JPH09264592A - Control device for air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To connect a larger number of usage side units to a single heat source side unit without accompanying the change of already existing appliances, or by a minimum change. SOLUTION: This control device is equipped with a branching device 10 which is connected by piping between a dividing expansion valve 6a and a plurality of indoor units 14a, 14b, 14c, an indoor micro-computer which is provided on respective indoor units 14a, 14b, 14c and controls the operation of the indoor units, an outdoor micro-computer which is provided on an outdoor unit 2 and controls the operation of the outdoor unit 2, and a branching micro- computer which is provided on the branching device 10, and is connected to the indoor micro-computer of the indoor unit being connected to the branching device 10, through a signal wire. Then, respective indoor micro-computers other than the indoor unit being connected to the branching device 10, and the branching micro-computer are respectively connected to the outdoor micro-computer through a signal wire, and at the same time, the branching micro-computer transmits data which normally cannot exist to the outdoor micro-computer, and the outdoor micro-computer recognizes the connection of the branching device 10 by the receiving of the applicable data.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to one heat source side unit in which a plurality of utilization side units are connected by piping.
The present invention relates to a control device for an air conditioner, which is a so-called multi-unit, in which a heat medium is circulated from one heat source side unit to each usage side unit to perform an air conditioning operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an air conditioner for cooling or heating a room is a single outdoor unit (heat source side unit).
One indoor unit (use side unit) was connected by piping to the above, but in recent years, multiple indoor units are connected by piping to one outdoor unit, and control is provided in the outdoor unit. A multi structure has been adopted in which control data is transmitted and received between a circuit and a control circuit provided in an indoor unit, and air conditioning is performed by a plurality of indoor units.

In this case, the pipe connection between the outdoor unit and each indoor unit is arranged such that a plurality of flow dividing valves are provided in the pipe from the outdoor unit and the supply of the refrigerant to each indoor unit is controlled by opening and closing the valves. ing. Further, data is transmitted and received by serial communication between a microcomputer (hereinafter, referred to as a microcomputer) provided in the control circuit of the outdoor unit and a microcomputer provided in each indoor unit, and a compressor of the outdoor unit and It was controlling the fan.

[0004]

However, the serial communication port of the microcomputer of the outdoor unit has a limit, and there is a margin in the cooling (or heating) capacity, and more indoor units can be connected by piping. Nevertheless, there was a problem that connection could not be made because there was not enough port number.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-mentioned conventional technical problems, and further, a single heat source side unit can be provided without changing the existing equipment or with a minimum change. An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner control device capable of connecting a large number of use side units.

[0006]

That is, the control device of the present invention connects a plurality of use side units to a single heat source side unit through a flow dividing valve with a heat medium circulating pipe. , Applied to an air conditioner configured to circulate a heat medium between a heat source side unit and a use side unit, and a branch device pipe-connected between a single flow dividing valve and a plurality of use side units, Use side control means provided in each use side unit and controlling operation of the use side unit, heat source side control means provided in the heat source side unit and controlling operation of the heat source side unit, and provided in the branching device Each of the user side units other than the user side unit connected to the branch device, the user side control unit of the user side unit connected to the branch device, and the branch side control unit connected via a signal line. Control means and minutes The side control means are respectively connected to the heat source side control means via signal lines, and the branch side control means transmits data that cannot be normally received to the heat source side control means, and the heat source side control means sends the data. Upon reception, it is recognized that the branching device is connected.

According to the present invention, a branch device is pipe-connected between a single flow dividing valve and a plurality of use side units, and the branch side control means of this branch device is connected to the use side unit. In addition to connecting to the use-side control means via a signal line, each use-side control means and branch-side control means other than the use-side unit connected to the branching device is connected to the heat source-side control means via a signal line. Therefore, it is possible to connect a larger number of utilization side units to a single heat source side unit, regardless of the number of ports of the heat source side control means.

[0008] In particular, the branch side control means transmits data which cannot be normally transmitted to the heat source side control means, and the heat source side control means recognizes that the branching device is connected by receiving the data. Therefore, it is possible to realize smooth control by causing the heat source side control means to recognize the connection of the branching device without the need for the operator to switch one by one or to significantly change the existing communication method. It will be.

[0009]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a refrigerant circuit diagram of the air conditioner of the present invention. In this figure, the air conditioner of the present invention includes one outdoor unit 2 (heat source side unit) and a plurality of (for example, five) indoor units 14 pipe-connected thereto.
a, 14b, 14c, 14d, 14e (use side units), and a branching device 10 pipe-connected between the indoor units 14a, 14b, 14c and the outdoor unit 2.

The outdoor unit 2 includes a compressor 3 and a four-way valve 8
(The flow path is switched between the cooling operation and the heating operation), the heat source side heat exchanger 4 and the like are provided, and the indoor units 14a to 14 are provided.
Use side heat exchangers 15a to 15e are provided in e.

The inlet of the four-way valve 8 is connected to the discharge pipe 3A of the compressor 3, and the outlet of the four-way valve 8 is connected to the suction pipe 3B of the compressor 3. Further, the heat source side heat exchanger 4 is connected to one connection port of the four-way valve 8, and the outlet of the heat source side heat exchanger 4 passes through a main valve (motorized valve) 11 and
For example, the three branch flow expansion valves (motorized valves) 6a, 6b, 6c are connected in parallel with each other. The branch expansion valves 6a, 6b, 6c are respectively provided with solenoid valves 5a, 5b.
b and 5c are connected, and sensors 7a, 7b and 7c for detecting the refrigerant temperature therebetween are provided between them.

Further, three electromagnetic valves 12a, 12b, 12c connected in parallel to each other are connected to the other connection port of the four-way valve 8, and a sensor 13a for detecting the refrigerant temperature between them is also connected between them. 13b and 13c are provided.

The indoor units 14d and 14e
The use side heat exchangers 15d and 15e are the solenoid valves 5b,
Pipes are connected between 5c and 12b, 12c.

On the other hand, a branching device 10 is connected between the solenoid valves 5a and 12a by piping. The branching device 10 includes, for example, three branch flow expansion valves (motorized valves) connected in parallel with each other.
17a, 17b, 17c and a confluent pipe 18 in which three refrigerant pipes are connected to each other in parallel are provided, and the indoor units 14A, 14b, 14c are provided between the respective branch expansion valves 17a, 17b, 17c and the confluent pipe 18. User side heat exchanger 15
a, 15b, 15c are connected by piping, and the branch expansion valves 17a, 17b, 17c are connected to the solenoid valve 5a,
Further, the merging pipe 18 side is pipe-connected to the solenoid valve 12a. Further, sensors 20a, 20b, 20c for detecting the refrigerant temperature between each of the branch expansion valves 17a, 17b, 17c and the use side heat exchangers 15a, 15b, 15c and a sensor for detecting the refrigerant temperature in the pipes leading to the confluent pipe 18. 19a, 19
b and 19c are also provided.

Reference numeral 9 denotes a defrost valve for directly supplying the high temperature refrigerant discharged from the compressor 3 to the heat source side heat exchanger 4 for defrosting.

With the above configuration, assuming that the solenoid valve 5a is open, when the compressor 3 is operated during the cooling operation of the air conditioner, the high-temperature high-pressure gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor 3 is operated. Flows into the heat source side heat exchanger 4 through the four-way valve 8,
There, it radiates heat and is condensed. The liquid refrigerant flowing out of the heat source side heat exchanger 4 is branched through the main valve 11 and divided into the branch expansion valve 6a.
(In this case, the branch expansion valve 6a is fully opened as described later), flows with the electromagnetic valve 5a, flows out from the outdoor unit 2, and flows into the branching device 10.

The refrigerant that has flowed into the branching device 10 is divided into three parts there, and divided flow expansion valves 17a, 17b and 17c.
After being decompressed in the indoor unit 14a, 14b, 14c, the use side heat exchanger 15 flows out from the branching device 10
It flows into a, 15b, and 15c. The refrigerant evaporates there and enables the cooling operation by the indoor units 14a, 14b, 14c. Next, the evaporated and gasified refrigerant flows out from each of the utilization side heat exchangers 15a, 15b, 15c and returns to the merging pipe 18 of the branching device 10. Then, it flows out from the branching device 10 and returns to the outdoor unit 2 from the electromagnetic valve 19a.

The refrigerant returned to the outdoor unit 2 is a four-way valve 8
Through the suction pipe 3B to the compressor 3. As a result, the heat source side heat exchanger 4 becomes a condenser, and the use side heat exchangers 15a to 15c become evaporators. Note that the other indoor units 14d and 14e differ only in that the refrigerant whose pressure has been reduced by the diversion expansion valves 6b and 6c flows into the use side heat exchangers 15d and 15e and evaporates (not via the branching device 10). Just the others are the same.

Next, during the heating operation, when the compressor 3 is operated, the high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor 3 flows into the branching device 10 through the four-way valve 8 and the solenoid valve 12a. Then, this gas refrigerant is split in the merging pipe 18,
The heat is condensed by the use side heat exchangers 15a, 15b, 15c to enable the heating operation by the indoor units 14a, 14b, 14c.

The liquid refrigerant discharged from the use side heat exchangers 15a, 15b, 15c flows out of the branching device 10 through the branch flow expansion valves 17a, 17b, 17c, returns to the outdoor unit 2 from the solenoid valve 5a, and branches in the branch flow expansion valve. 6a and the main valve 11 to flow into the heat source side heat exchanger 4. The refrigerant flowing into the heat source side heat exchanger 4 evaporates there, and is sucked into the compressor 3 through the four-way valve 8 and the suction pipe 3B. Thereby, the heat source side heat exchanger 4 becomes an evaporator, and the use side heat exchangers 15a to 15c become condensers. Note that the other indoor units 14d and 14e differ only in that the refrigerant that has passed through the use side heat exchangers 15d and 15e is decompressed by the branch expansion valves 6b and 6c and flows into the heat source side heat exchanger 4 (the branching device (Not via 10) and the others are the same.

The branching device 10 and each indoor unit 14
The refrigerant is supplied to the d and 14e by the solenoid valves 5a to 5c and 12a.
12c is controlled by being opened and closed by the control device 26 described later.

FIG. 2 is a principal block diagram of the control device 26 used in the air conditioner shown in FIG. In this figure,
The outdoor unit 2 is provided with an outdoor microcomputer (general-purpose microcomputer) 21 as heat source side control means mounted on the substrate.

Further, each indoor unit 14a, 14b ...
-Indicates indoor microcomputers 24a to 2 as user-side control means
4e is provided, and indoor microcomputers 24d and 24e
Are connected to the outdoor microcomputer 21 by communication lines, respectively, and form serial data communication circuits.

On the other hand, the branching device 10 is provided with a branching microcomputer 27 as branching side control means, and the indoor microcomputers 24a, 24b and 24c are respectively branching microcomputers 2.
7 are wired and connected by a communication line to form serial data communication circuits. The branch microcomputer 27 is wired and connected to the outdoor microcomputer 21 by a communication line, which also constitutes a serial data communication circuit.

An electric motor 30 for driving an outdoor fan for air-cooling the heat source side heat exchanger 4 is connected to the main microcomputer 21 via a drive circuit 31, and a four-way valve 8, a defrost valve 9, a main valve 11, a diversion flow. Expansion valves 6a-6c (represented here by 6), solenoid valves 5a-5c (represented by 5 here), solenoid valves 12a-12c (represented by 12 here), etc., respectively. It is connected via the drive circuits 32 and 33.

The drive circuit 31 is provided with a plurality of auxiliary relays that are excited in response to a signal from the outdoor microcomputer 21, and a speed adjustment terminal of the electric motor 30 is selected by a combination of contact pieces responsive to the excitation of these relays. Change the speed of (the air volume of the outdoor fan). For the speed of the electric motor 30, the outdoor microcomputer 21 determines the outdoor temperature, the temperature of the heat source side heat exchanger, the temperature of the use side heat exchanger, the number of indoor units to which the refrigerant is supplied, the overload state of the refrigeration cycle, and the like. Then, as the outside air temperature of the cooling operation increases, the number of operating indoor units increases, and as the refrigeration cycle becomes overloaded, the speed of the electric motor 30 is controlled to increase.

When the cooling operation (and the reverse cycle defrosting) / heating operation is switched, the four-way valve 8 is switched by being excited by an auxiliary relay in the drive circuit 32 in response to a signal from the outdoor microcomputer 21. Similarly, the defrost valve 9 is excited in response to a signal from the outdoor microcomputer 21 by the auxiliary relay in the drive circuit 32 when the temperature of the heat source side heat exchanger 4 is particularly lowered during the heating operation. open.

The main valve 11, the diversion expansion valve 6, the solenoid valve 5,
Reference numeral 12 opens the flow path when the auxiliary relay in the drive circuit 33 is excited in response to a signal from the outdoor microcomputer 21 during operation of the air conditioner. In the case of the diversion expansion valve 6, its opening is adjusted to adjust the degree of throttling.

The compressor 3 is also connected to the outdoor microcomputer 21 via the drive circuit 34. When a three-phase induction motor is used as a drive source for the compressor 3, the drive circuit 34 turns on / off in response to a switching signal for obtaining a three-phase pseudo sine wave having a frequency required to obtain a predetermined rotation speed. When the DC motor (brushless type) is used as the drive source of the compressor 3, which corresponds to a three-phase inverter circuit that is turned off, the drive circuit 34 uses the DC voltage and the stator winding required to obtain a predetermined rotation speed. It corresponds to a three-phase inverter circuit that turns on / off in response to a switching signal for appropriately switching the energization to.

It should be noted that the predetermined number of revolutions is determined by the outdoor microcomputer 21.
Is calculated according to a predetermined algorithm according to the refrigerating capacity required from the branching device 10 or the indoor units 14d and 14e.

Further, each of the sensors 7a to 7c and 13a to
The output of 13c is output via the input circuit 22 to the outdoor microcomputer 21.
17a to 17c and 19a to
The output of 19c is output from the branch microcomputer 27 via the input circuit 23.
Is input to Further, the indoor-side microcomputers 24a to 24e of the indoor units 14a to 14e respectively include the usage-side heat exchanger 1
Sensor (not shown) that detects the temperature of 5a to 15e
The indoor microcomputer 2 is equipped with data from each sensor.
4d and 24e are transmitted to the outdoor microcomputer 21 by the serial communication circuit and are transmitted to the indoor microcomputers 24a to 24c.
In step 1, the data is transmitted to the branch microcomputer 27. And
The branch microcomputer 27 is transmitted to the outdoor microcomputer 21.

In the outdoor microcomputer 21, the operation of the compressor 3 is controlled as described above according to the capacity request signal from the indoor microcomputers 24d and 24e or the branch microcomputer 27. Further, based on the outputs of the sensors 7b, 7c and 13b, 13c, the openings of the diversion expansion valves 6b, 6c are adjusted to obtain a constant overheat.

The branch flow expansion valve 6a to which the branching device 10 is connected is fully opened, and the sensors 7a,
The output of 12a is ignored. On the other hand, the branch microcomputer 27 instead of the sensors 20a, 20b, 20c and 19a,
Based on the outputs of 19b and 19c, the diversion expansion valves 17a, 1
The opening of 7b and 17c is adjusted to control to obtain a constant overheat.

Thus, the outdoor unit 2 and the branching device 1
0 and the indoor units 14d and 14e have the same communication method, the branching device 10 can be treated as one indoor unit when viewed from the outdoor unit 2.

Next, the operation of the air conditioner at the time of test operation will be described. The outdoor microcomputer 21 sequentially operates the solenoid valves 5a and 12a, 5b and 12b, 5c and 12c during the trial run.
The branching device 10, which is input at that time,
The respective control addresses are set on the basis of the data from the indoor units 14d and 14e. At this time, the branching device 10 uses, as the temperature data of the heat exchanger on the use side, a value that is not normally possible such as -40 ° C. To send.

Based on such data, the outdoor microcomputer 21
It is recognized that the branching device 10 is connected to the diversion expansion valve 6a (electromagnetic valve 5a), and thereafter, the diversion expansion valve 6a is fully opened as described above, and the outputs of the sensors 7a and 12a are ignored.

Although the air conditioner in which the refrigerant is circulated between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit has been described in the embodiment, the cold water or hot water (heat medium) cooled or heated by the heat source side unit is used by the use side unit. The present invention is also effective for a so-called chiller unit that is circulated in the direction.

[0038]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, a branch device is connected by piping between a single flow dividing valve and a plurality of use side units, and the branch side control means of this branch device is connected to the branch device. The heat source is connected to the usage-side control means of the connected usage-side unit via a signal line, and the usage-side control means and the branch-side control means other than the usage-side unit connected to the branching device are respectively connected via signal lines. Since the connection is made to the side control means, it is possible to connect a larger number of utilization side units to a single heat source side unit regardless of the number of ports of the heat source side control means.

In particular, the branch-side control means transmits data that cannot be normally received to the heat-source-side control means, and the heat-source-side control means recognizes that the branch device is connected by receiving the data. Therefore, it is possible to realize smooth control by causing the heat source side control means to recognize the connection of the branching device without the need for the operator to switch one by one or to significantly change the existing communication method. It will be.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a piping configuration diagram of an air conditioner to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a main part of a control device for an air conditioner of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Outdoor unit (heat source side unit) 4 Heat source side heat exchanger 6a, 6b, 6c Dividing flow expansion valve 10 Branching device 14a-14e Indoor unit (use side unit) 15a-15e Use side heat exchanger 21 Outdoor microcomputer (heat source side control) Means) 24a to 24e Indoor microcomputer (use side control means) 27 Branch microcomputer (branch side control means)

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Satoshi Tomioka 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tatsuya Tani 2-chome, Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka No. 5 in Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroshi Hatoh 2-5-5 Keihan Hondori, Moriguchi City, Osaka Prefecture Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hirotaka Murata Keihan Hondori, Moriguchi City, Osaka Prefecture 2-5-5 Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A single heat source side unit is connected with a plurality of use side units by heat medium circulation pipes through a flow dividing valve respectively, and between the heat source side unit and the use side unit. In the air conditioner configured to circulate the heat medium, a branching device pipe-connected between the single flow dividing valve and a plurality of the use side units, and provided in each of the use side units, Use side control means for controlling the operation of the use side unit, heat source side control means provided in the heat source side unit for controlling the operation of the heat source side unit, and provided in the branching device and connected to the branching device Each of the use side control means other than the use side unit connected to the branching device, and the branch side control Each of the stages is connected to the heat source side control means via a signal line, and the branch side control means transmits data that is not normally possible to the heat source side control means, and the heat source side control means sends the data. An air conditioner control device, which recognizes that the branching device is connected by receiving the.