KR20100026352A - Multi-type air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A multi-type air conditioner is provided to operate multiple outdoor units without a hitch by switching a four-way valve within the fast time. CONSTITUTION: A multi-type air conditioner comprises multiple indoor units, multiple compressors(62_A,62_B,62_C,63_A,63_B,63_C), multiple outdoor units(A,B,C), and a control part. The outdoor units respectively comprise four-way valves connected to the compressors. The control part controls the outdoor units. When a difference between high pressure and low pressure of a refrigerant of one of the outdoor units is less than a reference pressure difference, the control part controls the outdoor units to an emergency mode.

Description

Multi-type air conditioner

The present invention relates to a multi-type air conditioner, and more particularly, to a multi-type air conditioner that is easy to switch four-way valves of each of a plurality of outdoor units during initial heating operation.

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 small place such as a home, and a capacity that can drive a single indoor unit, and a medium to large size composed of a very large capacity for use 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.

An object of the present invention is to provide a multi-type air conditioner that is easy to switch the four-way valve of each of the plurality of outdoor units during the initial heating operation.

Multi-type air conditioner according to the present invention, a plurality of indoor unit; A plurality of outdoor units each comprising a compressor and a four-way valve connected to the compressor; And a control unit for controlling the plurality of outdoor units, wherein the control unit emergencyly controls the remaining outdoor units when the refrigerant high and low pressure difference of at least one outdoor unit of the plurality of outdoor units is less than a reference differential pressure during initial heating operation.

The multi-type air conditioner according to the present invention compares the refrigerant high and low pressure difference and the reference differential pressure of each of the plurality of outdoor units during the initial heating operation, and when the outdoor unit is less than the reference differential pressure, the four-way valve of the outdoor unit having the reference differential pressure or more is kept on. And by restarting only the outdoor unit less than the reference differential pressure, it is possible to switch the four-way valve in a short time to effect the smooth operation of the plurality of outdoor units.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, a multi-type air conditioner according to the present invention will be described in detail.

1 is a perspective view of a building equipped with a multi-type air conditioner according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the multi-type air conditioner is connected to at least one indoor unit 11, 12, 13, 14, indoor units 11, 12, 13, 14 installed indoors, and includes an outdoor unit 21, 22. do.

Here, the outdoor unit (21, 22) and the indoor unit (11, 12, 13, 14) is connected through the refrigerant pipe (P), so that the refrigerant between the outdoor unit (21, 22) and the indoor unit (11, 12, 13, 14) Depending on the flow, cooling or heating operation is performed.

In this case, the air conditioner may further include a central controller (not shown) connected to the outdoor units 21 and 22 and the indoor units 11, 12, 13, and 14 to monitor and control an operating state.

In addition, a distributor (not shown) may be included between the outdoor units 21 and 22 and the indoor units 11, 12, 13, and 14.

The indoor units 11, 12, 13, 14 and the outdoor units 21, 22 transmit and receive mutual control commands and data according to a predetermined communication method.

Here, at least one indoor unit (11, 12, 13, 14) may be provided in one room, the outdoor unit (21, 22) by the request of at least one of the indoor unit (11, 12, 13, 14) Driven. When a plurality of indoor units are provided in one room, a plurality of indoor units installed in one room may be group controlled or individually controlled through the central controller or outdoor units 21 and 22.

Here, the outdoor units 21 and 22 may have a variable number of air conditioners installed in accordance with the number of air conditioners and the capacity of the compressor according to the number of operation units of the indoor units 11, 12, 13, and 14.

That is, although the outdoor units 21 and 22 are described as two, a plurality of outdoor units may be applied.

2 is a block diagram showing a multi-type air conditioner according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the multi-type air conditioner includes a plurality of indoor units 11, 12, 13, and 14, and outdoor units 21, 22 connected to a plurality of indoor units 11, 12, 13, and 14.

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.

Each of the outdoor units 21 and 22 receives an accumulator 61 which extracts only a gas refrigerant from the refrigerants supplied from the plurality of indoor units 11, 12, 13, and 14, and receives and compresses the gas refrigerant extracted from the accumulator 61. The compressors 62 and 63, the four-way valves 65 connected to the first and second compressors 62 and 63 to select a flow path of the compressed refrigerant, and the refrigerant and the outdoor air supplied from the four-way valves 65. It includes an outdoor heat exchanger 70 for heat exchange.

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) is a refrigerant The compressor has a 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.

3 is a block diagram of the outdoor unit side cooling cycle in the multi-type air conditioner according to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the multi-type air conditioner has been described with three outdoor units A, B, and C. However, the present invention is not limited thereto.

The first and second compressors 62_A, 62_B, 62_C, 63_A, 63_B, 63_C, which supply high-temperature, high-pressure gas refrigerant to the outdoor units A, B, and C of the multi-type air conditioner, may be used for cooling or heating. Four-way valves (65_A, 65_B, 65_C) to switch the flow, the indoor heat exchanger (not shown) acts as a condenser when the refrigerant acts as a condenser, and when the indoor heat exchanger acts as a heater, the refrigerant evaporates The working outdoor heat exchangers 70_A, 70_B, 70_C and expansion valves (not shown) for expanding the refrigerant to low temperature and low pressure are respectively provided.

During the cooling operation of such a multi-type air conditioner, the gas compressed in the first and second compressors 62_A, 62_B, 62_C, 63_A, 63_B, 63_C passes through a component such as an oil separator (not shown) to allow the four-way valve 65_A. After the gas refrigerant flows into the high pressure part of the fuel cell, 65_B and 65_C, the gas refrigerant introduced into the outdoor heat exchanger 70_A, 70_B and 70_C through the connection part is condensed and then passes through the expansion valve and passes through the refrigerant pipe P_1 to the plurality of indoor units ( (Not shown).

The gas evaporated while passing through the indoor heat exchanger passes through the connection part of the four-way valves 65_A, 65_B, and 65_C and the low pressure part through the refrigerant pipe P_2 connected to the outdoor units A, B, and C. 62_A, 62_B, 62_C, 63_A, 63_B, 63_C) are returned to the suction part.

On the contrary, during the heating operation, the gas discharged from the first and second compressors 62_A, 62_B, 62_C, 63_A, 63_B, and 63_C passes through the high pressure part and passes through the connecting portions of the four-way valves 65_A, 65_B, and 65_C, and then the refrigerant pipe. It is supplied to the plurality of indoor units through (P_2). The liquid refrigerant condensed in the indoor heat exchanger flows into the outdoor units (A, B, C) through the refrigerant pipe (P_1), expands through the expansion valve, and then evaporates in the outdoor heat exchangers (70_A, 70_B, 70_C). And flows into the inlets of the first and second compressors 62_A, 62_B, 62_C, 63_A, 63_B, and 63_C through the connection part and the low pressure part of the four-way valves 65_A, 65_B, and 65_C.

In the multi-air conditioning system having such an operation structure, the first and second compressors 62_A, 62_B, 62_C, 63_A, 63_B, and 63_C of two or more outdoor units are controlled to maintain the same flow path switching state during cooling or heating operation. do.

4 is a functional block diagram showing a multi-type air conditioner according to the present invention, Figure 5 is a graph showing the operating state showing the compressor and the four-way valve of FIG.

4 and 5 illustrate that the outdoor units A, B, and C shown in FIG. 3 are controlled.

4 and 5, the multi-type air conditioner will be described as a main outdoor unit A and a sub outdoor unit B and C among the outdoor units A, B and C.

The main outdoor unit (A) includes a first compressor driving unit (110) for driving the first and second compressors (62_A, 63A), a first four-way valve driving unit (120) for operating the four-way valve (65_A) on or off, and a first one. And the first sensor 130 and the first compressor driving unit 110, the first four-way valve driving unit 120, and the sub outdoor unit B installed in the high and low pressure units of the two compressors 62_A and 63A to measure the high and low pressures. And a first main controller 140 for controlling C).

Each of the sub outdoor units B and C turns on the second and third compressor drives 112 and 114 and the four-way valves 65_B and 65_C to drive the first and second compressors 62_B, 62_C, 63_B, and 63_C. Second and third sensors installed in the high and low pressure portions of the second and third four-way valve driving units 122 and 124 and the first and second compressors 62_B, 62_C, 63_B, and 63_C to be turned off to measure high and low pressures. 132, 134 and second and third compressor driving units 112 and 114, and second and third sub control units 140 to control second and third four-way valve driving units 122 and 124.

Here, the first main controller 140 transmits a control command for controlling the operation of the sub outdoor units B and C to the second and third sub controllers 140.

That is, the first main controller 140 receives the high pressure and the low pressure measured by the high pressure unit and the low pressure unit of the first and second compressors 62_A and 63A from the first sensor 130 during the initial heating operation. The refrigerant high and low pressure difference is calculated.

The first main controller 140 compares the first refrigerant high and low pressure difference with the reference differential pressure to determine whether the four-way valve 65_A is normally switched.

In the initial heating operation, the second and third sub-control units 142 and 144 may detect the high pressure and the differential pressure of the first and second compressors 62_B, 62_C, 63_B, and 63_C from the second and third sensors 132 and 134, respectively. The second and third refrigerant high and low pressure differentials are calculated, and the reference differential pressures are compared to determine whether the four-way valves 65_B and 65_C are normally switched, and the determination result is transmitted to the first main controller 140.

That is, the first main controller 140 transmits the control command from the second and third sub controllers 142 and 144 according to the determination result.

The first main control unit 140 and the second and third sub control units 142 and 144 of the present invention may individually control the second main control unit 140 and the second and third sub control units 142 by the first main control unit 140. 144 may be controlled.

In this description, the first main controller 140 controls the second and third sub-control units 142 and 144.

That is, the first main controller 140 controls operations of the main outdoor unit A and the sub outdoor unit B according to a result of comparing the first, second and third refrigerant high and low pressure differences with the reference voltage, respectively.

In other words, the first main controller 140 determines that the four-way valve 64_A fails to switch when the first refrigerant high and low pressure difference is less than the reference voltage, and when the first refrigerant high and low pressure difference is more than the reference voltage, the four-way valve ( 64_A) determines that the switching is successful.

Thereafter, the first main controller 140 receives the determination result between the second and third refrigerant high and low pressure differences and the reference voltage from the second and third sub controllers 142 and 144, respectively.

Accordingly, the first main controller 140 performs operations of the main outdoor unit A and the sub outdoor units B and C according to the comparison determination result between the first, second and third refrigerant high and low pressure differences and the reference voltage. To control.

For example, it will be described with reference to FIG. 5 as follows.

FIG. 5 illustrates that the second refrigerant high and low pressure difference of the sub outdoor unit B is a switching failure of the four-way valve 64_B below the reference differential pressure.

Referring to FIG. 5, the main outdoor unit A and the sub outdoor units B and C execute initial heating operation at the same time.

The first main controller 140 turns on at least one of the first and second compressors 62_A and 63_A and the four-way valve 64_A.

Here, at least one of the first and second compressors 62_A and 63_A may be described as being the first compressor 62_A, and the two compressors may operate together.

In this case, when the compressor 62_A is operated, the first main controller 140 calculates a first refrigerant high and low pressure difference through high and low pressures measured by the first sensor 130 and compares the difference with the reference differential pressure.

The second sub controller 142 controls the operation of the sub outdoor unit B.

Here, the second and third sub-control units 142 and 144 operate in the same manner as the first main control unit 140, calculate the second and third refrigerant high and low pressure differences, and compare the result with the reference differential pressure to compare the result with the first main unit. Transfer to the controller 140.

The first main control unit 140 is the first compressor (62_A, 62_B, 62_C) and the four-way valve (64_A, 64_B, 64_C) according to the comparison result transmitted from the second, third sub-control unit (142, 144) To control.

In FIG. 5, the sub outdoor unit B may know that the second refrigerant high and low pressure difference is less than the reference voltage.

That is, the first main control unit 140 turns off the first compressors 62_A and 62_C of the main outdoor unit A and the sub outdoor unit C in which the four-way valves 64_A and 64_C are normally switched, and the four-way valve 64_A. , 64_C) on.

The first main controller 140 controls the second sub controller 142 to restart the first compressor 62_B and the four-way valve 64_B.

At this time, the second sub-control unit 142 transfers the comparison result to the first main control unit 140 when the re-measured second refrigerant high and low pressure difference rises above the reference voltage.

In addition, the first main controller 140 may include the main outdoor unit A and the sub outdoor unit C when the second refrigerant high and low pressure difference becomes greater than or equal to the reference voltage according to a comparison result transmitted from the second sub control unit 142. Each of the first compressors 62_A, 62_B, 62_C is turned on and off, and the four-way valves 64_A, 64_B, 64_C are kept in the on state.

That is, when the at least one outdoor unit of the plurality of outdoor units fails to switch the four-way valve during the initial heating operation, the multi-type air conditioner turns on the four-way valve of the outdoor unit in which the four-way valve switching is successful, and restarts only the outdoor unit that fails to switch the four-way valve. Four-way valve switching is facilitated, and when the four-way valve is switched and the high and low pressure difference of the refrigerant becomes higher than the reference differential pressure, by turning on the compressor of the outdoor unit in which the four-way valve switching is successful, there is an advantage that the heating operation can be performed quickly.

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. Accordingly, modifications to future embodiments of the present invention will not depart from the technology of the present invention.

1 is a perspective view of a building equipped with a multi-type air conditioner according to the present invention.

2 is a block diagram showing a multi-type air conditioner according to the present invention.

3 is a block diagram of the outdoor unit side cooling cycle in the multi-type air conditioner according to the present invention.

4 is a functional block diagram showing a multi-type air conditioner according to the present invention.

5 is a graph illustrating an operating state of the compressor and the four-way valve of FIG. 4.

Claims (6)

A plurality of indoor units; A plurality of outdoor units each comprising a compressor and a four-way valve connected to the compressor; And a control unit for controlling the plurality of outdoor units, The control unit, During the initial heating operation, if the refrigerant high and low pressure difference of the at least one outdoor unit of the plurality of outdoor units is less than the reference differential pressure, the multi-type air conditioner, characterized in that for controlling the remaining outdoor unit. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of outdoor units, Multi-type air conditioner further comprises a sensor for measuring the high pressure and low pressure in the high and low pressure portion of the compressor. The method of claim 2, wherein the control unit, Multi-type air conditioner, characterized in that for calculating the refrigerant high and low pressure difference through the high pressure and the low pressure. The method of claim 1, wherein the control unit, And determining that the four-way valve is unsuccessful when the refrigerant high and low pressure difference is less than the reference differential pressure, and controlling the outdoor unit that fails to switch the four-way valve. The method of claim 4, wherein the control unit, And after the normal control, converts the remaining outdoor unit from the emergency control to the normal control when the refrigerant high and low pressure difference becomes equal to or greater than the reference differential pressure. The method of claim 5, wherein the emergency control, And maintaining the four-way valve of the remaining outdoor unit in an on operation and turning off the compressor.

Images