KR20060055223A - A multi air conditioner system and a pipe connection searching method of the multi air conditioner system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a multi-air conditioner system and a pipe connection search method of a multi-air conditioner system, and has a purpose to search for a pipe connection quickly and accurately by grouping a plurality of indoor units by the operation mode.

To this end, the present invention is an outdoor unit, a plurality of indoor units connected to the outdoor unit, a pipe search method of a multi-air conditioner system having a plurality of refrigerant pipes independently connected to the outdoor unit for each of the plurality of indoor units, the plurality of indoor units for each operation mode Grouping and simultaneously operating a plurality of grouped indoor units to search for the pipe connection of the plurality of indoor units.

Description

A multi air conditioner system and a pipe connection searching method of the multi air conditioner system}

1 is a general configuration diagram of a general multi-air conditioner system,

2 is a refrigerant flow path diagram of a multi-air conditioner system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a control block diagram of a multi-air conditioner system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is an operation flowchart illustrating a pipe connection search method of a multi-air conditioner system using operation mode history information of the present invention;

5 is a schematic diagram illustrating the pipe inspection of the multi-air conditioner system using the operation mode history information of the present invention;

6 to 8 is a chart showing the number of times of pipe inspection using the history information of the operation mode of the present invention, in the case of air conditioning or heating independent operation air conditioner,

9 to 11 is a diagram showing the number of pipe inspection times using the history information of the operation mode of the present invention, in the case of a simultaneous air-conditioning operation air conditioner,

12 is a table showing a pipe inspection time of the multi-air conditioner system using the operation mode history information of the present invention.

* Description of the symbols for the main functions of the drawings *

10: outdoor unit 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d: indoor unit

22a, 22b, 22c, 22d: indoor electric motor 25: outdoor unit microcomputer

30: air conditioning switch 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d: heating valve

32a, 32b, 32c, 32d: Cooling valve 35a, 35b, 35c, 35d: Refrigerant piping

The present invention relates to a multi-air conditioner multi air conditioner system in which a plurality of indoor units are independently connected to a plurality of pipes in one outdoor unit, and in particular, a multi air conditioner system and a multi air conditioner system for searching whether the pipes of the outdoor unit and the indoor unit are correctly connected to each other. It relates to a pipe connection search method.

In general, as shown in FIG. 1, the multi-air conditioner system adopts a method in which a plurality of indoor units 20 are connected to one outdoor unit 10, and a power / communication line between the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20. 50 are connected to each other to communicate with each other through a communication circuit according to a predetermined communication protocol, and a plurality of refrigerant pipes 60 are installed between the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 so that the refrigerants are mutually generated according to the refrigerant cycle. Is circulated, the plurality of refrigerant pipes 60, the indoor unit refrigerant control electric valve 22 is installed.

In the multi-air conditioner system, the installer connects the outdoor unit 10 and the plurality of indoor units 20 to the power / communication line 50 and the refrigerant pipe 60 at the time of initial installation of the system, and input means provided in each indoor unit 20. (For example, a rotary switch) inputs the refrigerant piping numbers ("0", "1", "2", "3", "4") connected to each indoor unit 20 by using the outdoor unit microcomputer 15 or The indoor unit microcomputer to know the refrigerant piping number connected to each indoor unit (20).

However, the multi-air conditioner system has a plurality of refrigerant pipes 60 and indoor units 20 to be connected to each refrigerant pipe 60 so that the refrigerant pipes 60 and the plurality of indoor units 20 are easily connected as the installer inputs the input means. There was a problem that could not be confirmed.

In order to solve this problem, there is a method of identifying the indoor unit 20 connected to the plurality of refrigerant pipes 60 after the installation of the multi-air conditioner system.

In the multi-air conditioner system disclosed in the publication, only one of the electric valves 22 installed in the plurality of refrigerant pipes 60 is opened by opening a compressor to check the refrigerant pipes 60 connected to each indoor unit 20. Detects the temperature change of the indoor unit 20 pipe connected to the refrigerant pipe 60 in which the electric valve 22 is installed, and the refrigerant pipe 60 and the indoor unit 20 in which the electric valve 22 opened is installed through the temperature change. ), The relationship between the two was confirmed. And by repeating this process it was possible to confirm the connection relationship of the entire refrigerant pipe (60).

However, the pipe inspection method of the conventional multi-air conditioner system is a case where there are many indoor units 20 to be inspected because the temperature change of the indoor unit 20 connected to the refrigerant pipe 60 in which the open electric valve 22 is installed proceeds slowly. There was a problem that takes a lot of time to check the pipe.

Accordingly, the present invention is to solve the conventional problems as described above, an object of the present invention can shorten the pipe inspection time for checking whether the plurality of refrigerant pipes connected to the outdoor unit independently connected to each of the plurality of indoor units is correctly connected. The present invention provides a pipe connection search method of a multi air conditioner system and a multi air conditioner system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a multi-air conditioner system and a pipe connection search method of the multi-air conditioner system which can increase the reliability of the pipe inspection.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an outdoor unit, a plurality of indoor units connected to the outdoor unit, and a plurality of indoor units having a plurality of refrigerant pipes connected to the outdoor unit independently for each of the plurality of indoor units. It is characterized by grouping by the operation mode, and searching for the indoor unit connected to the plurality of refrigerant pipes by operating a plurality of grouped indoor units at the same time.

The operation mode of the indoor unit is the number of modes that can be operated simultaneously in the outdoor unit; The number of modes that can be operated simultaneously in the outdoor unit is a combination number of an operation mode requiring a flow of refrigerant and an operation mode requiring no flow of the refrigerant.

In addition, the outdoor unit is characterized in that to search for the pipe connection of the plurality of indoor units by operating the operation mode that requires the flow of the refrigerant and the operation mode does not require the flow of the refrigerant at the same time.

In addition, in the case of the independent air conditioner air conditioner, the outdoor unit searches for a pipe connection of each indoor unit by simultaneously operating a plurality of indoor units in two operation modes of cooling operation or stop operation; In the case of the independent heating operation air conditioner, a plurality of indoor units are simultaneously operated in two operation modes of heating operation or stop operation to search for piping connections of each indoor unit; Simultaneous cooling and heating operation In the case of air conditioner, a plurality of indoor units are simultaneously operated in three operation modes of cooling operation, heating operation or operation stop to search for piping connections of each indoor unit.

In addition, the grouping of the indoor units divides the plurality of indoor units into the number of operation modes to form an indoor unit group, and determines whether the number of the formed indoor unit groups exceeds the number of the operation modes, and if the number of the operation modes exceeds the number of operation modes, It is characterized in that the operation mode history information to form a final group by dividing by the number of operation modes until not exceeding.

In addition, the operation mode history information of the indoor unit is characterized by determining the pipe connection address by storing the operation information performed in the plurality of indoor units until the final address of each indoor unit is determined.

The present invention provides a multi-air conditioner system having an outdoor unit, a plurality of indoor units connected to the outdoor unit, and a plurality of refrigerant pipes independently connected to the outdoor unit for each of the plurality of indoor units, wherein the plurality of indoor units are installed in the plurality of refrigerant pipes. A plurality of electric motor control valves for adjusting the flow of refrigerant; And a control unit which searches for pipe connection of the plurality of indoor units by simultaneously controlling the plurality of refrigerant control electric valves according to the operation mode history information grouped by the plurality of indoor units according to the operation modes.

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a refrigerant passage of a multi-air conditioner system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in which four indoor units 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d are connected to one outdoor unit 10 as an example.

In FIG. 2, the multi-air conditioner system of the present invention includes one outdoor unit 10, first to fourth indoor units 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d connected in parallel to the outdoor unit 10, and each indoor unit 20a, 20b, and 20c. , 20d) includes a cooling and heating converter 30 for switching the operation mode to the cooling or heating mode.

The outdoor unit 10 includes a compressor 11 for compressing a refrigerant into a gaseous state of high temperature and high pressure, and a four-way valve 12 for adjusting a flow direction of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 11 according to an operation mode (cooling or heating). And, an outdoor heat exchanger (13) that receives the refrigerant compressed by the compressor (11) and exchanges heat with the outdoor air, an outdoor electric valve (14) for expanding the refrigerant while controlling the flow rate of the refrigerant, and a gas and a liquid state. A receiver tank 15 and an accumulator 16 for separating refrigerants from each other are provided, and each of the indoor units 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d and the outdoor unit 10 includes a high pressure gas pipe 17, a low pressure gas pipe 18, and a high pressure. The refrigerant is delivered through the liquid pipe 19.

In addition, the low pressure gas pipe 18 is connected to the suction side of the compressor 11 via the accumulator 16, and the outdoor heat exchanger 13 and the outdoor electric valve 14 are connected to the outdoor unit 10 in series. The high pressure liquid pipe 19 is connected to the outdoor transmission valve 14 via the receiver tank 15.

The bypass valve 41a, which operates as a flow control valve, is connected to the outdoor electric valve 14 in parallel with the check valve 41b. During cooling operation, the liquid refrigerant from the outdoor heat exchanger 13 is bypassed. The outdoor electric valve 14 may be bypassed by passing through the valve 41a and the check valve 41b. In the heating operation, the bypass valve 41a is closed to allow the refrigerant to pass through the outdoor electric valve 14. To help.

Between the four-way valve 12 and the high-pressure liquid pipe 19, there is a high-pressure branch pipe 42 branched from the high-pressure gas pipe 17, the high-pressure branch pipe 42, the solenoid valve 43a that acts as an open / close valve, The check valve 43b which prevents the backflow of the refrigerant from the high pressure gas pipe 42 side is provided. Another check valve 44 is provided between the four-way valve 12 and the high pressure liquid pipe 19 to prevent the backflow of the refrigerant.

The first to fourth indoor chambers 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d are first and second indoor heat exchangers 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d that receive refrigerant and exchange heat with indoor air. First to fourth indoor electric valves connected in series with the fourth indoor heat exchangers 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d to regulate the refrigerant flow flowing to the first to fourth indoor heat exchangers 21a, 21b, 21c, and 21d. (22a, 22b, 22c, 22d) and first to fourth temperature sensors (23a, 23b, 23c, 23d) provided between the indoor units (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d) and the air conditioner (30). .

The air-conditioning converter 30 is the first to fourth heating valve 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d installed in the first to fourth high-pressure gas branch pipe (33a, 33, 33c, 33d) branched from the high-pressure gas pipe (17) ) And first to fourth cooling valves 32a, 32b, 32c, and 32d installed in the first to fourth low pressure gas distributors 34a, 34b, 34c, and 34d branched from the low pressure gas pipe 18. .

The first heating valve and the cooling valve set are connected to the first refrigerant pipe 35a connected to the first indoor heat exchanger 21a, and the second to fourth heating valve and the cooling valve set are sequentially arranged from the second to the first. Four refrigerant pipes (35b, 35c, 35d) are connected.

3 is a control configuration diagram of a multi-air conditioner system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, wherein the outdoor unit 10 further includes an outdoor unit microcomputer 25 that controls each device of the outdoor unit 10 in addition to the device shown in FIG. 2. do.

The first to fourth indoor units 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d further include the first to fourth indoor microcomputers 36a, 36b, 36c, and 36d that control the devices of the indoor units 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d. Include.

In addition, the heating and cooling diverter 30 controls the first to fourth cooling valves 32a, 32b, 32c and 32d and the first to fourth heating valves 31a, 31b, 31c and 31d. More).

Hereinafter, an operation process and an effect of the multi-air conditioner system and the multi-air conditioner pipe search method configured as described above will be described.

4 is an operation flowchart illustrating a pipe connection search method of a multi-air conditioner system using operation mode history information of the present invention.

When installing the multi-air conditioner system, the installer connects pipes between the outdoor unit 10, the plurality of indoor units 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d and the air-conditioning and switching unit 30, and uses each input unit to input the indoor units 20a and 20b. Enter the number of branches (not shown) of the air conditioner 30 connected to, 20c, 20d.

At this time, the branch is connected to the indoor unit (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d) and the heating valve (31a, 31b, 31c, 31d) and the cooling valve (32a, 32b, 32c, 32d) set in the air-conditioner 30 It is a hole provided in the case of the air conditioning and heating converter 30 to allow the pipes 35a, 35b, 35c, and 35d to pass through, and the number of the districts is the pipe number passing through the corresponding branch and the pipes 35a, 35b, 35c, and 35d. It is the same as the number of the connected heating valves 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d and the cooling valves 32a, 32b, 32c, 32d.

For example, if the branch connected to the first indoor unit 20a is the first branch, the pipe passing through the first branch is the first pipe 35a, and the valve connected to the first pipe 35a is the first heating. Valve 31a and first cooling valve 32a.

In addition, the above input means may be used a variety of means, for example, to install a rotary switch in each indoor unit (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d), the corresponding indoor unit (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d) in the rotary switch The indoor unit microcomputers 24a, 24b, 24c, and 24d indicate the number of the basin to which the indoor units 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d are connected (ie, the number of the heating valve and the cooling valve set, Make sure you know the number of pipes.

In addition, when the indoor unit microcomputers 24a, 24b, 24c, and 24d grasp the number of the basin to which the indoor units 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d are connected, data communication is performed with the outdoor unit microcomputer 25 and the air conditioner microcomputer 38. Indoor units 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d connected to each of the heating valves 31a, 31b, 31c, and 31d and air conditioning valves 32a, 32b, 32c, and 32d by the outdoor unit microcomputer 25 and the air conditioner and microcomputer ) 'S address.

In the present embodiment, the first chamber 20a is input to the first heating valve 31a and the cooling valve 32a set, and the second to fourth heating valves 31b, 31c, and 31d, and the second to fourth heating valves 31a and 31d, respectively. It is assumed that the second to fourth chambers 20b, 20c, and 20d are sequentially connected to the fourth cooling valve sets 32b, 32c, and 32d.

When the input of the connection relationship between each valve of the air conditioner 30 and each indoor unit 20a, 20b, 20c, 20d is completed, the outdoor unit microcomputer 25 operates the test button installed in the outdoor unit 10 by the installer. It is determined whether the pipe connection check mode is input (S100).

If the pipe connection check mode, the outdoor unit microcomputer 25 checks the indoor unit number N through data communication with the first to fourth indoor microcomputers 24a, 24b, 24c, and 24d (S110).

At this time, in the multi-air conditioner system of the present invention, whether the independent air-conditioning air conditioner or the simultaneous air-conditioning air conditioner is set in the set, the outdoor unit microcomputer 25 sets the number of operation modes (m) in the outdoor unit 10 to 2 or 3. do.

The number of operation modes (m) means the combination number of the mode in which the refrigerant flows and the mode in which the refrigerant does not flow, and the blowing mode is considered to be the same as the operation stop (off).

Therefore, set it to "m = 2" (cooling, stop) or (heating, stop) for cooling or heating independent air conditioner, and set it to "m = 3" cooling, heating, stop for simultaneous air conditioning and air conditioning. do.

Therefore, the total number of indoor units N is divided by the number of operation modes m, and the number of indoor units N is grouped by k groups in the group N / m = k (S120).

At this time, the decimal point is rounded up and the grouping number does not exceed the number of operation modes (m).

If the number of components of the k group exceeds the number of the driving modes m (S130), k is divided again into the number of driving modes m (m) and grouped by i (S140).

Similarly, the grouping number does not exceed m (S150).

In this way, the grouping is completed if the number of components of the final group does not exceed m by repeatedly dividing by m until the number of the operation modes (m) is not exceeded (S160).

Since each group is a group of operation modes, it is possible to determine an address while operating each of the operation modes corresponding to cooling, heating, and stop modes.

FIG. 5 shows a group of indoor group groups in which a plurality of indoor units are grouped until they do not exceed the number of operation modes (m).

5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a pipe inspection of a multi-air conditioner system using driving mode history information of the present invention, where A is a cooling operation group, B is a heating operation group, and C is an operation stop or blowing mode group.

In FIG. 5, it can be seen that 1 to 9 indoor units can be inspected for 2 circuits, 10 to 27 indoor units can be inspected for 3 circuits, and 28 to 81 indoor units can be inspected for 4 circuits.

For example, a case where the number of indoor units N is 16 and simultaneous air-conditioning multi-air conditioner is described as follows.

(1 drive)

16/3 = 5.33 → 6, that is, sixteen, six, six, four units are operated in cooling, heating, and stop mode each and assigned a group address corresponding to the first operation. A, B, and C of FIG. 5 are operation modes of the first corresponding group.

(2 driving)

6/3 = 2, two indoor units of each group (A, B, C) are operated in the cooling, heating, and off mode to determine the address of the second indoor unit of each group. At this time, the operation mode history of the first, second, and third indoor units is A-A, A-B, A-C.

(3 times driving)

Since it is less than 2 <m, grouping is completed, and the third indoor group address of each group is determined by operating the unconfirmed indoor unit of each group in the cooling, heating, and off modes. At this time, the operation mode history of the first, second, and third indoor units is A-A-A, A-A-B, A-B-A.

In this way, the pipe inspection time can be shortened by using the operation mode history of each indoor unit.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the number of pipe inspections required to check a total of six indoor unit pipes for cooling or heating independent air conditioners, and it can be seen that the pipe inspection can be completed three times in the existing six times.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the number of pipe inspections required to check a total of eight indoor unit pipes for cooling or heating independent air conditioners, and it can be seen that pipe inspection can be completed three times in the existing eight times. Up to three of these units can be used.

8 is a diagram showing the number of piping inspections required to check a total of 15 indoor unit piping in the case of air-conditioning or heating independent operation air conditioner, it can be seen that the piping inspection can be completed four times from the existing 15 times. Up to four of these 9-16 units are available.

9 is a diagram showing the number of pipe inspections required to check a total of six indoor unit piping in the case of a simultaneous air-conditioning operation air conditioner, it can be seen that the pipe inspection can be completed two times in the existing six times.

10 is a diagram showing the number of piping inspections required to check a total of eight indoor unit piping in the case of a simultaneous air-conditioning operation air conditioner, it can be seen that the piping inspection can be completed twice in the existing eight times, piping 1 Up to 9 units can be used twice.

11 is a diagram showing the number of pipe inspections required to check a total of 15 indoor unit piping in the case of simultaneous air-conditioning operation air conditioner, it can be seen that the pipe inspection can be completed three times in the existing 15 times, the piping 10 Up to 27 units can be made three times.

In conclusion, shortening the number of pipe inspections results in a reduction in pipe inspection time.

The relationship between the number of indoor units N, the number of operation modes m of the outdoor unit 10, and the number of pipe inspection times is as follows.

N ≦ m ^k . … (One)

The minimum k value that satisfies the value is the pipe inspection frequency value.

Assuming that one pipe inspection time is 5 minutes, the reduction rate of the inspection method of the conventional method and the present invention is shown in FIG. 12.

What has been described above is just one embodiment for carrying out the pipe connection search method of the multi-air conditioner system and the multi-air conditioner system according to the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, the technical spirit of the present invention Of course, various modifications are possible by those skilled in the art.

As described above, according to the pipe connection search method of the multi-air conditioner system and the multi-air conditioner system according to the present invention, since the pipe connection is checked by grouping a plurality of indoor units by operation mode, the pipe inspection time can be shortened quickly, The reliability of the inspection can be improved.

Claims (10)

In a pipe search method of a multi-air conditioner system having an outdoor unit, a plurality of indoor units connected to the outdoor unit, and a plurality of refrigerant pipes independently connected to the outdoor unit for each of the plurality of indoor units, Grouping the plurality of indoor units by driving mode, And searching for indoor units connected to the plurality of refrigerant pipes by simultaneously operating a plurality of grouped indoor units. The method of claim 1, The operation mode of the indoor unit is a pipe connection search method of the multi-air conditioning system, characterized in that the number of modes that can be operated simultaneously in the outdoor unit. The method of claim 2, The number of modes that can be operated simultaneously in the outdoor unit is a combination number of the operation mode that requires the flow of the refrigerant and the operation mode that does not require the flow of the refrigerant pipe connection search method of the multi-air conditioner system. The method of claim 3, wherein The outdoor unit is a pipe connection search method of the multi-air conditioner system characterized in that for searching the pipe connection of the plurality of indoor units by operating the operation mode that requires the flow of the refrigerant and the operation mode does not require the flow of the refrigerant at the same time. The method of claim 4, wherein In the case of the independent air conditioner air conditioner, the outdoor air conditioner searches for the pipe connection of each indoor unit by simultaneously operating a plurality of indoor units in two operation modes of cooling operation or operation stop. The method of claim 4, wherein In the case of the independent heating operation air conditioner, the outdoor air conditioner searches for the pipe connection of each indoor unit by simultaneously operating a plurality of indoor units in two operation modes of heating operation or operation stop. The method of claim 4, wherein In the case of simultaneous air-conditioning operation air conditioner, the pipe connection search method of the multi-air conditioner system searches for the pipe connection of each indoor unit by simultaneously operating a plurality of indoor units in three operation modes of cooling operation, heating operation or operation stop. . The method of claim 2, Grouping of the indoor unit is Divide a plurality of indoor units into the number of operation modes to form a group of indoor units, It is determined whether the constituent number of the formed indoor unit group exceeds the number of driving modes, If the number of the operation mode is exceeded, the pipe connection search method of the multi-air conditioning system, characterized in that the operation mode history information to form a final group by dividing the number of the operation mode until the number of the operation mode is not exceeded. The method of claim 8, The operation mode history information of the indoor unit stores the operation information performed in the plurality of indoor units until the final address of each indoor unit to determine the pipe connection address, characterized in that for determining the pipe connection. In a multi-air conditioner system having an outdoor unit, a plurality of indoor units connected to the outdoor unit, and a plurality of refrigerant pipes independently connected to the outdoor unit for each of the plurality of indoor units, A plurality of refrigerant control electric valves installed in the plurality of refrigerant pipes to control the flow of refrigerant flowing into the plurality of indoor units; And And a controller for simultaneously controlling the plurality of indoor units to control the pipe connection by controlling the plurality of electric motors for controlling refrigerant according to the operation mode history information grouped by the operation modes.

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