JP4071250B2 - Heat pump control device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to control of an air-water cooling hybrid type heat pump having both an air-cooled heat exchanger that exchanges heat with a heat exchange medium using air and a water-cooled heat exchanger that exchanges heat using a water heat source.

In an air conditioner having a heat pump serving as an air-cooled heat exchanger, cooling and heating are generally performed using a direct expansion method (hereinafter referred to as a direct expansion method). Hereinafter, the cooling system will be described using a cooling cycle. In the direct expansion method, a heat exchange medium is sent to an evaporator installed in a room, and the coil is expanded and vaporized in the coil to cool the coil and exchange heat with the passing air. It absorbs heat from the air. Since this air conditioner has a structure in which heat is exchanged directly with air using a condenser installed outside the room, the structure is simple, but the performance varies greatly depending on the air temperature (outside air temperature) that radiates heat. ing.
On the other hand, various heat pumps as water-cooled heat exchangers have been proposed because of their better heat exchange rate than air-cooled. Here, the difference between the air-cooled and water-cooled heat pumps will be described. This water-cooled heat pump dissipates heat to cooling water such as ground water using a heat exchange medium as a water heat source, water in a cooling tower, etc., and thus has a characteristic that heat exchange performance is more stable than air-cooled heat pumps. However, even if a heat dissipation method for cooling water is used, the cost is high if tap water is used as the cooling water, and the use of groundwater may not be sufficient in areas where pumping is restricted. In addition, when heat is exchanged by embedding a flow path for circulating water or antifreeze as cooling water, if the temperature of the cooling water exceeds a certain temperature due to a heat pump principle problem, the cooling water and the heat exchange medium The efficiency of heat exchange between the two is reduced.

  Here, the principle of a heat pump using cooling water as a heat source will be described. As shown in FIG. 15, the heat pump is described with a diagram showing a change on a saturation line of a heat exchange medium used for enthalpy (h) and pressure (p). In the heat pump, the functions of the indoor unit and the condenser and evaporator of the indoor unit are reversed during heating and cooling, but the heat exchange efficiency of the water-cooled type is also used during heating and cooling, as shown below. Will improve. The heating cycle will be described with reference to the left side of FIG. In the heat pump, an evaporator (outdoor unit) serves as a heat exchanger with a heat source, and this is a different part between the air-cooled cooler and the water-cooled cooler. The heat transfer coefficient of water is very large, several hundred times that of air, and the heat capacity is also large, so the endothermic reaction is carried out efficiently, and the heat pump power cost (electricity consumption) is air. Compared to the above, the efficiency is improved and the heating capacity is improved. The cycle at the time of cooling will be described using the diagram on the right side of FIG. 15. The indoor unit and the outdoor unit become an evaporator and a condenser, respectively, and heat radiation in the condenser becomes the work of the cooler. Since this heat efficiency is overwhelmingly higher than that of air as in the case of heating, it is performed at a power cost with less heat dissipation by water, and the efficiency is improved and the cooling capacity is improved. In view of such characteristics, in recent years, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2 have proposed hybrid type air conditioners including air-cooled and water-cooled heat exchangers.

JP 2004-116800 A JP-A-2004-116806

Patent Documents 1 and 2 propose an air conditioner having an air-cooled type and a water-cooled type heat exchanger. However, in the operation (cycle) of cooling, heating and dehumidification, the optimum of air-cooled type and water-cooled type heat exchanger is proposed. It is not described to switch at a proper timing. Switching between these air-cooled and water-cooled heat exchangers is a very important issue in operating efficiently in a heat pump having a so-called refrigeration cycle, particularly in a heat pump for an air conditioner.
An object of the present invention is to provide a control device capable of efficiently operating a heat pump having air-cooled and water-cooled heat exchangers.

In order to achieve the above object, the cooling water supplied through the underground heat exchanger embedded in the ground with respect to the heat exchange medium circulating in the flow path connected to the air conditioner according to the present invention is used. A first flow path provided with a water-cooled heat exchanger for exchanging heat and a second flow path provided with an air-cooled heat exchanger for exchanging heat using a gas with respect to a heat exchange medium circulating in the flow path. In a heat pump control device having a flow path and switching means for switching the flow path through which the heat exchange medium flows to the first flow path or the second flow path, and capable of performing a cooling cycle and a heating cycle, When temperature information from the first temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature or the temperature correlated therewith, the second temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature on the ground, and the first temperature detecting means reaches the first set temperature. The flow path through which the heat exchange medium flows is a first flow path, and the first And control means for controlling the switching means so that the temperature information is to a flow path through which the heat exchange medium to reach the second set temperature second flow path from the temperature detecting means, a first temperature sensing means First estimating means for estimating the operating efficiency corresponding to the temperature detected in step (2), and second estimating means for estimating the operating efficiency corresponding to the temperature detected by the second temperature detecting means, The control means estimates the operating efficiency corresponding to the temperature from the temperature information detected by the first and second temperature detection means from the first and second estimation means, and the estimated value on the first estimation means side Is higher than the estimated value on the second estimating means side, the flow path through which the heat exchange medium flows is defined as the first flow path, and the estimated value on the second estimating means side is the estimated value on the first estimated value side. When the value is higher than the value, the flow path through which the heat exchange medium flows becomes the second flow path. It is characterized by controlling the switch means.

  According to the present invention, when the temperature information from the first temperature detecting means for detecting the underground temperature or the temperature correlated therewith reaches the first set temperature, the water-cooled heat exchanger passes through the flow path through which the heat exchange medium flows. The first flow path provided and the second flow path provided with an air-cooled heat exchanger through which the heat exchange medium flows when the temperature information from the first temperature detection means reaches the second set temperature. Since the switching means is controlled so that the heat exchange medium is guided to either the air-cooled heat exchanger or the water-cooled heat exchanger according to the underground temperature or the temperature fluctuation correlated therewith, the heat exchange is performed. Therefore, a heat pump having an air-cooled type and a water-cooled type heat exchanger can be efficiently operated according to the temperature state in the ground.

  According to the present invention, from the temperature information detected by the first and second temperature detection means, the corresponding operating efficiency of the temperature is estimated from the first and second estimation means, and the first estimation means side When the estimated value is higher than the estimated value on the second estimating means side, the flow path through which the heat exchange medium flows is the first flow path provided with the water-cooled heat exchanger, and the estimated value on the second estimating means side Is higher than the estimated value on the first estimating means side, the switching means is controlled so that the flow path through which the heat exchange medium flows becomes the second flow path provided with the air-cooled exchanger. Alternatively, heat exchange can be performed using any one of the air-cooled heat exchangers with high efficiency, and the heat pump can be operated efficiently.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, the overall configuration of the air conditioning system including the heat pump 1 will be described, and then the control system will be classified and described for each control mode. FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a hybrid air conditioning system. In FIG. 1, the code | symbol 1 shows the heat pump connected with the fan coil unit 11 as an air conditioning apparatus with which indoors are mounted | worn. The heat pump 1 includes an electromagnetic four-way valve 2, an expansion valve 3, an air-cooled heat exchanger 5 and a four-way valve 2 disposed on a flow path 4 connecting the four-way valve 2 and the expansion valve 3. The accumulator 8, the low pressure on-off valve 9, the four-way valve 2 and the expansion valve 3 are closed on the low-pressure flow path 7 connecting the compressor 6 and the compressor 6 so that the heat pump 1 and the fan coil unit 11 can be disconnected. Cooling water flow paths 30 for circulating cooling water through the valves 10A and 10B, the water-cooled heat exchanger 20 and the water-cooled heat exchanger 20 are provided. A cooling fan 18 that is rotationally driven by a drive motor 19 is provided at a portion facing the air-cooled heat exchanger 5. A known silencer 13 and a pressure opening / closing valve 14 are provided in the high-pressure flow path 12 connecting the compressor 6 and the four-way valve 2. With each of these configurations, a refrigeration cycle is performed in which heat exchange is performed between the fan coil unit 11 and the heat exchange medium circulating in the flow path 4 to perform cooling and heating. The heat exchange medium is filled in the flow path 4 in an amount capable of obtaining optimum performance. As heat exchange media, CFC R-12, HCFC R-22, R-123, HFC R-134a, R-407 (mixed HFC-32, 125d, 134a), R410A (HFC-32) , 125 mixing) is used.

  The water-cooled heat exchanger 20 is disposed in the flow path 4A connected to the flow path 4 so as to bypass the air-cooled heat exchanger 5. The flow path 4 </ b> A constitutes a first flow path that guides the heat exchange medium flowing in the flow path 4 to the water-cooled heat exchanger 20. An air-cooled heat exchanger 5 is disposed in a flow path 4B serving as a bypass flow path with respect to the water-cooled heat exchanger 20, and constitutes a second flow path. Electromagnetic valves 22 and 23 are provided in the flow path 4A located upstream and downstream of the water-cooled heat exchanger 20, and electromagnetic valves 24 and 25 are provided in the flow path 4B located upstream and downstream of the water-cooled heat exchanger 5. Are arranged respectively. These solenoid valves close the respective flow paths in the off state to stop the flow of the heat exchange medium into the water-cooled heat exchanger 20 and the air-cooled heat exchanger 5, respectively, and open the respective flow paths in the on state to open the respective heat exchangers. The heat exchange medium is flowed into each of the two.

  The water-cooled heat exchanger 20 includes an inlet 20A that introduces cooling water into the inside thereof, and an outlet 20B that discharges the cooling water that has passed through the inside and exchanged heat. One end 34A of a water supply passage 34 constituting the cooling water passage 30 is connected to the inlet 20A, and one end 37A of a drain passage 37 constituting the cooling water passage 30 is connected to the outlet 20B. Cooling water is supplied to the water supply passage 34 from a water supply pump (not shown) connected to the other end 34B side. This cooling water is introduced into the water-cooled heat exchanger 20 and discharged from the drainage channel 37. That is, the cooling water flow path 30 is a flow path for circulating cooling water to the water-cooled heat exchanger 20, and the water-cooled heat exchanger 20 uses the circulating water to flow a heat exchange medium that circulates between the fan coil unit 11. It is configured to cool or heat. The water supply passage 34 is provided with an electromagnetic valve 31 as an opening / closing means for opening and closing the water supply passage 34, and a water temperature sensor 32 as a first temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the cooling water correlated with the underground temperature. ing. The first temperature detection means may directly detect the temperature of the underground 33 instead of the temperature of the cooling water.

  At the other end 34B of the water supply channel 34 and the other end 37B of the drainage passage 37, a U-shaped heat exchange pipe 36 constituting an underground heat exchanger inserted in a heat exchange well 35 provided in the underground 33 is provided. It is connected, and it is comprised so that cooling water may circulate between the water cooling type heat exchanger 20 and the heat exchange pipe 36 by opening the solenoid valve 31 for the pump forehead which is not illustrated. In this embodiment, the feed water pump that sends the cooling water is appropriately turned on / off by another system.

  The flow path 7 located on the primary side of the accumulator 8 and the water-cooled heat exchanger 20 are connected and communicated with each other through a third flow path 26. The third flow path 26 is a medium recovery passage for introducing the heat exchange medium in the water-cooled heat exchanger 20 into the accumulator 8 when the electromagnetic valves 22 and 23 are off and the electromagnetic valves 24 and 25 are on. Configure. The flow path 7 positioned on the primary side of the accumulator 8 and the air-cooled heat exchanger 5 are connected and communicated with each other through a fourth flow path 27. The fourth flow path 27 is a medium recovery passage for introducing the heat exchange medium in the air-cooled heat exchanger 5 into the accumulator 8 when the electromagnetic valves 22 and 23 are on and the electromagnetic valves 24 and 25 are off. Configure. The third and fourth flow paths 26 and 27 are provided with electromagnetic on-off valves 28 and 29 as opening / closing means that can open and close the flow paths, respectively. That is, the electromagnetic valves 22 and 33 and the electromagnetic valves 24 and 25 constitute switching means for switching the flow path 4A and the flow path 4B according to the on / on state.

  The casing 100 is provided with an outside air temperature detection sensor 38 as second temperature centimeter means for detecting the outside air temperature as the ambient temperature of the heat pump 1. It is preferable that the outside air temperature detection sensor 38 is disposed at a portion that is not affected by the airflow generated by the rotation of the fan 18 because it is less affected by the hot airflow that is heat-exchanged by the air-cooled heat exchanger 5.

  The on / off control of the drive motor 19, the electromagnetic valves 22, 23, 24, 25, the open / close valves 28, 29 and the electromagnetic valve 31 is configured to be controlled by the control means 40 shown in FIG. 2. Although not shown, the control means 40 includes a CPU (central processing unit), an I / O (input / output) port, a ROM (read-only storage device), a RAM (read / write storage device), a timer, and the like. These are configured by a known computer having a configuration connected by a signal bus. A water temperature sensor 32, an outside air temperature detection sensor 38, and an operation unit 50 of the air conditioning system are connected to the input side of the control means 40. In this embodiment, a known thermistor is used for each temperature sensor, but other configurations may also be used. As shown in FIG. 3, the operation unit 50 includes a cooling switch 51 that is operated when a cooling mode that is a cooling cycle is selected, a heating switch 52 that is operated when a heating mode that is a heating cycle is selected, and a dehumidification cycle. There are provided a dehumidifying switch 53 operated when selecting the dehumidifying mode and a power switch 54 for turning on / off the power.

  On the output side of the control means 40, the four-way valve 2, the compressor 6, the drive motor 19, the electromagnetic valves 22 to 25, the on-off valves 28 and 29, the electromagnetic valve 31 and the compressor 6 are connected. In the ROM of the control means 40, the solenoid valves 22, 23, the on-off valve 29, the solenoid valve 31, the solenoid valves 24, 25, the on-off valve 28, and various temperature information as parameters for turning on / off the drive motor 19, cooling The operation mode and the heating operation mode are stored in advance. As various temperature information, a first set temperature WT1 and a second set temperature WT2 are set. The first set temperature WT1 and the second set temperature WT2 are set to different values in the cooling operation mode and the heating operation mode. The first set temperature WT1 and the second set temperature WT2 have a relationship of WT1 <WT2 in the cooling operation mode and WT1> WT2 in the heating operation mode.

  The control means 40 is set with a routine for executing any of the basic operation process shown in FIG. 4 and a plurality of preset operation modes. For example, a cooling operation processing routine that starts when the cooling switch 51 is operated and a heating operation processing routine that starts when the heating switch 52 is operated are provided. In this embodiment, the four-way valve 2 is normally turned off. When in this state, the flow path 4 is communicated so as to move the heat exchange medium in the direction indicated by the solid line in FIG. It switches so that the flow path 4 may be connected so that a heat exchange medium may be moved to the arrow direction shown with a broken line in FIG. The four-way valve 2 is controlled to be in an off state during the cooling mode and the dehumidifying mode and to be turned on during the heating mode.

Hereinafter, modes of control operations performed by the control device 40 will be sequentially described.
In the basic operation process, when the power switch 54 is operated in step H1 in FIG. 4 to turn on the power, the operation mode is determined in step H2. In this embodiment, when the operation mode is cooling in step H2, the process proceeds to step H3 and the cooling operation process is performed. In step H2, when the operation mode is not cooling, the process proceeds to step H4. If the operation mode is heating in step H4, the process proceeds to step H5 and the heating operation process is performed. If the operation mode is not cooling in step H4, the process proceeds to step H6. When the operation mode is dehumidification in step H6, the process proceeds to step H7 and the dehumidification operation process is performed. Even if each operation process is executed, the apparatus is stopped when the power switch 54 is operated and the power is turned off. Since the dehumidifying operation is a form of cooling, the dehumidifying operation process is in the same process as the cooling operation process, and the description of the processing operation during dehumidification is saved.

(Cooling operation processing)
When the cooling operation is selected in step H2 of FIG. 4, the cooling operation process of FIG. 5 is started. In this process, it is determined in step A1 whether or not the operation mode has been changed. Here, it is determined whether or not the cooling mode set by the operation unit 50 has been changed to another operation mode, and in the case of the cooling mode, the process proceeds to step A2. When the operation mode is changed to other than cooling in step A1, the cooling operation process is not continued and the process returns to step H2 in FIG. 4 to confirm the operation mode again.

  In step A2, the electromagnetic valve 31 is turned on to allow the cooling water to flow through the cooling water flow path 30 and the water-cooled heat exchanger 20, and the process proceeds to step A3. In step A3, the water temperature information WT detected by the water temperature sensor 32 is read, and the process proceeds to step A4. In step A4, the water temperature information WT from the water temperature sensor 32 is compared with the first set temperature WT1, and when the water temperature information WT reaches the first set temperature WT1, the flow path through which the heat exchange medium flows in step A5 is water-cooled. A water-cooling mode for the flow path 4A provided with the heat exchanger 20 is operated.

  When the water cooling mode is activated in step A5, the electromagnetic valves 22, 23, the on-off valve 29, and the compressor 6 are turned on, and the electromagnetic valves 24, 25, the on-off valve 28, and the drive motor 19 are turned off. For this reason, the heat exchange medium moves from the fan coil unit 11 through the four-way valve 2 in the arrow direction indicated by the solid line in FIG. At this time, since the solenoid valves 22 and 23 are turned on and the flow path 4A is opened, the heat exchange medium is introduced into the water-cooled heat exchanger 20. Further, since the on-off valve 28 is turned off and the on-off valve 29 is turned on, the heat exchange medium present in the air-cooled heat exchanger 5 that is not used because the fourth flow path 27 is opened is negatively charged by the accumulator 8. The accumulator 8 is recovered by pressure. For this reason, the amount of the heat exchange medium that circulates in the flow path 4 is introduced to the water-cooled heat exchanger 20 with the amount substantially the same as that at the time of filling. The introduced heat exchange medium is cooled by heat exchange with the cooling water in the water-cooled heat exchanger 20 and returned to the fan coil unit 11 via the expansion valve 3. At the time of heat exchange with the water-cooled heat exchanger 20, the drive motor 19 is stopped, so that energy saving and noise such as wind noise generated with the rotation of the fan 18 can be reduced.

  When the water cooling mode is activated in step A5, the process proceeds to step A6, where the water temperature information WT from the water temperature sensor 32 is compared with the second set temperature WT2, and when the water temperature information WT reaches the second set temperature WT2, the process proceeds to step A7. The electromagnetic valve 31 is turned off to stop the flow of the cooling water, and the air cooling mode is activated in which the flow path through which the heat exchange medium flows is the flow path 4B in which the air cooling heat exchanger 5 is provided in step A8.

  When the air cooling mode in step A8 is activated, the compressor 6, the electromagnetic valves 24 and 25, the on-off valve 28, and the drive motor 19 are turned on, and the electromagnetic valves 22, 23 and the on-off valve 29 are turned off. For this reason, the first flow path 4A is closed, the second flow path 4B is opened and the flow path switching is performed, and the third flow path 26 is opened and the presence in the water-cooled heat exchanger 20 is not used. The heat exchange medium to be recovered is collected in the accumulator 8 by the negative pressure of the accumulator 8, and the fan 18 rotates. For this reason, the heat exchange medium that has passed through the compressor 6 and the four-way valve 2 is all guided to the air-cooled heat exchanger 5, and is cooled by being exchanged with air by the air flow generated by the rotation of the fan 18. 3 is returned to the fan coil unit 11.

(Heating operation processing)
When heating operation is selected in step H4 in FIG. 4, the heating operation process shown in FIG. 6 is started. In this process, it is determined in step A11 whether or not there is an operation mode conversion. Here, it is determined whether or not the switch of the operation unit 50 has been operated to change to another operation mode, and in the heating mode, the process proceeds to step A12. If the operation mode is changed to other than heating in Step A1, the heating operation process is not continued and the process returns to Step H2 in FIG. 4 to confirm the operation mode again.

  In Step A12, the four-way valve 2 is turned on to switch the flow path 4 from the cooling flow path to the heating flow path, and the process proceeds to Step A13. In step A13, the electromagnetic valve 31 is turned on to allow the cooling water to flow through the cooling water passage 30 and the water-cooled heat exchanger 20, and the process proceeds to step A14. In step A14, the water temperature information WT detected by the water temperature sensor 32 is read, and the process proceeds to step A15. In step A15, the water temperature information WT from the water temperature sensor 32 is compared with the first set temperature WT1, and when the water temperature information WT reaches the first set temperature WT1, the flow path through which the heat exchange medium flows is cooled in step A16. A water-cooling mode for the flow path 4A provided with the heat exchanger 20 is activated.

  When the water cooling mode is activated in step A15, the electromagnetic valves 22, 23, the on-off valve 29, and the compressor 5 are turned on, and the electromagnetic valves 24, 25, the on-off valve 28, and the drive motor 19 are turned off. However, since the four-way valve 2 is turned on, when performing a heating operation, the heat exchange medium flows into the flow path 7 from the fan coil unit 11 via the stop valve 10B, and in the direction of the arrow indicated by the broken line in FIG. The four-way valve 2 returns to the fan coil unit 11 via the stop valve 10A. At this time, since the solenoid valves 22 and 23 are turned on and the first flow path 4A is opened, the heat exchange medium is introduced into the water-cooled heat exchanger 20. Further, since the on-off valve 28 is turned off and the on-off valve 29 is turned on, the heat exchange medium present in the air-cooled heat exchanger 5 that is not used because the fourth flow path 27 is opened is negatively charged by the accumulator 8. The accumulator 8 is recovered by pressure. For this reason, the amount of the heat exchange medium that circulates in the flow path 4 is introduced to the water-cooled heat exchanger 20 with the amount substantially the same as that at the time of filling. The introduced heat exchange medium is cooled by exchanging heat with the cooling water in the water-cooled heat exchanger 20 and returned to the fan coil unit 11 via the four-way valve 2. Since the drive motor 19 is sometimes stopped at the time of heat exchange in the water-cooled heat exchanger 20, energy saving and noise such as wind noise generated with the rotation of the fan 18 can be reduced.

  When the water cooling mode is activated in step A15, the process proceeds to step A16, where the water temperature information WT from the water temperature sensor 32 is compared with the second set temperature WT2, and when the water temperature information WT reaches the second set temperature WT2, step A18. Then, the electromagnetic valve 31 is turned off to stop the flow of the cooling water, and in step A19, the air cooling mode is activated in which the flow path through which the heat exchange medium flows is the flow path 4B in which the air cooling heat exchanger 5 is provided.

  When the air cooling mode of step A19 is activated, the compressor 6, the electromagnetic valves 24 and 25, the on-off valve 28, and the drive motor 19 are turned on, and the electromagnetic valves 22, 23 and the on-off valve 29 are turned off. Of course, since the heating mode is set, the four-way valve 2 is turned on. Therefore, the flow path 4A is closed, the first flow path 4B is opened and the flow path switching is performed, and the third flow path 26 is opened and the heat exchange medium existing in the water-cooled heat exchanger 20 that is not used is used. Is collected by the accumulator 8 by the negative pressure of the accumulator 8 and the fan 18 rotates. For this reason, the heat exchange medium that has passed through the compressor 6 and the four-way valve 2 is all guided to the air-cooled heat exchanger 5, and is cooled by being exchanged with air by the air flow generated by the rotation of the fan 18. 3 is returned to the fan coil unit 11.

That is, in this embodiment, it is assumed that the heat exchange efficiency by the cooling water is good until the temperature information (water temperature information) WT from the water temperature sensor 32 exceeds the first set temperature WT1 and reaches the second set temperature WT2. When the flow path through which the heat exchange medium flows is the first flow path 4A having the water-cooled heat exchanger 20, and the temperature information (water temperature information) WT from the water temperature sensor 32 reaches the second set temperature WT2, As a result, the heat exchange efficiency by air is better than the heat exchange by cooling water, and the flow path through which the heat exchange medium flows is switched to the second flow path 4B having the air-cooled heat exchanger 5.
For this reason, when the heat exchange efficiency of the water-cooled heat exchanger 20 is reduced, the heat exchange medium circulating in the flow path 4 is guided to the air-cooled heat exchanger 5 and exchanges heat. The heat pump 1 having the heat exchanger can be efficiently operated.

A reference control mode related to the present invention will be described. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the water-cooled heat exchanger 20 is provided in the flow path through which the heat exchange medium flows from the start of the heat pump 1 using the control means 40 until a predetermined time T1 elapses. The first flow path 4A is switched and controlled so that the flow path through the heat exchange medium becomes the second flow path 4B provided with the air-cooled heat exchanger 5 after a predetermined time T1 has elapsed.

  The configuration of the heat pump 1 according to this embodiment is the same as that shown in FIG. 1, and the configuration of the control means 40 is as shown in FIG. That is, the control means 40 according to the present embodiment has a configuration in which a timer 60 is added to the control means shown in FIG. In this control means 40, the measurement by the timer 60 is started from the time when the cooling switch 51, the heating switch 52 or the dehumidifying switch 53 is operated, and a predetermined time T1 is set in the ROM.

  A control flow with such a configuration is shown in FIG. In FIG. 8, when the power switch 54 is turned on in step B1, and any one of the cooling switch 51, the heating switch 52, or the dehumidifying switch 53 is operated in step B2, measurement by the timer 60 is started in step B3. Proceed to B4. In step B4, the water cooling mode is activated, and in step B5, the time T measured by the timer 60 is compared with the predetermined time T1. Here, the water cooling mode is operated until the measurement time T passes the predetermined time T1, and when the measurement time T exceeds the predetermined time T1, the process proceeds to step B6 to operate the air cooling mode.

In other words, in this embodiment, the flow path through which the heat exchange medium flows from the start until a predetermined time T1 has elapsed is the first flow path 4A provided with the water-cooled heat exchanger 20, and the predetermined time T1. After the passage, the electromagnetic valves 22 and 33 and the electromagnetic valves 24 and 25 serving as switching means are controlled so that the flow path through which the heat exchange medium flows becomes the second flow path 4B in which the air-cooling heat exchanger 5 is provided. For this reason, since the cooling water heat-exchanged with the heat exchange pipe 36 embed | buried in the underground 33 is used as a heat source when the load at the time of the start of operation of the heat pump 1 is large, the air-cooled heat exchanger 5 is used. The power consumption at the time of startup can be suppressed more than the case, and the heat pump 1 can be operated efficiently at the time of startup.
For example, the control shown in FIG. 8 may be configured to interrupt the cooling / heating operation processing shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 every predetermined time, or may be incorporated in advance in the processing of FIGS. 5 and 6.

  Since the amount of heat absorption / dissipation to the underground 33 by the heat exchange pipe 36 varies depending on the characteristics of the underground 33, the predetermined temperature T1 is appropriately increased or decreased in consideration of the characteristics of the underground 33 and the usage form of the heat pump 1. By making it, it can be made to respond | correspond with the characteristic of the underground 33, and the usage type of the heat pump 1, and the further efficiency improvement of the operation | movement of the heat pump 1 can be achieved.

The control mode described below with reference to FIGS. 9 to 11 is a mode in which an interrupt routine is performed at predetermined time intervals in the control in FIGS. In this embodiment, the first estimating means 61 for estimating the operating efficiency corresponding to the temperature detected by the water temperature sensor 32 and the second estimation for estimating the operating efficiency corresponding to the temperature detected by the outside air temperature detecting sensor 38 are used. and means 62, control means 40 using a water temperature sensor 32 and the temperature information detected by the outside air temperature detection sensor 38, the operation efficiency corresponding to the temperature the first and second estimation means 61 and 62 And when the estimated value L1 on the first estimating means side is higher than the estimated value L2 of the second estimating means, the first channel in which the water-cooled heat exchanger 20 is provided in the flow path through which the heat exchange medium flows. When the estimated value L2 on the second estimating means side is higher than the estimated value L1 on the first estimating means side as the flow path 4A, the air cooling heat exchanger 5 is provided in the passage through which the heat exchange medium flows. And control to be two flow paths 4B. To have.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the first estimation unit 61 and the second estimation unit 62 are operating efficiency characteristic maps in which the vertical axis represents energy consumption efficiency (COP) and the horizontal axis represents temperature (° C.). This map is data measured in advance while changing the relationship between the output characteristics of the heat pump 1 and the temperature, and is a characteristic diagram corresponding to each temperature.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the control means 40 according to the present embodiment stores the first estimation means 61 and the second estimation means 62 in a ROM (not shown), and displays temperature information detected by each temperature sensor. Corresponding COP estimated values L1 and L2 are selected, and the flow path through which the heat exchange medium flows is switched according to these estimated values L1 and L2.

  The contents of control by the control means 40 according to the present embodiment will be described using the control flow shown in FIG. 11, in step C1, temperature information is read from the water temperature sensor 32 and the outside air temperature detection sensor 38, and estimated values L1, L2 corresponding to the temperature information read in step C2 are first and second estimation means 61, Select from 62. In step C3, the selected estimated values L1 and L2 are compared. If the estimated value L1 is higher than the estimated value L2, the process proceeds to step C4 to activate the water cooling mode. If the estimated value L1 is not higher than the estimated value L2, that is, the estimated value L2 is higher than the estimated value L1. In step C5, the air cooling mode is activated.

  From the temperature information WT, T detected by the temperature sensors 32, 38, the operating efficiency corresponding to the temperature is selected from the first and second estimation means 61, 62, and the estimated value L1 is higher than the estimated value L2. In this case, the flow path through which the heat exchange medium flows is the first flow path 4A provided with the water-cooled heat exchanger 20, and when the estimated value L2 is higher than the estimated value L1, the flow path through which the heat exchange medium flows is air-cooled. Since each electromagnetic valve is controlled so as to be the second flow path 4B provided with the type exchanger 5, heat exchange can be performed using either a water-cooled type or an air-cooled type high-efficiency heat exchanger, and the heat pump 1 is made efficient. You can drive well.

In this embodiment, the first and second estimating means 61 and 62 for selecting the estimated values L1 and L2 are individually provided. However, two estimating means may be used as one estimating means. Further , the first and second estimating means 61 and 62 may be stored not in the ROM of the control means 40 but in a storage means provided separately.

A reference control mode related to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 12, this form has a storage means 65 in which average year-round temperature information is stored, and a calendar function 66 such as a timer as means for measuring the date and time. The average temperature information corresponding to the date and time measured by the function 66 is selected from the storage means 65, the load P1 of the heat pump 1 is calculated based on the selected average temperature information, and at least the first temperature is determined according to the load P1. It is characterized by setting / changing the set temperature WT1 and the second set temperature WT2. The average temperature information is mapped and stored as data in the storage means 65 as shown in FIG. The load P1 of the heat pump 1 is calculated by a well-known load calculation formula. The storage unit 65 stores in advance the load of the heat pump 1 based on the average temperature information.

  The contents of control by the control means 40 according to this embodiment will be described using the control flow shown in FIG. In FIG. 14, in step D <b> 1, a certain date and time is specified from the calendar function 66 and the load P corresponding to it is read out. For example, the load P of the next day is selected from the annual average air temperature of the next day. In step D2, temperature information is read from the water temperature sensor 32 and the outside air temperature detection sensor 38. In step D3, the actual (current) load P1 is calculated from the read temperature information WT, T from the temperature information T from the outside air temperature detection sensor 38 using a load calculation formula (not shown). In step D4, the estimated load P is compared with the load P1 calculated from the actual temperature, and if the difference between the two is within a predetermined range, the first and second set temperatures WT1 and WT2 are initialized in step D5. Leave. On the other hand, if the difference between the load P and the load P1 exceeds a predetermined range, it is assumed that the next day's load will increase, and the process proceeds to step D6 where the first and second set temperatures WT1, WT2 are set. change. For example, the control shown in FIG. 14 may be interrupted every predetermined time with respect to the cooling / heating operation process shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, or may be incorporated in advance in the processes of FIGS. 5 and 6.

  Thus, in this embodiment, since the setting of the first and second set temperatures WT1 and WT2 is changed according to the difference between the load P and the load P1, an optimum switching temperature according to the load of the heat pump 1 is set. The heat pump 1 can be operated efficiently.

  It is a schematic block diagram of the air conditioning system provided with the heat pump which is one form of this invention.   It is a block diagram which shows the control means of a heat pump, and the component connected to this.   It is a block diagram which shows one form of an operation part.   It is a flowchart which shows one form of the basic operation process by a control means.   It is a flowchart which shows one form of a cooling operation process.   It is a flowchart which shows one form of heating operation processing.   It is a block diagram which shows the control means used for another control form of this invention, and the component connected to this.   It is a flowchart which shows one form of control by the control means shown in FIG.   It is a characteristic view which shows the relationship between the temperature used for another control form of this invention, and energy consumption efficiency.   It is a block diagram which shows the control means using the special drawing of FIG. 10, and the component connected to this.   It is a flowchart which shows one form of control by the control means shown in FIG.   It is a block diagram which shows the control means used for another control form of this invention, and the component connected to this.   It is a figure which shows the characteristic of the average temperature information memorize | stored in the memory | storage means.   It is a flowchart which shows one form of control by the control means shown in FIG.   It is a conceptual diagram of the performance comparison between air cooling and water cooling according to the Mollier diagram.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Heat pump 4 4A in flow path 1st flow path 4B 2nd flow path 5 Air cooling type heat exchanger 11 Air-conditioning equipment 20 Water cooling type heat exchangers 22-25 Switching means 30 Cooling water flow path 32 1st temperature detection means 38 2nd Temperature detecting means 40 control device 61 first estimating means 62 second estimating means 65 storage means 66 measuring means T1 predetermined time WT, T temperature information WT1 first set temperature WT2 second set temperature

Claims (1)

A water-cooled heat exchanger is provided for heat exchange using cooling water supplied through an underground heat exchanger embedded in the ground with respect to a heat exchange medium circulating in a flow path connected to an air conditioner. A first flow path, a second flow path provided with an air-cooled heat exchanger for exchanging heat using a gas with respect to the heat exchange medium circulating in the flow path, and a flow path through which the heat exchange medium flows And a switching means for switching to the first flow path or the second flow path, and a heat pump control device capable of performing a cooling cycle and a heating cycle,
First temperature detecting means for detecting the underground temperature or a temperature correlated therewith;
A second temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature on the ground;
When the temperature information from the first temperature detection means reaches the first set temperature, the flow path through which the heat exchange medium flows is defined as the first flow path, and the temperature information from the first temperature detection means is the second setting. Control means for controlling the switching means so that the flow path through which the heat exchange medium flows when the temperature is reached is the second flow path;
First estimating means for estimating operating efficiency corresponding to the temperature detected by the first temperature detecting means;
Second estimation means for estimating operation efficiency corresponding to the temperature detected by the second temperature detection means,
The control means estimates the operating efficiency corresponding to the temperature from the first and second estimation means from the temperature information detected by the first and second temperature detection means, and estimates on the first estimation means side. When the value is higher than the estimated value on the second estimating means side, the flow path through which the heat exchange medium flows is defined as the first flow path, and the estimated value on the second estimating means side is on the first estimated value side. When the temperature is higher than the estimated value, the switching device is controlled so that the flow path through which the heat exchange medium flows becomes the second flow path .

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