JP6498399B2 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner capable of adjusting the humidity in a room where an electrical device is installed.

  If the relative humidity in the room is low, there is a high possibility that a failure due to static electricity will occur in the electrical equipment. For this reason, an air conditioner that uses a humidifier to maintain the indoor relative humidity when the indoor relative humidity is low has been put into practical use.

  Patent Document 1 describes an invention in which indoor air is prevented from being dehumidified by increasing the amount of air blown to the evaporator and maintaining the evaporation temperature of the refrigerant, that is, the temperature of the air blown into the room high. Yes.

JP 7-332736 A

  An object of this invention is to provide the air conditioner which can make the humidification amount by a humidifier small, or can abolish a humidifier.

  The first invention of the present application is an air conditioner capable of adjusting the humidity in the room where the electrical equipment is installed, and a signal from the cooling device (3) for cooling the air supplied to the room and the temperature sensor (S1) is input. The temperature detector (5) that detects the temperature of the room air using the signal and the signal from the humidity sensor (S2) are input, and the humidity that detects the relative humidity of the room air using the signal A detection unit (5) and a control unit (5) for controlling the operation of at least the cooling device (3), the cooling device when the relative humidity of the indoor air is less than a preset lower limit humidity (LRH) And (3) including a control unit (5) capable of executing a humidity control mode for increasing the relative humidity by lowering the temperature of the air supplied to the indoor side.

Thereby, the air conditioning apparatus which can make the humidification amount by a humidifier small, or can abolish a humidifier can be obtained.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the air conditioner capable of adjusting the humidity in the room where the electrical equipment is installed, a signal from the cooling device (3) for cooling the air supplied to the room and the temperature sensor (S1) is input. The temperature detector (5) that detects the temperature of the room air using the signal and the signal from the humidity sensor (S2) are input, and the humidity detection that detects the relative humidity of the room air using the signal A control unit (5) that controls at least one of the temperature control mode and the humidity control mode, and a control unit (5) that controls the operation of at least the cooling device (3). In the temperature control mode, the operation of the cooling device (3) is controlled in a range in which the temperature of the room air does not exceed the preset upper limit temperature (HT), and in the humidity control mode, the relative temperature of the room air is controlled. Humidity is preset Actuation of the lower limit humidity cooling device such that (LRH) or (3) is being controlled.

  Thus, in the humidity control mode, the temperature of the air supplied to the indoor side is lowered by the cooling device (3) to raise the relative humidity, so that the humidification amount by the humidifier is reduced or the humidifier is abolished. It is possible to obtain an air conditioner that can be used.

  Incidentally, the reference numerals in parentheses for each of the above means are examples showing the correspondence with the specific means described in the embodiments described later, and the present invention is indicated by the reference numerals in the parentheses of the above respective means. It is not limited to specific means.

It is a mimetic diagram of air-conditioner 1 concerning a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the humidity control mode which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention.

  The “embodiment of the invention” described below shows an example of the embodiment. In other words, the invention specific items described in the claims are not limited to the specific means and structures shown in the following embodiments.

  In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to a vapor compression refrigeration cycle for an air conditioner that cools a server room. In the server room, electrical devices such as an ICT device and an emergency power supply (battery) are installed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that at least one member or part described with at least a reference numeral is provided, except for cases where “plural”, “two or more” and the like are omitted.

(First embodiment)
1. Configuration of Air Conditioner As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioner 1 according to the present embodiment includes a cooling device 3, a control device 5, and the like. The cooling device 3 cools the air supplied to the room where the electrical equipment is installed. The control device 5 controls the operation of the cooling device 3.

  The cooling device 3 according to the present embodiment is constituted by a vapor compressor type refrigerator. That is, the cooling device (vapor compressor type refrigerator) 3 includes a high-pressure heat exchanger 3A, a decompressor 3B, a low-pressure heat exchanger 3C, a compressor 3D, a gas-liquid separator 3E, and the like.

  The high-pressure heat exchanger 3A cools the high-pressure refrigerant (hereinafter also referred to as discharge refrigerant) discharged from the compressor 3D. That is, the high-pressure heat exchanger 3A exchanges heat between the outdoor air and the discharged refrigerant to cool the discharged refrigerant. In this embodiment, the pressure of the discharged refrigerant is smaller than the critical pressure of the refrigerant. For this reason, the discharged refrigerant in the gas phase is cooled and condensed (liquefied) by the high-pressure heat exchanger 3A.

  The decompressor 3B decompresses and expands the high-pressure refrigerant that has flowed out of the high-pressure heat exchanger 3A. The low-pressure heat exchanger 3C is a cooler that evaporates the low-pressure liquid-phase refrigerant decompressed by the decompressor 3B. That is, in the low-pressure heat exchanger 3C, the low-pressure liquid-phase refrigerant absorbs heat from the air supplied into the room and evaporates (vaporizes), thereby cooling the air.

  The compressor 3D sucks and compresses the refrigerant flowing out from the low pressure heat exchanger 3C side, and discharges the compressed refrigerant to the high pressure heat exchanger 3A side. The gas-liquid separator 3E separates and extracts the gas-phase refrigerant from the refrigerant flowing out from the low-pressure heat exchanger 3C, and supplies the gas-phase refrigerant to the suction side of the compressor 3D.

  The first blower 3F blows cooling air (outdoor air) to the high-pressure heat exchanger 3A. The second blower 3G blows air supplied to the low pressure heat exchanger 3C indoors. And control device 5 controls operation of compressor 3D, decompressor 3B, the 1st blower 3F, the 2nd blower 3G, etc.

  A heating device 4 is provided indoors from the low pressure heat exchanger 3C. The heating device 4 heats the air supplied to the room. The heating device 4 according to the present embodiment is an electric heater such as a sheathed heater.

2. 2. Control of air conditioner 2.1 Control device The control device 5 is composed of a microcomputer having a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like. A program (software) for executing control of the compressor 3D and the like is stored in advance in a nonvolatile storage unit such as a ROM.

  Detection signals from the room temperature sensor S1, the humidity sensor S2, the low pressure temperature sensor S3, the evaporation temperature sensor S4, and the like are input to the control device 5. The room temperature sensor S1 outputs a signal indicating the temperature of room air. The humidity sensor S2 outputs a signal indicating the relative humidity of the room air.

  The control device 5 includes a temperature detection unit that detects the temperature of the room air using a signal from the room temperature sensor S1, and a humidity detection unit that detects the relative humidity of the room air using a signal from the humidity sensor S2. Is provided.

  In the present embodiment, the temperature detection unit and the humidity detection unit are configured by software. The room temperature sensor S1 and the humidity sensor S2 may be any of a sensor installed in advance in the air-conditioning target space (server room) and a sensor installed for the air conditioner 1. That is, the installation location of room temperature sensor S1 and humidity sensor S2 is not ask | required.

  The low-pressure temperature sensor S3 detects the refrigerant temperature on the refrigerant outlet side of the low-pressure heat exchanger 3C. The evaporation temperature sensor S4 detects the temperature of the low pressure heat exchanger 3C, that is, the refrigerant evaporation temperature in the low pressure heat exchanger 3C.

  The low-pressure temperature sensor S3 and the evaporation temperature sensor S4 are sensors for detecting the refrigerant heating degree on the refrigerant outlet side of the low-pressure heat exchanger 3C, that is, the cooling load (heat load) in the low-pressure heat exchanger 3C. Therefore, instead of the evaporation temperature sensor S4, the evaporation pressure in the low-pressure heat exchanger 3C may be detected.

2.2 Pressure reducer The pressure reducer 3B is composed of a variable throttle device (not shown). The variable throttle device has an electric actuator (not shown) that changes and adjusts the throttle opening. The control device 5 controls the operation of the actuator to change the throttle opening of the decompressor 3B. Specifically, the control device 5 controls the throttle opening of the decompressor 3B so that the refrigerant heating degree on the refrigerant outlet side of the low-pressure heat exchanger 3C is a value equal to or greater than 0 and a predetermined value set in advance. To control.

2.3 Control of Compressor and the like The control device 5 can control the compressor 3D and the like in at least one of the “temperature control mode” and the “humidity control mode”.

<Temperature control mode>
The control device 5 controls the rotation speed and the like of the compressor 3D so that a necessary refrigeration capacity (cooling capacity) is generated in the low-pressure heat exchanger 3C. Specifically, the control device 5 controls the operation of the compressor 3D and the like so that the room temperature (the temperature detected by the room temperature sensor S1) is within a preset temperature range. Incidentally, in the present embodiment, the upper limit temperature HT of the temperature range is 30 ° C., and the lower limit temperature LT of the temperature range is 10 ° C.

  Note that “within a range in which the temperature of the room air does not exceed the upper limit side temperature HT” means that the temperature of the room air does not greatly exceed the upper limit side temperature HT. “The temperature of the room air is equal to or higher than the lower limit side temperature LT” means that the temperature of the room air does not greatly fall below the lower limit side temperature LT. “Large” means that a temperature difference of, for example, 5 ° C. or more occurs with respect to the upper limit side temperature HT or the lower limit side temperature LT.

  When lowering the room temperature in the temperature control mode, the control device 5 increases the refrigerating capacity generated in the low-pressure heat exchanger 3C by increasing the rotation speed of the compressor 3D. At this time, the control device 5 increases the blowing amount of the second blower 3G until at least the surface temperature of the low-pressure heat exchanger 3C becomes higher than the dew point.

  That is, when the rotation speed of the compressor 3D increases, the evaporation temperature may decrease and the surface temperature of the low-pressure heat exchanger 3C may become the dew point or lower. When the surface temperature falls below the dew point, much of the refrigeration capacity generated in the low pressure heat exchanger 3C is consumed to condense the vapor in the air. For this reason, the power consumption required for lowering the room temperature increases.

  Therefore, when the number of rotations of the compressor 3D is increased, the control device 5 increases the blast volume of the second blower 3G, that is, the heat load of the low-pressure heat exchanger 3C, so that the sensible heat ratio (SHF) is set in advance. It shall be more than a set value (for example, 0.95).

  When the cooling capacity is reduced, the control device 5 reduces the refrigerating capacity generated in the low-pressure heat exchanger 3C by reducing the rotation speed of the compressor 3D, and the second blower 3G according to the reduced refrigerating capacity. Reduce the amount of air blown.

  By the way, when the room temperature is equal to or lower than the upper limit side temperature HT, it is not necessary to cool the room. Therefore, in the temperature control mode, the control device 5 basically stops cooling the air supplied to the room. .

  However, when the indoor temperature increase rate is greater than a preset increase rate, the air supplied to the room may be cooled from a predetermined temperature that is equal to or lower than the upper limit side temperature HT. This is to prevent the room temperature from greatly exceeding the upper limit side temperature HT. When the room temperature becomes lower than the lower limit temperature LT, the air supplied to the room is heated by the heating device 4.

<Humidity control mode>
The humidity control mode is a control mode for maintaining the relative humidity RH of the indoor air at a preset lower limit side humidity LRH (20% in the present embodiment) or higher. In the humidity control mode, the control device 5 decreases the temperature of the air supplied to the indoor side and increases the relative humidity RH while maintaining the temperature of the indoor air at the lower limit side temperature LT or higher.

  The humidity control mode is executed when the relative humidity RH of the room air becomes less than the lower limit side humidity LRH. For this reason, in this embodiment, even when the temperature of the indoor air is equal to or lower than the preset upper limit temperature HT, the relative humidity of the indoor air becomes less than the preset lower limit humidity (LRH). The humidity control mode is executed.

  Note that when the rate of decrease in the relative humidity RH is greater than the preset rate of decrease, the control device 5 according to the present embodiment indicates that “the relative humidity is a preset relative humidity and is higher than the lower limit side humidity LRH. When it becomes below, it starts executing humidity control mode. This is to prevent the indoor relative humidity RH from greatly decreasing with respect to the lower limit side humidity LRH.

  In the humidity control mode, the control device 5 maintains the surface temperature of the low-pressure heat exchanger 3C at a temperature higher than the dew point, and lowers the temperature of the air supplied to the room as compared to immediately before executing the humidity control mode. Let Specifically, at the time of shifting to the humidity control mode, the control device 5 increases the number of rotations of the compressor 3D and the amount of air blown by the second blower 3G compared to before the shift.

  The air volume in the humidity control mode is an air volume that can provide the low-pressure heat exchanger 3C with a heat load having a sensible heat ratio (for example, 1.0) larger than the sensible heat ratio in the temperature control mode. Thereby, it can suppress that the temperature of 3 C of low pressure heat exchangers becomes below a dew point, reducing the temperature of the air supplied indoors.

  If the compressor 3D and the second blower 3G are stopped before shifting to the humidity control mode, that is, in the temperature control mode, the control device 5 performs low-pressure heat when the humidity control mode is executed. The compressor 3D and the second blower 3G are activated so that the surface temperature of the exchanger 3C does not fall below the dew point.

<Details of humidity control mode>
When the air conditioner 1 is activated, the control device 5 executes the temperature control mode. When the relative humidity RH of the indoor air becomes less than the lower limit side humidity LRH during the execution of the temperature control mode, the control device 5 executes the humidity control mode.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing details of the humidity control mode. Note that a program for executing the control shown in FIG. 2 is stored in advance in a nonvolatile storage unit such as a ROM. The program is read and executed by the control device 5 (CPU) when the humidity control mode is executed.

  When the humidity control mode is executed, the control device 5 increases the rotation speed of the compressor 3D or activates the compressor 3D, and the second blower 3G has a larger sensible heat ratio than that in the temperature control mode. The rotational speed is controlled (S1). Thereby, relative humidity RH rises without dehumidifying room air.

  Next, the control device 5 sets a lower limit value (hereinafter referred to as “blow-off”) of a blow-off temperature range in which the temperature of air supplied to the room from the cooling device 3 (low-pressure heat exchanger 3C) (hereinafter referred to as “blow-out temperature”) is preset. It is determined whether it is less than the lower temperature limit (S3). In the present embodiment, the blowing temperature is detected using the detection signal of the evaporation temperature sensor S4.

  The lower limit of the blowing temperature is the dew point of the air before being cooled by the cooling device 3 (low pressure heat exchanger 3C), that is, the indoor air. The control device 5 determines the dew point based on the temperature of the room air and the relative humidity.

  When the control device 5 determines that the blowout temperature is lower than the blowout temperature lower limit value (S3: YES), the control device 5 reduces the rotation speed of the compressor 3D from the current rotation speed, and the rotation speed of the second blower 3G. Is increased from the current rotational speed, etc. (S5).

  Thereby, the temperature of the air supplied indoors rises and it is suppressed that it dehumidifies with the cooling device 3 (low-pressure heat exchanger 3C). In addition, the control apparatus 5 performs S7, when it is judged that the blowing temperature is not less than the blowing temperature lower limit (S3: NO).

  In S <b> 7, the control device 5 determines which one of (a) the indoor relative humidity RH is equal to or higher than the lower limit side humidity LRH and (b) the indoor air temperature is lower than the preset lower limit side temperature LT. It is determined whether or not one condition is satisfied (S7).

  When it is determined that any one of the conditions (a) and (b) is satisfied (S7: YES), the control device 5 stops the humidity control mode and executes the temperature control mode (S13). . When the control device 5 determines that neither of the conditions (a) and (b) is satisfied (S7: NO), the elapsed time after the start of the humidity control mode is set to a predetermined time. It is determined whether or not (S9).

  When it is determined that the elapsed time does not exceed the predetermined time (S9: NO), the control device 5 executes S3. When it is determined that the elapsed time has exceeded the predetermined time (S9: YES), the control device 5 determines whether or not the relative humidity RH of the room air is less than the lower limit side humidity LRH (S11).

  When it is determined that the relative humidity RH of the room air is less than the lower limit side humidity LRH (S11: YES), the control device 5 executes S3. When it is determined that the relative humidity RH of the room air is equal to or higher than the lower limit side humidity LRH (S11: NO), the control device 5 stops the humidity control mode and executes the temperature control mode (S13).

3. Characteristics of Air Conditioner According to this Embodiment In the humidity control mode according to this embodiment, the relative humidity is increased by lowering the temperature of the air supplied to the indoor side by the cooling device 3, so the humidification amount by the humidifier is reduced. It is possible to obtain an air conditioner that can perform or eliminate the humidifier.

  In the humidity control mode, the control device 5 cools the air supplied to the room while suppressing the surface temperature of the low-pressure heat exchanger 3C from being lower than the dew point. Therefore, the absolute humidity of the room air is reduced in the humidity control mode. It can suppress that it falls.

(Other embodiments)
Although the temperature detection part and the humidity detection part which concern on the above-mentioned embodiment were comprised by software, this invention is not limited to this, You may comprise these detection parts by hardware.

  Although the heating device 4 according to the above-described embodiment is configured by a sheathed heater, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, heat of the high-pressure heat exchanger 3A, heat of the compressor 3D, and the like. You may heat the air which blows off indoors using.

  The cooling device 3 according to the present invention is not limited to the vapor compression refrigerator shown in FIG. 1, and may be, for example, an injection-type vapor compression refrigerator, an absorption (adsorption) refrigerator, or the like. May be.

  In the above-described embodiment, when the room temperature is controlled to be within a preset temperature range, the rotation speed of the compressor 3D is controlled using the temperature detected by the room temperature sensor S1, but the present invention is not limited to this. It is not limited.

  That is, for example, a sensor that detects the temperature of the air supplied from the cooling device 3 (low-pressure heat exchanger 3C) (the temperature of the blown air) is provided, and the rotation speed of the compressor 3D is controlled using the temperature detected by the sensor. May be. At this time, the rotation speed of the second blower 3G may be controlled based on the difference between the room temperature and the blown air temperature.

  In the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to the air conditioning of the server room in which the electrical equipment is installed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a machine room or factory in which an electrical machine such as an electric motor is installed. The present invention can also be applied to an air conditioner.

  Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment as long as it matches the gist of the invention described in the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Air conditioner 3 ... Cooling device 3A ... High pressure heat exchanger 3B ... Depressurizer 3C ... Low pressure heat exchanger 3D ... Compressor 3E ... Gas-liquid separator 3F ... First blower 3G ... Second blower 4 ... Heating device 5 ... Control device S1 ... Room temperature sensor S2 ... Humidity sensor S3 ... Low pressure temperature sensor S4 ... Evaporation temperature sensor

Claims (3)

In an air conditioner that can adjust the humidity in the room where electrical equipment is installed,
A cooling device that cools the air supplied to the room, a cooling device that exhibits refrigeration capacity, and a cooling device that has a blower that blows air to the cooling device ,
A temperature detection unit that receives a signal from the temperature sensor and detects the temperature of the indoor air using the signal;
A humidity detection unit that receives a signal from the humidity sensor and detects the relative humidity of the room air using the signal;
A control unit that controls at least the operation of the cooling device, and includes a control unit that can execute at least one of a temperature control mode and a humidity control mode,
The temperature control mode is a control mode for controlling the cooling device so that the room temperature detected by the temperature detection unit is within a preset temperature range,
The humidity control mode is a control mode that is executed when the relative humidity of the room air is less than a preset lower limit side humidity, and reduces the temperature of the air supplied to the indoor side by the cooling device. Control mode to increase the relative humidity,
In the temperature control mode , the control unit controls the operation of the cooling device in a range in which the temperature of the room air does not exceed a preset upper temperature ,
In the humidity control mode, the controller reduces the temperature of the air supplied to the indoor side by the cooling device so that the relative humidity of the indoor air becomes equal to or higher than a preset lower limit side humidity. to control the operation,
The control unit controls the operation of the cooling device so that the temperature of the room air is equal to or higher than a preset lower limit side temperature even in the humidity control mode,
The control unit cools the air supplied to the indoor side in a state where the temperature of the cooler is maintained at a temperature higher than the dew point at least in the humidity control mode,
The control unit, when shifting to the humidity control mode, increases the blast volume of the blower compared to before the transition so that the sensible heat ratio is larger than the sensible heat ratio in the temperature control mode,
When the temperature of the room air is equal to or lower than the preset upper limit temperature, the control unit stops cooling the air supplied to the room,
Further, the control unit is configured to perform the humidity control mode when the relative humidity of the indoor air becomes less than the preset lower limit side humidity even when the temperature of the room air is equal to or lower than a preset upper limit temperature. air conditioning system, characterized in that that perform. The air conditioner according to claim 1 , wherein the cooler is an evaporator of a vapor compression refrigerator, and the controller controls the temperature of the cooler by controlling the number of revolutions of the compressor. apparatus. The air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the electrical device is an electrical device for information communication technology.

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