 ° C., the state of the outdoor unit 1 is “low current operation”. Here, the “low current operation” refers to a state where the value of the current flowing through the power supply device of the outdoor unit 1 is low, that is, a state where the operation load during cooling operation is low.

  In cases other than the above, that is, when the indoor temperature x is 27 ° C. or higher and 40 ° C. or lower and the outside air temperature y is 35 ° C. or higher and 40 ° C. or lower, the operation state of the outdoor unit 1 varies depending on the mathematical formula as shown in FIG. ing. That is, when the room temperature x and the outside air temperature y satisfying y <(− 5/13) x + 655/13, “low current operation”, the room temperature x satisfying y ≧ (−5/13) x + 655/13 When the outside air temperature is y, the operation is “high current operation”. Here, the “high current operation” refers to a state where the value of the current flowing through the power supply device of the outdoor unit 1 is high, that is, a state where the operation load during cooling operation is high.

  In addition, the above formula is obtained by using an indoor temperature x and an outside air temperature y that require high current operation during cooling operation in advance by a test or the like. For example, when the set temperature is 27 ° C., the formula for the cooling operation is as follows: the outdoor unit 1 has an indoor temperature x of 27 ° C. and an outdoor air temperature y of 40 ° C., and an indoor temperature x of 40 ° C. A high current operation when y is 35 ° C. is obtained by a test or the like in advance, and a mathematical expression representing a straight line connecting two points indicated by these numerical values: y = (− 5/13) x + 655/13 is obtained. As described above, this is made inequality to distribute “low current operation” and “high current operation”.

  Next, a case will be described in which the operation mode is heating, that is, the air conditioner is performing the heating operation according to an instruction by a user's remote control operation or the like. When the indoor temperature x is 30 ° C. or higher, the operation state of the outdoor unit 1 is “stopped” regardless of the outside air temperature y. When the indoor temperature x is 20 ° C. or higher and lower than 30 ° C., the state of the outdoor unit 1 is “low current operation” regardless of the outdoor air temperature y. When the indoor temperature x is 0 ° C. or higher and lower than 20 ° C. and the outside air temperature y is 7 ° C. or higher and 40 ° C. or lower, the state of the outdoor unit 1 is “low current operation”.

  In cases other than the above, that is, when the indoor temperature x is 0 ° C. or higher and lower than 20 ° C. and the outside air temperature y is −20 ° C. or higher and lower than 7 ° C., the operation state of the outdoor unit 1 is expressed by a mathematical formula as shown in FIG. Is different. That is, when the indoor temperature x and the outside air temperature y satisfying y> (− 27/20) x + 7, “low current operation”, the indoor temperature x and the outside air temperature y satisfying y ≦ (−27/20) x + 7 are satisfied. Is “high current operation”.

  In the above formula, the room temperature x and the outside air temperature y at which a high current operation is required during the heating operation are obtained in advance through tests or the like, and are used. For example, when the set temperature is 20 ° C., the mathematical formula for the heating operation is as follows: the outdoor unit 1 has an indoor temperature x of 20 ° C. and an outdoor air temperature y of −20 ° C., and an indoor temperature x of 0 ° C. It has been previously determined by testing or the like that a high current operation is performed when the temperature y is 7 ° C., and a mathematical expression representing a straight line connecting two points indicated by these numerical values: y = (− 27/20) x + 7 is obtained. . As described above, this is made inequality to distribute “low current operation” and “high current operation”.

  A procedure for predicting the operation state of the outdoor unit 1 using the operation state prediction table 60 described above and selecting a reactor based on the operation state will be described. When the air conditioner starts operation by a user's remote control operation or the like, the microcomputer 31 of the indoor unit control means 30 closes the switch 50 and starts supplying power to the outdoor unit 1.

  The microcomputer 31 inputs control information such as an operation mode and set temperature set by the user by operating the remote controller via the remote controller receiver 35 and stores the control information in the storage unit 32. The microcomputer 31 periodically detects the room temperature with the room temperature sensor 40, inputs this through the sensor input unit 34, and stores it in the storage unit 32.

  The microcomputer 31 reads the operation mode, the set temperature, and the room temperature from the storage unit 32, generates signals corresponding to these, and transmits the signals to the outdoor unit 1 via the communication unit 33. The microcomputer 21 of the outdoor unit control means 20 inputs this signal via the communication unit 23 and stores the operation mode, the set temperature, and the room temperature included in the signal in the storage unit 22. Further, the microcomputer 21 periodically detects the outside air temperature with the outside air temperature sensor 6, inputs this through the sensor input unit 24, and stores it in the storage unit 22.

  The microcomputer 21 reads out the operation mode, the set temperature, the room temperature, and the outside temperature stored in the storage unit 22, and refers to the operation state prediction table 60 corresponding to the set temperature stored in the storage unit 22. The operation state of the outdoor unit 1 is predicted. For example, when the operation mode is cooling, the set temperature is 27 ° C., and the room temperature is 26 ° C., the microcomputer 21 refers to the operation state prediction table 60 corresponding to the set temperature: 27 ° C. to determine the operation state of the outdoor unit 1. Predicts "low current operation". When the room temperature is 36 ° C. and the outside air temperature is 38 ° C., the microcomputer 21 refers to the operation state prediction table 60 corresponding to the set temperature: 27 ° C., and the equation y = (− 5/13) x + 655 / The outdoor temperature y is calculated by substituting the room temperature: 36 ° C. into x of 13. In this case, since the outside air temperature y≈36.5 ° C. and the actual outside air temperature: 38 ° C. is higher, the microcomputer 21 predicts that the operating state of the outdoor unit 1 is “high current operation”.

  For example, when the operation mode is heating, the set temperature is 20 ° C., and the room temperature is 21 ° C., the microcomputer 21 refers to the operation state prediction table 60 corresponding to the set temperature: 20 ° C. to operate the outdoor unit 1. Predict that the state is “low current operation”. When the room temperature is 15 ° C. and the outside air temperature is 5 ° C., the microcomputer 21 refers to the operation state prediction table 60 corresponding to the set temperature: 20 ° C., and the equation y = (− 27/20) x + 7, The outside air temperature y is calculated by substituting the room temperature: 15 ° C. into x. In this case, since the outside air temperature y≈13.3 ° C. and the actual outside air temperature: 5 ° C. is lower, the microcomputer 21 predicts that the operating state of the outdoor unit 1 is “high current operation”. When the operation mode is cooling and the room temperature is less than 18 ° C., or when the operation mode is heating and the room temperature is 30 ° C. or more, the microcomputer 21 stops the power supply to the compressor 13 and the outdoor unit 1 Stop the operation.

  Based on the operation state of the outdoor unit 1 predicted by the method as described above, the microcomputer 21 controls the switching unit 14 to determine the use of the first reactor 16 and the second reactor 18. In addition, when the outdoor unit 1 starts operation, only the surge absorbing means 15 is connected. This is because when the operation of the outdoor unit 1 was stopped last time, the microcomputer 21 controlled the switching unit 14 so that only the surge absorbing unit 15 was connected. Inrush current is suppressed.

  When the predicted operation state of the outdoor unit 1 is “low current operation”, the microcomputer 21 controls the switching unit 14 so that the surge absorbing unit 15 remains connected and the operation of the outdoor unit 1 is started. The energization line 19 is connected after a certain period of time. Thereby, only the 2nd reactor 18 will be in the state connected to the power supply device. Therefore, since no current flows through the first reactor 16 and only current flows through the second reactor 18, the power factor of the power supply device and noise reduction can be appropriately performed by the second reactor 18 while reducing power consumption.

  Further, when the predicted operation state of the outdoor unit 1 is “high current operation”, the microcomputer 21 controls the switching means 14 and the surge absorbing means 15 connects the first reactor 16 in a connected state. The surge absorbing means 15 is opened after a lapse of a certain time from the start of operation of the outdoor unit 1. Thereby, the 1st reactor 16 and the 2nd reactor 18 will be in the state connected in series with the power supply device, and an inductance value will increase compared with the case where only the 2nd reactor 18 is used. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately improve the power factor of the power supply device and reduce noise. When the predicted operation state of the outdoor unit 1 is “stopped”, the microcomputer 21 controls the switching unit 14 so that only the surge absorbing unit 15 is connected.

  As described above, the air conditioner in the present embodiment predicts the operating load corresponding to the set temperature from the detected indoor temperature and outside air temperature, and predicts the operating state of the outdoor unit 1 corresponding to this. Select the reactor to use. Since the operating state of the outdoor unit 1 is predicted and the reactor to be used is selected prior to this, the optimal reactor to be used corresponding to the actual change in the operating state of the outdoor unit 1 can be selected. Therefore, it is possible to appropriately improve the power factor according to the driving load and reduce noise, and to reduce power consumption.

  In addition, since the inductance value is changed by switching whether the first reactor and the second reactor are connected in series or not, the two reactors may have the same inductance value. Thereby, since the purchase unit price of a reactor can be lowered | hung, the effect mentioned above can be implement | achieved more cheaply.

  In the embodiment described above, the operation state prediction table 60 has been described in advance by a test or the like and stored in the storage unit 22. However, when the air conditioner is installed, the place where the air conditioner is installed is described. The operation state prediction table 60 may be created according to the environment. Moreover, you may enable it to correct | amend the operation state prediction table 60 set by the initial state (at the time of factory shipment of an air conditioner etc.) according to the installation place of an air conditioner.

  Next, the flow of processing in the air conditioner according to the present invention will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG. The flowchart shown in FIG. 3 explains the flow of processing in the microcomputer 21 of the outdoor unit 1, ST represents a step, and the number following this represents a step number. Note that FIG. 3 mainly describes the processing related to the present invention, such as switching of the four-way valve, the rotation speed of the compressor 13 corresponding to the set temperature instructed by the user, the opening degree adjustment of each expansion valve, etc. Description of other processing is omitted. Further, data corresponding to the operation mode and the indoor temperature detected by the indoor temperature sensor 40 is periodically transmitted from the indoor unit 3 to the outdoor unit 1.

  The air conditioner starts operation in response to an operation start instruction from the user, and the outdoor unit 1 is turned on. The microcomputer 21 that is activated when the power is turned on determines whether data is received from the indoor unit 3 (ST1). If data has been received (ST1-Yes), the microcomputer 21 determines whether or not the received data is data corresponding to the operation mode, room temperature, and set temperature (ST2).

  If the received data is data corresponding to the operation mode, the room temperature, and the set temperature (ST2-Yes), the microcomputer 21 stores the operation mode, the room temperature, and the set temperature included in the data in the storage unit 22. (ST13), the process is returned to ST1. If the received data is not data corresponding to the operation mode, the room temperature, and the set temperature (ST2-No), the microcomputer 21 determines whether the received data is data corresponding to the operation stop instruction of the outdoor unit 3. Is determined (ST3).

  If the received data is data corresponding to the operation stop instruction of the outdoor unit 3 (ST3-Yes), the microcomputer 21 controls the switching means 14 after stopping the rotation of the compressor 13, and only the surge absorber 15 is received. After the connected state, the power supply to the compressor 13 is cut off and the operation of the outdoor unit 1 is stopped (ST14).

  If the received data is not data corresponding to the operation stop instruction of the outdoor unit 3 (ST3-No), since the received data is an operation start instruction, the microcomputer 21 detects the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor 6 as a sensor. The data is input via the input unit 24 and stored in the storage unit 22 (ST4). Next, the microcomputer 21 reads the operation mode, the room temperature, the set temperature, and the outside temperature stored in the storage unit 22, and predicts the operation state of the outdoor unit 1 with reference to the operation state prediction table 60 corresponding to the set temperature. (ST5).

Next, the microcomputer 21 controls the switching means 14 based on the predicted operation state (ST6). The microcomputer 21 controls the switching means 14 so that only the second reactor 18 is used according to the operating state of the outdoor unit 1 or the first reactor 16 and the second reactor 18 are connected in series. Choose.
And the microcomputer 21 starts an air-conditioning driving | operation based on control information, such as setting temperature received from the indoor unit 3 (ST7), and returns a process to ST1.

  If data is not received from the indoor unit 3 in ST1 (ST1-No), the microcomputer 21 determines whether the outdoor unit 1 is currently operating (ST8). If not in operation (ST8-No), the microcomputer 21 returns the process to ST1. If in operation (ST8-Yes), the microcomputer 21 reads the latest operation mode, the room temperature, the set temperature, and the outside air temperature stored in the storage unit 22, and predicts the operation state corresponding to the current set temperature. The operation state of the outdoor unit 1 is predicted with reference to the table 60 (ST9).

  Next, the microcomputer 21 compares the current operating state of the outdoor unit 1 with the newly predicted operating state, and determines whether switching of the operating state is necessary (ST10). When switching is required (ST10-Yes), the microcomputer 21 stops the rotation of the compressor 13, and then interrupts the power supply to the compressor 13 to stop the compressor 13 (ST11), and the process proceeds to ST6. Proceed. When the switching is not necessary (ST10-No), the microcomputer 21 continuously operates the outdoor unit 1 in the current operation state (ST12), and returns the process to ST1.

  As described above, in the air conditioner of the present invention, the operation load is predicted from the operation mode and set temperature specified by the user and the detected indoor temperature or outdoor temperature, and the operation state of the outdoor unit corresponding to this is predicted. By predicting, it is possible to select a reactor to be used in advance of fluctuations in the operating load. Thereby, it is possible to more appropriately reduce noise and reduce power consumption while improving the power factor.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Outdoor unit 2 AC power supply 3 Indoor unit 4 1st line 5 2nd line 6 Outside temperature sensor 8 Terminal 9 Housing 11 Rectifier circuit 12 Inverter 13 Compressor 14 Switching means 15 Surge absorption means 16 1st reactor 17 Smoothing capacitor
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 18 2nd reactor 19 Current supply line 20 Outdoor unit control means 21 Microcomputer 22 Storage part 23 Communication part 24 Sensor input part 30 Indoor unit control means 31 Microcomputer 32 Storage part 33 Communication part 34 Sensor input part 35 Remote control receiving part 40 Indoor temperature sensor

Claims (2)

A rectifier that rectifies AC power supplied from an AC power source into DC power, a first reactor connected in series on the input side of the rectifier circuit, a second reactor, and the DC power rectified by the rectifier circuit are smoothed. An outdoor unit comprising a smoothing capacitor, a drive device having an inverter that converts the smoothed DC power to AC power, and a compressor; an outdoor temperature sensor that detects an outdoor temperature; and an outdoor unit control means;
An indoor unit equipped with an indoor temperature sensor for detecting the indoor temperature,
The outdoor unit includes switching means for switching whether to connect the first reactor and the second reactor in series, or to connect only one of them.
The outdoor unit control means corresponds to the operation mode, the indoor temperature, and the outdoor temperature, and at least one operation in which a predicted operation state of the outdoor unit is determined for each set temperature that is a target temperature of the air conditioning operation. A storage unit that stores a state prediction table in advance is provided, the operation state prediction table corresponding to the set temperature and the operation mode is referred to, and the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor and the indoor temperature sensor are detected. The air conditioner characterized in that, based on the room temperature, the predicted operating state is extracted from the operating state prediction table, and the switching means is controlled in accordance with the extracted operating state.   The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein inductance values of the first reactor and the second reactor are the same.

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