KR20060090429A - Apparatus and method for driving an air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an air conditioner, also called an air conditioner system, and more particularly, to an operation control apparatus and method of the air conditioner. Operation control method of the air conditioner according to the present invention,

Determining whether the driving environment is changed by calculating a coefficient of performance (COP) of the system in operation; Finding and setting a target superheat degree having a maximum coefficient of performance (COP) when the driving environment changes; And controlling room temperature and superheat based on the newly set target degree of superheat.

Superheat, environmental change, expansion valve.

Description

Air conditioner operation control device and its method {APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DRIVING AN AIR CONDITIONER}

1 is a view for explaining a general method for selectively changing the operation algorithm of the air conditioner in accordance with the change in the operating environment.

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

3 is an exemplary configuration diagram of a fuzzy rule table updater 26 in FIG. 2.

4 is a view for explaining the air conditioner operation control method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a target superheat search routine flow chart having a maximum coefficient of performance (COP) in FIG.

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an air conditioner, also called an air conditioner system, and more particularly, to an operation control apparatus and method of the air conditioner.

As is widely known, an air conditioner includes a compressor for compressing a refrigerant into a gas refrigerant having a high temperature and high pressure, a condenser for condensing the refrigerant passing through the compressor with air and condensing it into a liquid refrigerant having a high temperature and high pressure, and a refrigerant passing through the condenser at a low temperature. An expansion device for expanding with a low pressure liquid or gas refrigerant, and an evaporator for heat-exchanging the refrigerant passing through the expansion device with air to evaporate to a low-temperature low-pressure gas refrigerant.

The air conditioner having the above-described basic configuration includes an outdoor heat exchanger and an indoor heat exchanger respectively installed at an outdoor side and an indoor side to serve as a condenser and an evaporator. In the cooling operation, the outdoor heat exchanger and an indoor heat exchanger act as condensers and evaporators, respectively. And act as evaporator and condenser respectively during the heating operation.

The air conditioner of the above-described configuration is generally operated (step S1) based on the room temperature control and superheat control algorithms determined at the time of system design as shown in FIG. That is, a general air conditioner is measured by a room temperature control algorithm that controls the operating frequency of the compressor by setting operating conditions according to the indoor temperature and the outdoor temperature measured by the indoor temperature sensor and the outdoor temperature sensor, and by using the condensation temperature sensor and the discharge temperature sensor. The air conditioner is operated in an optimal state by using a superheat control algorithm that controls the opening value of the electromagnetic expansion valve LEV by comparing the target discharge superheat with the current discharge superheat obtained based on the obtained values.

In some cases, an additional refrigerant may be sealed by the long pipe, or a change may occur in the operating environment such as refrigerant leakage and overcharging, and thus, a method for selecting an optimal operation control algorithm suitable for the environmental change is needed. For this purpose, the conventional general air conditioner was designed to allow the operator to determine the environmental change (step S2) and select an operation control algorithm or change the control option according to the environment change through the dip switch (step S3). The disadvantage is that the control algorithm must be selected and changed in accordance with environmental changes.

In addition, in the conventional general air conditioner, since the operator has to change the control algorithm by sensing the environmental change, it has a disadvantage that it cannot actively cope with the change of the external environment, the refrigerant condition, or the piping condition without the operator's intervention. .

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner operation control apparatus and method capable of exerting a maximum performance by actively responding to a change in refrigerant amount, a pipe length change, and an unexpected change in external environment.

Furthermore, the present invention provides an operation control apparatus and method for an air conditioner capable of optimizing the system stabilization time as well as the operation efficiency of the system even if the operating environment changes.

In another aspect, the present invention is to provide an air conditioner operation control apparatus and method that can proactively cope with changes in the external environment and can eliminate risk factors such as liquid refrigerant is introduced into the compressor in advance.

Operation control method of the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object,

Determining a change in the operating environment by calculating a coefficient of performance (COP) of the air conditioner system in operation;

Finding and setting a target superheat degree having a maximum coefficient of performance (COP) when the driving environment changes;

And controlling room temperature and superheat based on the newly set target degree of superheat.

According to the characteristics of the present invention as described above, even if the change in the amount of refrigerant, the change in the pipe length, the unexpected external environment changes, such a change in the operating environment to detect the target superheat degree having a maximum coefficient of performance (COP) By controlling the superheat according to the above, it is possible to provide a system capable of exhibiting maximum performance while actively coping with environmental changes.

Further, the present invention further comprises the steps of updating the fuzzy rule (fuzzy rule) table necessary to purge the opening degree of the expansion valve to the current superheat degree to the newly set target superheat degree in the room temperature control and superheat degree control; It is characterized by including.

By the fuzzy rule table updating step, the time from initial system startup to stable operation can be shortened and efficient operation can be achieved.

Meanwhile, the air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present invention basically includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, an evaporator, a pipe connecting them, and temperature sensors necessary for room temperature control and superheat control. The control device for controlling the operation of the machine,

An environment change determination unit for calculating a performance coefficient (COP) of the system in operation to determine whether the operation environment is changed;

An optimum cycle search unit for finding a target superheat degree having a maximum coefficient of performance (COP) and setting it to a value for use in superheat degree control when there is a change in the driving environment;

And a room temperature and superheat control unit for controlling room temperature and superheat based on the set target superheat degree, the current superheat degree, indoor and outdoor temperature, and the set temperature.

Furthermore, the operation control apparatus may further include a fuzzy rule table updating unit which updates a fuzzy rule table necessary to purge the opening degree of the expansion valve so that the current superheat degree reaches a newly set target superheat degree. And

At this time, the fuzzy rule table updating unit;

A system operation simulator for trial driving the system based on the data stored in the fuzzy rule table;

And a genetic algorithm execution unit for analyzing the output data of the simulator and optimizing the data stored in the fuzzy rule table.

The air conditioner driving control apparatus of the present invention as described above also detects a change in the driving environment, finds a target superheat having a maximum performance coefficient (COP), and controls the superheat accordingly, thereby actively coping with the environmental change. At the same time, it will be able to achieve maximum performance.

In addition, by updating the fuzzy rule table newly, it is possible to shorten the time from the initial startup of the system to the stable operation to achieve efficient operation.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description of the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of related known functions or configurations may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

2 is a block diagram of an air conditioner operation control apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a fuzzy rule table updating unit 26 of FIG. 2. .

First, the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention basically includes a plurality of temperature sensors required for room temperature control and superheat control. That is, each of the indoor temperature sensor 10 and the outdoor temperature sensor 12 detects and outputs the indoor temperature and the outdoor temperature in the air conditioning space, and the condensation temperature sensor 14, the evaporation temperature sensor 16, and the discharge temperature sensor ( 18) detects the condensation temperature, the evaporation temperature and the compressor discharge temperature, respectively, and outputs them to the microcomputer 20 which will be described later.

The microcomputer 20 generally controls the operation of the air conditioner based on the control program data stored in the internal memory. For example, the microcomputer 20 calculates the current superheat degree from the discharge temperature and the condensation temperature of the input compressor, and controls the superheat so that the calculated current superheat degree reaches the target superheat degree. Along with the superheat control, the microcomputer 20 also basically performs room temperature control to variably control the compressor operating frequency according to the indoor and outdoor temperature and the set temperature. Such room temperature control and superheat degree control are assumed to be executed by the room temperature and superheat degree control unit 28, which is one program execution module for convenience of description.

Meanwhile, the environment change determination unit 22 as another program execution module executed by the microcomputer 20 calculates a performance coefficient (COP) of the system in operation to determine whether the operation environment is changed. As a method of determining whether the driving environment is changed, if the difference between the calculated coefficient of performance (COP) of the system and the previously stored performance coefficient is out of a predetermined threshold value, it is determined whether the driving environment is changed. This will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 4.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the optimum cycle search unit 24, which is another program execution module executed by the microcomputer 20, searches for a target superheat diagram having a maximum performance coefficient (COP) when the operating environment changes. Set a new value for superheat control. In detail, the optimum cycle search unit 24 sequentially calculates the COP while sequentially changing the target superheat degree within a predetermined range, and finds the target superheat diagram having the maximum COP by comparing the calculated COP with the previous COP. By storing new values, you can find cycles that are optimized for the changed environment and use them later. The optimal cycle search unit 24 may be interpreted as part of the room temperature / superheat control unit 28 since the superheat control is performed to find a target superheat degree having the maximum COP.

Finally, another program execution module, the fuzzy rule table updating unit 26, is required to purge the opening degree of the expansion valve so that the current superheat degree reaches the target superheat degree newly set by the optimum cycle search unit 24. Update the fuzzy rule table. The fuzzy rule table updating unit 26 shortens the time from initial system startup to stable operation so that efficient operation can be achieved.

As shown in FIG. 3, the fuzzy rule table updating unit 26 includes a system operation simulator 26-2 for trial driving the system based on the data stored in the fuzzy rule table 26-1. And a genetic algorithm execution unit 26-3 for analyzing the output data of the simulator 26-2 and optimizing the data stored in the fuzzy rule table 26-1 to the system. Since each of the genetic algorithm and the fuzzy control algorithm is a well known technique, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Referring back to FIG. 2, the refrigerant circulation system 30 which is not described is a concept including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, an evaporator, and a pipe connecting them, and the circulation of the refrigerant is controlled by the microcomputer 20 described above. Is done.

Hereinafter, the operation of the air conditioner operation control apparatus having the above-described configuration will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. 4 is a view for explaining the air conditioner operation control method according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 5 shows a target superheat diagram search routine flowchart having a maximum coefficient of performance (COP) of FIG. It is shown.

Referring to FIG. 4, first, the room temperature and superheat degree control unit 28 controls the room temperature and the superheat degree according to the indoor and outdoor temperature and the set temperature, and the current superheat and the target superheat degree as in the general air conditioner operating apparatus (S10). Meanwhile, the environment change determination unit 22 calculates a performance coefficient (COP) of the system in operation (S11) and determines whether there is a change in the driving environment (S12).

The coefficient of performance (COP) can be obtained by the formula of cooling capacity / power consumption. The cooling capacity and power consumption are embodied by the following equation.

Compressor power consumption in the above equation is a value that can be known in advance through the product or measurement of the current and voltage, fan sintering and circuit shunting can also be stored and used because it can be measured and measured according to the operating frequency. In addition, the air volume is also a value that is selected by the consumer can know the amount, the room temperature is a value that can be known through the sensor (10). Since the capacity correction value and the power consumption correction value can be calculated and calculated from the difference between the cooling capacity calculation formula and the actual product capability measured on a calorimeter, the COP calculation is possible through Equation 1 above. For reference, the discharge temperature can be expected to be the pipe temperature-5 degrees.

Meanwhile, the environment change determiner 22 determines whether the driving environment is changed when the difference between the COP and the prestored performance coefficient of the system calculated in step S11 is 20% or more. The basis for selecting 20% as a criterion is that, with reference to Equation 1, the air flow has little error, and power consumption can also be expressed as a product of current and voltage. Because you only need to consider. The maximum error range of the temperature sensor has an error of 1 degree up and down in the range of -10 degrees to 30 degrees, and the error range of the current has an error of 1A up and down in the range of 0A to 15A. It is -109.3%. Therefore, 20% was selected as the criterion for environmental change.

If there is an environment change according to the above criteria, the optimum cycle search unit 24 finds the target superheat diagram having the maximum performance coefficient (COP) based on the flowchart (target superheat search routine) shown in FIG. Save the setting to the new value (S13).

That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the optimum cycle search unit 24 sequentially adjusts the LEV opening degree (S21) while sequentially changing the target superheat degree within a predetermined range (S20), and calculates a corresponding COP (S22). By comparing the calculated COP with the previous COP (S23), the target superheat degree having the maximum COP is found and stored together with the LEV opening (S24), so that the room temperature and the superheat degree control unit 28 are optimized for the changed environment. The values allow room temperature and superheat control to be performed.

As described above, if a change in the operating environment occurs due to a change in the amount of refrigerant, a change in the pipe length, or an unexpected change in the external environment, the optimum target superheat for the changed operating environment is found by the method shown in FIG. Since the superheat control is performed later, the present invention can provide a system that can exert maximum performance while actively coping with environmental changes.

On the other hand, the optimum cycle search was completed in response to changes in the operating environment, but this alone did not optimize the time from the initial start of the system until it stabilized (hereinafter, referred to as "system stabilization time"). Therefore, a method for optimizing system stabilization time should be devised. To this end, an embodiment of the present invention has been devised to optimize the system stabilization time by executing a dynamic enhancement algorithm as shown in step S14 of FIG.

The dynamic characteristic enhancement algorithm may be embodied in the fuzzy rule table updating unit 26 shown in FIG. 2, and the fuzzy rule table updating unit 26 is a fuzzy rule table 26-1 as shown in FIG. 3. Since the system operation simulator 26-2, the genetic algorithm execution unit 26-3, and the fuzzy controller have a configuration, the system operation simulator 26-2 and the genetic algorithm execution unit 26-3 are purged. It is possible to update the fuzzy rule table necessary for control sequentially.

As described above, the fuzzy rule table is newly updated by the fuzzy rule table updating unit 26, so that the present invention can be optimized in accordance with the change of the operating environment even for the time from the initial startup of the system to the stable operation.

As described above, the present invention detects a target superheat degree having a maximum coefficient of performance (COP) by controlling such a change in the operating environment even when the refrigerant amount, the pipe length, and the unexpected external environment change, thereby controlling the superheat. Because it performs, there is an advantage that can exert maximum performance while actively coping with the change in the operating environment.

 In addition, since the present invention updates the fuzzy rule table required for the fuzzy control through the system operation simulator and the genetic algorithm, there is an advantage that the efficient operation can be made by shortening the time from initial system start to stable operation.

On the other hand, the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, which are merely exemplary, and those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible therefrom. . Therefore, the true technical protection scope of the present invention should be defined only by the appended claims.

Claims (10)

In the operation control method of the air conditioner for cooling or heating the inside of the air conditioning space through the room temperature control and superheat control algorithm, Determining whether the driving environment is changed by calculating a coefficient of performance (COP) of the system in operation; Finding and setting a target superheat degree having a maximum coefficient of performance (COP) when the driving environment changes; And controlling room temperature and superheating based on the newly set target degree of superheating. The method of claim 1, further comprising: updating a fuzzy rule table necessary to purge the opening degree of the expansion valve so that the current superheat degree reaches the newly set target superheat degree in the room temperature control and the superheat degree control. Operation control method of the air conditioner, characterized in that it comprises a. The method of claim 2, wherein a genetic algorithm is used to update the fuzzy rule table. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein if the difference between the calculated performance coefficient (COP) and the previously stored performance coefficient of the system deviates from a predetermined threshold value, it is determined whether the operating environment is changed. . The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of finding and setting a target degree of superheat having a maximum coefficient of performance (COP), Calculating the COP by sequentially changing the target superheat within a predetermined range, and comparing the calculated COP with the previous COP to find the target superheat having the maximum COP. Operation control method. In the operation control apparatus of the air conditioner comprising a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, an evaporator and a pipe connecting them, and temperature sensors necessary for room temperature control and superheat control. An environment change determination unit for calculating a performance coefficient (COP) of the system in operation to determine whether the operation environment is changed; An optimum cycle search unit for finding a target superheat degree having a maximum coefficient of performance (COP) and setting it to a value for use in superheat degree control when there is a change in the driving environment; And a room temperature and superheat degree control unit for controlling room temperature control and superheating based on a set target superheat degree, a current superheat degree, an indoor / outdoor temperature, and a set temperature. The fuzzy rule table updating unit according to claim 6, further comprising: a fuzzy rule table updating unit which updates a fuzzy rule table necessary to purge the opening degree of the expansion valve so that the current superheat degree reaches a newly set target superheat degree. Control device of air conditioner. The method according to claim 7, wherein the fuzzy rule table updating unit; A system operation simulator for trial driving the system based on the data stored in the fuzzy rule table; Genetic algorithm execution unit for optimizing the data stored in the fuzzy rule table by analyzing the output data of the simulator. The method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the environmental change determination unit, The operation control apparatus of the air conditioner, characterized in that the operating environment is changed if the difference between the calculated COP and the pre-stored coefficient of performance is outside the predetermined threshold. The method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the optimum cycle search unit, The COP is calculated by sequentially changing the target superheat within a predetermined range, and comparing the calculated COP with the previous COP to find and store the target superheat having the maximum COP as a new value. Operation control device.

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