WO2008150098A2

WO2008150098A2 - Air conditioner having fire extinguishing system

Info

Publication number: WO2008150098A2
Application number: PCT/KR2008/003126
Authority: WO
Inventors: Young Ryong Kim
Original assignee: Young Ryong Kim
Priority date: 2007-06-04
Filing date: 2008-06-04
Publication date: 2008-12-11
Also published as: KR20090042878A; WO2008150098A3; KR100981725B1; KR20100051732A; CN102317697A

Abstract

Disclosed is an air conditioner having a fire extinguishing system in addition to an air con¬ ditioning system, the air conditioner comprising: a fire sensing unit which senses a fire; a controller which controls the air conditioning system and the fire extinguishing system; an automatic fire extinguishing unit which automatically spray extinguishing gas under control of the controller; and a fire alarm unit which outputs a fire alarm under the control of the controller, the controller controlling the fire alarm unit to output a first fire alarm when receiving a first sensing signal from the fire sensing unit, the fire alarm unit to output a second fire alarm when receiving a second sensing signal from the fire sensing unit after a lapse of t seconds after receiving the first sensing signal, and the air conditioning system to stop and the automatic fire extinguishing unit to operate to spray the extinguishing gas after a lapse of t seconds after outputting the second fire alarm.

Description

AIR CONDITIONER HAVING FIRE EXTINGUISHING

SYSTEM

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to an air conditioner, and more particularly, to an air conditioner having fire extinguishing system. Background Art

[2] An air conditioner (or an air control unit) is a device that maintains temperature and humidity in a room. In this specification, the air conditioner means a device that includes a cooling system, a heating system, and a humidifying system to maintain the temperature and the humidity as desired, which may be called a thermo-hygrostat.

[3] The air conditioner may be employed as a cooling system using a cooling cycle that includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve and an evaporator; and may also be employed as a heating system by reversing the cooling system. In general, the air conditioner presently in use includes a reheater and a humidifier in addition to the cooling system with the cooling cycle.

[4] Meanwhile, as a representative example of fire-extinguishing equipment currently in use, there is a sprinkler. In this case, a fire sensor and the sprinkler are installed on the ceiling, and the sprinkler goes on and sprinkles water when sensing a fire, thereby bring the fire under control. However, there is a problem with installing the sprinkler in a space provided with a computer system or the like equipment vulnerable to water. To solve this problem, a system for spraying extinguishing gas or powder instead of water is installed in the room, but it costs too much.

[5] With regard to the foregoing problems, if an automatic fire extinguishing system is incorporated in the air conditioner installed in the room, the incorporated device can achieve both effects of not only conditioning the air of the room but also extinguishing a fire at an early stage. However, the air conditioner having the automatic fire extinguishing system has not been hitherto manufactured or vended. Further, the related art has not disclosed any description how to incorporate the automatic fire extinguishing system in the air conditioner. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[6] To solve the above-described problems, an aspect of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner having an efficient automatic fire extinguishing system.

[7] In more detail, an aspect of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner having fire extinguishing system, which can incorporate concretely and efficiently the automatic fire extinguishing system in the air conditioner; prevent an extinguishing liquid from wastefully sprayed due to sensitivity of a sensor or provide effective preparation for the wasteful spray of the extinguishing liquid; convert to a manual extinguishing function when needing to manually extinguish a local fire; previously warn when the extinguishing liquid or gas is used up; operate the fire extinguishing system even when a fire causes a power failure; effectively inform the outside of a fire place when the fire is sensed; allows a person in a room to easily find an exit and take refuge when a fire oxurs; and so on. Technical Solution

[8] The foregoing aspect of the present invention can be achieved by providing an air conditioner having a fire extinguishing system in addition to an air conditioning system, the air conditioner including: a fire sensing unit which senses a fire; a controller which controls the air conditioning system and the fire extinguishing system; an automatic fire extinguishing unit which automatically spray extinguishing gas under control of the controller; and a fire alarm unit which outputs a fire alarm under the control of the controller, the controller controlling the fire alarm unit to output a first fire alarm when receiving a first sensing signal from the fire sensing unit, the fire alarm unit to output a second fire alarm when receiving a second sensing signal from the fire sensing unit after a lapse of t seconds after receiving the first sensing signal, and the air conditioning system to stop and the automatic fire extinguishing unit to operate to spray the extinguishing gas after a lapse of t seconds after outputting the second fire alarm.

[9] Another aspect of the present invention can be achieved by providing an air conditioner having a fire extinguishing system in addition to an air conditioning system, the air conditioner including: a fire sensing unit which senses a fire; a controller which controls the air conditioning system and the fire extinguishing system; an automatic fire extinguishing unit which automatically spray extinguishing gas under control of the controller; and a fire alarm unit which outputs a fire alarm under the control of the controller.

[10] The controller may calculate a temperature increase rate even though temperature sensed by the fire sensing unit is equal to or lower than a fire setting temperature, and control the fire alarm to be given if the temperature increase rate is equal to or higher than a reference increase rate.

[1 1] Further, when the fire sensing unit senses a fire setting temperature, the controller may control the fire alarm unit to raise the fire alarm only if a temperature increase time from an initial room temperature to the fire setting temperature is equal to or less than a reference time.

[12] The automatic fire extinguishing unit may include an extinguishing gas storage, an automatic extinguishing gas nozzle connected to the extinguishing gas storage, and an electronic valve operating under the control of the controller.

[13] The air conditioner may further include a gas leakage alarm which warns of gas leakage in the extinguishing gas storage under the control of the controller, wherein the automatic fire extinguishing unit includes a reference pressure check means provided in the extinguishing gas storage and allows the gas leakage alarm to warn of the gas leakage if the extinguishing gas has a setting pressure or below.

[14] At least one of the automatic extinguishing gas nozzle may be provided in an upper part of an indoor unit of the air conditioner, and covered with a nozzle cover in front thereof, the nozzle cover being opened when the extinguishing gas is sprayed.

[15] The air conditioner may further include an emergency power supply, the emergency power supply being divided into an air conditioner power supply and a fire extinguishing power supply, in which an external power source is branched from a cutoff switch and has one end connected to the air conditioner power supply and the other end connected to the fire extinguishing power supply and an electric condenser via a transformer and a direct current (DC) converter. Further, the controller may be divided into an air conditioner controller and a fire extinguishing controller, and the fire extinguishing controller may be connectted to the electric condenser so that the fire extinguishing system can be operated by the electric condenser when power is cut off.

[16] The air conditioner may further include: an emergency stop switch to manually stop the operation of the fire extinguishing system.

[17] The air conditioner may further include: a manual fire extinguishing unit which manually sprays an extinguishing liquid under control of the controller; and a manual extinguishing switch to operate the manual fire extinguishing unit, the manual fire extinguishing unit including: a manual extinguishing nozzle connected to the extinguishing gas storage through a fire hose, and an electronic valve operating under the control of the controller. Further, the controller may control the air conditioning system to stop and the electronic valve to be opened after a lapse of t seconds after receiving a signal through the manual extinguishing switch so that the extinguishing gas can be sprayed through the manual extinguishing nozzle.

[18] The automatic fire extinguishing unit and the manual fire extinguishing unit may include pressure adjusting valves in connection parts between the extinguishing gas storage and the automatic extinguishing nozzle and between the extinguishing gas storage and the manual extinguishing nozzle, respectively.

[19] The fire alarm unit may be provided in an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. At this time, the fire alarm unit provided in the outdoor unit may include a laser output unit to emit a laser beam outward when a fire occurs, and the laser output unit may be configured to move an emission angle of the laser beam. Also, the fire alarm unit provided in the indoor unit may include a laser output unit to illuminate an exit with a laser beam when a fire occurs, and the laser output unit is configured to move an emission angle of the laser beam.

[20] The fire sensing unit may be attached to the air conditioner or installed in a room, and connected to the controller of the air conditioner through wire or wireless data communication. Further, the fire sensing unit comprises a temperature sensor and a smoke sensor, and at least one of the smoke sensor is installed in a latter part of an air inhaling filter of the air conditioner.

[21] The fire sensing unit may include a picture taking means, the picture taking means storing a taken picture data and sending the picture data to a remote monitor through a wireless network.

[22] The air conditioner may further comprise at least one portable oxygen supplier in an interior space to be opened/closed by an opening/closing means, the opening/closing means being automatically opened when the fire alarm is output.

[23] The air conditioner may further include a wireless communication unit, when the fire alarm breaks out, the fire alarm is sent as voice information or text information to a communication terminal of a user registered through the wireless communication unit.

[24]

Advantageous Effects

[25] The air conditioner with the fire extinguishing system according to an embodiment of the present invention is for itself capable of warning of fire occurrence and extinguishing a fire as well as maintaining temperature and humidity, so that there is no need of additional extinguishing equipment such as a sprinkler.

[26] Further, the plurality of fire sensors makes stepwise warnings possible and is controlled by an automatic control method, so that an extinguishing liquid can be prevented from being wastefully sprayed due to sensitivity of the sensor or effective preparation for the wasteful spray is provided by releasing a malfunction at the stepwise warnings or by converting to the manual fire extinguishing function.

[27] Also, it is possible to covert the manual fire extinguishing function if there is needed to manually extinguish a local fire.

[28] Further, if the extinguishing liquid or gas is beyond a reference needed for extinguishing a fire, it is previously sensed and warned, so that a problem due to the extinguishing liquid or gas insufficient to extinguish a real fire can be solved.

[29] Also, even though power is cut off due to a fire, an emergency power supply operates the fire extinguishing system. Thus, it is possible to extinguish a fire even if external power is not supplied.

[30] Further, a long-distance discernible alarm is provided in the outdoor unit, so that it is possible to quickly and effectively inform the outside of the fire place. Additionally, there is provided a system for illuminating an exit with a laser beam when a fire breaks out, so that a person in the room can easily find the exit and escape. Also, a fire alarm is sent to a communication terminal of a user when a fire occurs. Further, a portable oxygen supplier is provided inside the air conditioner, thereby preventing a person from being suffocated by smoke. Brief Description of the Drawings

[31] FIG. 1 shows configuration of an air conditioner with an extinguishing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[32] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an outdoor unit in the air conditioner with the extinguishing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[33] FIG. 3 is a front view of an indoor unit in the air conditioner with the extinguishing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[34] FIG. 4 is a see-through view of the indoor unit in the air conditioner with the fire extinguishing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[35] FIGs. 5, 6 and 7 are flowcharts of a system operation performed in a controller of the air conditioner with the fire extinguishing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[36] FIG. 8 shows configuration of the controller and a power supply in the air conditioner with the fire extinguishing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[37] FIG. 9 illustrates a guide using a laser beam in the air conditioner with the fire extinguishing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [38] FIG. 10 shows configuration of an automatic fire extinguishing system in the air conditioner with the fire extinguishing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[39] Below, configuration and operation of the present invention will be described with reference to accompanying drawings in more detail so that those skilled in the art can easily understand and recreate the present invention. Here, like numerals refer to like elements throughout.

[40] FIG. 1 shows configuration of an air conditioner with an extinguishing system according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an outdoor unit, FIG. 3 is a front view of an indoor unit, and FIG. 4 is a see-through view of the indoor unit in the air conditioner with the fire extinguishing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[41] As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioner includes the indoor unit that has an evaporator 3 and an expansion valve 4, and an outdoor unit that has an compressor 14 and a condenser 15. The compressor 14 compresses refrigerant gas to have high temperature and high pressure, and then the refrigerant gas is condensed and liquefied as its temperature is lowered through heat exchange in the condenser 15. The condensed and liquefied refrigerant passes through a refrigerant high pressure liquid pipe 5 and decreases in temperature as its pressure is lowered in the expansion valve 4, thereby accomplish a cooling purpose in the evaporator 3. Then, the refrigerant passes through a refrigerant low pressure gas pipe 6 in a gaseous state and is then inhaled by the compressor 14, so that the compressor 14 compresses the refrigerant gas again to have high temperature and high pressure. Thus, a cooling cycle is formed as the refrigerant circulates as described above. In the meantime, the cooling cycle may be used as a heating cycle when the cooling cycle is reversed using a 4-way valve 105.

[42] When a blower 1 operates, a first filter 29 filters off dust from inhaled air, and then air passes through the evaporator (heat exchanger) 3. At this time, temperature of air is lowered as the evaporator 3 absorbs heat (for reference, the temperature of air may become higher as the evaporator 3 generates heat by operation of the 4-way valve 105 driven by a heat pump), and humidified by a humidifier 106 as necessary. Then, the air passes through the blower 1 and is discharged as discharge air 65 to a room. Here, temperature difference between the inhaled air 64 and the evaporator 3 causes dew condensation. The dew condensation is collected in a drain plate 31 and discharged to the outside through a drain pipe 9. [43] A fire extinguishing system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a fire sensing unit to sense a fire; a controller to control an air conditioning system and a fire extinguishing system; an automatic fire extiguishing unit to automatically spray extinguishing gas under control of the controller; and a fire alarm unit to give a fire alarm with light or sound under the control of the controller.

[44] The fire sensing unit includes a heat sensor 38, 39 and a smoke sensor 32, 33, and may additionally include other means capable of sensing a fire. The heat sensor 38, 39 and the smoke sensor 32, 33 may be mounted to the air conditioner. Preferably, the heat sensor 38, 39 and the smoke sensor 32, 33 may be mounted in a part of a room where a fire has to be sensed if the room is so large or partitioned into independent spaces. At this time, the heat sensor 38, 39 and the smoke sensor 32, 33 may be wirily or wirelessly connected to the controller 18, 19 of the air conditioner, and transmit sensed data to the controller 18, 19.

[45] Since hot air and smoke at a fire are collected in an upper part of the room, as shown in FIGs. 3 and 4, the heat sensor 38, 39 and the smoke sensor 32, 33 are arranged in an upper part of the air conditioner, and a smoke sensor 34 is attached to an inhaling-side filter 29 of the air conditioner to sense the smoke when the air conditioner inhales the smoke.

[46] Further, the fire sensing unit according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a picture taking means. The picture taking means stores taken picture data and sends the picture data to a remote monitor through a wireless network. As shown in FIG. 3, a camera 90 attached to an upper part of the air conditioner takes a picture, and the remote monitor displays the picture received in real time through the wireless network, thereby monitoring a state of the room in real time.

[47] The automatic fire extinguishing unit includes an extinguishing gas storage 13, an automatic extinguishing gas nozzle 30 connected to the extinguishing gas storage 13, and an electronic valve 8, 12 operating under the control of the controller. The electronic valve is opened in response to an electric signal and passes gas or liquid therethrough.

[48] As an example of the automatic fire extinguishing unit, as shown in FIG. 4, an extinguishing electronic valve 8 is provided in a pipe branched from an outdoor extinguishing pipe 71 below the drain plate 31, and the pipe 70 is extended to the nozzle 30 while being covered with a thermal insulation material. Since the pipe is covered with the thermal insulation material, damage due to the dew condensation is reduced. As shown in FIG. 1, the extinguishing gas nozzle 30 and the extinguishing pipe 70 are provided in the upper part of the air conditioner, and covered with a top casing 60 to protect the extinguishing pipe and the nozzle. Also, as shown in FIG. 1, a nozzle cover 22 is opened outward when the nozzle 30 sprays the extinguishing gas, and not pushed inward to block a foreign material. Further, the nozzle is placed in the upper part of the air conditioner, so that it is designed to prevent a person from direct exposure to the extinguishing gas when the extinguishing gas is sprayed. In addition, a lower casing 61 is attached using a thermal insulation material 62 to prevent the dew condensation. In this embodiment, chemicals for extinguishing a fire may include various chemicals having an extinguishing function such as extinguishing powder, extinguishing liquid, etc. as well as the extinguishing gas.

[49] Further, the automatic fire extinguishing unit includes a pressure switch 11 placed in the extinguishing gas storage 13 and used as a reference pressure checking means. Also, a gas leakage alarm is provided to give the alarm of gas leakage when the extinguishing gas has a preset pressure or below. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the gas leakage alarm may be provided to warn of gas leakage through an alarm lamp 26 (refer to FIG. 4). The extinguishing gas storage 13 may store various extinguishing chemicals such as the extinguishing powder, the extinguishing liquid, etc. besides the extinguishing gas. In this case, the pressure of the storage chemical is checked, and the alarm lamp 26 warns of when the pressure is a reference pressure or below.

[50] In general, the air conditioner is manufactured to support a cooling load and a heating load in consideration of a room space, i.e., the number of Pyeong(the unit of area used in Korea). Accordingly, the amount of extinguishing gas is given corresponding to the number of Pyeong, so that the concentration of extinguishing gas can be maintained in the room when the extinguishing gas is sprayed for extinguishing a fire. Thus, the amount of the extinguishing gas is calculated corresponding to the number of Pyeong, and an extinguishing cylinder having a calculated storage capacity is filled with the extinguishing gas, so that the room can have an extinguishing concentration before a lapse of T seconds after a fire occurs, thereby extinguishing the fire.

[51] <Example of filling extinguishing chemkals>

[52] Under the condition that the number of Pyeong is 10, and a ceiling height is 3.2m,

[53] Volume: 10 Pyeong x 3.24 in¹ x3.2m = 103.6 m¹

[54] need of extinguishing chemicals: 103.6m² x 0.4kg/m² = 42kg

[55] 42kg x 1.2(safety factor) = 49.44kg [56] Thus, there is provided a cylindrical chamber 50 having a capacity of 50kg.

[57] * Consideration of A and C grade fires caused by electricity

[58] For example, the extinguishing gas storage 13 is installed with the cylinder chamber

50 provided beside the condenser 14, and the capacity of the extinguishing gas is calculated according to the number of Pyeong, so that the amount of extinguishing gas can be adjusted by a pressure adjusting valve 80 when the extinguishing gas is sprayed from the electronic valve 12.

[59] In the air conditioner having the fire extinguishing system according to an embodiment of the present invention, a manual fire extinguishing unit is connected to the automatic fire extinguishing unit and a manual extinguishing switch is provided in preparation for a local fire that has to be manually and quickly extinguished by a person.

[60] The manual fire extinguishing unit includes a manual extinguishing gas nozzle 208 connected to the extinguishing gas storage 13 through a extinguishing hose, and an electronic valve 7 operating under control of the controller. In this embodiment, an extinguishing electronic valve 7 is provided in another pipe branched from the outdoor extinguishing pipe 71, and is connected to a fire hose 10, so that a person can push the manual extinguishing switch 35 manually and use the fire hose 1O t extinguish a fire when the fire occurs locally. The fire hose is made of a material resistant to flame and in consideration of length corresponding to the number of Pyeong (i.e., a distance to a place such as a kitchen, a laboratory, etc. where fire is frequently used), and placed inside the air conditioner, so that it can be used for extinguishing a fire in case of need. The fire hose has a grip made of a thermal insulation material resistant to flame, thereby preventing slipping due to dew condensation caused by temperature difference of the extinguishing gas. A pressure adjusting valve 81 protects the fire hose from pressure, thereby preventing the fire hose from damage.

[61] The manual extinguishing switch 35 is covered with a switch protection plate 36 so as to prevent an alarm lamp, an alarm buzzer, etc. from operating by mistake. Thus, the switch protection plate 36 has to be opened when the fire is manually extinguished. Here, the switch protection plate 36 is made of poly ethylen terephthalate (PET) flexible to push the manual extinguishing switch 35.

[62] The automatic fire extinguishing unit and the manual fire extinguishing unit are respectively proved with pressure adjusting valves in connection parts between the extinguishing gas storage 13 and the automatic extinguishing nozzle 30 and between the extinguishing gas storage 13 and the manual extinguishing nozzle 208, thereby adjusting the pressure of the extinguishing gas being sprayed. The pressure adjusting valve is set once to be used for automatically adjusting the pressure in an outlet.

[63] FIG. 8 shows configuration of the controller and a power supply in the air conditioner with the fire extinguishing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Preferably, the air conditioner with the fire extinguishing system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an emergency power supply to drive the fire extinguishing system even though power is cut off. For the emergency power supply as shown in FIG. 8, an air conditioner power supply 205 and a fire extinguishing power supply 206 are separated from each other, so that an external power source is branched from a cut-off switch and has one end connected to the air conditioner power supply 205 and the other end is connected to the fire extinguishing power supply 206 and an electric condenser 21 via a transformer 207 and a direct current (DC) converter.

[64] Further, referring to FIG. 8, the controller is divided into an air conditioner controller 19 and a fire extinguishing controller 20. The fire extinguishing controller 20 is connected to the electric condenser 21, so that the electric condenser 21 drives the fire extinguishing system to operate when the power is cut off.

[65] The fire alarm unit warns of a fire occurrence when the fire sensing unit senses a fire. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the fire alarm unit is provide in the outdoor unit as well as the indoor unit, so that it is possible to quickly and effectively inform the outside of a fire place.

[66] FIG. 2 shows an outer appearance of the outdoor unit. As shown in FIG. 2, the fire alarm unit provided in the outdoor unit may include the alarm lamp 17 and the alarm buzzer 16 to thereby warn of the fire occurrence through light and sound. In particular, the alarm lamp 17 may include a laser output unit to emit a laser beam excellent in traveling straight so that it is easy to exactly find the fire place overwhelmed by smoke.

[67] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, an alarm buzzer 24 and the alarm lamp 26 are provided in the indoor unit of the air conditioner to thereby inform a person in the room of the fire occurrence. As shown in FIG. 2, the outdoor unit is provided with the alarm buzzer 16 and the alarm lamp 17 attached to the cylinder chamber 50, so that it is possible to quickly and exactly inform a neighbor or firemen of the fire occurrence and the fire place when the fire occurs.

[68] The alarm lamp 17 of the outdoor unit includes the laser output unit. The laser output unit emits the laser beam outward and an emission angle of the laser beam is movable so that a neighbor or a fire engine can easily find the fire place while seeing the laser beam.

[69] Further, the fire alarm unit installed in the indoor unit includes a laser output unit to point out an exit with a laser beam when a fire breaks out. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a laser alarm lamp 28 is provided in an upper part of the indoor unit. The laser alarm lamp 28 emits the laser beam toward the exit. Since the laser beam is excellent in traveling straight and has a coherent wavelength, a person can easily find the exit along the laser beam even though it is dark. The laser alarm lamp 28 is movable left, right, up and down by an alarm lamp holding plate 37, and illuminates the exit with the laser beam, so that a person can easily escape along the laser beam. Further, the laser alarm lamp 28 flickers repetitively so that it is easily understood by a person that the laser beam is provided for the purpose of indication. Referring to FIG. 8, if an installation position of the indoor unit causes the laser beam not to directly point out the exit, a reflective mirror 73 may be provided to illuminate the exit with the laser beam.

[70] Besides the alarm buzzer 24, the alarm lamp 26 and the laser alarm lamp 28, the indoor unit may include an emergency illuminating lamp 72 to light up the room darkened by a power failure due to a fire.

[71] Further, the air conditioner with the fire extinguishing system according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a wireless communication unit to communicate data with a wireless communication base station or send data through wireless Internet. When the fire alarm breaks out, the fire alarm is sent as voice information or text information to a communication terminal of a user registered through the wireless communication unit.

[72] To send data of the fire alarm, it may be possible to use a code division multiple access (CDMA) method employing an applied spread spectrum technology, and a wireless network communication technology employing Ethernet protocol and a carrier sense multiple access (CSMA )/collision avoidance (CA) as a shared route protocol of a wireless local area network (LAN) (institute of electrical and electronics engineers (IEEE) 802.11).

[73] Further, the air conditioner with the fire extinguishing system according to an embodiment of the present invention includes at least one portable oxygen supplier in an interior space to be opened and closed by an opening/closing means. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the air conditioner includes an accommodating space in a left side thereof to accommodate the portable oxygen supplier 20 so that a person can breathe while escaping from the fire place. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the accommodating space to accommodate the portable oxygen supplier 20 is provided with a door to be opened manually or automatically. When the fire alarm breaks out, a voice guide about the position of the portable oxygen supplier and the emergency escape is sounded through the alarm unit, and a lock of the door is released so that the door is naturally opened, thereby allowing a person to easily take out and wear the portable oxygen supplier.

[74] The foregoing fire extinguishing system including the fire sensing unit, the automatic and manual fire extinguishing unit, and the fire alarm unit is operated together with the air conditioning system under the control of the controller. FIG. 10 shows configuration of an automatic fire extinguishing system in the air conditioner with the fire extinguishing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the case of the fire sensing and extinguishing system, a quick operation of the fire sensing and extinguishing system is important, but it is also important to prevent the extinguishing gas or the extinguishing liquid from being wastefully sprayed due to an error in sensing a fire and a malfunction. Further, there may be needed to convert to a manual extinguishing function for manually extinguishing a local fire. To satify these demands, control methods according to an embodiment of the present invention, is as follows.

[75] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a system operation performed in the controller. The controller of the air conditioner with the fire extinguishing system according to an embodiment of the present invention controls the fire alarm unit to output a first fire alarm if the fire sensing unit outputs a first sensing signal, and then output a second fire alarm if a the fire sensing unit outputs a second sensing signal after the lapse of t seconds. After the lapse of t seconds after the second fire alarm is output, the controller stops the air conditioning system and operates the automatic fire extinguishing unit to spray the extinguishing gas.

[76] The first and second senses of the fire sensing unit may be set with respect to a reference level based on the sensitivity of each sensor or with respect to the number of sensed sensors. For example, it may be set that the first sense is performed in a high sensitivity level, and the second sense is performed in a low sensitivity level. Further, the first sense may be set as being sensed by one sensor or a small number of sensors among a plurality of sensors, and the second sense may be set as being sensed by a large number of sensors or all sensors. Thus, at least two sensing signals are set according to the fire sensing levels, thereby outputting respective fire alarms. Also, the seoond fire alarm may be different from the first fire alarm in the amplitude of sound or the brightness of light. Further, the number of output units may increase to stepwise increase the level of alarm. Also, the lapse of t seconds after outputting the second fire alarm due to the second sensing signal is set so that the air conditioning system can be stopped and the automatic fire extinguishing unit can be operated to spray the extinguishing gas after the lapse of this time.

[77] Under the foregoing control, not only the sensitivity for sensing a fire is enhanced to quickly output the fire alarm, but also an error in sensing a fire is prevented by outputting the fire alarm according to sensing levels, and the fire alarm due to the error is stopped or the manual fire extinguishing system is used as necessary within the time lapse before operating the automatic fire extinguishing system.

[78] Further, after outputting the fire alarm, if the manual fire extinguishing system is needed to extinguish a local fire, a person in the room pushes the manual extinguishing switch. Then, the air conditioner stops after the lapse of t seconds and the electronic valve of the manual fire extinguishing unit is opened, so that a person can directly bring the fire hose to the fire place, thereby extinguishing the fire.

[79] Also, the air conditioner with the fire extinguishing system according to an embodiment of the present invention gives the fire alarm when the temperature of the room increases rapidly even though a fire setting temperature is lower than the temperature of the room, to thereby improve the accuracy of the fire sense. In other words, since the temperature increases rapidly when a fire breaks out, the fire alarm is given if an increase rate of sensed temperature becomes higher rapidly even though the temperature of the room is lower than the fire setting temperature.

[80] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an example of the foregoing control method. As shown in

FIG. 6, if the temperature sensed by a temperature sensor reaches the fire setting temperature, the fire alarm is given. Even under the fire setting temperature, the increase rate of temperature within a short period is calculated. If the increase rate is higher than a reference increase rate, the fire alarm is given to stop the air conditioner and extinguish the fire using the fire extinguishing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. At this time, the increase rate is calculated per reference time unit (second unit) under the fire setting temperature, and compared with the reference increase rate. Here, the reference increase rate is set as a temperature increase rate at which it is determined that a fire breaks out.

[81] Further, according to an embodiment of the present invention, as another control method for preventing the extinguishing gas or liquid from being wastefully sprayed due to the error and the malfunction, a temperature increase time of the room is checked even if the temperature of the room reaches the fire setting temperature by other heat than the fire. Accordingly, the temperature increase is regarded as the fire to give the fire alarm only when the temperature increases rapidly.

[82] For example, the temperature of the room may increase by other factors as well as a fire. In general, the temperature due to a fire increases rapidly, but the temperature owing to other factors (e.g., radiant heat caused by lighting and heating) increases slowly. Using this characteristic, if the temperature of the room reaches a reference (setting) temperature, a time taken in increasing the temperature from an initial room temperature to the fire setting temperature is counted, and the fire alarm is given only when the counted time is equal to or less than a reference time. Instead of the temperature increase time, an average temperature increase rate may be calculated between the initial room temperature and the fire setting temperature, and thus the fire alarm is given only when the average temperature increasing rate is equal to or higher than a reference increase rate.

[83] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the foregoing control method. First, the temperature sensor of the fire sensing unit senses the initial room temperature. Then, if the temperature of the room reaches the reference temperature (preferably set as the lowest temperature at which a fire can oxur) by a certain factor, the controller calculates the temperature increase time or the temperature increase rate from the initial room temperature to the reference temperature and compares it with the reference time (preferably set as the shortest time during which the fire can oxur) or the reference temperature increase rate, thereby giving the fire alarm only when the calculated temperature increase time is the reference time or less or only when the calculated temperature increase rate is the reference temperature increase rate.

[84] The above-described control methods may be applied respectively or together with each other. With the control methods, the present invention not only quickly senses a fire and operates the fire extinguishing system, but also minimizes the fire alarm due to the error in sensing the fire or the malfunction.

[85] Below, an exemplary operation of the air conditioner with the fire extinguishing system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. If the fire sensing unit having the heat or smoke sensors outputs the first sensing signal, the controller controls the fire alarm unit including the buzzer 16, 24 or the alarm lamp 17, 26 provided in the indoor unit or the outdoor unit to raise the fire alarm. If the second sensing signal is output after raising the first fire alarm, the controller controls the fire alarm unit to raise the second alarm. When the seoond alarm is given, the illuminating lamp 72 is turned on and the laser alarm lamp 28 illuminates the exit with the laser beam. At this time, a release switch is turned on, the alarm lamp and the buzzer are stopped, thereby stopping the fire extinguishing system, if t seconds are elapsed after outputting the second fire alarm, the air conditioning system is stopped and the electronic valve of the automatic fire extinguishing unit is opened, so that the extinguishing gas can be sprayed through the automatic fire extinguishing nozzle, thereby extinguishing the fire.

[86] Further, if there is needed to manually extinguish a local fire before operating the automatic fire extinguishing system, a person in the room can push the manual extinguishing switch 35 in order to stop the air conditioning system. At this time, if there is no fire alarm output from the fire alarm unit, the buzzer 16, 24, the alarm lamp 17, 26 and the laser alarm lamp 28 provided in the indoor unit or the outdoor unit are operated. Further, at the same time when the manual extinguishing switch 35 is pushed, a door 27 of the air conditioner is automatically opened. Then, a person takes out the fire hose inside the door 27 and points the nozzle at the fire place. After the lapse of t seconds, the electronic valve 12, 7 is opened to spray the extinguishing gas. The extinguishing gas is adjusted to have pressure proper to a person while passing through the pressure adjusting valve 80, 81, so that the extinguishing gas is sprayed to the fire place via the manual extinguishing nozzle 208. When the fire is completely extinguished, a person pushes an emergency stop switch 25. Then, the buzzer 16, 24, the alarm lamp 17, 26, and the laser alarm lamp 28 are stopped, and the electronic valve 12, 7 is closed, so that the extinguishing gas is not sprayed any more. Then, a manipulation switch 101 for the air conditioner is pushed to restart the air conditioning system.

[87] As described above, various exemplary embodiments have been described with the drawings and the specifications. For reference, terms employed herein are not used for narrowing the meaning and limiting the scope of the invention. Accordingly, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these exemplary embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents. Industrial Applicability

[88] An air conditioner having a fire extinguishing system according to an embodiment of the present invention can be effectively used in industrial field of indoor extinguishing equipment and the air conditioner. [89]

Claims

[1] An air conditioner having a fire extinguishing system in addition to an air conditioning system, the air conditioner comprising: a fire sensing unit which senses a fire; a controller which controls the air conditioning system and the fire extinguishing system; an automatic fire extinguishing unit which automatically spray extinguishing gas under control of the controller; and a fire alarm unit which outputs a fire alarm under the control of the cotnroller, the controller controlling the fire alarm unit to output a first fire alarm when receiving a first sensing signal from the fire sensing unit, the fire alarm unit to output a second fire alarm when receiving a second sensing signal from the fire sensing unit after a lapse of t seconds after receiving the first sensing signal, and the air conditioning system to stop and the automatic fire extinguishing unit to operate to spray the extinguishing gas after a lapse of t seconds after outputting the second fire alarm.

[2] An air conditioner having a fire extinguishing system in addition to an air conditioning system, the air conditioner comprising: a fire sensing unit which senses a fire; a controller which controls the air conditioning system and the fire extinguishing system; an automatic fire extinguishing unit which automatically spray extinguishing gas under control of the controller; and a fire alarm unit which outputs a fire alarm under the control of the controller, the controller calculating a temperature increase rate even though temperature sensed by the fire sensing unit is equal to or lower than a fire setting temperature, and controlling the fire alarm to be given if the temperature increase rate is equal to or higher than a reference increase rate.

[3] An air conditioner having a fire extinguishing system in addition to an air conditioning system, the air conditioner comprising: a fire sensing unit which senses a fire; a controller which controls the air conditioning system and the fire extinguishing system; an automatic fire extinguishing unit which automatically spray extinguishing gas under control of the controller; and a fire alarm unit which outputs a fire alarm under the control of the controller, when the fire sensing unit senses a fire setting temperature, the controller controlling the fire alarm unit to raise the fire alarm only if a temperature increase time from an initial room temperature to the fire setting temperature is equal to or less than a reference time.

[4] The air conditioner according to claim 1 , wherein the automatic fire extinguishing unit comprises an extinguishing gas storage, an automatic extinguishing gas nozzle connected to the extinguishing gas storage, and an electronic valve operating under the control of the controller.

[5] The air conditioner according to claim 4, further comprising a gas leakage alarm which warns of gas leakage in the extinguishing gas storage under the control of the controller, wherein the automatic fire extinguishing unit comprises a reference pressure check means provided in the extinguishing gas storage and allows the gas leakage alarm to warn of the gas leakage if the extinguishing gas has a setting pressure or below.

[6] The air conditioner according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the automatic extinguishing gas nozzle is provided in an upper part of an indoor unit of the air conditioner, and covered with a nozzle cover in front thereof, the nozzle cover being opened when the extinguishing gas is sprayed.

[7] The air conditioner according to claim 1 , further comprising an emergency power supply, the emergency power supply being divided into an air conditioner power supply and a fire extinguishing power supply, in which an external power source is branched from a cut-off switch and has one end connected to the air conditioner power supply and the other end connected to the fire extinguishing power supply and an electric condenser via a transformer and a direct current (DC) converter.

[8] The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the controller is divided into an air conditioner controller and a fire extinguishing controller, and the fire extinguishing controller is connected to the electric condenser so that the fire extinguishing system is operated by the electric condenser when power is cut off.

[9] The air conditioner according to claim 1, further comprising: an emergency stop switch to manually stop the operation of the fire extinguishing system.

[10] The air conditioner according to claim 1, further comprising: a manual fire extinguishing unit which manually sprays an extinguishing liquid under control of the controller; and a manual extinguishing switch to operate the manual fire extinguishing unit, the manual fire extinguishing unit comprising: a manual extinguishing nozzle connected to the extinguishing gas storage through a fire hose, and an electronic valve operating under the control of the controller.

[11] The air conditioner according to claim 10, wherein the controller controls the air conditioning system to stop and the electronic valve to be opened after a lapse of t seconds after receiving a signal through the manual extinguishing switch so that the extinguishing gas is sprayed through the manual extinguishing nozzle.

[12] The air conditioner according to claim 4 or 10, wherein the automatic fire extinguishing unit and the manual fire extinguishing unit comprise pressure adjusting valves in connection parts between the extinguishing gas storage and the automatic extinguishing nozzle and between the extinguishing gas storage and the manual extinguishing nozzle, respectively.

[13] An air conditioner having a fire extinguishing system in addition to an air conditioning system, the air conditioner comprising: a fire sensing unit which senses heat or smoke; a fire alarm unit which outputs a fire alarm as light or sound under controller of a controller; and the controller which controls the air conditioning system, the fire sensing unit and the fire alarm unit, the fire alarm unit being provided in an indoor unit and an outdoor unit.

[14] The air conditioner according to claim 13, wherein the fire alarm unit provided in the outdoor unit comprises a laser output unit to emit a laser beam outward when a fire occurs, and the laser output unit is configured to move an emission angle of the laser beam.

[15] The air conditioner according to claim 13, wherein the fire alarm unit provided in the indoor unit comprises a laser output unit to illuminate an exit with a laser beam when a fire occurs, and the laser output unit is configured to move an emission angle of the laser beam.

[16] The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the fire sensing unit is attached to the air conditioner or installed in a room, and connected to the controller of the air conditioner through wire or wireless data communication.

[17] The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the fire sensing unit comprises a temperature sensor and a smoke sensor, and at least one of the smoke sensor is installed in a latter part of an air inhaling filter of the air conditioner.

[18] The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the fire sensing unit comprises a picture taking means, the picture taking means storing a taken picture data and sending the picture data to a remote monitor through a wireless network.

[19] The air conditioner according to claim 1, further comrpising at least one portable oxygen supplier in an interior space to be opened/closed by an opening/closing means, the opening/closing means being automatically opened when the fire alarm is output.

[20] The air conditioner according to claim 1, further comprising a wireless communication unit, when the fire alarm breaks out, the fire alarm is sent as voice information or text information to a communication terminal of a user registered through the wireless communication unit.