KR101450553B1 - Method for sealing the mass of a refrigerant in air conditioning apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

In the method of sealing a refrigerant in an air conditioner according to the present invention, in order to increase the accuracy of the refrigerant amount by separating the refrigerant seal according to the cooling and heating conditions and sealing the refrigerant, the present invention is a method for determining whether the refrigerant filled in the air conditioner is appropriate When the operating parameter of the air conditioner satisfies the set variable during the all-room heating operation, the controller determines whether the refrigerant is to be charged according to the refrigerant filling condition A step of sealing the air conditioner with a positive refrigerant and stabilizing the air conditioner; and stopping the air conditioner when the air conditioner is stabilized.

Refrigerant, sealing

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for sealing a refrigerant in an air conditioner,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a method for sealing a refrigerant in an air conditioner, and more particularly, to a method for sealing a refrigerant in an air conditioner that separates a refrigerant seal according to cooling and heating conditions, .

In a multi-type air conditioner, when the amount of refrigerant flowing into the interior of the indoor unit is larger than a predetermined amount or smaller than a predetermined amount, system performance is deteriorated and, in severe cases, the multi-type air conditioner may be damaged. Conventionally, a pressure gauge is installed at a specific position of the air conditioner to judge whether the amount of refrigerant is excessive or not based on the pressure of the refrigerant sensed by the pressure gauge.

However, it is practically inconvenient to use the above method because only an expert of an air conditioner can judge the excess or deficiency of the refrigerant by using the above-described method.

Furthermore, even the above-mentioned experts are forced to indirectly judge the excess or deficiency of the refrigerant, so that the reliability of the result of the judgment of the excess or deficiency of the refrigerant amount is low.

Therefore, after unnecessarily removing all of the refrigerant in the air conditioner to the outside, new refrigerant is frequently filled in the air conditioner. In order to refill the unnecessary refrigerant, time and cost are consumed.

Further, since the air conditioner is stopped during the filling of the refrigerant, the user's discomfort increases.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method for enclosing a refrigerant in an air conditioner that separates a refrigerant seal according to cooling and heating conditions and encloses the refrigerant to increase the accuracy of the refrigerant quantity.

A method of sealing a refrigerant in an air conditioner according to the present invention includes the steps of: performing a full-room heating operation of the air conditioner upon being requested to perform a refrigerant sealing judgment mode for determining whether a refrigerant filled in the air conditioner is appropriate; The method comprising the steps of: when the operation parameters of the air conditioner satisfy the set parameters during the heating operation, the air conditioner is stabilized by sealing the amount of the refrigerant set according to the refrigerant encapsulation condition; and when the air conditioner is stabilized, .

The method for sealing a refrigerant in an air conditioner according to the present invention is advantageous in that the accuracy of the amount of refrigerant to be filled can be increased by sealing the refrigerant through heating operation when the outdoor outdoor temperature is low in winter.

The air conditioner according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The air conditioner includes a general air conditioner for performing a cooling operation, a radiator for performing a heating operation, a general heat pump type air conditioner for performing both cooling and heating operations, and a multi-type air conditioner for cooling / . Hereinafter, the multi-type air conditioner will be described in detail as an embodiment of the air conditioner.

1 is a view illustrating a multi-type air conditioner to which a refrigerant sealing method of an air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied.

Referring to FIG. 1, a multi-type air conditioner 100 includes an outdoor unit OD and an indoor unit IU.

The outdoor unit OD includes a compressor 110, an outdoor heat exchanger 140, an outdoor electronic expansion valve 132, a subcooler 180, and a control unit (not shown).

In the first embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioner 100 includes one outdoor unit (OD), but the present invention is not limited thereto. The air conditioner 100 may include a plurality of outdoor units.

The indoor unit IU includes an indoor heat exchanger 120, an indoor air blower 125, and an indoor electronic expansion valve 131, respectively.

The indoor heat exchanger 120 functions as an evaporator during cooling operation and as a condenser during heating operation. The outdoor heat exchanger 140 acts as a condenser during cooling operation and as an evaporator during heating operation.

The compressor 110 compresses the introduced low-temperature low-pressure refrigerant into high-temperature high-pressure refrigerant. Here, the compressor 110 may have various structures, and an inverter type compressor may be employed.

On the discharge pipe 161 of the compressor 110, a flow rate sensor 191, a discharge temperature sensor 171 and a discharge pressure sensor 151 are provided. A suction temperature sensor 175 and a suction pressure sensor 154 are provided on the suction pipe 162 of the compressor 110 and a frequency detection sensor 188 is provided to measure the frequency of the compressor 110 .

In the first embodiment of the present invention, the outdoor unit OD includes one compressor 110, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The outdoor unit OD may include a plurality of compressors.

An accumulator 187 is installed in the suction pipe 162 of the compressor 110 to prevent liquid refrigerant from flowing into the compressor 110.

The four-way valve 160 is a flow-switching valve for switching heating and cooling. The four-way valve 160 guides the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 110 to the outdoor heat exchanger 140 during the cooling operation and to the indoor heat exchangers 120 during the heating operation .

The indoor heat exchangers 120 are disposed in corresponding indoor spaces. In order to measure the temperature of the indoor spaces, room temperature sensors 176 are respectively installed.

The indoor electronic expansion valve 131 is a device for exchanging the refrigerant introduced during the cooling operation. The indoor electronic expansion valve 131 is installed in the indoor inlet piping 163 of the indoor unit IU.

Here, it is assumed that various kinds of indoor electronic expansion valves 131 can be used, and an electronic expansion valve is used for convenience of use.

An indoor inlet pipe temperature sensor 173 is provided on the indoor inlet pipe 163. More specifically, the indoor inlet pipe temperature sensor 173 is provided between the indoor heat exchanger 120 and the indoor electronic expansion valve 131. An indoor outlet pipe temperature sensor 172 and an indoor pressure sensor 152 are provided on the indoor outlet pipe 164.

The outdoor heat exchanger (140) is disposed in the outdoor space. In order to measure the temperature of the outdoor space, an outdoor temperature sensor 177 is provided.

A liquid pipe temperature sensor 174 is provided on the liquid pipe 165 connecting the outdoor electronic expansion valve 132 and the indoor unit IU. The outdoor electronic expansion valve 132 is provided on the liquid pipe 165 to throttle the refrigerant flowing in the heating operation.

A first bypass pipe 167 for bypassing the outdoor expansion valve 132 is installed on the inflow pipe 166 connecting the liquid pipe 165 and the outdoor heat exchanger 140, A check valve 133 is provided on the by-pass piping 167.

The check valve 133 blocks the flow of the refrigerant during the heating operation although the refrigerant flows from the outdoor heat exchanger 140 to the indoor unit IU during the cooling operation. An outdoor pressure sensor 153 is provided on the inflow pipe 166.

The subcooler 180 includes a subcooling heat exchanger 184, a second bypass pipe 181, a subcooling expansion valve 182, and a discharge pipe 185.

The subcooling heat exchanger 184 is disposed on the inflow pipe 166.

During the cooling operation, the second bypass pipe 181 performs a function of bypassing the refrigerant discharged from the supercool heat exchanger 184 and introducing the refrigerant to the supercool heat exchanger 184.

The subcooling expansion valve 182 is disposed on the second bypass pipe 181 to throttle the liquid refrigerant flowing into the second bypass pipe 181 to lower the pressure and the temperature of the refrigerant, (184).

Therefore, during the cooling operation, the high-temperature condensed refrigerant passing through the outdoor heat exchanger 140 is subjected to heat exchange in the subcooling heat exchanger 184 with the low-temperature refrigerant introduced through the second bypass pipe 181, And flows to the indoor unit IU. The bypass refrigerant is heat-exchanged in the supercool heat exchanger 184, and then flows into the accumulator 187 through the discharge pipe 185.

On the second bypass pipe 181, a bypass flow meter 183 for measuring the flow rate bypassed through the second bypass pipe 181 is provided.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the flow of the refrigerant during the cooling operation of the air conditioner shown in Fig. 1. Fig.

Referring to FIG. 2, the flow of refrigerant during the full-room cooling operation of the air conditioner 100 is shown.

The high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant discharged from the compressor 110 flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 140 through the four-way valve 160. The refrigerant condenses in the outdoor heat exchanger (140). The outdoor expansion valve 132 is fully opened.

The indoor electronic expansion valve 131 of the indoor unit IU is opened by an opening degree set for the refrigerant interchange.

Therefore, the refrigerant flowing out of the outdoor heat exchanger 140 flows into the supercooler 180 first through the outdoor electronic expansion valve 132 and the bypass pipe 133. The outflowed refrigerant is subcooled by the subcooler 180 and then flows into the indoor unit IU.

The refrigerant flowing into the indoor unit IU is throttled by the indoor electronic expansion valve 131, and then evaporated in the indoor heat exchanger 120. The evaporated refrigerant flows into the suction pipe 162 of the compressor 110 through the four-way valve 160 and the accumulator 187.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the flow of the refrigerant during the heating operation of the air conditioner shown in Fig. 1. Fig.

Referring to FIG. 3, the flow of the refrigerant during the all-room heating operation of the air conditioner 100 is shown.

The high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant discharged from the compressor (110) flows into the indoor unit (IU) through the four-way valve (160). The indoor electronic expansion valves 131 of the indoor unit IU are fully opened. Further, the subcooling expansion valve 192 is closed.

Therefore, the refrigerant introduced from the indoor unit IU is throttled by the outdoor electronic expansion valve 132, and then evaporated in the outdoor heat exchanger 140. The evaporated refrigerant flows into the suction pipe 162 of the compressor 110 through the four-way valve 160 and the accumulator 187.

Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing a refrigerant sealing method of the air conditioner shown in Fig. 1. Fig.

Referring to FIG. 4, in operation S100, a refrigerant sealing determination mode is requested according to a refrigerant sealing determination switch installed outside or inside the air conditioner 100.

That is, the control unit (not shown) operates the air conditioner 100 by determining that the execution of the refrigerant sealing determination mode is requested when the refrigerant sealing determination switch installed outside or inside the outdoor unit 0U is turned on.

The outdoor air temperature is measured (S102), and it is determined whether the air conditioner 100 is to be operated in all-room cooling mode or all-room mode in accordance with the outdoor air temperature (S104).

That is, the control unit determines whether the cooling operation condition or the heating operation condition is satisfied based on the outdoor air temperature measured by the outdoor temperature sensor 177 installed in the outdoor heat exchanger 140, and controls the air conditioner 100 to perform all- Or all-room heating operation.

After the step S104, when the air conditioner 100 is operated in the all-room cooling mode, the supercooling degree of the outdoor unit OU is calculated (S106), and the refrigerant is filled in accordance with the supercooling degree (S108).

That is, the controller calculates the supercooling degree by the temperature difference between the inlet temperature of the outdoor electronic expansion valve 132 and the saturation temperature of the pressure measured through the outdoor pressure sensor 153 installed in the inlet pipe 166 And the amount of refrigerant sealed is compared with the set supercooling degree to seal the refrigerant.

After the step S104, if the air conditioner 100 is operated in the full-room heating mode, the operating parameter of the air conditioner 100 is obtained (S110) and it is determined whether the operating parameter satisfies the set parameter (S112).

That is, the control unit obtains the operating parameter for the operation of the air conditioner 100 and determines whether the parameter is satisfied.

Here, the operation variable is at least one of the operation capacity of the compressor 100 or the operation pressure of the compressor 100 or the operation of the hot gas valve due to the operation low pressure.

The control unit calculates the operating capacity of the compressor 100 according to the frequency measured through the frequency sensor 188 installed in the compressor 100 or calculates the operation capacity of the compressor 100 through the pressure measured by the discharge pressure sensor 151. [ Or determines the operation of the hot gas valve.

The set variable is at least one of whether the operating capacity of the compressor (100) is the maximum capacity or the operating high pressure of the compressor (100) is higher than the target high pressure or the hot gas valve is turned on by the operating low pressure.

The control unit determines whether the operation variable satisfies the setting condition.

If the operation variable satisfies the setting variable, the controller 100 encapsulates and stabilizes the amount of the refrigerant set according to the refrigerant sealing condition, and stops the operation of the air conditioner 100 when the stabilization is completed (S114).

That is, the controller acquires information on the operation of the air conditioner 100 according to a refrigerant sealing condition for calculating the amount of refrigerant to be sealed.

Here, the refrigerant sealing condition may be a condition in which the temperature difference between the outside air temperature and the evaporation temperature measured by the outdoor temperature sensor 177 is less than the first temperature or the opening degree of the outdoor electronic expansion valve 132 is less than the first opening degree, And the temperature difference between the condensing temperature and the set temperature is less than the second temperature or the opening of the outdoor electronic expansion valve 132 is less than the second opening degree or the discharge temperature of the compressor 110 A second refrigerant filling condition for determining whether the discharge temperature measured by the outdoor heat exchanger 171 is less than the first discharge temperature and a second refrigerant filling condition for determining whether the outdoor expansion valve 132 is opened at a third opening degree, And a third refrigerant filling condition for determining whether the opening degree of the expansion valve 132 is less than the second opening degree and the discharge temperature of the compressor 110 is less than the second discharge temperature.

Here, the controller obtains the information corresponding to the first, second, and third refrigerant sealing conditions to calculate and seal the amount of the refrigerant to be sealed.

In other words, when the operating parameter satisfies the setting condition, the controller sequentially determines the satisfaction of the first, second, and third refrigerant filling conditions.

For example, if the information satisfies the first refrigerant sealing condition, the controller may seal the refrigerant and stabilize the air conditioner 100 for a predetermined time.

In addition, the control unit does not determine whether the second and third refrigerant sealing conditions are satisfied because the refrigerant is sealed according to the first refrigerant sealing condition.

That is, the controller stabilizes the refrigerant for the predetermined time if the information satisfies one of the first, second, and third refrigerant sealing conditions.

Here, the predetermined time is preferably 4 minutes to 6 minutes, and the time for the sealed refrigerant to be stabilized.

The first temperature is preferably 10 to 15 ° C under the first refrigerant sealing condition, and the first opening degree is preferably 75 to 85% of the maximum opening degree of the outdoor electronic expansion valve 132.

It is preferable that the second temperature is 6 ° C to 8 ° C under the second refrigerant sealing condition and the second opening degree is 65% to 75% of the maximum opening degree of the outdoor electronic expansion valve 132.

It is preferable that the third opening degree is 55% to 64% of the maximum opening degree of the outdoor electronic expansion valve 132 and the predetermined discharge temperature is higher than the theoretical discharge temperature of the compressor 110 by a predetermined temperature And the predetermined temperature is preferably 3 ° C to 5 ° C.

The control unit terminates the all-room heating operation of the air conditioner 100 upon completion of the refrigerant sealing.

The air conditioner of the present invention has an advantage that the cooling operation or the heating operation is performed according to the ambient temperature to increase the accuracy of the amount of the refrigerant to be filled.

While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Accordingly, the true scope of the present invention should be determined by the technical idea of the appended claims.

1 is a view illustrating a multi-type air conditioner to which a refrigerant sealing method of an air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present invention is applied.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the flow of the refrigerant during the cooling operation of the air conditioner shown in Fig. 1. Fig.

Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the flow of the refrigerant during the heating operation of the air conditioner shown in Fig. 1. Fig.

Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing a refrigerant sealing method of the air conditioner shown in Fig. 1. Fig.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.

100: Multi air conditioner 110: Compressor

120: indoor heat exchanger 131: indoor expansion valve

132: outdoor expansion valve 133: check valve

140: outdoor heat exchanger 160: four-way valve

180: supercooler IU: indoor unit

OU: outdoor unit

Claims (9)

An outdoor electronic expansion valve for determining a flow rate of the refrigerant flowing into the compressor, a condenser for condensing the refrigerant discharged from the compressor and delivering the refrigerant to the supercooler, and evaporating the refrigerant after the refrigerant introduced from the supercooler is throttled A step of heating the air conditioner in response to a request to perform a refrigerant sealing judgment mode for judging whether a refrigerant filled in the air conditioner including the evaporator is appropriate; Sealing the set amount of refrigerant according to a refrigerant filling condition and stabilizing the air conditioner when the operating parameter of the air conditioner satisfies a predetermined parameter during the all-room heating operation; And And stopping the air conditioner when the air conditioner is stabilized, The setting variable includes: Wherein the operating capacity of the compressor is at least one of the maximum capacity, the operating high pressure of the compressor is higher than the target high pressure, or the hot gas valve is turned on by the operating low pressure. The method according to claim 1, Wherein the air conditioner includes a plurality of outdoor units and a plurality of indoor units connected to the plurality of outdoor units through a refrigerant pipe, The refrigerant filling determination mode includes: Wherein the refrigerant is introduced into the outdoor unit when the outdoor unit is opened or closed. delete The refrigerating machine according to claim 1, A first refrigerant sealing condition for determining whether a temperature difference between an outside air temperature and an evaporating temperature is less than a first temperature or an opening degree of the outdoor electronic expansion valve is less than a first opening degree; Wherein the controller determines whether the temperature difference between the condensing temperature and the set temperature is less than the second temperature or the opening degree of the outdoor electronic expansion valve is less than the second opening degree or the discharge temperature of the compressor is less than the first discharge temperature, 2 Refrigerant filling conditions; And The opening degree of the outdoor electronic expansion valve is less than the third degree or the opening degree of the outdoor electronic expansion valve is less than the second opening degree and the discharge temperature of the compressor is less than the second discharge temperature And a third refrigerant sealing condition. 5. The method of claim 4, Wherein the refrigerant is sealed according to any one of the first, second, and third refrigerant sealing conditions, and then the refrigerant is stabilized for a predetermined period of time. 5. The method according to claim 4, Is 75% to 85% of the maximum opening degree of the outdoor electronic expansion valve. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, Is 65% to 75% of the maximum opening degree of the outdoor electronic expansion valve. 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, Is 55% to 64% of the maximum opening degree of the outdoor electronic expansion valve. The method according to claim 4, Wherein the predetermined temperature is higher than a theoretical discharge temperature of the compressor.

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