KR20100088378A - Air conditioner and defrosting driving method of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: An air conditioner and a defrosting method thereof are provided to easily perform the subsequential defrosting operation of a first outdoor heat exchanger and a second outdoor heat exchanger using a four-way valve. CONSTITUTION: An air conditioner comprises a compressor(10), a first four-way valve(30), an indoor heat exchanger(40), a second four-way valve(70), a first outdoor heat exchanger(80), and a second outdoor heat exchanger(90). The compressor compresses refrigerant. The first four-way valve circulates a part of the compressed refrigerant. The indoor heat exchanger circulates the refrigerant passing through the first four-way valve. The second four-way valve circulates the rest of the compressed refrigerant and the refrigerant passing through the indoor heat exchanger. The first outdoor heat exchanger performs heating operation by circulating the refrigerant passing through the compressor and the second four-way valve. The second outdoor heat exchanger performs defrosting operation by circulating the refrigerant passing through the indoor heat exchanger and the second four-way valve.

Description

Air conditioner and Defrosting driving method of the same}

The present invention relates to an air conditioner, and more particularly, to some of the plurality of outdoor heat exchangers to perform a defrost operation and the other part to perform a heating operation.

In general, an air conditioner is a device for cooling or heating a room using a refrigeration cycle including a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion device, and an indoor heat exchanger. That is, it may be configured as a cooler for cooling the room, a heater for heating the room. And it may be configured as a combined air conditioning and air conditioner for cooling or heating the room.

When the air conditioner is configured as a combined air conditioning and air conditioner, the air conditioner is configured to include a four-way valve for changing the flow path of the refrigerant compressed by the compressor according to the cooling operation and the heating operation. That is, during the cooling operation, the refrigerant compressed by the compressor flows through the four-way valve to the outdoor heat exchanger, and the outdoor heat exchanger acts as a condenser. The refrigerant condensed in the outdoor heat exchanger is expanded in the expansion mechanism and then flows into the indoor heat exchanger. At this time, the indoor heat exchanger acts as an evaporator, and the refrigerant evaporated from the indoor heat exchanger passes through the four-way valve and flows into the compressor.

Meanwhile, during the heating operation, the refrigerant compressed by the compressor flows through the four-way valve to the indoor heat exchanger, and the indoor heat exchanger acts as a condenser. The refrigerant condensed in the indoor heat exchanger is expanded in the expansion mechanism and then flows into the outdoor heat exchanger. At this time, the outdoor heat exchanger acts as an evaporator, and the refrigerant evaporated from the outdoor heat exchanger again flows through the four-way valve to the compressor.

The air conditioner as described above generates water on the surface of the heat exchanger that acts as an evaporator during operation, and water is generated on the surface of the indoor heat exchanger in the case of the cooling operation and on the surface of the outdoor heat exchanger in the case of the heating operation. In this case, when the condensate generated on the surface of the outdoor heat exchanger freezes during the heating operation, the heating performance is reduced by preventing the smooth flow and heat exchange of the outdoor air.

Therefore, if the heating operation is stopped during heating operation and the refrigeration cycle is operated in reverse cycle (ie cooling operation) in order to remove the condensed water, the high temperature and high pressure refrigerant passes through the outdoor heat exchanger, and freezing of the surface of the outdoor heat exchanger. Is melted by the heat of the refrigerant. However, when the defrosting operation is performed in the reverse cycle as described above, there is a problem that the heating of the room must be stopped.

The present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, to provide an air conditioner that can supply heating to the room while performing the defrosting operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a defrosting operation method of an air conditioner capable of efficiently performing a defrosting operation and a heating operation of a plurality of outdoor heat exchangers.

The objects of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned objects, and other objects that are not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

In order to achieve the above object, an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention is a compressor for compressing a refrigerant, a first four-way valve through which a portion of the refrigerant compressed by the compressor flows, the refrigerant passing through the first four-way valve flows An indoor heat exchanger, a second four-way valve through which the rest of the refrigerant compressed by the compressor and the refrigerant passing through the indoor heat exchanger, the refrigerant and the refrigerant passing through the compressor and the second four-way valve flows while the heating operation is performed. And a second outdoor heat exchanger in which a defrosting operation is performed while the refrigerant passing through the first outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger and the second four-way valve flows.

And the defrosting operation method of the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention performs a defrost operation while a portion of the refrigerant compressed in the compressor flows to the first outdoor heat exchanger, the refrigerant passing through the indoor heat exchanger flows to the second outdoor heat exchanger While the first defrosting step of performing a heating operation, the first defrosting completion step of determining whether the defrost of the first outdoor heat exchanger is completed, the part of the refrigerant compressed by the compressor when the defrosting completion of the first outdoor heat exchanger is determined The second four-way valve switching step of switching the second defrost valve so that the flow to the second outdoor heat exchanger, the refrigerant passing through the indoor heat exchanger flows to the first outdoor heat exchanger and a portion of the refrigerant compressed by the compressor A second defrosting operation is performed while flowing to the second outdoor heat exchanger, and the refrigerant passing through the indoor heat exchanger performs a heating operation while flowing to the first outdoor heat exchanger. It comprises the steps:

Specific details of other embodiments are included in the detailed description and the drawings.

The air conditioner and the defrosting operation method of the air conditioner of the present invention having the above configuration has the following effects.

First, it is possible to continuously supply heating operation to indoors while performing defrosting operation of outdoor heat exchanger.

Second, the heating efficiency of the whole system is increased by not stopping the heating operation during regular defrosting operation.

Third, the normal heating operation can be provided immediately without the need for the preheating time of the indoor heat exchanger to perform the heating operation after the defrosting operation is completed.

Fourth, it is possible to easily perform the sequential defrosting operation of the first outdoor heat exchanger and the second outdoor heat exchanger using the four-way valve.

The effects of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description of the claims.

Advantages and features of the present invention and methods for achieving them will be apparent with reference to the embodiments described below in detail with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below, but can be implemented in various different forms, and only the embodiments make the disclosure of the present invention complete, and the general knowledge in the art to which the present invention belongs. It is provided to fully inform the person having the scope of the invention, which is defined only by the scope of the claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

1 is a block diagram showing the flow of the refrigerant during the heating operation of the air conditioner of the first embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a defrosting operation of the first outdoor heat exchanger of the air conditioner of the first embodiment of the present invention Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the flow of the refrigerant, Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the flow of the refrigerant during the defrost operation of the second outdoor heat exchanger of the air conditioner of the first embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 4 is a first diagram of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the flow of the refrigerant | coolant at the time of cooling operation of the air conditioner of an Example. 1 to 4, the overall configuration of the air conditioner of this embodiment will be described.

1, the air conditioner of the present embodiment is a compressor, a first four-way valve, a first pipe, an indoor heat exchanger, a second pipe, an indoor expansion mechanism, an outdoor expansion mechanism, a second four-way valve, a first outdoor heat exchanger and Includes two outdoor heat exchangers.

The compressor 10 compresses the refrigerant. Compressor 10 may be provided in plural, some of which may be made of a variable capacity compressor such as an inverter compressor, and the other may be a constant speed compressor. The gas-liquid separator 12 may be connected to the refrigerant inlet side of the compressor 10, and a check valve may be installed on the refrigerant discharge side.

The first four-way valve 30 converts the flow direction of the refrigerant in accordance with the air conditioning operation of the air conditioner. That is, during the cooling operation, the refrigerant evaporated in the indoor heat exchanger 40 flows to the compressor 10 side, and the refrigerant compressed in the compressor flows to the first outdoor heat exchanger 80 and the second outdoor heat exchanger 90. In the heating operation, the refrigerant evaporated in the first outdoor heat exchanger 80 and the second outdoor heat exchanger 90 flows to the compressor 10, and the refrigerant compressed in the compressor 10 is transferred to the indoor heat exchanger 40. To flow. In the defrosting operation, the refrigerant passing through the first outdoor heat exchanger 80 and the second outdoor heat exchanger 90 flows to the compressor 10, and a part of the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 10 flows to indoor heat exchange. Flows into the unit 40.

The first pipe 20 flows a part of the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 10 during the defrosting operation. The refrigerant flowing through the first pipe 20 flows into the second four-way valve 70. That is, a part of the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 10 flows to the first pipe 20 and the other to the first four-way valve 30. Therefore, one side of the first pipe 20 is connected between the compressor 10 and the four-way valve 30, the other side is in communication with the second four-way valve 70.

On the other hand, the first pipe 20 is provided with a first valve 22 for opening and closing the first pipe 20. The first valve 22 opens the first pipe 20 during the defrosting operation of the air conditioner and closes the first pipe 20 during the heating operation or the cooling operation.

The indoor heat exchanger (40) cools or heats the indoor air by heat exchange between the refrigerant and the indoor air. Specifically, in the cooling operation, the refrigerant is evaporated to cool the indoor air, and in the heating operation, the refrigerant is condensed and the indoor air is heated. And a part of the refrigerant compressed by the compressor during the defrosting operation passes through the four-way valve 30, while heating the indoor air while flowing. Although not shown, in the present embodiment, a plurality of indoor heat exchangers may be provided to cool and heat a plurality of indoor spaces.

On the other hand, the indoor heat exchanger (40) is provided with an indoor expansion mechanism (42). The indoor expansion mechanism 42 is expanded while the refrigerant condensed in the indoor heat exchanger 40 flows during the heating operation and the defrosting operation. In the cooling operation, the refrigerant expanded in the indoor expansion mechanism 42 is evaporated in the indoor heat exchanger 40.

The outdoor expansion mechanism 60 includes an outdoor expansion valve 63 and a check valve 61. The refrigerant condensed in the indoor heat exchanger 40 during the heating operation is expanded while passing through the outdoor expansion valve 63. In the cooling operation, the refrigerant passing through the outdoor heat exchangers 80 and 90 is introduced into the indoor expansion mechanism 42 through the check valve 61.

In addition, during the defrosting operation, the outdoor expansion valve 63 is maintained at a minimum opening or closed to prevent or minimize the inflow of the refrigerant passing through the indoor expansion mechanism 42. Therefore, the refrigerant passing through the indoor expansion mechanism 42 is introduced into the second four-way valve 70 through the second pipe 50 to be described later.

Therefore, one side of the outdoor expansion mechanism 60 is connected to the second pipe 50 and the indoor expansion mechanism 42, and the other side of the outdoor expansion mechanism 60 is the first outdoor heat exchanger 80 and the second outdoor heat exchanger. Connected with 90.

In the second pipe 50, the refrigerant expanded in the indoor expansion mechanism 42 flows during the defrosting operation. The refrigerant flowing through the second pipe 50 flows into the second four-way valve 70. Therefore, one side of the second pipe 50 is connected between the indoor expansion mechanism 42 and the outdoor expansion mechanism 60, the other side is connected to the second four-way valve 70.

On the other hand, the second pipe 50 is provided with a second valve 52 for opening and closing the second pipe (50). The second valve 52 opens the second pipe 50 during the defrosting operation of the air conditioner and closes the second pipe 70 during the heating operation or the cooling operation.

The second four-way valve 70 is in communication with the first outdoor heat exchanger 80, the second outdoor heat exchanger 90, the first pipe 20 and the second pipe 50. Therefore, during the defrosting operation, the refrigerant passing through the first pipe 20 and the second pipe 50 may be selectively flowed to the first outdoor heat exchanger 80 and the second outdoor heat exchanger 90. In the heating operation or the cooling operation, the first pipe 20 and the second pipe 50 are closed, and the refrigerant flows from the first pipe 20 and the second pipe 50 into the second four-way valve 70. It doesn't work.

Check valves 82 and 92 are provided between the second four-way valve 70, the first outdoor heat exchanger 80, and the second outdoor heat exchanger 90. Therefore, the refrigerant flowing out of the first outdoor heat exchanger 80 and the second outdoor heat exchanger 90 during the cooling operation does not flow to the second four-way valve 70. In addition, even during the heating operation, the refrigerant flowing from the outdoor expansion valve 63 to the first outdoor heat exchanger 80 and the second outdoor heat exchanger 90 does not flow to the second four-way valve 70.

The outdoor heat exchangers 80 and 90 include a first outdoor heat exchanger 80 and a second outdoor heat exchanger 90. In the heating operation, the first outdoor heat exchanger 80 and the second outdoor heat exchanger 90 evaporate the refrigerant using outdoor air. In the cooling operation, the first outdoor heat exchanger 80 and the second outdoor heat exchanger 90 condense the refrigerant using outdoor air. In the defrosting operation, the first outdoor heat exchanger 80 sequentially performs the defrosting operation and the heating operation, and the second outdoor heat exchanger 90 sequentially performs the heating operation and the defrosting operation. Therefore, one side of the outdoor heat exchanger 80, 90 is connected to the first four-way valve 30, and the other side of the outdoor heat exchanger 80, 90 is connected to the second four-way valve 70 and the outdoor expansion mechanism 60. do.

On the other hand, the first outdoor heat exchanger 80 and the second outdoor heat exchanger 90 is provided with a blower for blowing outdoor air. Although not shown, the present embodiment may include a first blower for blowing outdoor air to the first outdoor heat exchanger 80 and a second blower for blowing outdoor air to the second outdoor heat exchanger 90. And each blower operates during heating operation and cooling operation. When the outdoor heat exchangers 80 and 90 perform defrosting, the operation is stopped to prevent cold outdoor air from flowing to the outdoor heat exchangers 80 and 90 during the defrosting operation. Therefore, the defrosting efficiency can be improved.

In addition, the first outdoor heat exchanger 80 and the second outdoor heat exchanger 90 may include a first temperature sensor 80a and a second that may measure the temperature of the refrigerant flowing out of each outdoor heat exchanger during the heating operation or the defrosting operation. The temperature sensor 90a is installed at the portion where the coolant flows out. The third temperature sensor 100 measures an outdoor temperature of the refrigerant introduced into the outdoor heat exchanger 80, 90 or the outdoor heat exchanger 80, 90 during the defrosting operation or the heating operation. Is installed.

Referring to the flow of the refrigerant during operation of the air conditioner of this embodiment of the above configuration as follows.

Referring to FIG. 1, all of the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 10 during the heating operation flows to the first four-way valve 30. And after condensing in the indoor heat exchanger 40, it is expanded in the indoor expansion mechanism 42 and the outdoor expansion valve (63). The first outdoor heat exchanger (80) and the second outdoor heat exchanger (90) are evaporated by outdoor air blown by the first blower (not shown) and the second blower (not shown). And again flows into the compressor 10 through the first four-way valve (30).

2, during the defrosting operation of the first outdoor heat exchanger 80, a part of the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 10 flows into the first pipe 20 and the rest of the refrigerant flows into the first four-way valve 30.

The high temperature, high pressure refrigerant flowing into the first pipe passes through the second four-way valve 70 and flows into the first outdoor heat exchanger 80. Therefore, the first outdoor heat exchanger 80 is defrosted by the high temperature and high pressure refrigerant. At this time, the first blower (not shown) for blowing outdoor air to the first outdoor heat exchanger 80 does not operate. The refrigerant flowing out of the first outdoor heat exchanger (80) flows back into the compressor (10) through the first four-way valve (30).

In addition, some of the refrigerant flowing from the compressor 10 to the first four-way valve 30 passes through the indoor heat exchanger 40 and the indoor expansion mechanism 42 and then flows into the second pipe 50. Then, the second outdoor heat exchanger 90 passes through the second four-way valve 70. And it passes through the first four-way valve 30 to the compressor 10 again. As a result, the first outdoor heat exchanger 80 performs the defrosting operation and the second outdoor heat exchanger performs the heating operation.

On the other hand, when the outdoor expansion valve 63 is closed during the defrosting operation, the refrigerant does not flow to the outdoor expansion valve 63, but only a small amount of the refrigerant flows to the outdoor expansion valve 63 even when opened at the minimum opening. . Therefore, the influence of the refrigerant passing through the outdoor expansion valve 63 on the defrosting operation of the first outdoor heat exchanger 80 is insignificant.

3 shows the flow of the refrigerant when the second outdoor heat exchanger 90 performs the defrosting operation and the first outdoor heat exchanger 80 performs the heating operation. The flow of the refrigerant during the defrosting operation of the second outdoor heat exchanger 90 is similar to the flow of the refrigerant during the defrosting operation of the first outdoor heat exchanger 80 described above, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 4, all of the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 10 flows to the first four-way valve 30 during the cooling operation of the air conditioner. Then, after condensing in the first outdoor heat exchanger 80 and the second outdoor heat exchanger 90, it passes through the check valve 61 and is expanded in the indoor expansion mechanism 42. After the evaporation from the indoor heat exchanger 40, the compressor is introduced again into the compressor 10 through the first four-way valve 30.

5 is a flowchart showing a defrosting operation method of the air conditioner of the present embodiment. 5, the defrosting operation method of the air conditioner of this embodiment is demonstrated.

The heating operation step S1 heats the room while flowing all of the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 10 through the four-way valve 30 to the indoor heat exchanger 40.

Defrost operation condition determination step (S2) of the heating operation of the air conditioner determines the defrost operation conditions of the outdoor heat exchanger (80,90).

The defrosting operation condition is determined whether the outdoor heat exchanger (80, 90) is implanted. That is, when moisture is frozen in the outdoor heat exchangers 80 and 90, the heat exchange efficiency of the outdoor heat exchangers 80 and 90 is reduced. Therefore, whether the outdoor heat exchangers 80 and 90 are implanted can be determined by various measured values of the air conditioner cooling cycle.

Specifically, the pressure or temperature of the refrigerant at each point of the entire cooling cycle may be measured, and the measured value may be compared with the measured value in normal operation to determine whether or not it is implanted. In addition, by measuring the outside temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger (80,90) it can be determined whether the implantation. The outside air temperature may measure the outside air temperature after passing through the outdoor heat exchanger, that is, the outside air temperature of the refrigerant inlet unit of the outdoor heat exchanger.

Furthermore, it is possible to determine whether the outdoor heat exchangers 80 and 90 are implanted by comparing the measured values with each other. That is, the PH diagram is obtained by using the measured value of the inlet side of the refrigerant in the outdoor heat exchanger (80,90), the measured value of the outlet side of the refrigerant of the outdoor heat exchanger (80,90), or the measured value of the inlet side of the refrigerant of the compressor (10). It is possible to determine whether the outdoor heat exchangers 80 and 90 are implanted by comparing the slope of the straight line determined by the value of the phase with the normal operation.

As a result, when it is determined that the outdoor heat exchangers 80 and 90 are implanted based on the measured values, it is determined that the defrosting operation condition of the air conditioner is satisfied. In the present embodiment, the outdoor air exchanger 80,90 determines whether or not the outside air temperature measured by the third temperature sensor 100 is compared with the outside air temperature in normal operation. Specifically, the outdoor air temperature passing through the outdoor heat exchanger 80 and 90 may be determined by measuring by the temperature sensor 100.

As a result, when it is determined that the outdoor heat exchangers 80 and 90 are implanted based on the measured values, it is determined that the defrosting operation condition of the air conditioner is satisfied.

When the defrosting operation condition is met, a valve opening step S3 of opening the first valve 22 and the second valve 52 is performed. Therefore, a portion of the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 10 may flow to the first pipe 20. In addition, the refrigerant expanded in the indoor expansion mechanism 42 may flow to the second pipe 50.

And although not shown, the valve opening step (S3) further comprises the step of maintaining the opening degree of the outdoor expansion valve (63) to the minimum opening degree. Therefore, most of the refrigerant expanded in the indoor expansion valve 42 can flow to the second pipe (50). Meanwhile, when the outdoor expansion valve 63 is closed, all of the refrigerant passing through the indoor expansion valve 42 may flow to the second pipe 50.

In the first defrosting step (S4), the first outdoor heat exchanger 80 performs a defrosting operation, and the second outdoor heat exchanger 90 performs a heating operation. Therefore, while defrosting the outdoor heat exchangers (80,90) it is possible to supply heating to the room.

Specifically, a part of the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 10 passes through the first pipe 20 and the second four-way valve 70 and flows into the first outdoor heat exchanger 80. Therefore, the high temperature and high pressure refrigerant flows the first outdoor heat exchanger 80 to defrost the first outdoor heat exchanger 80. The refrigerant expanded in the indoor expansion mechanism 42 flows into the second outdoor heat exchanger 90 through the second pipe 50 and the second four-way valve 70. Therefore, the heating operation is performed while being evaporated in the second outdoor heat exchanger (90).

In the first defrost completion determination step (S5), the first temperature sensor 80a measures the refrigerant temperature of the first outdoor heat exchanger 80 to determine whether the defrost is completed. When the temperature of the refrigerant flowing out does not correspond to the preset temperature determined to be the completion of defrosting, the first defrosting step S4 is continuously performed, and when the temperature of the refrigerant flows out corresponds to the preset temperature, the second four-way valve switching step S6 is performed. Done.

The second four-way valve switching step S6 switches the second four-way valve 70.

When the second four-way valve 70 is switched, the refrigerant flowing through the first pipe 20 flows into the second outdoor heat exchanger 90, and the refrigerant flowing through the second pipe 50 passes through the first outdoor heat exchanger ( A second defrosting step (S7) flowing to 80 is performed.

In the second defrosting step S7, the second outdoor heat exchanger 90 performs a defrosting operation, and the first outdoor heat exchanger 80 performs a heating operation. Therefore, while defrosting the outdoor heat exchangers (80,90) it is possible to supply heating to the room.

Specifically, a part of the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 10 is introduced into the second outdoor heat exchanger 90 through the first pipe 20 and the second four-way valve 70. Therefore, the high temperature and high pressure refrigerant flows the second outdoor heat exchanger 90 to defrost the second outdoor heat exchanger 90. The refrigerant expanded in the indoor expansion mechanism 42 flows into the first outdoor heat exchanger 80 through the second pipe 50 and the second four-way valve 70. Therefore, the heating operation is performed while evaporating in the first outdoor heat exchanger (80).

In the second defrost completion determination step (S8), the second temperature sensor 90a measures the refrigerant temperature of the second outdoor heat exchanger 90 to determine whether the defrost is completed. When the temperature of the refrigerant flowing out does not correspond to the preset temperature determined to be the defrosting completion, the second defrosting step S7 is continuously performed, and when the temperature of the refrigerant flows out corresponds to the preset temperature, the valve closing step S9 is performed.

In the valve closing step S9, the first valve 22 and the second valve 52 are closed. Therefore, all of the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 10 flows to the indoor heat exchanger 40. And all of the refrigerant expanded in the indoor expansion valve 42 flows to the outdoor expansion valve (63). Although not shown, the valve closing step S9 further includes maintaining the opening degree of the outdoor expansion valve 63 at a normal opening degree. Therefore, the refrigerant passing through the indoor expansion valve 42 may be expanded while passing through the outdoor expansion valve 63.

That is, after the valve closing step S9 is performed, the air conditioner performs heating operation again (S10). Therefore, all of the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 10 flows into the indoor heat exchanger 40 through the first four-way valve 30. The refrigerant passing through the outdoor expansion valve 63 flows into the first outdoor heat exchanger 80 and the second outdoor heat exchanger 90 to be evaporated.

6 is a control block diagram for defrosting operation of the air conditioner of this embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 6, the air conditioner of the present embodiment further includes a controller 200. In addition, the controller 200 normalizes temperature values measured by the first temperature sensor 80a, the second temperature sensor 90a, and the third temperature sensor 100 according to the defrosting operation method of the air conditioner of the present embodiment. The preset temperature value is also compared during operation.

When the controller 200 determines that the outdoor heat exchangers 80 and 90 have been implanted by comparing the values, the controller 200 according to the defrosting operation method of the air conditioner of the present embodiment described above, the first valve 22 and the second valve. Control of opening and closing the valve 52, the outdoor expansion valve 63 and the second four-way valve 70 is performed.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, it is determined whether the outdoor heat exchanger (80,90) is implanted by measuring the temperature of the refrigerant or the outdoor air temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger (80,90), the other configuration constituting the cooling cycle as described above They may be measured by measuring the temperature or the pressure of the refrigerant flowing through them.

7 is a configuration diagram showing the overall configuration of an air conditioner according to a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, one side of the first pipe 20 ′ is connected between the first four-way valve 30 and the outdoor heat exchanger 40. The other side of the first pipe 20 'is connected to the second four-way valve 70. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Therefore, in this embodiment, all of the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 10 flows into the first four-way valve 30. In the defrosting operation, a part of the refrigerant passing through the first four-way valve 30 flows to the first pipe 20 ', and the rest of the refrigerant flows to the indoor heat exchanger 40. Other operations of the present embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be embodied in other specific forms without changing the technical spirit or essential features of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that the above-described embodiments are illustrative in all aspects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the scope of the following claims rather than the detailed description, and all changes or modifications derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and the equivalent concept are included in the scope of the present invention. Should be interpreted.

1 is a block diagram showing the flow of a refrigerant during the heating operation of the air conditioner of the first embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the flow of refrigerant during defrosting operation of the first outdoor heat exchanger of the air conditioner of the first embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a block diagram showing the flow of refrigerant during defrosting operation of the second outdoor heat exchanger of the air conditioner of the first embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a block diagram showing the flow of the refrigerant during the cooling operation of the air conditioner of the first embodiment of the present invention:

5 is a flowchart showing a defrosting operation method of the air conditioner of the first embodiment of the present invention;

6 is a control block diagram of the air conditioner of the first embodiment of the present invention;

7 is a configuration diagram showing the configuration of an air conditioner of a second embodiment of the present invention.

<Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

10: compressor 20: first piping

22: first valve 30: first four-way valve

40: indoor heat exchanger 42: indoor expansion mechanism

50: second pipe 52: second valve

60: outdoor expansion mechanism 61: check valve

63: outdoor expansion valve 70: second four-way valve

80: first outdoor heat exchanger 80a: first temperature sensor

90: second outdoor heat exchanger 90a: second temperature sensor

100: third temperature sensor 200: control unit

Claims (10)

A compressor for compressing the refrigerant; A first four-way valve through which a portion of the refrigerant compressed by the compressor flows; An indoor heat exchanger through which the refrigerant passing through the first four-way valve flows; A second four-way valve through which the rest of the refrigerant compressed by the compressor and the refrigerant passing through the indoor heat exchanger flow; A first outdoor heat exchanger in which a heating operation is performed while the refrigerant passing through the compressor and the second four-way valve flows; And A second outdoor heat exchanger in which a defrosting operation is performed while the refrigerant passing through the indoor heat exchanger and the second four-way valve flows; Air conditioner comprising a. The method according to claim 1, A first pipe connected to flow a part of the refrigerant compressed by the compressor to the second four-way valve; And An air conditioner comprising a first valve for opening and closing the first pipe. The method according to claim 1, A second pipe connected to the refrigerant passing through the indoor heat exchanger to the second four-way valve; And An air conditioner comprising a second valve for opening and closing the second pipe. The method according to claim 3, An indoor expansion mechanism and an outdoor expansion mechanism for expanding the refrigerant passing through the indoor heat exchanger, The second pipe is an air conditioner connected between the indoor expansion mechanism and the outdoor expansion mechanism. A compressor for compressing the refrigerant; A first four-way valve through which the refrigerant compressed by the compressor flows; An indoor heat exchanger in which some of the refrigerant passing through the first four-way valve flows; A second four-way valve through which the rest of the refrigerant having passed through the first four-way valve and the refrigerant passing through the indoor heat exchanger flow; A first outdoor heat exchanger in which a defrosting operation is performed while the refrigerant passing through the first four-way valve and the second four-way valve flows; And A second outdoor heat exchanger in which a heating operation is performed while the refrigerant passing through the indoor heat exchanger and the second four-way valve flows; Air conditioner comprising a. A first defrosting step of performing a defrosting operation while a portion of the refrigerant compressed by the compressor flows to the first outdoor heat exchanger, and performing a heating operation while the refrigerant passing through the indoor heat exchanger flows to the second outdoor heat exchanger; A first defrosting determination step of determining whether the first outdoor heat exchanger has been defrosted; When the first outdoor heat exchanger defrost is determined, a portion of the refrigerant compressed by the compressor flows to the second outdoor heat exchanger, and the second defrost valve is switched so that the refrigerant passing through the indoor heat exchanger flows to the first outdoor heat exchanger. A second four-way valve switching step; And A second defrosting step of performing a defrosting operation while a portion of the refrigerant compressed in the compressor flows to a second outdoor heat exchanger, and performing a heating operation while the refrigerant passing through the indoor heat exchanger flows to the first outdoor heat exchanger; Defrosting operation method of the air conditioner comprising a. The method according to claim 6, Determining defrosting operation conditions of the first outdoor heat exchanger and the second outdoor heat exchanger during heating operation; And When the defrosting operation condition is satisfied, the first valve is opened to allow a portion of the refrigerant compressed by the compressor to flow to the first outdoor heat exchanger, and the second valve is opened so that the refrigerant passing through the indoor heat exchanger flows to the second outdoor heat exchanger. Opening valve opening step; Defrosting operation method of the air conditioner further comprising. The method according to claim 7, The valve opening step, The defrosting operation method of the air conditioner further comprising the step of maintaining the minimum opening degree of the outdoor expansion valve of the outdoor expansion mechanism. The method according to claim 6, A second defrosting determination step of determining whether the second outdoor heat exchanger has been defrosted; And A valve closing step of closing the first valve to allow the refrigerant compressed by the compressor to flow to the indoor heat exchanger when the defrost of the second outdoor heat exchanger is completed, and closing the second valve so that the refrigerant passing through the indoor heat exchanger passes through the outdoor expansion valve. ; Defrosting operation method of the air conditioner further comprising. The method according to claim 9, The valve closing step, The defrosting operation method of the air conditioner further comprises the step of maintaining the normal opening degree of the outdoor expansion valve of the outdoor expansion mechanism.

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