JPH06137644A - Air-conditioning machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To permit air conditioning, efficient locally, by a method wherein the ratio of flow rate of air of both indoor fans is changed in an air-conditioning machine, in which air, sent through two indoor heat exchangers in an indoor unit, is sent out toward two directions by two sets of indoor fans. CONSTITUTION:Under an ordinary control mode, in which both of zone selecting buttons 37a, 37b are not operated in a remote controller 36, the flow rates of air of both indoor fans 18a, 18b are set at the same values to each other in accordance with the operation of the remote controller 36. When one zone selecting button 37a is operated, for example, the operation of an air- conditioning machine enters the local control mode of zone A and air volume of one of the indoor fan 18a is increased by a predetermined value over a value in accordance with the operation of the remote controller. On the other hand, air volume of the other indoor fan 18b is reduced by a predetermined value from a value in accordance with the operation of the remote controller 36. In this case, when the flow rate of air is set to 'high', for example, in the remote controller 36, power is impressed on the super high-speed tap of the in door fan motor 18a by a tap switching circuit 34a whereby the rotation of the indoor fan 18a is increased to a super high speed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a twin flow type air conditioner which blows air for air conditioning in two directions inside a room.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is a twin-flow type air conditioner which copes with the tendency of a large living room in a room and secures a good temperature distribution in the room by blowing in two directions.

This air conditioner comprises an indoor unit mounted on the ceiling surface, two indoor heat exchangers provided in this indoor unit, and two indoor fans for circulating indoor air through these indoor heat exchangers. Air for air conditioning that has passed through each indoor heat exchanger is blown out in two directions inside the room.

[0004]

As a user's demand for a twin-flow type air conditioner, there is a need to locally air-condition a part of the room instead of the entire room.
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner that enables local and efficient air conditioning.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises two indoor heat exchangers provided in an indoor unit, two indoor fans for circulating indoor air through these indoor heat exchangers, and each indoor heat exchanger. In the air conditioner that blows out the air-conditioning air in two directions in the room, means for changing the air volume ratio of each fan is provided.

[0006]

The amount of air-conditioning air blown in two directions inside the room can be adjusted relatively.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes an air-conditioned room, in which an indoor unit 10 is mounted on a ceiling surface 1a in an embedded state. This indoor unit 10 has a suction port 11 at the center of a lower surface portion that is flush with the ceiling surface 1a, and has blowout ports 12a and 12b on both sides of the suction port 11.

A heat insulating material 13 is provided along the inner peripheral surface of the indoor unit 10, and a space inside the heat insulating material 13 is divided into two in the left-right direction by a partition plate 14 in a standing position. Thus, in the indoor unit 10, the ventilation path 15a is formed from the suction port 11 to the air outlet 12a.
An air passage 15b is formed from 1 to the outlet 12b. A filter 16 is attached to the inside of the suction port 11.
An indoor heat exchanger 17a and an indoor fan 18a are provided in the ventilation passage 15a. The indoor heat exchanger 1 is installed in the ventilation passage 15b.
7b and the indoor fan 18b are provided.

When the indoor fan 18a is turned on, the indoor air passes through the suction port 11 and the filter 16 and the ventilation passage 1
5a is sucked in, passes through the indoor heat exchanger 17a, becomes air for air conditioning, and is blown out into the room 1 from the air outlet 12a. When the indoor fan 18b is turned on, the indoor air is sucked into the ventilation passage 15b through the suction port 11 and the filter 16, passes through the indoor heat exchanger 17b, becomes air for air conditioning, and is blown into the room 1 from the air outlet 12b. It The air blown from the air outlet 12a is directed toward the zone A in the room 1.
The air blown from the air outlet 12b is directed toward the zone B in the room 1. The structure of the refrigeration cycle and the control circuit is shown in FIG.

A discharge port of the compressor 21 is connected to an outdoor heat exchanger 23 via a four-way valve 22. This outdoor heat exchanger 23
Is connected to the indoor heat exchangers 17a and 17b via the expansion valve 24. The indoor heat exchangers 17 a and 17 b are connected to the suction port of the compressor 21 via the four-way valve 22. An outdoor fan 25 is provided near the outdoor heat exchanger 23.

During the cooling operation, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 21 flows in the direction indicated by the solid line arrow to form a cooling cycle, and the outdoor heat exchanger 23 serves as a condenser and indoor heat exchangers 17a and 17b.
Acts as an evaporator. During the heating operation, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 21 flows in the direction of the broken line arrow to form a heating cycle, and the indoor heat exchangers 17a and 17b function as condensers and the outdoor heat exchanger 23 functions as an evaporator. A control unit 30 is composed of a microcomputer and its peripheral circuits. This control unit 30 uses a transformer 31 for step-down voltage to commercial AC power supply 3
Connected to 2.

The control unit 30 includes a four-way valve 22 and an outdoor fan 2.
5, inverter circuit 33, tap switching circuits 34a, 34
b, the indoor temperature sensor 35, and a remote control type operation device (hereinafter, abbreviated as a remote controller) 36 are connected.

The inverter circuit 33 rectifies the voltage of the power source 32, converts it into an alternating current of a frequency (and voltage) according to a command from the control unit 30, and outputs it. This output becomes drive power for the motor of the compressor 21. Tap switching circuit 34
a and 34b are from the power source 32 to the indoor fan motor 18a.
Switching of energization for each speed tap of M and 18bM is performed. The remote controller 36 has zone selection buttons 37a and 37b for selecting one of the local control modes of the zone A and the zone B described above, in addition to the function of setting the operating condition. The control unit 30 includes the following functional means.

(1) The refrigerant discharged from the compressor 21 is supplied to the four-way valve 2
2, outdoor heat exchanger 23, expansion valve 24, indoor heat exchanger 17
Means for returning to the compressor 21 through a, 17b, and the four-way valve 22 to execute the cooling operation.

(2) The refrigerant discharged from the compressor 21 is supplied to the four-way valve 2
2. Means for returning to the compressor 21 through the indoor heat exchangers 17a and 17b, the expansion valve 24, the outdoor heat exchanger 23, and the four-way valve 22 to perform heating operation.

(3) During operation, the detected temperature (indoor temperature) Ta of the indoor temperature sensor 35 and the set temperature Ts of the remote controller 36
Means for controlling the output frequency of the inverter circuit 33 (the operating frequency of the compressor 21) according to the difference between

(4) Zone selection button 37 of remote controller 36
In the normal control mode in which neither a or 37b is operated, a means for setting the air volumes Fa and Fb of the indoor fans 18a and 18b to the same value Fx (three levels of strong, weak, and fine) according to the operation of the remote controller 36.

(5) Either one of the local control modes of the zones A and B is selected in response to the operation of the zone selection buttons 37a and 37b, and the indoor fans 18a and 1 are selected accordingly.
A means for changing the air flow rate of 8b.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In the normal control mode in which neither the zone selection buttons 37a, 37b of the remote controller 36 are operated, the air flow rate Fa of the indoor fans 18a, 18b,
Fb is the same value Fx according to the operation of the remote controller 36.
It is set to three levels (strong, weak, and slight).

That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the remote controller 3
When the air volume "strong" is set in 6, the tap switching circuit 34
indoor fan motors 18aM, 18b by a, 34b
The high speed tap "H" of M is energized. As a result, the indoor fans 18a and 18b rotate at a high speed,
A large amount of air for air conditioning is blown to each of the zone A and the zone B in the room.

When the air volume "weak" is set, the medium speed tap "M" is energized, and the indoor fans 18a and 18a.
b rotates at medium speed. When the air volume "fine" is set, the low speed tap "L" is energized, and the indoor fan 18
a and 18b rotate at a low speed. The air flow level for the zones A and B in the normal control mode is shown as a vector quantity by a thick arrow in FIG. Zone selection button 37
When either a or 37b is pressed, the local control mode is entered and the air volume ratio of the indoor fans 18a and 18b is changed.

For example, when the zone selection button 37a is pressed, the local control mode of the zone A is entered, and the air volume Fa of the indoor fan 18a is a value F corresponding to the operation of the remote controller 36.
The air volume Fb of the remaining indoor fan 18b is reduced by β from x, and is reduced by β from the value Fx corresponding to the operation of the remote controller 36.

That is, if the air volume "strong" is set by the remote controller 36 when the local control mode of the zone A is entered, the tap switching circuit 34a causes the ultra high speed tap "UH" of the indoor fan motor 18aM. Is energized. As a result, the rotation speed of the indoor fan 18a is increased from the high speed to the ultra high speed, and the air volume to the zone A is increased. Further, the tap switching circuit 34b energizes the medium speed tap "M +" of the indoor fan motor 18bM, whereby the rotation speed of the indoor fan 18b is reduced from high to medium (upper) speed, and the air volume to the zone B is reduced. To be done.

When the air volume "weak" is set by the remote controller 36, the medium speed tap "M +" of the indoor fan motor 18aM is energized, and the rotation speed of the indoor fan 18a is changed from the medium speed to the middle (upper) speed. And the air volume to the zone A is increased. In addition, the medium speed tap "M-" of the indoor fan motor 18bM is energized, the rotation speed of the indoor fan 18b is reduced from the medium speed to the medium (low) speed,
The air volume to the zone B is reduced.

When the air volume "fine" is set by the remote controller 36, the medium speed tap "M-" of the indoor fan motor 18aM is energized, and the rotation speed of the indoor fan 18a is changed from low to medium (low). The speed is increased, and the air volume to the zone A is increased. Further, the low speed tap "L-" of the indoor fan motor 18bM is energized, and the rotation speed of the indoor fan 18b is reduced from low speed to low (low) speed.
The air volume to the zone B is reduced.

The air flow level for each zone in the local control mode of this zone A is shown as a vector quantity by a thick arrow in FIG. In addition, when the local control mode of the zone B is set, the air volume to the zone B increases and the air volume to the zone A decreases by the same control.

In this way, the local control mode can be selected by a simple operation of the remote controller 36, whereby the air volume ratio of the indoor fans 18a, 18b can be freely changed, and the local parts of the zones A, B respectively. Efficient air conditioning is possible. For example, in a large living room or the like, when a resident is in one corner of the room, it is possible to perform air conditioning mainly in the zone in which the resident is located, which speeds up the heating and cooling and is economical. Further, the mounting position of the indoor unit 10 is optimally set to the central portion of the ceiling surface, but the mounting position may be restricted to a corner of the ceiling surface due to the arrangement of furniture or the like. Even in such a case, comfortable air conditioning mainly in the zone where the resident is present is possible.

Moreover, in the local control mode, the air volume to the non-selected zone is reduced instead of increasing the air volume to the selected zone, so that the capacity of the selected zone can be increased without increasing the capacity of the compressor 21. Therefore, for example, a problem such as giving a cold air feeling to the residents in the selected zone during heating does not occur. Moreover, since it is not necessary to increase the capacity of the compressor 21, an energy saving effect can be obtained.

In the above embodiment, the local control mode of the zone A or the local control mode of the zone B was selected by operating the remote controller 36. However, as shown in FIG. Temperature sensor 38
a, 38b are provided, and the radiant heat temperature from the zones A and B is detected to detect the local control mode of the zone A or the zone B.
The local control mode may be automatically selected. In this case, the radiant heat temperature from the wall surface or floor surface of zone A
And the radiant heat temperature from the wall surface or floor of zone B is detected as the load of zone B, and the local control mode of the zone corresponding to the larger load of both loads is selected. Then, the air volume ratio is changed according to the change of both loads accompanying the progress of air conditioning, and when both loads become almost the same, the local control mode is released and the normal control mode is set. The broken line in FIG. 8 indicates the radiant heat temperature detection field of view.

In place of the radiant heat temperature sensors 38a and 38b, two human body detection sensors for infrared light detection are provided to detect the presence or absence of a human body in the zones A and B, and the local control mode of the zone A or the local control mode of the zone B is detected. May be automatically selected. In this case, the local control mode of the zone in which the person is present is selected.

In the above embodiment, the air volume of the indoor fan is changed by switching the speed taps. However, for example, an indoor fan driving inverter circuit is provided and the output frequency of the inverter circuit is controlled to control the indoor fan. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the air flow rate is changed steplessly.

[0033]

As described above, according to the present invention, the means for changing the air flow rate of each indoor fan is provided.
An air conditioner capable of locally efficient air conditioning can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of an indoor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a relationship between an indoor unit and an indoor space of the same embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a refrigeration cycle and a control circuit of the same embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an air volume setting condition in a normal control mode of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an air volume setting condition in a local control mode of the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a relationship between an indoor unit and an indoor space in a local control mode of the same embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of a main part of a modified example of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Indoor, A ... Zone, B ... Zone, 10 ... Indoor unit, 11 ... Suction port, 12a, 12b ... Air outlet, 17a,
17b ... indoor heat exchanger, 18a, 18b ... indoor fan,
30 ... control part, 36 ... remote control.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An indoor unit is provided with two indoor heat exchangers, two indoor fans for circulating indoor air through these indoor heat exchangers, and air for air conditioning through each indoor heat exchanger is supplied to the indoor unit. In an air conditioner that blows out in two directions,
An air conditioner comprising means for changing the air flow rate of each fan. 2. An indoor unit is provided with two indoor heat exchangers, two indoor fans for circulating indoor air through these indoor heat exchangers, and air for air conditioning through each indoor heat exchanger is supplied to the indoor unit. In an air conditioner that blows out in two directions,
An air conditioner comprising means for selecting one of the two directions and means for increasing the air volume of the indoor fan in each of the indoor fans corresponding to the selected direction. 3. An indoor unit is provided with two indoor heat exchangers, two indoor fans for circulating the indoor air through these indoor heat exchangers, and the air for air conditioning through each indoor heat exchanger is supplied to the indoor unit. In an air conditioner that blows out in two directions,
A means for selecting one of the two directions and a means for increasing the air volume of the indoor fan corresponding to the selected direction among the indoor fans and reducing the air volume of the remaining indoor fans are provided. A characteristic air conditioner.