KR101294738B1 - Air conditioner and Control process of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The operation method of the air conditioner according to the present invention includes a stabilizing step of stabilizing a refrigeration cycle circuit during heating operation of the air conditioner; After the stabilization step, at least one of the high pressure of the refrigerating cycle circuit and the low pressure of the refrigerating cycle circuit and the discharge superheat and the discharge temperature of the compressor are sensed. Including an outdoor expansion valve error notification step, it is possible to quickly take action when the outdoor expansion valve failure, there is an advantage to prevent the lack of heating that can occur when the outdoor expansion valve failure, or to minimize the power consumption.

Air Conditioner, Outdoor Expansion Valve, Refrigeration Cycle Circuit, Compressor, Control Unit, Information Output Unit

Description

Air conditioner and its operation method {Air conditioner and Control process of the same}

The present invention relates to an air conditioner and an operation method thereof, and more particularly, to an air conditioner and an operation method capable of determining whether an outdoor expansion valve has failed.

In general, an air conditioner is a device for cooling or heating a room using a refrigeration cycle circuit consisting of a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator.

The refrigeration cycle circuit includes a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger (= condenser), an expansion device, and an outdoor heat exchanger (= evaporator) for an air conditioning dedicated air conditioner. Valve, outdoor heat exchanger and air / heating switching valve.

The air conditioner as described above determines the abnormality by directly measuring the operating state of the compressor or the like with a measuring instrument such as a resistance measuring instrument at the time of installation or service.

Meanwhile, Korean Patent Publication No. 10-0773803 detects a failure of a plurality of compressors using a compressor discharge temperature or a discharge pressure, and if detected as a failure of a compressor, performs a backup drive to drive another compressor that has not failed in place of the failed compressor. In addition, a control method of an air conditioner for displaying a failure of a compressor through a display of an outdoor unit is disclosed.

However, the control method of the air conditioner disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 10-0773803 can not only indicate the failure of the compressor, but also can not notify the failure of the outdoor expansion valve to the outside. In the low case, it can be recognized that the air conditioner is normally operated when viewed from the outside, so that precise control of the room temperature is difficult and it is difficult to easily confirm that power consumption is wasted.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, by determining the failure of the outdoor expansion valve in real time during operation, the air conditioner and the service that can facilitate the rapid expansion of the outdoor expansion valve and increase the user's convenience The purpose is to provide a driving method.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner having high reliability of outdoor expansion valve failure determination and a method of operating the same.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner and an operation method thereof capable of optimally determining an outdoor expansion valve failure in consideration of an outdoor temperature change.

An air conditioner according to the present invention for solving the above problems includes a refrigeration cycle circuit including a compressor, a cooling / heating switching valve, an outdoor heat exchanger, an outdoor expansion valve, an indoor expansion valve, and an indoor heat exchanger; If at least one of the high pressure of the refrigeration cycle circuit, the low pressure of the refrigeration cycle circuit, the discharge superheat and the discharge temperature of the compressor is out of the reference range after the heating operation of the refrigeration cycle circuit is started and the refrigeration cycle circuit is stabilized, the outdoor expansion valve A control unit for outputting a failure signal of the; And an information output unit for notifying failure information of the outdoor expansion valve according to the outdoor expansion valve failure signal of the controller.

The control unit varies the reference range according to the outdoor temperature.

The control unit stops the heating operation of the air conditioner together with the output of the failure signal of the outdoor expansion valve valve.

 The operation method of the air conditioner according to the present invention includes a stabilizing step of stabilizing a refrigeration cycle circuit during heating operation of the air conditioner; After the stabilization step, at least one of the high pressure of the refrigerating cycle circuit and the low pressure of the refrigerating cycle circuit and the discharge superheat and the discharge temperature of the compressor are sensed. And an operation method of an air conditioner including an outdoor expansion valve error notification step.

In the outdoor expansion valve error notification step, a display installed in the air conditioner indicates a failure of the outdoor expansion valve.

The outdoor expansion valve error notification step stops the operation of the air conditioner while the display displays a failure of the outdoor expansion valve.

The detecting step detects an outdoor temperature, and the outdoor expansion valve error notification step varies a reference range according to the detected outdoor temperature.

In the outdoor expansion device error notification step, the lower the outdoor temperature, the lower the reference range, and the higher the outdoor temperature, the higher the reference range.

According to the present invention configured as described above, during the heating operation of the air conditioner, the air conditioner self-diagnoses the failure of the outdoor expansion valve in real time and informs the outside, so that a quick action is possible when the outdoor expansion valve fails, and the outdoor expansion valve fails. There is an advantage to prevent the lack of heating that can occur or to minimize the power consumption.

In addition, since the failure of the outdoor expansion valve is detected after the heating operation is stabilized, there is an advantage that the reliability of the outdoor expansion valve failure detection is high.

In addition, when a failure of the outdoor expansion valve has a merit that the user can quickly recognize the failure of the outdoor expansion valve through the information output unit.

In addition, when the outdoor expansion valve breaks down, the air conditioner is stopped, and thus, there is an advantage of preventing power waste that may occur when the air conditioner is operated while the outdoor expansion valve is broken.

In addition, the reference range is changed according to the change in the outdoor temperature, there is an advantage that it is possible to more accurately detect the failure of the outdoor expansion valve.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of an air conditioner according to the present invention.

The air conditioner according to the present embodiment includes a refrigeration cycle circuit 2, as shown in FIG.

The refrigeration cycle circuit 2 includes a compressor 12, 13, an outdoor heat exchanger 14, an outdoor expansion valve 16, an indoor expansion valve 18, an indoor heat exchanger 20, and a cooling / heating switching valve 22. The cooling / heating switching valve 22 flows the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 12 and the 13 to the outdoor heat exchanger 14 during the cooling operation, and the refrigerant evaporated by the indoor heat exchanger 20. Flows to the compressor (12) 13, and during the heating operation, the refrigerant compressed in the compressor (12) (13) flows to the indoor heat exchanger (20), and the refrigerant evaporated in the outdoor heat exchanger (14) is compressed. (12) and (13).

The refrigeration cycle circuit 2 is installed in the indoor unit I and the outdoor unit 0.

The refrigeration cycle circuit (2) is provided with an indoor expansion valve (18) and an indoor heat exchanger (20) in an indoor unit (I), and a compressor (12) and an outdoor heat exchanger (14) and an outdoor unit in an outdoor unit (O). Expansion valve 16 and the cooling / heating switching valve 22 is provided.

 The compressors 12 and 13 compress the refrigerant, and an accumulator 24 in which the liquid refrigerant is contained is provided between the suction side of the compressor 12 and the air conditioner and the air-conditioning switching valve 22. Oil separators 26 and 27 are provided between the discharge side of the accumulators 12 and 13 and the air-conditioning switching valve 22 to separate oil from the refrigerant compressed by the compressors 12 and 13.

A suction temperature sensor 28 is installed between the compressors 12 and 13 and the air-conditioning switching valve 22 to detect the temperature of the refrigerant sucked toward the compressors 12 and 13, and the compressors 12 and 13 are installed. Low pressure sensor 30 for detecting the pressure of the refrigerant sucked toward the () is installed.

 Discharge temperature sensors 32 and 33 are provided between the compressors 12 and 13 and the air-conditioning switching valve 22 to detect the temperature of the refrigerant compressed by the compressors 12 and 13, and the compressor 12 to the compressor 12. A high pressure sensor 34 for detecting the pressure of the refrigerant compressed in 13 is installed.

The outdoor heat exchanger 14 functions as a condenser for condensing the refrigerant during cooling and an evaporator for evaporating the refrigerant during heating.

An outdoor fan (not shown) for blowing outdoor air to the outdoor heat exchanger 14 is disposed around the outdoor heat exchanger 14.

The outdoor heat exchanger (14) is provided with an outdoor heat exchanger temperature sensor (38) for sensing the temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger (14).

An outdoor temperature sensor 39 (shown in FIG. 2) that senses outdoor temperature is installed around the outdoor heat exchanger 14.

The outdoor expansion valve (16) expands the refrigerant flowing toward the outdoor heat exchanger (14) during the heating operation.

 Before and after the refrigerant flow direction of the outdoor expansion valve 16, an outdoor expansion valve bypass flow path 40 through which the refrigerant can bypass the outdoor expansion valve 16 is connected, and the outdoor expansion valve bypass flow path 40 In the cooling operation, the refrigerant condensed in the outdoor heat exchanger 14 passes through the bypass passage 40, and the refrigerant condensed in the indoor heat exchanger 20 during the heating operation does not pass through the bypass passage 40. A closing check valve 42 is provided.

 The outdoor expansion valve (16) expands the refrigerant flowing toward the outdoor heat exchanger (14) during the heating operation.

The opening degree of the outdoor expansion valve 16 is adjusted so that the superheating degree of suction during the heating operation reaches the set superheating degree (for example, 3 to 7 ° C).

The indoor expansion valve (18) expands the refrigerant flowing toward the indoor heat exchanger (20) during the cooling operation.

The indoor expansion valve 18 is controlled so that the suction superheat degree during the cooling operation reaches the set suction superheat degree (for example, 3 to 7 DEG C).

The indoor heat exchanger 20 functions as an evaporator for evaporating the refrigerant during cooling and a condenser for condensing the refrigerant during heating.

An indoor fan (44) for blowing indoor air to the indoor heat exchanger (20) is disposed around the indoor heat exchanger (20).

The refrigeration cycle circuit 2 condenses in the outdoor heat exchanger 14 after the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 12 and 13 passes through the cooling / heating switching valve 22 during the cooling operation. After the expansion in the evaporation in the indoor heat exchanger 20, and subsequently passes through the cooling / heating switching valve 22 and the accumulator 24 is recovered to the compressor (12) (13).

The refrigeration cycle circuit 2 condenses in the indoor heat exchanger 20 after the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 12 and 13 passes through the cooling / heating switching valve 22 during the heating operation, and the outdoor expansion valve 16. After the expansion in the evaporation in the outdoor heat exchanger (14), and then passes through the cooling / heating switching valve 22 and the accumulator 24 in sequence and is recovered to the compressor (12) (13).

2 is a control block diagram of an embodiment of an air conditioner according to the present invention.

The air conditioner according to the present embodiment is applied to the operation unit 50 operated by a user or the like, the operation of the operation unit 50, and the detected values of various sensors 28, 30, 32, 33, 34, and 39. The controller 60 controls the air conditioner and the information output unit 70 outputs various types of information of the air conditioner according to the signal of the controller 60.

 The control unit 60 controls the compressors 12 and 13 according to the operation / stop of the air conditioner operated by the operation unit 50 and the change in the room temperature, and the like according to the cooling operation and the heating operation operated by the operation unit 50. It controls the outdoor expansion valve 16, the indoor expansion valve 18 and the cooling / heating switching valve 22 and the like, and the detected values of the various sensors 28, 30, 32, 33, 34 and 39. The information output unit 70 is controlled accordingly.

The controller 60 outputs a failure signal of the outdoor expansion valve 16 to the information output unit 70 when the outdoor expansion valve 16 fails after the heating operation of the air conditioner is started and the heating operation is stabilized.

After the refrigeration cycle circuit 2 is stabilized, the controller 60 controls the high pressure A of the refrigeration cycle circuit 2, the low pressure B of the refrigeration cycle circuit 2, the discharge superheat degree C, and the compressor. (12) If at least one of the discharge temperatures D of 13 is out of the reference ranges E to F, G to H, I to J, and K to L, the outdoor expansion valve 16 malfunctions. Output the signal.

Here, the discharge superheat degree is a difference between the discharge temperature of the compressor 12 and 13 and the condensation temperature of the refrigerant, and the discharge temperature of the compressor 12 and 13 is detected by the discharge temperature sensors 32 and 33, and the refrigerant The condensation temperature of is converted directly from the high pressure detected by the outdoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 38 or detected by the high pressure sensor 34.

The refrigeration cycle circuit 2 has a high pressure A of the refrigeration cycle circuit 2 and a low pressure B of the refrigeration cycle circuit 2 after the refrigeration cycle circuit 2 is stabilized when the outdoor expansion valve 16 is normal. And at least one of the discharge superheat degree C and the discharge temperature D of the compressors 12 and 13 are within the reference ranges E to F (G to H) (I to J) (K to L). If the outdoor expansion valve 16 is abnormal, the refrigeration cycle circuit (2) is stabilized after the high pressure (A) of the refrigeration cycle circuit (2), the low pressure (B) of the refrigeration cycle circuit (2), At least one of the discharge superheat degree C and the discharge temperature D of the compressors 12 and 13 is variable so as to deviate from the reference ranges E to F (G to H) (I to J) (K to L). do.

That is, after the refrigeration cycle circuit 2 is stabilized, the controller 60 controls the outdoor expansion valve 16 when the high pressure A of the refrigeration cycle circuit 2 is changed out of the high pressure reference range E to F. It may be determined that the abnormality, and when the high pressure (A) of the refrigeration cycle circuit 2 is varied within the high pressure reference range (E ~ F), it can be determined that the outdoor expansion valve 16 is normal.

In addition, after the refrigeration cycle circuit 2 is stabilized, the controller 60 controls the outdoor expansion valve 16 when the low pressure B of the refrigeration cycle circuit 2 is changed out of the low pressure reference range G to H. If it is determined that the abnormality, and the low pressure (B) of the refrigeration cycle circuit 2 is variable within the low pressure reference range (G ~ H), it can be determined that the outdoor expansion valve 16 is normal.

In addition, the control unit 60 determines that the outdoor expansion valve 16 is abnormal when the discharge superheat degree C is varied outside the discharge superheat degree reference range I to J after the refrigeration cycle circuit 2 is stabilized. It may be determined, and when the discharge superheat degree C is varied within the discharge superheat degree reference range I to J, it may be determined that the outdoor expansion valve 16 is normal.

In addition, after the refrigeration cycle circuit 2 is stabilized, the controller 60 controls the outdoor expansion valve 16 when the discharge temperature D of the compressors 12 and 13 is changed out of the discharge temperature reference range K to L. ) Can be determined to be abnormal, and if the discharge temperature (D) of the compressor (12) (13) is varied within the discharge temperature reference range (K ~ L), it can be determined that the outdoor expansion valve (16) is normal. have.

The control unit 60 controls the high pressure A of the refrigeration cycle circuit 2, the low pressure B of the refrigeration cycle circuit 2, the discharge superheat degree C, and the discharge temperatures of the compressors 12 and 13 ( If any one of D) is outside the respective reference ranges (E to F) (G to H) (I to J) (K to L), it is possible to determine that the outdoor expansion valve (16) is abnormal and freezes. The high pressure A of the cycle circuit 2, the low pressure B of the refrigeration cycle circuit 2, the discharge superheat degree C, and the discharge temperature D of the compressors 12 and 13 are respectively If it is out of the reference ranges (E-F) (G-H) (I-J) (K-L), it can be determined that the outdoor expansion valve (16) is abnormal.

The control unit 60 controls the high pressure A of the refrigeration cycle circuit 2, the low pressure B of the refrigeration cycle circuit 2, the discharge superheat degree C, and the compressor 12, 13 regardless of the outdoor temperature. It is also possible to determine the normal / abnormal of the outdoor expansion valve 16 by comparing the discharge temperature D of the < RTI ID = 0.0 >) < / RTI > The high pressure (A) and the freezing of the refrigeration cycle circuit (2) are adjusted while adjusting the respective reference ranges (E to F) (G to H) (I to J) (K to L) according to the change of the outdoor temperature. It is also possible to compare the low pressure B of the cycle circuit 2, the discharge superheat degree C, and the discharge temperature D of the compressors 12 and 13 with respective reference ranges adjusted according to the outdoor temperature. .

That is, the control unit 60 sets the respective reference ranges E to F, G to H, I to J, and K to L as the outdoor temperature is lower, and sets each reference range as the outdoor temperature is higher. (E-F) (G-H) (I-J) (K-L) can be set high.

The discharge temperature C of the compressors 12 and 13 will be described in detail as an example. If the outdoor temperature is greater than or equal to the first set temperature and less than the second set temperature (second set temperature> first set temperature), If the reference range is set to K ~ L, the outdoor temperature is more than the second set temperature, the reference range of the discharge temperature is set to K + 1 ~ L + 1, if the outdoor temperature is less than the first set temperature, the reference of the discharge temperature The range can be set from K-1 to L-1.

 The controller 60 outputs an outdoor expansion valve failure signal when it is determined that the outdoor expansion valve 16 is abnormal, and does not output an outdoor expansion valve failure signal when it is determined that the outdoor expansion valve 16 is normal.

 The information output unit 70 notifies the failure information of the outdoor expansion valve 16 according to the outdoor expansion valve failure signal of the control unit 60.

The information output unit 70 may be configured as a display that visually indicates whether the outdoor expansion valve 16 is broken, and a sound generator such as a buzzer or a speaker that visually indicates whether the outdoor expansion valve 16 is broken or not. It is also possible to consist of.

The information output unit 70 may be mounted to an air conditioner, or may be mounted to a remote controller such as a central controller for remote control of the air conditioner.

The controller 60 stops the operation of the air conditioner together with the output of the failure signal of the outdoor expansion valve valve 16.

That is, the air conditioner according to the present embodiment may notify the service of the outdoor expansion valve 16 through the information output unit 70 when the outdoor expansion valve 16 fails, and forcibly stops the operation of the air conditioner. Can protect the air conditioner.

3 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method of operating an air conditioner according to the present invention.

The operation method of the air conditioner according to the present embodiment includes a stabilization step (S1) (S2); Outdoor expansion valve error notification step (S3) (S4).

The stabilization step (S1) (S2) is a step in which the refrigeration cycle circuit (2) is stabilized after the start of the heating operation, during the heating operation of the air conditioner, the control unit 60 controls the heating and cooling switching valve 22 in the heating mode. The compressor 12, 13 is driven, and the outdoor expansion valve 16 is adjusted.

After the refrigerant passes through the compressor 12, 13, the air conditioning switch 22, the indoor heat exchanger 20, the outdoor expansion valve 16, the outdoor heat exchanger 14, and the air conditioning switch 22, Recovered to the compressor (12) 13, the refrigeration cycle circuit 2 is stabilized over time.

 Here, the stabilization step (S1) (S2) may be determined that the heating operation is stabilized when the set time has elapsed after the heating operation starts to start or after the compressor 12 (13) starts to be driven, If the temperature and pressure sensed by the various sensors 28, 30, 32, 33, 34 and 39 are within the stabilization reference range, the heating operation may be determined to be stabilized.

 The outdoor expansion valve error notification step (S3) (S4) is the high pressure (A) of the refrigeration cycle circuit and the low pressure (B) and discharge superheat degree (C) of the refrigeration cycle circuit and discharge of the compressor after the stabilization step (S1) (S2) A change in at least one of the temperatures D is sensed.

The control unit 60 has a set time elapsed after the heating operation starts to start or after the compressors 12 and 13 start to be driven, or various sensors 28, 30, 32, 33, 34, 39 If the detected temperature and pressure is within the stabilization reference range, it is determined that the stabilization step is completed, and then various sensors, that is, the suction temperature sensor 28 and the low pressure sensor 30 and the discharge temperature sensor 32, 33 and discharge The detection values of the temperature sensors 32 and 33, the high pressure sensor 34, the outdoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 38, and the outdoor temperature sensor 39 are read.

The controller 60 detects the high pressure A of the refrigeration cycle circuit from the high pressure sensor 34.

The controller 60 detects the low pressure B of the refrigeration cycle circuit from the low pressure sensor 30.

The control unit 60 detects the discharge superheat degree from the discharge temperature sensors 32 and 33 and the high pressure sensor 34, or the discharge superheat degree from the discharge temperature sensors 32 and 33 and the outdoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 38. C) detect

The controller 60 detects the discharge temperature D of the compressor 2 from the discharge temperature sensors 32 and 33.

The outdoor expansion valve error notification step S3, S4 and S5 detects the outdoor temperature, and the reference ranges E to F, G to H, I to J, K to L, detect the outdoor temperature. It can vary depending on the size of.

 In the outdoor expansion mechanism error notification step S3, S4, and S5, the lower the outdoor temperature, the lower the reference ranges E to F, G to H, I to J, and K to L. The recording reference ranges E-F (G-H) (I-J) (K-L) are high.

 The outdoor expansion valve error notification step S3, S4, S5 notifies the malfunction of the outdoor expansion valve 16 as an "error" when the detected detection value is out of the reference range.

  Outdoor expansion valve error notification step (S3) (S4) (S5) is a display, which is an information output unit 70 installed in the air conditioner indicates a failure of the outdoor expansion valve 16 or the information output unit 70 installed in the air conditioner A phosphor buzzer, a speaker, or the like notifies the failure of the outdoor expansion valve 16.

The outdoor expansion valve error notification step S3, S4, and S5 stops the operation of the air conditioner while the display displays a failure of the outdoor expansion valve or when a buzzer or a speaker notifies the outdoor expansion valve 16 of the failure. .

That is, the controller 60 controls the information output unit 70 so that the information output unit 70 notifies the failure of the outdoor expansion valve while the separate operation such as information output release is not input through the operation unit 60, and the compressor (12) (13) and the indoor fan and the outdoor fan are stopped, and the outdoor expansion valve 16, the outdoor expansion valve 18 and the cooling / heating switching valve 22 are controlled to be initialized.

On the other hand, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, of course, various implementations are possible within the technical scope to which the present invention belongs.

1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of an air conditioner according to the present invention;

2 is a control block diagram of an embodiment of an air conditioner according to the present invention;

3 is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method of operating an air conditioner according to the present invention.

Claims (8)

A refrigeration cycle circuit comprising a compressor, a cooling / heating switching valve, an outdoor heat exchanger, an outdoor expansion valve, an indoor expansion valve, and an indoor heat exchanger; If at least one of the high pressure of the refrigeration cycle circuit, the low pressure of the refrigeration cycle circuit, the discharge superheat and the discharge temperature of the compressor is out of the reference range after the heating operation of the refrigeration cycle circuit is started and the refrigeration cycle circuit is stabilized, the outdoor expansion valve A control unit for outputting a failure signal of the; An information output unit notifying failure information of the outdoor expansion valve according to the outdoor expansion valve failure signal of the controller; Includes an outdoor temperature sensor for sensing outdoor temperature, The control unit is an air conditioner for varying the reference range according to the outdoor temperature detected by the outdoor temperature sensor. delete The method of claim 1, And the control unit stops the heating operation of the air conditioner together with the output of the failure signal of the outdoor expansion valve. A stabilization step of stabilizing a refrigeration cycle circuit during heating operation of the air conditioner; After the stabilization step, at least one of the high pressure of the refrigeration cycle circuit and the low pressure of the refrigeration cycle circuit, the discharge superheat and the discharge temperature of the compressor is detected, and if the detected detection value is out of the reference range, an error of the outdoor expansion valve is notified. An outdoor expansion valve error notification step, The outdoor expansion valve error notification step detects an outdoor temperature, and the reference range is changed according to the magnitude of the detected outdoor temperature operating method of the air conditioner. 5. The method of claim 4, The outdoor expansion valve error notification step is a display installed in the air conditioner operation method of the air conditioner to indicate the failure of the outdoor expansion valve. 6. The method of claim 5, And the outdoor expansion valve error notification step stops the operation of the air conditioner while the display displays a failure of the outdoor expansion valve. delete 5. The method of claim 4, The outdoor expansion mechanism error notification step, the lower the outdoor temperature, the lower the reference range, the higher the outdoor temperature, the higher the reference range operation method of the air conditioner.

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