JP2015031414A - Air conditioning system, and control method of air conditioning system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simplify control implemented by a central control unit managing the whole system, and to make a system extendability be excellent.SOLUTION: An air conditioning system includes: one or a plurality of indoor units 12; one or a plurality of outdoor units; a central control unit 16 managing the whole system; an indoor apparatus control board 32 disposed on every apparatus for controlling the apparatuses constituting the indoor unit 12; outdoor apparatus control boards disposed on every apparatus for controlling the apparatuses constituting the outdoor unit; and a sensor 34 for measuring a physical amount used in controlling the system. In the air conditioning system, the central control unit 16, the indoor apparatus control boards 32, the outdoor apparatus control boards and the sensor 34 are connected by a common external bus 24 and a common internal bus 36A to transmit and receive information through the buses.

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioning system and a method for controlling the air conditioning system.

  The air conditioning system includes an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The air conditioning system performs a refrigeration cycle such as refrigerant compression, heat dissipation, decompression (expansion), and heat absorption by functional components such as a heat exchanger, a fan, a compressor, and an expansion valve. And in order to perform this cycle, the functional parts of the indoor unit and the outdoor unit are controlled by the central controller.

For example, Patent Document 1 includes a centralized control device that manages and controls the operating status of various refrigeration and refrigeration facilities. The centralized control device includes a plurality of showcase controllers, a refrigerator controller, and an air-cooled condenser control. A centralized management system for refrigeration and refrigeration equipment is described in which a refrigerator is connected to a network via a communication line such as a serial transmission line.
Patent Document 2 describes an air conditioner in which various peripheral devices such as actuators are connected to a central control unit via an information bus and are controlled from the central control unit.

JP 2004-301361 A JP 2002-312303 A

  However, in the conventional air conditioning systems as described in Patent Documents 1 and 2, the air conditioning system is controlled by a single central control device. Therefore, when the number of indoor units and various sensors becomes large, input to the central control device The number of various data to be processed becomes enormous and the control becomes complicated. In addition, as the control of the central control device becomes more complicated, the control program becomes more complicated, and rewriting of the control program requires labor and higher specialized knowledge. Furthermore, the size of the control device such as a memory is increased in order to cope with the maximum system configuration assumed.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and it is possible to simplify the control performed by the central control device that controls the entire system, and to provide an air conditioning system excellent in system expandability and an air conditioning system control method. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to solve the above problems, the air conditioning system and the method for controlling the air conditioning system of the present invention employ the following means.

  The air conditioning system according to the first aspect of the present invention includes one or a plurality of indoor units, one or a plurality of outdoor units, a central controller that controls the entire system, and a device that controls the devices that constitute the indoor unit. An indoor device control board provided for each device, an outdoor device control board provided for each device to control the devices constituting the outdoor unit, and a sensor for measuring a physical quantity used for system control. The central control device, the indoor device control board, the outdoor device control board, and the sensor are connected by one or a plurality of buses, and transmit / receive information via the buses.

  The air conditioning system according to this configuration includes one or more indoor units and one or more outdoor units, and is installed in a large facility such as a building. In addition, the air conditioning system controls the central controller that controls the entire system, the indoor device control board provided for each device to control the devices that constitute the indoor unit, and the devices that constitute the outdoor unit. An outdoor device control board provided for each device and a sensor for measuring a physical quantity used for system control. The equipment that constitutes the indoor unit is, for example, a heat exchanger, an expansion valve, and a fan. The apparatus which comprises an outdoor unit is a compressor etc., for example. The sensor measures, for example, the physical quantity (pressure, temperature, etc.) of the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant pipe, the temperature of the room where the indoor unit is installed, and the like.

Here, the sensor may not be incorporated in the indoor unit or the outdoor unit. The objects sensed by the sensor are, for example, temperature, humidity, pressure, voltage, current, power frequency, air velocity, louver angle, illuminance, and human body heat.
In addition, when one or a plurality of remote controllers for performing on / off of the air-conditioning system by a person, a set temperature, a set air flow rate, a timer setting, and the like exist, information is transmitted to and received from the remote controller via the bus.

  The central control device, the indoor device control board, the outdoor device control board, and the sensor are connected by one or a plurality of buses, and transmit and receive information via the buses. Information transmitted and received is not limited to structural data, but may be non-structural data.

  Accordingly, the indoor device control board receives information from the central control device, the other indoor device control board, the outdoor device control board, and the sensor via the bus. The outdoor device control board receives information from the central control device, the indoor device control board, other outdoor device control boards, and sensors via the bus. Therefore, on the basis of the received information, the indoor device control board autonomously controls the devices constituting the indoor unit to be controlled, and the outdoor device control board autonomously configures the outdoor unit to be controlled. Can be controlled.

As described above, the indoor device control board and the outdoor device control board autonomously control the devices constituting the indoor unit or the devices constituting the outdoor unit. It is not necessary to directly perform various controls on the system, and it is only necessary to perform only the minimum control necessary for controlling the system, such as starting and stopping the entire system. Further, for example, even if an indoor unit or an outdoor unit is added, the central control unit does not perform various controls on the added indoor unit or the outdoor unit. Rewriting is minimal.
Therefore, according to this configuration, the control performed by the central control device can be simplified and the system can be easily expanded.

  In the first aspect, the system includes a plurality of overall control devices that control at least two control boards of the indoor device control board and the outdoor device control board, and the central control device and the plurality of overall control devices are connected by a bus. A plurality of buses for each combination of the control unit, the control board to be controlled, and the combination of the sensors that perform transmission and reception of information through the bus. It is preferable to send and receive information.

  According to this configuration, a plurality of overall control devices that control at least two or more control boards of the indoor equipment control board and the outdoor equipment control board are provided.

  The central control device and the plurality of general control devices are connected by a bus, and information is transmitted and received via the bus. In addition, a plurality of buses are provided for each combination of the overall control device, the overall control board, and the sensor, and information is transmitted and received via the external bus.

  As described above, this configuration includes a plurality of overall control devices, and the plurality of overall control devices and the central control device are connected by a bus. In addition, a plurality of buses are provided for each combination of a control board and a sensor integrated with the overall control device. As described above, in this configuration, the bus (physical bus) is divided into a plurality of parts.

Here, when the central control device, the indoor device control board, the outdoor device control board, and the sensor are connected by a single bus, an enormous amount of information is transmitted and received by the single bus, increasing the load on the physical bus and the logical bus.
On the other hand, by dividing the physical bus into a plurality as in this configuration, the load on each physical bus can be reduced, and as a result, the load on the logical bus can be distributed. In addition, this configuration can handle the indoor device control board, the outdoor device control board, and the sensor as if they exist on one logical bus or as a closed physical bus unit. .

  In the first aspect, provided for each indoor unit for controlling the indoor unit, provided for each outdoor unit for controlling the indoor unit, and an indoor unit control device that controls the indoor unit control board. An outdoor unit control device that controls the outdoor device control board, and the central control unit, the indoor unit control unit, and the outdoor unit control unit are connected by a first bus, and the first bus is connected to the central unit. The indoor unit control device, the indoor equipment control board, and the sensor are connected by a second bus, and the information is transmitted and received via the second bus, and the outdoor unit control device Preferably, the outdoor device control board and the sensor are connected by a third bus, and information is transmitted / received via the third bus.

This configuration is provided for each indoor unit to control the indoor unit, and controls the indoor unit control device that controls the indoor unit control board, and the outdoor unit control board that is provided for each outdoor unit to control the outdoor unit. And an outdoor unit control device that supervises.
The central control device, the indoor unit control device, and the outdoor unit control device are connected by a first bus, and transmit and receive information via the first bus. In addition, the indoor unit control device, the indoor device control board, and the sensor are connected by a second bus, and transmit and receive information via the second bus. The outdoor unit control device, the outdoor device control board, and the sensor are connected by a third bus, and transmit and receive information via the third bus. Information transmitted and received is not limited to structural data, but may be non-structural data.

  In the first aspect, it is preferable that the indoor device control board and the outdoor device control board control the device to be controlled based on information from the sensor.

  According to this configuration, since the indoor device control board and the outdoor device control board autonomously control the devices to be controlled, the control performed by the central control device can be simplified.

  In the first aspect, if the change in physical quantity measured by the sensor related to the device does not fall within a specified range even if the indoor device control board controls the device to be controlled, It is preferable to transmit capability request information indicating a request for capability increase or capability decrease to the outdoor unit control device.

  According to this configuration, since the indoor device control board directly transmits the capability request information to the outdoor unit control device, the control performed by the central control unit and the indoor unit control device can be simplified.

  In the first aspect, when the outdoor unit control device receives the capability request information indicating a request for increasing capability, the outdoor unit is configured to satisfy the required value for increasing capability in cooperation with the other outdoor units. It is preferable to control.

  According to this configuration, since the plurality of outdoor units jointly increase the capacity, the capacity increase is more reliably performed.

  In the first aspect, when the indoor unit control device receives a request to start the stopped indoor unit, the indoor unit control device preferably transmits a target value of the device to be controlled to the indoor device control board. .

  According to this configuration, when the indoor unit is activated, the indoor unit control device only transmits the target value to the control board, so that the control performed by the indoor unit control device can be simplified.

  In the first aspect, when the indoor unit control device receives a request to stop the operating indoor unit, the indoor unit control device transmits a stop signal of the device to be controlled to the indoor device control board, and It is preferable to transmit a capability reduction request signal to the outdoor unit control device.

  According to this configuration, when the indoor unit is stopped, the indoor unit control device simply transmits a stop signal to the control board and transmits a capability reduction request signal to the outdoor unit control device. It can be simplified.

  In the first aspect, when the other outdoor unit performs defrosting, the outdoor unit control device increases the capability of the outdoor unit to be controlled so as to compensate for the ability to decrease due to defrosting and the amount of heat necessary for defrosting. It is preferable to increase.

  According to this configuration, even if the outdoor unit performs a defrost operation in which the frost attached to the heat exchanger is melted, the air conditioning capability can be maintained as a whole system.

In the first aspect, it is preferable that the program of the indoor unit control device and the outdoor unit control device includes a hardware layer, a driver layer, an operation system layer, and an application layer.
According to this structure, the program of an indoor unit control apparatus and an outdoor unit control apparatus is simplified.

In the first aspect, it is preferable that the program of the indoor device control board and the outdoor device control board includes a hardware layer, a driver layer, an operation system layer, a framework layer, and an application layer.
According to this structure, the program of an indoor equipment control board and an outdoor equipment control board is simplified.

  Further, according to this configuration, the indoor unit control device and the outdoor unit control device generate only minimum information by the application layer and transmit it to the indoor device control board or the indoor device control board. The indoor device control board and the indoor device control board generate the control amount of each device to be controlled by the framework based on the information received from the indoor unit control device or the outdoor unit control device, and send it to each device. Send. Thereby, this configuration enables autonomous distributed control.

  In the first aspect, for each combination of the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, a plurality of group control devices that control the indoor device control board and the outdoor device control board included in the combination are provided, and the central control device and the plurality of group control devices The group control devices are connected by a first bus, transmit and receive information via the first bus, and each group combination of the group control device, the indoor device control board, the outdoor device control board, and the sensor. It is preferable that a plurality of second buses connected to each other are provided for each combination, and information is transmitted / received via the second buses.

  According to this configuration, for each combination of an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, a plurality of group control devices that control the indoor device control board and the outdoor device control board included in the combination are provided. The combination is determined, for example, for each floor of a building or a predetermined area. More specifically, for example, a group control device is provided for each combination of an indoor unit and an outdoor unit installed on each floor of a building.

  The central control device and the plurality of group control devices are connected by a first bus, and transmit and receive information via the first bus. In addition, a plurality of second buses are provided for each combination of the group control device, the indoor device control board, the outdoor device control board, and the sensor, and information is transmitted and received through the second bus. Information transmitted and received is not limited to structural data, but may be non-structural data.

  An air conditioning system control method according to the second aspect of the present invention includes one or a plurality of indoor units, one or a plurality of outdoor units, a central control device that controls the entire system, and a device that configures the indoor unit. An air conditioning system comprising an indoor device control board provided for each device, an outdoor device control board provided for each device to control the devices constituting the outdoor unit, and a sensor for measuring a physical quantity used for system control In this control method, the central control device, the indoor equipment control board, the outdoor equipment control board, and the sensor are connected by a bus, and information is transmitted and received through the bus.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to simplify the control performed by the central control apparatus that controls the entire system, and it has an excellent effect that the expandability of the system is excellent.

It is an electrical block diagram of the air conditioning system which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is an electrical block diagram of the indoor unit which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is an electrical block diagram of the outdoor unit which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a program block diagram of the indoor unit control apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a program block diagram of the expansion valve control board which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the flowchart which showed the flow of the equipment control process performed with the indoor equipment control board which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the capability increase process performed with the outdoor unit control apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a graph which shows the performance curve of the outdoor unit which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows transmission / reception of the information in the case of starting the indoor unit which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows transmission / reception of the information in the case of changing the operation mode of the indoor unit which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows transmission / reception of the information in the case of stopping the indoor unit which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows transmission / reception of the information in the case of stopping the indoor unit which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows transmission / reception of the information in the case of communicating between indoor unit control which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows transmission / reception of the information in case the outdoor unit which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention performs defrost. It is an electrical block diagram of the air conditioning system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is detail drawing of the electrical constitution of the air-conditioning system concerning a 2nd embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of an air conditioning system and an air conditioning system control method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
The first embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 is an electrical configuration diagram of an air conditioning system 10 according to the first embodiment.
The air conditioning system 10 according to the first embodiment includes a plurality of indoor units 12 and a plurality of outdoor units 14, and is installed in a large facility such as a building. In addition, each indoor unit 12 and each outdoor unit 14 are each connected by refrigerant | coolant piping.

Further, the air conditioning system 10 includes a central control device 16 that controls the entire system, an indoor unit control device 18 provided for each indoor unit 12 for controlling the indoor unit 12, and an outdoor unit for controlling the outdoor unit 14. The outdoor unit control device 20 provided for every 14 is provided.
The central control device 16 is connected to the installed building controller 22 and the like, and can cooperate with an external device different from the air conditioning system 10.

  The central control device 16, the indoor unit control device 18, and the outdoor unit control device 20, for example, communicate via a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a computer-readable recording medium, and a bus. It is composed of communication means that enable it. A series of processes for realizing various functions to be described later is recorded on a recording medium or the like in the form of a program as an example, and the CPU reads the program into a RAM or the like to execute information processing / arithmetic processing. As a result, various functions are realized.

  The central controller 16, the indoor unit controller 18, and the outdoor unit controller 20 are connected by a bus (hereinafter referred to as “common external bus”) 24, and information (signal) is transmitted via the common external bus 24. Send and receive. The central control device 16, the indoor unit control device 18, and the outdoor unit control device 20 are assigned with unique addresses in advance for transmitting and receiving information via the common external bus 24. Moreover, the information transmitted / received is not limited to structural data, but may be non-structural data. The structure data is, for example, a data format having a predetermined format for device control, and is used for mutual communication between substrates configured with addresses, control values, and the like. On the other hand, unstructured data is, for example, data used for system status monitoring for services, and continues to transmit one or a plurality of sensor outputs until a certain time or reception of an abort signal in response to a request from the central control device 16. Format data. This is called unstructured data because the data size and order are undefined.

FIG. 2 is an electrical configuration diagram of the indoor unit 12 according to the first embodiment.
The indoor unit 12 is an indoor unit control board 32 provided for each indoor unit component device 30 in order to control the indoor unit control device 18 and the devices (hereinafter referred to as “indoor unit component devices”) 30 constituting the indoor unit 12. , And a sensor 34 for measuring a physical quantity used for controlling the air conditioning system 10 is connected by a bus (hereinafter referred to as “common internal bus”) 36A, and transmits and receives information through the common internal bus 36A.

The indoor unit control device 18 is provided for each indoor unit 12 in order to control the indoor unit 12 and is an overall control device that controls the indoor device control board 32. The overall control device controls at least two control boards, that is, an indoor equipment control board 32 and an outdoor equipment control board 42 described later. That is, the indoor unit control board 32 is integrated by the indoor unit control device 18.
The common internal bus 36A is a bus that connects each combination of the indoor unit control device 18, the integrated indoor device control board 32, and the sensor 34.

  The indoor unit component device 30 is, for example, an indoor heat exchanger 30A, an electronic expansion valve 30B, an indoor fan motor 30C, and a louver 30D. The indoor device control boards 32 that control each of these indoor unit components 30 are, for example, an indoor heat exchanger control board 32A, an expansion valve control board 32B, an indoor fan motor control board 32C, and a louver control board 32D.

The sensor 34 is, for example, a refrigerant pressure sensor 34A or a refrigerant temperature sensor 34B that measures a physical quantity (pressure, temperature, or the like) of the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant pipe, a suction temperature sensor 34C that is provided at the air inlet of the indoor unit 12, and the like. The sensor 34 is provided with an AD board that converts an analog signal into a digital signal in order to transmit and receive information via the common internal bus 36A. In the following description, information transmitted from the sensor 34 is referred to as sensor information.
The sensor 34 may not be incorporated in the indoor unit 12 and the outdoor unit 14. In addition to temperature and pressure, the sensor 34 senses, for example, humidity, voltage, current, power supply frequency, air velocity, louver angle, illuminance, and human body heat.

  Further, when a plurality of indoor units 12 are installed in the same room, the sensor 34 used for control may be shared. For example, the suction temperature sensor 34C is provided only in a specific indoor unit 12, and the other indoor units 12 use the measurement result of the suction temperature sensor 34C. Note that the indoor unit control device 18 includes, for example, an indoor unit 12 that is connected to a temperature sensor that measures the same temperature change as the operation of the indoor unit 12 to be controlled. It is determined that the machine 12 is in use.

FIG. 3 is an electrical configuration diagram of the outdoor unit 14 according to the first embodiment.
The outdoor unit 14 is an outdoor unit control board 42 provided for each outdoor unit component device 40 in order to control the outdoor unit control device 20 and a unit 40 (hereinafter referred to as “outdoor unit component unit”) constituting the outdoor unit 14. , And the sensor 34 are connected by a common internal bus 36B, and send and receive information via the common internal bus 36B.

The outdoor unit control device 20 is provided for each outdoor unit 14 in order to control the outdoor unit 14 and is an overall control unit that controls the outdoor device control board 42. That is, the outdoor unit control board 42 is integrated with the outdoor unit control device 20.
The common internal bus 36 </ b> B is a bus that connects each combination of the outdoor unit control device 20, the overall outdoor device control board 42, and the sensor 34.

  The outdoor unit component device 40 is, for example, an outdoor heat exchanger 40A, a compressor 40B, an outdoor fan motor 40C, a switching valve 40D, and the like. The outdoor device control board 42 that controls each of these outdoor unit components 40 is, for example, an outdoor heat exchanger control board 42A, a compressor control board 42B, an outdoor fan motor control board 42C, and a switching valve control board 42D. .

  The sensor 34 includes an outdoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 34D that measures the temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger 40A. Depending on the type of sensor 34, there are sensors connected to the common internal bus 36B together with the common internal bus 36A. The sensors 34 do not have to be connected to the common internal bus 36A or the common internal bus 36B, but may be partially connected.

  When there is one or a plurality of remote controllers for performing on / off of the air-conditioning system 10 by a person, a set temperature, a set air flow rate, a timer setting, etc., transmission / reception of information to / from the remote control via the common internal bus 36 and the common external bus 24 Is done.

  In the following description, when the common internal buses 36A and 36B are distinguished, any of A to B is added to the end of the reference numeral, and when the common internal buses 36A and 36B are not distinguished, A and B are omitted. To do.

  Each indoor device control board 32 and outdoor device control board 42 can communicate via, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a computer-readable recording medium, and a bus. It consists of communication means. A series of processes for realizing various functions to be described later is recorded on a recording medium or the like in the form of a program as an example, and the CPU reads the program into a RAM or the like to execute information processing / arithmetic processing. As a result, various functions are realized.

  The indoor device control board 32, the outdoor device control board 42, and the AD board of the sensor 34 are assigned with unique addresses in advance for transmitting and receiving information via the common internal bus 36.

As described above, the central control device 16, the indoor unit control device 18, the outdoor unit control device 20, the indoor device control board 32, the outdoor device control board 42, and the sensor 34 are connected by a bus, and information is transmitted through the bus. Send and receive.
Thus, the indoor device control board 32 shares the information from the central control device 16, the indoor unit control device 18, the outdoor unit control device 20, the other indoor device control board 32, the outdoor device control board 42, and the sensor 34. Receive via the external bus 24 and the common internal bus 36A.
In addition, the outdoor device control board 42 receives information from the central control device 16, the indoor unit control device 18, the outdoor unit control device 20, the indoor device control board 32, the other outdoor device control board 42, and the sensor 34 from a common external. Receive via bus 24 and common internal bus 36B.

  Therefore, based on the received information, the indoor device control board 32 autonomously controls the indoor unit component device 30 to be controlled, and the outdoor device control board 42 autonomously controls the outdoor component device 40 to be controlled. It becomes possible to control.

  Since the indoor device control board 32 and the outdoor device control board 42 autonomously control (autonomous distributed control) the indoor unit component device 30 or the outdoor component device 40, the central controller 16 includes the indoor unit 12 and the It is not necessary to directly perform various controls on the outdoor unit 14, and only the minimum control necessary for controlling the system, such as starting and stopping the entire system, may be performed. Further, for example, even if the indoor unit 12 or the outdoor unit 14 is added, the central control unit 16 does not perform various controls on the added indoor unit 12 or the outdoor unit 14, so that the indoor unit 12 or the outdoor unit 14 The rewriting of the control program due to the expansion is minimal.

  Therefore, the air conditioning system 10 according to the first embodiment can simplify the control performed by the central control device 16 by enabling autonomous distributed control, and can have excellent system expandability.

  The air conditioning system 10 according to the first embodiment includes an indoor unit control device 18 and an outdoor unit control device 20, and the central control device 16, the indoor unit control device 18, and the outdoor unit control device 20 are connected to a common external bus 24. The indoor unit control device 18 and the indoor device control board 32 are connected by a common internal bus 36A, and the outdoor unit control device 20 and the outdoor device control board 42 are connected by a common internal bus 36B. (Bus) is divided into multiple.

Here, when the central control device 16, the indoor equipment control board 32, the outdoor equipment control board 42, and the sensor 34 are connected by a single bus, a huge amount of information is transmitted / received by the single bus, and the physical bus and logical bus are connected. Load increases.
On the other hand, as in the air conditioning system 10 according to the first embodiment, the physical bus is divided into a plurality of common external buses 24 and common internal buses 36A and 36B, thereby reducing the load on each physical bus. As a result, the load on the logical bus can be distributed. The air conditioning system 10 according to the first embodiment handles the indoor device control board 32, the outdoor device control board 42, and the sensor 34 connected to the bus as if they exist on one logical bus. However, it is also possible to treat it as a closed physical bus unit.
Further, like the air conditioning system 10 according to the first embodiment, the air conditioning system 10 is installed in a large building or commercial facility that requires a large number of indoor units 12 and outdoor units 14 by dividing the bus into a plurality of buses. Even if it is done, it can suppress that communication of various information is delayed.

  FIG. 4 is a program configuration diagram of the indoor unit control device 18 for performing autonomous distributed control. The program configuration of the outdoor unit control device 20 is the same as the program configuration diagram shown in FIG.

The program of the indoor unit control device 18 includes a hardware layer (hereinafter referred to as “HW layer”), a driver layer, an operation system layer (hereinafter referred to as “OS layer”), and an application layer.
The HW layer is a common internal bus 36 and a common external bus 24, and the driver layer has a communication driver for communication via the common internal bus 36 and the common external bus 24.

  Thus, the communication between the central control device 16, the indoor unit control device 18, the outdoor unit control device 20, the indoor device control board 32, the outdoor device control board 42, and the sensor 34 is defined by the driver layer (driver layer). Information). For this reason, the amount of information of each piece of information communicated via the bus (the common internal bus 36 and the common external bus 24) can be reduced as compared with the case where communication is performed using the application layer or the framework layer.

  The application layer includes a control application for controlling the indoor unit 12, a device communication application for communication with the indoor unit constituent device 30, and a maintenance / service application for performing various maintenance.

  The control application is not a program related to detailed control of the indoor unit component device 30, but is a program that performs control related to starting and stopping of the indoor unit 12, for example, changing states such as operation mode and set temperature, and the like. When changing the state, the indoor unit control device 18 transmits only the final target value (for example, set temperature) to each indoor unit component device 30 as control information using the control application.

  Thus, the indoor unit control device 18 does not have a driver or the like for operating the indoor unit component device 30. In other words, the indoor unit control device 18 does not directly control the indoor unit component device 30, and for example, as described above, the final target value for the indoor unit component device 30 is sent to the indoor unit component device 30 via the common internal bus 36. Send.

Furthermore, the program configuration of the central control device 16 is the same as the program configuration of the indoor unit control device 18 shown in FIG. 4, the HW layer is a common external bus 24, and the application layer is for controlling the air conditioning system 10. It has a system control application, a communication application for communication with the indoor unit control device 18 and the outdoor unit control device 20, and a maintenance service application.
The system control application is not a program related to the control of the indoor unit 12 or the outdoor unit 14 but a minimum necessary program for the air conditioning system 10 such as a control related to starting and stopping of the air conditioning system 10.

  FIG. 5 is a program configuration diagram of the indoor device control board 32, for example, the expansion valve control board 32B. The program configuration diagram of the outdoor device control board 42 is the same as the program configuration diagram shown in FIG.

The program of the indoor device control board 32 includes an HW layer, a driver layer, an OS layer, a framework layer, and an application layer.
The HW layer is the common internal bus 36 and the indoor unit component device 30 (electronic expansion valve 30B in the example of FIG. 5), and the driver layer is a communication driver for communication via the common internal bus 36, and the electronic expansion valve 30B. Expansion valve driver for the operation of The framework layer has a device control framework for controlling the indoor unit component device 30. The application layer has a maintenance service application for performing various types of maintenance.

  The device control framework has a library group. In the library group, the operation content of the indoor unit component device 30 corresponding to the control information (for example, the final target value) transmitted from the indoor unit control device 18 is associated and recorded. Thereby, when the indoor device control board 32 receives the control information from the indoor unit control device 18, the indoor unit control board 32 refers to the library group of the device control framework, and describes the operation content of the indoor unit component device 30 according to the control information. read out. Then, the indoor device control board 32 transmits the read operation content to the indoor unit component device 30.

  Here, the conventional central control device 16 has a framework for generating control information of the indoor unit 12 and the outdoor unit 14 necessary for reaching the final target value, for example. The control information is, for example, a target opening degree, a control amount per time, and the like for the electronic expansion valve 30B. For this reason, when the indoor unit constituting device 30 and the outdoor unit constituting device 40 are controlled only by the central controller 16, the number of controlled units increases and the program becomes complicated as the number of the indoor units 12 and the outdoor units 14 increases. It was. As a result, operations such as program correction addition have become complicated.

  On the other hand, in the air conditioning system 10 according to the first embodiment, the central control device 16, the indoor unit control device 18, the outdoor unit control device 20, the indoor unit control board 32, and the outdoor unit control are performed using the common external bus 24 and the common internal bus 36. The substrate 42 and the sensor 34 are connected to perform autonomous distributed control. Therefore, for example, as described with reference to FIG. 4, the indoor unit control device 18 generates only minimum information for controlling the indoor unit 12 such as the final target value by the control application, and controls the indoor device. Transmit to the substrate 32. Then, for example, the expansion valve control board 32B generates a target opening degree of the electronic expansion valve 30B, a control amount per hour, etc. by the control device framework based on the information received from the indoor unit control device 18, and the electronic expansion Transmit to valve 30B. Further, the central controller 16 only needs to transmit the minimum necessary information to the indoor unit controller 18 and the outdoor unit controller 20.

For this reason, the program of the central controller 16 is simplified as compared with the conventional one. Further, the programs of the indoor unit control device 18 and the outdoor unit control device 20 are simplified.
Moreover, the program of the indoor device control board 32 only needs to install a program related only to the object to be controlled by itself, and the indoor unit component device 30 is updated to a new version or the indoor unit component device 30 is made different. In the case of replacement, the operator only needs to update the program of the corresponding indoor device control board 32 or replace the indoor device control board 32, and the work is simplified. The same applies to the outdoor device control board 42.
The control program for the indoor unit component device 30 and the outdoor unit component device 40 is updated by updating the framework of the indoor unit control board 32 and the outdoor unit control board 42.

Next, details of the function of the indoor device control board 32 will be described.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of device control processing executed by the indoor device control board 32 when the indoor device control board 32 receives control information from the indoor unit control device 18. In the description using FIG. 6, the indoor device control board 32 is described as an expansion valve control board 32B as an example. However, the indoor device control board 32 is not limited to this, and the indoor heat exchanger control board 32A and the indoor fan motor control are used. Another indoor device control board 32 such as the board 32C may be used, and the sensor 34 may be another sensor 34 such as the refrigerant temperature sensor 34B.

When the expansion valve control board 32B receives the opening signal indicating the final opening degree of the electronic expansion valve 30B as control information, in step 100, sensor information indicating the refrigerant pressure value is acquired.
For this reason, the expansion valve control board 32B sends a request signal for requesting sensor information to the predetermined refrigerant pressure sensor 34A via the common internal bus 36 in order to acquire the pressure value of at least one of the high pressure and the low pressure of the refrigerant. Send. The expansion valve control board 32B may transmit the request signal via the indoor unit control device 18 instead of directly transmitting the request signal to the refrigerant pressure sensor 34A.
When the refrigerant pressure sensor 34A receives the request signal, the refrigerant pressure sensor 34A transmits the current pressure value to the expansion valve control board 32B that is the request source via the common internal bus 36.

In the next step 102, the electronic expansion valve 30B, which is the indoor unit constituent device 30 to be controlled, is operated.
In this case, the expansion valve control board 32B operates the electronic expansion valve 30B with an opening smaller than the final arrival opening. For this reason, the expansion valve control board 32B transmits only one pulse to, for example, a stepping motor that operates the electronic expansion valve 30B.

  In the next step 104, a pressure value is acquired as sensor information in the same manner as in step 100.

  In the next step 106, it is determined whether or not the fluctuation range of the pressure value before and after the operation of the electronic expansion valve 30B, which is the indoor unit constituent device 30 to be controlled, is within a specified range. Control goes to step 108. On the other hand, in the case of negative determination, the routine proceeds to step 112.

  In step 108, the electronic expansion valve 30B, which is the indoor unit constituent device 30 to be controlled, is operated in the same manner as in step 102.

  In the next step 110, it is determined whether or not the final target opening which is the final target value has been reached. If the determination is affirmative, the device control process is terminated, and if the determination is negative, the process returns to step 104.

  In step 112, where a negative determination is made in step 106 and the process proceeds to step 112, there is a possibility that fluctuations outside the specified range may converge, so that a predetermined set time is waited.

  In the next step 114, a pressure value is acquired as sensor information in the same manner as in step 100.

  In the next step 116, it is determined whether or not the fluctuation range of the pressure value is within the specified range. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 108. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 118.

  In step 118, it is determined whether or not the number of standby times has reached a predetermined set number. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 120. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 112.

In step 120, a predetermined process is executed to end the device control process.
The expansion valve control board 32B transmits capability request information indicating a request for increasing or decreasing the capability of the outdoor unit 14 to the outdoor unit control device 20 as a predetermined process. This is because the ability of the outdoor unit 14 is too large or too small for the demand of the indoor unit 12 when the fluctuation range of the pressure value does not fall within the specified range.
The capability request information transmitted from the expansion valve control board 32B is received by the outdoor unit control device 20 via the common internal bus 36, the indoor unit control device 18, and the common external bus 24.

  As described with reference to FIG. 6, the indoor device control board 32 controls the indoor unit constituting device 30 to be controlled based on information from the sensor 34. In this way, the indoor device control board 32 autonomously controls the indoor unit constituting device 30 to be controlled, so that the control performed by the central control device 16 can be simplified.

  Further, as described in step 120, the indoor unit control board 32 controls the indoor unit constituent device 30, and when the change in the physical quantity measured by the related sensor 34 does not fall within the specified range, the outdoor unit control device 20 Send capability request information to As described above, in the air conditioning system 10 according to the first embodiment, the indoor device control board 32 directly transmits the capability request information to the outdoor unit control device 20, so that the central control unit 16 and the indoor unit control unit 18 The control to be performed can be simplified.

Here, the capability requirement information indicates a requirement value q for capability increase or capability decrease.
When the outdoor unit control device 20 according to the first embodiment receives the capability request information indicating a request for increasing capability, the outdoor unit 14 cooperates with other outdoor units 14 so as to satisfy the required value q for increasing capability. To control. Thereby, in the air conditioning system 10 according to the first embodiment, since the plurality of outdoor units 14 jointly increase the capacity, the capacity increase is more reliably performed.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a flow of capacity increase processing executed by the outdoor unit control device 20 when the outdoor unit control device 20 receives the capability request information indicating the request for capability.
In the capacity increasing process shown in FIG. 7, capacity request information is transmitted from the expansion valve control board 32 </ b> B to a plurality of predetermined outdoor unit controllers 20 via the indoor unit controller 18. In the following description, as an example, a case where the indoor unit control device 18 transmits capability request information to the three outdoor unit control devices 20_A, 20_B, and 20_C will be described.

First, in step 200, based on the request value q indicated in the received capacity request information, a capacity increase amount that can be controlled by the outdoor unit 14 to be controlled (hereinafter referred to as “capable capacity increase amount”) is calculated.
Specifically, the outdoor unit control device 20 calculates a possible capacity increase amount Q using a function f (X) that is a performance curve indicating the capacity of the outdoor unit 14. X represents the outdoor units 14_A, 14_B, and 14_C. In the function f (X), as shown in FIG. 8, the horizontal axis indicates the calorie Q (corresponding to the rotation speed of the compressor 40B), and the vertical axis indicates the capacity COP. In the example of FIG. 8, if the current calorie is Q ₁ , the ability can be increased up to calorie Q ₃ .
In addition, the outdoor unit control device 20_A has not only its own function f (A) but also information on the functions f (B) and f (C) of the other outdoor units 14_B and 14_C. Thereby, the outdoor unit control apparatus 20 is based on the operation history of the other outdoor units 14_B and 14_C obtained through the functions f (A), f (B), and f (C) and the common external bus 24. other outdoor units 14_B, 14_C determines the ability increase possible calculates its possible ability increase _{Q a.}

Similarly, the outdoor unit control device 20_B calculates its own possible capacity increase amount Q _B using the functions f (A), f (B), f (C), etc., and the outdoor unit control device 20_C Using (A), f (B), f (C), etc., the own possible capacity increase amount _Qc is calculated.

Incidentally, the outdoor unit control device 20_A, 20_B, 20_C is possible capacity increase _{Q A,} Q B, such that the sum of _{Q C} is the required value q, possible capacity increase _{Q A,} Q B, calculates a _{Q C} To do.

In the next step 202, the calculated possible capacity increase amount Q is transmitted / received via the common external bus 24.
The outdoor unit controller 20_A, while transmitting the calculated available capacity increase _{Q A,} available capacity increase _Q B, receives the _{Q C.} The outdoor unit controller 20_B, while transmitting the calculated available capacity increment _{Q B,} can ability increase _Q A, receives the _{Q C.} The outdoor unit controller 20_C, while transmitting the calculated allow capacity increase _{Q C,} available capacity increase _Q A, receives the _{Q B.}

In the next step 204, the possible capacity increase amount Q ′ of the outdoor unit 14 to be controlled is calculated based on the received capacity increase amount Q of the other outdoor unit 14 received.
The outdoor unit control device 20_A calculates a possible capacity increase amount Q _A ′ from the required value q− (possible capacity increase amount Q _B + possible capacity increase amount Q _C ). The outdoor unit control device 20_B calculates a possible capacity increase amount Q _B ′ from the required value q− (possible capacity increase amount Q _A + possible capacity increase amount Q _C ). The outdoor unit control device 20_C calculates a possible capacity increase amount Q _C ′ from the request value q− (possible capacity increase amount Q _A + possible capacity increase amount Q _B ).

  In the next step 206, the possible capacity increase amount Q is compared with the calculated possible capacity increase amount Q '.

  In the next step 208, it is determined whether or not the difference between the possible capacity increase amount Q and the possible capacity increase amount Q ′ is within a predetermined allowable range. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 210. In the case of determination, the routine proceeds to step 212. For example, the allowable range of the outdoor unit 14 in which the total operation time is long is set narrow. On the other hand, the allowable range of the outdoor unit 14 having a short total operation time is set widely. The total operation time is determined from the operation history of each outdoor unit 14.

  In step 210, an acknowledgment signal is transmitted to the other outdoor unit control device 20 via the common external bus 24, and the process proceeds to step 214.

  In step 212, a rejection signal is transmitted to the other outdoor unit control device 20 via the common external bus 24, and the process proceeds to step 214.

  In step 214, an acceptance signal or a rejection signal from another outdoor unit control device 20 is received.

  In the next step 216, it is determined whether or not all received signals are acknowledgment signals. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 218. If the determination is negative, the process proceeds to step 220.

  In step 218, the indoor unit control devices 18_A, 18_B, and 18_C restart the outdoor units 14_A, 14_B, and 14_C, respectively, to be controlled in order to increase the capability, and the present capability increase process ends.

In step 220, predetermined predetermined processing is performed, and the process returns to step 202.
The predetermined process is, for example, an allowable range expansion process for expanding the allowable range or an outdoor unit addition process for increasing the capacity of another new outdoor unit 14.

The outdoor unit addition process will be specifically described.
Any one of the outdoor unit control devices 20_A, 20_B, and 20_C calculates the deficiency Δq with respect to the required value q, and transmits it to the new outdoor unit control units 20_D, 20_E, and 20_F via the common external bus 24.
The outdoor unit control devices 20_D, 20_E, and 20_C perform a capacity increase process so as to satisfy the shortage amount Δq. On the other hand, the outdoor unit control devices 20_A, 20_B, and 20_C perform the capacity increase process again based on the request value obtained by subtracting the deficiency Δq from the request value q.

  Next, transmission / reception of information according to the operation of the indoor unit 12 and the outdoor unit 14 will be specifically described.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating transmission / reception of information when the indoor unit 12 is activated, that is, a diagram illustrating an activation routine.

  When receiving an activation signal indicating a request for activation of the indoor unit 12 from, for example, a remote controller or the central control device 16, the indoor unit control device 18 sets an operation mode and a set temperature based on the activation signal. The operation mode is, for example, a cooling mode or a heating mode.

Then, the indoor unit control device 18 transmits a request signal so as to transmit the pressure value to the high-pressure sensor and the low-pressure sensor that are the refrigerant pressure sensor 34A via the common internal bus 36.
The high pressure sensor and the low pressure sensor transmit the measured pressure value to the requesting indoor unit control device 18 via the common internal bus 36, and the indoor unit control device 18 receives and stores the pressure value.

Next, the indoor unit control device 18 transmits an initialization request signal to the expansion valve control board 32B via the common internal bus 36.
When the expansion valve control board 32B receives the initialization request signal, the expansion valve control board 32B transmits a full-close command to the electronic expansion valve 30B as an initial operation. When the initial operation is completed, the expansion valve control board 32B transmits an initialization completion signal to the indoor unit control device 18 via the common internal bus 36.

  When receiving the initialization completion signal, the indoor unit control device 18 transmits a request signal to the outdoor unit control device 20 via the common external bus 24 so that the operation state of the outdoor unit 14 is transmitted next. The outdoor unit controller 20 transmits the operating state of the outdoor unit 14 to the requesting indoor unit controller 18 via the common external bus 24, and the indoor unit controller 18 receives and stores the operating state.

  Next, the indoor unit control device 18 transmits a louver position signal indicating the position (target value) of the louver 30D to the louver control board 32D via the common internal bus 36. When receiving the louver position signal, the louver control board 32D controls the opening degree of the louver 30D based on the position signal.

Next, the indoor unit control device 18 transmits a set opening degree signal indicating the set opening degree (target value) of the electronic expansion valve 30B to the expansion valve control board 32B via the common internal bus 36.
When the expansion valve control board 32B receives the set opening degree signal, it operates a stepping motor that operates the electronic expansion valve 30B one pulse at a time. The expansion valve control board 32B transmits a request signal to the high-pressure sensor and the low-pressure sensor via the common internal bus 36 so as to transmit the pressure value every time the stepping motor is operated. The high pressure sensor and the low pressure sensor transmit the measured pressure value to the expansion valve control board 32 </ b> B that is the request source via the common internal bus 36. The expansion valve control board 32B determines whether or not the pressure fluctuation is within a specified range every time the electronic expansion valve 30B is operated.

  As described with reference to FIG. 9, when the indoor unit control device 18 according to the first embodiment receives an activation signal of the stopped indoor unit 12, the indoor unit control device 18 controls each indoor device control board 32. The target value of the indoor unit component device 30 is transmitted. Therefore, in the air conditioning system 10 according to the first embodiment, when the indoor unit 12 is activated, the indoor unit control device 18 only transmits the target value to the indoor device control board 32, so that the control performed by the indoor unit control device 18 is performed. Can be simplified.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating transmission / reception of information when the operation mode of the indoor unit 12 is changed.

  For example, when the indoor unit control device 18 receives a mode change signal for changing the operation mode from the remote controller or the central control device 16, the indoor unit control device 18 sets the operation mode and the set temperature based on the mode change signal. In the following description, an operation mode requested by a mode change signal is referred to as a requested operation mode.

When the indoor unit control device 18 receives the mode change signal, the indoor unit control device 18 transmits a request signal to the high pressure sensor and the low pressure sensor, which are the refrigerant pressure sensor 34A, via the common internal bus 36 so as to transmit the pressure value.
The high pressure sensor and the low pressure sensor transmit the measured pressure value to the requesting indoor unit control device 18 via the common internal bus 36, and the indoor unit control device 18 receives and stores the pressure value.

  Next, the indoor unit control device 18 determines the current operation mode. When the current operation mode matches the requested operation mode, the indoor unit control device 18 performs an activation routine shown in FIG.

On the other hand, if the current operation mode and the requested operation mode do not match, the indoor unit control device 18 transmits a common external bus to all the activated indoor unit control devices 18 so as to transmit the operation state of the indoor unit 12. A request signal is transmitted via 24.
The other indoor unit control device 18 that has received the request signal transmits the operating state of the indoor unit 12 to be controlled to the requesting indoor unit control device 18 via the common external bus 24.

When the indoor unit control device 18 receives the operating state of the other indoor unit 12, it determines whether the operation mode can be changed. When the indoor unit control device 18 determines that the mode change is not possible, the indoor unit control device 18 displays on the remote controller that the change is not possible, or transmits information indicating that the change is not possible to the central control device 16.
When the indoor unit control device 18 determines that the mode can be changed, the indoor unit control device 18 transmits an operation mode change request to the outdoor unit control device 20 via the common external bus 24. When the outdoor unit control device 20 receives the operation mode change request, the outdoor unit control device 20 changes the operation state in accordance with the requested operation mode, and when this is completed, a completion signal is transmitted to the indoor unit control device 18 via the common external bus 24. . When the indoor unit control device 18 receives the completion signal, the indoor unit control device 18 performs a startup routine shown in FIG.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating transmission / reception of information when the indoor unit 12 is stopped, that is, a diagram illustrating a stop routine. The stop routine shown in FIG. 11 is a stop that prioritizes the stop by the indoor fan motor control board 32C.

  When the indoor unit control device 18 receives a stop signal indicating a request to stop the indoor unit 12 from, for example, the remote controller or the central control device 16, for example, a signal indicating a request for capability reduction (hereinafter referred to as “capability reduction request signal”) is provided outdoors. To the machine control device 20 via the common external bus 24. When the outdoor unit control device 20 receives the capability reduction request signal, the outdoor unit control device 20 reduces the capability according to the stop of the indoor unit 12.

  Next, the indoor unit control device 18 transmits a fan stop signal to the indoor fan motor control board 32C via the common internal bus 36. When the indoor fan motor control board 32C receives the fan stop signal, the indoor fan motor 30C reduces the speed of the indoor fan motor 30C and sends an expansion valve closing signal for closing the electronic expansion valve 30B to the expansion valve control board 32B. Send through.

  When the expansion valve control board 32B receives the expansion valve closing signal, the expansion valve control board 32B operates the stepping motor that operates the electronic expansion valve 30B one pulse at a time to close the electronic expansion valve 30B. Each time the stepping motor is operated, the expansion valve control board 32B transmits a request signal for transmitting a pressure value to the high-pressure sensor and the low-pressure sensor via the common internal bus 36. The high pressure sensor and the low pressure sensor transmit the measured pressure value to the expansion valve control board 32 </ b> B that is the request source via the common internal bus 36. The expansion valve control board 32B determines whether or not the pressure fluctuation is within a specified range every time the electronic expansion valve 30B is operated.

Then, when the closing of the electronic expansion valve 30B is completed, the expansion valve control board 32B transmits a closing completion signal to the indoor fan motor control board 32C via the common internal bus 36.
When the indoor fan motor control board 32C receives the closing completion signal, the indoor fan motor control board 32C stops the indoor fan motor 30C and transmits a louver closing signal for closing the louver 30D to the louver control board 32D via the common internal bus 36.

When receiving the louver closing signal, the louver control board 32D closes the louver 30D.
Next, the indoor fan motor control board 32 </ b> C transmits a stop completion signal to the indoor unit control device 18 via the common internal bus 36.
When the indoor unit control device 18 receives the stop completion signal. The power of the indoor unit 12 is turned off.

  FIG. 12 is a stop that gives priority to the stop by the expansion valve control board 32B, and corresponds to the start routine of FIG. 9 that starts the indoor unit 12 by opening the electronic expansion valve 30B.

  When the indoor unit control device 18 receives a stop signal indicating a request to stop the indoor unit 12 from, for example, a remote controller or the central control device 16, the indoor unit control device 18 transmits a capability reduction request signal to the outdoor unit control device 20 via the common external bus 24. . When the outdoor unit control device 20 receives the capability reduction request signal, the outdoor unit control device 20 reduces the capability according to the stop of the indoor unit 12.

  Next, the indoor unit control device 18 transmits an expansion valve closing signal to the expansion valve control board 32B via the common internal bus 36.

  When the expansion valve control board 32B receives the expansion valve closing signal, the expansion valve control board 32B operates the stepping motor that operates the electronic expansion valve 30B one pulse at a time to close the electronic expansion valve 30B. The expansion valve control board 32B transmits a request signal via the common internal bus 36 so as to transmit the pressure value to the high pressure sensor and the low pressure sensor each time the stepping motor is operated. The high pressure sensor and the low pressure sensor transmit the measured pressure value to the requesting expansion valve control board 32B via the common internal bus 36. The expansion valve control board 32B determines whether or not the pressure fluctuation is within a specified range every time the electronic expansion valve 30B is operated.

  Then, the expansion valve control board 32B transmits a fan stop signal to the indoor fan motor control board 32C via the common internal bus 36. When the indoor fan motor control board 32C receives the fan stop signal, the indoor fan motor control board 32C stops the indoor fan motor 30C and transmits a louver closing signal for closing the louver 30D to the louver control board 32D via the common internal bus 36. When receiving the louver closing signal, the louver control board 32D closes the louver 30D.

  Next, the indoor fan motor control board 32C transmits a stop completion signal to the expansion valve control board 32B via the common internal bus 36. When the expansion valve control board 32B receives the stop completion signal, the expansion valve control board 32B transmits the close completion signal to the indoor unit control device 18 via the common internal bus 36.

  When receiving the stop completion signal, the indoor unit control device 18 turns off the power of the indoor unit 12.

  As described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, when the indoor unit control device 18 receives a request to stop the operating indoor unit 12, the indoor unit control device 18 transmits a capability reduction request signal to the outdoor unit control device 20. A stop signal of the indoor unit constituent device 30 to be controlled is transmitted to the indoor device control board 32. Therefore, in the air conditioning system 10 according to the first embodiment, when the indoor unit 12 is stopped, the indoor unit control device 18 transmits a capacity reduction request signal to the outdoor unit control device 20, and the stop signal is transmitted to the indoor device control board 32. Therefore, the control performed by the indoor unit control device 18 can be simplified.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating transmission / reception of information when communication is performed between the indoor unit control devices 18. In the example of FIG. 13, the indoor unit control devices 18_A and 18_B are installed in the same room, and the indoor unit control device 18_A controls the indoor unit control device 18_B. A case where there is a difference in temperature value is illustrated. It should be noted that the sensors 34, the indoor unit constituent devices 30, and the indoor device control board 32 corresponding to the indoor unit control devices 18_A and 18_B will be described with reference numerals “_A” and “_B”, respectively.

The indoor unit control device 18_A transmits a request signal via the common internal bus 36 and the common external bus 24 so as to transmit temperature values to the suction temperature sensors 34C_A and 34C_B.
The suction temperature sensors 34C_A and 34C_B transmit the measured temperature value to the requesting indoor unit control device 18_A. Then, the indoor unit control device 18_A compares the received temperature value with the set temperature.

  When the temperature measured by the suction temperature sensor 34C_A corresponding to the indoor unit 12A is different from the set temperature, the indoor unit control device 18_A changes the capacity of the indoor unit 12A.

  For this purpose, the indoor unit control device 18_A transmits a speed change signal of the indoor fan motor 30C_A corresponding to the temperature difference to the indoor fan motor control board 32C_A via the common internal bus 36. When the indoor fan motor control board 32C_A receives the speed change signal, the indoor fan motor control board 32C_A changes the speed of the indoor fan motor 30C_A.

Further, the indoor unit control device 18_A transmits an opening change signal for the electronic expansion valve 30B_A to the expansion valve control board 32B_A via the common internal bus 36. When the expansion valve control board 32B_A receives the opening change signal, it automatically changes the opening of the electronic expansion valve 30B. The expansion valve control board 32B_A transmits a request signal via the common internal bus 36 so as to transmit the temperature value to the suction temperature sensor 34C_A every time the opening degree of the electronic expansion valve 30B_A is changed.
The suction temperature sensor 34C_A transmits the measured temperature value to the expansion valve control board 32B_A that is the request source via the common internal bus 36. The expansion valve control board 32B_A compares the received temperature value with the set temperature, changes the opening of the electronic expansion valve 30B_A until they are the same, and transmits a completion signal to the indoor unit control device 18_A when they are the same.

  On the other hand, when the temperature measured by the suction temperature sensor 34C_B corresponding to the indoor unit 12B is different from the set temperature, the indoor unit control device 18_A transmits a capability change request to the indoor unit control device 18_B via the common external bus 24. .

  Upon receiving the capability change request, the indoor unit control device 18_B transmits a speed change signal of the indoor fan motor 30C corresponding to the temperature difference to the indoor fan motor control board 32C_B via the common internal bus 36. When the indoor fan motor control board 32C_B receives the speed change signal, the indoor fan motor control board 32C_B changes the speed of the indoor fan motor 30C.

The indoor unit control device 18_B transmits an opening change signal for the electronic expansion valve 30B to the expansion valve control board 32B_B via the common internal bus 36. When the expansion valve control board 32B_B receives the opening change signal, it automatically changes the opening of the electronic expansion valve 30B_B. The expansion valve control board 32B_B transmits a request signal via the common internal bus 36 so as to transmit the temperature value to the suction temperature sensor 34C_B every time the opening degree of the electronic expansion valve 30B_B is changed.
The suction temperature sensor 34C_B transmits the measured temperature value to the expansion valve control board 32B_B, which is a request source, via the common internal bus 36. The expansion valve control board 32B_B compares the received temperature value with the set temperature, changes the opening of the electronic expansion valve 30B_B until they become the same, and transmits the completion signal to the indoor unit control device 18_B when they become the same. When the indoor unit control device 18_B receives the completion signal, the indoor unit control device 18_B transmits the completion signal to the indoor unit control device 18_A via the common external bus 24.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating transmission and reception of information when the outdoor unit 14 performs a defrost operation for melting frost attached to the outdoor heat exchanger 40A. In the example of FIG. 14, there will be described a case where there are two outdoor units 14 such as the outdoor units 14_A and 14_B, and the outdoor unit 14_A performs defrosting. The outdoor unit control device 20, the sensor 34, the indoor unit component device 30, and the indoor unit control board 32 corresponding to each of the outdoor units 14_A and 14_B will be described with reference numerals “_A” and “_B”, respectively. .

  When the outdoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 34D_A performs temperature measurement and determines that defrost is necessary, the outdoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 34D_A transmits a defrost request signal to the outdoor unit controller 20_A via the common internal bus 36.

When the outdoor unit control device 20_A receives the defrost request signal, the outdoor unit control device 20_A transmits to the outdoor unit control device 20_B, via the common external bus 24, a capability increase request that compensates for the ability to decrease due to the defrost of the outdoor unit 14_A and the amount of heat necessary for the defrost. To do.
When receiving the capacity increase request, the outdoor unit control device 20_B transmits a fan speed increase signal to the outdoor fan motor control board 42C_B and a rotation increase signal to the compressor control board 42B_B via the common internal bus 36. When the outdoor fan motor control board 42C_B receives the fan acceleration signal, the outdoor fan motor control board 42C_B increases the speed of the outdoor fan motor 40C_B. The compressor control board 42B_B increases the rotation speed of the compressor 40B_B while monitoring the pressure of the refrigerant.

  After transmitting the capacity increase request, the outdoor unit control device 20_A transmits a fan stop signal to the outdoor fan motor control board 42C_A via the common internal bus 36. When receiving the fan stop signal, the outdoor fan motor control board 42C_A stops the outdoor fan motor 40C_A.

  Next, the outdoor unit control device 20_A transmits the switching valve operation signal to the switching valve chamber control board 42D_A via the common internal bus 36. When the switching valve chamber control board 42D_A receives the switching valve operation signal, the switching valve chamber control board 42D_A operates the switching valve 40D_A so as to be in a predetermined position for defrosting. When the operation of the switching valve 40D_A is completed, the switching valve chamber control board 42D_A transmits an operation completion signal to the outdoor unit control device 20_A via the common internal bus 36.

  Next, the outdoor unit control device 20_A transmits a temperature monitoring signal to the outdoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 34D_A. When the outdoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 34D_A receives the temperature monitoring signal, the outdoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 34D_A starts monitoring the temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger 40A_A. The outdoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 34D_A detects that the defrost is completed when the temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger 40A_A reaches a predetermined value, and transmits a defrost completion signal to the outdoor unit controller 20_A via the common internal bus 36.

When the outdoor unit control device 20_A receives the defrost completion signal, the outdoor unit control device 20_A transmits a capability recovery signal indicating that the capability of the outdoor unit 14_A is recovered to the outdoor unit control device 20_B via the common external bus 24.
Upon receiving the capability recovery signal, the outdoor unit control device 20_B transmits a fan deceleration signal to the outdoor fan motor control board 42C_B and a rotation deceleration lowering signal to the compressor control board 42B_B via the common internal bus 36. When the outdoor fan motor control board 42C_B receives the fan deceleration signal, the outdoor fan motor control board 42C_B decelerates the outdoor fan motor 40C_B. The compressor control board 42B_B decelerates the rotation speed of the compressor 40B_B while monitoring the pressure of the refrigerant.

  As described with reference to FIG. 14, when the other outdoor unit 14 performs defrosting, the outdoor unit control device 20 controls the outdoor unit to be controlled so as to supplement the ability to decrease due to defrosting and the amount of heat necessary for defrosting. Increase 14 ability. Therefore, the air conditioning system 10 according to the first embodiment can maintain the air conditioning capacity of the entire system even when a certain outdoor unit 14 performs the defrost operation.

In addition, when the capacity | capacitance of the other outdoor unit 14 to increase is insufficient, the air-conditioning system 10 stops a part of fan of the indoor unit 12 installed in the same room, and reduces the amount of heat required as a whole. If the capacity is still insufficient, the air conditioning system 10 stops the indoor unit 12.
Further, when the outdoor heat exchanger 40A is divided into a plurality of flow paths and can be switched as independent paths, the required capacity of the outdoor unit 14 to be defrosted is lowered by performing defrosting in order. Further, when the defrost is completed, a sorting operation is performed so that a predetermined ability can be shared.

[Second Embodiment]
Hereinafter, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 15 shows an electrical configuration of the air conditioning system 10 according to the second embodiment. 15 that are the same as those in FIG. 1 are assigned the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1 and descriptions thereof are omitted.

  The air conditioning system 10 according to the second embodiment includes a plurality of group control devices 52 for each combination (hereinafter referred to as “group”) 50 of the indoor unit 12 and the outdoor unit 14. The group 50 is determined, for example, for each floor of a building or a predetermined area. More specifically, for example, a group control device 52 is provided for each combination of the indoor unit 12 and the outdoor unit 14 installed on each floor of a building.

  In the example of FIG. 15, a combination of two indoor units 12 and one outdoor unit 14 is group 50, but this is an example, and one or three or more indoor units 12 and one unit. Alternatively, a combination with a plurality of outdoor units 14 may be group 50.

  The central controller 16 and the plurality of group controllers 52 are connected by a common external bus 54, and information is transmitted / received via the common external bus 54.

  FIG. 16 is a detailed diagram of the electrical configuration of the air conditioning system 10 according to the second embodiment.

  The group control device 52 is an overall control device that controls the indoor device control board 32 and the outdoor device control board 42 included in the indoor unit 12 and the outdoor unit 14 that constitute the corresponding group 50.

  A plurality of common internal buses 56 are provided for each combination of the group control device 52, the indoor device control board 32, the outdoor device control board 42, and the sensor 34 for each combination. Information is transmitted / received via the common internal bus 56.

  The information transmitted and received by the common external bus 54 and the common internal bus 56 is not limited to structural data, and may be non-structural data.

  As described above, the air conditioning system 10 according to the second embodiment includes the plurality of group control devices 52, and the plurality of group control devices 52 and the central control device 16 are connected by the common external bus 54. A common internal bus 56 is provided for each connection of the group control device 52, the indoor device control board 32, the outdoor device control board 42, and the sensor 34. Thus, the air conditioning system 10 according to the first embodiment divides the bus (physical bus) into a plurality.

Here, when the central control device 16, the indoor equipment control board 32, the outdoor equipment control board 42, and the sensor 34 are connected by a single bus, a huge amount of information is transmitted / received by the single bus, and the physical bus and logical bus are connected. The load increases.
On the other hand, as in the air conditioning system 10 according to the second embodiment, by dividing the physical bus into a plurality, the load on each physical bus can be reduced, and as a result, the load on the logical bus can be distributed. The air conditioning system 10 according to the first embodiment handles the indoor device control board 32, the outdoor device control board 42, and the sensor 34 connected to the bus as if they exist on one logical bus. However, it is also possible to treat it as a closed physical bus unit.

  Further, like the air conditioning system 10 according to the first embodiment, the air conditioning system 10 is installed in a large building or commercial facility that requires a large number of indoor units 12 and outdoor units 14 by dividing the bus into a plurality of buses. Even if it is done, it can suppress that communication of various information is delayed.

  The group control device 52 has the functions of the indoor unit control device 18 and the outdoor unit control device 20 according to the first embodiment described above.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated using said each embodiment, the technical scope of this invention is not limited to the range as described in the said embodiment. Various changes or improvements can be added to the above-described embodiment without departing from the gist of the invention, and embodiments to which the changes or improvements are added are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  For example, in the first embodiment, the air conditioning system 10 includes the indoor unit control device 18 and the outdoor unit control device 20, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the air conditioning system 10 is an indoor unit. The unit control device 18 and the outdoor unit control device 20 may be omitted. In the case of this form, the central control device 16 is directly connected to the indoor device control board 32, the outdoor device control board 42, and the sensor 34 through a single bus, and transmits and receives information via this single bus.

  In the first embodiment, the common external bus 24 and the common internal buses 36A and 36B are each described as being single. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the common external bus 24, A plurality of common internal buses 36A and 36B may be provided. In this embodiment, for example, a plurality of common external buses 24 constitute one logical bus, a plurality of common internal buses 36A constitute one logical bus, and a plurality of common external buses 36B constitute one logical bus. May be.

  Further, the overall control device may control at least two control boards, that is, the indoor equipment control board 32 and the outdoor equipment control board 42. For this reason, the combination of the control boards managed by the overall control apparatus may be other than the combination of the indoor equipment control board 32 and the outdoor equipment control board 42 described in the first and second embodiments.

  The flow of each process described in each of the above embodiments is also an example, and unnecessary steps are deleted, new steps are added, and the processing order is changed within a range not departing from the gist of the present invention. May be.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Air conditioning system 12 Indoor unit 14 Outdoor unit 16 Central control unit 18 Indoor unit control unit 20 Outdoor unit control unit 24 Common external bus 30 Indoor unit component equipment 32 Indoor unit control board 34 Sensor 36A Common internal bus 36B Common internal bus 42 Outdoor unit Control board 52 Group controller 54 Common external bus 56 Common internal bus

Claims (13)

One or more indoor units;
One or more outdoor units;
A central control unit that controls the entire system,
An indoor device control board provided for each of the devices to control the devices constituting the indoor unit;
An outdoor device control board provided for each of the devices to control the devices constituting the outdoor unit;
A sensor for measuring a physical quantity used to control the system;
With
An air conditioning system in which the central control device, the indoor device control board, the outdoor device control board, and the sensor are connected by one or a plurality of buses to transmit and receive information via the buses. A plurality of overall control devices that control at least two control boards of the indoor equipment control board and the outdoor equipment control board;
The central control device and a plurality of the general control devices are connected by a bus, and send and receive information via the bus,
2. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of buses are provided for each combination of the overall control device, the control board to be integrated, and the sensors for each combination, and information is transmitted and received through the buses. An indoor unit control device that is provided for each indoor unit to control the indoor unit and controls the indoor unit control board;
An outdoor unit control device that is provided for each of the outdoor units to control the outdoor unit and controls the outdoor device control board;
With
The central control device, the indoor unit control device, and the outdoor unit control device are connected by a first bus, and send and receive information via the first bus,
The indoor unit control device, the indoor equipment control board, and the sensor are connected by a second bus, and send and receive information via the second bus,
The air conditioning system according to claim 2, wherein the outdoor unit control device, the outdoor device control board, and the sensor are connected by a third bus, and information is transmitted / received through the third bus.   The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the indoor device control board and the outdoor device control board control the device to be controlled based on information from the sensor.   If the change in physical quantity measured by the sensor related to the device does not fall within a specified range even if the device to be controlled is controlled, the indoor device control board increases or decreases the capacity of the outdoor unit. The air conditioning system according to claim 3 or 4, wherein capability request information indicating a request is transmitted to the outdoor unit control device.   The said outdoor unit control apparatus controls the said outdoor unit so that the required value of a capability increase may be satisfy | filled in cooperation with the said other outdoor unit, when the said capability request information which shows the request | requirement of a capability increase is received. Air conditioning system.   The indoor unit control device, when receiving a request for starting the stopped indoor unit, transmits the target value of the device to be controlled to the indoor device control board. The air conditioning system according to claim 1.   When the indoor unit control device receives a request to stop the operating indoor unit, the indoor unit control device transmits a stop signal of the device to be controlled to the indoor device control board and has a capability to the outdoor unit control device. The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein a reduction request signal is transmitted.   The said outdoor unit control apparatus increases the capability of the said outdoor unit made into a control object so that the capability to reduce by defrost and the amount of heat required for defrost may be supplemented, when the other said outdoor unit performs defrost. The air conditioning system according to claim 8.   The air conditioner according to any one of claims 3 to 9, wherein a program of the indoor unit control device and the outdoor unit control device includes a hardware layer, a driver layer, an operation system layer, and an application layer. system.   The program for the indoor device control board and the outdoor device control board is configured by a hardware layer, a driver layer, an operation system layer, a framework layer, and an application layer. The air conditioning system described in the section. For each combination of the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, a plurality of group control devices that supervise the indoor device control board and the outdoor device control board included in the combination,
The central control device and the plurality of group control devices are connected by a first bus, and send and receive information via the first bus,
A plurality of second buses are provided for each combination of the group control device, the indoor device control board, the outdoor device control board, and the sensor, and information is transmitted and received via the second bus. The air conditioning system according to claim 2 to be performed. One or a plurality of indoor units, one or a plurality of outdoor units, a central control unit that controls the entire system, an indoor unit control board provided for each unit to control the units constituting the indoor unit, and the outdoor unit A control method for an air conditioning system comprising an outdoor device control board provided for each device to control the device to be configured, and a sensor for measuring a physical quantity used for system control,
A control method of an air conditioning system in which the central control device, the indoor device control board, the outdoor device control board, and the sensor are connected by a bus, and information is transmitted and received through the bus.

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