JPH09152175A - Equipment state detection device and air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to prevent a total shutdown of a device or a starting failure and continue or start the operation in a state near to normal operation even when various kinds of detection means are out of order. SOLUTION: Based on each detection value detected by the aforesaid detection means during stabilized equipment operation, there is provided a detection value determination means which recognizes the failure of the detected value and a means which does not discriminate as the failure the detected value which is discriminated as the failure by the detection value determination means and replaces the average value of each detected value which is in the same kind with the detected values which are recognized as the failure, as an estimated value. The equipment is operated from the estimated values and the detected values which exclude the detected values discriminated as the failures.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is provided with a plurality of state detecting means, and at least an apparatus state detecting device for operating an apparatus accompanied by a state change, and an indoor unit and an outdoor unit are provided with a plurality of types of state detecting means. Related to the air conditioner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a cooling operation is impossible due to a sensor abnormality, an abnormality is displayed and the operation is stopped, or the value of a sensor with no abnormality is used as the value of a sensor with an abnormality. The emergency operation was continued. However, this is significantly different from the case where the operation control state is normal, which may give the user discomfort. On the other hand, by estimating the uptake value from the abnormal sensor using the uptake values from other normal sensors, the operating state equivalent to that during normal operation can be urgently continued. For example, an example thereof is that described in JP-A-7-248167.

[0003]

In the air conditioner constructed by a plurality of indoor units according to the above-mentioned conventional technique, the entire device is often stopped when one of the detecting means in the device fails, and the tenant building is often used. If used for such purposes, the device of the entire building would stop, and there was a problem in the usability of the device as a whole.

Further, in the device described in the above publication, when the cooling operation becomes impossible due to a sensor abnormality, for example, the air blowing operation is performed in the indoor unit. This is good in that the sensible temperature is lowered, but there is a problem that it is significantly different from the cooling operation.

Further, when the suction temperature sensor becomes abnormal as described in the above publication, the thermostat of the indoor unit is controlled based on other information without using the suction temperature sensor. This is good in terms of leveling the capacity of indoor units,
It is not enough to say that the operating state is equivalent to that in normal operation.

Similarly, when the pipe temperature sensor becomes abnormal, other information such as
The throttle opening of the indoor unit is controlled by setting the minimum value stored in advance. Since the opening is also fixed in this example, it is not sufficient to say that the operating state is equivalent to the normal operating state as in the above.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, prevent the entire apparatus from being stopped or started even if various detecting means provided in the air conditioner fail, and operate normally. An air conditioner that can continue or start operation in a state close to operation.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A device state detection device of the present invention includes a detection value determination means for determining an abnormality in the detection value based on each detection value by the state detection means during stable operation of the device, and a detection value. The detection value determined to be abnormal by the determination means,
Means for replacing the average value of each detection value that is not abnormal by the detection value determination means and is the same as the detection value determined to be abnormal as an estimated value, and the detection value other than the detection value determined to be abnormal And means for controlling the operation of the device according to the value.

Here, the average value of each detection value of the same type is the detection value when the temperature detection means and the pressure detection means are used as the state detection means, and is the detection value of the same type, for example, each detection value of temperature. It means a value obtained by arithmetic mean, root mean square, harmonic mean, or weighted average, and can be specifically achieved by means such as a microprocessor incorporated in means for performing operation control. As a result, the device state detection device has redundancy, and at the same time, the device operation can be continued or started in a state closer to normal operation.

In the air conditioner of the present invention, a plurality of types of state detecting means provided in the indoor unit and the outdoor unit and the state detecting means after a lapse of a predetermined time from the start of operation of the air conditioner are used as the detected values. A detection value determination unit that determines an abnormality of each detection value based on the detection value, and a detection value that is determined to be abnormal by the detection value determination unit, and a detection value that is not determined to be abnormal by the detection value determination unit and Means for replacing the average value of each detection value of the same type as the estimated value, and means for performing operation control by the detected value and the estimated value other than the detected value determined to be abnormal.

Here, the average value of the detection values of the same type is the detection value when the air temperature detection means, the refrigerant temperature detection means or the pressure detection means of the indoor unit is used as the state detection means. The same type, for example, means the value obtained by arithmetic mean, square mean, harmonic mean, or weighted average of each detected value of the air temperature, and is specifically incorporated in the means for controlling the operation of the air conditioner. Can be achieved by such means as a microprocessor. This prevents the entire device from being stopped or started even if one of the air temperature detecting means fails, and the value of the air temperature obtained from the abnormal detecting means is more rational and the normal operation is performed. The operation can be continued or started with an average value that is not significantly different from.

Further, in the air conditioner according to the present invention, each detection value is based on the state detection means provided in each indoor unit and each detection value obtained by the state detection means after a predetermined time has passed from the start of operation of the air conditioner. Detection value determining means for determining the abnormality of
A detection value determined by the detection value determination means as an abnormality, a means for replacing the average value of the detection values that are not determined to be abnormal by the detection value determination means and are the same type as the detection value determined to be abnormal as an estimated value, and , And means for performing operation control based on a detected value other than the detected value determined to be abnormal and an estimated value.

This prevents the air conditioner from being stopped or started even if, for example, one of the air temperature detecting means provided in each indoor unit fails, the air obtained from the abnormal indoor unit is prevented. The operation can be continued or started with the average value of the air temperature values of the other indoor units, which have more reasonable temperature values and do not differ significantly from normal operation.

Further, in the air conditioner according to the present invention, the air temperature detecting means provided in each indoor unit, the refrigerant temperature detecting means provided in each indoor unit, and a predetermined time from the start of operation of the air conditioner Based on the detection values of the air temperature detection means and the refrigerant temperature detection means after the passage, a detection value determination means for determining an abnormality when the air temperature becomes equal to or lower than the refrigerant temperature during the cooling operation, and a detection value determination means A means for replacing the values of the air temperature and the refrigerant temperature determined to be abnormal by the estimated values, and a means for controlling the operation based on the detected values and estimated values other than the detected values determined to be abnormal.

As a result, the air conditioner is generally in an unstable state due to a response delay at the time of start-up or excessive change, but there is a risk of erroneous judgment because a failure is judged after a lapse of a certain time from the start of operation. Absent. In addition, since the air temperature does not become lower than the refrigerant temperature especially during the cooling operation, the determination can be reliably performed.

Further, in the above description, the replacing means replaces the detected values of the air temperature and the refrigerant temperature, which are determined to be abnormal by the detected value determining means, with the air temperature and the refrigerant temperature, which are not determined to be abnormal by the detected value determining means. The average value of the detected values is used as the estimated value. Here, the average value of each detected value of the air temperature and the refrigerant temperature means, for example, a value obtained by arithmetically averaging each detected value by the air temperature detecting means, a root mean square, a harmonic mean, or a weighted average. Specifically, it can be achieved by means such as a microprocessor incorporated in a means for controlling the operation of the air conditioner.

This prevents the air conditioner from being stopped or started even if, for example, one of the air temperature detecting means provided in each indoor unit fails, the air obtained from the abnormal indoor unit is prevented. The temperature value is more rational, and the operation can be continued or started with the air temperature from other indoor units that does not differ significantly from normal operation or the average value of the air temperatures from multiple other indoor units. .

Further, the detection value judging means of the air conditioner according to the present invention judges that the air temperature is not higher than the refrigerant temperature by 5 ° C. or more during the cooling operation, it is judged as abnormal. As a result, the air temperature is higher than the refrigerant temperature by 5 ° C. or more in a practical state, particularly during the cooling operation, so that a practical determination can be made.

Further, in the air conditioner according to the present invention, a plurality of pressure detecting means provided in the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, temperature detecting means provided in a portion close to the pressure detecting means, and operation of the air conditioner After a lapse of a fixed time from the start, the abnormality of each pressure detection value is determined by comparing each pressure detection value by the pressure detection means and the saturated pressure value of the refrigerant based on each temperature detection value detected by the temperature detection means. A detection value determination means, a means for replacing the pressure detection value determined to be abnormal by the detection value determination means with an average value of the pressure detection values not determined to be abnormal by the detection value determination means as an estimated value, and the detection value determination means being determined to be abnormal. And a means for performing operation control based on the pressure detection value other than the pressure detection value and the estimated value. Thereby, especially when the pressure detecting means fails, the value of the saturated pressure can be known at a portion close to the pressure detecting means, so that the abnormality determination of the detected value can be surely performed.

Further, the air conditioner according to the present invention is provided with an air temperature detecting means provided in the indoor unit, an inlet refrigerant temperature detecting means for the indoor heat exchanger provided in the indoor unit, and the outdoor unit. The discharge gas temperature detection means, the detection value determination means for determining an abnormality when the air temperature becomes equal to or lower than the inlet refrigerant temperature after a lapse of a certain time from the start of operation of the air conditioner during the cooling operation, and the detection value determination means. When it is determined that the air temperature is abnormal, a means for controlling the opening degree of the indoor expansion valve based on the value detected by the discharge gas temperature detecting means. With this, even if the indoor unit fails, at least the discharge gas temperature of the compressor is controlled, so that it is possible to eliminate the risk of the compressor malfunctioning.

[0021]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention.
4 to FIG. 4 will be described below. FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an air conditioner, FIGS. 2 and 4 are control flowchart diagrams according to one embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a more detailed control flowchart diagram.

In FIG. 1, the refrigeration cycle includes a compressor 1, a four-way valve 2, an outdoor heat exchanger 3, an outdoor expansion valve 4, a liquid receiver 5, an indoor expansion valve 6, an indoor heat exchanger 7, a gas-liquid separator. 8 and are connected by pipes. Further, the indoor and outdoor heat exchangers are provided with a blower 9, and the heat is exchanged between the refrigerant and the air by blowing air to the heat exchanger to air-condition the room. Further, the air conditioner is operated by the refrigeration cycle operation means 11, the detection values input by the detection value input means 12 by the detection values by the pressure detection means 10 and the temperature detection means T, which are state detection means, and by the detection value determination means 13. You have decided to use the detection value.

FIG. 1 shows a so-called multi-type air conditioner having a plurality of indoor heat exchangers 4 with respect to one outdoor heat exchanger 3, in which the indoor heat exchanger 7 and the blower 9 of the indoor unit are connected. The combination is not uniform, and each indoor unit has different capabilities.

Here, temperature detectors are attached to the compressor 1, the outdoor heat exchanger 3, and the indoor heat exchanger 7, and the discharge gas temperature Td, the outdoor air temperature Ta0, and the outdoor heat exchanger outlet refrigerant temperature, respectively. Te, indoor air intake temperature Ta1
~ Ta1n, indoor air blowing temperatures Ta2 to Ta2n,
The indoor heat exchanger inlet refrigerant temperatures Tr11 to Tr1n and the indoor heat exchanger outlet refrigerant temperatures Tr21 to Tr2n are detected, respectively. In a multi-type air conditioner including 10 indoor heat exchangers, for example, Tr1n, T1n
There are 10 r2n, Ta1n, and Ta2n each, which means that there are 40 detection means in total, and a very large number of detection means are required.

In the control flow chart of FIG. 2, the device state detecting device will be described step by step as an operating method when the air conditioner fails. First, at the start of operation of the air conditioner,
It is determined whether or not each of the detecting means is in a stable operating state in which a failure determination can be performed. The determination of stable operation can be made based on the operating state of the compressor, the temperature state of each part of the air conditioner, the degree of change in the opening of the expansion valve, the elapsed time from the start of operation, and the like.

Next, it is determined whether the detected value obtained from each detecting means is abnormal. Here, for example, when it is determined that the first indoor heat exchanger inlet refrigerant temperature Tr11 is abnormal, it is continuously determined whether or not there is an abnormality up to the nth indoor heat exchanger inlet refrigerant temperature Tr1n.

When all the detected values have been determined to be abnormal, the detected values of the same type as the detected values determined to be abnormal, in this case, the detected values of Tr12 to Tr1n,
A value obtained by arithmetic mean, root mean square, harmonic mean, or weighted mean is replaced as the estimated value of Tr11. For example, in the case of the weighted average, it is preferable to increase the weight of the indoor heat exchanger having a high degree of importance or the indoor heat exchanger having a large capacity. The operation control is performed by the values of Tr12 to Tr1n and T
This can be done by the estimated value of r11.

Next, a detailed operation method when the air conditioner fails will be described step by step with reference to the control flowchart of FIG. First, when the operation is started, the refrigerant temperature detecting means T
A resistance value is checked to see if the refrigerant pipe thermistor for detecting r11 to Tr1n and the air temperature thermistor for detecting Ta1 to Ta1n, which is an air temperature detecting means, are disconnected (step 101). Similarly, it is confirmed whether the refrigerant pipe thermistor and the air temperature thermistor are short-circuited (step 102). Next, until the refrigeration cycle becomes stable, it waits for 4 minutes or more at the start of operation (step 103).

Since the determination of abnormality is established by heat exchange between air and refrigerant in the air conditioner, the indoor air blowing temperatures Ta2 to Ta2n are determined from the indoor heat exchanger outlet refrigerant temperatures Tr21 to Tr2n during the cooling operation. By making use of the fact that the temperature does not become low, and when the air temperature is not higher than the refrigerant temperature by 5 ° C. or more, it is judged to be abnormal, thereby making a practical judgment (step 104).

Further, during the cooling operation, the indoor air blowing temperatures Ta2 to Ta2n are equal to the indoor heat exchanger inlet refrigerant temperature Tr.
The temperature is not lower than 11 to Tr1n, and when the air temperature is not higher than the refrigerant temperature by 8 ° C. or more, it is determined to be abnormal (step 105). Next, to prevent erroneous detection, it is monitored whether or not this state continues for a certain period of time (15 minutes is optimal for testing) (step 1
06, 107, and 109, 110).

In the above, when the respective abnormal detected values are discriminated, the detected values of the air temperature and the refrigerant temperature which are discriminated as abnormal, and the average value of the respective detected values of the air temperature and the refrigerant temperature which are not discriminated as abnormal are calculated. The estimated value is used and the operation is continued (steps 108, 113, 115 and 111, 11).
4).

In the case of the pressure detecting means, the abnormality determination of the detected value is performed by determining the saturated pressure of the refrigerant based on the pressure detected value and the temperature detected values detected by the temperature detecting means provided in a portion close to the pressure detecting means. It is possible to discriminate the abnormality of each pressure detection value by comparing with the value. On the contrary, in the case of the temperature detecting means, in addition to the method of comparing with the temperature of the adjacent portion, the saturation temperature can be obtained from the pressure of the adjacent portion and the determination can be made by comparing with the obtained temperature.

Further, when the inlet refrigerant temperature detecting means of the indoor heat exchanger fails during the cooling operation, the opening degree of the indoor expansion valve 6 is controlled by the value detected by the discharge gas temperature detecting means of the outdoor unit, and the indoor unit is controlled. Even if the engine fails, at least the discharge gas temperature of the compressor is controlled. In the above, the amount to be detected can be current, voltage, humidity, resistance, flow rate, etc. in addition to the pressure and temperature of the steam, and can be applied to the detection of these failures.

Further, in the above description, the average value of the same kind has been described as the method of obtaining the estimated value, but each detected value of several kinds is represented by a matrix of two or more dimensions, and the pattern is recognized and stored. The estimated value may be obtained by a method of complementing the abnormal value with.

[0035]

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the entire apparatus from being stopped or started even when various detecting means fail, and to detect the state of the device that can continue or start the operation in a state closer to the normal operation. An apparatus and an air conditioner can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an air conditioner.

FIG. 2 is a control flow chart according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a detailed control flow chart of one embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a control flowchart showing a case in which the pressure detecting means fails according to one embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Compressor, 2 ... Four-way valve, 3 ... Outdoor heat exchanger, 4 ... Outdoor expansion valve, 5 ... Liquid receiver, 6 ... Indoor expansion valve, 7 ... Indoor heat exchanger, 8 ... Gas-liquid separator, 9 ... Blower, 10 ... Pressure detecting means, 11 ... Refrigeration cycle operating means, 12 ... Detected value input means, 13 ... Detected value determination means, 14 ... Detected value availability determination means, Td ... Discharge gas temperature, Ta0 ... Outdoor air temperature , T
e ... Outdoor heat exchanger outlet refrigerant temperature, Ta11 to Ta1n ...
Indoor air intake temperature, Ta21 to Ta2n ... Indoor air blowing temperature, Tr11 to Tr1n ... Indoor heat exchanger inlet refrigerant temperature, Tr21 to Tr2n ... Indoor heat exchanger outlet refrigerant temperature, 104, 105, 203 ... Detected value determining means, 2
05 ... Means to replace.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Satoru Yoshida 390 Muramatsu, Shimizu City, Shizuoka Prefecture Inside the Hitachi Air Conditioning Systems Division (72) Inventor Hiroaki Kato 390, Muramatsu Shimizu City, Shizuoka Hitachi Air Conditioning Systems Business Department

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A state detection device for a device, comprising at least a plurality of types of state detection means and performing operation of an equipment accompanied by at least a state change, based on each detection value by the state detection means during stable operation of the equipment, A detection value determination means for determining an abnormality in the detection value, and a detection value determined to be abnormal by the detection value determination means,
A means that is not determined to be abnormal by the detection value determination means, and that replaces the average value of the detection values of the same type as the detection value determined to be abnormal as an estimated value, and a detection value other than the detection value determined to be abnormal And a control means for operating the device according to the estimated value. 2. An air conditioner in which an indoor unit having an indoor expansion valve and an indoor heat exchanger is connected to an outdoor unit having an outdoor heat exchanger, a compressor, a four-way valve, an outdoor expansion valve, and a liquid receiver, respectively. In the machine, a plurality of types of state detection means provided in the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, and each detection value based on each detection value by the state detection means after a certain period of time from the start of operation of the air conditioner Detection value determining means for determining the abnormality of, and the detection value determined as abnormal by the detection value determining means,
A means that is not determined to be abnormal by the detection value determination means, and that replaces the average value of the detection values of the same type as the detection value determined to be abnormal as an estimated value, and a detection value other than the detection value determined to be abnormal An air conditioner comprising: and a means for controlling operation based on the estimated value. 3. A plurality of indoor units each having an indoor expansion valve and an indoor heat exchanger are connected to an outdoor unit having an outdoor heat exchanger, a compressor, a four-way valve, an outdoor expansion valve, and a liquid receiver. In the air conditioner, a state detection unit provided in each of the indoor units, and an abnormality of each detection value based on each detection value by the state detection unit after a certain time has elapsed from the start of operation of the air conditioner. A detection value determining means for determining, and a detection value determined to be abnormal by the detection value determining means,
A means that is not determined to be abnormal by the detection value determination means, and that replaces the average value of the detection values of the same type as the detection value determined to be abnormal as an estimated value, and a detection value other than the detection value determined to be abnormal An air conditioner comprising: and a means for controlling operation based on the estimated value. 4. A plurality of indoor units each having an indoor expansion valve and an indoor heat exchanger are connected to an outdoor unit having an outdoor heat exchanger, a compressor, a four-way valve, an outdoor expansion valve, and a liquid receiver. In an air conditioner consisting of, an air temperature detecting means provided in each of the indoor units, a refrigerant temperature detecting means provided in each of the indoor units, and after a lapse of a certain time from the start of operation of the air conditioner, Based on each detection value by the air temperature detection means and the refrigerant temperature detection means, a detection value determination means for determining an abnormality when the air temperature becomes equal to or lower than the refrigerant temperature during the cooling operation, and the detection value determination means It is characterized by comprising means for replacing the values of the air temperature and the refrigerant temperature determined to be abnormal with an estimated value, and means for performing operation control based on the detected value other than the detected value determined to be abnormal and the estimated value. Air conditioner to be. 5. The replacement unit according to claim 4, wherein the detected values of the air temperature and the refrigerant temperature, which are determined to be abnormal by the detection value determination unit, are determined to be abnormal by the detection value determination unit. An air conditioner characterized by using an average value of the respective detected values of the air temperature and the refrigerant temperature that have not existed as an estimated value. 6. The detection value determination means according to claim 4, wherein the detection value determination means determines an abnormality when the air temperature is not higher than the refrigerant temperature by 5 ° C. or more during the cooling operation. An air conditioner. 7. An air conditioner in which an indoor unit having an indoor expansion valve and an indoor heat exchanger is connected to an outdoor unit having an outdoor heat exchanger, a compressor, a four-way valve, an outdoor expansion valve, and a liquid receiver, respectively. In the machine, a plurality of pressure detection means provided in the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, a temperature detection means provided in a portion close to the pressure detection means, after a certain time has elapsed from the start of operation of the air conditioner A detection value determination for determining an abnormality of each pressure detection value by comparing each pressure detection value by the pressure detection means and a saturated pressure value of the refrigerant based on each temperature detection value detected by the temperature detection means Means for replacing the pressure detection value determined to be abnormal by the detection value determination means with an average value of pressure detection values not determined to be abnormal by the detection value determination means as an estimated value; An air conditioner characterized by comprising a means for performing operation control pressure detection value other than the determined pressure detected value and by the estimated value. 8. An air conditioner in which an indoor unit having an indoor expansion valve and an indoor heat exchanger is connected to an outdoor unit having an outdoor heat exchanger, a compressor, a four-way valve, an outdoor expansion valve, and a liquid receiver, respectively. In the machine, an air temperature detection unit provided in the indoor unit, an inlet refrigerant temperature detection unit of the indoor heat exchanger provided in the indoor unit, a discharge gas temperature detection unit provided in the outdoor unit, In the cooling operation, after a lapse of a certain time from the start of operation of the air conditioner, a detection value determination unit that determines an abnormality when the air temperature becomes equal to or lower than an inlet refrigerant temperature, and the air temperature is determined by the detection value determination unit. An air conditioner comprising: means for controlling the opening degree of the indoor expansion valve based on a value detected by the discharge gas temperature detecting means when it is determined that there is an abnormality.