JP3338549B2 - 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 a compressor motor at a variable speed by controlling the frequency of an inverter circuit.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In indoor air conditioning, there is a close relationship between indoor temperature and compressor motor speed. For example, in the heating operation, the room temperature increases as the compressor motor speed increases, while the room temperature decreases as the compressor motor speed decreases. Since the speed of the compressor motor can be changed by controlling the frequency of the inverter circuit, the room temperature has a close relationship with the inverter frequency.

In an actual operation of an air conditioner, an inverter frequency is determined according to a deviation between a set temperature and a current room temperature. For example, when the deviation is large, control is performed such that the inverter frequency is increased and the room temperature reaches the set temperature as soon as possible, and when the deviation is small or zero, the inverter frequency is decreased. The control is performed to set the operation to zero or to stop the operation (stop operation).

[0004] Such values of the inverter frequency corresponding to each deviation between the set temperature and the room temperature are stored in advance in a table called a frequency control table. After detecting the deviation, the inverter frequency determination circuit refers to the frequency control table and reads the value of the inverter frequency corresponding to the deviation.

[0005]

By the way, the specific value of the frequency in the frequency control table is determined and written in the manufacturing stage of the factory. In this case, the value of the frequency is determined so as to conform to a characteristic between the room temperature and the inverter frequency in a certain standard environment. Therefore, at the time of factory shipment, the content of the frequency control table is the same for all air conditioners.

However, the environment in which an actual air conditioner is installed is not always the same. For example,
As for the external environment, since the outside air temperature is greatly different between the city center and the cold region, the value of the inverter frequency corresponding to the same room temperature should be greatly different. Similarly,
Regarding the indoor environment, the value of the inverter frequency for the same room temperature should greatly differ depending on the thickness and material of the wall of the room or the presence or absence of the internal heat source.

Therefore, if an air conditioner whose contents of the frequency control table are uniformly determined at the time of shipment from the factory is used as it is, depending on the location, the characteristics between room temperature and the inverter frequency may have an increase or an increase in the rise time. In some cases, phenomena such as shooting and hunting occurred, and efficient operation was not performed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and even if an air conditioner whose contents of the frequency control table are determined uniformly at the time of shipment from a factory, it is necessary to check whether the installed environment is maintained after installation. Regardless, an object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner capable of performing efficient operation.

[0009]

As a means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 controls the compressor motor at a variable speed by controlling the frequency of an inverter circuit. In the air conditioner performed based on the frequency control table in which data on the frequency corresponding to the deviation between the temperature and the detected indoor temperature is written, input the operating frequency and the detected indoor temperature,
It is characterized in that a table updating means is provided for obtaining dynamic characteristics between them and updating data on the frequency written in the frequency control table so as to conform to the dynamic characteristics.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the table updating means inputs a frequency at the time of the operation and a room detected temperature, and obtains a response learning means for obtaining a dynamic characteristic therebetween. G that rewrites data relating to the frequency in the frequency control table by using a genetic algorithm method based on the dynamic characteristic obtained by the response learning means.
A processing means.

[0011]

According to the third aspect of the present invention,
The present invention according to claim 2, further comprising an operation control means for selecting a dynamic characteristic acquisition mode preset as an operation mode when the normal operation is not performed, and performing an operation based on the dynamic characteristic acquisition mode. In addition, the response learning means obtains a dynamic characteristic of a room to which the indoor unit is attached during the operation based on the dynamic characteristic acquisition mode.

[0012]

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the compressor motor is controlled at a variable speed by controlling the frequency of the inverter circuit. In addition, data on a frequency corresponding to a deviation between the indoor set temperature and the indoor detected temperature is written. In the air conditioner performed based on the inserted frequency control table, the air conditioner previously has a plurality of frequency control tables created as a result of performing GA processing on a plurality of dynamic characteristics. It is characterized in that it is provided with a table selecting means for inputting and calculating a dynamic characteristic therebetween, and selecting an optimum frequency control table from among the plurality of frequency control tables based on the determined dynamic characteristic.

[0014]

[0015]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the table updating means obtains a dynamic characteristic between a frequency when the air conditioner is actually installed and operated and a room detected temperature. Then, the table updating means updates the data on the frequency written in the frequency control table so as to conform to the obtained dynamic characteristic.

That is, the data on the frequency in the frequency control table at the time of shipment from the factory is uniformly written according to a certain standard, whereas the environment in which the air conditioner is actually installed varies widely. is there. Therefore, if frequency control is performed using the frequency control table at the time of factory shipment as it is, efficient operation cannot always be performed.

However, according to the above configuration, the table updating means exerts the learning ability to obtain the dynamic characteristics in the environment where the air conditioner is actually installed, and updates the contents of the table to conform to the dynamic characteristics. Therefore, efficient frequency control according to the environment can be performed.

According to the configuration of the second aspect of the present invention, since the frequency control table is updated by the GA processing means using a genetic algorithm technique, it is possible to update the table to an optimal table.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the response learning means obtains the dynamic characteristics in a dedicated dynamic characteristic acquisition mode provided separately from the normal operation mode. Therefore, the value of the frequency can be changed to various values from the upper limit to the lower limit, and characteristics in a frequency range that cannot always be obtained in the normal operation mode can be obtained. When the operation of the air conditioner is not performed, that is, when the user is absent in the room, the operation control unit can select the above-described dynamic characteristic acquisition mode and forcefully perform the operation to obtain the dynamic characteristic. Like that. This takes into account that in the operation in the dynamic characteristic acquisition mode, the value of the frequency changes variously and the room temperature also fluctuates greatly, so that the user in the room may feel uncomfortable.

[0020]

In the configuration of the invention described in claim 5, the table selecting means obtains the dynamic characteristic in the same manner as in the case of the invention described in claim 1, and selects a plurality of tables prepared in advance based on the dynamic characteristic. Since it is sufficient to select the table optimally, the processing operation can be further simplified.

[0022]

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of this embodiment.

In FIG. 1, AC power from an AC power source 1 is converted into DC power by a converter circuit 2, smoothed by a capacitor 3, converted again into AC power by an inverter circuit 4, and supplied to a compressor motor 5. Is done.

The compressor 6 is rotatably driven by a compressor motor 5. Refrigerant discharged from the discharge side of the compressor 6 is first supplied to the indoor heat exchanger 8 via the four-way valve 7 in the heating mode. Sent and heat exchanged here. The heat-exchanged refrigerant is sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 10 through the expansion valve 9 where the heat is exchanged again.
And is circulated to the suction side of the compressor 6 via the

The frequency control for the inverter circuit 4 is performed by a frequency control circuit. This frequency control circuit includes an inverter frequency determining means 11, a frequency control table 12, and a table updating means 13. The table updating means 13 includes a response learning means 14 and a GA processing means 15.

After the indoor set temperature Ts is set by the remote controller 16 which is a room temperature setter, the inverter frequency determining means 11 inputs the detected room temperature Ta from the room temperature sensor 17 at regular intervals, and calculates the deviation (Ts−Ts). The value of the frequency corresponding to Ta) is read to determine the inverter frequency F.

The response learning means 14 receives the room temperature Ta and the inverter frequency F from the room temperature sensor 17 and the inverter frequency determination means 11, respectively, and also receives the outside air temperature To from the outside air temperature sensor 18. Then, Ta- using the outside air temperature To as a parameter
The dynamic characteristic of F is determined.

The GA processing means 15 performs GA (genetic algorithm) processing on the data obtained from the frequency control table 12 based on the dynamic characteristics of Ta-F obtained by the response learning means 14 and performs optimization. The content of the frequency control table 12 is updated so that the frequency becomes the specified frequency.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific example of the frequency control table 12. As shown in FIG. The vertical axis in FIG. 2 represents the deviation E (t) = the set temperature Ts of the room temperature Ta detected every predetermined time t.
Ts-Ta is shown for each predetermined level, and the horizontal axis shows the change rate ΔE (t) of the deviation E (t) for each predetermined level.

For example, when the set temperature Ts is 20 ° C., if the temperature Ta detected this time is 19.5 ° C., the deviation E (t) is (Ts−Ta) = (20−19.5) = 0. .
It becomes 5. The temperature Ta detected last time is 18.5 ° C.
, The deviation E (t) at that time is (Ts−
Since Ta) = (20-18.5) = 1.5 , the rate of change ΔE (t) is (0.5-1.5) = − 1.0.

As described above, each deviation E (t) and each rate of change Δ
In each column where E (t) intersects, data on the inverter frequency indicated by a symbol such as A ₁₁ ,..., A ₉₅ is written.

In this embodiment, the data A ₁₁ ,.
₉₅ is one of the predetermined inverter frequencies.
In order to select one, the data indicates the number of steps to be increased or decreased with respect to the current inverter frequency level. Therefore, the operation cannot be started by the table of FIG. 2, and the operation start frequency table shown in FIG. 3 is used at the start of the operation. The value of the operating frequency in FIG. 3 is set discretely, and the interval is small on the low frequency side, and is large on the high frequency side.

The data such as A ₁₁ ,..., A ₉₅ shown in FIG. 2 are 100 Hz, 70 Hz,.
Is the number of steps for selecting one of the operating frequencies. For example, if the current frequency is 50 Hz,
A ₁₁ in FIG. 2 is identified, the value of the A ₁₁ is assumed to be +2, second operating frequency 50HZ in FIG
An operation frequency of 100 Hz on the step is selected. Alternatively, A ₉₅ is identified, the number in this A ₉₅ is assuming that a -2, operating frequency 30HZ under two-step operation frequency of 50HZ is selected.

As described above, at the start of operation,
The operation frequency is determined from FIG. 3 based on the difference E (t) between the room temperature Ta and the set temperature Ts, and the operation is started. Thereafter, E (t) is detected every predetermined time t (for example, one minute), and the change rate ΔE (t) is calculated by the following equation. ΔE (t) = [current E (t)] − [previous E (t)] Based on the current E (t) and ΔE (t), the corresponding data is selected in FIG. become.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the contents of the GA processing performed by the GA processing means 15. Now, assuming that there are 50 tables that can be used as the frequency control table 12 (such tables will be referred to as candidate tables), the number of individuals is 50. G
The A processing means 15 multiplies each of the 50 candidate tables with reference to the dynamic characteristics obtained by the response learning means 14 to obtain a crossover rate of 200%, that is, 2 for the original number of individuals 50.
Generate 100 candidate tables with twice the number of individuals.
Specifically, the crossover process is to select two tables, randomly specify one part of the matrix of the table, and replace the part between the two tables. Therefore, the total number of candidate tables at this point is 150, which is a combination of the newly generated 100 candidate tables and the original 50 candidate tables.

Next, the GA processing means 15 sets a mutation rate to 50% and causes mutation to occur in 75 of the 150 candidate tables. This mutation is intentionally caused in order to obtain a candidate table having a higher degree of matching with the dynamic characteristic obtained by the response learning means 14.

The GA processing means 15 generates a mutation based on the dynamic characteristics obtained by the response learning means 14.
Frequency and room temperature changes are simulated for five candidate tables and the other 75 candidate tables. As a result, a table having good controllability has a high degree of conformity to the dynamic characteristic, and the top 25 candidate tables are picked up in that order. These 25 pieces correspond to 50% of the original number of solids 50, so that the elite rate is 50%.

Thereafter, the GA processing means 15 performs the second processing. For this purpose, the number of solids must be set to 50, which is the same as the original number. However, in the first process, only the top 25 candidate tables have been picked up, and 25 candidate tables are still insufficient. Therefore, a process called “roulette processing” is performed on the remaining 125 candidate tables, and 25 candidate tables are picked up so that there is a high possibility that a table having a high degree of matching with dynamic characteristics is selected. I do.

As a result, the number of solids became 50,
The GA processing means 15 performs a second process. Then, such a process is repeated 500 times. That is, 500 in the “generation” column indicates such a processing count. Although the mutation rate was 50% in the first test,
It becomes gradually smaller by 0.1%, such as 49.9% at the third time and 49.8% at the third time. Accordingly
Therefore, the mutation rate becomes 0.1% at the 500th time,
It becomes 0% at the end of the 500th run.

Then, the GA processing means 15 selects one of the candidate tables at the end of the 500th process from the candidate table.
One having the highest adaptability to the dynamic characteristic is selected, and the contents of the frequency control table 12 written in the memory are updated to the contents of the selected candidate table.

Next, the operation of this embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, after setting the air conditioner as shipped from the factory at a predetermined location, the air conditioner is operated in the "dynamic characteristic acquisition mode" which is set separately from the normal operation mode (step). 1). Prior to operation with the dynamic characteristics acquisition table, G
The operation is performed using the frequency control table which remains the content created by performing the process A. In this way, by operating in a dedicated mode for obtaining dynamic characteristics, the inverter frequency can be continuously changed from the upper limit to the lower limit. Therefore, it is possible to obtain the characteristics in the frequency domain that cannot always be obtained in the normal operation mode in a short time.

The driving operation in the dynamic characteristic acquisition mode may be manually performed by a user in the room. However, the room temperature fluctuates greatly with a large change in the inverter frequency. May cause discomfort. Therefore, the operation control circuit, not shown in FIG. 1, detects that the operation is stopped, that is, that the user is not indoors, and forcibly starts the operation in the dynamic characteristic acquisition mode. You may make it.

When the operation in the above dynamic characteristic mode is started, the response learning unit 14 outputs the room detected temperature Ta, the inverter frequency F, the outside air from the room temperature sensor 17, the inverter frequency determination unit 11, and the outside air temperature sensor 18, respectively. Temperature To
Enter Then, a dynamic characteristic between the indoor detected temperature Ta using the outside air temperature To as a parameter and the inverter frequency F is obtained (step 2), and this is output to the GA processing means 15.

The GA processing means 15 performs the above-described GA processing, and selects one optimal candidate table having the highest degree of adaptation to the dynamic characteristic input from the response learning means 14 (step 3). Then, the contents of the frequency control table 12 written in the memory are updated to the contents of the optimum candidate table (step 4). Thus, the table updating operation of the table updating means 13 ends.

In the normal operation mode performed thereafter, the inverter frequency determining means 11
And the temperatures Ts and Ta from the room temperature sensor 17 and the deviation E (T) =
The value of the frequency to be increased or decreased is specified from the relationship between Ta−Ta and the rate of change ΔE (t), and the inverter frequency F is determined.
Such operation at the inverter frequency F is an efficient operation most suitable for the environment in which the air conditioner is actually installed.

In the above embodiment, the content of one frequency control table 12 is rewritten by the GA processing means 15, but the GA processing is performed in advance on dynamic characteristics under various load conditions. A plurality of types of frequency control tables 12 selected as a result are prepared, and the one closest to the dynamic characteristic determined by the response learning means 14 is selected from the plurality of types. Based on the selected frequency control table, The inverter frequency determining means 11 may determine the inverter frequency F. In this case, the content of the frequency control table 12 does not need to be rewritten, thereby simplifying the processing.

In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the frequency control table 12 is updated using a method based on a genetic algorithm. However, a method based on another algorithm may be used.

Further, in the above embodiment, the data A ₁₁ ,..., A ₉₅ in FIG. 2 have been described as being the number of steps, but the frequency value to be increased or decreased may be written as it is. For example, A ₂₁ is specified in FIG.
Assuming that the numerical value of ₂₁ is +10 Hz, the value obtained by adding 10 Hz to the current frequency is the inverter frequency.

[0051]

As described above, according to the present invention, the dynamic characteristic in the environment where the air conditioner is actually installed is obtained, and the frequency control table is updated based on the dynamic characteristic. Therefore, efficient operation can be performed regardless of the installed environment.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a table showing a specific example of a frequency control table in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a table showing a specific example of an operation start frequency table used in the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a chart for explaining processing contents of a GA processing means in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Inverter frequency determining means 12 Frequency control table 13 Table updating means 14 Response learning means 15 GA processing means Ts Indoor set temperature Ta Indoor detected temperature F Inverter frequency

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on front page (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F24F 11/02 102

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A frequency control table in which data relating to a frequency corresponding to a deviation between an indoor set temperature and an indoor detected temperature is written, wherein the compressor motor is controlled at a variable speed by frequency control of an inverter circuit. In the air conditioner performed based on the above, the frequency at the time of operation and the indoor detected temperature are inputted, the dynamic characteristic between them is obtained, and the frequency written in the frequency control table is adapted to this dynamic characteristic. An air conditioner comprising table updating means for updating data relating to the air conditioner. 2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the table updating means inputs a frequency during the operation and a room detected temperature, and a response learning means for obtaining a dynamic characteristic therebetween, An air conditioner comprising: a GA processing unit that rewrites data relating to the frequency in the frequency control table using a genetic algorithm method based on a dynamic characteristic obtained by a learning unit. 3. The air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein a dynamic characteristic acquisition mode preset as an operation mode is selected when normal operation is not performed, and operation based on the dynamic characteristic acquisition mode is performed. An air conditioner, wherein the response learning means obtains a dynamic characteristic of a room to which the indoor unit is attached during the operation based on the dynamic characteristic acquisition mode. . 4. A frequency control table in which data relating to a frequency corresponding to a deviation between an indoor set temperature and an indoor detected temperature is written, wherein the compressor motor is controlled at a variable speed by frequency control of an inverter circuit. In the air conditioner performed based on the above, a plurality of frequency control tables created as a result of performing GA processing on a plurality of dynamic characteristics are previously provided, and a frequency during operation and a room detected temperature are input and the An air conditioner comprising: a table selecting means for determining a dynamic characteristic of the plurality of frequency control tables from the plurality of frequency control tables based on the determined dynamic characteristic.