US20120234029A1 - Air conditioner - Google Patents
Air conditioner Download PDFInfo
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- US20120234029A1 US20120234029A1 US13/201,835 US201113201835A US2012234029A1 US 20120234029 A1 US20120234029 A1 US 20120234029A1 US 201113201835 A US201113201835 A US 201113201835A US 2012234029 A1 US2012234029 A1 US 2012234029A1
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- Prior art keywords
- side unit
- power
- outdoor side
- current
- indoor side
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- 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.)
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- 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
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- 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
- F24F11/46—Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
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- 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
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- 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
- F24F2140/60—Energy consumption
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an air conditioner which comprises an indoor side unit and an outdoor side unit and which is configured to supply a driving power of the indoor side unit from the outdoor side unit via a crossover line between the units.
- a separate type air conditioner is constituted of an indoor side unit and an outdoor side unit, and a commercial alternating-current power is supplied from the indoor side unit to the outdoor side unit via an alternating-current power line between the units, restored to a direct-current power in the outdoor side unit and then supplied to the indoor side unit again.
- This direct-current power is a direct-current power with a high voltage (an output of a main power circuit) in a state where the air conditioner has an air conditioning operation state, and is a direct-current power with a low voltage (an output of an auxiliary power circuit) in a state where the air conditioner does not perform the air conditioning operation (a stop state or a standby state).
- the direct-current power with the high voltage is required for driving a motor for an air blowing fan disposed in the indoor side unit
- the direct-current power with the low voltage is required for driving a control circuit such as a microcomputer, because the motor does not have to be driven in the state where the air conditioning operation is not performed.
- the main power circuit an INV drive circuit, to supply a power source for an outdoor fan motor
- a standby power in the outdoor side unit is decreased to a degree of a power of the auxiliary power circuit.
- the driving of the main power circuit is started when the control circuit (the microcomputer or the like) of the outdoor side unit receives an air conditioning operation start signal superimposed on a direct-current power line via which the direct-current power is supplied from the outdoor side unit to the indoor side unit (e.g., see Patent Document 1).
- a separate type air conditioner is constituted of an indoor side unit and an outdoor side unit, and the indoor side unit is connected to the outdoor side unit via three lines in total including two power lines through which a commercial alternating current flows and a signal line shared by one of these power lines, whereby the commercial alternating current is directly supplied to the power line in the outdoor side unit, and supplied to the indoor side unit successively via the outdoor side unit and the power line.
- a higher voltage is applied from the indoor side unit to a signal line than a voltage for use in usual signal transmission or reception.
- the outdoor side unit excites a relay of the outdoor side unit by use of this high voltage as a start power, and closes the relay contact piece, to operate the power circuit, thereby changing the outdoor side unit to an operating state (e.g., see Patent Document 2).
- Patent Document 1 Japanese Patent No. 3730808
- Patent Document 2 Japanese Patent No. 3019844
- Patent Document 1 it is necessary to keep a microcomputer of an indoor side unit and a microcomputer of an outdoor side unit in a state where a signal for operation/stop or the like is constantly transmitted or received. That is, it is necessary to constantly keep at least the microcomputer of the outdoor side unit in an operating state, and a standby power for this purpose is constantly required. Moreover, the transmission and reception of the signal requires a signal line and a direct-current power line, and hence at least four lines including an alternating-current power line are required, which causes faulty wiring and trouble of an installation work.
- a special power circuit is required for applying a higher voltage to a signal line than a voltage for use in usual signal transmission and reception, and at the same time, it is necessary to change specifications of a communication circuit of an indoor side unit and an outdoor side unit to those for this high voltage. Furthermore, even if this high voltage is not excessively high, it is necessary to supply a sufficient current for exciting a relay, and owing to a difference between a low impedance of an excitation coil of the relay and a high impedance of the communication circuit, such a constitution as to cut this relay after the start of the operation of the power circuit is also required.
- the present invention focuses attention on the point that the start of an indoor side unit (the start of an air conditioning operation) is associated with the operation start of a motor for an air blowing fan disposed in the indoor side unit, and the consumption of a current by the operation of this motor is judged so that the start of the air conditioning operation of the indoor side unit can be judged by an outdoor side unit.
- the indoor side unit is connected to the outdoor side unit via two alternating-current power lines and one signal line (shared by one of the alternating-current power lines), and an alternating-current power is supplied to the indoor side unit via the outdoor side unit, whereby even in a case where a control circuit of the outdoor side unit is stopped, when the motor is operated in the indoor side unit, a current increases as much as at least a current for the operation on the alternating-current power line. That is, the current flowing through the alternating-current power line from the outdoor side unit to the indoor side unit increases.
- This current increase is detected by using a CT, and when a current value detected by this CT exceeds a predetermined value, a relay is energized to start the control circuit of the outdoor side unit. Therefore, the outdoor side unit may include at least a switching circuit to excite this relay and the CT to detect the current.
- an air conditioner having a refrigerating cycle in which at least a refrigerant compressor driven by an electromotive element, a heat source side heat exchanger, a pressure reducing unit and a utilization side heat exchanger are circularly connected via a refrigerant piping line, these constituent elements of the refrigerant cycle being divided and disposed in an indoor side unit and an outdoor side unit, the indoor side unit being provided with a motor which drives an air blowing fan of the utilization side heat exchanger, a power to drive the motor being supplied via the outdoor side unit, wherein the indoor side unit is connected to the outdoor side unit via three lines including a first power line and a second power line through which an alternating current flows and a signal line through which a signal is transmitted by using one of the power lines as a common use line, a commercial alternating-current power is applied to the first power line and the second power line in the outdoor side unit, the outdoor side unit includes a current detector which detects, from this commercial alternating-current power, the alternating
- a change of the current consumed by the indoor side unit is detected by the outdoor side unit so that the operation of the outdoor side control circuit of the outdoor side unit can be started.
- the predetermined standard value in a case where the switch performs the communicating operation includes at least a current to be consumed by the motor.
- the outdoor side control circuit of the outdoor side unit can be driven.
- the air conditioner according to the second aspect additionally includes a normally opened contact piece of a relay constituting a bypass circuit which passes by a circuit after the switch performs the communicating operation of the circuit, and the outdoor side control circuit excites the relay to close the normally opened contact piece.
- a fourth aspect of the invention in addition to the air conditioner according to the first to third aspects, at the start of the operation, the operation of the motor disposed in the indoor side unit is started.
- the outdoor side control circuit includes a microcomputer to which the commercial alternating-current power is supplied to start the operation, and the microcomputer starts a predetermined operation, acquires a signal to judge the start of the air conditioning operation via the signal line to the indoor side control circuit of the indoor side unit, and opens a circuit of the switch in a case where the start of the air conditioning operation cannot be judged.
- the outdoor side control circuit of the outdoor side unit starts the operation, and then transmits and receives the signal from and to the indoor side control circuit of the indoor side unit to judge the start of the air conditioning operation, whereby a faulty operation can be suppressed.
- the air conditioner according to the fourth aspect additionally includes a changeover circuit which disturbs a flow of the alternating current to the current detector after the normally opened contact piece of the relay closes.
- the current is prevented from flowing through the current detector.
- an indoor side unit in which an indoor side unit is connected to an indoor side unit via three lines (two power lines and one signal line), a current flowing through a power line is detected to start the operation of an outdoor side control circuit of the outdoor side unit, and hence special signal exchange is not performed, but the operation of the outdoor side control circuit can be associated with the start of an air conditioning operation of the indoor side unit by use of the existing three lines, whereby a standby power in the outdoor side unit can be decreased in a case where the indoor side unit does not perform the air conditioning operation.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic electric circuit diagram of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic electric circuit diagram of an air conditioner constituted of an indoor side unit 1 and an outdoor side unit 2 .
- the indoor side unit 1 is connected to the outdoor side unit 2 via three lines including power lines 3 and 4 through which an alternating-current power flows and a signal line 5 .
- this air conditioner has a refrigerating cycle in which constituent elements such as a refrigerant compressor driven by an electromotive element 6 , a heat source side heat exchanger (not shown), a pressure reducing unit (not shown) and a utilization side heat exchanger (not shown) are circularly connected via a refrigerant piping line, the utilization side heat exchanger is disposed in the indoor side unit 1 , and the refrigerant compressor, the heat source side heat exchanger and the pressure reducing unit are disposed in the outdoor side unit.
- the constituent elements of the refrigerating cycle divided and disposed in the indoor side unit 1 and the outdoor side unit 2 are connected via the refrigerant piping line between both the units.
- the outdoor side unit 2 is provided with a four-way changeover valve 7 , and the refrigerant piping line is disposed so that the flow of a refrigerant discharged from the refrigerant compressor can selectively be switched in order of the heat source side heat exchanger, the pressure reducing unit and the utilization side heat exchanger or in order of the utilization side heat exchanger, the pressure reducing unit and the heat source side heat exchanger.
- Reference numeral 8 is a motor which drives an air blowing fan to blow air to the heat source side heat exchanger of the outdoor side unit 2 , and the motor is connected to a power circuit 9 of the outdoor side unit 2 , together with the electromotive element 6 which drives the refrigerant compressor, and the four-way changeover valve 7 , whereby the energization of the motor is controlled.
- the power circuit 9 is connected to power bus lines 10 and 11 in the outdoor side unit 2 connected to the power lines 3 and 4 , and supplies an operating power to a microcomputer 12 (corresponding to an outdoor side control circuit) which controls the operation of the indoor side unit 2 , an outdoor side communication circuit 13 which transmits and receives a signal to and from the indoor side unit 1 via the signal line 5 and the like.
- a microcomputer 12 corresponding to an outdoor side control circuit
- an outdoor side communication circuit 13 which transmits and receives a signal to and from the indoor side unit 1 via the signal line 5 and the like.
- the four-way changeover valve 7 switches the flow of the refrigerant, when a predetermined direct current is supplied thereto from the power circuit 9 , and the supplying of this direct current is controlled by the power circuit 9 in accordance with the signal from the microcomputer 12 .
- the motor 8 is an induction motor having two speed adjustment taps for a low speed and a high speed, the power circuit 9 switches the speed adjustment tap to which this alternating current is to be supplied, in accordance with the signal from the microcomputer 12 , and the motor 8 is switched to three speeds including stop, low speed and high speed.
- the power circuit 9 switches the supply/block of the alternating current in accordance with the signal from the microcomputer 12 , whereby the operation of the refrigerant compressor can be controlled to be ON/OFF.
- a frequency and voltage of the alternating-current power to be supplied to the electromotive element 6 are changed by using an inverter technology, the ability of the refrigerant compressor can be varied.
- an energization timing and applied voltage of each stator coil are changed in accordance with a rotary position of a rotor of the motor, whereby the ability of the refrigerant compressor can similarly be varied.
- the operating ability of the refrigerant compressor can be varied on the basis of an air conditioning load.
- the power bus line 10 extending from the power circuit 9 to the power line 3 is connected to a current limiting PCT element 14 , a normally opened contact piece 15 (a relay contact piece corresponding to a switch), a CT (a current detector) 17 , and a changeover contact piece (a relay contact piece corresponding to a changeover switch) 18 in order from the power circuit 9 .
- 16 is a normally opened contact piece (a relay contact piece corresponding to a switch) connected in parallel with a series circuit of the PCT element 14 and the normally opened contact piece 15 .
- the changeover contact piece 18 switches two contacts between a normally opened A-contact side and a normally closed B-contact side, and the CT 17 detects the alternating current flowing through the power bus line 10 , when the changeover contact piece 18 is on the normally closed B-contact side.
- the opening/closing of the normally opened contact piece 16 and the changeover of the changeover contact piece 18 are controlled from the microcomputer 12 . Therefore, when the microcomputer 12 does not operate, the normally opened contact piece 16 and the changeover contact piece 18 have a shown state.
- Reference numeral 19 is a power plug connected to a commercial alternating-current power source, the alternating current obtained via this power plug is supplied to the power bus lines 10 and 11 in the outdoor side unit 2 , and the power plug is connected to the power bus line 10 between the normally opened contact piece 15 and the changeover contact piece 18 .
- Reference numeral 20 is an auxiliary power circuit connected to positions along the power bus lines 10 and 11 where the alternating current from the power plug 19 is directly obtained.
- the auxiliary power circuit 20 supplies a driving power to a comparator 21 and a standard current setting unit 22 which supplies a standard voltage to one input of this comparator.
- the normally opened contact piece 15 is switched by an output of the comparator 21 .
- the output of the CT 17 is applied after the output is converted to a voltage corresponding to a current value detected by the CT 17 by a rectifying/smoothening circuit constituted of a rectifying diode 23 , a resistor 24 and a capacitor 25 .
- the output may be enlarged by using full wave rectification. Therefore, when the voltage corresponding to the current detected by the CT 17 exceeds a voltage corresponding to a set current set by the standard current setting unit, the output of the comparator 21 inverts. When this output inverts, the normally opened contact piece 15 is closed to enable the supplying of the alternating current to the power circuit 9 through the power bus line 10 .
- the shown comparator 21 has a constitution in which when an output voltage of the comparator becomes 0-voltage, a relay coil is excited to close the normally opened contact piece 15 , but the comparator 21 may have a constitution in which the output voltage of the comparator becomes a high voltage (from about 5 V to 15 V) to excite the relay coil.
- any alternating current is not supplied to the power circuit 9 , the microcomputer 12 is stopped, and the electromotive element 6 , the motor 8 and the four-way changeover valve 7 are not energized.
- the auxiliary power circuit 20 has the alternating current supplied thereto to operate, so that the comparator 21 operates.
- the output of the comparator 21 inverts to close the normally opened contact piece 15 .
- the alternating current from the power plug 19 is supplied to the power circuit 9 , and the power circuit 9 supplies the operating power to the microcomputer 12 .
- the microcomputer 12 ends initialization to start a predetermined operation.
- the microcomputer 12 closes the normally opened contact piece 16 , and acquires the supply of the alternating current to the power circuit 9 regardless of the opening/closing of the normally opened contact piece 15 , whereby the operation of the microcomputer 12 is continued.
- the normally opened contact piece 16 is a contact piece closed by exciting a coil of a relay (not shown), and is energized via a drive circuit of the relay in response to the signal of the microcomputer 12 .
- the changeover contact piece 18 similarly switches the A-contact side and the B-contact side of the contact piece in response to the signal of the microcomputer 12 .
- the changeover contact piece 18 switches from the B-contact side to the A-contact side at the same time when the normally opened contact piece 16 closes, and regardless of the current value detected by the CT 17 , the output of the comparator 21 does not invert, and the normally opened contact piece 15 remains to be opened.
- the operation of the microcomputer 12 is continued until the microcomputer 12 opens the normally opened contact piece 16 .
- the microcomputer 12 After closing the normally opened contact piece 16 and switching the changeover contact piece 18 , there is output, to the indoor side unit 1 via the communication circuit 13 and the signal line 5 , a signal to request information indicating whether or not the air conditioner has an air conditioning operation state, i.e., whether or not the air conditioning operation is started by a user who directly operates the indoor side unit 1 or automatically by a timer operation.
- the signal transmitted to the microcomputer 12 from the indoor side unit 1 via the signal line 5 includes a signal indicating the air conditioning operation state
- the microcomputer keeps the normally opened contact piece 16 in a closed state, and keeps the changeover contact piece 18 switched to the A-contact side to maintain the operation thereof.
- the microcomputer judges that the above output of the comparator 21 inverts owing to a faulty operation, opens the normally opened contact piece 16 , and returns the changeover contact piece 18 to the B-contact side, whereby the indoor side unit 2 returns to the stop state.
- the indoor side unit 1 includes a microcomputer 26 (corresponding to an indoor side control circuit) which controls the operation of the indoor side unit 1 , an indoor side communication circuit 27 connected to the signal line 5 to transmit and receive a signal to and from the outdoor side unit 2 , an indoor side power circuit 28 , a motor 29 having the controlled supply of a power from the power circuit 28 , to drive an air blowing fan which blows air to the utilization side heat exchanger, a reception circuit 30 which receives a signal (e.g., an infrared signal) transmitted in response to a key operation from a remote controller 31 , demodulates the signal and then outputs the signal to the microcomputer 26 and the like.
- a signal e.g., an infrared signal
- the microcomputer 26 starts the operation of the motor 29 via the power circuit 8 .
- the motor 29 an induction motor, a brushless motor or the like can be used in the same manner as in the electromotive element or the motor disposed in the outdoor side unit 2 , whereby a rotation number can be controlled.
- the rotation number of the motor 29 is automatically controlled on the basis of room temperature (a temperature to be controlled) and set temperature (target temperature). Alternatively, the rotation number is controlled to user's desirable rotation number.
- the minimum rotation number of the motor 29 is set in each of the induction motor and the brushless motor owing to a structure or characteristics thereof, and the operation of the motor 29 is performed with the minimum rotation number or more. Therefore, as long as the motor 29 operates, a power more than a current required for the minimum rotation number is consumed.
- the current to be consumed by the motor 29 is supplied via the power circuit 28 , the power lines 3 and 4 , the outdoor side unit 2 , the CT 27 and the power plug 19 .
- the driving current of the motor 29 is detected by the CT 17 of the outdoor side unit 2 , the output of the comparator 21 of the outdoor side unit 2 inverts, and the normally opened contact piece 15 closes to start the operation of the microcomputer 12 .
- a stop signal is transmitted from the indoor side unit 1 to the microcomputer 12 of the outdoor side unit 2 , and the microcomputer 12 opens the normally opened contact piece 16 to stop the operation.
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to an air conditioner which comprises an indoor side unit and an outdoor side unit and which is configured to supply a driving power of the indoor side unit from the outdoor side unit via a crossover line between the units.
- As a conventional air conditioner, a separate type air conditioner is constituted of an indoor side unit and an outdoor side unit, and a commercial alternating-current power is supplied from the indoor side unit to the outdoor side unit via an alternating-current power line between the units, restored to a direct-current power in the outdoor side unit and then supplied to the indoor side unit again.
- This direct-current power is a direct-current power with a high voltage (an output of a main power circuit) in a state where the air conditioner has an air conditioning operation state, and is a direct-current power with a low voltage (an output of an auxiliary power circuit) in a state where the air conditioner does not perform the air conditioning operation (a stop state or a standby state).
- The direct-current power with the high voltage is required for driving a motor for an air blowing fan disposed in the indoor side unit, and the direct-current power with the low voltage is required for driving a control circuit such as a microcomputer, because the motor does not have to be driven in the state where the air conditioning operation is not performed. When the auxiliary power circuit is operated, the main power circuit (an INV drive circuit, to supply a power source for an outdoor fan motor) is stopped, and a standby power in the outdoor side unit is decreased to a degree of a power of the auxiliary power circuit.
- The driving of the main power circuit is started when the control circuit (the microcomputer or the like) of the outdoor side unit receives an air conditioning operation start signal superimposed on a direct-current power line via which the direct-current power is supplied from the outdoor side unit to the indoor side unit (e.g., see Patent Document 1). Moreover, as another conventional air conditioner, a separate type air conditioner is constituted of an indoor side unit and an outdoor side unit, and the indoor side unit is connected to the outdoor side unit via three lines in total including two power lines through which a commercial alternating current flows and a signal line shared by one of these power lines, whereby the commercial alternating current is directly supplied to the power line in the outdoor side unit, and supplied to the indoor side unit successively via the outdoor side unit and the power line.
- When an air conditioning operation is stopped, the supplying of an alternating-current power to a power circuit of the outdoor side unit is blocked by opening a relay contact piece. The alternating-current power remains to be supplied to the indoor side unit.
- When the air conditioning operation is started, a higher voltage is applied from the indoor side unit to a signal line than a voltage for use in usual signal transmission or reception. The outdoor side unit excites a relay of the outdoor side unit by use of this high voltage as a start power, and closes the relay contact piece, to operate the power circuit, thereby changing the outdoor side unit to an operating state (e.g., see Patent Document 2).
- Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 3730808
- Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent No. 3019844
- However, in a technology disclosed in
Patent Document 1, it is necessary to keep a microcomputer of an indoor side unit and a microcomputer of an outdoor side unit in a state where a signal for operation/stop or the like is constantly transmitted or received. That is, it is necessary to constantly keep at least the microcomputer of the outdoor side unit in an operating state, and a standby power for this purpose is constantly required. Moreover, the transmission and reception of the signal requires a signal line and a direct-current power line, and hence at least four lines including an alternating-current power line are required, which causes faulty wiring and trouble of an installation work. - Moreover, in an air conditioner disclosed in
Patent Document 2, a special power circuit is required for applying a higher voltage to a signal line than a voltage for use in usual signal transmission and reception, and at the same time, it is necessary to change specifications of a communication circuit of an indoor side unit and an outdoor side unit to those for this high voltage. Furthermore, even if this high voltage is not excessively high, it is necessary to supply a sufficient current for exciting a relay, and owing to a difference between a low impedance of an excitation coil of the relay and a high impedance of the communication circuit, such a constitution as to cut this relay after the start of the operation of the power circuit is also required. - The present invention focuses attention on the point that the start of an indoor side unit (the start of an air conditioning operation) is associated with the operation start of a motor for an air blowing fan disposed in the indoor side unit, and the consumption of a current by the operation of this motor is judged so that the start of the air conditioning operation of the indoor side unit can be judged by an outdoor side unit. More specifically, the indoor side unit is connected to the outdoor side unit via two alternating-current power lines and one signal line (shared by one of the alternating-current power lines), and an alternating-current power is supplied to the indoor side unit via the outdoor side unit, whereby even in a case where a control circuit of the outdoor side unit is stopped, when the motor is operated in the indoor side unit, a current increases as much as at least a current for the operation on the alternating-current power line. That is, the current flowing through the alternating-current power line from the outdoor side unit to the indoor side unit increases. This current increase is detected by using a CT, and when a current value detected by this CT exceeds a predetermined value, a relay is energized to start the control circuit of the outdoor side unit. Therefore, the outdoor side unit may include at least a switching circuit to excite this relay and the CT to detect the current.
- To solve the above problem, there is provided an air conditioner having a refrigerating cycle in which at least a refrigerant compressor driven by an electromotive element, a heat source side heat exchanger, a pressure reducing unit and a utilization side heat exchanger are circularly connected via a refrigerant piping line, these constituent elements of the refrigerant cycle being divided and disposed in an indoor side unit and an outdoor side unit, the indoor side unit being provided with a motor which drives an air blowing fan of the utilization side heat exchanger, a power to drive the motor being supplied via the outdoor side unit, wherein the indoor side unit is connected to the outdoor side unit via three lines including a first power line and a second power line through which an alternating current flows and a signal line through which a signal is transmitted by using one of the power lines as a common use line, a commercial alternating-current power is applied to the first power line and the second power line in the outdoor side unit, the outdoor side unit includes a current detector which detects, from this commercial alternating-current power, the alternating current flowing through one of the first power line and the second power line, a switch which performs a circuit communicating operation in a case where a current value detected by this current detector exceeds a predetermined standard value, and an outdoor side control circuit to which the commercial alternating-current power is supplied via this switch to control the driving of the electromotive element, the indoor side unit includes an indoor side control circuit which controls the supplying, to the motor, of the commercial alternating-current power obtained via the first power line and the second power line, and this indoor side control circuit starts the driving of the motor in response to the start of an air conditioning operation, and transmits or receives the signal to or from the outdoor side control circuit of the outdoor side unit via the signal line after driving the motor.
- According to such a constitution, a change of the current consumed by the indoor side unit is detected by the outdoor side unit so that the operation of the outdoor side control circuit of the outdoor side unit can be started.
- In a second aspect of the invention, in addition to the air conditioner according to the first aspect, the predetermined standard value in a case where the switch performs the communicating operation includes at least a current to be consumed by the motor.
- According to such a constitution, when at least the motor is driven, the outdoor side control circuit of the outdoor side unit can be driven.
- In a third aspect of the invention, the air conditioner according to the second aspect additionally includes a normally opened contact piece of a relay constituting a bypass circuit which passes by a circuit after the switch performs the communicating operation of the circuit, and the outdoor side control circuit excites the relay to close the normally opened contact piece.
- According to such a constitution, when the outdoor side control circuit starts the operation, a self holding circuit of power supply is formed.
- In a fourth aspect of the invention, in addition to the air conditioner according to the first to third aspects, at the start of the operation, the operation of the motor disposed in the indoor side unit is started.
- According to such a constitution, in association with the operation start of the indoor side unit, the operation of the motor is also started.
- In a fifth aspect of the invention, in addition to the air conditioner according to the fourth aspect, the outdoor side control circuit includes a microcomputer to which the commercial alternating-current power is supplied to start the operation, and the microcomputer starts a predetermined operation, acquires a signal to judge the start of the air conditioning operation via the signal line to the indoor side control circuit of the indoor side unit, and opens a circuit of the switch in a case where the start of the air conditioning operation cannot be judged.
- According to such a constitution, the outdoor side control circuit of the outdoor side unit starts the operation, and then transmits and receives the signal from and to the indoor side control circuit of the indoor side unit to judge the start of the air conditioning operation, whereby a faulty operation can be suppressed.
- In a sixth aspect of the invention, the air conditioner according to the fourth aspect additionally includes a changeover circuit which disturbs a flow of the alternating current to the current detector after the normally opened contact piece of the relay closes.
- According to such a constitution, after the start of the air conditioning operation of the air conditioner, the current is prevented from flowing through the current detector.
- In an air conditioner of the present invention in which an indoor side unit is connected to an indoor side unit via three lines (two power lines and one signal line), a current flowing through a power line is detected to start the operation of an outdoor side control circuit of the outdoor side unit, and hence special signal exchange is not performed, but the operation of the outdoor side control circuit can be associated with the start of an air conditioning operation of the indoor side unit by use of the existing three lines, whereby a standby power in the outdoor side unit can be decreased in a case where the indoor side unit does not perform the air conditioning operation.
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FIG. 1 is a schematic electric circuit diagram of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. - Hereinafter, an air conditioner as an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawing.
FIG. 1 is a schematic electric circuit diagram of an air conditioner constituted of anindoor side unit 1 and anoutdoor side unit 2. Theindoor side unit 1 is connected to theoutdoor side unit 2 via three lines includingpower lines signal line 5. Moreover, this air conditioner has a refrigerating cycle in which constituent elements such as a refrigerant compressor driven by anelectromotive element 6, a heat source side heat exchanger (not shown), a pressure reducing unit (not shown) and a utilization side heat exchanger (not shown) are circularly connected via a refrigerant piping line, the utilization side heat exchanger is disposed in theindoor side unit 1, and the refrigerant compressor, the heat source side heat exchanger and the pressure reducing unit are disposed in the outdoor side unit. It is to be noted that the constituent elements of the refrigerating cycle divided and disposed in theindoor side unit 1 and theoutdoor side unit 2 are connected via the refrigerant piping line between both the units. Theoutdoor side unit 2 is provided with a four-way changeover valve 7, and the refrigerant piping line is disposed so that the flow of a refrigerant discharged from the refrigerant compressor can selectively be switched in order of the heat source side heat exchanger, the pressure reducing unit and the utilization side heat exchanger or in order of the utilization side heat exchanger, the pressure reducing unit and the heat source side heat exchanger. -
Reference numeral 8 is a motor which drives an air blowing fan to blow air to the heat source side heat exchanger of theoutdoor side unit 2, and the motor is connected to apower circuit 9 of theoutdoor side unit 2, together with theelectromotive element 6 which drives the refrigerant compressor, and the four-way changeover valve 7, whereby the energization of the motor is controlled. - The
power circuit 9 is connected topower bus lines outdoor side unit 2 connected to thepower lines indoor side unit 2, an outdoorside communication circuit 13 which transmits and receives a signal to and from theindoor side unit 1 via thesignal line 5 and the like. - The four-
way changeover valve 7 switches the flow of the refrigerant, when a predetermined direct current is supplied thereto from thepower circuit 9, and the supplying of this direct current is controlled by thepower circuit 9 in accordance with the signal from themicrocomputer 12. Themotor 8 is an induction motor having two speed adjustment taps for a low speed and a high speed, thepower circuit 9 switches the speed adjustment tap to which this alternating current is to be supplied, in accordance with the signal from themicrocomputer 12, and themotor 8 is switched to three speeds including stop, low speed and high speed. When theelectromotive element 6 is an induction motor in the same manner as in themotor 8, thepower circuit 9 switches the supply/block of the alternating current in accordance with the signal from themicrocomputer 12, whereby the operation of the refrigerant compressor can be controlled to be ON/OFF. When a frequency and voltage of the alternating-current power to be supplied to theelectromotive element 6 are changed by using an inverter technology, the ability of the refrigerant compressor can be varied. Moreover, when a direct-current brushless motor is used in theelectromotive element 6, an energization timing and applied voltage of each stator coil are changed in accordance with a rotary position of a rotor of the motor, whereby the ability of the refrigerant compressor can similarly be varied. The operating ability of the refrigerant compressor can be varied on the basis of an air conditioning load. - The
power bus line 10 extending from thepower circuit 9 to thepower line 3 is connected to a current limitingPCT element 14, a normally opened contact piece 15 (a relay contact piece corresponding to a switch), a CT (a current detector) 17, and a changeover contact piece (a relay contact piece corresponding to a changeover switch) 18 in order from thepower circuit 9. 16 is a normally opened contact piece (a relay contact piece corresponding to a switch) connected in parallel with a series circuit of thePCT element 14 and the normally openedcontact piece 15. Thechangeover contact piece 18 switches two contacts between a normally opened A-contact side and a normally closed B-contact side, and the CT 17 detects the alternating current flowing through thepower bus line 10, when thechangeover contact piece 18 is on the normally closed B-contact side. The opening/closing of the normally openedcontact piece 16 and the changeover of thechangeover contact piece 18 are controlled from themicrocomputer 12. Therefore, when themicrocomputer 12 does not operate, the normally openedcontact piece 16 and thechangeover contact piece 18 have a shown state. -
Reference numeral 19 is a power plug connected to a commercial alternating-current power source, the alternating current obtained via this power plug is supplied to thepower bus lines outdoor side unit 2, and the power plug is connected to thepower bus line 10 between the normally openedcontact piece 15 and thechangeover contact piece 18. -
Reference numeral 20 is an auxiliary power circuit connected to positions along thepower bus lines power plug 19 is directly obtained. Theauxiliary power circuit 20 supplies a driving power to acomparator 21 and a standardcurrent setting unit 22 which supplies a standard voltage to one input of this comparator. The normally openedcontact piece 15 is switched by an output of thecomparator 21. To the other input of thecomparator 21, the output of the CT 17 is applied after the output is converted to a voltage corresponding to a current value detected by the CT 17 by a rectifying/smoothening circuit constituted of a rectifyingdiode 23, aresistor 24 and acapacitor 25. It is to be noted that during rectification, the output may be enlarged by using full wave rectification. Therefore, when the voltage corresponding to the current detected by the CT 17 exceeds a voltage corresponding to a set current set by the standard current setting unit, the output of thecomparator 21 inverts. When this output inverts, the normally openedcontact piece 15 is closed to enable the supplying of the alternating current to thepower circuit 9 through thepower bus line 10. It is to be noted that the showncomparator 21 has a constitution in which when an output voltage of the comparator becomes 0-voltage, a relay coil is excited to close the normally openedcontact piece 15, but thecomparator 21 may have a constitution in which the output voltage of the comparator becomes a high voltage (from about 5 V to 15 V) to excite the relay coil. - When the
outdoor side unit 2 having such a constitution has a shown stop state, any alternating current is not supplied to thepower circuit 9, themicrocomputer 12 is stopped, and theelectromotive element 6, themotor 8 and the four-way changeover valve 7 are not energized. Theauxiliary power circuit 20 has the alternating current supplied thereto to operate, so that thecomparator 21 operates. When the current detected by the CT 17 exceeds the value set by the standardcurrent setting unit 22, the output of thecomparator 21 inverts to close the normally openedcontact piece 15. - When the normally opened
contact piece 15 closes, the alternating current from thepower plug 19 is supplied to thepower circuit 9, and thepower circuit 9 supplies the operating power to themicrocomputer 12. Themicrocomputer 12 ends initialization to start a predetermined operation. Themicrocomputer 12 closes the normally openedcontact piece 16, and acquires the supply of the alternating current to thepower circuit 9 regardless of the opening/closing of the normally openedcontact piece 15, whereby the operation of themicrocomputer 12 is continued. - It is to be noted that the normally opened
contact piece 16 is a contact piece closed by exciting a coil of a relay (not shown), and is energized via a drive circuit of the relay in response to the signal of themicrocomputer 12. Thechangeover contact piece 18 similarly switches the A-contact side and the B-contact side of the contact piece in response to the signal of themicrocomputer 12. Thechangeover contact piece 18 switches from the B-contact side to the A-contact side at the same time when the normally openedcontact piece 16 closes, and regardless of the current value detected by the CT 17, the output of thecomparator 21 does not invert, and the normally openedcontact piece 15 remains to be opened. - Therefore, the operation of the
microcomputer 12 is continued until themicrocomputer 12 opens the normally openedcontact piece 16. After closing the normally openedcontact piece 16 and switching thechangeover contact piece 18, there is output, to theindoor side unit 1 via thecommunication circuit 13 and thesignal line 5, a signal to request information indicating whether or not the air conditioner has an air conditioning operation state, i.e., whether or not the air conditioning operation is started by a user who directly operates theindoor side unit 1 or automatically by a timer operation. When the signal transmitted to themicrocomputer 12 from theindoor side unit 1 via thesignal line 5 includes a signal indicating the air conditioning operation state, the microcomputer keeps the normally openedcontact piece 16 in a closed state, and keeps thechangeover contact piece 18 switched to the A-contact side to maintain the operation thereof. When the signal transmitted from theoutdoor side unit 1 does not include the signal indicating the air conditioning operation state, the microcomputer judges that the above output of thecomparator 21 inverts owing to a faulty operation, opens the normally openedcontact piece 16, and returns thechangeover contact piece 18 to the B-contact side, whereby theindoor side unit 2 returns to the stop state. - The
indoor side unit 1 includes a microcomputer 26 (corresponding to an indoor side control circuit) which controls the operation of theindoor side unit 1, an indoorside communication circuit 27 connected to thesignal line 5 to transmit and receive a signal to and from theoutdoor side unit 2, an indoorside power circuit 28, amotor 29 having the controlled supply of a power from thepower circuit 28, to drive an air blowing fan which blows air to the utilization side heat exchanger, areception circuit 30 which receives a signal (e.g., an infrared signal) transmitted in response to a key operation from aremote controller 31, demodulates the signal and then outputs the signal to themicrocomputer 26 and the like. - When the
remote controller 31 is operated, a switch provided in theindoor side unit 1 is directly operated or operation start time is reached by a timer operation, themicrocomputer 26 starts the operation of themotor 29 via thepower circuit 8. In themotor 29, an induction motor, a brushless motor or the like can be used in the same manner as in the electromotive element or the motor disposed in theoutdoor side unit 2, whereby a rotation number can be controlled. The rotation number of themotor 29 is automatically controlled on the basis of room temperature (a temperature to be controlled) and set temperature (target temperature). Alternatively, the rotation number is controlled to user's desirable rotation number. The minimum rotation number of themotor 29 is set in each of the induction motor and the brushless motor owing to a structure or characteristics thereof, and the operation of themotor 29 is performed with the minimum rotation number or more. Therefore, as long as themotor 29 operates, a power more than a current required for the minimum rotation number is consumed. The current to be consumed by themotor 29 is supplied via thepower circuit 28, thepower lines outdoor side unit 2, theCT 27 and thepower plug 19. - When the air conditioning operation of the
indoor side unit 1 is started and the operation of themotor 29 is started, the driving current of themotor 29 is detected by the CT 17 of theoutdoor side unit 2, the output of thecomparator 21 of theoutdoor side unit 2 inverts, and the normally openedcontact piece 15 closes to start the operation of themicrocomputer 12. It is to be noted that when the air conditioning operation stops, a stop signal is transmitted from theindoor side unit 1 to themicrocomputer 12 of theoutdoor side unit 2, and themicrocomputer 12 opens the normally openedcontact piece 16 to stop the operation. -
- 1 indoor side unit
- 2 outdoor side unit
- 3, 4 power line
- 5 signal line
- 6 electromotive element
- 9 power circuit
- 12 microcomputer
- 15 normally opened contact piece
- 17 CT
- 18 changeover contact piece
- 26 microcomputer
- 29 motor
Claims (6)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2009092031A JP5381252B2 (en) | 2009-04-06 | 2009-04-06 | Air conditioner |
PCT/JP2010/001853 WO2010116619A1 (en) | 2009-04-06 | 2010-03-16 | Air conditioner |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20120234029A1 true US20120234029A1 (en) | 2012-09-20 |
Family
ID=42935919
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US13/201,835 Abandoned US20120234029A1 (en) | 2009-04-06 | 2011-03-16 | Air conditioner |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20120234029A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2418433A4 (en) |
JP (1) | JP5381252B2 (en) |
CN (1) | CN102388273B (en) |
WO (1) | WO2010116619A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP5404582B2 (en) * | 2010-11-15 | 2014-02-05 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Air conditioner |
JP5830719B2 (en) * | 2011-05-16 | 2015-12-09 | パナソニックIpマネジメント株式会社 | Control device for multi-room air conditioner |
CN102820840A (en) * | 2011-06-10 | 2012-12-12 | 北京理工大学 | Method for sampling current of brushless direct current motor |
JP5595560B2 (en) * | 2013-07-04 | 2014-09-24 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Air conditioner |
CN104979817B (en) * | 2015-06-30 | 2019-02-22 | 青岛海尔科技有限公司 | A kind of anti-error protection circuit of domestic air conditioning indoor and outdoor communication |
JP6505256B2 (en) * | 2016-01-06 | 2019-04-24 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Air conditioner |
JP6881503B2 (en) * | 2019-05-31 | 2021-06-02 | ダイキン工業株式会社 | Air conditioning system |
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JPS594607A (en) | 1982-06-30 | 1984-01-11 | Showa Denko Kk | Manufacture of ethylene polymer |
JPH08182182A (en) * | 1994-12-28 | 1996-07-12 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | Control of power circuit of air conditioner |
JP3019844B1 (en) * | 1998-10-05 | 2000-03-13 | ダイキン工業株式会社 | Separate type air conditioner |
JP3730808B2 (en) * | 1999-06-03 | 2006-01-05 | 株式会社日立製作所 | Air conditioner |
JP3518433B2 (en) * | 1999-07-29 | 2004-04-12 | ダイキン工業株式会社 | Air conditioner |
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-
2010
- 2010-03-16 EP EP10761327.5A patent/EP2418433A4/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2010-03-16 WO PCT/JP2010/001853 patent/WO2010116619A1/en active Application Filing
- 2010-03-16 CN CN201080015051.1A patent/CN102388273B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2011
- 2011-03-16 US US13/201,835 patent/US20120234029A1/en not_active Abandoned
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US3852648A (en) * | 1971-05-25 | 1974-12-03 | Carrier Corp | Control circuit |
US4695738A (en) * | 1985-09-30 | 1987-09-22 | Daniel Wilmot | Energy management system |
US5062278A (en) * | 1990-02-23 | 1991-11-05 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Air-conditioning apparatus including an indoor unit and an outdoor unit having its compressor driven by a three-phase AC power supply |
US5634352A (en) * | 1994-05-31 | 1997-06-03 | Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. | Refrigeration cycle using six-way change-over valve |
US5613369A (en) * | 1994-09-28 | 1997-03-25 | Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba | Air conditioner and control method for an air conditioner |
US6065298A (en) * | 1997-06-20 | 2000-05-23 | Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha | Air conditioner automatically controlling operation based on supply voltage or supply frequency |
US6158230A (en) * | 1998-03-30 | 2000-12-12 | Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. | Controller for air conditioner |
US6079219A (en) * | 1998-03-31 | 2000-06-27 | Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. | Air conditioner |
US6434957B1 (en) * | 1999-02-16 | 2002-08-20 | Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. | Operation control method for air conditioning system and air conditioning system |
US20090077990A1 (en) * | 2007-09-26 | 2009-03-26 | Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. | Indoor unit and air conditioning system using the same |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP2418433A1 (en) | 2012-02-15 |
CN102388273B (en) | 2014-04-02 |
EP2418433A4 (en) | 2016-03-23 |
JP5381252B2 (en) | 2014-01-08 |
CN102388273A (en) | 2012-03-21 |
JP2010243059A (en) | 2010-10-28 |
WO2010116619A1 (en) | 2010-10-14 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD., JAPAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:MIYAUCHI, TAKU;SARUHASHI, KOICHI;TAKADA, HAJIME;REEL/FRAME:026816/0844 Effective date: 20110620 |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LT Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.;REEL/FRAME:034194/0032 Effective date: 20141110 |
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STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |