JP2020193783A - Air conditioner and control method of air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

To acquire an air conditioner in which a circulation path can be a simple structure, and which can suppress an overflow of a water heating medium.SOLUTION: An air conditioner 1 includes: a heat exchanger 21 for heating for performing heat exchange for heating; a heat exchanger 22 for cooling for performing heat exchange for cooling; a cold/hot water heat source machine 10 for circulating a water heating medium in a first circulation path 17 passing the heat exchanger 21 for heating and a second circulation path 18 passing the heat exchanger 22 for cooling, and for performing heating of the water heating medium to be circulated in the first circulation path 17 and cooling of the water heating medium to be circulated in the second circulation path 18; a valve 31 which is a first valve for adjusting the flow rate of the water heating medium in the first circulation path 17; a valve 32 which is a second valve for adjusting the flow rate of the water heating medium in the second circulation path 18; and a control device 16 which is a control part for performing control of starting the circulation of the water heating medium regarding the one in the state where the circulation of the water heating medium is stopped out of the first circulation path 17 and the second circulation path 18 on the basis of the state of the valve 31 and the valve 32.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a heating / cooling device and a method for controlling a cooling / heating device that perform heating by heat dissipation from a heated water heat medium and cooling by absorption of heat into a cooled water heat medium.

The heating / cooling device circulates a water heat medium heated in a cold / hot water heat source machine, and heats the heat by heat dissipation in a heating heat exchanger. Further, the cooling / heating device circulates a water heat medium cooled in the cold / hot water heat source machine, and cools by absorbing heat in the cooling heat exchanger.

Depending on the pressure conditions inside the circulation path that circulates the water heat medium, air outside the circulation path may permeate into the inside of the circulation path. In the state where the water heat medium is circulated in the circulation path, the air that has permeated the inside of the circulation path is sent to the systan tank in which the water heat medium is stored by flowing together with the water heat medium. Air is expelled out of the circulation path by being separated from the water heat medium in the systurn tank. On the other hand, when the circulation of the water heat medium in the circulation path is stopped, the air that has permeated the inside of the circulation path is not discharged to the outside of the circulation path and stays inside the circulation path. When the amount of air remaining inside the circulation path exceeds a certain amount, an overflow of the water heat medium occurs in the systurn tank. If the amount of water heat medium is less than the amount of water heat medium required to operate the heating / cooling device due to the occurrence of overflow, it is necessary to replenish the water heat medium.

In Patent Document 1, a check valve is provided in the piping of the outbound route through which the water heat medium flows from the heat source machine to the heat exchanger for heating, and the water heat medium flows from the heat exchanger for heating to the heat source machine. A heating device in which a pressure response valve is provided in the piping of the return path is disclosed. In the heating device according to Patent Document 1, when the circulation of the water heat medium is stopped, the flow of the water heat medium to the systurn tank is suppressed by the operation of the check valve and the pressure response valve.

Japanese Patent No. 3691375

According to the technique of Patent Document 1, a check valve and a pressure response valve are required in one circulation path. As the number of valves provided in the circulation path increases, the configuration of the circulation path becomes more complicated. Further, in the heating / cooling device, since it is necessary to provide a check valve and a pressure response valve in both the circulation path for heating and the circulation path for cooling, the configuration of the circulation path is further complicated. As described above, according to the conventional technique according to the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, there is a problem that the configuration of the circulation path becomes complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to obtain a heating / cooling device capable of having a simple circulation path and suppressing overflow of a water heat medium.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the heating and cooling apparatus according to the present invention includes a heating heat exchanger that exchanges heat for heating and a cooling heat exchanger that exchanges heat for cooling. And, heating of the water heat medium that circulates the water heat medium in the first circulation path through the heating heat exchanger and the second circulation path through the cooling heat exchanger, and circulates to the first circulation path. A cold / hot water heat source machine that cools the water heat medium that circulates to the second circulation path, a first valve that regulates the flow rate of the water heat medium in the first circulation path, and water in the second circulation path. Based on the condition of the second valve that regulates the flow rate of the heat medium and the states of the first valve and the second valve, the circulation of the water heat medium in the first circulation path and the second circulation path is stopped. It is provided with a control unit that controls to start circulation of the water heat medium for one of the states.

According to the present invention, the heating / cooling device has an effect that the circulation path can be simply configured and the overflow of the water heat medium can be suppressed.

The figure which shows the structure of the air-conditioning apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. A block diagram showing a functional configuration of a control device included in the heating / cooling device according to the first embodiment. A flowchart showing an operation procedure of the heating / cooling device according to the first embodiment. The figure which shows the example of the relationship between the closed state time of a valve and an air intrusion rate in the heating and cooling device which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. 1 is a first diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a control device included in the heating / cooling device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 shows an example of a hardware configuration of a control device included in the heating / cooling device according to the first embodiment.

Hereinafter, the heating / cooling device and the control method of the heating / cooling device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

Embodiment 1.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a heating / cooling device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The heating / cooling device 1 includes a heating heat exchanger 21 that exchanges heat for heating and a cooling heat exchanger 22 that exchanges heat for cooling. The heating heat exchanger 21 and the cooling heat exchanger 22 are provided in the heating / cooling terminal. The heating / cooling terminal is installed in the room 20 where heating / cooling is performed. In FIG. 1, the heating / cooling terminal is not shown.

The heating / cooling device 1 heats the water heat medium in the heating operation and cools the water heat medium in the cooling operation, and circulates the water heat medium in the first circulation path 17 and the second circulation path 18. It has a heat source machine 10. The first circulation path 17 is a circulation path through the heating heat exchanger 21. The second circulation path 18 is a circulation path through the cooling heat exchanger 22. Metal pipes or resin pipes are used as the pipes constituting the circulation path.

The cold / hot water heat source machine 10 includes a system tank 11 for storing a water heat medium, a heating / cooling device 13 for heating the water heat medium for heating operation and cooling the water heat medium for cooling operation, and a circulation path. It has a circulation device 14 which is a pump for circulating a water heat medium. The circulation device 14 causes the water heat medium to flow in one direction in the first circulation path 17 during the heating operation. The circulation device 14 causes the water heat medium to flow in one direction in the second circulation path 18 during the cooling operation.

The water heat medium circulated in the first circulation path 17 and the water heat medium circulated in the second circulation path 18 are stored in the systurn tank 11. When the water heat medium contains air, the air is separated from the water heat medium in the systurn tank 11. The systurn tank 11 is provided with an overflow hose 12. When the water level of the water heat medium stored in the cistern tank 11 exceeds a certain water level, the amount of the water heat medium that exceeds the certain water level is discharged to the outside of the cistern tank 11 through the overflow hose 12.

The valve unit 30 includes two valves 31 and 32. The valve 31, which is the first valve, is provided in the first circulation path 17. The valve 32, which is the second valve, is provided in the second circulation path 18. The valve 31 is provided in a pipe in the first circulation path 17 through which a water heat medium flows from the cold / hot water heat source machine 10 to the heating heat exchanger 21. The valve 31 regulates the flow rate of the water heat medium in the first circulation path 17. The valve 32 is provided in a pipe in the second circulation path 18 in which the water heat medium flows from the cold / hot water heat source machine 10 to the cooling heat exchanger 22. The valve 32 regulates the flow rate of the water heat medium in the second circulation path 18.

The temperature sensor 15 detects the temperature of the water heat medium sent out from the circulation device 14. The temperature / humidity sensor 23 detects the temperature and humidity of the room 20. The control device 16 which is a control unit controls the entire configuration of the heating / cooling device 1 other than the heating / cooling terminal. The temperature sensor 15 outputs the temperature detection result to the control device 16. The temperature / humidity sensor 23 outputs the temperature and humidity detection results to the control device 16. In FIG. 1, the control device 16 is provided inside the hot / cold water heat source machine 10. The control device 16 may be provided outside the hot / cold water heat source machine 10.

The control device 16 outputs a control signal for controlling the heating and cooling of the water heat medium to the heating / cooling device 13. Further, the control device 16 outputs a control signal for controlling the circulation of the water heat medium to the circulation device 14 and the valve unit 30. By outputting a control signal to the circulation device 14, the control device 16 controls the circulation and stop of the water heat medium in the circulation path and the flow rate of the water heat medium sent out to the circulation path. The control device 16 controls the opening / closing operation of the valve 31 and the opening / closing operation of the valve 32 by outputting a control signal to the valve unit 30.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a control device included in the heating / cooling device according to the first embodiment. The control device 16 controls the circulation of the water heat medium, the input unit 41 into which information from the outside of the control device 16 is input, the counter 42 for counting time, the calculation unit 43 for executing various processes, and the circulation of the water heat medium. It has a circulation control unit 44 that outputs a control signal.

The temperature detection result by the temperature sensor 15 and the temperature and humidity detection result by the temperature / humidity sensor 23 are input to the input unit 41. The input unit 41 outputs the input information to the calculation unit 43. The counter 42 counts the time according to the instruction from the calculation unit 43, and outputs a numerical value indicating the count result to the calculation unit 43. The calculation unit 43 performs processing based on the information input to the input unit 41 and the numerical value of the count result. The circulation control unit 44 outputs a control signal according to the processing result of the calculation unit 43.

Next, the operation of the heating / cooling device 1 will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the heating / cooling device according to the first embodiment. When the power is turned on to the heating / cooling device 1 in step S1, the calculation unit 43 confirms whether each of the two valves 31 and 32 is in the open state or the closed state. In step S2, the counter 42 counts the time tc when the valve is closed for the valve which is closed among the two valves 31 and 32.

In step S3, the calculation unit 43 determines whether or not the time tc exceeds the first set time t1. The first set time t1 is a preset time, for example, 6 days. It is assumed that an arbitrary time can be set in the first set time t1. For example, the first set time t1 is set based on the air penetration rate of the water heat medium. The air intrusion rate will be described later. When the time tc does not exceed the first set time t1 (steps S3 and No), the control device 16 repeats the procedure of step S3.

When the time tc exceeds the first set time t1 (steps S3 and Yes), the calculation unit 43 calculates the dew point temperature Td of the room 20 in step S4. The calculation unit 43 acquires the temperature and humidity detection results of the temperature / humidity sensor 23 from the input unit 41, and calculates the dew point temperature Td based on the temperature and humidity detection results.

In step S5, the calculation unit 43 determines whether or not the water heat medium temperature Tout detected by the temperature sensor 15 is higher than the dew point temperature Td. The calculation unit 43 acquires the data of the water heat medium temperature Tout from the input unit 41. When the water heat medium temperature Tout is equal to or lower than the dew point temperature Td (steps S5 and No), the control device 16 repeats the procedure of step S5. That is, when the detected water heat medium temperature Tout is equal to or lower than the dew point temperature Td, the valve in the closed state is maintained in the closed state.

When the detected water heat medium temperature Tout is higher than the dew point temperature Td (steps S5, Yes), the circulation control unit 44 outputs a control signal for opening the closed valve to the valve unit 30. In step S6, the valve unit 30 opens the closed valve according to such a control signal. In step S7, the counter 42 counts the time to when the valve is open for the valve opened in step S6.

In step S8, the calculation unit 43 confirms whether or not the circulation device 14 is operating. When the circulation device 14 is operating (steps S8, Yes), the control device 16 advances the procedure to step S10. On the other hand, when the circulation device 14 is not operating (steps S8 and No), the circulation control unit 44 starts the operation of the circulation device 14 by outputting a control signal to the circulation device 14 in step S9. When the operation of the circulation device 14 is started in step S9, the control device 16 advances the procedure to step S10.

As described above, the control device 16 is based on the result of counting the time tc in which one of the valve 31 and the valve 32 is in the closed state and the comparison result of the water heat medium temperature Tout and the dew point temperature Td. , The closed valve is opened in step S6. By opening the valve and operating the circulation device 14, the control device 16 starts the circulation of the water heat medium in the circulation path including the valve among the first circulation path 17 and the second circulation path 18. That is, the control device 16 is hydrothermal with respect to one of the first circulation path 17 and the second circulation path 18 in which the circulation of the water heat medium is stopped, based on the states of the valve 31 and the valve 32. Controls to start circulation of the medium.

By such control, the heating / cooling device 1 sends the water heat medium inside the circulation path to the systan tank 11 for the circulation path in which the first set time t1 has elapsed while the circulation of the water heat medium is stopped. As a result, the heating / cooling device 1 separates the air contained in the water heat medium from the water heat medium in the systan tank 11.

In step S10, the calculation unit 43 determines whether or not the time to exceeds the second set time t2. The second set time t2 is a preset time, for example, 15 minutes. It is assumed that an arbitrary time can be set in the second set time t2. For example, in the second set time t2, a time during which the air accumulated inside the circulation path can be sent out to the systurn tank 11 is set. When the time to does not exceed the second set time t2 (steps S10 and No), the control device 16 repeats the procedure of step S10.

When the time to exceeds the second set time t2 (steps S10, Yes), in step S11, the calculation unit 43 determines whether or not there is an operation request for the circulation device 14. When there is an operation request of the circulation device 14 (step S11, Yes), the control device 16 advances the procedure to step S13. On the other hand, when there is no operation request for the circulation device 14 (steps S11 and No), the circulation control unit 44 stops the operation of the circulation device 14 in step S12. When the operation of the circulation device 14 is stopped in step S12, the control device 16 advances the procedure to step S13.

In step S13, the circulation control unit 44 outputs a control signal for closing the valve opened in step S6 to the valve unit 30. In step S13, the valve unit 30 closes the open valve according to such a control signal. In step S14, the counter 42 resets the time tc count and the time to count. As described above, the heating / cooling device 1 ends the operation according to the procedure shown in FIG. After that, the heating / cooling device 1 repeats the procedure from step S2 when the power is turned on continuously.

Next, a specific operation example of the heating / cooling device 1 will be described. Here, an operation when the cooling / heating device 1 performs a cooling operation is taken as an example. When the cooling operation is instructed when the power is turned on to the cooling / heating device 1, the heating / cooling device 1 operates the circulation device 14 with the valve 31 closed and the valve 32 open. By operating the circulation device 14, the water heat medium cooled by the heating / cooling device 13 circulates in the second circulation path 18. Further, in the first circulation path 17, the circulation of the water heat medium is stopped. In step S2 above, the counter 42 counts the time tc when the valve 31 is in the closed state. The counter 42 continues counting the time tc regardless of whether the cooling operation is turned on or off.

From step S3 to step S5, the heating / cooling device 1 opens the valve 31 in step S6 when the time tc exceeds the first set time t1. The heating / cooling device 1 circulates the water heat medium in the first circulation path 17 by operating the circulation device 14 and opening the valve 31. In step S7 above, the counter 42 counts the time to when the valve 31 is in the open state.

After the time to exceeds the second set time t2 in the above step S10, the heating / cooling device 1 closes the valve 31 in the above step S13. By circulating the water heat medium in the first circulation path 17, the heating / cooling device 1 removes the air contained in the water heat medium staying inside the first circulation path 17 in the systurn tank 11. After step S14, the heating / cooling device 1 returns the procedure to step S2 and restarts the counting of the time tk.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the relationship between the closed state time of the valve and the air intrusion rate in the heating / cooling device according to the first embodiment. In the graph shown in FIG. 4, the horizontal axis represents the closed state time tk, and the vertical axis represents the air intrusion rate. The air penetration rate is the ratio of the amount of air that has entered the circulation path filled with the water heat medium. The state in which air does not permeate the water heat medium in the circulation path is defined as an air penetration rate of 0%. Further, a state in which air is accumulated in the circulation path until the discharge of the water heat medium to the overflow hose 12 is started is defined as an air penetration rate of 100%.

As shown in FIG. 4, the air intrusion rate increases as the closed state time increases. If the air intrusion rate exceeds 100%, overflow of the water heat medium occurs. The relationship between the closed state time and the air intrusion rate changes depending on the pipe length of the circulation path and the oxygen permeability of the pipe. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the air intrusion rate is 100% when the closed state time is 10 days. In this case, the heating / cooling device 1 can prevent the water heat medium from overflowing by discharging the air in the circulation path when the closed state time is less than 10 days. Therefore, the heating / cooling device 1 can suppress the overflow of the water heat medium by setting the first set time t1 to 6 days, which is shorter than 10 days. By preventing the overflow of the water heat medium, the heating / cooling device 1 can reduce the work load for replenishing the water heat medium and reduce the cost of replenishing the water heat medium.

The heating / cooling device 1 is provided with one valve 31 in the first circulation path 17 and one valve 32 in the second circulation path 18 as valves to be operated for avoiding the overflow of the water heat medium. .. The heating / cooling device 1 can have a simpler circulation path as compared with the case where a plurality of valves are provided in each of the first circulation path 17 and the second circulation path 18 in order to avoid overflow. ..

Next, the hardware configuration of the control device 16 will be described. The function of the control device 16 is realized by using a processing circuit. The processing circuit is dedicated hardware mounted on the heating / cooling device 1 or a processor that executes a program stored in a memory.

FIG. 5 is a first diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of a control device included in the heating / cooling device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 shows a hardware configuration when the function of the control device 16 is realized by using dedicated hardware. The control device 16 includes a processing circuit 51 that executes various processes, and an interface 52 that is a connection interface with an external device of the control device 16.

The processing circuit 51, which is dedicated hardware, is a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or these. It is a combination. Each function of the counter 42, the calculation unit 43, and the circulation control unit 44 is realized by using the processing circuit 51. The function of the input unit 41 is realized by using the interface 52. A signal from the temperature sensor 15 and a signal from the temperature / humidity sensor 23 are input to the interface 52. Further, the interface 52 outputs a control signal to the heating / cooling device 13, the circulation device 14, and the valve unit 30.

FIG. 6 is a second diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the control device included in the heating / cooling device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 shows a hardware configuration when the function of the control device 16 is realized by using the hardware that executes the program. The control device 16 has a processor 53, a memory 54, and an interface 52.

The processor 53 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The processor 53 may be a processing device, an arithmetic unit, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, or a DSP (Digital Signal Processor). Each function of the counter 42, the calculation unit 43, and the circulation control unit 44 is realized by the processor 53 and software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. The software or firmware is described as a program and stored in a memory 54 which is an internal memory. The memory 54 is a non-volatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a flash memory, an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) or an EEPROM (registered trademark) (Electrically Erasable). Programmable Read Only Memory).

According to the first embodiment, the heating / cooling device 1 is in a state in which the circulation of the water heat medium is stopped in the first circulation path 17 and the second circulation path 18 based on the states of the valves 31 and 32. The circulation of the water heat medium is started for one of them. As a result, the heating / cooling device 1 has an effect that the circulation path can be simplified and the overflow of the water heat medium can be suppressed.

The configuration shown in the above-described embodiment shows an example of the content of the present invention, can be combined with another known technique, and is one of the configurations without departing from the gist of the present invention. It is also possible to omit or change the part.

1 Air-conditioning device, 10 Cold / hot water heat source machine, 11 Systurn tank, 12 Overflow hose, 13 Heating / cooling device, 14 Circulation device, 15 Temperature sensor, 16 Control device, 17 1st circulation path, 18 2nd circulation path, 20 Indoor, 21 Heat exchanger for heating, 22 Heat exchanger for cooling, 23 Temperature / humidity sensor, 30 valve unit, 31, 32 valves, 41 Input unit, 42 Counter, 43 Calculation unit, 44 Circulation control unit, 51 Processing circuit, 52 interfaces, 53 processors, 54 memories.

Claims (4)

A heat exchanger for heating that exchanges heat for heating,
A cooling heat exchanger that exchanges heat for cooling,
The water heat medium that circulates in the first circulation path through the heating heat exchanger and the second circulation path through the cooling heat exchanger, and circulates in the first circulation path. A cold / hot water heat source machine that heats the water and cools the water heat medium that circulates to the second circulation path.
A first valve that regulates the flow rate of the water heat medium in the first circulation path, and
A second valve that regulates the flow rate of the water heat medium in the second circulation path, and
Based on the states of the first valve and the second valve, the water for one of the first circulation path and the second circulation path in which the circulation of the water heat medium is stopped. A control unit that controls the start of circulation of the heat medium,
A heating and cooling device characterized by being equipped with. The control unit opens the closed valve and opens the water based on the result of counting the time when the closed state of one of the first valve and the second valve is closed. The heating / cooling device according to claim 1, wherein the circulation of the heat medium is started. When the temperature of the water heat medium is higher than the dew point temperature in the space where the heating and cooling are performed, the control unit opens the closed valve to start the circulation of the water heat medium. The cooling / heating device according to claim 2. Heating by heating the water heat medium and circulating the water heat medium in the first circulation path through the heating heat exchanger, and cooling the water heat medium and passing through the cooling heat exchanger. It is a control method of a cooling / heating device in which a cooling / heating device that performs cooling by circulating the water heat medium in a circulation path is controlled by a control device.
The state of the first valve that regulates the flow rate of the water heat medium in the first circulation path and the state of the second valve that regulates the flow rate of the water heat medium in the second circulation path were detected. Based on the result, the circulation of the water heat medium is started in one of the first circulation path and the second circulation path in which the circulation of the water heat medium is stopped. How to control the heating and cooling system.

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