KR100827875B1 - Operation controlling apparatus and its method for outdoor unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an operation control apparatus and method for an outdoor unit, and more particularly, to an operation control apparatus for an outdoor unit for controlling the compressor and the blower fan in inverse proportion by comparing the pressure and temperature from the pressure sensor and the temperature sensor with an optimum pressure and temperature range. It is about a method.

The operation control apparatus of the outdoor unit of the present invention comprises a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure of the refrigerant at the outlet of the compressor in the outdoor unit, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the refrigerant at the outlet of the condenser, from the pressure from the pressure sensor and the temperature sensor The temperature is compared with the optimum pressure and the temperature range, and according to the comparison result, at least a blower fan installed in the outdoor unit and the microcomputer to inversely control the operating conditions of the compressor.

Outdoor unit, pressure sensor, temperature sensor

Description

Operation control device and method of outdoor unit {OPERATION CONTROLLING APPARATUS AND ITS METHOD FOR OUTDOOR UNIT}

1 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view showing a structure of an embodiment of a wall-mounted outdoor unit for an air conditioner installed with a driving control apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the outdoor unit according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

3 is a block diagram of an operation control apparatus according to the present invention.

4 is a flowchart of an operation control method according to the present invention.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

2: building exterior wall 4: exterior frame

6: inner frame 7a: suction area

7b: discharge area 8: louver blade

10: outdoor unit 12a, 12b, 12c: side cover

14: bottom cover 16: top cover

18a, 18b, 18c, 18d: leg member 19: leg reinforcement

20: compressor 21: pressure sensor

30: condenser 31: temperature sensor

32a, 32b, 32c: condenser cover 34a, 34b: condenser bracket                 

40: cooling fan 42: fan support member

50: control box 60: front grille

70: micom

The present invention relates to an operation control apparatus and method for an outdoor unit, and more particularly, to an operation control apparatus for an outdoor unit for controlling the compressor and the blower fan in inverse proportion by comparing the pressure and temperature from the pressure sensor and the temperature sensor with an optimum pressure and temperature range. It is about a method.

Air conditioners including both air conditioners or heaters can be divided into one-piece and separate types. In the case of describing the air conditioner as an example, the separate type air conditioner, which is the object of the present invention, is installed indoors to cool the room, and is connected to the indoor unit and the refrigerant pipe, and is installed in the outdoor contact with the air to provide external air to the cooling medium. It consists of an outdoor unit that supplies the condensed refrigerant after condensation heat exchange with the refrigerant gas in the condenser to the evaporator of the indoor unit through the refrigerant pipe. The indoor unit includes an evaporator for cooling heat exchange to absorb evaporative heat from the indoor air by evaporating the refrigerant, and a ventilation fan for circulating the indoor air. The outdoor unit includes a compressor for compressing the refrigerant gas and supplying it to the condenser, and a refrigerant gas supplied from the compressor. An air-cooled condenser for condensing, and a cooling fan for cooling and condensing the refrigerant gas by forcibly blowing external air to the air-cooled condenser. The compressor, air-cooled condenser and cooling fan of the outdoor unit are housed inside the outdoor unit casing that forms the exterior. The conventional hexahedral outdoor unit casing has an air inlet for sucking air into an air-cooled condenser on three sides, and an air for discharging air absorbed from the refrigerant gas to the outside through heat exchange in an air-cooled condenser on its upper surface to the outside The discharge part is provided.

However, such a conventional outdoor unit for an air conditioner has been restricted in the installation place due to the high density of the city and the strengthening of environmental management, and has been subjected to complaints of the surroundings due to noise and heat emission. In particular, common residential facilities, such as large apartment complexes, require outdoor units to be installed inside the veranda due to aesthetics and noise problems.

In order to solve this problem, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 6-101873 is installed indoors of an air conditioner or adjacent to an indoor unit, and an outdoor unit of an air conditioner is installed outdoors. In the installed air conditioner-mounted building, an opening is installed in the outer wall or roof, a louver is installed in the opening, an outdoor unit of the air conditioner is installed inside the louver, and the intake or exhaust of the outdoor unit is a wing plate of the louver. Disclosed is a building equipped with an air conditioner, which is to be carried out through a gap.

In addition, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-213928 discloses an outdoor unit main body for an air conditioner having an outline having a thickness substantially the same as the wall embedded in the wall, and air for heat exchange disposed on the same side of the main unit main body. An outdoor unit for a wall-mounted air conditioner having a suction port and a blowout port of air after heat exchange is disclosed.

However, the above-described prior arts do not disclose a technique for an apparatus and method for determining whether an outdoor unit is currently operated according to an operation setting condition set by an indoor unit by a user.

In addition, the prior art does not disclose a device and a method for controlling the outdoor unit to satisfy the operation setting conditions regardless of external fluctuation factors (external temperature, wind speed, etc.).

The above-mentioned prior arts do not disclose a technique for an apparatus and method for determining whether an outdoor unit is currently operated according to an operation setting condition set by a user or automatically through an indoor unit.

In addition, the prior art does not disclose a device and a method for controlling the outdoor unit to provide the optimum efficiency (operation state) while satisfying the operation setting conditions regardless of external fluctuation factors (external temperature, wind speed, etc.). .

The operation control apparatus of the outdoor unit of the present invention comprises a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure of the refrigerant at the outlet of the compressor in the outdoor unit, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the refrigerant at the outlet of the condenser, from the pressure from the pressure sensor and the temperature sensor The temperature is compared with the optimum pressure and the temperature range, and according to the comparison result, at least a blower fan installed in the outdoor unit and the microcomputer to inversely control the operating conditions of the compressor.

At this time, the microcomputer preferably maintains the current compressor and condenser operating conditions if the pressure and temperature are within the optimum pressure and temperature range.                     

In addition, the microcomputer preferably decreases the number of revolutions of the blowing fan by a predetermined value and increases the operating frequency of the compressor by a predetermined value when the pressure and temperature are smaller than the optimum pressure and temperature range.

In addition, the microcomputer preferably increases the number of revolutions of the blower fan by a predetermined value and decreases the operating frequency of the compressor by a predetermined value when the pressure and temperature are greater than the optimum pressure and temperature range.

In addition, the optimum pressure and temperature range is determined according to the operation setting conditions of the indoor unit, and the microcomputer operates by setting the initial operation conditions of the blower fan and the compressor according to the operation setting conditions from the indoor unit.

In addition, the operation control method of the outdoor unit of the present invention comprises the steps of detecting the pressure of the refrigerant at the outlet of the compressor in the outdoor unit, detecting the temperature of the refrigerant at the outlet of the condenser, from the pressure from the pressure sensor and the temperature sensor Comparing the temperature with the optimum pressure and temperature range, maintaining the operating conditions of the current blower fan and the compressor installed in the outdoor unit if the pressure and temperature are within the optimum pressure and temperature range, Reducing the number of revolutions of the blower fan by a predetermined value if less than an optimum pressure and temperature range and increasing the operating frequency of the compressor by a predetermined value; and if the pressure and temperature are greater than the optimum pressure and temperature range Increasing the number of revolutions of the fan by a predetermined value and decreasing the operating frequency of the compressor by a predetermined value. It should.

In addition, the method preferably further comprises the step of setting the optimum pressure and temperature range in accordance with the operating conditions of the indoor unit.

In addition, the method preferably further comprises the step of setting and operating the initial operating conditions of the blower fan and the compressor in accordance with the operation setting conditions from the indoor unit.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the embodiment of the present invention and the accompanying drawings, the operation control apparatus and method of the outdoor unit. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited by the following examples and drawings, and the scope of the present invention will be limited only by the contents described in the claims below.

1 to 2 show an embodiment of a wall-mounted outdoor unit for an air conditioner in which an operation control apparatus according to the present invention is installed.

1 and 2, an outer frame 4 is fixedly installed on a rectangular inner wall of a space formed in the outer wall 2 of a residential and / or commercial building, and an inner frame (inside the outer frame 4) 6) is fixed to the outer frame 4. In some cases, the inner and outer frames 4 and 6 may be integrally formed. The inner region of the inner frame 6 is divided into a suction region 7a and a discharge region 7b, and a plurality of louver blades 8 are provided in each region to fill the gap between these louver blades 8. Air is sucked in or discharged through it. In the following, the outer frame 4, the inner frame 6 and the louver blades 8 are referred to as louver frames.

On the other hand, the outdoor unit 10 (only a part of which is shown) fixedly installed inside the building exterior wall 2 to contact the outer frame 4 and / or the inner frame 6 has an outdoor unit casing. One side of the outdoor unit casing facing the suction area 7a and the discharge area 7b of the inner frame 6 is opened, and the open side part is divided into the suction part 11a and the discharge part 11b. It corresponds to the suction area 7a and the discharge area 7b of the inner frame.

On the other hand, the outdoor unit 10 fixedly installed inside the building outer wall 2 to be in contact with the outer frame 4 and / or the inner frame 6 has an outdoor unit casing, which is the component shown in FIG. In addition, the outdoor unit components shown in FIG. 2 are also installed inside the outdoor unit casing.

First, the casing of the outdoor unit 10 is open at one side facing the suction area 7a and the discharge area 7b of the inner frame 6, and the open side part is opened at the suction part 11a and the discharge part 11b. Are separated into a) to correspond to the suction region 7a and the discharge region 7b of the inner frame. The other three side covers 12a, 12b, and 12c, the bottom cover 14, and the top cover 16 are closed to form an overall cuboid shape. The bottom cover 14 is formed with a plurality of leg members 18a, 18b, 18c, and 18d protruding outwards, and these leg members 18a, 18b, 18c, and 18d are formed on the floor of the building, e.g. It is supported against the floor to support the heavy load of the outdoor unit 10. The number of leg members 18a, 18b, 18c, and 18d may be preferably about four when considering the shape of the bottom cover 14. In addition, a leg reinforcement 19 for connecting and reinforcing these leg members 18a, 18b, 18c, and 18d to each other is formed in the transverse direction under the bottom cover 14. In addition, the leg members 18a, 18b, 18c, and 18d further include a height-adjustable screw (not shown), so that when the flatness of the floor of the building, for example, the floor of the apartment veranda is not correct, the outdoor unit ( It can be used to level 10. In addition, when the two of the leg members (18a, 18b, 18c, 18d), for example, the front (building outer wall side) two leg members (18a, 18b) further comprises a wheel for movement (not shown), It becomes quite convenient to carry the heavy load outdoor unit 10.

In addition, the compressor 20 is installed on the compressor fastening part 22 in the outdoor unit suction part 11a, and the "cool" air-cooled condenser 30 has the condenser cover 32a, 32b, and 32c and the condenser bracket 34a. , 34b are fixedly supported to the side covers 12a and 12b and the bottom cover 14. Air-cooled condenser 30 has a plurality of rows of condenser piping between the many condenser fins has a zigzag shape. The structure and shape of the air-cooled condenser are not shown in detail because they are already known. The compressed refrigerant gas compressed from the compressor 20 flows through the pipe of the condenser 30 and is condensed by taking heat of condensation into air supplied from the outside. In this case, the condenser covers 32a, 32b, and 32c and the condenser brackets 34a and 34b form an air path so that air introduced from the outside is not supplied to the discharge part 11b without passing through the condenser 30.

A pressure sensor (not shown) for detecting the pressure of the refrigerant when the refrigerant is discharged from the compressor 20 to the condenser, and the temperature of the refrigerant after the refrigerant is supplied to the condenser 30 and heat exchanged by air is detected. A temperature sensor (not shown) is additionally included. The pressure sensor is preferably installed near the discharge port (not shown) of the compressor 20, and the temperature sensor is preferably installed near the manifold portion of the condenser 30 through which the refrigerant is discharged.                     

In addition, in the outdoor unit discharge part 11b, a blower fan 40 which supplies external air to the air-cooled condenser 30 through the suction area 7a and discharges heat-exchanged air through the discharge area 7b is provided. The blower fan support member 42, the blower fan bracket 44, and the fan front 46 are fixed to the side covers 12a, 12b, 12c and the top cover 16. The drawing shows a sirocco fan as an example of the blowing fan 40.

In addition, a control box 50 for controlling the operation of the outdoor unit is provided inside the side cover 12c constituting the rear side of the side cover, and a refrigerant pipe under which the refrigerant gas evaporated from the indoor unit flows under the control box 50. In addition, a valve assembly 52 which is a passage of a refrigerant pipe through which the condensed refrigerant condensed in the outdoor unit flows is provided.

The control box 50 includes at least a microcomputer (not shown) for controlling the compressor 20 and the blowing fan 40 described above, which are described below.

In front of the outdoor unit 10, that is, in front of the open side surface facing the suction area 7a and the discharge area 7b of the inner frame 6, a mesh-shaped front grill 60 is additionally installed and Prevent invasion of animals (eg mice).

3 is a block diagram of an operation control apparatus according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the operation control apparatus includes a pressure sensor 21 for detecting the pressure of the refrigerant discharged and discharged in the compressor 20, and a temperature for detecting the temperature of the refrigerant exchanged in the condenser 30. It is installed in the sensor 31, the control box 50 and receives the pressure and temperature from the pressure sensor 21 and the temperature sensor 31, by comparing the input pressure and temperature and the optimum pressure and temperature range, According to the comparison result, at least the compressor 20 and the blower fan 40 control the microcomputer 70.

In addition, the microcomputer 70 receives an operation setting condition (for example, room temperature or humidity set by a user or automatically) from a control device (not shown) of the indoor unit. Previously, the microcomputer 70 stores the optimum pressure and temperature ranges of the compressor 20 and the condenser 30 according to the various operating setting conditions, and the blower fan 40 corresponding to the optimum pressure and temperature range is stored. Operating conditions such as the number of revolutions and the operating frequency of the condenser 30 are also stored. These operating conditions are determined based on typical external conditions including air temperature, wind strength, etc. at the place where the outdoor unit 10 is installed. On the other hand, since the external conditions in the place where the actual outdoor unit 10 is installed are likely to be different from the general external conditions, the pressure of the desired performance when operating the outdoor unit 10 according to the already stored operating conditions. And it is impossible to obtain a refrigerant of temperature. Therefore, when an external condition such as the present invention affects the outdoor unit 10, it is to obtain the desired performance while removing the influence.

When the microcomputer 70 receives the operation setting conditions from the control device of the indoor unit, the initial operation conditions for the compressor 20 and the blower fan 40 are searched according to the operation setting conditions, and the compressor ( 20) and the blower fan 40 are operated.

4 is a flowchart of an operation control method according to the present invention. The operation control method is performed on the above-described operation control apparatus, in which the microcomputer 70 starts operation by the control unit of the indoor unit to receive the operation setting conditions (S41), and the microcomputer 70 controls the indoor unit. Selecting an initial operation condition corresponding to the operation setting condition received from the step S42, and the pressure sensor 21 and the temperature sensor 31 are used to determine the pressure of the refrigerant of the compressor 20 and the refrigerant of the condenser 30; Detecting the temperature (S43), and determining whether the detected pressure and temperature are within the optimum pressure and temperature range corresponding to the operation setting condition by the microcomputer 70 (S45), and if the detected pressure and temperature Is within the optimum pressure and temperature range to maintain the current operating condition (S45), and if the detected pressure and temperature is less than the optimum pressure and temperature range, the rotation speed of the blower fan 40 is inversely reduced and , Luck of the compressor 20 Increasing the frequency (S47), and if the detected pressure and temperature is greater than the optimum pressure and temperature range, increasing the rotational speed of the blower fan 40 inversely, and decreasing the operating frequency of the compressor 20. (S48).

In detail, in step S41, when the indoor unit is operated by the user and predetermined operation setting conditions are set by the user or automatically, the control unit of the indoor unit transmits the operation setting conditions to the microcomputer 70 to send the outdoor unit. Let the 10 start the operation.

In step S42, the microcomputer 70 selects an operating condition including the rotational speed of the blower fan 40 and the operating frequency of the compressor 20 already stored therein corresponding to the transmitted operation setting condition. The blower fan 40 and the compressor 20 are operated according to the operating conditions. At this time, the microcomputer 70 may select an optimum pressure and temperature range for the compressor 20 and the condenser 30 corresponding to the transmitted operation setting condition (that is, the operating condition).

In step S43, the pressure sensor 21 detects the pressure of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 20, and the temperature sensor 31 detects the temperature of the refrigerant heat exchanged from the condenser 30 to the microcomputer 70. send.                     

In step S44, the microcomputer 70 determines whether the detected pressure and temperature are within the optimum pressure and temperature range as one of comparing the detected pressure and temperature with the optimum pressure and temperature range, and if the detected pressure is If the temperature is within the optimum pressure and temperature range, the current compressor 20 and the blower fan 40 operate efficiently in response to the operation setting conditions. Therefore, the compressor is maintained by maintaining the current operation conditions according to the comparison result. 20 and the blowing fan 40 to operate (step S45).

In step S46, the microcomputer 70 is one of the steps in which the detected pressure and temperature are compared with the optimum pressure and temperature range, and determines whether the detected pressure and temperature is less than the optimum pressure and temperature range. According to the comparison result, the microcomputer 70 reduces the rotation speed of the blower fan 40 by a predetermined value and increases the operating frequency of the compressor 20 by the predetermined value (step S47). Accordingly, the decrease in the rotation speed of the blower fan 40 increases the temperature of the refrigerant of the condenser 30 to some extent, and the increase in the operating frequency of the compressor 20 increases the pressure of the refrigerant of the compressor 20, The microcomputer 70 controls the pressure of the refrigerant by the current compressor 20 and the temperature of the refrigerant of the condenser 30 to be within an optimum pressure and temperature range.

In step S48, if the detected pressure and temperature are greater than the optimum pressure and temperature range, according to the comparison result, the microcomputer 70 increases the rotation speed of the blowing fan 40 by a predetermined value, and the compressor 20 Decreases the operating frequency by. Accordingly, the increase in the rotation speed of the blower fan 40 lowers the temperature of the refrigerant of the condenser 30 to some extent, and the decrease in the operating frequency of the compressor 20 reduces the pressure of the refrigerant of the compressor 20, The microcomputer 70 controls the pressure of the refrigerant by the current compressor 20 and the temperature of the refrigerant of the condenser 30 to be within an optimum pressure and temperature range.

After the steps S45, S47, and S48 by the microcomputer 70, after a predetermined time has elapsed, the step S43 is performed again, so that the operation control method satisfies the operation setting condition. Is performed.

As described above, the present invention has an effect of determining whether the outdoor unit is currently operated according to an operation setting condition set by the indoor unit by the user.                     

In addition, the present invention has the effect of controlling the outdoor unit to maintain the optimum operating state while satisfying the operation setting conditions regardless of external fluctuation factors (external temperature, wind speed, etc.).

Claims (9)

A pressure sensor for detecting the pressure of the refrigerant at the outlet of the compressor in the outdoor unit; A temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the refrigerant at the outlet of the condenser, The pressure from the pressure sensor and the temperature from the temperature sensor are compared with the optimum pressure and temperature range, respectively, and if the pressure and temperature are within the optimum pressure and temperature range, the current operating conditions of the compressor and condenser installed in the outdoor unit are maintained. And a microcomputer controlling the operating conditions of the blower fan and the compressor installed in an outdoor unit in inverse proportion to each other when the pressure and temperature deviate from the optimum pressure and temperature ranges. delete The method of claim 1, wherein the microcomputer reduces the number of revolutions of the blower fan by a predetermined value and increases the operating frequency of the compressor by a predetermined value when the pressure and temperature are less than the optimum pressure and temperature range. Operation control device of outdoor unit. The method of claim 1, wherein the microcomputer increases the number of revolutions of the blower fan by a predetermined value and decreases the operating frequency of the compressor by a predetermined value when the pressure and temperature are greater than the optimum pressure and temperature range. Operation control device of outdoor unit. 5. The operation control apparatus for an outdoor unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the optimum pressure and temperature range are determined according to the operation setting conditions of the indoor unit. 6. The operation control apparatus for an outdoor unit according to claim 5, wherein the microcomputer operates by setting initial operation conditions of the blower fan and the compressor according to the operation setting conditions from the indoor unit. Detecting the pressure of the refrigerant at the outlet of the compressor in the outdoor unit; Detecting the temperature of the refrigerant at the outlet of the condenser; Comparing the pressure detected in the pressure detecting step and the temperature detected in the temperature detecting step with an optimum pressure and a temperature range, respectively; Maintaining the current operating conditions of the blower fan and the compressor installed in the outdoor unit when the pressure and temperature are within an optimum pressure and temperature range; If the pressure and temperature are less than the optimum pressure and temperature range, reducing the number of revolutions of the blowing fan by a predetermined value and increasing the operating frequency of the compressor by a predetermined value; If the pressure and temperature are greater than the optimum pressure and temperature range, increasing the number of revolutions of the blower fan by a predetermined value and reducing the operating frequency of the compressor by a predetermined value. Way. 8. The operation control method of an outdoor unit according to claim 7, wherein the operation control method performs the step of setting the optimum pressure and temperature range according to the operation setting conditions of the indoor unit before the comparing step. 8. The operation control method of an outdoor unit as claimed in claim 7, wherein the operation control method first performs a step of setting and operating the initial operation conditions of the blower fan and the compressor according to the operation setting conditions from the indoor unit.

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