WO2017141379A1

WO2017141379A1 - Equipment constituting air conditioning system, controller, and air conditioning system

Info

Publication number: WO2017141379A1
Application number: PCT/JP2016/054598
Authority: WO
Inventors: 啓邦大内
Original assignee: 三菱電機株式会社
Priority date: 2016-02-17
Filing date: 2016-02-17
Publication date: 2017-08-24
Also published as: JP6584533B2; JPWO2017141379A1

Abstract

In order to provide equipment constituting an air conditioning system to achieve an air conditioning system wherein all the equipment constituting the air conditioning system can be centrally managed, the equipment is provided with a communication unit 11, 13, 15, 17 to transmit and receive connection information for equipment that has communication functionality, and a memory unit 12, 14, 16, 18 to store connection information for connected equipment that is directly connected and that does not have communication functionality and connection information for equipment that has communication functionality. The connection information of the equipment that has communication functionality and the connection information of the connected equipment that does not have communication functionality can be managed together.

Description

Apparatus, controller, and air conditioning system constituting air conditioning system

The present invention relates to an apparatus, a controller, and an air conditioning system that constitute an air conditioning system.

In an air conditioning system configured by connecting a plurality of air conditioner units to a communication network, management of connection information of the air conditioning system is required. In managing the connection information of the air conditioning system, it is conceivable to divide the air conditioning system into a plurality of blocks and manage the connection information for each block.

In Patent Document 1, which is a prior art, connection information of each unit in a control block is stored as backup information in another control block, and the connection in which the control block fails and is stored in its own storage means When the information is destroyed, the backup information stored in other control blocks is read and the destroyed connection information is reproduced, thereby improving the maintainability and reliability of the operation of the air conditioner. Technology is disclosed.

JP-A-5-157334

By the way, in the maintenance and inspection of the air conditioning system, a maintenance inspector is dispatched to each installation location of the equipment that constitutes the air conditioning system, and the inspection work is performed one by one. Was. This becomes more conspicuous as the number of devices constituting the air conditioning system increases. Therefore, there is a demand to centrally manage the devices that make up the air conditioning system and to reduce the labor for maintenance and inspection of the air conditioning system.

However, according to the above conventional technique, it is possible to manage a device having a communication function, but it is impossible to grasp a connected device that is individually connected to each device and performs only input / output and does not have a communication function. . For this reason, when including connected devices that do not have communication functions, it may not be possible to grasp all of the devices that make up the air conditioning system. There is a problem that it is necessary to dispatch maintenance inspectors to perform inspection work one by one.

This invention is made in view of the above, Comprising: All the apparatuses which comprise an air conditioning system are grasped | ascertained, and the apparatus which comprises the air conditioning system for implement | achieving the air conditioning system which can be centrally managed is obtained. With the goal.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the devices constituting the air conditioning system according to the present invention constitute an air conditioning system including a device having a communication function and a connected device having no communication function. A communication unit that transmits and receives connection information with a device that has a communication function, and stores connection information of a directly connected device that does not have a communication function and connection information with the device that has the communication function And a storage unit that can collectively manage connection information of a device having the communication function and a connected device not having the communication function.

The device constituting the air conditioning system according to the present invention has an effect of realizing an air conditioning system that can grasp and centrally manage all devices constituting the air conditioning system.

The figure which shows the one structural example of the whole air conditioning system which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. The figure which shows the apparatus which comprises the air conditioning system shown in FIG. The figure which shows an example of the 1st controller shown in FIG. The figure which shows the operation which centralized remote control requests data The figure which shows the 1st indoor unit, the 1st connection apparatus connected to the 1st indoor unit, the 2nd connection apparatus, and the 3rd connection apparatus The figure which shows the registration screen of the 1st connection apparatus and 2nd connection apparatus which are displayed on a display part. The figure which shows the registration screen after registration of the 1st connection apparatus and 2nd connection apparatus which are displayed on a display part. The figure which shows the connection state of the connection apparatus of FIG. The figure which shows the registration screen after registration of the 3rd connection apparatus displayed on a display part. The figure which shows the connection state of the connection apparatus of FIG. The figure which shows the structural example of the air conditioning system on the controller screen displayed on a display part, and the example of a display of connected apparatus information The figure which shows the list display example of the connected equipment information which can confirm the information of the whole air conditioning system displayed on a display part collectively The figure which shows one structural example replaced with the 2nd controller of the structure shown in FIG. 4, and the external connection part was provided.

Hereinafter, a device, a controller, and an air conditioning system that constitute an air conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the entire air conditioning system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In the drawings, the outdoor unit is represented as OC, the indoor unit is represented as IC, the adapter is represented as ADP, the controller is represented as RC, and each is numbered.

In FIG. 1, OC1 which is the first outdoor unit 3, OC2 which is the second outdoor unit 4, IC1 which is the first indoor unit 5, IC2 which is the second indoor unit 6, IC3 which is the third indoor unit 7, RC1 which is the first controller 10, RC2 which is the second controller 8, RC3 which is the third controller 1, ADP1 which is the first adapter 9, ADP2 which is the second adapter 2 is shown.

The first indoor unit 5 is connected to the first outdoor unit 3, and the second indoor unit 6 and the third indoor unit 7 are connected to the second outdoor unit 4. The first controller 10 is connected to the first indoor unit 5 and the second indoor unit 6. The second controller 8 is connected to the first indoor unit 5 via the first adapter 9. The third controller 1 is connected to the first outdoor unit 3 and the second outdoor unit 4 via the second adapter 2.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing devices constituting the air conditioning system shown in FIG. FIG. 2 shows the first outdoor unit 3, the first indoor unit 5, the first adapter 9, and the first controller 10. The first outdoor unit 3 includes a communication unit 11 and a storage unit 12. The first indoor unit 5 includes a communication unit 13 and a storage unit 14. The first adapter 9 includes a communication unit 17 and a storage unit 18. The first controller 10 includes a communication unit 15 and a storage unit 16. The communication unit 11 and the communication unit 13, the communication unit 13 and the communication unit 15, and the communication unit 13 and the communication unit 17 are connected by a communication line. The

communication units

11, 13, 15, and 17 perform bidirectional communication. The

storage units

12, 14, 16, and 18 store connection information. As described above, the devices shown in FIG. 2, that is, the indoor unit, the outdoor unit, the adapter, and the controller each include a communication unit and a storage unit, and a communication line is connected to the communication unit, and each of these devices is Connected by communication line. Although not shown, a refrigerant pipe is provided between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of the first controller 10 illustrated in FIG. The first controller 10 shown in FIG. 3 includes a display unit 19 that displays input / output information that is connection information of a device having a communication function and a connection device having no communication function in the entire air conditioning system, And an operation unit 20 for inputting.

Information input by the operation unit 20 of the first controller 10 is transmitted to each device including the first indoor unit 5 through the communication unit 15 to operate the entire air conditioning system. Here, if an example of operation | movement of the whole air conditioning system shown in FIG. 1 is shown, the information input and operated by the operation part 20 of the 1st controller 10 will be transmitted to each apparatus via the communication part 15, and an air conditioning system will be shown. Drive as a whole. The transmitted information and the operating state of the air conditioning system are stored in the storage unit of each device.

Here, the communication unit of each device may be configured to be able to transmit and receive information between various devices, and may be wired communication or wireless communication. In the present invention, the communication standard of the communication unit of each device is not limited to a specific one. For wired communication, an electric wire and an optical fiber can be exemplified. For wireless communication, wireless LAN and BLUETOOTH (registered) Trademark).

Next, a method for storing the entire configuration of the air conditioning system will be described with reference to FIG. First, in FIG. 1, since communication is performed between each device, it is only necessary to transmit / receive information to / from each other that the devices are connected. Therefore, at the time of startup when the air conditioning system shown in FIG. 1 is turned on, each device is set to transmit the product information stored in the storage unit of the device, and the connected devices are mutually recognized. By storing the recognized contents, connection information can be collected.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an operation in which the central remote controller requests data. It takes time to collect a large amount of information at startup. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, when the third controller 1 is a centralized remote controller, the third controller 1 collects information on each device after the air conditioning system is turned on and the startup is completed. You may request that

When a menu for displaying a system configuration diagram is selected from the controller, the configuration information of the entire system collected from all devices at the time of start-up or a request for connection information is transmitted from the configuration information of the entire system. A configuration diagram of the entire air conditioning system shown in FIG. 1 can be automatically created and displayed. As described above, the devices constituting the air conditioning system according to the present embodiment can collect only necessary information among the connection information of the devices having the communication function and the connected devices not having the communication function.

Also, for connected devices that are connected to each device and only perform input or output and do not have a communication unit, connection information is input and stored with a remote controller. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the first indoor unit 5, the first connection device 21 connected to the first indoor unit 5, the second connection device 22, and the third connection device 23. . The first connection device 21, the second connection device 22, and the third connection device 23 are devices that do not have a communication unit, and do not have a configuration for transmitting and receiving product information. Therefore, first, the connection device is registered by editing the connection information of the first indoor unit 5 from the remote controller that has completed the collection of the connection information.

First, a case where the first connection device 21 and the second connection device 22 are registered will be described. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a registration screen of the first connection device 21 and the second connection device 22 displayed on the display unit 19. When the first indoor unit 5 is selected from the configuration of the air conditioning system displayed on the controller screen shown in FIG. 1, a registration screen shown in FIG. 6 is displayed. Here, the first connection device 21 and the second connection device 22 are registered in the list of items other than the communication device. Registration is performed by displaying a list of devices that can be selected from a pull-down menu in advance and selecting each connected device from the list. Note that this list may display all models that may be connected, but displaying all models has many options and the screen becomes complicated, so options can be selected in advance according to the type of indoor unit. It is desirable to limit it. In order to limit the options in advance, the controller may determine the connected device to be displayed from the type of indoor unit, and limit the options. When collecting information on the connected device, the option is transmitted from the indoor unit. Then, the corresponding device may be displayed.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a registration screen after registration of the first connection device 21 and the second connection device 22 displayed on the display unit 19. As illustrated in FIG. 7, when the first connection device 21 and the second connection device 22 are registered, a message indicating that registration has been completed is transmitted to the first indoor unit 5. Then, the 1st indoor unit 5 opens the input / output port according to the selected apparatus, and makes the 1st connection apparatus 21 and the 2nd connection apparatus 22 usable as a connection apparatus. Moreover, it memorize | stores in the memory | storage part 14 of the 1st indoor unit 5 that the 1st connection apparatus 21 and the 2nd connection apparatus 22 were designated as a connection apparatus. That is, input / output is prohibited unless the controller is selected as a connected device, and inconsistency between the configuration of the air conditioning system confirmed by the remote controller and the configuration of the actual air conditioning system is prevented.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a connection state of the connection device of FIG. In FIG. 7, since only the first connection device 21 and the second connection device 22 are registered, as shown in FIG. 8, the registered first connection device 21 and second connection device 22 are Although it can be used, the unregistered third connection device 23 is prohibited.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a registration screen after registration of the third connected device 23 displayed on the display unit 19. In FIG. 9, the third connection device 23 can be used by being newly registered from the controller.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a connection state of the connection device of FIG. In FIG. 9, since the third connection device 23 is additionally registered, the third connection device 23 can also be used as shown in FIG.

Here, the directly connected devices that do not have a communication function are devices that are connected to products later, mainly represented by optional parts, and are actuators and sensors that are essential for air conditioners. Is not included. 5, 8, and 10 clearly indicate whether or not the connected device can be used for explanation of the operation, and are not actually displayed on the controller screen.

As described above, the devices constituting the air conditioning system according to the present embodiment are connected not only to connection information with other devices having a communication function, but also with connection devices having no directly connected communication function. Information is also stored in the storage unit. Therefore, in the air conditioning system to which the devices constituting the air conditioning system according to the present embodiment are applied, connection information of devices having a communication function and connection devices having no communication function can be collectively managed.

In the above description, the first indoor unit 5 has been described as an example. However, by registering other indoor units, outdoor units, adapters, and controllers in the same manner as described above, the connection state of the entire air conditioning system. Can be managed. When the registration of the connection state of the entire air conditioning system is completed, the configuration of the entire air conditioning system can be grasped from the controller. Moreover, since the information of the connected device is stored in the storage unit of each device, the configuration of the entire air conditioning system including the connected device connected to each device can be grasped from the controller.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration diagram of the air conditioning system and a display example of connected device information on the controller screen displayed on the display unit 19. In FIG. 11, the selected device is switched from the first indoor unit 5 to the first outdoor unit 3, and the displayed connection information and connected device information are displayed from the first indoor unit 5 to the first outdoor unit 3. It has switched to.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a list display example of connected device information in which information on the entire air conditioning system displayed on the display unit 19 can be confirmed collectively.

Here, if the configuration information of the entire air conditioning system is stored in one storage unit, the amount of information becomes enormous when the air conditioning system is large, and the capacity of the storage unit is compressed. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the load is distributed by limiting the information stored in the storage unit of each device. As described above, the information stored in each device regarding the configuration of the entire air conditioning system is information on the device directly connected to the device and the connected device directly connected to the device. The device has a communication function, and the connected device does not have a communication function. However, since the entire air conditioning system is displayed and registered via the controller, it is desirable to store the configuration information of the entire air conditioning system in the controller.

In the above description, the system configuration including the devices and the connected devices and the storage of the connection information have been described. However, the maintenance and inspection in the air conditioning system having the above-described configuration will be described.

First, in order to grasp the configuration of the entire air conditioning system, it is easiest to display the connection information of the entire air conditioning system stored in the storage unit of the controller on the display unit of the controller. Even if the connection information of the entire air conditioning system is not stored in the storage unit of the controller, the controller display unit can request and collect the connected device information from the controller to the display unit of the controller. Connection information for the entire air conditioning system can be displayed. The maintenance inspector can easily grasp the entire configuration of the air conditioning system without checking the documents or devices at the time of installation one by one, and can shorten the maintenance inspection work time.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example in which an external connection unit is provided instead of the second controller 8 having the configuration illustrated in FIG. 4. The external connection unit shown in FIG. 13 is configured to be able to communicate with the outside via the Internet. According to the configuration shown in FIG. 13, by collecting connection information for each device of the air conditioning system from the outside of the air conditioning system and outputting the collected connection information to the outside, the air conditioning system from a remote location. It is also possible to grasp the overall configuration of the. Since the maintenance inspector can grasp the entire configuration of the air conditioning system from a remote location, the work time can be reduced and the labor can be greatly reduced.

In the above, the connection information of all the devices of the air conditioning system is collected in order to grasp the overall configuration of the air conditioning system, but by collecting the information of the storage unit of each device, the maintenance target location is collected. Only information may be acquired. Thus, by acquiring only the information on the maintenance target location, it is possible to perform efficient maintenance inspection work.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In the present embodiment, in the configuration shown in FIG. 1 of the first embodiment, a mode in which information on each device is directly input at the time of installation will be described instead of collecting information on each device.

First, at the time of installation, the controller creates a configuration diagram of the entire air conditioning system shown in FIG. 1, and registers a connected device that is a device other than the communication device shown in FIG. Here, connection devices that are devices other than communication devices are prohibited from use unless they are registered as connection devices in the first embodiment, but there are no such restrictions in this embodiment. In this embodiment, since it is necessary to input each device at the time of installation, the effort is great, but it can be handled only by adding a function of the controller, and it is not necessary to store information in each device. Easy.

In addition, for maintenance work, only the configuration of the entire air conditioning system stored in the controller is output and displayed, so confirmation at the installation location or external confirmation using the Internet is also communicated with each device. There is no need to do it and it is easy.

In the confirmation from the outside, communication with other devices is not required if it can be output directly from the controller to the outside. However, when outputting from the devices other than the controller to the outside, the entire air conditioning system can be connected to the devices capable of external output. Requires sending configuration information. In this case, it is necessary to introduce a mechanism for sending information. However, unlike the first embodiment, each device does not have a mechanism for grasping the system configuration. It is.

The configuration described in the above embodiment shows an example of the contents of the present invention, and can be combined with another known technique, and can be combined with other configurations without departing from the gist of the present invention. It is also possible to omit or change the part.

1 3rd controller 2 2nd adapter 3 1st outdoor unit 4 2nd outdoor unit 5 1st indoor unit 6 2nd indoor unit 7 3rd indoor unit 8 2nd Controller, 9 first adapter, 10 first controller, 11, 13, 15, 17 communication unit, 12, 14, 16, 18 storage unit, 19 display unit, 20 operation unit, 21 first connected device, 22 Second connected device, 23 Third connected device.

Claims

A device constituting an air conditioning system including a device having a communication function and a connection device having no communication function,
A communication unit that transmits and receives connection information with a device having a communication function;
A storage unit for storing connection information of a connection device that does not have a communication function directly connected and connection information with a device having the communication function;
The apparatus which comprises the air conditioning system characterized by being able to manage collectively the connection information of the apparatus which has the said communication function, and the connection apparatus which does not have the said communication function.
The storage unit stores connection information with a directly connected device among the devices having the communication function and connection information with a directly connected device without the communication function. The apparatus which comprises the air conditioning system of Claim 1.
3. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein only necessary information can be collected from connection information of the device having the communication function and the connection device not having the communication function. Equipment to do.
A display unit that displays connection information of a device having the communication function of the entire air conditioning system and a connected device not having the communication function;
The controller which comprises the air conditioning system as described in any one of Claims 1-3 provided with the operation part which inputs the said connection information.
It is possible to use a connected device that does not have the registered communication function,
The controller according to claim 4, wherein the unregistered connection device not having the communication function is prohibited.
The apparatus which comprises the air conditioning system as described in any one of Claims 1-3,
An air conditioning system comprising an external connection unit capable of transmitting and receiving the connection information.