JP3182316B2 - 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 controlling the temperature of indoor air by circulating hot water through a heat exchanger.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An example of an air conditioner that circulates hot water in a heat exchanger to control the temperature of indoor air is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. Hei 5-2.
Patent No. 9829 discloses a method. In such an air conditioner, warm water is circulated through a heat exchanger, and indoor air is passed through the heat exchanger to control the temperature of the indoor air. In such an air conditioner, a method of adjusting the flow rate of warm water circulated in the heat exchanger by, for example, a control valve to adjust the heat release amount of the heat exchanger is generally adopted.

[0003]

In the above-mentioned air conditioner, in which the circulation amount of hot water is controlled by a control valve, the control valve is turned on when the power of the air conditioner is turned on (plug the air conditioner into an outlet). Plugged in) and when stopped
Some of them are fully closed to determine the position. In the air conditioner controlled as described above, when the valve body is completely closed when the valve body is cooled (for example, when the power is turned on or when the thermo-off is performed, the time during which hot water does not flow to the heat exchanger continues for a long time. When the operation is stopped later), the temperature of the valve body of the control valve is substantially the same as the temperature of the hot water at which the valve body is cooled. When the pressure rises, the valve body expands, and the amount of hot water circulating through the gap between the valve body and the pipe changes, so that the heat release in the heat exchanger differs from the preset amount. Therefore, the flow rate set in advance,
There is a disadvantage that the flow rate of the actually flowing hot water differs and the temperature fluctuation in the room increases.

[0004] The present invention provides an air conditioner that can control hot water to a preset flow rate.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a control valve is fully closed to confirm a fully closed position, and the control valve is controlled to an opening degree to control heat. In the air conditioner for adjusting the circulation amount of the hot water flowing through the exchanger, the control valve is fully closed at a step of 0 when a control signal of a valve body incorporated in the valve is set to 0, the flow rate of the hot water is set to 0, and the step signal When the temperature of the valve body is in a substantially steady state, the position of the control valve in the fully closed state is confirmed by increasing the flow rate of the hot water from the fully closed state of zero. Is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air conditioner in which the amount of hot water circulating in a heat exchanger is controlled by controlling the opening of a control valve, wherein the control valve is a valve body built in the valve. The control signal is fully closed at step 0, the flow rate of the hot water is set to 0, and the step signal is increased so that the flow rate of the hot water is sequentially increased substantially proportionally from the fully closed state of 0, A control means for confirming the fully closed position of the control valve after a lapse of a predetermined time from the start of operation.

A third aspect of the present invention is an air conditioner in which the amount of hot water circulating in a heat exchanger is controlled by controlling the opening of a control valve, wherein the control valve is a valve body built in the valve. The control signal is fully closed at step 0, the flow rate of the hot water is set to 0, and the step signal is increased so that the flow rate of the hot water is sequentially increased substantially proportionally from the fully closed state of 0, After a lapse of a predetermined time from the start of operation, and when the opening degree of the control valve is equal to or less than the predetermined opening degree, the position of the control valve is fully closed and the opening degree of the control valve immediately before the position confirmation is checked It is provided with control means for returning the valve opening.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air conditioner wherein the amount of hot water circulating in a heat exchanger is controlled by controlling the opening of a control valve, wherein the control valve is a valve body built in the valve. The control signal is fully closed at step 0, the flow rate of the hot water is set to 0, and the step signal is increased so that the flow rate of the hot water is sequentially increased substantially proportionally from the fully closed state of 0, It is provided with control means for confirming the position of the control valve in a fully closed state after the restart of the hot water supply and when the temperature of the valve body of the control valve is substantially in a steady state.

[0009]

According to the first, second, third, and fourth aspects of the present invention, when the valve element of the control valve is substantially at the same temperature as the normally flowing hot water, positioning for fully closing the control valve is performed. In addition, the flow rate of the hot water set in advance and the flow rate of the actually flowing hot water can be substantially matched.

In the second aspect of the present invention, the positioning is confirmed after the lapse of a predetermined time, so that the timing of the positioning can be easily set.

[0011] In the third invention, the position of the control valve is fully closed when a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of operation and the valve opening of the control valve is equal to or less than the predetermined opening. Since the control means for returning the opening of the control valve to the opening of the control valve immediately before the position confirmation is provided, the time from the positioning to the subsequent control to return the opening of the control valve to the opening can be shortened.

In the fourth invention, the control means for confirming the fully closed position of the control valve, particularly after the restart of the hot water supply, and when the temperature of the valve body of the control valve is almost in a steady state. When the operation is started, the difference between the set temperature and the room temperature is so small that hot water does not sufficiently flow to the control valve, or when the operation is started, the thermostat turns off immediately and the circulation of hot water to the heat exchanger stops. As in the case where the temperature of the valve body of the control valve does not become substantially the same as the temperature of the normally flowing hot water as in the case where the temperature of the hot water and the temperature of the valve body after the supply of hot water is started again, Since the position of the control valve is confirmed when the temperature is the same, the flow rate of the preset hot water and the flow rate of the actually flowing hot water can be substantially matched.

[0013]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1
Is a separation type air conditioner, which is mainly composed of the outdoor unit 2, the interunit piping 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, and the indoor unit 5. The outdoor unit 2 incorporates a heat source unit for supplying hot water and a compressor for compressing a refrigerant. Of course, the compressor may not be built in (the configuration as shown in FIG. 5).

Reference numeral 10 denotes a hot water circuit, 11 and 11A denote fuel gas shutoff valves, 12 denotes a gas proportional valve, 13 denotes a gas burner, 14 denotes a gas connection port, 15 denotes a circulating water tank for heating, 1
6 is a drain tank, 17 is a drain connection port, 18 is a circulation pump, 19 is a combustor hot water heat exchanger, 20 is a circulation pump 1
Controllers 21A, 21B, 21C, 2
1D is a hot water pipe for connecting each device, 22, 2
3 is a connection part.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a refrigerant circuit, 31 denotes a compressor for compressing the refrigerant, 31 denotes an outdoor heat exchanger, 32 denotes a pressure reducing device using a capillary tube, 33 and 34 denote service valves, 35 denotes a muffler, 36 Is the accumulator,
37 is a refrigerant pipe for connecting each device.

[0016] The reference numeral 40 shown in the indoor unit is a hot water heat exchanger for heating,
41 is a refrigerant heat exchanger for cooling, 42 is an indoor temperature sensor,
3 is a hot water sensor, 44 is a controller constituted by a microcomputer or the like, and 45 is a hot water flow control valve (control valve). This heat exchanger 40 is arranged on the secondary side (downwind side) of the heat exchanger 41. The controller 44
Performs a fuzzy operation every 30 seconds based on the deviation between the room temperature detected by the temperature sensor and the set temperature, and controls the opening of the control valve every three minutes based on this operation. The control means according to the first to third aspects is provided. 46
Is an operation switch for setting operation start and operation stop,
47 and 48 are hot water pipes, 49 and 50 are refrigerant pipes.

The opening of the control valve 45 is controlled in 50 steps from step 0 (fully closed) to step 49 (fully open). The valve body (not shown) of the control valve 45 is made of fluororesin or brass. When hot water flows for about 7 to 8 minutes, the expansion is sufficiently saturated. It can be considered that the expansion is sufficiently saturated 10 minutes after the circulation of the warm water.

Although the indoor unit and the outdoor unit are provided with a fan for blowing air to the indoor and outdoor heat exchangers,
Not shown.

FIG. 2 shows the characteristics of the valve opening degree and the flow rate of hot water. The solid line A shows the characteristic when water at normal temperature flows (positioning at normal temperature and when water at normal temperature flows). When the control signal of the control valve of the valve element incorporated in this valve is fully closed at 0 step, the valve element expands sufficiently, and when the expanded state is reached, the valve is fully closed and hot water flows ( (In the case where positioning is performed at the temperature of the hot water and hot water is supplied), the characteristic diagram substantially coincides with the characteristic diagram of FIG. That is,
The control valve is fully closed at a step of 0 when the control signal of the valve body incorporated in the valve is set to 0, the flow rate of the hot water is set to 0, and by increasing the step signal, the flow rate of the hot water is set to 0 from the fully closed state, and it is almost proportionally sequentially. To increase. On the other hand, the dashed line B is a characteristic diagram when the valve is positioned at room temperature and heated hot water flows (when the valve is positioned at room temperature and hot water flows). According to this characteristic diagram, as compared with the solid line A, the control signal of the valve element built in this valve is increased, so that the flow rate of the hot water does not increase almost proportionally from the fully closed state of 0. I understand. This is probably because the fully closed position was confirmed in a state where the valve body was not sufficiently expanded.

In the air conditioner configured as described above, first, when the plug of the indoor unit is inserted into the outlet, the position of the fully closed position is confirmed by the control device. At this time, since the temperature of the hot water is usually room temperature, the position of the control valve is confirmed at a temperature lower than the temperature of the actually flowing hot water (in a state where the valve body is not sufficiently expanded,
Confirmation of the position of the control valve). In addition, the same confirmation of the fully closed position is performed after the heating operation is completed, for example, when the operation switch is pressed and stopped, or when the off timer is activated and the heating operation is stopped. This position confirmation of the fully closed position is performed by closing the extra 152 pulses in the closing direction by the number of pulses obtained by adding 152 pulses to the pulse corresponding to the current step, and reopening by 76 pulses.

The control of the position confirmation is controlled as shown in FIG. 3. When the heating operation is started (step S1), the opening of the control valve is controlled according to the difference between the set temperature and the room temperature. (This normal control of the control valve is not shown in the flowchart of FIG. 3). Then, when it is determined that the room temperature approaches the set temperature, the control valve is gradually closed, and the valve opening is less than 26 steps (S2), the 10-minute timer is operated, and if it is determined that 10 minutes have elapsed (S2). S
3) The position of the fully closed position is confirmed (0 step adjustment, S4). This position confirmation of the fully closed state is different from the position confirmation of the fully closed state when the power is turned on and after the heating operation is stopped, and a pulse corresponding to the current valve opening degree step is applied in a direction in which the control valve is closed, and again. It returns to the position (opening) immediately before closing. When such a position confirmation of the fully closed state is performed, as shown by a solid line A in FIG. 2, the amount of hot water assumed in advance circulates through the heat exchanger.

As described above, when the temperature of the valve body of the control valve is sufficiently expanded from the start of the heating operation, the position of the control valve is confirmed to be fully closed. The flow rate of the actually flowing hot water can be substantially matched, and the control of the room temperature can be performed as set.

Further, since the positioning is confirmed after the lapse of a predetermined time, the temperature of the valve body is directly detected to detect the saturation of the expansion of the valve body. The timing of this positioning can be easily set by setting according to the flowchart, and the air conditioner can be configured at low cost.

Further, after a lapse of a predetermined time from the start of the operation and when the valve opening of the control valve is equal to or less than the predetermined opening, the position of the control valve is confirmed to be fully closed. Since control means for returning the valve opening to the control valve opening is provided, the time required for confirming the positioning and returning to the control valve opening can be shortened, and the temperature control of hot water does not become discontinuous. Can be done.

In this case, when the opening degree of the on-off valve is 25 steps, 516 pulses are applied in the direction from the fully closed state to the fully open state, the state is fully closed from this state, and 516 pulses are again applied. To return to normal control by applying
Since a signal of 5 pulses / second can be transmitted, 51
At 6 × 2/125, it takes about a little over 8 seconds. In the case of full opening, since about 4000 pulses are applied, it is necessary to transmit a signal of 125 pulses / second in order to fully close from this state, apply 4000 pulses again, and return to normal control. 4000 × 2/1
25, it takes about 64 seconds, and this about 1 second
During the time of a minute, because the predetermined heating operation is not performed,
Although the comfort is impaired, if the position of the fully closed position is confirmed at a predetermined opening degree, for example, about half the opening degree as in this embodiment, the time for this confirmation can be shortened. Discomfort that the heating operation is not performed can be prevented from being given to the user.

FIG. 4 shows the relationship between the flow rate of hot water and the room temperature. The solid line A indicates the present invention, and the broken line B indicates the conventional one in which the fully closed position of the present invention is not performed. In the present invention in which the position of the fully closed position is confirmed after the valve body is sufficiently expanded, the change in the flow rate of the hot water and the change in the room temperature are smaller than those of the conventional one. Therefore, the control of the control valve can be made smaller than that of the conventional one, and the durability of the control valve can be improved.

FIG. 5 shows an air conditioner having a different outdoor unit (second air conditioner).
Example) is shown. The same components as those in the previous embodiment (first embodiment) or corresponding components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. The air conditioner 1A mainly includes an indoor unit 5, a cooling outdoor unit 2A, a heating outdoor unit (heat source unit) 2B,
It is composed of unit pipes 3A, 3B, 4A and 4B. For this reason, it is also possible to use a heat source device that supplies hot water to the bath, instead of a heat source device dedicated to the air conditioner.

The air conditioner of the second embodiment thus configured operates in the same manner as the operation of the control device of the first embodiment. Further, as described in the third embodiment, a control device may be configured.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the control of the control device in the air conditioner of the third embodiment.

In the third embodiment, as described below,
The control device operates. Until the position of the fully closed position is confirmed (0-step adjustment, S4), the operation is the same as that of the control device of the first embodiment. When this position confirmation is completed and the indoor temperature approaches the set temperature and it is determined that the room temperature has reached the set temperature (the set temperature and the room temperature do not necessarily match), the thermo-off (S5) is performed. Become. Then, when it is determined that the room temperature has fallen significantly below the set temperature, the thermostat is turned on (S6), the control valve is opened again, and hot water starts flowing into the heat exchanger. Then, when the room temperature approaches the set temperature, the opening of the control valve is gradually closed, and the valve opening becomes less than 26 steps (S7), the 10-minute timer is operated,
After 10 minutes have passed (S8), the fully closed position is confirmed (0 step adjustment, S9). Confirmation of the position of this fully closed
This is the same as the position confirmation described in 4.

When the air conditioner is configured as described above, there are the following good points. For example, at the start of the operation, if the difference between the set temperature and the room temperature is small, and the heating operation is not sufficiently performed, or if the thermo-off is performed without performing the heating operation at all, the control valve is controlled as in the first embodiment. Even when the positioning is performed, positioning may not be performed, or positioning may be performed in a state where the valve body is not sufficiently expanded. However, as described above, when the thermo-off is changed to the thermo-on, the fully closed positioning is performed. Therefore, when the positioning in the first embodiment is not performed or the positioning is insufficient (the valve body is sufficiently warmed up). Even if positioning is not performed, positioning can be performed with the valve body sufficiently warmed after the thermo-on, and the flow rate of the preset hot water and the flow rate of the actually flowing hot water can be substantially matched. The control of the room temperature can be performed as set.

In this embodiment, the present invention has been described with respect to the description of the heating operation. However, the dry operation in which the hot water flows through the heat exchanger and the liquid refrigerant flows through the heat exchanger used as the evaporator. At times, the present invention may be applied.

[0033]

According to the present invention, the control valve is fully closed to confirm the fully closed position, and the air for controlling the opening degree of the control valve to adjust the circulation amount of the hot water flowing to the heat exchanger. In the harmony machine, the control valve of the control valve of the valve body built in this valve is fully closed at 0 step, the flow rate of the hot water is set to 0, and the flow rate of the hot water is increased from 0 to the fully closed state by increasing the step signal. Since the position of the fully closed control valve is confirmed when the temperature of the valve element is substantially in a steady state, the flow rate of the preset hot water and the actual flow of the hot water are determined. The flow rate can be substantially matched, and the control of the room temperature can be performed as set. In the second invention, the position of the control valve is fully closed particularly after a predetermined time has elapsed, so that the timing of the positioning can be easily set, and the air conditioner can be configured at low cost. can do.

In the third aspect of the present invention, when the predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the operation and the valve opening of the control valve is equal to or less than the predetermined opening, the position of the control valve is confirmed to be fully closed. Since the control means for returning the valve opening to the opening of the control valve immediately before the position confirmation is provided, the time required for confirming the positioning and returning to the opening of the control valve thereafter can be shortened, and the temperature of the room temperature can be controlled. Can be performed so as not to be discontinuous.

In the fourth invention, the control means for confirming the fully closed position of the control valve, especially after the restart of the hot water supply, and when the temperature of the valve body of the control valve is in a substantially steady state. Therefore, even when the temperature of the valve body of the control valve does not become substantially the same as the temperature of the normally flowing hot water, it is possible to control the circulation amount of the hot water to a preset value. For this reason, even in the case described above, the circulation amount of the hot water can be controlled to the preset circulation amount, so that the control of the room temperature can be performed as set.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of hot water and a refrigerant showing an air conditioner of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a relationship between a hot water flow rate and a valve step.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing control of a valve opening.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the flow rate of hot water and room temperature.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of an air conditioner showing a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating control according to a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 1A air conditioner 40 heat exchanger 45 hot water flow control valve (control valve) 44 controller

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. An air conditioner wherein a control valve is fully closed to confirm a fully closed position, and an opening of the control valve is controlled to adjust a circulation amount of hot water flowing to a heat exchanger. The control signal of the valve body built into this valve is
It becomes fully closed at step and the flow rate of the hot water is set to 0,
By raising the tap signal, the flow rate of the hot water becomes zero.
It is designed to increase almost proportionally sequentially from the fully closed state.
There, the air conditioner, characterized in that the temperature of the valve body is provided with a control means for causing the localization of full closing of the control valve when the substantially steady. 2. A method control valve as well as confirm the fully closed position and fully closed, in the air conditioner for adjusting the circulation rate of hot water flowing by controlling the opening degree of the control valve to the heat exchanger, the control The control signal of the valve body built into this valve is
It becomes fully closed at step and the flow rate of the hot water is set to 0,
By raising the tap signal, the flow rate of the hot water becomes zero.
It is designed to increase almost proportionally sequentially from the fully closed state.
An air conditioner comprising a control means for confirming the position of the control valve in a fully closed state after a lapse of a predetermined time from the start of operation. The 3. A control valve as well as confirm the fully closed position and fully closed, in the air conditioner for adjusting the circulation rate of hot water flowing by controlling the opening degree of the control valve to the heat exchanger, the control The control signal of the valve body built into this valve is
It becomes fully closed at step and the flow rate of the hot water is set to 0,
By raising the tap signal, the flow rate of the hot water becomes zero.
It is designed to increase almost proportionally sequentially from the fully closed state.
Yes, after a lapse of a predetermined time from the start of operation, and when the opening of the control valve is equal to or less than the predetermined opening, the control unit confirms the fully closed position of the control valve and opens the control valve immediately before the position confirmation. An air conditioner comprising a control means for returning a valve opening degree each time. 4. An air conditioner wherein a control valve is fully closed to confirm a fully closed position, and an opening of the control valve is controlled to adjust a circulation amount of hot water flowing to a heat exchanger. The control signal of the valve body built into this valve is
The flow rate of the previous Symbol warm water will be fully closed in step to 0, the stearyl
By raising the tap signal, the flow rate of the hot water becomes zero.
It is designed to increase almost proportionally sequentially from the fully closed state.
Air conditioner, characterized in that the air conditioner further comprises control means for confirming the fully closed position of the control valve when the temperature of the valve body of the control valve is substantially steady after the hot water supply is resumed. Machine.