JP2983358B2 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioner for performing dehumidification by alternately switching between a cooling cycle operation and a heating cycle operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a separate type air conditioner, as shown in FIG. 6, an indoor unit 1 is installed on an upper wall of a room 2 and an outdoor unit 3 is installed outside a room. The high-pressure side and the low-pressure side refrigerant pipes 4 and 5 are connected to form a refrigeration cycle necessary for the cooling and heating operation.

[0003] More specifically, the indoor unit 1 has a main body 8 having a suction port 6 on the front surface and a blowout port 7 on the lower part.
Then, an air passage 9 that connects the suction port 6 and the air outlet 7 is formed inside the main body 8, an indoor heat exchanger 10 is provided on the upstream side of the air passage 9, and on the downstream side of the air passage 9. Indoor fan 11,
A wind direction grill (not shown) that changes the wind direction in the left-right (width) direction of the main body 8 and a wind direction grill 12 that changes the wind direction in the vertical direction of the main body 8 are provided.

[0004] The outdoor unit 3 is provided with an outdoor heat exchanger 14 and an outdoor fan 15 in an air passage (not shown) formed in the main body 13, and in a machine room (not shown) formed in the main body 13. It is provided with a hermetic compressor 16, a four-way valve 17, and an expansion valve 18 that are connected to other refrigeration cycle devices, that is, the outdoor heat exchanger 14 in order.

[0005] By connecting the indoor heat exchanger 1 of the indoor unit 1 and the outdoor heat exchanger 14 of the outdoor unit 3 with refrigerant pipes 4 and 5, a heat pump type refrigeration cycle capable of cooling and heating is provided. Make up.

Reference numeral 11a denotes a motor for driving the indoor fan 11, 12a a motor for driving the wind direction grill 12, 1
6a denotes a motor for driving the compressor 16, and 19 denotes a room temperature sensor provided at the suction port 6 for detecting the room temperature.

By the way, in such an air conditioner, dehumidification is performed while keeping the room temperature constant by utilizing the heat exchange characteristic that moisture in the room 2 is removed when the cooling operation is performed. is there.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the dehumidifying operation is performed, for example, in a temperature range in which the set temperature is ± 1 ° C. as a control temperature range. The valve 17 is switched to the cooling side (cooling cycle operation in which the indoor heat exchanger 10 functions as an evaporator). If the lower limit is exceeded, the four-way valve 17 is switched to the heating side (the heating cycle in which the indoor heat exchanger 10 functions as a condenser). Operation).

The compressor 16 and the indoor fan 11 are operated according to the load (difference between the set temperature and the detected temperature), and the indoor heat exchanger 10 functioning as an evaporator and the indoor heat exchanger functioning as a condenser are provided. The air that has been heat-exchanged in the heat exchanger 10 is alternately blown from the outlet 7 into the room 2.
That is, the cooling cycle operation and the heating cycle operation are alternately repeated, and the indoor 2 is dehumidified while maintaining the temperature of the indoor 2 at a predetermined temperature. By the way, in general, in the air conditioning apparatus, during the cooling cycle operation, dew condensation occurs in the indoor heat exchanger 10 due to heat exchange, and moisture adheres to the indoor heat exchanger 10.

However, the air conditioner having the dehumidifying function of alternately performing the cooling cycle operation and the heating cycle operation as described above, when the operation is switched from the cooling cycle operation to the heating cycle operation, the indoor heat exchanger 10 The moisture that has condensed evaporates due to the heat of the high-temperature refrigerant flowing through the indoor heat exchanger, and mixes with the blown air to become humid air with high humidity.
The air is blown out from the air outlet 7 into the room 2. For this reason, high-humidity air is blown out to the occupants, which may cause discomfort.

Therefore, conventionally, such an air conditioner has
As shown in FIG. 7, during the cooling cycle operation, the wind direction grill 12 is set to the horizontal (horizontal) wind direction, and the low-temperature air blown out from the outlet 7 as shown in FIG. The wind direction grill 12 is set to a horizontal (horizontal) wind direction even during the heating cycle operation so that the resident is not exposed to high-humidity warm air.

[0012]

However, if the wind direction grill 12 is horizontal (horizontal) during the heating cycle operation as described above, it is possible to certainly avoid discomfort to the occupants. Since warm air is blown out, the blown air goes only to the upper part of the room 2 as shown in FIG. 8B and does not reach the whole room. For this reason, a phenomenon occurs in which the blown air is sucked again from the suction port 6 immediately after blowing, and there is a disadvantage that warm air is accumulated only in the upper part of the room 2.

When this occurs, not only does it take a long time for the vicinity of the occupant to reach the desired temperature, but also a large temperature difference (imbalance in temperature distribution) occurs between the upper part and the lower part of the room 2. As a result, there is a problem that the comfort in the room 2 is deteriorated, and improvement of this point is demanded.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to supply air blown out during a heating cycle in a dehumidifying operation to a whole room without causing discomfort to a resident. It is an object of the present invention to provide an air conditioner that can be distributed to a country.

[0015]

In order to achieve the above object, an air conditioner according to the present invention is characterized in that an air direction grill for changing the vertical direction of blown air is turned sideways during a cooling cycle operation in a dehumidifying operation. Means are provided for switching downward in the heating cycle operation, and means for maintaining the wind direction of the wind direction grill in the horizontal direction for a certain time when switching from the cooling cycle operation to the heating cycle operation in the dehumidifying operation.

An air conditioner according to a second aspect of the present invention
A means is provided to switch the wind direction grill that changes the vertical wind direction of the blown air to the horizontal direction during the cooling cycle operation in dehumidifying operation and to switch downward during the heating cycle operation, and to condense on the indoor heat exchanger during the cooling cycle operation in dehumidifying operation. A dew detection means for detecting the presence or absence of moisture is provided, and at the time of switching from the cooling cycle operation to the heating cycle operation in the dehumidification operation, the wind direction of the wind direction grill is turned sideways until the dew detection means detects no water. Means for maintaining the temperature.

[0017]

According to the air conditioner of the first aspect, in the dehumidifying operation, the cooling cycle operation and the heating cycle operation are alternately switched, and low-temperature blown air and warm blown air alternately enter the room from the outlet. It is blown out.

At this time, the wind direction grill is set to be horizontal during the cooling cycle operation, and the blowing direction is maintained for a certain period of time even after switching from the cooling cycle operation to the heating cycle operation.

Under the control for maintaining the horizontal direction during the predetermined time, the moisture condensed in the indoor heat exchanger due to the cooling cycle operation is evaporated by the heat of the high-temperature refrigerant flowing through the indoor heat exchanger and blown out. It mixes with air and becomes humid air of high humidity and is blown out in a substantially horizontal direction. During this time, all moisture in the indoor heat exchanger evaporates. After the elapse of the predetermined time, the wind direction grill is switched from sideways to downward, and warm air during the heating cycle operation is distributed throughout the room. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the blowout air of high humidity from hitting the occupants and also prevent the warm air from accumulating only in the upper part of the room.

According to the air conditioner of the second aspect,
In the dehumidifying operation, the cooling cycle operation and the heating cycle operation are alternately switched, and low-temperature blown air and warm blown air are alternately blown into the room from the outlet.

At this time, the wind direction grill is set to be horizontal during the cooling cycle operation, and even after switching from the cooling cycle operation to the heating cycle operation, there is no moisture adhering to the indoor heat exchanger by the dew condensation detecting means. Until this is detected, the blowing direction is maintained.

Under the control for maintaining the horizontal orientation, the moisture condensed in the indoor heat exchanger due to the cooling cycle operation evaporates due to the heat of the high-temperature refrigerant flowing through the indoor heat exchanger, and mixes with the blown air to obtain high humidity. The humid air blows out in a substantially horizontal direction. During this time, all moisture in the indoor heat exchanger evaporates. When the dew condensation detecting means detects no dew condensation, the wind direction grill is switched from sideways to downward, and warm air during the heating cycle operation is distributed throughout the room. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the blowout air of high humidity from hitting the occupants and also prevent the warm air from being accumulated only in the upper part of the room.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS.
A description will be given based on the embodiment. However, in the drawing,
The same components as those described in the section of "Prior Art" are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. In this section, different parts (main parts of the invention) will be described. In the present embodiment, during the dehumidification operation, even after switching from the cooling cycle operation to the heating cycle operation, the wind direction grill 1 is maintained for a certain period of time.
The difference is that 2 is turned sideways.

That is, reference numeral 20 denotes a control unit. Control unit 2
0 is composed of, for example, a microcomputer and its peripheral circuits. The control unit 20 has a timer function. An operation unit 21 for inputting a cooling operation, a heating operation, and a dehumidifying operation (including an input of a set temperature) is connected to the control unit 20.

The control unit 20 includes a motor 11a for the indoor fan 11, a wind direction control unit 22 connected to the motor 12a of the wind direction grill 12, a room temperature sensor 19, an expansion valve 18, a four-way valve 17, and a compressor 16a. The motor 16a and the motor 15a of the outdoor fan 15 are connected. In the control unit 20, a function of performing each operation of a cooling operation, a heating operation, and a dehumidifying operation is set.

That is, the controller 20 sets the four-way valve 17 to the cooling side or the heating side in accordance with the selection of the cooling / heating operation, the room temperature detected by the room temperature sensor 19, and the input from the operation unit 21. Difference from set temperature (cooling / heating load)
Energization of each motor 11a, 15a, 16a
A function for controlling the opening degree of the expansion valve 18 is set, and the predetermined cooling cycle operation and heating cycle operation required for the cooling and heating operation are performed by this.

In addition, the control unit 20 may add, for example, plus or minus 1 ° C. to the set temperature in accordance with the selection of the dehumidifying operation.
When the room temperature exceeds the upper limit of the temperature range, the four-way valve 17 is switched to the cooling side (cooling cycle operation), and when the room temperature exceeds the lower limit, the four-way valve 17 is switched to the heating side (heating cycle operation). A switching function and a function of operating the compressor 16 and the indoor fan 11 according to, for example, a load at that time are set. In addition, the control unit 20 outputs a control signal to the wind direction control unit 22 to make the wind direction of the wind direction grill 12 substantially horizontal (horizontal) during the cooling cycle operation, and turns the wind direction of the wind direction grill 12 downward during the heating cycle operation. A function to output a control signal to be performed is set. Further, the control unit 20 is provided with a function of maintaining the wind direction of the wind direction grill 12 substantially horizontal for a certain period of time, for example, 40 seconds, by using a timer function when switching from the cooling cycle operation to the heating cycle operation. By combining these functions, a dehumidifying operation in which a cooling cycle operation and a heating cycle operation are alternately performed is performed.

The set value of 40 seconds is determined as a time required for all the moisture condensed on the indoor heat exchanger 10 to evaporate upon the start of the heating cycle operation (by experiment). Next, the operation of the air conditioner thus configured will be described. When performing dehumidification, “dehumidification” is input from the operation unit 21. Then, Figure 2
The dehumidifying operation is started according to the timing chart shown in FIG.

That is, the room temperature at the start of the dehumidifying operation is a state in which the room temperature detected by the room temperature sensor 19 exceeds the upper limit of a temperature range of ± 1 ° C. with respect to the set temperature.

Therefore, the control unit 20 outputs a control signal to various refrigeration cycle devices, switches the four-way valve 17 to the cooling side,
The compressor 16, the indoor fan 11, and the outdoor fan 15 are operated in a predetermined manner according to the load. Thereby, the compressor 16
A cooling cycle in which the high-temperature refrigerant compressed in step (1) flows through the four-way valve 17, the outdoor heat exchanger 14, the expansion valve 18, and the indoor heat exchanger 10 in this order. That is, the indoor heat exchanger 10
Is operated as a cooling cycle.

The control unit 20 outputs a control signal for setting the wind direction grill 12 to a horizontal position to the wind direction control unit 22 in conjunction with the operation of the refrigeration cycle apparatus, and places the wind direction grill 12 in a substantially horizontal (horizontal) position. Position.

As a result, the low-temperature air sucked from the suction port 6 and subjected to the heat exchange in the indoor heat exchanger 10 is blown out from the outlet 7 through the wind direction grill 12. Here, since the wind direction grill 12 is in a horizontal state, the low-temperature air blown out from the outlet 7 spreads throughout the room as shown in FIG.

During the cooling cycle operation, the heat exchange (evaporation) of the indoor heat exchanger 10 causes moisture in the air in the indoor 2 to condense and adhere to various parts of the indoor heat exchanger 10. That is, moisture is removed from the air in the room 2. When such a cooling cycle operation is continued, the room temperature gradually decreases.

When the room temperature detected by the room temperature sensor 19 exceeds the lower limit of the temperature range of plus or minus 1 ° C. with respect to the set temperature, the control unit 20 switches from the cooling cycle operation to the heating cycle operation.

That is, the control unit 20 outputs a control signal to various refrigeration cycle devices, switches the four-way valve 17 to the heating side, and controls the compressor 16, the indoor fan 11, and the outdoor fan 15.
Is operated according to the load. Accordingly, a heating cycle is formed in which the high-temperature refrigerant compressed by the compressor 16 flows through the four-way valve 17, the indoor heat exchanger 10, the expansion valve 18, and the outdoor heat exchanger 14 in this order. That is, a heating cycle operation in which the indoor heat exchanger 10 functions as a condenser to blow out warm air is performed.

Further, the control unit 20 causes the timer to function in accordance with the switching, so that even after switching from the cooling cycle operation to the heating cycle operation, the blowing direction (horizontal state) is maintained for 40 seconds (a certain period of time). maintain.

During the control for keeping the wind direction grill 12 in the horizontal direction for 40 seconds, the moisture condensed on the indoor heat exchanger 10 by the cooling cycle operation is removed from the indoor heat exchanger 1.
0, evaporates by the heat of the high-temperature refrigerant flowing therethrough and mixes with the warm blow-out air that has exchanged heat with the indoor-side heat exchanger 10 to become high-humidity humid air, which is substantially as shown in FIG. It is blown out in the horizontal direction. This blowing prevents the humid air of high humidity from hitting the resident in the room 2. During this time, all the moisture in the indoor heat exchanger 10 is evaporated.

After the elapse of 40 seconds, the control unit 20 outputs a control signal for setting the wind direction grill 12 to the downward direction to the wind direction control unit 22 to position the wind direction grill 12 at the downward position.

As a result, the low-humidity warm air that has undergone heat exchange in the indoor heat exchanger 10 is blown downward toward the main body 8 as shown in FIG. 3C. By this blowing, warm air spreads throughout the room. As the heating cycle operation continues, the room temperature gradually increases.

When the room temperature detected by the room temperature sensor 19 exceeds the upper limit of the temperature range of ± 1 ° C. with respect to the set temperature, as described above, the control unit 20 switches from the cooling cycle operation to the heating cycle. Switch to operation. If the lower limit is exceeded, the operation is switched from the heating cycle operation to the cooling cycle operation. By alternately switching between the cooling cycle operation and the heating cycle operation in this manner, the room 2 is dehumidified while maintaining the room temperature at a predetermined temperature. Therefore,
During the defrosting operation, the humid air does not hit the residents.

Moreover, since warm air does not accumulate only in the upper part of the room 2, it is possible to bring the neighborhood of the occupant to a desired temperature in a short time, and the temperature distribution in the upper part and the lower part of the room 2 is not good. The balance can be corrected and the comfort in the room 2 can be improved. FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the control unit 20 is provided with a function of continuously operating the indoor fan 11 irrespective of switching between the cooling cycle operation and the heating cycle operation. This is to promote the evaporation of the moisture.

More specifically, the fan operating temperature is set to a temperature value that is, for example, minus 0.8 ° C. (a temperature value close to minus 1 ° C.) with respect to the set temperature, and the indoor fan 11 is operated from the same temperature value. I try to make it. FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.

In the present embodiment, the wind direction of the wind direction grill 9 is switched from horizontal to downward when it is determined not by time but by the sensor detection that moisture adhering to the indoor heat exchanger 10 has disappeared. Things.

Specifically, the indoor heat exchanger 10 is provided with a moisture sensing sensor 25 (corresponding to dew condensation detecting means) for detecting the presence or absence of moisture condensed on each part of the indoor heat exchanger 10. When the mode is switched from the cooling cycle operation to the heating cycle operation, the wind direction of the wind direction grill 12 is maintained horizontal (sideways) until the moisture sensor 25 detects that there is no moisture. Even if you do this,
An effect similar to that of the first embodiment is obtained.

[0046]

As described above, according to the first and second aspects of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the humid air from hitting the occupants during the defrosting operation. No discomfort.

In addition, warm air can be spread throughout the room, the temperature of the vicinity of the occupant can be brought to a desired temperature in a short time, and an imbalance in the temperature distribution between the upper and lower parts of the room can be corrected. be able to.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a separate type air conditioner of a first embodiment of the present invention together with a control system.

FIG. 2 is a chart showing an operation state of each device in a defrosting operation.

FIGS. 3 (a), (b), and (c) show the wind direction of the wind direction grill set during the cooling cycle operation of the defrosting operation, at the time of switching from the cooling cycle operation to the heating cycle operation, and at the time of the heating cycle operation. The figure which shows the indoor airflow by each.

FIG. 4 is a chart showing operation states of respective devices in a defrosting operation which is a main part of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a separate type air conditioner according to a third embodiment of the present invention, together with a control system.

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining a conventional separate type air conditioner.

FIG. 7 is a chart for explaining a defrosting operation in which a cooling cycle operation and a heating cycle operation are repeated.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams respectively showing the indoor airflow depending on the wind direction of the wind direction grill set during the cooling cycle operation and the heating cycle operation of the defrosting operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Indoor unit, 6 ... Inlet, 7 ... Outlet, 8 ... Main body, 9 ... Air path, 10 ... Indoor heat exchanger, 11 ... Indoor fan, 12 ... Wind direction grill, 20 ... Control part, 21 ... Operation Department,
22: wind direction controller, 25: moisture sensor (condensation detecting means).

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Koichi Kitagawa 8 Shinsugita-cho, Isogo-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Within Toshiba Living Space Systems Engineering Laboratory Co., Ltd. (72) Hiroko Maeda 8 Shinsugita-cho, Isogo-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Address Toshiba Living Space Systems Research Institute, Inc. (56) References JP-A-4-24454 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) F24F 11/02 102

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An air inlet, an air outlet, and an air passage communicating between the air inlet and the air outlet. The air passage has an indoor heat exchanger and a wind direction grill for changing the air direction in the vertical direction. An indoor unit is provided, and the indoor heat exchanger is caused to repeatedly function as an evaporator and a condenser by switching a cooling / heating cycle operation, and the indoor air subjected to heat exchange by this function is blown out from an outlet through a wind direction grill. An air conditioner for dehumidifying the interior of a room by providing means for changing the direction of the wind of the air direction grill to the horizontal direction during the cooling cycle operation and to the downward direction during the heating cycle operation, and switching from the cooling cycle operation to the heating cycle operation. The air conditioner further comprises means for maintaining the wind direction of the wind direction grill in a horizontal direction for a predetermined time. 2. An air inlet, an air outlet, and an air passage communicating between the air inlet and the air outlet, and the air passage includes an indoor heat exchanger and a wind direction grill for changing a wind direction in a vertical direction. An indoor unit is provided, and the indoor heat exchanger is caused to repeatedly function as an evaporator and a condenser by switching a cooling / heating cycle operation, and the indoor air subjected to heat exchange by this function is blown out from an outlet through a wind direction grill. In the air conditioner that dehumidifies the room, the wind direction of the wind direction grill is provided in a horizontal direction during the cooling cycle operation, and means for switching downward during the heating cycle operation is provided, and the indoor heat exchanger is provided in the cooling cycle operation. Dew detection means for detecting the presence or absence of condensed water is provided, and when switching from the cooling cycle operation to the heating cycle operation, the dew detection means An air conditioner comprising means for maintaining the wind direction of the wind direction grill in a horizontal direction until no air is detected.