KR20190089434A - Air-conditioner and Method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an air conditioner and a control method thereof, which can set target pipe temperature by responding to dew point temperature calculated from inner temperature and humidity, and perform pressure follow-up control for pipe temperature of an inner refrigerant pipe to be kept below the target pipe temperature. Therefore, the number of turning on and off a compressor can be minimized and continuously operated, thereby minimizing a temperature change of a heat exchanger. Moreover, the air conditioner is operated in accordance with preset desirable temperature and, at the same time, is controlled to operate based on pressure to prevent the pipe temperature from being increased equal to or more than predetermined temperature, thereby suppressing diffusion of an odor.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioner,

The present invention relates to an air conditioner and a control method thereof.

The air conditioner is installed to provide a comfortable indoor environment for humans by discharging cold air to the room to adjust the room temperature and purify the room air to create a pleasant indoor environment. Generally, the air conditioner includes an indoor unit which is constituted by a heat exchanger and installed in a room, and an outdoor unit which is constituted by a compressor, a heat exchanger and the like and supplies the refrigerant to the indoor unit.

The outdoor unit and the indoor unit are connected to each other through a refrigerant pipe, and the refrigerant compressed from the compressor of the outdoor unit is supplied to the heat exchanger of the indoor unit through the refrigerant pipe, and the indoor heat exchanger The refrigerant heat-exchanged in the heat exchanger of the indoor unit flows into the compressor of the outdoor unit through the refrigerant pipe again. Accordingly, the indoor unit discharges the cold air into the room through the heat exchange using the refrigerant.

In such an air conditioner, condensed water is generated inside the heat exchanger or the indoor unit during the heat exchange process of the refrigerant. Such condensate is collected in a condensate collector or discharged to the outside.

However, some of the condensate will remain inside, which can cause mold if not cleaned for a long time. When mold is generated in the indoor unit, when the temperature of the heat exchanger is high, a dry environment is created, and an odor is generated together with the air discharged during the operation of the indoor unit. In particular, when the on-off of the compressor frequently occurs, there is a problem that the odor molecules are further diffused while the temperature of the heat exchanger continuously changes.

Accordingly, Korean Patent No. 10-2014-0020540 provides a vehicle air conditioner deodorization system and a deodorization method for removing residual moisture remaining in an evaporator after operation of an air conditioner of a vehicle to prevent mold odor due to residual moisture. When the deodorizing button is depressed, a strong wind is supplied to the evaporator to remove moisture.

However, in order to dry the evaporator through wind, it takes a long time to supply strong winds for a certain period of time, and there is a limit in drying the entire evaporator. In addition, when the operation is stopped and the operation is stopped for a long time, the operation is effective. However, when the operation is temporarily stopped for a predetermined time, the operation is restarted before the evaporator is dried. In addition, there is a problem that it can not cope with molds that have already occurred.

An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner and a control method thereof for eliminating the odor due to the residual moisture of the heat exchanger of an indoor unit in an air conditioner and a control method thereof.

The air conditioner according to the present invention includes a plurality of operating units to which a desired temperature is input and includes a temperature sensor for sensing a room temperature and a pipe temperature, a humidity sensor, a target pipe for controlling the temperature of the refrigerant pipe from the room temperature and the humidity, And controls the pressure follow-up control so that the pipe temperature of the indoor refrigerant pipe is maintained at the target pipe temperature or lower.

The control unit controls the pressure of the refrigerant pipe by controlling the operation frequency of the compressor so that the data for the pressure follow-up control is transmitted to the outdoor unit and the outdoor unit changes the pipe temperature of the indoor unit.

Wherein the control unit sets a target temperature of the target pipe temperature to a value lower than the dew point temperature by a predetermined value so that the pipe temperature does not increase beyond the dew point temperature corresponding to the dew point temperature calculated from the room temperature and the humidity .

The present invention relates to an air conditioner including an outdoor unit and an indoor unit, wherein the indoor unit includes a temperature sensor for sensing a room temperature, a pipe temperature of the indoor refrigerant pipe, a humidity sensor, And a controller for setting a target piping temperature for controlling the piping temperature and performing pressure follow-up control such that the piping temperature is maintained at the target piping temperature or lower, wherein the outdoor unit is adapted to respond to the pressure- And controls the operation frequency of the compressor in accordance with the pressure of the outdoor refrigerant pipe to be sensed.

The present invention also relates to a method for controlling a room temperature, comprising the steps of inputting a desired temperature and starting operation, detecting the room temperature and humidity, setting the target pipe temperature corresponding to the dew point temperature calculated from the room temperature and the humidity, Performing pressure follow-up control such that the pipe temperature of the pipe is maintained at the target pipe temperature or lower, and transmitting the data for the pressure follow-up control to the outdoor unit.

And releasing or maintaining the mode for the pressure follow-up control corresponding to the piping temperature when the set period is reached.

Further comprising the step of increasing the air volume so that the room temperature reaches the desired temperature during the pressure follow-up control.

Maintaining the operation and decreasing the air flow rate when the room temperature reaches the desired temperature or is lower than the desired temperature during the pressure follow-up control.

The air conditioner and the control method according to the present invention configured as described above can minimize the number of on / off times of the compressor and continuously operate the compressor.

The present invention can prevent the pipe temperature from rising above the set temperature by controlling the operation based on the pressure while operating according to the set desired temperature.

In addition, the present invention minimizes the temperature change of the heat exchanger and suppresses the spread of the odor due to the fungus generated in the past.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG.
2 is a block diagram briefly showing a configuration of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a view showing an air line diagram of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a flowchart showing a control method according to temperature and pressure of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The advantages and features of the present invention and the manner of achieving them will become apparent with reference to the embodiments described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. To fully disclose the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art, and the invention is only defined by the scope of the claims. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the specification. It should also be noted that the configuration of the control unit and other components included in the present invention may be implemented by one or more processors and implemented by hardware devices.

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

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioner according to the present invention includes an indoor unit 20 and an outdoor unit 10 connected to the indoor unit.

The air conditioner may further include at least one of a ventilator, an air purifier, a humidifying device, and a heater in addition to the outdoor unit and the indoor unit, and may operate in conjunction with the operation of the indoor unit and the outdoor unit.

Hereinafter, a plurality of indoor units 20 and outdoor units 10 may be provided, and the number, type, and connection between the units are not limited to the drawings. The indoor unit 20 may be of various types such as a stand type, a ceiling type, and a wall type, and any of them can be used.

The outdoor unit (10) and the indoor unit (20) are connected to each other via a communication line to transmit / receive data to / from each other. The outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 may be connected to a controller (not shown) either in a wired or wireless manner, and may operate under the control of the controller.

The indoor unit (20) receives the refrigerant from the outdoor unit (10) and discharges cold air to the room. The indoor unit 20 includes an indoor heat exchanger 108, an indoor fan 109, an expansion valve (not shown) to which refrigerant is supplied, and a plurality of sensors (not shown). The indoor unit fan 109 includes a fan 109a for supplying the air sucked into the heat exchanger and a motor 109b for rotating the fan. The indoor heat exchanger (108) discharges cold air through heat exchange between the refrigerant supplied from the outdoor unit and the air supplied by the indoor fan (109). The indoor heat exchanger 108 operates as an evaporator during cooling operation and as a condenser during heating operation.

The outdoor unit 10 operates the compressor 102 and the outdoor heat exchanger 104 and compresses or heat-exchanges the refrigerant according to the setting to supply the refrigerant to the indoor unit 20. The outdoor unit 10 can be driven by a demand of a remote controller (not shown) or the indoor unit 21. [ At this time, as the cooling / heating capacity is changed corresponding to the indoor unit 20 to be driven, the number of operation of the outdoor unit and the number of operation of the compressor installed in the outdoor unit can be varied.

At this time, the outdoor unit 10 is connected to the indoor unit 20 through a refrigerant pipe, and supplies compressed refrigerant.

The outdoor unit 10 includes a compressor 102 for compressing a refrigerant, an outdoor heat exchanger 104 for exchanging heat between the refrigerant and outdoor air, an outdoor fan 105 for supplying outdoor air to the outdoor heat exchanger 104, An accumulator 103 for extracting the gas refrigerant from the refrigerant and supplying it to the compressor, and a four-way valve 107 for selecting the flow path of the refrigerant according to the operation mode of cooling or heating. In addition, a number of sensors, valves, oil recovery devices, and the like are further included, but a description thereof will be omitted below. The outdoor fan 105 includes a fan 105a and a motor 105b so that the fan is rotated by the motor operation. Whereby the outdoor air is supplied to the outdoor heat exchanger. The compressor 102 is connected to the compressor motor 102b and operates to compress the refrigerant at a low temperature and a low pressure to discharge the refrigerant at a high temperature and a high pressure.

2 is a block diagram briefly showing a configuration of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2, the indoor unit 20 of the air conditioner includes a sensor unit 140, a power source unit 130, a driving unit 160, an operation unit 150, a display unit 170, a memory 120, A communication unit 190, an audio unit 180, and a control unit 110 for controlling overall operations.

Each unit including the control unit 110 may be composed of one or a plurality of microprocessors. In addition, each unit of the sensor unit, the power unit, the driving unit, the memory, and the communication unit may include at least one microprocessor as well as the control unit.

The indoor unit 20 may further include a vision module (not shown) for capturing an image, a cleaning module (not shown) for cleaning the filter, and a humidification module (not shown) for providing humidified air.

The operation unit 150 includes at least one of a button, a switch, and a touch input unit, and inputs a user command or predetermined data to the indoor unit.

The display unit 170 includes display means such as an LCD, an LED, and an OLED, and may include a touch screen on which a touch pad is layered. The display unit 170 displays operation settings or operation information of the indoor unit by a combination of at least one of characters, images, special characters, symbols, emoticons, and icons. The display unit may further include an illumination unit that outputs an operation state depending on whether the lighting unit is turned on, a lighting color, or whether the lighting unit is blinking.

The audio unit 180 outputs voice guidance, a predetermined warning sound, and an effect sound. The audio unit 291 includes a buzzer or a speaker. The audio unit 180 receives and recognizes the voice of the user, and inputs a command to the controller 110. The audio unit 180 includes at least one microphone.

The memory 120 stores control data for controlling the operation of the indoor unit, data on the operation mode, data sensed by the sensor unit 140, data transmitted and received through the communication unit 190, data input by the operation unit 150, , Output data, and data for determining whether the operation is abnormal or not. The memory 120 stores data that can be read by a micro processor. The memory 120 may be a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state disk (SSD), a silicon disk drive (SDD) , Magnetic tape, floppy disk, optical data storage device.

The communication unit 190 includes at least one communication module and transmits and receives data through a wired or wireless communication system.

The communication unit 190 transmits and receives data to and from the outdoor unit 10 and receives data from a remote controller (not shown). The communication unit 190 may be connected to a predetermined network to communicate with an external server (not shown), a controller (not shown), or a terminal (not shown).

The communication unit 190 is capable of transmitting and receiving data in a different communication method in data communication in the air conditioner and in communication with the server, and includes a plurality of communication modules. The communication unit 190 may include a gateway for converting and processing data of different communication methods. For example, the communication unit 190 can exchange data with other indoor units 20 or outdoor units 10 via the RS 232, RS 422, or RS485 communication protocol, and can also exchange data with other indoor units 20 or outdoor units 10 via the Zigbee, Wi- , Exchange data between devices, and communicate with an external server or terminal through a communication method such as Wi-Fi, the Internet, and WiBro.

The sensor unit 140 includes a plurality of sensors and inputs measured data to the controller 110. The sensor unit 140 includes a temperature sensor 141, a pressure sensor 143, and a humidity sensor 142. The sensor unit may further include a current sensor for sensing a current in a circuit, a voltage sensor for sensing a voltage, a proximity sensor for sensing a person approaching within a predetermined distance or an object, and a description thereof will be omitted.

The temperature sensor 141 is installed in the suction port to measure the room temperature, measure the heat exchange temperature inside the indoor unit body, measure the temperature of the air that is installed at one side of the discharge port, The temperature of the refrigerant pipe can be measured.

The humidity sensor 142 measures the humidity of the room air. The humidity sensor senses the relative humidity.

The relative humidity is the ratio of the amount of water vapor contained in the atmosphere and the maximum amount of water vapor (saturated water vapor) that the atmosphere can contain at that time as a percentage. Since the maximum amount of water vapor varies depending on the temperature, the relative humidity also varies depending on the temperature.

The pressure sensor senses the pressure of the refrigerant pipe. The pressure sensor senses the pressure of the refrigerant pipe connected to the indoor heat exchanger.

Each sensor of the sensor unit inputs a sensing value to the control unit 110 or the driving unit 160 as a sensing signal.

The power supply unit 130 supplies operating power to the indoor unit main body. The power supply unit 130 rectifies and smoothes the connected commercial power supply, and generates and supplies a voltage required by each unit. The power supply unit 130 prevents an inrush current and generates a constant voltage. In some cases, the power supply unit 130 may be connected to the outdoor unit 10 so as to receive or supply operation power of a predetermined size.

The driving unit 160 includes a fan driving unit and a valve control unit.

The fan driving unit 162 controls the driving of the motor provided in the fan 172 in response to the control command of the control unit 110 so that the fan 172 rotates. The fan driving unit 162 supplies operating power to the fan 172 and controls the fan 172 to rotate at a predetermined rotational speed of the fan 172.

The fan 172 is provided in the heat exchanger. The fan 172 sucks the room air and supplies the sucked room air to the heat exchanger. The fan supplies indoor air so that the refrigerant in the heat exchanger is heat-exchanged with the air, and discharges the heat-exchanged air to the outside. At this time, an inverter fan capable of adjusting the rotation speed of the fan 172 may be used. The fan 172 is composed of a motor and a fan, and the fan rotates as the motor operates under the control of the fan driving unit 162.

The valve control unit 163 can control opening and closing of the plurality of valves 173 provided in the outdoor unit 10 or adjust the opening ratio and change the flow path of the refrigerant in response to the control command of the control unit 110. [ At this time, the valve control unit 163 may be provided in each of the plurality of valves 173. The valve includes a four-way valve for changing the flow path of the refrigerant, and an expansion valve.

The control unit 110 sets the operation according to the data input through the operation unit 150, the data received from the remote controller or the controller, and outputs the operation state through the display unit 170. The control unit 110 causes an operation state, a notification, or an error message to be output through the display unit or the audio unit. The control unit 110 controls input / output of data and manages data of the memory 120.

The control unit 110 transmits data to the outdoor unit 10 according to the operation setting and applies a control command for driving the fan 172 and the valve to each driving unit so that the outdoor unit operates according to the setting.

The control unit 110 communicates with the outdoor unit 10 at a predetermined time interval through the communication unit 190 to transmit the data of the indoor unit to the outdoor unit and to receive data and to transmit data at the request of another device such as a controller .

The control unit 110 determines the state of the refrigerant, the fan 172, and the indoor according to the data input from the plurality of sensors of the sensor unit 140, generates a control command corresponding thereto, and applies the control command to each of the driving units.

The control unit 110 may transmit data to the outdoor unit in response to the data sensed through the sensor unit 140 so that the control method for the compressor is changed. Also, the controller 110 may transmit the data to the outdoor unit so that the operation frequency of the compressor is variable.

The control unit 110 may cause the indoor unit and the outdoor unit to operate according to the desired temperature to be set, and may also allow the indoor unit and the outdoor unit to operate in response to the pressure of the pipe.

The control unit 110 transmits data for controlling the compressor to the outdoor unit so that the piping temperature is kept below the set temperature and also applies a control command for the rotation speed of the fan 172 to the fan driving unit.

The control unit 110 sets a limit value for the pressure of the pipe in accordance with the pipe temperature so that the inside of the indoor unit is operated in the latent heat state. Accordingly, the indoor unit can suppress the diffusion of the odor generated from the heat exchanger.

The control unit 110 detects the room temperature from the indoor air to be sucked by the temperature sensor 141 of the sensor unit 140 and the relative humidity is sensed by the humidity sensor 142 to calculate the dew point temperature based on the relative humidity .

In addition, the controller 110 senses the temperature of the refrigerant pipe of the indoor unit through the temperature sensor, and controls the temperature of the refrigerant pipe to be maintained below the dew point temperature.

The control unit 110 transmits data for controlling the compressor to the outdoor unit so that the temperature of the refrigerant pipe is below the dew point temperature. The control unit 110 controls the temperature of the refrigerant pipe based on the temperature lower than the calculated dew point temperature so that the temperature of the refrigerant pipe can be maintained below the dew point temperature. At this time, the temperature lower than the dew point temperature is the target pipe temperature.

The control unit 110 may calculate the pressure of the refrigerant pipe for determining the temperature of the refrigerant pipe and may set the maximum value of the settable pressure value to the pressure limit value so as to control the temperature of the refrigerant pipe to be the target pipe temperature or less. The control unit 110 causes the outdoor unit to operate according to the calculated pressure limit value.

Further, when the indoor temperature does not reach the desired temperature during the cooling, that is, when the indoor temperature is higher than the desired temperature, the control unit 110 increases the air volume of the fan. On the other hand, when the room temperature reaches the desired temperature or is lower than the desired temperature, the control unit 110 reduces the air volume while not stopping the operation.

The control unit 110 may operate the air conditioner based on the temperature and may convert the mode to operate the air conditioner based on the pressure in consideration of the desired temperature and the temperature of the refrigerant pipe. Accordingly, the control unit 110 keeps the operation even if the room temperature reaches the desired temperature.

The control unit 110 transmits data for operation mode change and compressor control to the outdoor unit in order to maintain such operation.

On the other hand, the outdoor unit 10 includes a compressor 102 and a compressor driving unit (not shown).

An outdoor unit control unit (not shown) controls the operation of the compressor by applying a control command corresponding to data received from the indoor unit to the compressor driving unit.

The outdoor unit 10 can control the operation frequency of the compressor and make the pressure of the refrigerant pipe to operate below the set pressure limit value at the request of the indoor unit. The outdoor unit allows the temperature of the refrigerant pipe to be controlled as the compressor operates based on the pressure of the refrigerant pipe.

Accordingly, a certain amount of moisture is retained in the indoor heat exchanger of the indoor unit. In the indoor unit, the latent heat state in which a predetermined amount of moisture is maintained is maintained, so that the activity of the odor molecules generated is suppressed, and the diffusion of the odor can be suppressed.

3 is a view showing an air line diagram of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the indoor unit 20 sucks indoor air, senses the room temperature through the temperature sensor 141, and detects the relative humidity through the humidity sensor.

The control unit 110 calculates the dew point temperature from the sensed room temperature and relative humidity.

The control unit 110 controls the temperature of the refrigerant pipe in the indoor unit to be kept below the dew point temperature based on the calculated dew point temperature.

In particular, the controller 110 controls the operation based on the temperature lower than the dew point temperature so that the temperature of the refrigerant pipe is kept below the dew point temperature.

The control unit 110 converts the temperature value into a pressure value and sets the maximum value of the convertible range to the pressure limit value so as to control the temperature of the indoor refrigerant pipe to a reference temperature lower than the dew point temperature. In this case, in order to convert the temperature value into the pressure value, it is possible to calculate by multiplying the square of the temperature, the square of the temperature, and the temperature by the respective constants.

For example, the control unit 110 may set the target pipe temperature at a temperature 1 degree lower than the dew point temperature, and calculate the pressure limit value based on the target pipe temperature to control the operation.

The dew point temperature is the temperature at which water vapor reaches saturation when the air temperature is lowered without changing atmospheric pressure and water vapor content, including water vapor, and the temperature at which water starts to condense.

The control unit 110 is an outdoor unit that transmits data including a control command so that the pressure of the refrigerant pipe does not exceed the pressure limit value, and the outdoor unit controls the operation of the compressor accordingly. The outdoor unit can operate the compressor at a frequency lower than the set operating frequency.

In addition, since the pressure limit value also varies as the dew point temperature varies according to changes in the room temperature and the humidity, the operating frequency of the compressor is also variably controlled.

As shown in Fig. 3, the dew point temperature varies depending on temperature and humidity. At this time, the first graph 51 is a saturation line according to the dew point temperature, and the second graph 52 is a target piping temperature minus the set temperature at the dew point temperature.

In addition, the first area 53 and the second area 54 indicate the range in which the target pressure is formed. The second area 53 is a pressure range of the refrigerant pipe formed when the target pipe temperature is set and controlled with respect to the indoor pipe temperature. When the first area 53 is controlled without setting the target pipe temperature As shown in Fig.

The air conditioner can control the pressure of the refrigerant piping so that the temperature of the refrigerant piping is kept below the dew point temperature, especially below the target piping temperature.

 When the air humidity level of the indoor unit is kept constant, the absolute humidity can be calculated based on the room temperature and the relative humidity.

Further, it is possible to calculate the pressure range that satisfies the target pipe temperature with respect to the absolute humidity. By controlling the pressure of the refrigerant pipe within the pressure range, the temperature of the refrigerant pipe can be maintained within the target pipe temperature range.

For example, the case where the absolute humidity is the first humidity (hm1) and the target pipe temperature is set to the dew point temperature will be described as follows.

It is preferable that the pipe temperature of the indoor refrigerant pipe is set to be equal to or lower than the third temperature tm3 with respect to the arbitrary first humidity hm1 so as to be maintained at the target pipe temperature or lower.

Although the fourth temperature tm4 is possible, it is preferable to control the first to third temperatures tm3 for stable control. The fourth temperature is a temperature higher than the first temperature (tm1 <tm4).

Further, the indoor unit can convert the target pipe temperature into a pressure value according to a predetermined conversion formula. When the maximum pressure value among the settable pressure values is a pressure limit value, the temperature of the refrigerant pipe may be formed within the first temperature (tm1) to the third temperature (tm3) like the second region (54). Accordingly, the temperature of the refrigerant pipe can be controlled through the pressure follower.

The indoor unit sets the pressure follow-up control, and the outdoor unit can control the temperature of the refrigerant pipe on the indoor unit side by controlling the compressor based on the pressure sensed corresponding thereto.

On the other hand, when the control is performed without setting another target pipe temperature, the temperature of the refrigerant pipe is set to the second temperature (tm2) to the fifth temperature (tm5) with respect to the first region (53) at the first humidity (hm1) The range is set.

However, since the dew point temperature is formed as shown in the first graph 51, the temperature of the refrigerant pipe becomes higher than the dew point temperature at the fifth temperature tm5, which is higher than the third temperature tm3.

When the control is performed without setting another target pipe temperature, the temperature is increased in a certain section even if the pipe temperature is controlled to be equal to or lower than the dew point temperature as the pressure is formed like the first region 53.

As a result, as the temperature of the refrigerant pipe rises, a dry environment is formed, and the diffusion of the odor molecules is increased, so that the odor may be generated.

Accordingly, since the outdoor unit performs the pressure follow-up control based on the pressure limit value, the temperature of the refrigerant pipe of the indoor unit can be maintained at the target pipe temperature or lower. Accordingly, in the indoor heat exchanger, the odor can be suppressed as the water is condensed to maintain a certain amount of water.

On the other hand, when the room temperature reaches the desired temperature, the indoor unit controls the air flow rate, while the outdoor unit keeps the latent heat, and the operating frequency of the compressor decreases as the temperature of the refrigerant pipe falls.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 4, the indoor unit 20 senses the room temperature through the temperature sensor 141, and the humidity sensor 142 senses the room humidity (S310). The humidity detected at this time is the relative humidity.

The controller 110 calculates the dew point based on the room temperature and the humidity (S320). The control unit 110 controls the temperature of the refrigerant pipe to not rise above the dew point temperature.

In order to control the temperature of the refrigerant pipe, the controller 110 sets a value lower than the dew point temperature to the target pipe temperature (S330). For example, a temperature 1 degree lower than the dew point temperature can be set as the target pipe temperature.

The control unit 110 can calculate the maximum pressure value of the refrigerant pipe that can be set using the dew point temperature and the target refrigerant pipe temperature based on the pressure follow-up control. The controller 110 sets the maximum pressure value to the pressure limit value (S340), and transmits the data so that the outdoor unit operates accordingly. The control unit 110 may convert the target refrigerant pipe temperature into a pressure value corresponding to the conversion formula.

The temperature sensor 141 installed in the refrigerant pipe of the indoor unit senses the temperature of the refrigerant pipe.

If the temperature of the refrigerant pipe is equal to or higher than the target pipe temperature (S350), the control unit 110 may perform the pressure follow-up control to determine the temperature of the refrigerant pipe in order to control the temperature of the refrigerant pipe to the target pipe temperature or lower .

The control unit 110 transmits data on the pressure follow-up control to the outdoor unit. The outdoor unit performs pressure follow-up control based on the pressure of the refrigerant pipe (S360), and controls the pressure of the refrigerant pipe by controlling the operation frequency of the compressor (S370).

As the pressure of the refrigerant pipe is controlled, the temperature of the refrigerant pipe can be maintained below the target pipe temperature. Further, if the operation is controlled through the pressure limitation, the operation frequency of the compressor of the outdoor unit can be set to a higher operation frequency than that based on the desired temperature.

The control unit 110 compares the indoor temperature with the desired temperature based on the cooling mode (S350) while the temperature of the refrigerant pipe is equal to or lower than the target pipe temperature (S350). If the indoor temperature is equal to or higher than the desired temperature, To reach the desired temperature (S390). On the other hand, if the room temperature reaches the desired temperature or is lower than the desired temperature, the control unit applies a control command to the fan driving unit to reduce the air volume of the fan 172 (S400).

When the temperature is controlled based on the temperature, the operation is stopped when the room temperature reaches the desired temperature. However, in order to control the temperature of the refrigerant pipe by pressure, the operation can be maintained even if the room temperature reaches the desired temperature.

If the operation is controlled through the pressure limitation, the operation frequency of the compressor of the outdoor unit can be set to a higher operation frequency than that based on the desired temperature. So that the indoor temperature may be lower than the desired temperature (during cooling operation).

If the indoor temperature is lower than the desired temperature, the indoor unit keeps the operation without stopping, but decreases the air volume. If the indoor temperature is higher than the desired temperature, the indoor unit increases the air volume.

Accordingly, the room temperature is controlled to the desired temperature, the temperature of the refrigerant pipe is controlled to be equal to or less than the target pipe temperature, the room temperature is controlled according to the setting, and the spread of the odor can be suppressed.

5 is a flowchart showing a control method according to temperature and pressure of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5, when the desired temperature is input by the operation unit 150 (S420) and the operation mode is set, the indoor unit 20 transmits the setting to the outdoor unit and starts operation (S430). The indoor unit operates in the cooling mode or the heating mode according to the setting, and discharges air of cold and warm so that the room temperature reaches the set desired temperature.

The indoor unit 20 sucks the room air and senses the room temperature through the temperature sensor installed at the suction port (S440). A plurality of temperature sensors may be provided.

The control unit 110 transmits the data to the outdoor unit so that the compressor operates in accordance with the temperature difference between the room temperature and the desired temperature (S450). Accordingly, the outdoor unit controls the operation frequency of the compressor to supply the refrigerant to the indoor unit, and the heat exchanger of the indoor unit discharges the cold air through the heat exchange between the supplied refrigerant and the indoor air.

On the other hand, the temperature sensor senses the temperature of the indoor refrigerant pipe.

The control unit 110 determines whether the temperature of the refrigerant pipe is higher than the set temperature (S460). At this time, the set temperature is the target pipe temperature described above. The target pipe temperature is set from the dew point temperature calculated based on the room temperature and the humidity.

If the temperature of the refrigerant pipe is higher than the set temperature (target pipe temperature), the control unit 110 sets a pressure limit value (S470). The pressure limit value is a maximum value among the pressure values of the refrigerant pipe for controlling the pipe temperature to the target pipe temperature or lower.

The controller 110 may set the pressure follow-up control so that the compressor operates according to the pressure (S480).

The outdoor unit allows the compressor to operate according to the pressure received from the indoor unit. The outdoor unit controls the pressure of the refrigerant pipe by controlling the operating frequency of the compressor. Accordingly, the temperature of the refrigerant pipe of the indoor unit side is controlled within the target pipe temperature range (S490).

The control unit 110 senses the temperature of the refrigerant pipe at each set cycle (S500), controls the target pipe temperature to be maintained at the target pipe temperature when the pipe temperature is equal to or higher than the target pipe temperature, Based control.

The indoor unit maintains the operation until the operation stop command is inputted (S510), and stops the operation when the stop command is inputted (S520).

When the pressure follow-up control is performed at the target piping temperature or below, the compressor can be controlled by setting the target piping temperature based on the dew point temperature as described above, and by using the pressure limit value.

Accordingly, since the heat exchanger of the indoor unit can control the room temperature while maintaining the latent heat state, it is possible to effectively control the room temperature while suppressing the odor.

The present invention is not necessarily limited to these embodiments, as all the constituent elements constituting the embodiment of the present invention are described as being combined and operated in one. Within the scope of the present invention, depending on the embodiment, all of the components may operate selectively in combination with one or more.

The foregoing description is merely illustrative of the technical idea of the present invention, and various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention.

10: outdoor unit 20: indoor unit
110: control unit 140:
141: Temperature sensor 142: Humidity sensor
160: driving part 162: fan driving part

Claims (17)

An operation unit for inputting a desired temperature;
A plurality of temperature sensors for sensing a room temperature and a pipe temperature;
Humidity sensor;
And a controller for setting a target piping temperature for controlling the temperature of the refrigerant piping from the room temperature and the humidity and performing pressure follow-up control so that the piping temperature of the indoor refrigerant piping is maintained at the target piping temperature or lower, . The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the control unit transmits data for the pressure follow-up control to an outdoor unit,
Wherein the outdoor unit controls the pressure of the refrigerant pipe by controlling the operation frequency of the compressor so that the pipe temperature of the indoor unit is variable. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the controller sets the target pipe temperature to a value lower than the dew point temperature by a predetermined value so that the pipe temperature does not increase beyond the dew point temperature corresponding to the dew point temperature calculated from the room temperature and the humidity Air conditioner. The method of claim 3,
Wherein the control unit sets the target pipe temperature to a value that is one degree lower than the dew point temperature. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the control unit controls the air flow rate so that the room temperature reaches the desired temperature in the pressure follow-up control. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the controller keeps the operation and decreases the air flow rate when the indoor temperature reaches the desired temperature or below the desired temperature during the pressure follow-up control. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the control unit changes the pressure follow-up control or the temperature-follow-up control in accordance with the temperature of the refrigerant pipe at a set cycle. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the controller calculates a refrigerant pressure value for controlling the piping temperature to be equal to or lower than the target piping temperature and sets a maximum value of the refrigerant pressure values as a pressure limit value. 9. The method of claim 8,
The control unit transmits the pressure limit value to the outdoor unit,
Wherein the outdoor unit controls the operation frequency of the compressor so that the refrigerant pressure does not exceed the pressure limit value. 10. The method of claim 9,
Wherein the outdoor unit allows the compressor to operate according to the pressure of the refrigerant pipe when the pressure follow-up control is set. Inputting a desired temperature and starting operation;
Sensing room temperature and humidity;
Setting a target pipe temperature corresponding to the dew point temperature calculated from the room temperature and the humidity;
Performing pressure follow-up control such that the pipe temperature of the indoor refrigerant pipe is maintained at the target pipe temperature or lower; And
And transmitting data on the pressure follow-up control to an outdoor unit. 12. The method of claim 11,
Further comprising the step of releasing or maintaining the mode according to the pressure follow-up control corresponding to the piping temperature when the set period is reached. 12. The method of claim 11,
Further comprising the step of increasing the air volume so that the room temperature reaches the desired temperature during the pressure follow-up control. 12. The method of claim 11,
Further comprising the step of maintaining the operation and decreasing the air volume when the room temperature reaches the desired temperature or below the desired temperature during the pressure follow-up control. 12. The method of claim 11,
Calculating a refrigerant pressure value for controlling the piping temperature to be equal to or lower than the target piping temperature during the pressure follow-up control, and setting a maximum value of the refrigerant pressure values as a pressure limit value . 16. The method of claim 15,
Transmitting the pressure limit value to the outdoor unit; And
And controlling the operation frequency of the compressor such that the outdoor unit does not exceed the pressure limit value of the refrigerant pressure. 12. The method of claim 11,
Further comprising the step of, when the pressure follow-up control is set, operating the compressor according to the pressure of the refrigerant pipe.

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