KR20090044785A - A coolant disclosure perception system and the control method - Google Patents

Abstract

Refrigerant leakage detection system and control method of the present invention is disposed in the room, the present invention is to be discharged to the outside using a peripheral device in accordance with the concentration of the refrigerant gas when the refrigerant gas leakage of the air conditioner in the indoor air, the refrigerant gas Using an air conditioner to perform a cooling / heating function, a ventilator for ventilating the indoor air with external air, and detecting the leakage concentration of the refrigerant gas included in the air when the refrigerant gas leaks into the room, It provides a refrigerant leak detection system including a refrigerant detection device for controlling the air conditioner and the ventilation device based on the leakage concentration, respectively.

Refrigerant, leakage, leakage concentration

Description

A coolant disclosure perception system and the control method

The present invention relates to a refrigerant leak detection system and a control method thereof, and more particularly, to a refrigerant leak detection system capable of discharging to the outside using a peripheral device according to the concentration of refrigerant gas when the refrigerant gas leaks from an air conditioner in indoor air, and It relates to a control method.

In general, an air conditioner is a home appliance for maintaining indoor air in a state most suitable for use and purpose. For example, in summer, the room is cooled to a cool state, in winter, the room is heated to a warm state, and also the humidity of the room, and the air in the room to a clean state of clean. As life convenience products such as air conditioners are gradually expanded and used, consumers are demanding high energy use efficiency, performance improvement and convenience products.

Such an air conditioner includes a separate air conditioner in which an indoor unit and an outdoor unit are separately separated, an integrated air conditioner in which the indoor unit and the outdoor unit are combined into one device, a wall-mounted air conditioner and a frame type air conditioner configured to be mounted on a wall, and a living room. A slim air conditioner configured to stand up, a single air conditioner configured to be used in a narrow space such as a home, and a large air capacity configured to be used in a company or a restaurant. It is divided into an air conditioner and a multi type air conditioner having a capacity capable of sufficiently driving a plurality of indoor units.

In the air conditioner according to the related art, a phenomenon in which refrigerant gas leaks into a room during cooling or heating operation occurs. At this time, the air conditioner determines whether the refrigerant gas leaks through a temperature of a refrigerant pipe through which the refrigerant gas moves. .

Recently, however, studies are being conducted to discharge to the outside using peripheral devices according to the concentration of refrigerant gas leaking from the air conditioner.

An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerant leakage detection system and a control method for discharging to the outside using a peripheral device according to the concentration of the refrigerant gas when the refrigerant gas leakage of the air conditioner in the indoor air.

The refrigerant leak detection system according to the first embodiment of the present invention is disposed indoors, an air conditioner performing a cooling / heating function using a refrigerant gas, a ventilation device for ventilating the indoor air with the outside air, and the indoor And a refrigerant detection device configured to detect a leakage concentration of the refrigerant gas included in the air when the refrigerant gas leaks, and to control the air conditioner and the ventilation device based on the leakage concentration.

In addition, the refrigerant leakage detection system according to a second embodiment of the present invention is disposed in the room, an air conditioner for performing a cooling / heating function using a refrigerant gas, a ventilation device for ventilating the indoor air with the outside air, A refrigerant detecting device for detecting the leakage of the refrigerant gas, and measuring the leakage concentration of the refrigerant gas and a central controller for controlling the air conditioner, the ventilation device and the ventilation device, respectively, based on the leakage concentration. .

The control method of the refrigerant leak detection system according to the first embodiment of the present invention is to measure the leak detection and concentration of the refrigerant gas, and determining whether the leak concentration is higher than the set concentration when the leak detection of the refrigerant gas, the leakage concentration is When the concentration is higher than the set concentration, at least one operation information is generated and transmitted to an air conditioner, a ventilation device, and a refrigerant detection device, respectively, wherein the air conditioner, the ventilation device, and the refrigerant detection device are configured to the at least one operation information. By the operation control step, after the operation control step, re-measuring the leakage concentration of the refrigerant gas after a predetermined time elapses and determining whether the re-measured leakage concentration is lower than the set concentration, the leakage concentration is set When the concentration is lower than the air conditioner, the air conditioner, the ventilator, and the refrigerant detector are normally operated. It comprises the step of.

Refrigerant leak detection system of the present invention and the control method thereof is based on the leakage concentration of the refrigerant gas leaked into the indoor air, by using a peripheral device including a ventilator and an air conditioner to ventilate the outside to the outside air pleasant air in the indoor space In addition, when the refrigerant gas leaks, the leakage concentration and the operation of the associated peripheral devices can be displayed so that the user can determine the current indoor air condition.

A refrigerant leak detection system and a control method thereof according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram showing a multi-type air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the multi-type air conditioner of the present invention includes a plurality of indoor units 11, 12, 13, and 14, and an outdoor unit 21, 22 connected to a plurality of indoor units 11, 12, 13, and 14. do.

Here, the plurality of indoor units (11, 12, 13, 14) and the outdoor unit (21, 22) is connected through a refrigerant pipe (not shown), the outdoor unit (21, 22) is a plurality of indoor units (11, 12, 13, 14) and the outdoor unit 21, 22 is driven by the request of at least any one, the operation of the outdoor unit (21, 22) as the cooling / heating capacity required by the plurality of indoor units (11, 12, 13, 14) increases The number and operation number of the compressors installed in the outdoor units 21 and 22 are increased.

Here, the plurality of indoor units 11, 12, 13, and 14 are an indoor heat exchanger 51 for exchanging refrigerant and indoor air, and an indoor blower 52 disposed near the indoor heat exchanger 51 to circulate indoor air. And an indoor expansion valve 54 for expanding the refrigerant flowing to the indoor heat exchanger 51 during cooling.

The outdoor units 21 and 22 are accumulators 61 which extract only gaseous refrigerants from refrigerants supplied from the plurality of indoor units 11, 12, 13, and 14, and compressors that receive and compress the gaseous refrigerants extracted from the accumulators 61. (62, 63), the four-way valve (65) connected to the compressors (62, 63) to select the compressed refrigerant flow path, and the outdoor heat exchanger for heat-exchanging the refrigerant and outdoor air supplied from the four-way valve (65) 70).

Here, the outdoor unit (21, 22) is provided with an inverter compressor (62) and a constant speed compressor (63), the inverter compressor (62) is a compressor that can vary the compression capacity of the refrigerant, the constant speed compressor (63) of the refrigerant Compressor with constant compression capacity.

On the other hand, the oil separator 64 is installed in the pipe connecting the compressors 62 and 63 and the four-way valve 65, and the oil separator 64 is connected to the suction side of the compressors 62 and 63.

In particular, the oil separator 64 separates the oil from the refrigerant discharged from the compressors 62 and 63, and supplies the separated oil to the compressors 62 and 63, thereby providing an appropriate amount of oil in the compressors 62 and 63. Keep it. Then, the suction side pipes of the oil separator 64 and the compressors 62 and 63 are connected through the capillary tube 66, and the oil is moved through the capillary tube 66.

In addition, the refrigerant pipes guiding the refrigerant discharged from the outdoor heat exchanger 70 to the indoor heat exchanger 51 include outdoor electromagnetic expansion valves lev and 74 for expanding the refrigerant during heating, and an indoor heat exchanger 51 for cooling. Subcooling apparatus 80 for cooling the refrigerant moved to the liquid, and a liquid injection device 90 for lowering the temperature of the compressor (62, 63) is provided.

Here, the outdoor electromagnetic expansion valve 74 is fully open during cooling to allow the refrigerant condensed in the outdoor heat exchanger 70 to pass through without expansion, but when heated, it is opened to a predetermined size and condensed in the indoor heat exchanger 51. Before expanding to the outdoor heat exchanger (70) to the liquid in the spray state.

Here, the indoor electromagnetic expansion valve 54 and the outdoor electromagnetic expansion valve 74 is provided with a step motor (not shown) therein, and operates under control from a controller (not shown).

At this time, during the cooling and heating, the step motors of the indoor electromagnetic expansion valve 54 and the outdoor electromagnetic expansion valve 74 operate under the control of the controller.

2 is a block diagram showing a refrigerant leak detection system according to a first embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 is a control block diagram of a refrigerant leak detection system according to a first embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 2, the refrigerant leak detection system of the present invention includes an air conditioner 100, a ventilation device 110, and a refrigerant detection device 120.

Here, the air conditioner 100 may be a single type including one outdoor unit and an indoor unit, or may be a multi type including at least one outdoor unit and at least one indoor unit, and perform a cooling / heating function using a refrigerant gas. .

The ventilation device 110 has a first communication line L1 configured to enable wired and wireless communication with the air conditioner 100, and exhausts indoor air to the outside.

The refrigerant detecting device 120 is configured with second and third communication lines L2 and L3 to enable wired and wireless communication with the air conditioner 100 and the ventilation device 110. To detect the leakage of refrigerant gas and measure the concentration.

Referring to FIG. 3, the refrigerant leak detection system of the present invention represents a control block of the air conditioner 100, the ventilation device 110, and the refrigerant detection device 120 referred to in FIG. 2.

Here, the air conditioner 100 includes a controller 106 for controlling the operation of the outdoor unit 102 and the indoor unit 104 and a display unit 108 for displaying information on performing cooling / heating functions using refrigerant gas. Include.

The controller 106 is installed in at least one of the outdoor unit 102 and the indoor unit 104. When the controller 106 is installed in both the outdoor unit 102 and the indoor unit 104, the controller 106 is set as a master and a slave by the set priority.

In addition, the controller 106 is capable of wired and wireless communication with the ventilation device 110 and the refrigerant detection device 120 through the first and second communication lines L1 and L2, and from the refrigerant detection device 120. The operation of the outdoor unit 102 and the indoor unit 104 is controlled.

The display unit 108 displays the outdoor unit 102 and the indoor unit 104 from the controller 106 at least one piece of information about the operation such as temperature, humidity, and air volume of the room, that is, information on cooling or heating operation. .

The ventilation device 110 exchanges indoor air with external air or exhausts indoor air to the outside.

Here, the ventilation device 110 is connected to a duct member (not shown) consisting of a supply duct (not shown) and a recovery duct (not shown) of indoor air to control the ventilation control unit 112 to control the intake and discharge of outdoor air. Include.

The refrigerant detecting device 120 measures the leakage concentration of the refrigerant gas included in the indoor air when the refrigerant gas leaks from the air conditioner 100, and the air conditioner 100 and the ventilation device according to the leakage concentration. Control 110 respectively.

That is, the refrigerant detecting device 120 is a sensor unit 122 for measuring the leakage concentration, the communication unit 124 for transmitting the leakage concentration to the air conditioner 100 and the ventilation device 110, the leakage concentration number Or a control unit 128 for displaying a graph and controlling the communication unit 124, the display unit 126, the air conditioner 100, and the ventilation unit 110 based on the display unit 126 indicating the lamp alarm and the leakage concentration. ).

The sensor unit 122 detects the presence or absence of the refrigerant in the indoor air, and includes at least one sensor capable of measuring the leakage concentration of the refrigerant gas, and transmits the measured leakage concentration to the controller 128.

Here, the controller 128 compares the leak concentration with the set concentration, and generates at least one operation information when the leak concentration is higher than the set concentration, and displays the display unit 126, the air conditioner 100, and the ventilation device. Control 110.

That is, the at least one operation information is the first operation information for controlling the on / off operation of the air conditioner 100 and the flow of the refrigerant to be switched according to the leakage concentration, the on / off operation of the ventilation device 110. And re-measure the leak detection and the concentration of the refrigerant gas after a predetermined time with the second operation information and the sensor unit 122 that controls the amount of air to be vented, and control the leakage concentration and the lamp alarm on the display unit 126. 3 Includes driving information.

After the predetermined time elapses, the controller 128 re-measures the leakage concentration of the refrigerant gas included in the indoor air, and when it is lower than the set concentration, the controller 128 operates the air conditioner 100 and the ventilation device 110 to normal operation. To control.

According to the first embodiment of the present invention, by controlling the air conditioner and the ventilation device according to the leakage concentration of the refrigerant gas, respectively, the fresh air of the outside is quickly controlled through the operation control of the air conditioner and the air volume control of the ventilation device. And there is an advantage to replace the room air.

4 is a block diagram illustrating a refrigerant leak detection system according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a control block diagram of a refrigerant leak detection system according to a second embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4, the refrigerant leakage detection system of the present invention includes an air conditioner 200, a ventilation device 210, a refrigerant detection device 220, and a central controller 230.

Here, the air conditioner 200 may be a single type including one outdoor unit and an indoor unit, or may be a multi type including at least one outdoor unit and at least one indoor unit, and perform a cooling / heating function using a refrigerant gas. .

The ventilation device 210 has a first communication line L10 configured to enable wired and wireless communication with the air conditioner 200, and exhausts indoor air to the outside.

The refrigerant detecting device 220 includes second and third communication lines L20 and L30 to enable wired and wireless communication with the air conditioner 200 and the ventilation device 210. The air conditioner 200 is installed in the indoor air. To detect the leakage of refrigerant gas and measure the concentration.

The central controller 230 controls the air conditioner 200, the ventilation device 210, and the refrigerant sensing device 220 based on the leakage concentration.

That is, the central controller 230 transmits operation information to the air conditioner 200, the ventilation device 210, and the refrigerant sensing device 220 through the fourth, fifth, and sixth communication lines L40, L50, and L60. To control.

Referring to FIG. 5, the refrigerant leak detection system of the present invention represents a control block of the air conditioner 200, the ventilation device 210, the refrigerant detection device 220, and the central controller 230 referred to in FIG. 4.

Here, the air conditioner 200 includes a controller 206 for controlling the operation of the outdoor unit 202 and the indoor unit 204 and a display unit 208 for displaying information on performing cooling / heating functions using refrigerant gas. Include.

The controller 206 is installed in at least one of the outdoor unit 202 and the indoor unit 204. When the controller 206 is installed in both the outdoor unit 202 and the indoor unit 204, the controller 206 is set as a master and a slave by the set priority.

In addition, the controller 206 is capable of wired and wireless communication with the ventilation device 110, the refrigerant sensing device 120, and the central controller 230 through the first, second, and third communication lines L10, L20, and L30. The control of the operation of the outdoor unit 202 and the indoor unit 204 is performed by the central controller 230.

The display unit 208 displays, from the controller 206, the outdoor unit 202 and the indoor unit 204 at least one piece of information on the cooling or heating operation, that is, the operation such as the indoor temperature, humidity, and air volume. .

The ventilation device 210 exchanges indoor air with external air or exhausts indoor air to the outside.

Here, the ventilation device 210 is connected to a duct member (not shown) consisting of a supply duct (not shown) and a recovery duct (not shown) of indoor air to control the ventilation control unit 212 to control to suck and discharge outdoor air. Include.

When the refrigerant gas leaks from the air conditioner 200, the refrigerant sensing device 220 measures a leakage concentration of the refrigerant gas included in the indoor air, and transmits the measured leakage concentration to the central controller 230. .

That is, the refrigerant detection device 220 is a sensor unit 222 for measuring the leakage concentration, the air conditioner 200, the ventilation through the second, third, fourth communication lines (L20, L30, L40) the leakage concentration The communication unit 224 for transmitting to at least one of the device 210 and the central controller 230, the communication unit 224 based on the leakage concentration and the display unit 226 to display the leak concentration numerically or graphically, and to indicate a lamp alarm ) And a controller 228 for controlling the display unit 126.

The sensor unit 222 detects the presence or absence of the refrigerant in the indoor air, and includes at least one sensor capable of measuring the leakage concentration of the refrigerant gas, and transmits the measured leakage concentration to the controller 228.

The controller 228 controls the leakage concentration to be transmitted from the communication unit 224 to the central controller 230. Here, the controller 228 controls the display unit 226 to display the information on the leakage concentration.

The central controller 230 communicates with the air conditioner 200, the ventilator 210, and the refrigerant sensing device 220 via the fourth, fifth, and sixth communication lines L40, L50, and L60. Comparing the leakage concentration and the set concentration transmitted from the refrigerant detecting device 220 through the communication unit 232 and the fourth communication line (L40), if the leak concentration is higher than the set concentration, generates at least one operation information And a central display unit 236 for displaying the leakage concentration transmitted to the central control unit 234 and the central control unit 234.

Here, the at least one operation information is the first operation information for controlling the on / off operation of the air conditioner 200 and the flow of the refrigerant is switched according to the leakage concentration, the on / off operation of the ventilation device 210 And second operation information for controlling the amount of air to be ventilated and third operation information for re-measuring leakage detection and concentration of the refrigerant gas after a predetermined time by the refrigerant detecting device 220.

After the predetermined time has elapsed, the central controller 236 re-measures the leakage concentration of the refrigerant gas included in the indoor air, and when the concentration is lower than the set concentration, the air conditioner 200 and the ventilation device 210 operate normally. To control it.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of the refrigerant leakage detecting system illustrated in FIG. 5.

5 and 6, the refrigerant leakage detection system of the present invention measures the leakage detection and concentration of the refrigerant gas, and determines whether the leakage concentration is higher than the set concentration when detecting the leakage of the refrigerant gas (S300).

That is, the central controller 230 receives the leakage concentration of the refrigerant gas in the indoor air from the refrigerant detecting device 220 and compares it with the set concentration.

Here, the central controller 230 maintains the current operating state when the leakage concentration is lower than the set concentration.

When the leakage concentration is higher than the set concentration, at least one operation information is generated and transmitted to an air conditioner, a ventilation device, and a refrigerant detection device, respectively (S302), and operation control is performed according to the at least one operation information (S304).

That is, when the leakage concentration is higher than the set concentration, the central controller 230 generates first, second, and third operation information for each of the air conditioner 200, the ventilation device 210, and the refrigerant detection device 220. To transmit.

At this time, the air conditioner 200 switches the operation on / off or the flow of the refrigerant based on the first operation information, and the ventilation device 210 operates on or vents based on the second operation information. The air volume is changed, and the refrigerant detecting device 220 displays a lamp alarm based on the third driving information.

After the operation control step, after a predetermined time elapses, the leakage concentration of the refrigerant gas is re-measured (S306), and it is determined whether the re-measured leakage concentration is lower than the set concentration (S308), and the leakage concentration is the set concentration. If lower, the air conditioner, the ventilation device, and the refrigerant detection device are normally operated (S310).

That is, after a predetermined time elapses, the refrigerant sensing device 220 re-measures the leakage concentration of the refrigerant gas and transmits it to the central controller 230. When the leakage concentration is lower than the set concentration, the air conditioning is performed. The first, second, and third driving information is applied to operate the apparatus 200, the ventilation device 210, and the refrigerant sensing device 220 normally.

Refrigerant leak detection system and the control method of the present invention is at least one of the refrigerant detection device or the central controller can control the air conditioner and the ventilation device, in the refrigerant detection device according to the leakage concentration of the refrigerant gas, respectively, Since the operation of the ventilation device can be adjusted, there is an advantage that the user can have a comfortable indoor life.

Although a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains can make various changes without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. It will be appreciated that modifications or variations may be made to the branches. Accordingly, modifications to future embodiments of the present invention will not depart from the technology of the present invention.

1 is a block diagram showing a multi-type air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a block diagram illustrating a refrigerant leak detection system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a control block diagram of a refrigerant leak detection system according to a first embodiment.

4 is a configuration diagram illustrating a refrigerant leak detection system according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a control block diagram of a refrigerant leak detection system according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of the refrigerant leakage detecting system illustrated in FIG. 5.

<Explanation of symbols on main parts of the drawings>

100, 200: air conditioner 110, 210: ventilation device

120, 220: leak detection device 230: central controller

Claims (13)

An air conditioner disposed indoors and performing a cooling / heating function using a refrigerant gas; A ventilation device for ventilating the indoor air with external air; And Refrigerant leakage comprising a refrigerant detection device for detecting the leakage concentration of the refrigerant gas contained in the air when the refrigerant gas leaks into the room, and controls the air conditioner and the ventilation device based on the leakage concentration, respectively. Detection system. An air conditioner disposed indoors and performing a cooling / heating function using a refrigerant gas; A ventilation device for ventilating the indoor air with external air; A refrigerant detecting device detecting a leak of the refrigerant gas and measuring a leak concentration of the refrigerant gas; And And a central controller configured to control the air conditioner, the ventilation device, and the refrigerant detection device, respectively, based on the leakage concentration. The air conditioner of claim 2, At least one outdoor unit; And at least one indoor unit connected to each outdoor unit of the at least one outdoor unit. The method of claim 2, wherein the refrigerant detection device, A sensor unit for detecting leakage and concentration of the refrigerant gas; A communication unit configured to transmit the leakage concentration measured by the air conditioner, the ventilator, and the central controller when the refrigerant gas leaks; And And a controller configured to control the leakage concentration to be transmitted to at least one of the air conditioner, the ventilation device, and the central controller through the communication unit. The method of claim 4, wherein the refrigerant detection device, Refrigerant leak detection system further comprising a display unit for displaying the leakage concentration in at least one of a graph and a number, or indicating a lamp alarm. The method of claim 4, wherein The sensor unit includes at least one sensor, The at least one sensor, A refrigerant leak detection system capable of measuring leak detection and concentration of the refrigerant gas. The method of claim 4, wherein the central controller, Refrigerant leakage detection system for generating at least one operation information through the leakage concentration transmitted from the communication unit, and transmits and controls each operation information to the air conditioner, the ventilation device and the refrigerant detection device. The method of claim 7, wherein the central controller, A central communication unit for transmitting the operation information to the air conditioner, the ventilation device, and the refrigerant detection device; And And a central controller configured to generate the at least one operation information based on the leakage concentration and the set concentration. The method of claim 8, wherein the central control unit, And at least one operation information is generated when the leakage concentration is higher than the set concentration. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one driving information, First operation information for controlling operation on / off of the air conditioner and changing a movement path of the refrigerant gas; Second operation information for controlling the operation on / off of the ventilation device and the amount of air to be vented; And And a third operation information for re-measuring leakage detection and concentration of the refrigerant gas after a predetermined time by the refrigerant detection device. Measuring leak detection and concentration of refrigerant gas and determining whether the leak concentration is higher than a predetermined concentration when leak detection of the refrigerant gas is performed; Generating at least one operation information and transmitting the at least one operation information to an air conditioner, a ventilation device, and a refrigerant detection device when the leakage concentration is higher than the set concentration; Controlling operation of the air conditioner, the ventilation device, and the refrigerant detection device based on the at least one operation information; And After the operation control step, re-measuring the leakage concentration of the refrigerant gas after a predetermined time elapses; And Determining whether the re-measured leak concentration is lower than the set concentration, and if the leak concentration is lower than the set concentration, operating the air conditioner, the ventilator, and the refrigerant detecting device in a normal state. Control method of the system. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one driving information, First operation information for controlling operation on / off of the air conditioner and changing a movement path of the refrigerant gas; Second operation information for controlling the operation on / off of the ventilation device and the amount of air to be vented; And And a third operation information for re-measuring leakage detection and concentration of the refrigerant gas after a predetermined time by the refrigerant detection device. The method of claim 11, And if the re-measured leak concentration is higher than the set concentration, returning to the operation control step.

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