JPH04240340A - Operation control method for air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate abnormal or irregular sound of air blowing under a semi-closed state in an indoor device having two upper and lower fans by a method wherein a limiter for sensing a full-opened or a full-closed state of a damper for opening or closing a lower air blowing port is provided, and the lower fan motor is rotated after a predetermined period of time when the damper starts to open from its full-closed state. CONSTITUTION:An indoor device of an air conditioner has an upper fan 1 and a lower fan 4 driven by each of fan motors 2 and 5. It includes a heat exchanger 3. The lower air blowing port is provided with a damper 6 driven by a damper motor 7. It has further an opening limiter 8 and a closing limiter 9 for use in sensing a full-opened state or a full-closed state of the damper 6. Driving of the lower fan motor 5 is started after a predetermined time of starting operation of the damper 6 from its full-closed state to its full-opened state under its operation control. At this time, the driving is started at the first set speed which is set higher than the second set speed for normally driving the lower fan motor 5, and then the driving is carried out at the second set speed after a predetermined period of time.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an operation control method for an air conditioner having two upper and lower fans for transition from a state in which one upper fan blows air to a state in which two upper and lower fans blow air.

0002

[Prior Art] This type of technology is used in an indoor unit of an air conditioner in which a blower circuit is formed by two upper and lower fans and air outlets corresponding to the two fans. This is an operation control method when transitioning to a blowing state, and the conventional technology is as shown below. When the damper starts to open from fully closed, the lower fan motor also starts to drive at a constant speed, and the upper fan motor continues to drive at a constant speed regardless of the damper's opening operation.

0003

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] However, in conventional control, when the damper that opens and closes the lower air outlet starts its opening operation from fully closed, the lower fan motor also starts driving at a constant speed. The lower fan starts blowing air when the mouth is almost blocked.
Normal lower airflow was not ensured to overcome the continued airflow from the upper fan, and after a few seconds of abnormal airflow noise due to semi-occlusion,
After a temporary period of instability where the continued air blowing state of one upper fan and the new air blowing state of the two upper and lower fans coexist, producing periodic fluctuating air blowing noise (buzzing noise), the stable upper and lower fan fan states become stable. It had switched to two different ventilation states. The present invention is intended to solve the above problems.

0004

[Means for solving the problem] First, a separate air conditioner is configured together with an outdoor unit, and a blower circuit is configured with a heat exchanger, two upper and lower fans, and air outlets corresponding to both fans. In an indoor unit, there are an upper fan motor that drives the upper fan next to the upper fan, a lower fan motor that drives the lower fan next to the lower fan, a damper that opens and closes the lower air outlet, a damper motor that drives the damper, An open limiter and a close limiter are provided to detect the fully open and fully closed states of the damper, respectively, and the drive of the lower fan motor is started after a predetermined time T1 after the damper starts to open from fully closed.

Second, the lower fan motor has set speeds A1 and A2 such that the first set speed A1>the second set speed A2, and the set speed A2 constantly drives the lower fan motor.
Driving is started at the higher set speed A1, and after a predetermined time T2, the lower fan motor is driven steadily at the set speed A2.

Third, the upper fan motor has set speeds B1 and B2 such that the first set speed B1>the second set speed B2, and when the damper starts to open from fully closed, the speed of the upper fan motor changes. is changed from the previously set speed B1 to the set speed B2, the damper is fully opened, and the upper fan motor speed is returned to the predetermined speed B1.

Fourthly, when the damper is fully opened, the upper fan motor speed is temporarily returned from the set speed B2 to the set speed B1.

[0008]

[Function] First, in an indoor unit that constitutes a separate air conditioner together with an outdoor unit, and which constitutes a blower circuit with a heat exchanger, two upper and lower fans, and air outlets corresponding to both fans, the upper Next to the fan is the upper fan motor that drives the upper fan, and next to the lower fan is the lower fan motor that drives the lower fan, the damper that opens and closes the lower air outlet, the damper motor that drives the damper, and the damper that opens and closes completely. An open limiter and a close limiter are provided to detect the closed state, respectively, and the lower fan motor starts driving after a predetermined time T1 after the damper starts to open from fully closed, thereby ensuring the opening of the lower air outlet. By driving the fan motor, it is possible to eliminate abnormal air blowing noise in a semi-closed state.

Second, the lower fan motor has set speeds A1 and A2 such that the first set speed A1>the second set speed A2, and the set speed A2 constantly drives the lower fan motor.
By starting the drive at a higher set speed A1 and after a predetermined time T2, the lower fan motor is driven steadily at the set speed A2, a new lower fan motor that instantly overcomes the continued air blowing state of one upper fan is created. It is possible to switch between two stable air blowing states, upper and lower, while ensuring airflow.

Third, the upper fan motor has set speeds B1 and B2 such that the first set speed B1>the second set speed B2, and when the damper starts to open from fully closed, the speed of the upper fan motor changes. By changing the previously set speed B1 to the set speed B2, the damper is fully opened, and the upper fan motor speed is returned to the set speed B1, thereby temporarily weakening the continued air blowing force of one upper fan. This makes it easier to secure new downward air, and the smooth transition allows the upper and lower fans to switch to a stable air blowing state.

Fourthly, when the damper is fully opened, the drive speed changes from the set speed B2 to the set speed B at the change speed C1.
By temporarily returning the upper fan motor speed to 1, the temporary unstable air blowing state on the upper blowing side in the vertical blowing state that is likely to occur due to the speed change when increasing the set speed of the upper fan motor from B2 to B1 is resolved. At the same time, the aim is to alleviate the sense of discomfort caused by rapid changes in air blowing sound due to changes in conditions.

0012

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A method of controlling the operation of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9. Figure 1
1 is a side sectional view of an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is the upper fan of the indoor unit, 2 is the upper fan motor that drives the upper fan, 3 is the heat exchanger, and 4 is the upper fan motor that drives the upper fan.
5 is the lower fan, 5 is the lower fan motor that drives the lower fan,
6 is a damper that opens and closes the lower air outlet, 7 is a damper motor that drives the damper, and 8 and 9 are an open limiter and a close limiter that respectively detect whether the damper is fully open or fully closed. Next, FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram for realizing an air conditioner operation control method according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, 10 is a selection means for selecting switching from the ventilation state of one upper fan to the ventilation state of upper and lower fans in the control device that controls the operation of the air conditioner;
Numerals 11, 12, and 13 are damper motor output means for driving the damper motor 7 and fully open/fully closed detection means for detecting whether the damper motor 7 is in a fully open or fully closed state. 14 and 15 are upper fan motor output means for driving and outputting the upper fan motor 2;
upper fan motor speed storage means for storing the speed of the fan motor. Similarly, 16 and 17 are lower fan motor output means for driving the lower fan motor 5 and the lower fan motor 5.
This is lower fan motor speed storage means for storing the speed of the lower fan motor. Reference numerals 18 and 19 denote a predetermined time storage means for storing a predetermined time of the drive output of the lower fan motor 5, and a predetermined time determining means for comparing and determining the elapsed time with the stored predetermined time. A first embodiment of a method for controlling the operation of an air conditioner configured using the above functional blocks will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 6.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the indoor unit, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the indoor unit over time. In FIGS. 3 and 6, starting from START, if the selection of switching to the ventilation state of the upper and lower fans in the operation control device is N when one upper fan is in the ventilation state (step 101), the ventilation state of one upper fan is changed to last. Y
If so, the process moves to the next STEP, where the damper motor 7 is driven and outputted (step 102), the timer is reset (step 103), and a timer count T is started (step 104). Then, the elapsed time "T" and the predetermined time "T1" of the drive output of the lower fan motor 5
” (step 105) and determines that “T>=T1”. If N, the damper motor 7 continues to maintain the drive output state, and if Y, moves to the next STEP and lower fan motor 5 (Step 106).Furthermore, if the detection of the fully closed state of the damper 6 by the close limiter 9 is N (Step 107), the above state is continued.If Y, proceed to the next STEP. Then, the drive output of the damper motor 7 is stopped (step 108).By starting the drive of the lower fan motor 5 after a predetermined time T1 after the damper 6 starts to open from fully closed, the lower air outlet is opened. After securing the opening, the lower fan motor 5 is driven to eliminate abnormal air blowing noise in the semi-closed state.

The second embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 7. The elapsed time "T" is compared with the predetermined time "T1" of the drive output of the lower fan motor 5 (step 205).
Determine “T>=T1” and if N, damper motor 7
The process until the drive output state is continued is the same as in the first embodiment, so the description thereof will be omitted. If it is Y, move on to the next STEP. The elapsed time "T", the predetermined time T1 until the drive output of the lower fan motor 5 starts, and the predetermined time T2 to maintain the drive output at the first set speed A1 set higher than the set speed A2 for steady driving. and the sum "T1+T2" (step 206) and determines "T>=T1+T2". If N, the lower fan motor 5 is driven at the set speed A1, and if Y, the process moves to the next STEP. , the lower fan motor 5 is driven steadily at the set speed A2 (step 2).
07). Then, if the detection of the fully closed state of the damper 6 by the close limiter 9 is N (step 208), the above state is continued. If Y, the process moves to the next STEP, and the drive output of the damper motor 7 is stopped (step 209
). Through the above control, the lower fan motor 5 is set at a set speed A1/A such that the first set speed A1>the second set speed A2.
2 and starts driving the lower fan motor 5 at a set speed A1 that is higher than the set speed A2 that drives the lower fan motor 5 steadily, a new lower air blower that instantly overcomes the continued air blowing state of one upper fan is generated. It is possible to securely switch between two stable air blowing conditions, upper and lower.

Next, a third embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 5 and 8. In addition to the control described in the first embodiment, the upper fan motor 2 has set speeds B1 and B2 such that the first set speed B1>the second set speed B2. When the upper fan motor 2 continues to be driven at the set speed B1 (step 301), if the selection of switching the upper and lower fans to the ventilation state of the operation control device is N (step 302).
One upper fan continues to blow air. If Y, the process moves to the next step, where the drive of the upper fan motor 2 is lowered from the previously set speed B1 to the set speed B2 (step 303), and the damper motor 7 is driven to output (step 304). Then, the timer is reset (step 305) and timer count T is started (step 306). Then, the elapsed time "T" and the predetermined time "T1" of the drive output of the lower fan motor 5 are compared (
Step 307) Determine "T>=T1", and if N, continue to maintain the drive output state of the damper motor 7, and if Y, proceed to the next STEP, and set the elapsed time "T" and lower fan motor 5 The predetermined time T1 until the drive output starts is compared with the sum "T1+T2" of the predetermined time T2 to maintain the drive output at the first set speed A1 set higher than the set speed A2 for steady driving ( Step 308) “T>=
T1+T2'' and if N, the lower fan motor 5 is driven at the set speed A1, and if Y, the process moves to the next step and the lower fan motor 5 is driven at the set speed A2 (step 309). Then, if the detection of the fully closed state of the damper 6 by the close limiter 9 is N (step 310
) Continue to maintain the driving output state of the damper motor 7. If Y, move to the next step and damper motor 7
The drive output of the upper fan is stopped (step 311), and the upper fan speed is returned to the set speed B1 (step 312).

[0016] Through the above control, the upper fan motor is
Set speed B such that the set speed B1>second set speed B2
1 and B2, and when the damper starts to open from fully closed, the speed of the upper fan motor is changed to the previously set speed B.
By changing the upper fan motor speed from 1 to the set speed B2 and fully opening the damper and returning the upper fan motor speed to the set speed B1, the force of the continued air blowing state of one upper fan is temporarily weakened and a new lower air blower is generated. This makes it easier to ensure that the upper and lower fans can switch to a stable air blowing state with a smooth transition.

Next, a fourth embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 5 and 9. In addition to the control described in the third embodiment, when the damper is fully opened and the upper fan motor speed is returned to the set speed B1 (step 410), the driving speed is changed from the set speed B2 to the set speed at the driving speed change speed C1. This is to temporarily return the upper fan motor speed to B1, and to correct the temporary unstable air blowing state on the upper blowing side in the vertical blowing state that is likely to occur due to the speed change when increasing the set speed of the upper fan motor from B2 to B1. At the same time, the aim is to alleviate the sense of discomfort caused by sudden changes in air blowing sound due to changes in conditions.

[0018]

As described above, the present invention comprises, firstly, a separate air conditioner together with an outdoor unit, and a heat exchanger, two upper and lower fans, and air outlets corresponding to both fans. In the indoor unit that makes up the ventilation circuit,
Next to the upper fan is the upper fan motor that drives the upper fan, and next to the lower fan is the lower fan motor that drives the lower fan, a damper that opens and closes the lower air outlet, a damper motor that drives the damper, and a damper that opens and closes the damper fully. An open limiter and a close limiter are provided to detect the fully closed state, respectively, and the lower fan motor starts driving after a predetermined time T1 after the damper starts to open from fully closed, thereby ensuring the opening of the lower air outlet. By driving the lower fan motor, it is possible to eliminate abnormal air blowing noise in a semi-occluded state.

Second, the lower fan motor has set speeds A1 and A2 such that the first set speed A1>second set speed A2, and the set speed A2 constantly drives the lower fan motor.
By starting the drive at a higher setting speed A1, it is possible to overcome the continuous air blowing state of one upper fan and ensure normal lower air blowing, and shift to a stable upper and lower two air blowing state in a short time. It is possible to suppress fluctuating air blowing noise (buzzing noise) that occurs when the air blowing state of one upper fan and the air blowing state of two upper and lower fans coexist.

Thirdly, the upper fan motor has set speeds B1 and B2 such that the first set speed B1>the second set speed B2, and when the damper starts the opening operation from the fully closed position, the upper fan motor By changing the speed from the previously set speed B1 to the set speed B2, the damper is brought to the fully open position, and the upper fan motor speed is returned to the set speed B1, the air blowing state of one upper fan continues and the newly generated After temporarily going through an unstable state in which the two upper and lower air blowing conditions coexist and generate periodic fluctuating air blowing noise (buzzing noise), the system switches to the stable two upper and lower air blowing conditions, and then returns to the upper fan single air blowing condition. It is possible to eliminate the fluctuating air blowing noise (buzzing noise) that occurs when the upper and lower air blowing states coexist.

Fourthly, by temporarily returning the upper fan motor speed from the set speed B2 to the set speed B1 at the drive speed change speed C1 as the damper reaches the fully open position, the set speed of the upper fan motor is changed from B2. It is possible to eliminate the temporary unstable air blowing state on the upper air blowing side in the upper air blowing state due to the speed change that is likely to occur when raising the fan to B1, and it allows a stable transition from the air blowing state of one upper fan to the upper and lower two air blowing states. The present invention aims at alleviating the sense of incongruity caused by sudden changes in air blowing sound due to changes in conditions.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view of an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 2] Functional block diagram for realizing the operation control method

[Fig. 3] Flowchart showing one embodiment of an indoor unit operation control device

[Fig. 4] Flowchart showing a second embodiment of operation control

[Fig. 5] Flowchart showing a third embodiment of operation control

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of the first embodiment showing the operation control of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a second embodiment showing operation control of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a third embodiment showing operation control of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a fourth embodiment showing operation control of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Upper fan 2 Upper fan motor 3 Heat exchanger 4 Lower fan 5 Lower fan motor 6 Damper 7 Damper motor 8 Open limiter 9 Close limiter

Claims (4)

[Claims] Claim 1: In an indoor unit that constitutes a separate air conditioner together with an outdoor unit and that constitutes a blower circuit with a heat exchanger, two upper and lower fans, and air outlets corresponding to both fans, There is an upper fan motor that drives this upper fan, and next to the lower fan there is a lower fan motor that drives this lower fan, a damper that opens and closes the lower air outlet, a damper motor that drives that damper, and a damper that opens and closes the damper fully. A method for controlling the operation of an air conditioner, characterized in that an open limiter and a close limiter are provided to respectively detect closing, and the lower fan motor is started to be driven after a predetermined time after the damper starts to open from fully closed. 2. The lower fan motor has a set speed such that the first set speed>the second set speed, and the first set speed is set higher than the second set speed that constantly drives the lower fan motor. The method for controlling the operation of an air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the lower fan motor is started to be driven at a set speed, and after a predetermined time period, the lower fan motor is driven steadily at the second set speed. . 3. The upper fan motor has a set speed such that the first set speed>the second set speed, and when the damper starts an opening operation from fully closed, the drive of the upper fan motor is changed from the previous set speed to the second set speed. The first set speed is changed to the second set speed, and the damper is fully opened and the first set speed is changed from the first set speed to the second set speed.
3. The air conditioner operation control method according to claim 2, further comprising returning the upper fan motor speed to a set speed. 4. The air conditioner operation control method according to claim 3, wherein the upper fan motor speed is temporarily returned from the second set speed to the first set speed when the damper is fully opened.