JP6929449B2 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an air conditioner having a function of preheating a compressor while the operation is stopped.

Conventionally, in an air conditioner, the compressor is periodically heated in order to prevent the liquid refrigerant from staying inside the compressor while the operation is stopped (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the air conditioner of Patent Document 1, after the operation is stopped, the energization time of the outdoor unit and the timing of energization next are determined according to the temperature of the outside air, and the temperature of the compressor is determined at the determined timing. The compressor is preheated when it is below the temperature.

Further, in the closed container of the compressor, refrigerating machine oil that facilitates the rotation of the compression mechanism is stored. Refrigerating machine oil becomes more viscous at low temperatures and in some cases solidifies. When the viscosity of the refrigerating machine oil becomes higher than a certain level, the operation startability of the compressor deteriorates, so that the function of preheating the compressor while the operation is stopped is indispensable.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2000-193325

However, in a conventional air conditioner such as Patent Document 1, when determining whether or not to preheat the compressor, it is necessary to energize the outdoor unit including the compressor, so that the standby power is generated every time the determination is repeated. There is a problem of consuming.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner that reduces standby power after operation is stopped and improves the operation startability of a compressor. do.

The air conditioner according to the present invention comprises a compressor, a compressor temperature detecting means for detecting the shell temperature which is the temperature of the shell of the compressor, a control device for controlling the operation of the compressor, and energization from the control device. A preheating execution means for heating the compressor is provided, and the control device is provided with preheating necessity data in which information on the necessity of preheating of the compressor set based on the outside temperature is associated with each of a plurality of time zones. A low power state that shuts off the energization of the compressor, the compressor temperature detecting means, and the preheating performing means based on the preheating necessity data and the shell temperature while the compressor is stopped. The minimum outside temperature for each time zone in the cumulative period including multiple division periods divided into multiple time zones and the operation processing unit that switches between the standby state in which the preheating execution means is energized according to the change is higher than the outside air reference temperature. as necessity information preheating high time zones, possess the outside air temperature processing unit for recording information indicating that there is no need of preheating, the operation processing unit, the preheating necessity data, information of necessity of preheating As a result, the low power state is set during the time period when the information that the preheating is not necessary is recorded .

According to the present invention, it is possible to switch between the low power state and the standby state based on the preheating necessity data, reduce the number of objects to be energized in the low power state, and suppress the increase in the viscosity of the refrigerating machine oil in the standby state. It is possible to reduce the standby power after the operation is stopped and improve the operation startability of the compressor.

It is the schematic which illustrated the structure of the air conditioner which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which illustrated the functional structure of the outdoor control part of FIG. It is a table exemplifying the cumulative data updated by the outdoor control unit of FIG. It is a table exemplifying the state where the cumulative data of FIG. 3 was updated. It is a table exemplifying the standard when the outdoor control unit of FIG. 2 determines the necessity of preheating. It is a table which shows an example of the result of having determined the necessity of preheating for each time zone by the outdoor control unit of FIG. It is a table exemplifying the reference temperature specification data used when the outdoor control unit of FIG. 2 obtains the preheating reference temperature. It is a flowchart which exemplifies the operation which is related to the recording process of the outside air temperature and the number of operations among the operations of the outdoor control part of FIG. It is a flowchart which exemplifies the operation which is related to the switching process between a standby state and a low power state among the operations of the air conditioner of FIG. It is a flowchart which exemplifies the operation of the preheat treatment after shifting to the standby state in the operation of the air conditioner of FIG.

Embodiment.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating the configuration of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioner 100 in the present embodiment includes an indoor unit 10 and an outdoor unit 20. The indoor unit 10 includes an indoor unit control device 11 equipped with an indoor control unit 12 and an indoor clock 14 connected to the indoor unit control device 11. Further, the indoor unit control device 11 includes a signal receiving unit 13 for receiving a signal from the control device 80. The indoor control unit 12 is mounted on a board (not shown) of the indoor unit control device 11, and the signal receiving unit 13 is connected to the board of the indoor unit control device 11.

The signal receiving unit 13 is connected to the control device 80 by wire or wirelessly. The signal receiving unit 13 passes various signals transmitted from the control device 80 to the indoor control unit 12. Note that FIG. 1 illustrates a case where the signal receiving unit 13 and the control device 80 wirelessly communicate with each other.

The indoor control unit 12 receives various signals from the control device 80 via the signal receiving unit 13. The indoor control unit 12 controls the operation of various actuators provided in the indoor unit 10 according to the signal received from the control device 80. If the signal received from the control device 80 is related to the control of the outdoor unit 20, the indoor control unit 12 transfers the signal to the outdoor unit control device 21. For example, when the indoor control unit 12 receives an operation start signal or an operation stop signal from the control device 80, the indoor control unit 12 transfers these signals to the outdoor control unit 22. Further, the indoor control unit 12 grasps the current date and time by the indoor clock 14.

The control device 80 is a remote controller for operating and managing the air conditioner 100, a centralized controller for collectively managing the air conditioner 100, and the like. The user can set and change the operating conditions and the like of the air conditioner 100 by using the control device 80. The control device 80 includes a control device 81, a management clock 82, and an input device 83.

The input device 83 accepts an operation for setting and changing the wind direction, the air volume, the target temperature, and the like, and outputs an operation signal indicating the received operation content to the control device 81. The management clock 82 is connected to the control device 81, and the control device 81 grasps the current date and time by the management clock 82. The control device 81 has a function of communicating with the indoor unit control device 11 by wire or wirelessly. For example, the control device 81 transmits an operation start signal to the indoor unit control device 11 when an operation signal instructing the start of operation of the air conditioner 100 is output from the input device 83. When the operation signal instructing the operation stop of the air conditioner 100 is output from the input device 83, the operation stop signal is transmitted to the indoor unit control device 11.

The outdoor unit 20 includes an outdoor unit control device 21 equipped with an outdoor control unit 22. Further, the outdoor unit 20 includes a compressor 30, a preheating executing means 31, an outside air temperature detecting means 52, and a compressor temperature detecting means 51. Further, the outdoor unit 20 includes an outdoor clock 40 connected to the outdoor unit control device 21. The outdoor control unit 22 grasps the current date and time by the outdoor clock 40.

The outdoor unit control device 21 is connected to a power source 500 such as a commercial power source. Further, the outdoor unit control device 21 is connected to the compressor 30, the preheating executing means 31, the outdoor clock 40, the outside air temperature detecting means 52, and the compressor temperature detecting means 51. The outdoor unit control device 21 is connected to the indoor unit control device 11 of the indoor unit 10 by an internal / outdoor communication line 91 and a power supply line 92. That is, the outdoor unit control device 21 controls the air conditioner 100 in cooperation with the indoor unit control device 11.

The outdoor control unit 22 is mounted on a substrate (not shown) of the outdoor unit control device 21, and power is supplied from the power supply 500. Further, the outdoor control unit 22 supplies electric power to the compressor 30, the preheating executing means 31, the compressor temperature detecting means 51, and the outdoor clock 40. On the substrate of the outdoor unit control device 21, switches S ₁ to S ₄ is provided as a switch, for example a relay system. Outdoor control unit 22 is connected to the compressor 30 via a switch S _1, and is connected to the preheating embodiment means 31 via switch S _2. Further, the outdoor control unit 22 is connected to the compressor temperature detecting means 51 via the switch S _3, and is connected to the outdoor watch 40 via a switch S _4.

Outdoor control unit 22 controls the respective opening and closing of the switches _S 1 to S _4. The outdoor control unit 22, as shown in FIG. 1, by all the switches _S 1 to S ₄ in the open state, the compressor 30, the preheating execution means 31, the compressor temperature detection means 51, and the outdoor watch 40 Shut off the power supply. On the other hand, the outdoor control unit 22, the respective switches S ₁ to S ₄ by the closed state, the energization of the actuator corresponding to the switch that is in the closed state.

The compressor temperature detecting means 51 is provided below the shell 30a of the compressor 30 and detects the shell temperature, which is the temperature of the shell 30a of the compressor 30. As the compressor temperature detecting means 51, a thermistor that obtains a temperature change from a change in resistance value can be used. The compressor temperature detecting means 51 detects the shell temperature by energizing from the outdoor unit control device 21, and outputs the detected shell temperature to the outdoor control unit 22. However, if it is difficult to attach the compressor temperature detecting means 51 to the lower part of the shell 30a of the compressor 30, the compressor temperature detecting means 51 may be provided at another position such as the upper part of the shell 30a of the compressor 30. The outside air temperature detecting means 52 includes, for example, a thermistor, and detects the outside air temperature, which is the temperature of the outside air. The outside air temperature detecting means 52 outputs the detected outside air temperature to the outdoor control unit 22.

The preheating implementing means 31 heats the compressor 30 by energizing from the outdoor unit control device 21. The preheating implementing means 31 is, for example, a crankcase heater provided in the lower part of the outer shell of the compressor 30 and generating heat when energized from the outdoor unit control device 21. As the preheating implementing means 31, a winding of a driving motor (not shown) of the compressor 30 may be used. That is, the outdoor unit control device 21 functions the winding of the driving motor as the preheating executing means 31 by energizing the winding of the driving motor of the stopped compressor 30 and restraining energization using the heat generated by the winding. You may let me.

Here, the indoor clock 14 and the management clock 82 continue to keep track of time even in a low power state. On the other hand, the outdoor clock 40 stops counting the time in the low power state. In the initial state, first, the time is set in the control device 80, and the set time of the management clock 82 is fixed. Then, the control device 80 transmits a time signal including the information of the set time to the indoor control unit 12. Then, the indoor control unit 12 reflects the set time of the management clock 82 in the set time of the indoor clock 14 by using the time signal received from the control device 80. Further, the indoor control unit 12 transmits the time signal received from the control device 80 to the outdoor control unit 22. Then, the outdoor control unit 22 reflects the set time of the management clock 82 in the set time of the outdoor clock 40.

Further, after the above initial setting, the control device 80 periodically transmits a time signal including the information of the set time of the management clock 82 to the indoor control unit 12. Each time the indoor control unit 12 receives a time signal from the control device 80, the indoor control unit 12 overwrites the set time of the management clock 82 with the set time of the indoor clock 14. Each time the outdoor control unit 22 receives a time signal from the control device 80 via the indoor control unit 12, the outdoor control unit 22 overwrites the set time of the management clock 82 with the set time of the outdoor clock 40. When the air conditioner 100 starts operation at an arbitrary time by the timer function, the outdoor control unit 22 reflects the set time of the indoor clock 14 in the set time of the outdoor clock 40.

By the way, although not shown as a whole, the air conditioner 100 includes a refrigerant circuit in which the compressor 30, the outdoor heat exchanger, the expansion valve, and the indoor heat exchanger are connected by a refrigerant pipe to circulate the refrigerant. .. The compressor 30 is driven by, for example, an inverter to compress the refrigerant. The outdoor heat exchanger is composed of, for example, a fin-and-tube heat exchanger, and exchanges heat between the refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant circuit and the outside air. The expansion valve is composed of, for example, an electronic expansion valve, and decompresses and expands the refrigerant. The indoor heat exchanger is composed of, for example, a fin-and-tube heat exchanger, and exchanges heat between the refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant circuit and the air in the air-conditioned space. The outdoor heat exchanger is provided in the outdoor unit 20, and the indoor heat exchanger is provided in the indoor unit 10.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the functional configuration of the outdoor control unit of FIG. FIG. 3 is a table illustrating cumulative data updated by the outdoor control unit of FIG. FIG. 4 is a table illustrating a state in which the cumulative data of FIG. 3 has been updated. FIG. 5 is a table illustrating the criteria for the outdoor control unit of FIG. 2 to determine the necessity of preheating. FIG. 6 is a table showing an example of the result of the outdoor control unit of FIG. 2 determining the necessity of preheating for each set time zone. FIG. 7 is a table illustrating reference temperature specifying data used when the outdoor control unit of FIG. 2 obtains a preheating reference temperature. The functional configuration of the outdoor control unit 22 will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 7.

As shown in FIG. 2, the outdoor control unit 22 includes a cumulative processing unit 23, a reference temperature calculation unit 24, an operation processing unit 25, a counter 26, and a storage unit 27. The counter 26 integrates the number of operations, which is the number of times the compressor 30 has started operation in the set time zone. When the counter 26 is reset, the number of operations becomes 0.

Various data such as various threshold values are stored in the storage unit 27. Although details of each term will be described later, the storage unit 27 stores cumulative data 27a in which the number of operations in the cumulative period and the outside air temperature are recorded in association with the set time zone. Further, the storage unit 27 stores the outside air reference temperature To, which is a threshold value for determining the necessity of preheating the compressor 30. Further, the storage unit 27 stores the preheating necessity data 27b in which the information on the necessity of preheating of the compressor 30 set based on the outside air temperature is associated with each of the plurality of set time zones. Further, the storage unit 27 stores the reference temperature specifying data 27c in which the preheating reference temperature is associated with the minimum outside air temperature T and the cumulative number of operations N. In addition, the storage unit 27 stores operation programs for the outdoor control unit 22 to realize various functions.

The cumulative processing unit 23 creates and updates the cumulative data 27a stored in the storage unit 27. In the cumulative data 27a, a cumulative period including a plurality of division periods is set, and each division period is divided into a plurality of time zones. In the example of FIG. 3, the cumulative period is set to one week and the division period is set to one day. Each of the plurality of division periods is divided into a plurality of common time zones. Here, each of the plurality of time zones set in each division period is referred to as a set time zone. The cumulative period is a period in which the number of operations, which is the number of times the compressor 30 has started operation, is accumulated in each set time zone, and is a period in which the outside air temperature is stocked. Since the cumulative data 27a is configured as described above, it is possible to manage the data for each set time zone within the cumulative period.

By the way, the set time zone of "0:00 to 2:59" in FIG. 3 and the like is a time zone from 0:00 to immediately before 3:00. The same applies to other set time zones. That is, when 3 hours have passed since the start of a certain set time zone, the time zone is switched to the next set time zone. Here, for example, it is assumed that, in the initial state, the outdoor control unit 22 starts recording data in the cumulative data 27a from Monday. Then, in the second week, when the second Monday is reached, the cumulative processing unit 23 erases the outside temperature and the number of operations on the first Monday, and records the outside temperature and the number of operations on the second Monday. do. After that, as described above, the outside air temperature and the number of operations are updated when the set time zone is switched in each division period.

More specifically, the cumulative processing unit 23 has an outside air temperature processing unit 23a and a counting processing unit 23b. The outside air temperature processing unit 23a monitors the operating state of the compressor 30, acquires the outside air temperature from the outside air temperature detecting means 52 at the timing when the compressor 30 starts operation, and stores the outside air temperature in the storage unit 27 for primary storage. When the compressor 30 starts operating a plurality of times in one set time zone of a certain division period, the outside air temperature processing unit 23a detects the outside air temperature from the outside air temperature detecting means 52 each time the compressor 30 starts operating. get. In this case, the outside air temperature processing unit 23a overwrites the outside air temperature in the storage unit 27 with a low temperature, and holds only the lowest outside air temperature.

According to the example of FIG. 3, the outside air temperature processing unit 23a compares the current outside air temperature with the outside air temperature in the storage unit 27 in one set time zone on a certain day of the week. Then, if the outside air temperature this time is lower than the outside air temperature in the storage unit 27, the outside air temperature processing unit 23a updates the outside air temperature in the set time zone with the outside air temperature this time.

When the set time zone has changed, the outside air temperature processing unit 23a has the outside air temperature detecting means 52 if the outside air temperature is not recorded in the cumulative data 27a in any of the other division periods in the set time zone after the transition. The outside air temperature is acquired from the storage unit 27 and is temporarily stored in the storage unit 27. According to the example of FIG. 3, when the set time zone shifts on Sunday, the outside air temperature processing unit 23a does not record the outside air temperature in any of the set time zones after the transition from Monday to Saturday. The outside air temperature is acquired from the detection means 52 and is first stored in the storage unit 27.

When the set time zone ends, the outside air temperature processing unit 23a stores the primary stored outside air temperature in the corresponding portion of the cumulative data 27a. Then, the outside air temperature processing unit 23a updates the minimum outside air temperature T in the set time zone. Here, the minimum outside air temperature T is the lowest outside air temperature recorded in each division period within the cumulative period in each set time zone. That is, the outside air temperature processing unit 23a sets the first recorded outside air temperature as the minimum outside air temperature T in the initial state. Then, when the outside air temperature processing unit 23a acquires an outside air temperature lower than the current minimum outside air temperature T in the same set time zone of different division periods, the outside air temperature processing unit 23a updates the minimum outside air temperature T according to the acquired outside air temperature.

That is, if the current outside air temperature is lower than the current minimum outside air temperature T, the outside air temperature processing unit 23a updates the minimum outside air temperature T according to the current outside air temperature. On the other hand, if the outside air temperature this time is equal to or higher than the current minimum outside air temperature T, the outside air temperature processing unit 23a maintains the current minimum outside air temperature T. When the division period is one day and the cumulative period is one week, the current minimum outside air temperature T is the minimum outside air temperature T for one week up to yesterday.

Here, with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the update process of the minimum outside air temperature T by the outside air temperature processing unit 23a will be specifically described. For example, when the set time zone currently being processed is the time zone "3: 00-5: 59" on Tuesday and the outside air temperature temporarily stored in the storage unit 27 is "-8 ° C.", FIG. 3 shows. Record “-8 ° C” at the relevant location X where the outside air temperature is not recorded, as shown in FIG. Further, for example, when the set time zone currently being processed is the time zone "18:00 to 20:59" on Saturday and the outside air temperature temporarily stored in the storage unit 27 is "-12 ° C.", the figure is shown in the figure. The outside air temperature of last week, "-3 ° C.", is recorded in the corresponding portion Y of 3. Therefore, the outside air temperature processing unit 23a rewrites the outside air temperature of the corresponding portion Y to "-12 ° C." as shown in FIG. Then, the outside air temperature processing unit 23a rewrites the temperature in the recording column P, which is "-8 ° C." in FIG. 3, to "-12 ° C." as shown in FIG.

The count processing unit 23b accumulates the number of operations, which is the number of times the compressor 30 has started operation, for each set time zone and stores it in the storage unit 27. More specifically, the count processing unit 23b monitors the operating state of the compressor 30 and counts the number of operations of the counter 26 when the compressor 30 starts operation. That is, the count processing unit 23b adds 1 to the number of operations of the counter 26 at the timing when the compressor 30 starts operation for each set time zone.

Further, when the set time zone ends, the count processing unit 23b stores the number of operations of the counter 26 in the corresponding portion of the cumulative data 27a. Then, the count processing unit 23b updates the integrated operation number N in the set time zone. The total number of operations N is the total number of operations, which is the number of times the compressor 30 has started operation, for each set time zone. That is, the cumulative number of operations N is the total number of operations for each set time zone in the entire cumulative period. The count processing unit 23b maintains the cumulative number of operations N when the number of operations in the cumulative data 27a does not change. The count processing unit 23b resets the counter 26 every time the set time zone ends.

Here, with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the update process of the integrated operation number N by the count processing unit 23b will be specifically described. As shown in FIG. 3, when the cumulative period is one week and a plurality of common set time zones are provided for each day of the week from Monday to Sunday, the count processing unit 23b sets for each day of the week. Count the number of operations for each time zone. Then, the count processing unit 23b updates the integrated operation number N at the timing when the set time zone ends. In FIG. 3, seven set time zones are set within the cumulative period. Therefore, the count processing unit 23b adds up the number of operations of each day of the week for one set time zone, and updates the total number of operations N according to the total value.

For example, when the set time zone currently being processed is the time zone of "0:00 to 2:59" on Monday and the number of operations of the counter 26 is "2", the corresponding portion Z which is "0" in FIG. Rewrite the value of to "2" as shown in FIG. Then, the count processing unit 23b updates the cumulative operation count N of the recording column Q, which is “twice” as shown in FIG. 3, to “four times” as shown in FIG. At that time, the count processing unit 23b resets the number of operations of the counter 26.

Further, the outside air temperature processing unit 23a determines the necessity of preheating for each set time zone in the cumulative period according to the preheating necessity determination table of FIG. That is, the outside air temperature processing unit 23a compares the minimum outside air temperature T with the outside air reference temperature To, and determines whether or not the minimum outside air temperature T is equal to or less than the outside air reference temperature To. Then, the outside air temperature processing unit 23a stores the information on the necessity of preheating in the preheating necessity data 27b according to the result of the determination. That is, the outside air temperature processing unit 23a records the information that preheating is necessary when the minimum outside air temperature T is equal to or less than the outside air reference temperature To, in the corresponding portion of the preheating necessity data 27b. When the minimum outside air temperature T is higher than the outside air reference temperature To, the outside air temperature processing unit 23a records information that preheating is not necessary in the corresponding portion of the preheating necessity data 27b.

As shown in FIG. 6, the preheating necessity data 27b is table information in which the set time zone and the information on the necessity of preheating are associated with each other, and the data of the minimum outside air temperature T may not be included. In FIG. 6, the information that preheating is necessary is “necessary”, and the information that preheating is not necessary is “no”. The same applies to each of the other figures. The outside air temperature processing unit 23a may set a flag such as "0" or "1" as information on the necessity of preheating.

By the way, the temperature at which the refrigerating machine oil solidifies differs depending on the type of refrigerating machine oil. Therefore, the outside air reference temperature To may be set according to the type of refrigerating machine oil, that is, the characteristics of the refrigerating machine oil. With such a setting, when the minimum outside air temperature T is equal to or lower than the outside air reference temperature To, it is presumed that there is a concern of solidification due to an increase in the viscosity of the refrigerating machine oil and that the low temperature startability may be impaired. Further, when the minimum outside air temperature T is higher than the outside air reference temperature To, it is presumed that there is little concern about solidification due to an increase in the viscosity of the refrigerating machine oil, and the influence on the operation startability of the compressor 30 is small.

Here, with reference to FIG. 6, the process of determining the necessity of preheating by the outside air temperature processing unit 23a will be specifically described. Here, it is assumed that the outside air reference temperature To is set to 0 ° C. Each data in FIG. 6 corresponds to FIG.

In FIG. 6, in the set time zone of “0:00 to 2:59”, the minimum outside air temperature T is “-13 ° C.”, and “-13 ° C.” is equal to or less than the outside air reference temperature To. Therefore, the outside air temperature processing unit 23a sets the necessity of preheating in this set time zone to "necessary". The outside air temperature processing unit 23a may set a flag of "1", for example. Similarly, "3: 00-5: 59", "6: 00-8: 59", "9: 00-11: 59", "18: 00-20: 59", and "21: 00-23". In the set time zone of ": 59", the minimum outside air temperature T is equal to or less than the outside air reference temperature To. Therefore, the outside air temperature processing unit 23a sets the necessity of preheating in these set time zones to "necessary".

On the other hand, in the set time zones of "12:00 to 14:59" and "15:00 to 17:59", the minimum outside air temperature T is higher than the outside air reference temperature To, so that the outside air temperature processing unit 23a has these. Set the necessity of preheating in the set time zone to "No". The outside air temperature processing unit 23a may set a flag of "0", for example.

The reference temperature calculation unit 24 obtains the preheating reference temperature in the set time zone by comparing the minimum outside air temperature T and the integrated operation frequency N in each set time zone with the reference temperature specifying data 27c. Then, the reference temperature calculation unit 24 stores the obtained preheating reference temperature in the storage unit 27 in association with each set time zone. In the present embodiment, the reference temperature calculation unit 24 records the obtained preheating reference temperature in the preheating reference data which is the table information in which the plurality of set time zones and the preheating reference temperature are associated with each other. Here, the preheating reference temperature is a threshold value that determines the timing for preheating the compressor 30. That is, the preheating reference temperature is a temperature that serves as a criterion for determining whether or not the compressor 30 needs to be preheated, that is, whether or not the preheating executing means 31 needs to be energized in the standby state described later.

The reference temperature specifying data 27c illustrated in FIG. 7 is table information in which the preheating reference temperature corresponding to each combination of the outside air temperature range and the integrated operation number N is set. Here, the outside air temperature range is a plurality of ranges with respect to the minimum outside air temperature T. The reference temperature specific data 27c is configured such that the preheating reference temperature increases as the minimum outside air temperature T decreases and the preheating reference temperature increases as the number of operations increases. More specifically, each information constituting the reference temperature specifying data 27c is determined based on the following concept.

That is, in the time zone when the outside air temperature is relatively low, the shell temperature of the compressor 30 drops significantly after the preheating is completed. Therefore, in such a time zone, even if the temperature of the compressor 30 reaches a relatively high temperature, the preheating is stopped, and the temperature of the shell 30a is lowered, the temperature of the refrigerating machine oil can suppress the increase in viscosity. Do not let it drop below the temperature. Further, there is a high probability that the compressor 30 will be operated in the set time zone in which the cumulative number of operations N is relatively large. Therefore, in addition to increasing the viscosity of the refrigerating machine oil, the temperature of the shell 30a is higher than when the cumulative number of operations N is relatively small in order to quickly reach the target temperature when the operation is started. The shell 30a of the compressor 30 is preheated so as to be.

In the reference temperature specific data 27c illustrated in FIG. 7, the outside air temperature range is “-10 ° C <T ≦ 0 ° C”, “-20 ° C <T ≦ -10 ° C”, and “-30 ° C <T ≦ -20 ° C”. , And "T ≦ −30 ° C." are set in four ranges. Further, in the reference temperature specifying data 27c, a threshold value Nx for the number of operations, which is a slight reference for the total number of operations N in the set time zone, is set. In the reference temperature specifying data 27c illustrated in FIG. 7, two integrated operation number ranges, which are a plurality of ranges for the integrated operation number N, are set with one operation number threshold value Nx as a boundary. That is, “N ≦ Nx” and “N> Nx” are set as the integrated operation number range. Note that FIGS. 3 and 4 exemplify the preheating reference temperature when the operation number threshold value Nx is set to “2”.

If the first condition is satisfied when the minimum outside air temperature T is slightly low and the cumulative number of operations N is small, there is a concern that the viscosity of the refrigerating machine oil may increase. Therefore, in the set time zone belonging to the first condition, it is necessary to preheat to a temperature at which an increase in the viscosity of the refrigerating machine oil can be suppressed. FIG. 7 exemplifies the condition that the outside air temperature range is “-10 ° C. <T ≦ 0 ° C.” and the cumulative number of operations N is equal to or less than the operation number threshold Nx as the first condition. The temperature is set to "10 ° C".

The minimum outside air temperature T is about the same as the first condition described above, but when the second condition is satisfied in which the cumulative number of operations N is large and the probability that the compressor 30 is operated is high, the temperature of the shell 30a is relatively high. It is necessary to preheat until it becomes possible to ensure quick operation startability. Therefore, the preheating reference temperature is set to a temperature higher than the first condition. In FIG. 7, as the second condition, the condition that the outside air temperature range is “-10 ° C. <T ≦ 0 ° C.” and the cumulative number of operations N is larger than the operation number threshold Nx is illustrated, and the preheating reference temperature is illustrated. Is set to "20 ° C". The set time zone of "18:00 to 20:59" in FIG. 3 satisfies the second condition.

Although the probability that the compressor 30 is operated is small, when the third condition that the minimum outside air temperature T is one step lower than the first condition is satisfied, the temperature drop of the compressor 30 after the completion of preheating satisfies the first condition. Greater than the case. Therefore, the preheating reference temperature is set to a temperature higher than the case where the first condition is satisfied. Here, in FIG. 7, as the third condition, the condition that the outside air temperature range is “-20 ° C. <T ≦ −10 ° C.” and the cumulative number of operations N is equal to or less than the operation number threshold Nx is illustrated. The preheating reference temperature is set to "20 ° C". This is because it is necessary to warm the shell 30a to a temperature at which the decrease in viscosity can be suppressed, as compared with the case where the second condition is satisfied, after the temperature is lowered. The set time zones of "0:00 to 2:59" and "3: 00 to 5:59" in FIG. 3 satisfy the third condition.

The minimum outside air temperature T is about the same as the third condition described above, but when the fourth condition with a high probability that the compressor 30 is operated is satisfied, the preheating reference temperature is higher than when the third condition is satisfied. Set. FIG. 7 exemplifies the condition that the outside air temperature range is “-20 ° C <T ≦ -10 ° C” and the cumulative number of operations N is larger than the operation number threshold Nx as the fourth condition. The temperature is set to "30 ° C". The set time zone of "21:00 to 23:59" in FIG. 3 satisfies the fourth condition. The set time zones of "0:00 to 2:59" and "18:00 to 20:59" in FIG. 4 also satisfy the fourth condition.

Although the probability that the compressor 30 is operated is small, when the minimum outside air temperature T satisfies the fifth condition, which is two steps lower than the first condition, the preheating reference temperature is set to a higher temperature than when the third condition is satisfied. NS. In FIG. 7, as the fifth condition, the condition that the outside air temperature range is “-30 ° C <T ≦ -20 ° C” and the cumulative number of operations N is equal to or less than the operation number threshold Nx is illustrated, and preheating is performed. The reference temperature is set to "30 ° C".

The minimum outside air temperature T is about the same as the fifth condition above, but when the sixth condition with a high probability that the compressor 30 is operated is satisfied, the preheating reference temperature is higher than when the fifth condition is satisfied. Set. FIG. 7 exemplifies the condition that the outside air temperature range is “-30 ° C <T ≦ -20 ° C” and the cumulative number of operations N is larger than the operation number threshold Nx as the sixth condition. The temperature is set to "40 ° C".

When the outside air is extremely low, that is, when the seventh condition that the minimum outside air temperature T is three or more steps lower than the first condition is satisfied, the refrigerating machine oil solidifies unless the temperature of the compressor 30 is raised. There is a risk of If the refrigerating machine oil solidifies, the stopped compressor 30 may not be able to operate again. In FIG. 7, as the seventh condition, the condition that the outside air temperature range is “T ≦ −30 ° C.” is illustrated, and the preheating reference temperature is set to “50 ° C.”. That is, when the outside air is extremely low temperature, the compressor 30 is preheated to the maximum value of the preheating reference temperature regardless of the cumulative number of operations N, and the solidification of the refrigerating machine oil is suppressed.

As described above, in the set time zone in which the minimum outside air temperature T is relatively low and the temperature drop after the completion of preheating is large, it is necessary to warm the shell 30a of the compressor 30 to a temperature at which the viscosity increase can be suppressed even after the temperature drop. Therefore, the preheating reference temperature is set relatively high. Further, even if the minimum outside air temperature T is about the same, there is a high probability that the compressor 30 will be operated, and the operation startability of the compressor 30 will be improved during the set time zone in which the shell 30a of the compressor 30 needs to be warmed. Therefore, the preheating reference temperature is set relatively high. The reference temperature specific data 27c is not limited to the example of FIG. 7, and further detailed condition classification becomes possible by increasing the outside air temperature range or setting the number of operation thresholds Nx to a plurality.

The motion processing unit 25 controls the operation of an actuator such as a compressor 30 provided in the outdoor unit 20. In addition, the operation processing unit 25 executes switching processing between the standby state and the low power state. Here, the standby state is a state in which the preheating executing means 31 is energized according to a change in the shell temperature. That is, the standby state is a state in which the compressor temperature detecting means 51 and the preheating executing means 31 can be energized. The outdoor unit control device 21 can energize each actuator of the outdoor unit 20 in the standby state.

The low power state is a state in which standby power in the air conditioner 100 during operation stop is suppressed, and at least the energization of the compressor 30, the compressor temperature detecting means 51, and the preheating executing means 31 is cut off. .. In the present embodiment, the low power state is a state in which the energization of the actuators other than the outdoor control unit 22 among the actuators of the outdoor unit 20 is cut off. That is, the operation processing unit 25, when switching to the low power state, and all the switches S ₁ to S ₄ in the open state, the compressor 30, the preheating execution means 31, the compressor temperature detecting means 51 and the outdoor timepiece 40, Shut off the power to. Note that FIG. 1 illustrates, but is not limited to, the compressor 30, the preheating executing means 31, the outdoor clock 40, and the compressor temperature detecting means 51 as actuators other than the outdoor control unit 22.

The operation processing unit 25 stops the compressor 30 in response to the operation stop signal transferred from the indoor control unit 12, and shifts to the standby state. The operation processing unit 25 waits until the specified time elapses after the standby state is set, and when the specified time elapses, confirms the necessity of preheating in the current set time zone. The specified time is set to, for example, 30 minutes and can be changed as appropriate.

If the current set time zone is set to "required", the operation processing unit 25 reads the preheating end time, which is the time when the preheating is not required next, from the preheating necessity data 27b, and stores it in the storage unit 27. Let me. The preheating end time is the latest time when the information on the necessity of preheating becomes "No". Then, the operation processing unit 25 determines whether or not the low power setting is effectively set at the preheating end time stored in the storage unit 27. On the other hand, if the current set time zone is set to "No", the operation processing unit 25 subsequently executes the determination of the effectiveness of the low power setting.

The low power setting is a setting for switching from the standby state to the low power state. That is, if the low power setting is enabled, the operation processing unit 25 switches between the standby state and the low power state, and if the low power setting is disabled, the operation processing unit 25 switches from the standby state to the low power state. Prohibit switching to the state. The user can register and cancel the low power setting through the control device 80.

If the low power setting is effectively set, the operation processing unit 25 reads out the preheating start time, which is the time when the preheating is required next, from the preheating necessity data 27b, and stores it in the storage unit 27. The preheating start time is the latest time when the information on the necessity of preheating becomes "necessary". Then, the operation processing unit 25 shifts to the low power state. Further, when the preheating start time is reached, the operation processing unit 25 reads the preheating end time from the preheating necessity data 27b, stores it in the storage unit 27, and shifts to the standby state.

Further, the operation processing unit 25 repeats the execution and interruption of the preheating based on the preheating reference temperature in the standby state. That is, the operation processing unit 25 energizes the compressor temperature detecting means 51 at a predetermined timing in the standby state, and acquires the shell temperature from the compressor temperature detecting means 51. Then, if the shell temperature is equal to or lower than the preheating reference temperature, the operation processing unit 25 preheats the compressor 30 by energizing the preheating executing means 31. On the other hand, if the shell temperature is higher than the preheating reference temperature, the operation processing unit 25 stops the preheating of the compressor 30 by stopping the energization of the preheating executing means 31.

The indoor control unit 12 and the outdoor control unit 22 can each be configured by an arithmetic unit such as a microcomputer and software that realizes each of the above functions in cooperation with such an arithmetic unit. However, the indoor control unit 12 and the outdoor control unit 22 may be configured to include hardware such as a circuit device that realizes at least one of the above-mentioned functions. The storage unit 27 can be configured by a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory), a PROM (Programmable ROM) such as a flash memory, or the like.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the operation related to the recording process of the outside air temperature and the number of operations among the operations of the outdoor control unit of FIG. With reference to FIG. 8, the operation of the outdoor control unit 22 for setting the minimum outside air temperature T, the cumulative number of operations N, the necessity of preheating, and the preheating reference temperature will be described. Here, the processing contents from the start time to the end time of a certain set time zone will be described.

The outside air temperature processing unit 23a and the counting processing unit 23b monitor the operating state of the compressor 30 until the set time zone ends (steps S101 / No, S108 / No). When the compressor 30 starts operation (step S101 / Yes), the outside air temperature processing unit 23a acquires the outside air temperature from the outside air temperature detecting means 52 and stores it in the storage unit 27, and the counting processing unit 23b is a counter. The number of operations of 26 is counted (step S102).

The outdoor control unit 22 compresses before the set time zone ends (step S103 / No), the compressor 30 temporarily stops (step S104 / Yes), and before the set time zone ends (step S105 / No). When the machine 30 starts operation again (step S106 / Yes), the process proceeds to step S102.

In the second and subsequent steps S102, the outside air temperature processing unit 23a compares the current outside air temperature with the outside air temperature in the storage unit 27, and if the current outside air temperature is lower than the outside air temperature in the storage unit 27, , The outside air temperature is overwritten in the storage unit 27. In the second and subsequent steps S102, the count processing unit 23b adds 1 to the current number of operations of the counter 26.

When the compressor 30 starts the operation only once and the set time zone ends (step S103 / Yes), the count processing unit 23b stores the current number of operations of the counter 26 in the corresponding place in the cumulative data 27a. The total number of operations N is updated (step S107). In this case, the case where the compressor 30 starts the operation and then ends the set time zone without stopping (step S104 / No) (step S103 / Yes) is also included. Further, the counting processing unit 23b also steps when the temporarily stopped compressor 30 (step S104 / Yes) ends the set time zone without restarting the operation (step S106 / No) (step S105 / Yes). The process of S107 is executed.

When the set time zone ends (step S108 / Yes) without the compressor 30 starting operation (step S101 / No), the outside air temperature processing unit 23a determines another division within the cumulative period for the set time zone. It is determined whether or not the outside air temperature exists during the period (step S109). If the outside air temperature exists (step S109 / Yes), the outside air temperature processing unit 23a shifts to the processing of step S111. On the other hand, if the outside air temperature does not exist (step S109 / No), the outside air temperature processing unit 23a acquires the outside air temperature from the outside air temperature detecting means 52 at the end of the set time zone, and stores the outside air temperature in the storage unit 27 for primary storage (step S109 / No). Step S110).

Next, the outside air temperature processing unit 23a stores the outside air temperature primary stored in the storage unit 27 in the corresponding location in the cumulative data 27a, and updates the minimum outside air temperature T (step S111). Further, the outside air temperature processing unit 23a determines whether or not the minimum outside air temperature T is equal to or less than the outside air reference temperature To (step S112). Then, when the minimum outside air temperature T is equal to or less than the outside air reference temperature To (step S112 / Yes), the outside air temperature processing unit 23a stores the information that preheating is necessary in the storage unit 27. That is, the outside air temperature processing unit 23a sets the necessity of preheating the compressor 30 to "necessary" (step S113). On the other hand, when the minimum outside air temperature T is higher than the outside air reference temperature To (step S112 / No), the outside air temperature processing unit 23a stores information that preheating is not necessary in the storage unit 27. That is, the outside air temperature processing unit 23a sets the necessity of preheating the compressor 30 to “No” (step S114).

Next, the reference temperature calculation unit 24 reads out the minimum outside air temperature T and the integrated operation number N in the set time zone ended this time from the storage unit 27. Further, the reference temperature calculation unit 24 obtains the preheating reference temperature by comparing the read minimum outside air temperature T and the integrated operation number N with the reference temperature specifying data 27c. Then, the reference temperature calculation unit 24 updates the preheating reference temperature in the set time zone in the preheating reference data according to the obtained preheating reference temperature (step S115).

By the way, FIG. 8 illustrates a case where the determination of whether or not the outside air temperature exists in another division period within the cumulative period is performed at the timing when the set time zone ends, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the outside air temperature processing unit 23a makes the determination at the timing when the set time zone starts, and if the outside air temperature does not exist, at that time, the outside air temperature is acquired from the outside air temperature detecting means 52 and stored in the storage unit 27. It may be stored in the primary.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the operation related to the switching process between the standby state and the low power state among the operations of the air conditioner of FIG. The switching process between the standby state and the low power state by the outdoor control unit 22 will be described with reference to FIG.

The indoor control unit 12 controls the air conditioner 100 in cooperation with the outdoor control unit 22 until the operation stop signal is received from the control device 80 (step S201 / No). When the indoor control unit 12 receives the operation stop signal from the control device 80 (step S201 / Yes), the indoor control unit 12 transmits the received operation stop signal to the outdoor control unit 22. The operation processing unit 25 stops the operation of the compressor 30 in response to the operation stop signal received via the indoor control unit 12, and shifts to the standby state (step S202).

Next, the operation processing unit 25 maintains the standby state until a predetermined time elapses after the standby state is reached (step S203 / No). When the specified time has elapsed (step S203 / Yes), the operation processing unit 25 refers to the preheating necessity data 27b and determines whether or not the preheating necessity of the current set time zone is set to “necessary”. Is determined (step S204). If the current set time zone is set to "No" (step S204 / No), the operation processing unit 25 shifts to the processing of step S207.

On the other hand, if the current set time zone is set to "required" (step S204 / Yes), the operation processing unit 25 reads the preheating end time from the preheating necessity data 27b and stores it in the storage unit 27 (step). S205). The operation processing unit 25 maintains the standby state until the preheating end time is reached (step S206 / No), and when the preheating end time is reached (step S206 / Yes), whether or not the low power setting is effectively set. Is determined (step S207).

If the low power setting is enabled (step S207 / Yes), the operation processing unit 25 reads the preheating start time from the preheating necessity data 27b, stores it in the storage unit 27, and shifts to the low power state (step S207 / Yes). Step S208). The operation processing unit 25 maintains a low power state until the preheating start time is reached (step S209 / No). When the preheating start time is reached (step S209 / Yes), the operation processing unit 25 reads the preheating end time from the preheating necessity data 27b, stores it in the storage unit 27, and shifts to the standby state (step S210). , The process proceeds to step S206.

On the other hand, if the low power setting is not effectively set (step S207 / No), the operation processing unit 25 maintains the standby state (step S211) and shifts to the processing of step S201. However, even during the above series of processing, when the operation processing unit 25 receives the operation start signal, the operation processing unit 25 starts the operation of the compressor 30, so that the standby state or the low power state is released. .. The operation processing unit 25 repeatedly executes the series of processes of steps S201 to S211 described above for each set time zone.

Here, taking FIG. 6 as an example, assuming that the specified time is 30 minutes, the operation related to the processing in step S204 will be specifically described. For example, when the compressor 30 is stopped at 9:30, the time when the specified time elapses after the compressor 30 is stopped is 10:00, and 10:00 belongs to the "required" set time zone. (Step S204 / Yes). Therefore, the operation processing unit 25 reads the preheating end time of 12:00 from the preheating necessity data 27b and stores it in the storage unit 27 (step S205). On the other hand, for example, when the compressor 30 stops at 12:30, the time when the specified time elapses after the compressor 30 stops is 13:00, and 13:00 is the set time zone of "No". (Step S204 / No). Therefore, if the low power setting is enabled (step S207 / Yes), the operation processing unit 25 reads out the preheating start time of 18:00 from the preheating necessity data 27b and stores it in the storage unit 27 (step S207 / Yes). Step S208).

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the preheat treatment after shifting to the standby state among the operations of the air conditioner of FIG. 1. With reference to FIG. 10, the energization process of the preheating executing means 31 by the outdoor control unit 22 will be described.

When the operation processing unit 25 shifts to the standby state, first, the compressor temperature detecting means 51 is energized and the shell temperature is acquired from the compressor temperature detecting means 51. Further, the operation processing unit 25 reads out the preheating reference temperature in the current set time zone from the preheating reference data. Then, the operation processing unit 25 determines whether or not the acquired shell temperature is equal to or lower than the read preheating reference temperature (step S301).

If the shell temperature is higher than the preheating reference temperature (step S301 / No), the operation processing unit 25 waits until the shell temperature drops to the preheating reference temperature. During this time, the operation processing unit 25 energizes the compressor temperature detecting means 51 at predetermined intervals to acquire the shell temperature, and determines whether or not the shell temperature is equal to or lower than the preheating reference temperature (step S301). Here, the specified interval may be a preset constant time interval, or may be changed according to the difference between the shell temperature and the preheating reference temperature. When the specified interval is changed according to the difference between the shell temperature and the preheating reference temperature, the smaller the difference between the shell temperature and the preheating reference temperature, the shorter the specified interval may be.

On the other hand, if the shell temperature is equal to or lower than the preheating reference temperature (step S301 / Yes), the operation processing unit 25 energizes the preheating executing means 31 and starts preheating the compressor 30 (step S302). Then, the operation processing unit 25 energizes the compressor temperature detecting means 51 at a predetermined interval to acquire the shell temperature, and determines whether or not the shell temperature is higher than the preheating reference temperature (step S303). The specified interval in step S303 is determined in the same manner as the specified interval in step S301, and may be the same as or different from the specified interval in step S301.

The operation processing unit 25 waits until the shell temperature becomes higher than the preheating reference temperature (step S303 / No). When the shell temperature becomes higher than the preheating reference temperature (step S303 / Yes), the operation processing unit 25 stops the preheating of the compressor 30 by stopping the energization of the preheating executing means 31 (step S304). ..

The operation processing unit 25 repeatedly executes the series of processes of steps S301 to S304 described above while the standby state continues. Here, when the minimum outside air temperature T and the integrated operation frequency N are updated, the preheating reference temperature corresponding to the minimum outside air temperature T and the integrated operation frequency N may change. Therefore, it is preferable that the operation processing unit 25 reads the preheating reference temperature from the preheating reference data at least in the determination process of step S301 or S303 after the set time zone has changed.

As described above, the air conditioner 100 in the present embodiment switches between the low power state and the standby state based on the preheating necessity data 27b, reduces the target of energization in the low power state, and freezes in the standby state. It is possible to suppress an increase in the viscosity of machine oil. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the standby power after the operation is stopped and improve the operation startability of the compressor. That is, the operation processing unit 25 cuts off the energization of the actuators of the outdoor unit 20 such as the compressor 30, the preheating executing means 31, the outdoor clock 40, and the compressor temperature detecting means 51 in a low power state. Since the operation processing unit 25 can energize the compressor temperature detecting means 51 and the preheating executing means 31 in the standby state, the compressor 30 can be preheated as necessary. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the power consumption while the compressor 30 is stopped, and to avoid a situation in which the viscosity of the refrigerating machine oil increases due to a temperature drop and the refrigerating machine oil solidifies.

Further, the operation processing unit 25 sets the low power state when the information indicating that preheating is not necessary is recorded in the preheating necessity data 27b. Therefore, it is possible to omit energization of the sensor and the like when switching between the standby state and the low power state, and calculation processing based on the sensing data. Further, a plurality of set time zones are set by dividing one day, and the minimum outside air temperature in the cumulative period of two days or more is recorded in the preheating necessity data 27b for each set time zone. There is. Then, the outside air temperature processing unit 23a records in the preheating necessity data 27b information that preheating is not necessary as information on the necessity of preheating in the set time zone in which the minimum outside air temperature T is higher than the outside air reference temperature To. do. Therefore, since the latest change in the outside air temperature is reflected in the information on the necessity of preheating based on the cumulative data 27a, it is possible to improve the reliability of the timing of switching between the standby state and the low power state.

In addition, the outside air temperature processing unit 23a provides the preheating necessity data 27b with information indicating that preheating is necessary as information on the necessity of preheating in the set time zone when the minimum outside air temperature T is equal to or less than the outside air reference temperature To. Record. Then, the operation processing unit 25 is put into a standby state at the set time zone in which the information indicating that preheating is necessary is recorded in the preheating necessity data 27b. Therefore, by using the information on the necessity of preheating that reflects the latest changes in the outside air temperature, it is possible to accurately grasp the situation in which the temperature drop of the refrigerating machine oil should be suppressed and shift to the standby state. It is possible to suppress an increase in viscosity and prevent solidification of refrigerating machine oil. Further, since the outside air reference temperature is set according to the characteristics of the refrigerating machine oil stored in the compressor 30, it is possible to accurately suppress the increase in the viscosity of the refrigerating machine oil and prevent the refrigerating machine oil from solidifying. ..

Further, the operation processing unit 25 energizes the compressor temperature detecting means 51 to acquire the shell temperature in the standby state, and energizes the preheating executing means 31 when the acquired shell temperature is equal to or lower than the preheating reference temperature. .. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the energization of each actuator as much as possible and avoid the situation where the viscosity of the refrigerating machine oil becomes high. Further, the count processing unit 23b accumulates the number of operations for each set time zone and stores it in the storage unit 27, and the operation processing unit 25 preheats the minimum outside air temperature T and the number of operations in light of the reference temperature specific data 27c. Find the reference temperature. Therefore, the preheating amount of the compressor 30 can be adjusted based on the preheating reference temperature for each set time zone according to the minimum outside air temperature T and the number of operations, so that the energization process to the preheating executing means 31 is accurate. Can be done well.

The reference temperature specific data 27c is configured such that the preheating reference temperature increases as the minimum outside air temperature T decreases. Therefore, even during the time period when the outside air temperature is relatively low and the shell temperature of the compressor 30 drops significantly, the temperature of the refrigerating machine oil is constant by raising the temperature of the compressor 30 to a relatively high temperature. It can be prevented from falling below the temperature. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the viscosity of the refrigerating machine oil from increasing to the extent that the operation startability of the compressor 30 is hindered, and to prevent the refrigerating machine oil from solidifying. Therefore, even when the outside air is low, the compressor 30 can be started quickly.

Further, the reference temperature specific data 27c is configured so that the preheating reference temperature increases as the number of operations increases. That is, the air conditioner 100 is configured to preheat the shell 30a of the compressor 30 to a higher temperature than when the number of operations is small in the set time zone when the number of operations is large. Therefore, the viscosity of the refrigerating machine oil can be increased during the time period when the compressor 30 is likely to be operated, and the temperature of the shell 30a at the start of operation of the compressor 30 can be quickly raised to the target temperature. , The operation startability of the compressor 30 can be improved. That is, the air conditioner 100 obtains the preheating reference temperature by comparing the cumulative number of operations N, which is the cumulative number of past operations, and the minimum outside air temperature T, with reference temperature specific data 27c, for each set time zone. Then, in the reference temperature specific data 27c, the preheating reference temperature is set to a relatively high temperature in the set time zone in which the integrated operation number N is large and the minimum outside air temperature T is low. Therefore, preheating of the compressor 30 exceeding the required amount can be suppressed. At the same time, even if the compressor 30 is cooled after the completion of preheating and the temperature of the refrigerating machine oil drops, the lower limit of the temperature can be raised, so that an excessive increase in the viscosity of the refrigerating machine oil can be suppressed and the refrigerating machine oil can be used. Solidification can be prevented.

By the way, in FIG. 7, reference temperature specifying data 27c in which four outside air temperature ranges and one operation number threshold value Nx are set is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this. The reference temperature specific data 27c may have three or less or five or more outside air temperature ranges. Further, the reference temperature specifying data 27c may be set with three or more integrated operation number ranges based on a plurality of operation number thresholds Nx. The preheating reference temperature is not limited to the example shown in FIG. 7, and can be appropriately changed according to the characteristics of the refrigerating machine oil and the like. That is, the preheating reference temperature can be arbitrarily set and changed for each combination of the plurality of outside air temperature ranges and the plurality of integrated operation frequency ranges.

Here, in the air conditioner of Patent Document 1, a predetermined temperature used for determining the necessity of preheating of the compressor is a single fixed value. Therefore, when the outside air temperature is relatively high, more heat than necessary is given to the compressor, and extra standby power is consumed. On the other hand, when the outside air temperature is relatively low, the compressor cannot be provided with the amount of heat required to reduce the viscosity of the refrigerating machine oil at an appropriate frequency, even though the temperature drops quickly after the preheating is completed. Therefore, there is a problem that the operation startability of the compressor is lowered.

In this regard, as described above, the air conditioner 100 in the present embodiment uses the preheating reference temperature corresponding to each combination of the outside air temperature range and the integrated operation frequency range, so that the air conditioner 100 is preheated according to the change in the outside air temperature. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the operation startability of the compressor 30. By the way, the reference temperature specific data 27c may be one in which the outside air temperature range is not set and two or more integrated operation frequency ranges are set. Further, the reference temperature specific data 27c may be one in which the operation number threshold value Nx is not set and only a plurality of outside air temperature ranges are set. Even in this way, since the preheating reference temperature according to the outside air temperature or the cumulative number of operations N can be used, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the operation startability of the compressor 30 as compared with the conventional case.

The above-described embodiment is a suitable specific example in an air conditioner, and the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. For example, in FIG. 3 and the like, the case where the cumulative period is set to one week is illustrated, but the case is not limited to this, and it is set to various periods such as 10 days, 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year, and can be changed as appropriate. Can be done. The operation number threshold value Nx may be increased as the cumulative period becomes longer. Further, in FIG. 3 and the like, the case where the plurality of set time zones are all set to 3 hours is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this. Each set time zone may be shorter or longer than 3 hours, and the length may be different for each set time zone.

In the above description, when the reference temperature calculation unit 24 obtains the preheating reference temperature for each set time zone by comparing the minimum outside air temperature T and the integrated operation frequency N with the reference temperature specific data 27c, and records the preheating reference data. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the operation processing unit 25 compares the shell temperature with the preheating reference temperature, the operation processing unit 25 reads the minimum outside air temperature T and the integrated operation number N from the storage unit 27, and reads the read minimum outside air temperature T and the integrated operation number N as the reference temperature. The preheating reference temperature may be obtained in light of the specific data 27c. If such a configuration is adopted, the outdoor control unit 22 can be configured without providing the reference temperature calculation unit 24, and the storage unit 27 does not have to store the preheating reference data.

In the above description, the case where the indoor unit control device 11 and the outdoor unit control device 21 are separately provided has been illustrated, but the air conditioner 100 is not limited to this, and the air conditioner 100 includes the functions of the indoor unit control device 11 and the outdoor unit. It may be provided with one control device which also has the function of the control device 21. In FIGS. 3 and 4, for convenience, the cumulative data 27a includes information on the necessity of preheating and the preheating reference temperature, but the cumulative data 27a includes information on the necessity of preheating and the preheating reference temperature. It may be configured without including.

10 Indoor unit, 11 Indoor unit control device, 12 Indoor control unit, 13 Signal receiver, 14 Indoor clock, 18 Indoor clock, 20 Outdoor unit, 21 Outdoor unit control device, 22 Outdoor control unit, 23 Cumulative processing unit, 23a Outdoor unit Temperature processing unit, 23b count processing unit, 24 reference temperature calculation unit, 25 operation processing unit, 26 counter, 27 storage unit, 27a cumulative data, 27b preheating necessity data, 27c reference temperature specification data, 30 compressor, 30a shell, 31 Preheating implementing means, 40 outdoor clock, 51 compressor temperature detecting means, 52 outside temperature detecting means, 80 control device, 81 control device, 82 control clock, 83 input device, 91 internal / external communication line, 92 power supply line, 100 air conditioning machine, 500 power supply, N integrated operating times, Nx operating frequency _threshold, S 1 to S ₄ switches, T the lowest outside temperature, To outdoor air reference temperature.

Claims (7)

The compressor is heated by energization from the compressor, a compressor temperature detecting means for detecting the shell temperature which is the shell temperature of the compressor, a control device for controlling the operation of the compressor, and the control device. With preheating implementation means,
The control device is
A storage unit that stores preheating necessity data in which information on the necessity of preheating of the compressor set based on the outside air temperature is associated with each of a plurality of time zones.
During stop of the compressor, on the basis of the preheating necessity data, said compressor, and a low power state to cut off the energization of the compressor temperature detection means, and the preheating execution means, changes in the shell temperature An operation processing unit that switches between a standby state in which the preheating execution means is energized according to the above.
Preheating is not necessary as information on the necessity of preheating in the time zone in which the minimum outside air temperature for each time zone is higher than the outside air reference temperature in the cumulative period including a plurality of division periods divided into the plurality of time zones. and the outside air temperature processing unit for recording the information to the effect that, to possess,
The operation processing unit
An air conditioner for setting the low power state at the time zone in which information indicating that preheating is not necessary is recorded in the preheating necessity data as information on the necessity of preheating. The division period is set to one day,
The preheated necessity data, the lowest outside temperature in the accumulation period is recorded for each of a plurality of said time zones, the air conditioner according to claim 1. The outside air temperature processing unit
In the preheating necessity data, information indicating that the preheating is necessary is recorded as information on the necessity of the preheating in the time zone when the minimum outside air temperature is equal to or lower than the outside air reference temperature.
The operation processing unit
The air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the air conditioner is put into the standby state at the time zone in which the information indicating that the preheating is necessary is recorded in the preheating necessity data. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the outside air reference temperature is set according to the characteristics of the refrigerating machine oil stored in the compressor. The operation processing unit
In the standby state, the compressor temperature detecting means is energized to acquire the shell temperature, and if the acquired shell temperature is equal to or lower than the preheating reference temperature which is a threshold value for determining the timing for preheating the compressor, the preheating is performed. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , which energizes the implementing means. The control device is
It has a count processing unit that stores in the storage unit the total number of operations in which the number of operations, which is the number of times the compressor has started operation, is added up for each time zone.
The storage unit
The reference temperature specifying data in which the preheating reference temperature is associated with the minimum outside air temperature and the integrated operation frequency is stored.
The operation processing unit
The air conditioner according to claim 5 , wherein the preheating reference temperature is obtained by comparing the number of operations and the minimum outside air temperature with the reference temperature specific data. The reference temperature specific data is
The air conditioner according to claim 6 , wherein the preheating reference temperature becomes higher when the minimum outside air temperature becomes lower, and the preheating reference temperature becomes higher when the number of operations increases.

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