KR101381372B1 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

 In the air conditioner of the present invention, the refrigerant compressed in the compressor during the cooling operation flows to any one of the plurality of refrigerant passages of the outdoor heat exchanger, and the refrigerant passing through the indoor heat exchanger flows toward the compressor. A cooling / heating switching valve for allowing the refrigerant compressed in the air to flow to the indoor heat exchanger and allowing the refrigerant passing through any one of the plurality of refrigerant passages of the outdoor heat exchanger to flow toward the compressor; During the cooling operation, all of the plurality of refrigerant passages of the outdoor heat exchanger act as condensers, and all of the plurality of refrigerant passages of the outdoor heat exchanger act as evaporators during the heating operation, and among the plurality of refrigerant passages of the outdoor heat exchanger during defrosting of the heating operation. A flow channel variable means for varying the flow path of the refrigerant such that one acts as an evaporator and the other of the plurality of refrigerant flow paths acts as a condenser; There is an advantage to continue heating operation.

 Air conditioner, compressor, outdoor heat exchanger, plural refrigerant flow paths, cooling / heating switching valve, flow path variable means

Description

Air conditioner

 The present invention relates to an air conditioner, and when a condition of defrosting operation during a heating operation, a part of the outdoor heat exchanger acts as a condenser and the rest as an evaporator, the air conditioner defrosting the outdoor heat exchanger.

 In general, an air conditioner is a device that cools or heats a room by using a refrigeration cycle including a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion device, and an indoor heat exchanger. It consists of an air conditioner (ie a heat pump).

When the air conditioner is configured as a combined air-conditioning and air-conditioning, including a cooling / heating switching valve (that is, four-way valve) for changing the flow path of the refrigerant compressed in the compressor in accordance with the cooling operation and heating operation, compressed in the compressor during the cooling operation As the refrigerant is circulated through the cooling / heating switching valve, the outdoor heat exchanger, the expansion mechanism, the indoor heat exchanger, and the cooling / heating switching valve to the compressor, the outdoor heat exchanger acts as a condenser and the indoor heat exchanger acts as an evaporator. During operation, the refrigerant compressed by the compressor is circulated through the cooling / heating switching valve, the indoor heat exchanger, the expansion mechanism, the outdoor heat exchanger, and the cooling / heating switching valve to the compressor, and the indoor heat exchanger acts as a condenser. Acts as.

The air conditioner as described above generates water on the surface of the heat exchanger acting as an evaporator during its operation. In the cooling operation, water is generated on the surface of the indoor heat exchanger, and in the case of the heating operation, the surface of the outdoor heat exchanger. Water is generated in the water, especially when condensate generated on the surface of the outdoor heat exchanger freezes the smooth flow of the outdoor air and heat exchange, thereby lowering the heating performance.

On the other hand, if the air conditioner stops the heating operation in the middle of the heating operation and operates the refrigeration cycle in the reverse cycle (ie, the cooling operation), the outdoor heat exchanger passes the high temperature and high pressure refrigerant, and the freezing of the surface of the outdoor heat exchanger It is melted by the heat of the refrigerant. When all the freezing on the surface of the outdoor heat exchanger is removed by the reverse cycle of the refrigerating cycle as described above, when the refrigerating cycle is again operated by heating operation, warmth is discharged to the room.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and by using an outdoor heat exchanger divided by an air conditioner that can continue heating operation without having to switch to cooling for defrosting during heating operation. There is a purpose.

Air conditioner according to the present invention for solving the above problems is a compressor for compressing the refrigerant; An indoor heat exchanger in which the refrigerant heat exchanges with the indoor air; An outdoor heat exchanger having a plurality of refrigerant passages through which the refrigerant exchanges heat with the outdoor air; An outdoor expansion mechanism for expanding the refrigerant flowing toward any one of the plurality of refrigerant passages; An indoor expansion mechanism for expanding a refrigerant flowing toward the indoor heat exchanger; During the cooling operation, the refrigerant compressed in the compressor flows to any one of the plurality of refrigerant passages, and the refrigerant passing through the indoor heat exchanger flows toward the compressor, and the refrigerant compressed in the compressor during the heating operation is performed. A cooling / heating switching valve for flowing the indoor heat exchanger and allowing the refrigerant passing through any one of the plurality of refrigerant passages to flow toward the compressor; All of the plurality of refrigerant passages of the outdoor heat exchanger act as a condenser during the cooling operation, and all of the plurality of refrigerant passages of the outdoor heat exchanger serve as the evaporator during the heating operation. And a flow path varying means for varying the flow path of the refrigerant such that one acts as an evaporator and the other of the plurality of refrigerant flow paths acts as a condenser.

An air conditioner according to the present invention includes a compressor for compressing a refrigerant; An indoor heat exchanger in which the refrigerant heat exchanges with the indoor air; An outdoor heat exchanger having first and second refrigerant passages through which the refrigerant heat exchanges with the outdoor air; An outdoor expansion mechanism for expanding the refrigerant flowing toward the first refrigerant passage; An indoor expansion mechanism for expanding a refrigerant flowing toward the indoor heat exchanger; During the cooling operation, the refrigerant compressed in the compressor flows into the first refrigerant passage, and the refrigerant passing through the indoor heat exchanger flows toward the compressor. During the heating operation, the refrigerant compressed in the compressor passes through the indoor heat exchange. A cooling / heating switching valve which allows the refrigerant to pass through the first refrigerant passage and flows toward the compressor; Some of the refrigerant compressed by the compressor flows into the second refrigerant passage during the cooling operation, passes through the expansion valve and then flows toward the indoor expansion mechanism, and some of the refrigerant flowing toward the outdoor expansion mechanism during the heating operation. After passing through the expansion valve flows to the second refrigerant flow path and then flows toward the compressor, during defrosting, some of the refrigerant compressed by the compressor flows into the second refrigerant flow path and then passes through the expansion valve and then the outdoor expansion. And flow path varying means for varying the flow path of the refrigerant to flow toward the mechanism.

In the outdoor heat exchanger, the second refrigerant passage is located ahead of the first refrigerant passage in an outdoor air flow direction so that outdoor air heat-exchanged with the second refrigerant passage is heat-exchanged with the first refrigerant passage.

The flow path variable means includes: a first refrigerant pipe connected between the compressor and a cooling / heating switching valve; A second refrigerant pipe connected to the second refrigerant path; A third refrigerant pipe connected between the cooling / heating switching valve and the compressor; A fourth refrigerant pipe having one end connected between the outdoor expansion device and the indoor expansion device, the other end connected to the second refrigerant flow path, and the expansion valve being installed; The first refrigerant pipe, the second refrigerant pipe, and the third refrigerant pipe are connected to allow the refrigerant passing through the first refrigerant pipe to flow into the second refrigerant pipe, so that the refrigerant does not flow into the third refrigerant pipe; It includes a four-way valve for allowing the refrigerant passing through the second refrigerant pipe flows into the third refrigerant pipe while preventing the refrigerant from flowing into the first refrigerant pipe.

And a control unit for controlling the cooling / heating switching valve, the four-way valve and the expansion valve according to the cooling / heating operation and the defrosting operation of the air conditioner.

The flow channel variable means includes: a first refrigerant pipe having one end connected between the compressor and a cooling / heating switching valve and the other end connected to the second refrigerant flow path; A second refrigerant pipe having one end connected between the first refrigerant flow path and the cooling / heating switching valve and the other end connected to the first refrigerant pipe; A third refrigerant pipe having one end connected between the outdoor expansion device and the indoor expansion device, the other end connected to the second refrigerant flow path, and the expansion valve being installed; A first valve installed in the first refrigerant pipe; And a second valve installed in the second refrigerant pipe.

The first valve and the second valve are on / off valves.

And a control unit for controlling the cooling / heating switching valve, the first valve, the second valve, and the expansion valve according to the cooling / heating operation and the defrosting operation of the air conditioner.

In the air conditioner of the present invention configured as described above, the first heat exchanger of the first and second refrigerant passages of the outdoor heat exchanger acts as an evaporator while the second heat exchanger acts as a condenser during defrosting during the heating operation. It has the advantage of being able to efficiently defrost and continually heat the room without having to switch the refrigeration cycle to cooling operation for defrosting the outdoor heat exchanger during heating operation.

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

1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an air conditioner according to the present invention.

The air conditioner according to the present embodiment is a multi-type air conditioner including a plurality of indoor units 1 to 8 and a plurality of outdoor units 9 and 10 connected to the plurality of indoor units 1 to 8. It consists of a heat pump type | mold multi type air conditioner implemented selectively.

In the plurality of indoor units 1 to 8 and the plurality of outdoor units 9 and 10, the liquid pipe through which the liquid refrigerant passes and the gas pipe through which the gas refrigerant passes are connected in parallel.

Each of the plurality of indoor units 1 to 8 includes an indoor heat exchanger 12 that cools or heats indoor air while the refrigerant heats up with the indoor air, and sucks indoor air into the indoor units 1 to 8 to heat the indoor heat exchanger 12. ) And an indoor blower (13) for discharging to the outside of the indoor units (1 to 8) after the heat exchange is performed, and an indoor expansion mechanism (13) for expanding the refrigerant flowing toward the indoor heat exchanger (12).

The indoor expansion mechanism 13 is composed of an electronic expansion valve such as LEV or EEV capable of controlling the expansion of the refrigerant.

The plurality of outdoor units 9 and 10 are connected to the equalizing tube 14 so that the pressure is equal when the plurality of outdoor units 9 and 10 are driven together.

The plurality of outdoor units 9 and 10 have the same structure, and one outdoor unit 10 will be described in detail for convenience of description below.

2 is a block diagram showing the refrigerant flow of the outdoor unit during the cooling operation of the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 is a refrigerant flow of the outdoor unit during the heating operation of the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown 4 is a block diagram showing the refrigerant flow of the outdoor unit during the defrosting of an embodiment of the air conditioner according to the present invention.

The outdoor unit 10 shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 includes compressors 22, 24, 26, an outdoor heat exchanger 40, an outdoor expansion mechanism 50, and a cooling / heating switching valve 60. And a flow path variable means 70.

Compressors 22, 24 and 26 compress the refrigerant, and a plurality of refrigerant passages are connected in parallel.

One of the compressors 22, 24 and 26 is made of a variable displacement compressor 22, such as an inverter compressor, and the rest is made of a constant speed compressor 24, 26.

The compressors 22, 24 and 26 have suction sides connected to one accumulator 27, and oil separators 28, 29 and 30 and check valves 31 and 32 on each discharge side thereof. 33 is installed.

 The outdoor heat exchanger 40 has a plurality of refrigerant passages 42 and 44 through which refrigerant flows, and the plurality of refrigerant passages 42 and 44 have a cooling / heating switching valve 60 during cooling / heating operation and defrosting. ) And the flow path variable means 70 are connected in parallel or in series. Hereinafter, the cooling / heating switching valve 60 and the flow path variable means 70 will be described in detail later.

The outdoor heat exchanger 40 acts as a condenser in any one of the coolant flow paths 42 and 44 and acts as a condenser during the cooling operation, while the coolant flow path 42 and 44 acts as an evaporator during heating and defrosting. The other one of the 44 acts as a condenser in the cooling operation, the evaporator in the heating operation, and acts as a condenser during defrosting.

That is, in the outdoor heat exchanger 40, all of the plurality of refrigerant passages 42 and 44 act as condensers during the cooling operation, and all of the plurality of refrigerant passages 42 and 44 act as evaporators during the heating operation. The outdoor heat exchanger 40 is defrosted, with one of the plurality of refrigerant passages 42, 44 acting as an evaporator and the other acting as a condenser 44.

In the outdoor heat exchanger 40, a plurality of refrigerant passages 42 and 44 may be integrally formed in one heat exchange unit, and in this case, the first refrigerant passage 42 and the periphery thereof may include the second refrigerant passage 44. ) And its surroundings are virtually divided, and each of the divided regions independently heat exchanges the refrigerant and outdoor air.

The outdoor heat exchanger 40 also includes a first heat exchanger having any one of the plurality of refrigerant passages 42 and a second heat exchanger having the other one of the plurality of refrigerant passages 44 and formed separately from the first heat exchanger. In this case, the first and second heat exchangers are installed to be in contact with each other so that one of the heat can be transferred to the other, or the outdoor air is first heat exchanged with the second heat exchanger, which acts as a condenser when defrosting, and then into the evaporator during defrosting. It is installed to exchange heat with the acting first heat exchanger.

Hereinafter, for convenience of description, the outdoor heat exchanger 40 includes a plurality of refrigerant passages 42 and 44 formed of the first and second refrigerant passages 42 and 44, and the first refrigerant passage 42 when defrosting. Will act as an evaporator and the second refrigerant passage 44 will act as a condenser.

The outdoor heat exchanger 40 includes the first refrigerant passage 44 in the outdoor air flow direction so that outdoor air heat-exchanged with the second refrigerant passage 44 can exchange heat with the first refrigerant passage 42. (42) It is installed to be located in front of the front.

The outdoor expansion mechanism 50 expands the refrigerant when the refrigerant flows toward the outdoor heat exchanger 40, particularly the first refrigerant passage 42, and is connected in series with the first refrigerant passage 42.

The outdoor expansion mechanism 50 does not expand the refrigerant when the refrigerant passing through the outdoor heat exchanger 40, particularly the first refrigerant passage 42, passes through the outdoor heat exchanger 40, particularly the first refrigerant passage 42. When the refrigerant passes toward the expansion of the refrigerant, is installed between the outdoor heat exchanger 40, especially the first refrigerant passage 42 and the indoor expansion mechanism 13, and the outdoor expansion valve 52 and connected in parallel It consists of a check valve 54.

The cooling / heating switching valve 60 allows the refrigerant compressed by the compressors 22, 24, and 26 to flow into the first refrigerant passage 42 during the cooling operation, and also passes through the indoor heat exchanger 11. Flows toward the compressors 22, 24 and 26, and the refrigerant compressed in the compressors 22, 24 and 26 flows to the indoor heat exchanger 11 during the heating operation. The refrigerant passing through the flow passage 42 is allowed to flow toward the compressors 22, 24, 26, and the first refrigerant flow passages of the compressors 22, 24, 26 and the outdoor heat exchanger 40 ( 42, an indoor heat exchanger 11, and an accumulator 27.

Here, the cooling / heating switching valve 60 is not controlled so that the flow of the refrigerant flows as in the cooling operation, even when defrosting in the middle of the heating operation, and is controlled in the same manner as in the normal heating operation without defrosting.

In the flow path variable means 70, all of the plurality of refrigerant paths 42 and 44 act as condensers during the cooling operation, and all of the plurality of refrigerant paths 42 and 44 act as evaporators during the heating operation. When the defrosting of the refrigerant passages 42, 44 any one of the 42 acts as an evaporator and the other one of the plurality of refrigerant passages 42, 44 acts as a condenser In the cooling operation, some of the refrigerant compressed by the compressors 22, 24, and 26 flows into the second refrigerant passage 44, and then flows through the expansion valve 72 toward the indoor expansion mechanism 13. And a portion of the refrigerant flowing toward the outdoor expansion mechanism 50 during the heating operation passes through the expansion valve 72 and then flows to the second refrigerant passage 44 toward the compressor, when defrosting the heating operation. Some of the refrigerant compressed by the compressors 22, 24, 26 flow into the second refrigerant passage 64 and then the expansion valve 72. Passed to the flow path of the refrigerant so as to be then variable-flow toward the outdoor expansion mechanism (50).

The flow path variable means 70 includes: a first refrigerant pipe 74 connected between the compressors 22, 24, 26 and the cooling / heating switching valve 60; A second refrigerant pipe 76 connected to the second refrigerant path 44; a third refrigerant pipe 78 connected between the air / heating switching valve 60 and the compressors 22, 24, and 26; outdoor expansion A fourth refrigerant pipe (80) having one end connected between the mechanism (50) and the indoor expansion device (13), the other end connected to the second refrigerant passage (44), and having an expansion valve (72) installed thereon; 74, the second refrigerant pipe 76, and the third refrigerant pipe 78 are connected to each other, and as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the refrigerant passing through the first refrigerant pipe 74 is the second refrigerant pipe 76. The second refrigerant pipe (76) while preventing the refrigerant from flowing into the third refrigerant pipe (78) while flowing to the third refrigerant pipe (78), or as shown in FIG. Four-way valve 82 for allowing the refrigerant passing through the third refrigerant pipe 78 to flow.

One end of the first refrigerant pipe 74 is connected to the common discharge pipe 34 of the discharge side pipes of the compressors 22, 24 and 26, and the other end thereof is connected to the four-way valve 82.

One end of the third refrigerant pipe 78 is connected to the four-way valve 82, and the other end thereof is connected between the cooling / heating switching valve 60 and the accumulator 27.

One end of the fourth refrigerant pipe 80 is connected to the liquid pipe 15 between the indoor expansion device 13 and the outdoor expansion device 50, and the other end is connected to the second refrigerant flow path 44. An expansion valve 72 is installed in between.

Expansion valve 72 is installed in the fourth refrigerant pipe (80) to expand or pass through the refrigerant passing through the fourth refrigerant pipe (80), consisting of an electronic expansion valve such as LEV, EEV.

The expansion valve 72 is controlled by a controller 94 to be described later. The expansion valve 72 is fully opened during the cooling operation, and the refrigerant introduced into the fourth refrigerant pipe 80 during the heating operation bypasses the outdoor expansion mechanism 50. The opening degree is adjusted so that the refrigerant condensed in the heat exchanger 11 is expanded, and the refrigerant introduced into the fourth refrigerant pipe 80 flows from the indoor heat exchanger 11 toward the outdoor expansion mechanism 50 when the heating operation is defrosted. Since the mixture is mixed with the refrigerant and flows to the outdoor expansion mechanism 50, the opening is also adjusted to solve the pressure difference with the refrigerant flowing from the indoor heat exchanger 11 toward the outdoor expansion mechanism 50.

The four-way valve 82 is a type of defrost valve installed for defrosting the heating operation, and is controlled by the controller 94 to be described later. As shown in FIG. 2 during the cooling operation, the first refrigerant pipe 74 is passed through. The coolant is controlled to a cooling mode in which the coolant is not flowed into the third coolant pipe 78 while allowing the coolant to flow into the second coolant pipe 76, and as shown in FIG. 3 during the heating operation, the first coolant pipe 74 is provided. ) Is controlled in a heating mode in which the refrigerant passing through the second refrigerant pipe 76 flows into the third refrigerant pipe 78 while preventing the refrigerant from flowing, and as shown in FIG. 4 during defrosting of the heating operation, The refrigerant passing through the first refrigerant pipe 74 is flowed into the second refrigerant pipe 76 while being controlled in a defrost mode (or cooling mode) in which the refrigerant does not flow in the third refrigerant pipe 78.

Reference numeral 100 denotes a supercooling device installed in the liquid pipe 15 between the indoor expansion mechanism 13 and the outdoor expansion mechanism 50 to supercool the refrigerant condensed in the outdoor heat exchanger 40 during the cooling operation of the air conditioner. , The expansion portion 80a of the fourth refrigerant pipe 80 and the liquid pipe 15 and the indoor expansion so that the refrigerant condensed while passing through the outdoor heat exchanger 40 during the cooling operation is subcooled before being expanded in the indoor expansion mechanism 13. It is installed between the mechanism 13, it is installed to be located inside the outdoor unit (10).

The subcooler 100 includes a subcooler 104 having a cooling passage 102 through which a refrigerant for cooling the refrigerant passing through the liquid pipe 15 between the indoor expansion mechanism 13 and the outdoor expansion mechanism 50 passes. A subcooling bypass passage 106 connected to a portion of the refrigerant passing through the liquid pipe 15 to the cooling passage 102, and a subcooling expansion valve 108 installed in the subcooling bypass passage 106. The gas 104 is connected to a recovery pipe 110 for guiding the refrigerant passing through the cooling flow path 102 to the accumulator 27.

The subcooler 100 has a recovery pipe 110 between the accumulator 27 and the connecting portion 78a where the third refrigerant pipe 78 is connected between the cooling / heating switching valve 60 and the accumulator. Connected.

Reference numeral 120 denotes a hot gas bypass mechanism installed so that refrigerant, which is compressed in the compressors 22, 24, 26 and then flows to the cooling / heating switching valve 60, can be bypassed toward the accumulator 27. As an example, one end of the first refrigerant pipe 74 is connected between the connection portion 74a connected to the common discharge pipe 34 of the compressors 22, 24 and 26 and the air / heating switching valve 60. 3 the hot gas bypass flow path 122 connected between the cooling portion 78a connected between the cooling / heating switching valve 60 and the accumulator and the cooling / heating switching valve 60, and the refrigerant pipe 78 The capillary tube which is the hot gas expansion mechanism 124 provided in the gas bypass flow path 122, and the hot gas bypass valve 126 provided in the hot gas bypass flow path 122 are included.

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

As shown in FIG. 5, the air conditioner according to the present embodiment includes an operation unit 90 for manipulating the air conditioner, a defrost detection unit 92 for detecting whether the air conditioner is defrosted by heating, and an air conditioner. In accordance with the cooling / heating operation of the machine and the defrosting, that is, the detection result of the operation unit 90 and the defrost detection unit 92, the compressors 22, 24, 26, the indoor expansion device 13, and the outdoor expansion device ( 50, a cooling / heating switching valve 60, an expansion valve 72, and a control unit 94 for controlling the four-way valve 82 is further included.

Here, the defrost detector 92 detects whether it is a condition to perform defrost of the outdoor heat exchanger 40 during the heating operation of the air conditioner, and the outdoor heat exchanger temperature sensing the temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger 40. It may be made of only a sensor, a pipe temperature sensor for detecting a pipe temperature, an outdoor temperature sensor for detecting an outdoor temperature, a timer for counting integration time of heating operation, etc., and air conditioning. Anything that can detect the conception of the group is applicable.

   Hereinafter, the operation of the present invention will be described.

First, during the cooling operation, the controller 94 drives the compressors 22, 24 and 26, controls the cooling / heating switching valve 60 in the cooling mode, and adjusts the opening degree of the indoor expansion mechanism 13. Then, the flow path variable means 70 is controlled in the cooling mode.

That is, the control part 94 controls the four-way valve 70 to a cooling mode, and opens the expansion valve 72 fully.

Under the above control, the refrigerant compressed by the compressors 22, 24 and 26 is the common discharge pipe 34 and the first refrigerant of the compressors 22, 24 and 26, as shown in FIG. It is distributed in two at the connection portion 74a of the pipe 74, and a part of the refrigerant passes through the first refrigerant pipe 74, the four-way valve 82 and the second refrigerant pipe 76 in sequence to the outdoor heat exchanger 40 Condensed in the second refrigerant passage 44 of the) and then passes through the expansion valve 72 and flows between the outdoor expansion mechanism 50 and the indoor expansion mechanism 13, the rest of the refrigerant is a cooling / heating switching valve (60) Condensed in the first refrigerant passage 42 of the outdoor heat exchanger 40 and then mixed with the refrigerant passing through the fourth refrigerant pipe 80 through the outdoor expansion mechanism 50, particularly the check valve 54. .

That is, the outdoor heat exchanger 40 condenses refrigerant in both the first refrigerant passage 42 and the second refrigerant passage 44, and the mixed refrigerant is disposed between the outdoor expansion mechanism 50 and the indoor expansion mechanism 13. It is moved to the indoor units (1 to 8) through the liquid pipe 15 of the expanded in the indoor expansion mechanism (13) and then evaporated in the indoor heat exchanger (11).

The refrigerant evaporated in the indoor heat exchanger 11 is moved to the outdoor unit 10 through the gas pipe 16 between the indoor heat exchanger 11 and the cooling / heating switching valve 60, and then the cooling / heating switching valve 60. ) And the accumulator 27 pass through the shield to circulate to the compressors 22, 24, 26.

In the heating operation, the controller 94 drives the compressors 22, 24, 26, and controls the cooling / heating switching valve 60 in the heating mode, and the outdoor expansion mechanism 50, in particular, the outdoor expansion valve. The opening degree of 52 is adjusted, and the flow path variable means 70 is controlled to a heating mode.

That is, the control part 94 controls the four-way valve 70 to a heating mode, and also adjusts the expansion valve 72.

In the above control, since the refrigerant compressed by the compressors 22, 24 and 26 is blocked in the first refrigerant pipe 74 side flow path of the four-way valve 70, as shown in FIG. The air is moved to the indoor units 1 to 8 through the cooling / heating switching valve 60 and the gas pipe 16, and condensed in the indoor heat exchanger 11.

The condensed refrigerant passes through the indoor expansion mechanism (13) and then flows to the outdoor unit (10) through the liquid pipe (15) and is dispersed in two parts at the connection portion (80a) of the fourth refrigerant pipe (80) and the liquid pipe (15). . Some of the refrigerant flows into the fourth refrigerant pipe 80, expands in the expansion valve 72, and then evaporates in the second refrigerant path 44 of the outdoor heat exchanger 40. Then, the second refrigerant pipe 76 and Passed through the four-way valve 82 and the third refrigerant pipe 78 in order to flow between the cooling / heating switching valve 60 between the emulator 27, the rest of the refrigerant is the outdoor expansion mechanism 50, in particular the outdoor expansion valve ( 52 is expanded and then evaporated while passing through the first refrigerant passage 42 of the outdoor heat exchanger 40, and then flows toward the accumulator 27 through the cooling / heating switching valve 60. It is mixed with the refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant pipe 78 and sucked into the ammator 27.

That is, in the outdoor heat exchanger 40, the refrigerant is evaporated in both the first refrigerant passage 42 and the second refrigerant passage 44, and the mixed refrigerant passes through the accumulator 27 and the compressor 22 ( 24) 26.

On the other hand, if it is detected that the outdoor heat exchanger 40 is an idea according to the detection result of the defrost detection unit 92 during the heating operation as described above, the controller 94 continues the heating operation as described above, the flow path variable means 70 is controlled to a defrost mode (or cooling mode).

That is, the controller 94 controls the cooling / heating switching valve 60 in the heating mode, and controls the four-way valve 70 in the defrost mode (or cooling mode), as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, The expansion valve 72 is also adjusted.

In the control as described above, the refrigerant compressed by the compressors 22, 24 and 26 is the four-way valve 70, the first refrigerant pipe 74 and the second refrigerant pipe 76, as shown in FIG. Is distributed in two parts at the common discharge pipe 34 of the compressors 22, 24 and 26 and the connection portion 74a of the first refrigerant pipe 74, and some of the refrigerant is separated from the first refrigerant pipe ( 74 and the four-way valve 82 and the second refrigerant pipe 76 in order to condense in the second refrigerant flow path 44 of the outdoor heat exchanger 40 and then the fourth refrigerant pipe 80 and the expansion valve 72. ) Flows toward the outdoor expansion mechanism (50), and the rest of the refrigerant is moved to the indoor units (1 to 8) through the cooling / heating switching valve (60) and the gas pipe (16), and the indoor heat exchanger (11) Condensation at

The refrigerant condensed in the indoor heat exchanger (11) passes through the indoor expansion mechanism (13) and then flows to the outdoor unit (10) through the liquid pipe (15), and the fourth refrigerant pipe (80) before the outdoor expansion mechanism (50). Is mixed with the refrigerant flowed in).

The mixed refrigerant is expanded in the outdoor expansion mechanism (50), in particular, the outdoor expansion valve (52), and then evaporated while passing through the first refrigerant passage (42) of the outdoor heat exchanger (40), and the cooling / heating switching valve (60). And accumulate through the accumulator 27 and circulated to the compressors 22, 24 and 26.

That is, the outdoor heat exchanger 40 defrosts the surroundings of the second refrigerant passage 44 while condensing the refrigerant in the second refrigerant passage 44, heats outdoor air, and cools the refrigerant in the first refrigerant passage 42. Is continuously evaporated to continue the heating operation. At this time, the periphery of the first refrigerant passage 42 is also defrosted by the heat transferred from the second refrigerant passage 44 and the heat transferred from the outdoor air. Will also increase.

6 is a block diagram showing the refrigerant flow of the outdoor unit during the cooling operation of another embodiment of the air conditioner according to the present invention, Figure 7 is a refrigerant flow of the outdoor unit during the heating operation of another embodiment of the air conditioner according to the present invention is shown 8 is a block diagram showing the refrigerant flow of the outdoor unit during defrosting of another embodiment of the air conditioner according to the present invention, Figure 9 is a control block diagram of another embodiment of the air conditioner according to the present invention.

In the air conditioner according to the present embodiment, the configuration of the flow channel variable means 70 'is different from the embodiment of the present invention, and other configurations and actions other than the flow channel variable means 70' are the same as those of the embodiment of the present invention. The same code is used and a detailed description thereof is omitted.

The flow path variable means 70 'according to the present embodiment has one end connected between the compressors 22, 24 and 26 and the cooling / heating switching valve 60, and the second refrigerant flow path of the outdoor heat exchanger 40 ( A first refrigerant pipe 104 connected to the other end thereof at 44; A second refrigerant pipe 106 having one end connected between the first refrigerant passage 42 and the air / heating switching valve 60 of the outdoor heat exchanger 40 and the other end connected to the first refrigerant pipe 104; One end is connected between the outdoor expansion mechanism 50 and the indoor expansion mechanism 13, and the other end is connected to the second refrigerant passage 44 of the outdoor heat exchanger 40, and the third refrigerant pipe in which the expansion valve 72 is installed ( 108); A first valve 82 'installed in the first refrigerant pipe 104; And a second valve 82 ″ provided in the second refrigerant pipe 106.

One end of the first refrigerant pipe 104 is connected to the common discharge pipe 34 and the connecting portion 104a of the discharge side pipes of the compressors 22, 24 and 26.

  One end of the second refrigerant pipe 106 is connected between the first refrigerant path 42 of the outdoor heat exchanger 40 and the cooling / heating switching valve 60 by the connection part 106a, and the other end thereof is connected to the first refrigerant pipe ( 104 and the connecting portion 106b.

One end of the third refrigerant pipe 108 is connected to the connection portion 108a between the outdoor expansion mechanism 50 and the indoor expansion mechanism 13.

The first valve 82 ′ is a connecting portion 106b to which the second refrigerant pipe 106 and the first refrigerant pipe 104 of the first refrigerant pipe 104 are connected, and the first refrigerant pipe 104 is a compressor ( 22) It is provided between solenoid valves and the like as opening / closing valves installed between the connection portions 104a connected to the common discharge pipe 34 of the discharge side pipes of the 24 and 26 to prevent the flow of the refrigerant and to prevent backflow.

The second valve 82 ″ is provided in the second refrigerant pipe 106 to control the flow of the refrigerant and prevent the backflow, and includes a solenoid valve or the like.

The first valve 82 ′ and the second valve 82 ″ are a type of defrost valve installed for defrosting the heating operation, and are controlled by the controller 94 ′, which will be described later. In addition, all of the refrigerant compressed by the compressors 22, 24, and 26 flows to the cooling / heating switching valve 60, so that the first refrigerant passage 42 and the second refrigerant passage 44 of the outdoor heat exchanger 40 are used. The first valve 82 'is sealed and the second valve 82 " is opened to be dispersed and flowed therein.

In the heating operation, as shown in FIG. 7, the refrigerant flowing toward the outdoor expansion mechanism 50 is dispersed and flown into the first refrigerant passage 42 and the second refrigerant passage 44, and then the cooling / heating switching valve. The first valve 82 ′ is sealed and the second valve 82 ″ is opened to flow to 60.

And, when defrosting during heating operation, as shown in FIG. 8, some of the refrigerant compressed in the compressors 22, 24, and 26 are dispersed before the cooling / heating switching valve 60, so that some of the refrigerant is first. After passing through 82 ′ and the first refrigerant pipe 104, the second refrigerant flow path 44 of the outdoor heat exchanger 40 flows to the second refrigerant passage 44, and the rest of the indoor unit 1 to 1 through the air / heating switching valve 60. The first valve 82 'is opened to flow to 8, and the second valve 82 "is closed.

In the air conditioner according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the control unit 94 ′ has the first valve 82 ′ and the second valve 82 ″ instead of the four-way valve 82 of the embodiment of the present invention. Control other than controlling the first valve 82 ′ and the second valve 82 ″ is the same as in the embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the operation of the present invention will be described.

First, in the cooling operation, the controller 94 'drives the compressors 22, 24 and 26, controls the cooling / heating switching valve 60 in the cooling mode, and controls the opening degree of the indoor expansion mechanism 13. And the flow path variable means 70 'is controlled in the cooling mode.

That is, the control part 94 'seals the 1st valve 82', the 2nd valve 82 "opens, and opens the expansion valve 72 fully.

In the control as described above, the refrigerant compressed in the compressors 22, 24, and 26 is cooled / cooled in the common discharge pipe 34 of the compressors 22, 24, and 26, as shown in FIG. In the connecting portion 106a which flows to the heating switching valve 60 and the second refrigerant pipe 106 is connected between the first refrigerant passage 42 and the cooling / heating switching valve 60 of the outdoor heat exchanger 40. The two refrigerant flow paths 44 of the outdoor heat exchanger 40 are distributed in two parts, and a part of the refrigerant passes through the second refrigerant pipe 106 and a part of the second valve 82 ″ and the first refrigerant pipe 104. And flows through the third refrigerant pipe 108 and the expansion valve 72 and then flows between the outdoor expansion mechanism 50 and the indoor expansion mechanism 13, the rest of the refrigerant is the outdoor heat exchanger (40) After being flowed into the first refrigerant passage 42 of the) and condensed, it is mixed with the refrigerant flowing through the third refrigerant pipe 108 through the outdoor expansion mechanism 50, particularly the check valve 54.

That is, the outdoor heat exchanger 40 condenses refrigerant in both the first refrigerant passage 42 and the second refrigerant passage 44, and the mixed refrigerant is disposed between the outdoor expansion mechanism 50 and the indoor expansion mechanism 13. It is moved to the indoor units (1 to 8) through the liquid pipe 15 of the expanded in the indoor expansion mechanism (13) and then evaporated in the indoor heat exchanger (11).

The refrigerant evaporated in the indoor heat exchanger 11 is moved to the outdoor unit 10 through the gas pipe 16 between the indoor heat exchanger 11 and the cooling / heating switching valve 60, and then the cooling / heating switching valve 60. ) And the accumulator 27 pass through the shield to circulate to the compressors 22, 24, 26.

 In the heating operation, the controller 94 'drives the compressors 22, 24 and 26, controls the cooling / heating switching valve 60 in the heating mode, and the outdoor expansion device 50, in particular, the outdoor expansion. The opening degree of the valve 52 is adjusted, and the flow path variable means 70 'is controlled in the heating mode.

That is, the control part 94 seals the 1st valve 82 ', opens the 2nd valve 82 ", and adjusts the opening valve 72 also.

In the above control, since the refrigerant compressed by the compressors 22, 24, 26 is sealed as shown in FIG. 7, the first valve 82 ′ installed in the first refrigerant pipe 104 is sealed. And all of them are moved to the indoor units 1 to 8 through the cooling / heating switching valve 60 and the gas pipe 16 and condensed in the indoor heat exchanger 11.

The condensed refrigerant passes through the indoor expansion mechanism (13) and then flows to the outdoor unit (10) through the liquid pipe (15) and is distributed in two at the connection portion (108a) of the second refrigerant pipe (108) and the liquid pipe (15). . Some of the refrigerant flows into the third refrigerant pipe 108, expands in the expansion valve 72, and then evaporates in the second refrigerant flow path 44 of the outdoor heat exchanger 40, and then of the first refrigerant pipe 104. Flows between a part and the second refrigerant pipe 106 and the second valve 82 ″ between the first refrigerant passage 42 and the air / heating switching valve 60 of the outdoor heat exchanger 40, The remainder is expanded in the outdoor expansion mechanism 50, in particular the outdoor expansion valve 52, and then evaporated while passing through the first refrigerant passage 42 of the outdoor heat exchanger 40, and then outdoor through the second refrigerant pipe 106. The refrigerant flowed between the first refrigerant passage 42 of the heat exchanger 40 and the cooling / heating switching valve 60 is mixed and flows to the cooling / heating switching valve 60. The refrigerant mixed as described above is circulated through the cooling / heating switching valve 60 and the accumulator 27 in order to the compressors 22, 24, and 26.

That is, in the outdoor heat exchanger 40, the refrigerant is evaporated in both the first refrigerant passage 42 and the second refrigerant passage 44.

On the other hand, if the outdoor heat exchanger 40 is detected as a concept according to the detection result of the defrost detection unit 92 during the heating operation as described above, the controller 94 'continues the heating operation as described above, the flow path variable The means 70 is controlled in the defrost mode.

That is, the control unit 94 controls the cooling / heating switching valve 60 in the heating mode as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, opens the first valve 82 ′, and controls the second valve 82 ″. ) Is sealed and the expansion valve 72 is adjusted.

Under the above control, the refrigerant compressed in the compressors 22, 24 and 26 is the first valve 82 'opens the first refrigerant pipe 104, as shown in FIG. 22) It is distributed in two at the common discharge pipe 34 of the 24 and 26, and the connection part 104a of the 1st refrigerant pipe 74, and some of a refrigerant | coolant is a 1st refrigerant pipe 104 and a 1st valve. Pass through 82 'to condense in the second refrigerant flow path 44 of the outdoor heat exchanger 40 and then flow through the third refrigerant pipe 108 and the expansion valve 72 toward the outdoor expansion mechanism 50; The rest of the refrigerant is moved to the indoor units 1 to 8 through the cooling / heating switching valve 60 and the gas pipe 16 and condensed in the indoor heat exchanger 11.

The refrigerant condensed in the indoor heat exchanger (11) passes through the indoor expansion mechanism (13) and then flows to the outdoor unit (10) through the liquid pipe (15), and the third refrigerant pipe (108) before the outdoor expansion mechanism (50). Is mixed with the refrigerant flowed in).

The mixed refrigerant expands in the outdoor expansion mechanism 50, in particular the outdoor expansion valve 52, and then evaporates while passing through the first refrigerant passage 42 of the outdoor heat exchanger 40, and the second valve 82 ″ Since it is sealed, it passes through the cooling / heating switching valve 60 and the accumulator 27 by shielding, and is circulated to the compressor 22, 24, 26.

That is, the outdoor heat exchanger 40 defrosts the surroundings of the second refrigerant passage 44 while condensing the refrigerant in the second refrigerant passage 44, as well as heating the outdoor air, as in the embodiment of the present invention. As the refrigerant continues to evaporate in the first refrigerant passage 42, the heating operation can be continued. At this time, the surroundings of the first refrigerant passage 42 are formed by heat transferred from the second refrigerant passage 44 and heat transferred from the outdoor air. Defrosting also increases the evaporation efficiency of the refrigerant.

1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an air conditioner according to the present invention,

2 is a block diagram showing the refrigerant flow of the outdoor unit during the cooling operation of the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention,

3 is a block diagram showing a refrigerant flow of the outdoor unit during the heating operation of the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention,

 4 is a configuration diagram showing a refrigerant flow of the outdoor unit during defrosting of an embodiment of the air conditioner according to the present invention;

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

6 is a block diagram showing a refrigerant flow of the outdoor unit during the cooling operation of another embodiment of the air conditioner according to the present invention;

7 is a block diagram showing the refrigerant flow of the outdoor unit during the heating operation of another embodiment of the air conditioner according to the present invention,

 8 is a block diagram showing a refrigerant flow of the outdoor unit during defrosting of another embodiment of the air conditioner according to the present invention;

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

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS

1 to 8: Indoor unit 9, 10: Indoor unit

11: indoor heat exchanger 13: outdoor heat exchanger

22, 24, 26: compressor 27: accumulator

34: common pipe 40: heat exchanger

42: first refrigerant passage 44: second refrigerant passage

50: outdoor expansion mechanism 52: outdoor expansion valve

54: check valve 60: cooling / heating switching valve

70, 70 ': flow path variable means 72: expansion valve

74: first refrigerant pipe 76: second refrigerant pipe

78: third refrigerant piping 80: third refrigerant piping

82: four-way valve 82 ': 1st valve

82 ″: second valve 90: control panel

92: defrost detection unit 94,94 ': control unit

104: first refrigerant pipe 106: second refrigerant pipe

108: third refrigerant piping

Claims (8)

A compressor for compressing the refrigerant; An indoor heat exchanger in which the refrigerant heat exchanges with the indoor air; An outdoor heat exchanger having a plurality of refrigerant passages through which the refrigerant exchanges heat with the outdoor air; An outdoor expansion mechanism for expanding the refrigerant flowing toward any one of the plurality of refrigerant passages; An indoor expansion mechanism for expanding a refrigerant flowing toward the indoor heat exchanger; During the cooling operation, the refrigerant compressed in the compressor flows to any one of the plurality of refrigerant passages, and the refrigerant passing through the indoor heat exchanger flows toward the compressor, and the refrigerant compressed in the compressor during the heating operation is performed. A cooling / heating switching valve for flowing the indoor heat exchanger and allowing the refrigerant passing through any one of the plurality of refrigerant passages to flow toward the compressor; All of the plurality of refrigerant passages of the outdoor heat exchanger act as a condenser during the cooling operation, and all of the plurality of refrigerant passages of the outdoor heat exchanger act as the evaporator during the heating operation. And a flow channel variable means for varying the flow path of the coolant such that any one acts as an evaporator and the other of the plurality of coolant flow paths acts as a condenser. A compressor for compressing the refrigerant; An indoor heat exchanger in which the refrigerant heat exchanges with the indoor air; An outdoor heat exchanger having first and second refrigerant passages through which the refrigerant heat exchanges with the outdoor air; An outdoor expansion mechanism for expanding the refrigerant flowing toward the first refrigerant passage; An indoor expansion mechanism for expanding a refrigerant flowing toward the internal heat exchanger; During the cooling operation, the refrigerant compressed in the compressor flows into the first refrigerant passage, and the refrigerant passing through the indoor heat exchanger flows toward the compressor. During the heating operation, the refrigerant compressed in the compressor passes through the indoor heat exchange. A cooling / heating switching valve which allows the refrigerant to pass through the first refrigerant passage and flows toward the compressor; During the cooling operation, some of the refrigerant compressed by the compressor flows into the second refrigerant passage and then flows through the expansion valve toward the indoor expansion mechanism. Some of the refrigerant flowing toward the outdoor expansion mechanism during the heating operation passes through the expansion valve and then flows into the second refrigerant flow path toward the compressor. And a flow path varying means for varying a flow path of the refrigerant so that some of the refrigerant compressed by the compressor flows into the second refrigerant flow path after the defrosting of the heating operation, and then flows through the expansion valve toward the outdoor expansion mechanism. Air conditioning. 3. The method of claim 2, The outdoor heat exchanger includes an air conditioner in which the second refrigerant passage is located ahead of the first refrigerant passage in an outdoor air flow direction so that outdoor air heat-exchanged with the second refrigerant passage is heat-exchanged with the first refrigerant passage. . The method of claim 3, The flow path variable means includes: a first refrigerant pipe connected between the compressor and a cooling / heating switching valve; A second refrigerant pipe connected to the second refrigerant path; A third refrigerant pipe connected between the cooling / heating switching valve and the compressor; A fourth refrigerant pipe having one end connected between the outdoor expansion device and the indoor expansion device, the other end connected to the second refrigerant flow path, and the expansion valve being installed; The first refrigerant pipe, the second refrigerant pipe and the third refrigerant pipe are connected to allow the refrigerant passing through the first refrigerant pipe to flow into the second refrigerant pipe, so that the refrigerant does not flow into the third refrigerant pipe, or An air conditioner including a four-way valve for allowing the refrigerant passing through the second refrigerant pipe to flow into the third refrigerant pipe while preventing the refrigerant from flowing into the refrigerant pipe. 5. The method of claim 4, And an air conditioner for controlling the cooling / heating switching valve, the four-way valve, and the expansion valve according to the cooling / heating operation and the defrosting operation of the air conditioner.  The method of claim 3, The flow path variable means, A first refrigerant pipe having one end connected between the compressor and a cooling / heating switching valve and the other end connected to the second refrigerant passage; A second refrigerant pipe having one end connected between the first refrigerant flow path and the cooling / heating switching valve and the other end connected to the first refrigerant pipe; A third refrigerant pipe having one end connected between the outdoor expansion device and the indoor expansion device, the other end connected to the second refrigerant flow path, and the expansion valve being installed; A first valve installed in the first refrigerant pipe; An air conditioner comprising a second valve installed in the second refrigerant pipe. The method according to claim 6, And the first valve and the second valve are on / off valves. 8. The method of claim 7, And a control unit for controlling the cooling / heating switching valve, the first valve, the second valve, and the expansion valve according to the cooling / heating operation and the defrost of the air conditioner.

Images