US20120131935A1 - Air conditioner and method for operating same - Google Patents
Air conditioner and method for operating same Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20120131935A1 US20120131935A1 US13/319,668 US201013319668A US2012131935A1 US 20120131935 A1 US20120131935 A1 US 20120131935A1 US 201013319668 A US201013319668 A US 201013319668A US 2012131935 A1 US2012131935 A1 US 2012131935A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- cold water
- set temperature
- chiller
- air
- chillers
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
- F24F11/30—Control or safety arrangements for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
- F24F11/62—Control or safety arrangements characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F3/00—Air-conditioning systems in which conditioned primary air is supplied from one or more central stations to distributing units in the rooms or spaces where it may receive secondary treatment; Apparatus specially designed for such systems
- F24F3/044—Systems in which all treatment is given in the central station, i.e. all-air systems
- F24F3/0442—Systems in which all treatment is given in the central station, i.e. all-air systems with volume control at a constant temperature
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B25/00—Machines, plants or systems, using a combination of modes of operation covered by two or more of the groups F25B1/00 - F25B23/00
- F25B25/005—Machines, plants or systems, using a combination of modes of operation covered by two or more of the groups F25B1/00 - F25B23/00 using primary and secondary systems
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B49/00—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
- F25B49/02—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for compression type machines, plants or systems
- F25B49/022—Compressor control arrangements
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F2140/00—Control inputs relating to system states
- F24F2140/10—Pressure
- F24F2140/12—Heat-exchange fluid pressure
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
- F24F2140/00—Control inputs relating to system states
- F24F2140/20—Heat-exchange fluid temperature
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B2700/00—Sensing or detecting of parameters; Sensors therefor
- F25B2700/19—Pressures
- F25B2700/193—Pressures of the compressor
- F25B2700/1931—Discharge pressures
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B2700/00—Sensing or detecting of parameters; Sensors therefor
- F25B2700/19—Pressures
- F25B2700/193—Pressures of the compressor
- F25B2700/1933—Suction pressures
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F25B2700/00—Sensing or detecting of parameters; Sensors therefor
- F25B2700/21—Temperatures
- F25B2700/2117—Temperatures of an evaporator
- F25B2700/21171—Temperatures of an evaporator of the fluid cooled by the evaporator
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- Fuzzy Systems (AREA)
- Mathematical Physics (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Air Conditioning Control Device (AREA)
- Other Air-Conditioning Systems (AREA)
Abstract
An air conditioner according to the present comprises a plurality of chillers which include a compressor, a condenser, a expansion device and an evaporator and supply cold water through water pipes connected to the evaporator in parallel. An operating chiller of the plurality of chillers sets a cold water set temperature of the operating chiller according to pressure difference between high pressure part and low pressure part and controls the compressor capacity according to the cold water set temperature and transmits an operation order to a chiller not operating until the present if the pressure difference is more than the set pressure for the set time and at least one of the chillers is not operating. Thus, it is possible to perform an efficient operation according to load and to minimized power consumption.
Description
- The present invention relates to an air conditioner and operation method of the same, more particularly, to an air conditioner and the operation method of the same which cools water by a refrigeration cycle and performs heat exchange between an air and the cooled water and supplies the air to an indoor space.
- Generally, an air conditioner is an appliance, which cools or heats an indoor space by using a refrigeration cycle of a refrigerant comprising a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator to offer a pleasant indoor environment to users.
- The air conditioner comprises an evaporator, which performs heat exchange between water and a refrigerant, and a heat exchanger such as a coil of cold water in which the water cooled by the heat exchange cools an air, so that the cold air cooled by the heat exchanger blows to the indoor space and can cool the indoor space.
- In the conventional air conditioner, if the air conditioner operates, a compressor operates, and if the air conditioner stops, the compressor stops. When the compressor operates, the cold water can cool an air and the air can cool the indoor space. If the temperature of the cold water is not appropriately changed according to the cooling load of the indoor space, the air conditioner is difficult to operate by optimum efficiency and to respond to the partial load effectively.
- Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an air conditioner and operation method of the same that substantially obviate one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
- An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner, which can control a compressor by setting set temperature of cold water according to pressure difference of a refrigeration cycle.
- Another object of the present invention is to provide an operation method of the air conditioner which can improve the efficiency by operating some of chillers in case of the partial load in the air conditioning area or can quickly respond to the load by adding a spare chiller in case of big load.
- To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, there is provided an air conditioner comprising: a plurality of chillers which include a compressor, a condenser, a expansion device and an evaporator and supply cold water through water pipes connected to the evaporator in parallel, wherein an operating chiller of the plurality of chillers sets a cold water set temperature of the operating chiller according to pressure difference between high pressure part and low pressure part and controls the compressor capacity according to the cold water set temperature and transmits an operation order to a chiller not operating until the present if the pressure difference is more than the set pressure for the set time and at least one of the chillers is not operating.
- Each of the chillers may comprise a low pressure sensor for sensing suction pressure of the compressor; and a high pressure sensor for sensing discharge pressure of the compressor; and a chiller controller for setting a cold water set temperature according to the pressure difference between the high pressure sensed by the high pressure sensor and the low pressure sensed by the low pressure sensor, and for controlling the compressor capacity according to the cold water set temperature.
- The air conditioner comprises a common water pipe temperature sensor for sensing temperature of a common water pipe which coolant supplied from the plurality of the chillers passes through together, the chiller controller may set a cold water set temperature according to the temperature sensed by the common water pipe temperature sensor.
- The air conditioner may further comprise a communication line, which is connected to each the chiller controllers of the chillers for transmitting an operation order from one of the chillers to the other.
- In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an operation method of an air conditioner which comprises a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator and supplies cold water through water pipes connected to the evaporator and operates a plurality of chillers connected the water pipes in parallel, wherein the operation method comprises steps of: setting a cold water set temperature if the pressure difference between the high pressure part and the low pressure part of the operating chiller is more than the set pressure for the set time; and controlling compressor capacity according to the cold water set temperature set at the step of setting a cold water set temperature; and transmitting an operation order to non operating chiller if the pressure difference is more than the set pressure for set time and at least one of the chillers is not operating until the present.
- In the step of setting the cold water set temperature, if the pressure difference is more than the set pressure for the set time, the cold water set temperature may rise.
- In the step of transmitting the operation order, the operation order and the stop set temperature of the chiller not operating until the present may be transmitted together to the non-operating chiller.
- After the step of transmitting the operation order, if the cold-water exit temperature of a common water pipe of all water pipes is different with the water set temperature, it may return to the step of setting the cold water set temperature.
- The operation method of an air conditioner further comprises steps of increasing the cold water set temperature if the cold water exit temperature of a common water pip of all the water pipes is lower than the cold water set temperature after the step of transmitting the operation order; and re-controlling the capacity of the compressor according to the cold water set temperature set in the step of the increasing the cold water set temperature.
- The operation method of an air conditioner further comprises a step of stopping the operating chiller if the cold water set temperature is higher than the stop set temperature of the chiller after the step of re-controlling the compressor capacity.
- The operation method of an air conditioner further comprises steps of decreasing the cold water set temperature if the cold water exit temperature of a common water pipe of all the water pipes is higher than the cold water temperature after the step of transmitting the operation order; and re-controlling the compressor capacity according to the cold water set temperature set in the step of the decreasing the cold water set temperature.
- After the step of re-controlling the compressor capacity, it may return to the step of setting the cold water set temperature.
- According to the present invention as stated above, it controls the compressor capacity according to the cold water set temperature, so that it is possible to operate efficiently according to the load and to minimized power consumption.
- In addition, it is possible to operate the least chiller in case of the partial load or to operate an additional chiller not operating until the present if one chiller is insufficient to act the load. Thus, it is possible to operate responding to a change of the load by using the minimum electric power.
-
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. -
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the inside of an air-handling unit shown inFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the inside of a chiller shown inFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an air conditioner according to the present invention. -
FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing an operation method of an air conditioner according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. - The present invention will hereinafter be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown.
-
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the inside of an air-handling unit shown inFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the inside of a chiller shown inFIG. 1 .FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an air conditioner according to the present invention. - Referring to
FIG. 1 , an air conditioner according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises at least one air-handling unit chillers handling unit chillers - The air-
handling units chillers handling units chillers - The air-
handling units handling units - The air-
handling units handling units handling units - The air-
handling units chillers chillers - If the air-
handling units - The
chillers handling unit - The
chillers chillers - The water pipes 6 include a common water pipe 7, a chiller
connection water pipe 8, 9 and 10, and an air-handlingunit connection pipe 11 and 12. - All the cold water supplied from each of the
chillers - The chiller
connection water pipes 8, 9 and 10 connect the common water pipe 7 with the plurality of thechillers - The air-handling unit
connection water pipes 11 and 12 connect the common water pipe 7 with at least one of the air-handling units - The water pipes 6 comprise a supply water pipe for supplying the cold water of the
chillers handling units handling units chillers - The air-
handling units - If the air-
handling units handling unit - The plurality of the
chillers chiller controllers 16, 17 and 18 for controlling the compressor. - A
chiller controller 16 of the plurality of thechiller controllers 16, 17 and 18 is connected with the air-handling unit controller 13 of the air-handling units communication line 19. The communication line 20 and 21 connects each of thechiller controllers 16, 17 and 18 so that one of thechillers - For example, if the air-
handling units handling unit 1 and a second air-handling unit 2. And if thechillers first chiller 3, a second chiller 4 and athird chiller 5. Each of air-handling unit controllers 13 and 14 of the first air-handling unit 1 and the second air-handling unit 2 is connected by the communication line 15. - Any one air-handling unit controller 13 of the first air-
handling unit 1 and the second air-handling unit 2 is connected with thechiller controller 16 of thefirst chiller 3 by thecommunication line 19. Thechiller controller 16 of thefirst chiller 3 and the chiller controller 17 of the second chiller 4 are connected by the communication line 20 so that thefirst chiller 3 can input an operation order to the second chiller 4. The chiller controller 17 of the second chiller 4 and the chiller controller 18 of thethird chiller 5 are connected by the communication line 21 so that the second chiller 4 can input an operation order to thethird chiller 5. - Hereinafter, one of the air-handling
units FIG. 2 . - The air-handling
units handling unit case 22, which has a space on the inside and comprises an indoorair intake part 22A, and an indoorair discharge part 22B, and an outdoor air intake part 22C, and an air-conditionedair discharge part 22D. - The air-handling
units fans handling unit case 22 and make the indoor air and the outdoor air flow, and aheat exchanger 40 disposed in the air-handling unit case 22 and heat-exchanges the air flowing to the air-conditioned air discharge part with the cold water. - The air-handling
units ventilation duct 22E which connects the indoor and the indoorair intake part 22A for inhaling indoor air into the air-handling unit case 22 through the indoorair intake part 22A. - The air-handling
units exhaust duct 22F which connects the outdoor and the indoorair discharge part 22B for discharging some of the air inhaled into the air-handling unit case 22 through the indoorair intake part 22A to the outdoor. - The air-handling
units outdoor air duct 22G which connects the outdoor and the outdoor air intake part 22C for inhaling the outdoor air into the air-handling unit case 22 through the outdoor air intake part 22C. - The air-handling
units air supply duct 22H which connects the air-conditionedair discharge part 22D and the indoor for supplying the air-conditioned air of the air-handling unit case 22 to the indoor. - The
ventilation duct 22E connects to the indoorair intake part 22A, and theexhaust duct 22F connects to the indoorair discharge part 22B, and theoutdoor air duct 22G connects to the outdoor air intake part 22C, and theair supply duct 22H connects the air-conditionedair discharge part 22D. - In the air-handling
units air intake part 22A discharge to the outdoor through the indoorair discharge part 22B, and the rest mixes with the outdoor air inhaled to the outdoor air intake part 22C, and the mixed air heat-exchanges with theheat exchanger 40 and supplies to the indoor through the air-conditionedair discharge part 22D and theair supply duct 22H. - In the air-handling
units chamber 26 for mixing the indoor air with the outdoor air is disposed at the front of theheat exchanger 40 in the air flow direction. - The
fans return fan 27, which is disposed at the space between the indoorair intake part 22A and the indoorair discharge part 22B in the air flow direction and inhales the indoor air into the air-handling unit case 22 and blows the air inhaled, and asupply fan 28, which is disposed at the space between theheat exchanger 40 and the air-conditionedair discharge part 22D in the air flow direction and inhales the mixed air into theheat exchanger 40 and blows the air inhaled to the air-conditionedair discharge part 22D. - The
fans - The
fans blower 29, and ahousing 32 which surrounds theblower 29 and includes anair inlet 30 and an air outlet 31, and a blower driver 33 for rotating theblower 29. - The blower driver 33 may comprise a motor that a rotary shaft connects to the center of rotation of the
blower 29. Also, The blower driver 33 may comprise a shaft 34 connected to the center of rotation of theblower 29, and amotor 35 disposed at the outside of thehousing 32, and a power transmission device for transmitting a driving power of themotor 35 to the shaft 34. - The power transmission device may comprise a driving
pulley 36 disposed at the shaft of themotor 35, and a drivenpulley 38 disposed at the shaft 34, and abelt 37 wrapped around the drivingpulley 35 and the drivenpulley 38. - The
motor 35 may comprise an inverter motor to change rpm of theblower 29. - The
heat exchanger 40 is a kind of cooling coil for cooling the mixed air by heat exchange the mixed air and cold water and includes a cold-water coil having a flow path which cold water passes through. - The
heat exchanger 40 is disposed at the space between the mixingchamber 26 and thesupply fan 27 and connects with the air-handlingunit connection pipes 11 and 12 of the water pipes 6. - The air-handling
units further comprise dampers - The
dampers exhaust damper 43 which is disposed at the indoorair discharge part 22B and controls the discharge amount of the indoor air, and aoutdoor air damper 44 which is disposed at the outdoor air intake part 22C and controls the intake amount of the outdoor air, and amixture damper 45 which is disposed at the mixingchamber 26 and controls the amount of the air being inhaled into the mixingchamber 26. - Hereinafter, one of the
chillers FIG. 3 . - The
chillers chiller case 50, and acompressor 51 for compressing refrigerant, and acondenser 52 for condensing the refrigerant compressed in thecompressor 51, and anexpansion device 53 for expanding the refrigerant condensed in thecondenser 52, and anevaporator 54 for evaporating the refrigerant expanded in theexpansion device 53 by heat-exchanging the expanded refrigerant with water. - The
chillers compressor 51, thecondenser 52, and theexpansion device 53, and theevaporator 54. - If the
condenser 52 is an air-cooling type, thechillers condenser 52 is a water-cooling type, thechillers - The
compressor 52, thecondenser 52, theexpansion device 53, and theevaporator 54 are disposed in thechiller case 50. If thecondenser 52 is an air-cooling type, the outdoor air is inhaled into thechiller case 50 and heat-exchanged with thecondenser 52 and then is discharged to the outside of thechiller case 50. - The
compressor 51 comprises a variable capacity compressor for changing a capacity. It is possible to drive some or all the compressors according to the load. In addition, it is possible to use an inverter compressor for changing a frequency according to the load. - A discharge pipe of the
compressor 51 connects to thecondenser 52. Anoil separator 55 is disposed at the discharge pipe of thecompressor 51 for separating the refrigerant discharged from thecompressor 51 into refrigerant and oil. Theoil separator 55 connects with anoil collection path 56 for returning the oil to thecompressor 51. - The
condenser 52 may condense refrigerant by the outdoor air sent by theoutdoor fan 57 or may condense refrigerant by the cold water supplied from a cooling tower (not shown). Hereinafter, it is described that the outdoor air sent by theoutdoor fan 57 condenses the refrigerant. - The
evaporator 54 connects with theheat exchanger 40 of the air-handlingunits expansion device 53. - In the
evaporator 54, a heat-exchanger part is sandwiched in between a refrigerant path for passing refrigerant and a water path for passing water. - The
evaporator 54 comprises a plurality of inner tubes which form the water path for passing water, and a shell-tube type heat exchanger which is disposed at the outside of the inner tubes and includes a shell. The shell includes refrigerant tube, which is disposed at the space among the inner tubes for passing refrigerant. - The plurality of inner tubes of the
evaporator 54 connects with thechiller connection pipes 8, 9 and 10. - The water pipe 6 is disposed to pass through each the
chiller case 50 and the air-handling unit case 22. A cold-water pump 58 is installed at the water pipe 6 for pumping and circulating the cold water. - It is possible that the
cold water pump 58 is installed at a position of the water pipe 6 located at the inside of the air-handlingunits chillers units chillers - It is desirable that the cold-
water pump 58 is installed at the inside of the air-handlingunits chillers - In the
chillers evaporator 54 depends on the capacity of thecompressor 51. The capacity of thecompressor 51 is controlled by the cold water set temperature Twt. - The
chillers - The
chillers pressure sensor 59 for sensing suction pressure of thecompressor 51, and a high-pressure sensor 60 for sensing discharge pressure of thecompressor 51. Thechiller controller 16, 17 and 18 set a cold water set temperature Twt according to the pressure difference between the high pressure sensed by thehigh pressure sensor 60 and the low pressure sensed by thelow pressure sensor 59, and controls the capacity of thecompressor 51 according to the cold water set temperature Twt. - The low-
pressure sensor 59 is installed at the intake pipe connected for inhaling refrigerant into thecompressor 51. The high-pressure sensor 60 is installed at the discharge pipe for passing the refrigerant discharged from thecompressor 51. - The
chiller controllers 16, 17 and 18 set the cold water set temperature Twt in the range of the lower limit Twtmin to the upper limit Twtmax so that the cold water temperature is variable in the range. - In the beginning of operation of the air conditioner, the
chiller controllers 16, 17 and 18 control thecompressor 51 by a standard capacity to respond to the standard cold water set temperature in the variable range of the cold water set temperature. Then, thechiller controllers 16, 17 and 18 set a new cold water set temperature Twt according to the pressure difference sensed by thelow pressure sensor 59 and thehigh pressure sensor 60, and drive thecompressor 51 by a new capacity which is responding to the new cold water set temperature Twt. - When the
chillers chillers - Referring to
FIG. 1 , the air conditioner according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention further comprises a common waterpipe temperature sensor 62 for sensing temperature of the common water pipe 7 of the water pipes 6, and acontroller 64 for controlling an operation or stop the air conditioner and for inputting a demand temperature such as the indoor set temperature. - The common water
pipe temperature sensor 62 senses temperature of the cold water being supplied to the air-handlingunits chillers - The
chiller controllers 16, 17 and 18 operate or stop thechillers controller 64. In addition, thechiller controllers 16, 17 and 18 newly set a cold-water set temperature Twt according to the pressure sensed by the high-pressure sensor 60 and the low-pressure sensor 59 and operate the chiller not operating until the present. Then, thechiller controllers 16, 17 and 18 newly set a cold water set temperature Twt according to the temperature of cold water sensed by the common waterpipe temperature sensor 62 and control the capacity of the compressor according to the new cold water set temperature Twt. - An operation of the present invention will hereinafter be described in detail.
- If a user operates the air conditioner by the
controller 64, the air-handlingunits chillers - In the
chillers chiller controllers 16, 17 and 18 of the operating chiller drives anoutdoor fan 57 and thecompressor 51, controls the opening of theexpansion device 53, and drives the cold-water pump 58. - While the
compressor 52 is operated, refrigerant is circulated through thecompressor 51, thecondenser 52, theexpansion device 53 and theevaporator 54. At this time, the refrigerant passing through theevaporator 53 takes the heat of water so that the temperature of water is decreased. - While the cold-
water pump 58 is operated, the water chilled through theevaporator 54 cools down theheat exchanger 40 of the air-handlingunits evaporator 54 by passing through the water pipe 6. At this time, water cools theheat exchanger 40 by circulating theevaporator 54 and theheat exchanger 40. - While the
fans handling unit case 22 through theventilation duct 22E. Some of the inhaled air discharge to the outdoor through theexhaust duct 22F, the rest is inhaled to the mixingchamber 26. And the outdoor air is inhaled to the mixingchamber 26 through theoutdoor air duct 22G and is mixed with some indoor air inhaled to the mixingchamber 26 of the indoor air. The mixed air passes through theheat exchanger 40 and loses the heat to the water passing through theheat exchanger 40. Thus, the temperature of the mixed air is decreased, and the air is supplied to the indoor through theair supply duct 22H. - While the air conditioner as stated above is operated, the chiller controller of the operating chiller determines the capacity of the
compressor 52 according to the cold water set temperature and drives thecompressor 51 according to the determined capacity and drives the non-operating chiller in case of need to use the non-operating chiller. - In the beginning of operation of the air conditioner, the
chiller controllers 16, 17 and 18 set the cold water set temperature Twt by the standard cold water set temperature Twi in the range of the cold water set temperature and drive thecompressor 51. Then, if a new cold-water set temperature Twt is set, the capacity of thecompressor 51 is controlled according to the new cold water set temperature. - For example, if the variable range of the cold water set temperature Twt is set from 5° C. to 15° C., the standard cold water set temperature Twi is set 10° C. The chiller controller of the operating chiller controls the
compressor 51 by a suitable capacity for the standard cold water set temperature. While the compressor is operated, the cold water set temperature is variable according to the difference of the high pressure and the low pressure and the temperature of the common water pipe 7. Since then, it controls thecompressor 51 by a suitable capacity for the variable cold water set temperature. - Hereinafter, it is described an operation method of the air conditioner, wherein, when one
chiller 3 of thechillers chiller 3 changes the cold water set temperature Twt according to the difference of the high pressure and the low pressure and operates the other chiller 4 and changes the cold water set temperature Twt according to the temperature of the common water pipe 7. -
FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing an operation method of an air conditioner according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. - An operation method of an air conditioner according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises the steps of setting the cold water set temperature (S1)(S2) and the step of controlling the compressor capacity (S3).
- In the steps of setting the cold water set temperature, the cold water set temperature is set according to the pressure difference between the high pressure and the low pressure of the operating
chiller 3. (S1)(S2) - In the steps of setting the cold water set temperature if the pressure difference is more than the set pressure for a set time (for example, 10 minutes), as follows, it is considered an operation of the chiller 4 not operating until the present, the cold water set temperature of the operating
chiller 3 is raised so as to decrease the power consumption of the operatingchiller 3. (S1)(S2), - In the steps of setting the cold water set temperature, if the high pressure and the low pressure are sensed immediately after the initial operation of the
chiller 3, the standard cold water set temperature Twi is used to a cold water set temperature in the present, since then the temperature higher than the standard cold water set temperature Twi about a set value (for example, 0.5° C.) is used to a cold water set temperature. On the contrary to this, if the cold water set temperature is changed according to the sense of the high pressure and the low pressure, the cold water set temperature at the time sensed the high pressure and the low pressure is used to a cold water set temperature in the present, since then the temperature higher than the standard cold water set temperature Twi about a set value (for example, 0.5° C.) is used to a cold water set temperature. (S1)(S2) - Meanwhile, in the operation method of the air conditioner, if the pressure difference is not more than the set pressure for a set time, the previous cold water set temperature is maintained.
- As the step of controlling the compressor capacity (S3) is a step for controlling the operation capacity of the
compressor 51 according to the cold water set temperature Twt set in the step of setting the cold water set temperature (S1) (S2), if the pressure difference is more than the set pressure for a set time (for example, 10 minutes), thecompressor 51 is controlled by the operation capacity suitable for the raised cold water set temperature. - Meanwhile, in the operation method of the air conditioner, if the pressure difference is not more than the set pressure for a set time, it is maintained that the
compressor 51 is controlled by the operation capacity suitable for the previous cold water set temperature. - Meanwhile, in the operation method of the air conditioner, for the step of controlling the compressor capacity (S3) or since then, if there is a non-operating chiller 4, it is performed a step of transmitting an operation order to the non-operating chiller 4. (S4)(S5) If there is not a non-operating chiller, namely, if all the chillers is operating, it is not performed the step of transmitting an operation order (S4) (S5).
- In the step of transmitting an operation order (S4) (S5), an operation order in company with a stop set temperature of the non-operating chiller 4 are transmitted to the non-operation chiller 4. The chiller 4 not operating until the present will be operated or stopped in addition to the operating chiller according to the stop set temperature and the operation order transmitted.
- The chiller 4 received the operation order and the stop set temperature of the chiller drives the
compressor 51 and theoutdoor fan 57, controls the opening of theexpansion device 53, drives the cold-water pump 58. - The amount of cold water passing through at least one of the air-handling
units units - While the air conditioner is operated as stated above, after the step of transmitting the operation order (S4)(S5) is performed, the
chiller 3 set the cold water set temperature according to the cold water exit temperature of the common water pipe 7 of the water pipes 6. - After the step of transmitting the operation order (S4)(S5), if the cold water exit temperature of the common water pipe 7 of the water pipes 6 is equal to the cold water set temperature, it is returned to the step of setting the cold water set temperature (S1)(S2). Namely, as the chiller 4 is operated in addition, the temperature of the cold water is equal to the cold water set temperature. Therefore, it is not changed the cold water set temperature in addition, it returns to the step of setting the cold water set temperature (S1)(S2) for sensing the change of the load.
- And, it further comprises a step of increasing the cold water set temperature (S7)(S8) for increasing the cold water set temperature if the cold water exit temperature of the common water pipe 7 of the water pipes 6 is lower than the cold water set temperature after the step of transmitting the operation order (S4)(S5); and a step of re-controlling the compressor capacity (S9) for controlling the operation capacity of the
compressor 51 according to the cold water set temperature set by the step of increasing the cold water set temperature (S7)(S8). - Namely, if the cold water exit temperature of the common water pipe 7 is less than the cold water set temperature because cold water is much more supplied by the operation of the chiller not operated before, the cold water set temperature of the operating
chiller 3 is decreased again for decreasing the power consumption and thecompressor 51 is controlled accordingly. - Meanwhile, after the step of re-controlling the compressor capacity (S9), if the cold water set temperature is more than the stop set temperature (for example, 15° C.) of the chiller, it is further comprised a step of stopping the operating chiller. (S10)(S11).
- It is desirable that the stop set temperature of the chiller is set to a maximum temperature in the variable range of the cold water set temperature Twt of the operating chiller.
- After the step of the transmitting the operation order (S4) (S5), if the cold water exit temperature of the common water pipe 7 of the water pipes 6 is more than the cold water set temperature, it is further comprised a step of decreasing the cold water set temperature (S12); and a step of re-controlling the compressor capacity (S13) according to the cold water set temperature set by the step of decreasing the cold water set temperature (S12).
- Namely, even if the cold water is much more supplied by the operation of the chiller 4 not operated before, if the cold-water exit temperature of the common water pipe 7 is higher than the cold water set temperature, it means that the cold water is not sufficiently supplied from the operating
chiller 3. Thus, it needs to decrease the cold water set temperature and to control the capacity of thecompressor 51. - Meanwhile, in the operation method of the air conditioner, it returns to the step of setting the cold water set temperature (S1) (S2) after the step of re-controlling the compressor capacity.
Claims (13)
1. An air conditioner comprising:
a plurality of chillers which include a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator and supply cold water through water pipes connected to the evaporator in parallel,
wherein an operating chiller of the plurality of chillers sets a cold water set temperature of the operating chiller according to pressure difference between high pressure part and low pressure part and controls the compressor capacity according to the cold water set temperature and transmits an operation order to a chiller not operating until the present if the pressure difference is more than the set pressure for the set time and at least one of the chillers is not operating.
2. The air conditioner of claim 1 ,
wherein each of the chillers comprises a low pressure sensor for sensing suction pressure of the compressor; and
a high pressure sensor for sensing discharge pressure of the compressor; and
a chiller controller for setting a cold-water set temperature according to the pressure difference between the high pressure sensed by the high-pressure sensor and the low-pressure sensed by the low-pressure sensor, and for controlling the compressor capacity according to the cold water set temperature.
3. The air conditioner of claim 2 ,
further comprising a common water pipe temperature sensor for sensing temperature of a common water pipe which coolant supplied from the plurality of the chillers passes through together,
wherein the chiller controller sets a cold-water set temperature according to the temperature sensed by the common water pipe temperature sensor.
4. The air conditioner of claim 2 ,
further comprising a communication line, which is connected to each the chiller controllers of the chillers for transmitting an operation order from one of the chillers to the other.
5. An operation method of an air conditioner which comprises
a compressor,
a condenser,
an expansion device and
an evaporator and supplies cold water through the water pipes connected to the evaporator and operates a plurality of chillers connected the water pipes in parallel, wherein the operation method comprises steps of;
setting a cold water set temperature if the pressure difference between the high pressure part and the low pressure part of the operating chiller is more than the set pressure for the set time; and
controlling compressor capacity according to the cold water set temperature set at the step of setting a cold water set temperature; and
transmitting an operation order to the non-operating chiller if the pressure difference is more than the set pressure for set time and at least one of the chillers is not operating until the present.
6. The operation method of an air conditioner of claim 5 ,
wherein, in the step of setting the cold water set temperature, if the pressure difference is more than the set pressure for the set time, the cold water set temperature is raised.
7. The operation method of an air conditioner of claim 5 ,
wherein, in the step of transmitting the operation order, the operation order and the stop set temperature of the chiller not operating until the present are transmitted together to the non-operating chiller.
8. The operation method of an air conditioner of claim 5 , wherein, after the step of transmitting the operation order, if the cold-water exit temperature of a common water pipe of all water pipes is different with the water set temperature, it returns to the step of setting the cold water set temperature.
9. The operation method of an air conditioner of claim 5 , further comprising steps of;
increasing the cold water set temperature if the cold water exit temperature of a common water pip of all the water pipes is lower than the cold water set temperature after the step of transmitting the operation order; and
re-controlling the capacity of the compressor according to the cold water set temperature set in the step of increasing the cold water set temperature.
10. The operation method of an air conditioner of claim 9 , further comprising a step of;
stopping the operating chiller if the cold water set temperature is higher than the stop set temperature of the chiller after the step of re-controlling the compressor capacity.
11. The operation method of an air conditioner of claim 10 , further comprising steps of;
decreasing the cold water set temperature if the cold water exit temperature of a common water pipe of all the water pipes is higher than the cold water temperature after the step of transmitting the operation order; and
re-controlling the compressor capacity according to the cold water set temperature set in the step of decreasing the cold water set temperature.
12. The operation method of an air conditioner of claim 11 , wherein, after the step of re-controlling the compressor capacity, it returns to the step of setting the cold water set temperature.
13. The air conditioner of claim 3 , further comprising a communication line, which is connected to each the chiller controllers of the chillers for transmitting an operation order from one of the chillers to the other.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
KR10-2009-0040916 | 2009-05-11 | ||
KR1020090040916A KR20100121961A (en) | 2009-05-11 | 2009-05-11 | Air conditioner |
PCT/KR2010/002937 WO2010131874A2 (en) | 2009-05-11 | 2010-05-07 | Air conditioner and method for operating same |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20120131935A1 true US20120131935A1 (en) | 2012-05-31 |
Family
ID=43085432
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US13/319,668 Abandoned US20120131935A1 (en) | 2009-05-11 | 2010-05-07 | Air conditioner and method for operating same |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20120131935A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2431677A4 (en) |
KR (1) | KR20100121961A (en) |
CN (1) | CN102460029B (en) |
WO (1) | WO2010131874A2 (en) |
Cited By (7)
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CN104279722A (en) * | 2013-07-11 | 2015-01-14 | 盟立自动化股份有限公司 | Air conditioner energy saving control device and control method for same |
WO2015194020A1 (en) * | 2014-06-19 | 2015-12-23 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Refrigeration cycle device and refrigeration cycle system |
US20150377508A1 (en) * | 2014-06-25 | 2015-12-31 | Daikin Industries, Ltd. | Air conditioning system |
WO2016002023A1 (en) * | 2014-07-02 | 2016-01-07 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Heat source device and heat source system provided with heat source device |
US9587867B2 (en) * | 2013-02-01 | 2017-03-07 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Chiller system and control method thereof |
US20180080667A1 (en) * | 2015-04-21 | 2018-03-22 | Mitsubishi Electric Corporation | Heat source unit |
US20180372353A1 (en) * | 2017-06-26 | 2018-12-27 | Chicony Power Technology Co., Ltd. | Adjusting system and adjusting method |
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KR101854336B1 (en) * | 2011-10-28 | 2018-06-14 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Air conditioner and method for controlling the same |
CN102788005B (en) * | 2012-08-02 | 2015-03-11 | 青岛海信日立空调系统有限公司 | Method for controlling the operation of the compressors in optimized VRV air conditioning system and device thereof |
CN106322641B (en) * | 2015-07-06 | 2019-06-25 | 约克广州空调冷冻设备有限公司 | Air-conditioner set control method, air-conditioner set, air conditioner group and air conditioner group control method |
EP3370005B1 (en) * | 2015-10-26 | 2020-09-09 | Mitsubishi Electric Corporation | Air-conditioning system |
CN106671728A (en) * | 2015-11-06 | 2017-05-17 | 福特环球技术公司 | Air conditioning system and control method thereof |
JP2018063097A (en) * | 2016-10-14 | 2018-04-19 | 三菱重工サーマルシステムズ株式会社 | Air cooling chiller |
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- 2010-05-07 WO PCT/KR2010/002937 patent/WO2010131874A2/en active Application Filing
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US9587867B2 (en) * | 2013-02-01 | 2017-03-07 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Chiller system and control method thereof |
CN104279722A (en) * | 2013-07-11 | 2015-01-14 | 盟立自动化股份有限公司 | Air conditioner energy saving control device and control method for same |
WO2015194020A1 (en) * | 2014-06-19 | 2015-12-23 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Refrigeration cycle device and refrigeration cycle system |
GB2542310A (en) * | 2014-06-19 | 2017-03-15 | Mitsubishi Electric Corp | Refrigeration cycle device and refrigeration cycle system |
JPWO2015194020A1 (en) * | 2014-06-19 | 2017-04-20 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Refrigeration cycle apparatus and refrigeration cycle system |
GB2542310B (en) * | 2014-06-19 | 2020-04-01 | Mitsubishi Electric Corp | Refrigeration cycle apparatus and refrigeration cycle system |
US9964325B2 (en) * | 2014-06-25 | 2018-05-08 | Daikin Industries, Ltd. | Air conditioning system |
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WO2016002023A1 (en) * | 2014-07-02 | 2016-01-07 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Heat source device and heat source system provided with heat source device |
EP3165849A4 (en) * | 2014-07-02 | 2018-02-21 | Mitsubishi Electric Corporation | Heat source device and heat source system provided with heat source device |
JPWO2016002023A1 (en) * | 2014-07-02 | 2017-04-27 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Heat source device and heat source system including the heat source device |
US20180080667A1 (en) * | 2015-04-21 | 2018-03-22 | Mitsubishi Electric Corporation | Heat source unit |
US10436458B2 (en) * | 2015-04-21 | 2019-10-08 | Mitsubishi Electric Corporation | Heat source unit |
US20180372353A1 (en) * | 2017-06-26 | 2018-12-27 | Chicony Power Technology Co., Ltd. | Adjusting system and adjusting method |
US10718537B2 (en) * | 2017-06-26 | 2020-07-21 | Chicony Power Technology Co., Ltd. | Adjusting system and method for an air conditioning chiller |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP2431677A4 (en) | 2016-04-27 |
KR20100121961A (en) | 2010-11-19 |
CN102460029B (en) | 2014-06-18 |
WO2010131874A2 (en) | 2010-11-18 |
EP2431677A2 (en) | 2012-03-21 |
CN102460029A (en) | 2012-05-16 |
WO2010131874A3 (en) | 2011-01-27 |
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Owner name: LG ELECTRONICS INC., KOREA, REPUBLIC OF Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:KIM, HONG RYEOL;REEL/FRAME:027743/0306 Effective date: 20120130 |
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