JP5295189B2 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner.

  Conventionally, various air conditioners have been proposed in which a water level detection means detects the water level of a drain pan that stores drain water generated in a heat exchanger, operates a drain pump based on the detected water level, and drains the drain water. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  In the air conditioner, when the drain water becomes poor during operation due to the viscosity of the drain water, the failure of the drain pump, or clogging of foreign matter in the drainage path connected to the drain pump. There is. In such a case, in the air conditioner described in Patent Document 1, when the water level in the drain pan rises and the water level detection means detects that the water level exceeds a predetermined water level, the detection result Based on this, the operation was stopped to prevent the drain water from overflowing from the drain pan.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-141686 (for example, FIG. 1)

  In the technique described in Patent Document 1, since the user recognizes that the air conditioner is stopped due to defective drainage and the user starts to repair the drain pump, the air pump becomes difficult to manage. It took a lot of time for the harmony machine to return.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner that is easy to manage by predicting a sign of poor drainage.

The air conditioner according to the present invention is an air conditioner capable of air-conditioning operation and provided with a drain pan that stores condensate generated in a heat exchanger as drain water. The drain that drains the drain water stored in the drain pan. It pumps and controls the drain pump, the rotational speed of the drain pump and you compare the reference value of the plurality of first rotational speed which is preset according to the type of drainage state of the drain water control unit If, have a control unit calculates a first rotation speed reference values of the plurality of rotation speed of the drain pump during the initial normal air conditioning operation, the drainage state based on a result of the comparison Whether or not there is a precursor of poor drainage of the drain pump for each type, and when it is determined that there is a precursor of any drainage failure of the drainage state, while notifying the precursor of this drainage failure, When the rotational speed of the drain pump is controlled to be increased, and the rotational speed of the drain pump is lower than a reference value of the second rotational speed that is smaller than any of the reference values of the plurality of first rotational speeds Stop the air conditioning operation .

  According to the air conditioner according to the present invention, since a sign of poor drainage is predicted, the user can easily manage the air conditioner.

It is an outline lineblock diagram of an air harmony machine concerning Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a general | schematic structural example figure of the air conditioner which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is an example of a circuit of the motor of the drain pump of the air conditioner shown in FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration example diagram of an air conditioner 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In addition, in the following drawings including FIG. 1, the relationship of the size of each component may be different from the actual one. The air conditioner 100 has a function of predicting a sign of poor drainage and urging the user to perform maintenance in advance. That is, the air conditioner 100 can prompt the user to perform maintenance before the air conditioner 100 breaks down due to poor drainage and the air conditioning operation cannot be performed.

[Refrigerant circuit configuration of air conditioner 100]
First, the refrigerant circuit configuration of the air conditioner 100 will be described.
The air conditioner 100 includes an indoor unit 101 and an outdoor unit 102.
The indoor unit 101 has at least the indoor heat exchanger 2. An indoor fan 3 is attached in the vicinity of the indoor heat exchanger 2.

  The indoor heat exchanger 2 functions as an evaporator during cooling operation to cool air, and functions as a condenser (heat radiator) during heating operation to heat the air. The indoor heat exchanger 2 may be constituted by, for example, a cross fin type fin-and-tube heat exchanger composed of heat transfer tubes and a large number of fins.

  The indoor blower 3 sucks room air into the indoor unit 101, and supplies the air that has been heat-exchanged with the refrigerant by the indoor heat exchanger 2 to the air-conditioned space as conditioned air. The indoor blower 3 includes a fan or the like that can vary the flow rate of the conditioned air supplied to the indoor heat exchanger 2.

  The outdoor unit 102 includes at least the compressor 4, the outdoor heat exchanger 5, and the expansion device 7. An outdoor blower 6 is attached in the vicinity of the outdoor heat exchanger 5.

  The compressor 4 can vary its operating capacity. For example, a positive displacement compressor driven by a motor (not shown) controlled by an inverter is used. The compressor 4 is disposed between the outdoor heat exchanger 5 and the indoor heat exchanger 2.

  The outdoor heat exchanger 5 functions as a condenser (heat radiator) during the cooling operation and radiates heat to the air, and functions as an evaporator during the heating operation to cool the air. The outdoor heat exchanger 5 may be constituted by, for example, a cross fin type fin-and-tube heat exchanger composed of heat transfer tubes and a large number of fins.

  The outdoor blower 6 sucks outdoor air into the outdoor unit 102 and discharges the air heat-exchanged with the refrigerant by the outdoor heat exchanger 5 to the outside. The outdoor blower 6 includes a fan or the like attached to the outdoor heat exchanger 5 and capable of changing the flow rate of air supplied to the outdoor heat exchanger 5.

  The throttle device 7 has a variable throttle opening and adjusts the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant circuit. The expansion device 7 is disposed between the outdoor heat exchanger 5 and the indoor heat exchanger 2.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the compressor 4, the outdoor heat exchanger 5, the expansion device 7, and the indoor heat exchanger 2 are annularly connected in this order by a refrigerant pipe 103 to form a refrigerant circuit. Therefore, the air conditioner 100 can perform cooling or heating operation by circulating the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit. In addition, although the refrigerant circuit at the time of air_conditionaing | cooling operation is shown in FIG. 1, it cannot be overemphasized that it can switch to heating operation suitably with a four-way valve (illustration omitted).

  In the air conditioner 100, the condensed water 13 is generated on the surface of the indoor heat exchanger 2 due to a decrease in the surface temperature of the indoor heat exchanger 2, particularly during cooling operation, and is stored as drain water 12 in the drain pan 9. The The drain water 12 stored in the drain pan 9 is appropriately discharged by a drain pump 10, and the drain water 12 overflows from the drain pan 9 and enters an air-conditioning target space (not shown, for example, indoors). Prevents dripping. Below, the structure (structure other than a refrigerant circuit) of the indoor unit 101 is demonstrated.

[Configuration of indoor unit 101 (configuration other than refrigerant circuit)]
As shown in FIG. 1, the indoor unit 101 includes a drain pan 9, a drain pump 10, a rotation speed detection device 16, a water level detection device 11, a drain pipe 22, a control unit 60, and a display unit 70 in addition to the indoor blower 3 described above. have.

  The drain pan 9 stores the condensed water 13 generated in the indoor heat exchanger 2 as the drain water 12. The drain water 12 in the drain pan 9 increases by the amount of condensed water 13 dripped from the indoor heat exchanger 2 and decreases by the amount of drainage by the drain pump 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the place where the drain pan 9 is installed may be substantially downward in the vertical direction of the indoor heat exchanger 2.

  The drain pump 10 discharges the drain water 12 in the drain pan 9 to the outside of the indoor unit 101. As shown in FIG. 1, the place where the drain pump 10 is installed may be a vertically upward direction of the drain pan 9 or the like. The drain pump 10 includes a casing 20, a motor 17, a shaft 18, and an impeller 21.

  The casing 20 is formed with a water intake port 14 for sucking the drain water 12 and a discharge port 15 for discharging the drain water 12. The casing 20 is provided with an impeller 21. The water inlet 14 sucks the drain water 12 stored in the drain pan 9 into the casing 20. As shown in FIG. 1, the water inlet 14 may be provided at a position facing the bottom surface of the drain pan 9, for example. The discharge port 15 drains the drain water 12 sucked into the casing 20 to the outside of the casing 20. The discharge port 15 is connected to the drain pipe 22.

  The motor 17 rotates the shaft 18 with the supplied electric power. The motor 17 is connected to a power source (not shown). The motor 17 is also controlled by the control unit 60 in the same manner as the indoor blower 3.

  The shaft 18 connects the motor 17 and the impeller 21, and transmits the rotational force of the motor 17 to the impeller 21. That is, since the shaft 18 is connected to the impeller 21, the impeller 21 rotates in conjunction with the shaft rotation of the shaft 18.

  The impeller 21 sucks the drain water 12 into the casing 20 through the water suction port 14 by its rotation and discharges it from the discharge port 15. The impeller 21 has a substantially disk shape, and its center is fixed so as to coincide with the shaft 18, so that it rotates with the rotation of the shaft 18.

  The rotation speed detection device 16 detects the rotation speed of the shaft 18. The rotation speed detection device 16 transmits the detected rotation speed of the shaft 18 to the control unit 60 as rotation speed data A. Moreover, the rotation speed detection apparatus 16 is good to be installed so that the axis | shaft 18 may be adjoined, for example. In the air conditioner 100, a magnet (not shown) is attached to the shaft 18, and a change in the magnetic field caused by the rotation of the magnet is detected by the rotation speed detection device 16 to detect the rotation speed of the shaft 18. It is assumed that this is the method to be performed. The method for detecting the rotation speed of the shaft 18 is not particularly limited to the above method.

  The water level detection device 11 detects the water level of the drain water 12 stored in the drain pan 9. The water level detection device 11 transmits the detected drain water 12 water level in the drain pan 9 to the control unit 60 as water level data C. Moreover, the water level detection apparatus 11 is good to be installed in the vertically upward direction of the drain pan 9, for example. In addition, since the water level in the drain pan 9 may be detected by detecting the rotation speed of the shaft 18 by the rotation speed detection device 16, the water level detection device 11 may not be provided.

  The drain pipe 22 drains the drain water 12 drained from the discharge port 15 to the outside of the indoor unit 101. One end of the drain pipe 22 is connected to the discharge port 15, and the other end of the drain pipe 22 is preferably installed outside the space to be air-conditioned (for example, outside the room), for example.

  The control unit 60 controls the rotation of the indoor fan 3 and the motor 17 and the display on the display unit 70. The control unit 60 receives the rotational speed data A from the rotational speed detection device 16 and transmits a drainage failure display signal A2 for controlling the display unit 70 based on the rotational speed data A. Specifically, the control unit 60 determines whether there is a sign of poor drainage based on the rotational speed data A, and when it is determined that there is a sign of poor drainage, the display unit 70 displays the defective drainage display signal A2. Is supposed to send. The poor drainage display signal A2 is a control signal for displaying on the display unit 70 in order to notify the user that the drain pump 10 has a sign of poor drainage.

  Further, the control unit 60 receives the water level data C from the water level detection device 11, and controls the repair display signal C2, the indoor blower 3 and the compressor 4 for controlling the display unit 70 based on the water level data C. Therefore, a stop signal D is transmitted. Specifically, based on the water level data C, the control unit 60 determines whether the water level is higher or lower than a predetermined water level. The repair display signal C2 is transmitted to the unit 70, and the stop signal D is transmitted to the indoor blower 3 and the compressor 4.

  The repair display signal C2 is a control signal for displaying on the display unit 70 in order to notify the user that the water level of the drain water 12 in the drain pan 9 has become higher than a predetermined value. The stop signal D is a control signal for stopping the operation of the indoor blower 3 and the compressor 4 so that the water level of the drain water 12 in the drain pan 9 rises and the drain water 12 does not overflow from the drain pan 9.

  The display unit 70 receives the drainage failure display signal A2 and the repair display signal C2 from the control unit 60, thereby informing the user about the precursor of drainage failure of the drain pump 10 and prompting maintenance in advance, or the drain in the drain pan 9 When the water level of the water 12 becomes higher than a predetermined value, it is notified by requesting that maintenance is necessary. Although the display unit 70 is described as being provided in the indoor unit 101, it may be provided in a remote controller (not shown) or the like. In addition, the user may be prompted to perform maintenance by voice or the like, or may be informed that maintenance is required, and the display unit 70 may not be provided.

[Description of operation]
Next, the process of the drain water 12 in the cooling operation of the air conditioner 100 will be described.
When the cooling operation is started, the surface temperature of the indoor heat exchanger 2 is lowered. The air sucked into the indoor unit 101 by the indoor blower 3 is sent to the indoor heat exchanger 2 and cooled. When this air falls below the dew point temperature, condensed water 13 is generated from the moisture in the air on the surface of the indoor heat exchanger 2 and stored as drain water 12 in the drain pan 9. The drain water 12 stored in the drain pan 9 is appropriately drained by a drain pump 10. At that time, the rotation speed of the shaft 18 decreases when the drainage path is clogged, the viscosity of the drain water 12 is increased, or the drainage capacity of the drain pump 10 is decreased.

  The rotational speed detection device 16 detects the rotational speed of the shaft 18 and transmits rotational speed data A based on the rotational speed to the control unit 60. When it is determined by the control unit 60 that there is a sign of poor drainage, the control unit 60 transmits a poor drainage display signal A2 to the display unit 70. The display unit 70 that has received the drainage failure display signal A2 displays a notification to the user that the drain pump 10 has a sign of drainage failure. When the drain pump 10 becomes defective in drainage, as described above, it is urged to predict the precursor and perform maintenance in advance.

  If the water level of the drain water 12 in the drain pan 9 has risen to a predetermined value, the control unit 60 transmits a stop signal D to the indoor blower 3 and the compressor 4 to send the indoor blower 3 In addition, the operation of the compressor 4 is stopped, and a repair display signal C2 is transmitted to the display unit 70 to notify the display unit 70 that the maintenance is required.

[About poor drainage]
The poor drainage means that the drainage path (casing 20 and drain pipe 22) is clogged (drainage state S1), the viscosity of the drain water 12 is increased (drainage state S2), and the drainage capacity of the drain pump 10 is reduced. This is because the amount of drainage of the drain pump 10 is reduced due to the fact that the drainage (drainage state S3). In the air conditioner 100, the control unit 60 compares the rotational speed of the shaft 18 with a preset reference value V of the rotational speed, and based on the comparison result, the drain pump 10 has a drainage failure (drainage state S1). The presence / absence of a sign of ~ a drainage state S3) is determined. When it is determined that there is a sign of poor drainage, the control unit 60 controls the display unit 70 to display the content that there is a sign of poor drainage and notifies the user. Yes.

  Here, if the motor 17 is operated at a constant voltage, it is determined that there is a sign of poor drainage due to the distance between the water suction port 14 and the bottom surface of the drain pan 9, the length of the drain pipe 22, and the like. The rotation speed to be changed may change. In such a case, the reference value V of the rotational speed may be calculated from the rotational speed when the air conditioner 100 is normally operated at the beginning of installation.

  Further, even when the parts constituting the drain pump 10 are replaced or the drain pipe 22 is replaced, the rotational speed at which it is determined that there is a sign of poor drainage may change. In such a case, the control unit 60 may determine and change (update) the reference value V of the set rotation speed.

  When the sign of the drainage failure is determined, the control unit 60 may control the voltage supplied from the power source to the motor 17 so as to increase the output of the motor 17. Thus, by improving the output of the motor 17, the time until the drainage state S4 (drainage capacity decreases below the allowable value) where the drain water 12 in the drain pan 9 cannot be drained substantially is reached. The grace period can be lengthened.

  Further, the control unit 60 can determine not only the precursor of drainage failure (drainage state S1 to drainage state S3) of the drain pump, but also the drainage state S4 at which drainage cannot be performed. Two Vs may be provided. By providing two reference values V of the rotational speed in this way, the control unit 60 is in the drainage state S4 when the rotational speed of the shaft 18 becomes lower than the reference value V2 of the second rotational speed. to decide. Thereafter, the control unit 60 controls the display unit 70 so as to display that it is in the drainage state S4 and notifies the user. Moreover, when the control part 60 judges that the drain pump 10 is in the waste_water | drain state S4, it shall control to stop the operation | movement of the indoor air blower 3 and the compressor 4 (stop of an air-conditioning driving | operation). To do. Therefore, the air conditioner 100 determines the operation stop based on the rotation speed of the rotation speed detection device 16 instead of the water level of the drain water 12 in the drain pan 9 detected by the water level detection device 11. It goes without saying that it is no longer necessary.

  The control unit 60 compares the rotation speed of the shaft 18 with a plurality of preset rotation speed reference values, and based on the comparison result, only one of the drainage states S1 to S4 is a precursor. The presence or absence of may be judged. Conversely, the control unit 60 compares the rotational speed of the shaft 18 with a preset reference value of one rotational speed, and determines the presence or absence of a precursor of a plurality of drainage states based on the comparison result. It may be. (The number of rotation speed reference values provided is not particularly limited.)

[Effects of the air conditioner 100]
The air conditioner 100 predicts a sign of defective drainage by detecting the number of rotations of the drain pump 10, so that the user can easily manage the air conditioner 100. Further, since the air conditioner 100 predicts a sign of poor drainage of the drain pump 10, it goes without saying that the number of inspections of the drain pump 10 can be reduced.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration example diagram of an air conditioner 200 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 3 is a circuit example of the motor 17 of the drain pump 10 of the air conditioner 200 shown in FIG. In the second embodiment, the same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 201 is connected to an inverter circuit 202 for controlling the rotation speed of the motor 17 and a current detection unit 205 for detecting a current value supplied to the motor. The current detection unit 205 may be provided at the position of the wiring K to detect from a change in magnetic flux. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the control unit 201 receives the current value F from the current detection unit 205, and transmits a drainage failure display signal A <b> 2 for controlling the display unit 70 based on the current value F.

  As the drainage failure progresses, the control unit 201 increases the switching frequency of the inverter circuit 202 in order to suppress the decrease in the rotation speed, and performs feedback control so as to suppress the decrease in the rotation of the motor 17. That is, the drain pump 10 is configured such that the supplied current increases as the drainage failure progresses. Along with that, the current value F supplied to the motor 17 changes as appropriate, and by detecting the change, the precursor of the drainage states S1 to S4 is determined. That is, in the air conditioner 200, the control unit 201 compares the current value F supplied to the motor 17 with a reference value I of a preset current value, and based on the comparison result, the drain pump 10 determines whether or not there is a sign of poor drainage (any of drainage state S1 to drainage state S3). When it is determined that there is a sign of poor drainage, the control unit 201 controls the display unit 70 to display the content that there is a sign of poor drainage and notifies the user. Yes. Note that although the inverter circuit 202 is described as being provided in the control unit 202, the place where the inverter circuit 202 is provided is not particularly limited.

  Here, when the motor 17 is operated at a constant voltage, the current for judging that there is a sign of poor drainage, such as the distance from the water inlet 14 to the bottom surface of the drain pan 9 or the length (range) of the drain pipe 22. The value may change. In such a case, the reference value I of the current value may be calculated from the current value when the air conditioner 200 is normally operated at the beginning of installation.

  In addition, even when the parts constituting the drain pump 10 are replaced or the drain pipe 22 is replaced, the current value for determining that there is a sign of poor drainage may change. In such a case, the control unit 201 may determine and change (update) the reference value I of the set current value.

  When the sign of the drainage failure is determined, the control unit 201 may control the voltage supplied from the power source to the motor 17 so as to increase the output of the motor 17. Thus, by improving the output of the motor 17, the time until the drainage state S4 (drainage capacity decreases below the allowable value) where the drain water 12 in the drain pan 9 cannot be drained substantially is reached. You can lengthen the grace period.

  In addition, the control unit 201 can determine not only a sign of drainage failure (drainage state S1 to drainage state S3) of the drain pump but also a drainage state S4 at which drainage cannot be performed. Two Vs may be provided. By providing two reference values V in this way, the control unit 201 determines that the state is the drainage state S4 when the current value F is greater than the reference value I2 of the second current value. After that, the control unit 201 controls the display unit 70 so as to display that it is in the drainage state S4 and notifies the user. In addition, when the control unit 201 determines that the drain pump 10 is in the drainage state S4, the control unit 201 controls to stop the operation of the indoor blower 3 and the compressor 4 (stop of the air conditioning operation). To do. Therefore, since the air conditioner 200 determines the operation stop based on the current value F supplied to the drain pump 10 instead of the water level of the drain water 12 in the drain pan 9 detected by the water level detection device 11, the water level detection device It goes without saying that 11 is no longer needed.

  The control unit 201 compares the current value F of the current supplied to the drain pump 10 with a plurality of preset current value reference values I, and based on the comparison result, the drainage states S1 to S4 are compared. The presence or absence of only one of the precursors may be determined. Conversely, the control unit 201 compares the current value F of the current supplied to the drain pump 10 with a reference value I of one current value, and based on the comparison result, determines whether there are signs of a plurality of drainage states. You may come to judge. (The number of current reference values I provided is not particularly limited.)

[Effects of the air conditioner 200]
The air conditioner 200 predicts a sign of defective drainage by detecting the value of the current supplied to the drain pump 10, so that the user can easily manage the air conditioner 200. Further, since the air conditioner 200 predicts a sign of poor drainage of the drain pump 10, it goes without saying that the number of inspections of the drain pump 10 can be reduced.

  Needless to say, the contents described in Embodiments 1 and 2 may be combined as appropriate.

  2 indoor heat exchanger, 3 indoor fan, 4 compressor, 5 outdoor heat exchanger, 6 outdoor fan, 7 throttle device, 9 drain pan, 10 drain pump, 11 water level detection device, 12 drain water, 13 condensed water, 14 water absorption Port, 15 discharge port, 16 rotation speed detection device, 17 motor, 18 shafts, 20 casing, 21 impeller, 22 drain pipe, 60 control unit, 70 display unit, 100 air conditioner, 101 indoor unit, 102 outdoor unit, 103 refrigerant piping, 200 air conditioner, 201 control unit, 202 inverter circuit, 205 current detection unit, A rotation speed data, A2 drainage failure display signal, C water level data, C2 repair display signal, D stop signal, S1 drainage state, S2 drainage state, S3 drainage state, S4 drainage state, V rotation speed reference value, V2 second rotation speed reference value, I Current value reference value, I2 Second current value reference value, F current value, K wiring.

Claims (3)

In an air conditioner that is capable of air-conditioning operation and is provided with a drain pan that stores condensed water generated in the heat exchanger as drain water,
A drain pump for draining the drain water stored in the drain pan;
Controls the drain pump, and a control unit wherein you compare the reference value of the plurality of first rotational speed which is preset according to the type of drainage state of the rotating speed and drain water of the drain pump,
I have a,
The controller is
Calculating a reference value of the plurality of first rotation speeds from the rotation speed of the drain pump during initial normal air-conditioning operation
Based on the result of the comparison, for each type of drainage state, it is determined whether there is a precursor of drainage failure of the drain pump, and if it is determined that there is a precursor of any drainage failure of the drainage state, Notifying the precursor of failure and controlling to increase the rotational speed of the drain pump,
The air conditioning is characterized in that the air conditioning operation is stopped when the rotational speed of the drain pump is lower than a second rotational speed reference value that is smaller than any of the plurality of first rotational speed reference values. Machine. The drain pump is
It has a casing provided with a water intake port for sucking in drain water and a discharge port for discharging drain water,
In the control unit,
A reference value for the first rotational speed in the drainage state corresponding to the clogging in the casing;
A reference value for the first rotational speed in the drainage state corresponding to an increase in the viscosity of the drain water stored in the drain pan;
A reference value for the first rotational speed in the drainage state corresponding to a decrease in rotational capacity of the drain pump;
Is preset
The air conditioner according to claim 1. The controller is
The air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of first rotation speed reference values and the second rotation speed reference value can be changed.

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