JPH071111B2 - Air conditioner control device and control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a control device for a plurality of air conditioners and a control system thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the increase in the number of controls using a microcomputer, the number of controlling one or more controlled devices by one centralized control device is increasing. The situation is increasing to utilize control devices.

On the other hand, on the power supply side in the home, it is necessary to strengthen the supply equipment to cope with the load peak due to the increase in the load on the air conditioner and other than the air conditioner. Due to the difference in usage characteristics, there are situations in which the benefits of consumers are hindered, such as the operation of overcurrent protection devices.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention When electric power is excessively used in an ordinary household by using electric appliances for equipment other than the air conditioner body, or when the compressor is started under air-conditioning under severe load Also, when an air conditioner equipped with a capacity conversion device is operated at maximum capacity, the current value flowing through the overcurrent protection device exceeds its allowable value, and it turns off, making the air conditioner feel uncomfortable. , Causing inconvenience in use.

The present invention is to solve the above conventional problems, regardless of the magnitude of the current value of equipment other than the air conditioner, the operation of the air conditioner and the overcurrent protection device by the operation of electrical appliances other than the air conditioner The purpose of the present invention is to eliminate the OFF operation and further reduce the comfort hindrance by suppressing or stopping the operation of the air conditioner as much as possible.

Means for Solving the Problem In order to achieve this object, the present invention regulates at least one system of current detection means for detecting the total load current value flowing in the wiring of a house and the current flowing in the wiring of the house. First current setting means for setting a current value for starting the operation of narrowing the capacity of the air conditioner at the rated current of the overcurrent protection device, and a little larger than the set current value of the first current setting means,
Second current setting means for setting a current value for stopping the operation of some of the air conditioners, and a current value slightly larger than the set current value of the second current setting means for stopping the operation of all the air conditioners. And a fourth current value which is a little smaller than the current value set by the first current setting means and which sets the current value for returning the air conditioner from the suppressed operation state or the stopped state to the original operating state. Current setting means and first to fourth
Comparing means for comparing each set current value of the current setting means and the output of the current detecting means, priority setting means for presetting the operation priority of each air conditioner, and at least operation of the air conditioner Each of the air conditioners has an operation storage means for storing each elapsed time from the start time or the operation start order or the last operation, and an output from the priority setting means and an output from the operation storage means. Priority determination means for determining the driving priority of
A central control device for centrally controlling a plurality of air conditioners,
An interface unit (hereinafter referred to as IFU) provided on the air conditioner side for exchanging signals with the centralized control device, and a transmission line connecting the centralized control device and each IFU.

Further, the present invention supplies power to a plurality of air conditioners and other devices through an overcurrent protection device that turns off energization when an overcurrent flows, and when operating the air conditioner, the air conditioner and other devices are operated. When the current value of the power supply line to which the equipment is connected is detected and it is detected that this current value exceeds the first set current value, the air conditioners with the lowest operation priority are When the air conditioner is suppressed and operated, and when it is detected that the current value exceeds the second set current value, the air conditioner is stopped in order from the one with the lowest operation priority, and the current value is the third.
When all of the air conditioners are stopped when it is detected that the current exceeds the set current value, and when it is detected that the current value is below the fourth set current value, the air conditioner that is in the suppression operation or stopped is Each instruction signal is transmitted to the air conditioner so as to return to the normal operation in order from the one having the highest operation priority, and the operation priority is such that the air conditioner having the latest operation start is given the highest priority or the operation is started. Air conditioners that have passed the specified time from the start and are operated later are given priority, or air conditioners that have the same operating priority are operated later. It is determined that the higher the priority is, the other is determined according to the preset driving priority.

Action The present invention, regardless of the magnitude of the current value of the electric appliances other than the air conditioner and the air conditioner by the above means, always monitors the use state of the power, and issues a load control command to each air conditioner, The air conditioner can be controlled according to the power consumption excess prediction degree, the OFF operation of the overcurrent protection device can be eliminated, and the operation set in advance when the operation of the air conditioner is suppressed, stopped, or restored. Based on the priority and the actual use state, it is possible to reduce the hindrance of comfort due to the suppression / stop of driving as much as possible.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a control device for an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an overcurrent protection device that shuts off the mains of a commercial power supply when the mains power supply has a predetermined current value or more, and is composed of a fuse type or no-fuse type.
The figure shows the case of supporting a single-phase 3-wire commercial power source.
Reference numerals a, 2b and 2c are main lines of the commercial power source. 3, 3b, 3c, 3d are air conditioners, and 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d are general household electric appliances other than the air conditioners, which are connected between main lines 2a-2c or between 2b-2c and supplied with electric power. Reference numerals 5a and 5b are current detection means for detecting a total value of load currents of devices connected to each house, and are composed of CT circuits. 6a and 6b are rectifying circuits for rectifying the outputs of the current detecting means 5a and 5b, and 7a and 7b are smoothing capacitors connected to the rectifying circuits 6a and 6b. Current detection means 5a is commercial power supply 6a
The current detection means 5b is for detecting the current of the load connected between −6c, and the current detection means 5b is for detecting the current of the load connected between the commercial power sources 6b and 6c. Reference numeral 9 is an arithmetic processing unit composed of a microcomputer and the like, and 10 is a switch circuit. 11 is the rated current of the house current protection device 1 that regulates the current flowing through the house wiring,
In addition, it is a first current setting unit that sets a current value for starting an operation of narrowing the capacity of the air conditioner in order to suppress the current flowing through the wiring of the house. Reference numeral 12 is a second current setting means for setting a current value for stopping the operation of some of the air conditioners in order to suppress the current flowing through the wiring of the house. Reference numeral 13 is a third current setting means for setting a current value for stopping the operation of all the air conditioners in order to suppress the current flowing through the wiring of the house. Reference numeral 14 is a fourth current setting means for setting a current value value for returning the air conditioner from the suppressed operation state or the stopped state to the original operating state for each system. The set current value set by each of the first to fourth current setting means is calculated by the arithmetic processing unit 9
Are sequentially selected by the switch circuit 10 according to the signal from and output. 8a is the main line 2a− detected by the current detection means 5a
2c is a current comparison means for comparing the current value of 2c and the set current value selected by the switch circuit 10, and 8b is the current value of the main line 2b-2c detected by the current detection means 5b and is selected by the switch circuit 10. It is a current comparison means for comparing with a set current value, and outputs an output to each arithmetic processing unit 9. Reference numeral 15 is a priority setting means for setting the operation priority between the air conditioners connected to the same wiring system, that is, the same main line 2a-2c or 2b-2c, and is composed of, for example, a 4-bit code switch. . Reference numeral 16 is an operation storage means for storing the status of the operation being stopped by the operation on each installation side of the air conditioners 3a to 3d, and the respective elapsed time from the start of the operation or the order or the end of the operation. Remember what you drove. 17 is a priority setting means 15 and operation storage means
It is a priority order determining means for determining the priority order of each of the air conditioners 3a to 3d according to the respective outputs of 16. 18 is an air conditioner 3a to 3d connected to a commercial power source and a wiring system 2a to 2c or
It is a wiring system selection switch that selects which system between 2b and 2c is connected. 19 is an air conditioner 3a-3d
Central control device for controlling the, 20 is a transmission line for transmitting the control signal, 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d are respectively connected to the air conditioner 3a ~ 3d, the central control device via the transmission line 20.
Interface unit that sends and receives signals to and from
U. ).

Next, detailed control contents will be described with reference to FIG.

The current detection means 5a and 5b constantly monitor the current flowing through the main lines 2a and 2b, and the air conditioners 3a to 3d and general electric appliances
The following controls are performed according to the operating conditions of 4a-4d.

The current value flowing through the trunk line 2a or 2b is the first current setting means 11
When the current value (100%) or less is determined by (A zone)
Then, the air conditioners 3a to 3d are freely operated. The value of the current flowing through the main line 2a or 2b is the first current setting means 11
Current value (100%) determined by and the second current setting means 12
If the current value is within the current value (110%) determined in step B (zone B), the capacity is sequentially reduced from the air conditioner set to have a lower priority and the increase in current is suppressed. When the current value flowing through the main line 2a or 2b is between the current value (110%) determined by the second current setting means 12 and the current value (150%) determined by the third current setting means 13 (C zone) ), The air conditioners with lower priority are sequentially stopped to suppress the increase in current. When the current value flowing through the main line 2a or 2b exceeds the current value (150%) determined by the third current setting means 13 (D zone), all the air conditioners are stopped and the overcurrent protection device 1 is turned off. Prevent from doing. When the current value flowing through the trunk line 2a or 2b in the B, C, and D zones becomes less than or equal to the current value (80%) determined by the fourth current setting means 14 (E zone), the priority order is set. The air conditioner set to a higher value is returned to normal operation in sequence. The current value determined by the first to fourth current setting means 11 is determined in consideration of the operating characteristics of the overcurrent protection device 1 and the current capacities of the air conditioners 3a to 3d and the general electric appliances 4a to 4d.

Here, the operation priority of each of the air conditioners 3a to 3d is determined in the same wiring system, but if only the priority setting of the priority setting means 15 is used for determination, for example, one having a high operation priority is After driving for a long time, even if one tries to drive a vehicle with a low driving priority, it may not be possible to perform comfortable air conditioning with restricted operation. Therefore, the operation storage means 16 1) gives the highest priority to the operation that started last.

2) The elapsed time from the start of operation is within a predetermined time,
The one that is driven later will be given priority.

3) In the priority setting means 15, the air conditioners having the same operation priority are prioritized when they are operated later.

In any of the above conditions, the priority setting means 15 determines the driving order so as to follow the driving priority set in advance. The operation storage means 16 is the above 1) to
It is configured to have any one of the judgment capabilities of 3).

Although the above description is based on the embodiment of the present invention, in addition to this embodiment, the commercial power source may be a single-phase two-wire system other than the single-phase three-wire system. Only one detection means is required.

In addition, the air conditioners 3a to 3d and the general electric appliances 4a to 4d are the main line 2a.
Those connected between ~ 2b (single-phase 200v, etc.) are also applicable. For example, the wiring system selection switch 18 is used to connect the wiring systems 2a-2c.
The same operation as in the embodiment can be performed by designating both of 2 and 2b-2c.

B) By using a microcomputer with an A / D converter as the arithmetic processing unit 9, the current comparison means 8
a, 8b and the switch circuit 10 can be omitted, and the operation storage means 16
The priority determining means 17 can be designed in various ways, such as having the function inside the arithmetic processing unit 9.

C) The interface units 21a to 21d can be built in or integrated with the air conditioners 3a to 3d, respectively.
Furthermore, in addition to using a dedicated electric wire for the transmission line 20 with the centralized control device 19, various means such as optical fiber, power line carrier, and wireless transmission can be implemented.

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above embodiments, the control method of the air conditioner in the present invention is to control the current of the air conditioner according to the state while detecting the load current flowing in the house, Even if there is a current increase due to the operation of the air conditioner or general electric appliances, it can be operated without hindering the benefit of the beneficiary within the range of the capacity determined by the overcurrent protection device by preventing the overcurrent protection device from turning off By controlling the suppression of the operation of the air conditioner in accordance with both the operation priority set in advance and the use situation at every moment, it is possible to reduce the obstruction of the comfort such as the cooling and heating operation as much as possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a control device for an air conditioner in one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a control content explanatory diagram in the same embodiment. 1 …… Overcurrent protection device, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d …… Air conditioner, 5
a, 5b ... Current detection means (CT circuit), 8a, 8b ... Current comparison means, 9 ... Arithmetic processing device, 11 ... First current setting means, 12 ... Second current setting means, 13 ...... Third current setting means, 14 ...... Fourth current setting means, 15 ...... Priority level setting means, 16 …… Operation storage means, 17 …… Priority order determining means, 19
...... Centralized control device, 20 ...... Transmission line, 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d
…… Interface unit.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A current detection means for detecting a total load current value flowing in wiring of a house, and a rated current of an overcurrent protection device for regulating a current flowing in the wiring of the house, and a capacity of an air conditioner. A first current setting means for setting a current value for starting the squeezing operation, and a second current value for setting a current value larger than the set current value of the first current setting means for stopping the operation of a part of the air conditioners. Current setting means, third current setting means for setting a current value greater than the set current value of the second current setting means for stopping the operation of all air conditioners, and setting of the first current setting means Fourth current setting means for setting a current value that is smaller than the current value and returns the air conditioner from the suppressed operation or the stopped state to the original operating state, and the respective settings of the first to fourth current setting means Current value and current detection A current comparing means for comparing the output of the stage, and priority setting means for presetting the operation priority of the respective air conditioner, at least of the air conditioner,
Each of the elapsed time from the start of operation or the operation storage means for storing the order of starting the operation or the last operation, and the output from the priority setting means and the output from the operation storage means Priority determining means for determining the operation priority of the air conditioners, centralized control device for centrally controlling a plurality of air conditioners, and a signal exchange with the centralized control device provided on each of the air conditioner sides An air conditioner control device comprising: an interface unit that performs the above; and a transmission line that connects the centralized control device and each of the interface units. 2. When operating an air conditioner by supplying power to a plurality of air conditioners and other devices through an overcurrent protection device that turns off the energization when an overcurrent flows, the air conditioner and other devices are operated. Measure the current of the power supply line to which the device of
When it is detected that this current value exceeds the first set current value, the air conditioners are suppressed and operated in descending order of operation priority among the air conditioners, and the current value is the second set current value. When it is detected that the value exceeds the value, the air conditioners are stopped in order from the one with the lowest operation priority, and when it is detected that the current value exceeds the third set current value, all the air conditioners are stopped. However, when it is detected that the current value is lower than the fourth set current value, the respective instruction signals are returned so that the air conditioners in the suppression operation or in the stop operation are returned to the normal operation in descending order of operation priority. While transmitting to the air conditioner, the operation priority is given to the air conditioner with the latest start of operation as the highest priority, or the air conditioner whose elapsed time from the start of operation is within a predetermined time is operated later. Or give priority to those Or, it is a control method of an air conditioner in which it is decided that the air conditioners having the same operation priority are prioritized, and those that are operated later have priority, and the others are in accordance with the preset operation priority. .