JP6379729B2 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an air-conditioning apparatus that performs a preheating operation by supplying cold energy and warm heat from a heat source unit to a plurality of utilization units.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an air conditioner that performs a preheating operation for setting a room temperature to a target temperature by a preset setting time is known. For example, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-202581) discloses that the operating frequency of the compressor is smaller than the operating frequency when the compressor exhibits its maximum capacity and the efficiency of the refrigeration cycle is maximized. An air conditioner that performs forward operation (preheating operation) with an operation time determined based on the above is described.

  When the indoor units are operated all at once when performing the preheating operation as in the air conditioner described in Patent Document 1 described above, the efficiency deteriorates due to the high load factor operation. Moreover, in the air conditioning apparatus described in Patent Document 1, energy may be wasted due to the appearance of an indoor unit that reaches the target temperature before the target time.

  The subject of this invention is suppressing the energy loss at the time of performing a preheating driving | operation, supplying cold heat and warm heat from a heat-source unit to a some utilization unit.

An air conditioner according to the first aspect , the second aspect, or the third aspect of the present invention includes a heat source unit and a plurality of utilization units that perform air conditioning using cold and / or warm heat supplied from the heat source unit via a fluid. And a control unit for controlling the heat source unit according to a heat supply distribution schedule to a plurality of utilization units determined so as to maintain a predetermined high-efficiency operation. And comprising.

In the air conditioner according to the first aspect , the second aspect, or the third aspect , the control unit causes the heat source unit to operate with high efficiency according to the distribution schedule in the preheating mode. To prevent the loss of operation efficiency due to low-speed operation, the occurrence of energy loss due to part of the units used reaching the target temperature quickly, and the prolonged operation time in the preheating mode. Can do.

The air conditioner location according to the first aspect, control section is in preheat mode, according to the distribution schedule sum is determined to be uniform at each time period of the air conditioning load throughput of a plurality of user units It is something to control.

In the air conditioner according to the first aspect , the control unit uses a distribution schedule determined so that the sum of the air-conditioning load processing amounts of the plurality of utilization units in each time zone is uniform in the preheating mode. The total of the air conditioning load processing amounts of a plurality of utilization units can be maintained in the vicinity of the air conditioning load processing amount that maximizes the operation efficiency of the unit.

The air conditioner location according to the second aspect of the present invention, a control section is in preheat mode, more air-conditioning capacity than larger utilization units throughflow load in a small usage unit throughflow load the time zone of the first half allocating, in the second half of time slot control in accordance with the determined distribution schedule to allocate more air conditioning capacity than smaller utilization units throughflow load a large utilization unit of the cross-flow load, those.

In the air conditioner according to the second aspect, in the distribution schedule used by the control unit, in the first half time zone, more air conditioning capacity is distributed to the use units with a small once-through load than the use units with a larger once-through load, and the second half time Since it has been decided to distribute more air conditioning capacity to the use units with a large once-through load than to use units with a smaller once-through load in the belt, distribute more air-conditioning capacity to the use units with a large once-through load in the first half Compared to the case, the movement of heat generated in the utilization unit during the first half of the time zone can be kept small.

The air conditioner location according to the third aspect of the present invention, a control section is, room temperature in the room where each of usage units preheated air conditioning load of a plurality of utilization units are installed, the outdoor temperature and the target setting temperature Calculating the preheating air-conditioning load of each usage unit based on, and determining the total amount of air conditioning load throughput when supplying heat to the plurality of usage units in the preheating mode based on the total preheating air conditioning load of the plurality of usage units . Is .

In the air conditioning apparatus according to the third aspect , the control unit calculates the preheating air conditioning load of each usage unit based on the room temperature, the outdoor temperature, and the target set temperature, and determines the total amount of air conditioning load processing in the preheating mode. Therefore, the total amount of air conditioning load processing in the preheating mode can be determined in consideration of changes in the total preheating air conditioning load due to the indoor temperature, outdoor temperature, and target set temperature.

Furthermore, the air conditioner location according to the third aspect of the present invention, a control section is, the air conditioning per unit of time when the sum of preheating the air conditioning load of a plurality of user units heat source unit is maintaining a predetermined high-efficiency operation Preheat in preheat mode for the preheat time obtained by dividing by load throughput.

In the air conditioner according to the third aspect , the control unit maintains the heat source unit in a predetermined high-efficiency operation during the preheating time controlled in the preheating mode, and many utilization units reach the target set temperature in a short preheating time. Thus, the preheating operation can be performed.

An air conditioner according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the air conditioner according to any one of the first aspect to the third aspect, wherein the control unit further includes an extension mode in addition to the normal operation mode and the preheating mode, and the extension In the mode, the heat source unit is controlled in accordance with an extended schedule for supplying heat to a plurality of utilization units in a state where the predetermined high efficiency operation is not maintained.

In the air conditioning apparatus according to the fourth aspect , the control unit can perform preheating using the extension mode when comfortable preheating cannot be performed only by the preheating mode.

An air conditioner according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the air conditioner according to any one of the first aspect to the fourth aspect, wherein the control unit is a target temperature of a predetermined usage unit among the plurality of usage units in the preheating mode. When it is determined that preheating cannot be achieved, the distribution schedule is changed so as to increase the supply of cold and / or heat to the predetermined use unit.

In the air conditioning apparatus according to the fifth aspect, when the preheating to the target temperature of the predetermined usage unit cannot be achieved, the supply of cold and / or hot heat to the predetermined usage unit is increased, so that the air in the predetermined usage unit is increased. Preheating can be performed to bring the room temperature at which the harmony is performed closer to the target temperature.

The air conditioner according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the air conditioner according to any one of the first aspect to the fifth aspect, wherein the plurality of utilization units are cooled with specific air conditioning capabilities set individually or It is comprised so that the preliminary | backup air conditioning operation which heats can be performed, and a control part controls the start and completion | finish of a preliminary | backup air conditioning operation for every utilization unit in a preheating mode according to a distribution schedule.

In the air conditioning apparatus according to the sixth aspect , since the use unit performs cooling or heating with a specific air conditioning capability, it is easy to set a distribution schedule to be performed by the control unit.

In the air conditioner according to the first aspect , the second aspect, or the third aspect of the present invention, when the preliminary operation is performed by supplying cold heat or heat from the heat source unit to the plurality of use units, the preliminary operation time is appropriately set. Energy loss can be suppressed while keeping the length.

Further, in the air conditioner according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is easy to increase the operating efficiency of the heat source unit.

Moreover, in the air conditioning apparatus which concerns on the 2nd viewpoint of this invention, the sum total of the through load of the whole distribution schedule can be made small, and an energy loss can be reduced.

Moreover, in the air conditioning apparatus which concerns on the 3rd viewpoint of this invention, even if the condition of indoor temperature, outdoor temperature, and target preset temperature changes, it can control so that it can preheat to target preset temperature.

  In the air conditioner according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, many utilization units can be preheated in a short time, and energy loss can be suppressed.

In the air conditioning apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to select and set a comfortable preheating operation and a preheating operation with a small energy loss.

In the air conditioning apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is easy to ensure comfort in a room where air conditioning is performed by the predetermined usage unit.

In the air conditioning apparatus according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the control in the preheating mode by the control unit is facilitated.

The circuit diagram which shows an example of a structure of the air conditioning apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The block for demonstrating the structure of an air-conditioning control apparatus. The figure for demonstrating an example of a distribution schedule. The flowchart for demonstrating scheduling of a distribution schedule. The flowchart for demonstrating scheduling of a distribution schedule. The figure for demonstrating the other example of a distribution schedule. The figure for demonstrating the other example of a distribution schedule. The flowchart for demonstrating rescheduling of a distribution schedule. (A) The graph for demonstrating the deviation of the predicted value and measured value of room temperature, (b) The graph for demonstrating correction | amendment of air-conditioning capability. The figure for demonstrating the other example of a distribution schedule. The circuit diagram which shows an example of a structure of the air conditioning apparatus which concerns on the modification of this invention. The circuit diagram which shows an example of a structure of the air conditioning apparatus which concerns on the modification of this invention.

(1) Schematic Configuration of Air Conditioner FIG. 1 is a refrigerant circuit diagram illustrating an outline of a configuration of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. The air conditioner 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes an outdoor unit 20, a plurality of indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c, and an air conditioning control device 40. Here, a mode in which three indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c are connected to one outdoor unit 20 by the first refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the second refrigerant communication pipe 7 will be described. The form of is not limited to this. For example, two indoor units may be connected to one outdoor unit to constitute an air conditioner, or four or more indoor units may be connected to one outdoor unit to constitute an air conditioner. May be. Further, for example, an air conditioner may be configured by connecting a plurality of indoor units to one unit including a plurality of outdoor units. In that case, the invention described below can be applied by regarding one unit composed of a plurality of outdoor units as one outdoor unit.

  The air conditioner 10 is usually installed in a building such as an office building, a tenant building, a factory, and a general household. For example, one outdoor unit 20 is installed in an office building, and indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c are installed in the rooms 2a, 2b, and 2c of the office building, respectively. The air-conditioning target spaces in which the indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c perform air conditioning are the rooms 2a, 2b, and 2c of the office building, respectively. The indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c take in air from the rooms 2a, 2b, and 2c, which are the air-conditioning target spaces, and harmonize the air that has been taken in to generate conditioned air. To supply.

  The controllers 50a, 50b, and 50c are operation means for the air conditioning subjects in the rooms 2a, 2b, and 2c to operate the settings of the air conditioner 10, respectively. Each controller 50a, 50b, 50c is provided with a plurality of switches for the air conditioning subject to perform the above operation.

  The air conditioning control device 40 receives operation data from the outdoor unit 20 and the plurality of indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c, and receives instruction information such as settings transmitted from the air conditioning target person via the controllers 50a, 50b, and 50c. The control command is transmitted to the outdoor unit 20 and the plurality of indoor units 30a, 30b, 30c.

(2) Configuration of the air conditioner The air conditioner 10 including the indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c and the outdoor unit 20 is commonly used for the rooms 2a, 2b, and 2c as the air conditioner. Or heating operation can be performed. The indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c are connected in parallel between the first refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the second refrigerant communication pipe 7. That is, the refrigerant flowing between the first refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the second refrigerant communication pipe 7 is distributed to the indoor units 30a, 30b, 30c. During the cooling operation, the four-way switching valve 22 is switched to a solid line connection state, and during the heating operation, the four-way switching valve 22 is switched to a broken line connection state. Here, the circuit configuration of the air conditioner 10 will be briefly described.

(2-1) Indoor unit The indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c include indoor expansion valves 31a, 31b, and 31c, indoor heat exchangers 32a, 32b, and 32c, indoor fans 33a, 33b, and 33c, and indoor temperature sensors 34a, 34b, 34c and indoor unit control devices 61a, 61b, 61c. The indoor heat exchangers 32a, 32b, and 32c perform heat exchange that gives cold air supplied from the outdoor unit 20 via the refrigerant to the indoor air during the cooling operation, thereby generating conditioned air. Moreover, indoor heat exchanger 32a, 32b, 32c performs the heat exchange which gives indoor air the warm heat supplied via the refrigerant | coolant from the outdoor unit 20 at the time of heating operation, and produces | generates conditioned air. In other words, the indoor heat exchangers 32a, 32b, and 32c cool the air taken in by functioning as a refrigerant evaporator during cooling operation, and the air taken in by functioning as a refrigerant condenser during heating operation. Will be heated.

  The indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c are provided with indoor fans 33a, 33b, and 33c, respectively, so that the indoor air passes through the indoor heat exchangers 32a, 32b, and 32c and circulates in the air-conditioning target space. Yes. The indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c drive the indoor fans 33a, 33b, and 33c, respectively, suck the necessary amount of air from the air-conditioning target space, and send the air to the indoor heat exchangers 32a, 32b, and 32c. The conditioned air after the heat exchange is performed is sent from the indoor heat exchangers 32a, 32b, and 32c into the air-conditioning target space.

  The indoor expansion valves 31a, 31b, and 31c can individually adjust the valve opening and adjust the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the indoor heat exchangers 32a, 32b, and 32c. Therefore, by adjusting the valve opening degree of the indoor expansion valves 31a, 31b, and 31c, the indoor heat exchangers 32a, 32b, and 32c are divided according to the air conditioning capability to be exhibited by the indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c. The flow rate of the refrigerant can be set.

  Moreover, the indoor unit control devices 61a, 61b, and 61c built in the indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c receive the control commands transmitted from the air conditioning control device 40, and based on the received control commands, Various devices including the indoor expansion valves 31a, 31b, 31c and the indoor fans 33a, 33b, 33c of the machines 30a, 30b, 30c are controlled. In order to control the indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c, the indoor unit control devices 61a, 61b, and 61c receive information on the indoor temperature measured by the indoor temperature sensors 34a, 34b, and 34c, and the indoor temperature sensors 34a, 34b, 34c.

(2-2) Outdoor unit The outdoor unit 20 is connected to the indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c through the first refrigerant communication pipe 6 and the second refrigerant communication pipe 7. In the air conditioner 10, the outdoor unit 20, the first refrigerant communication pipe 6, the indoor units 30a, 30b, 30c, and the second refrigerant communication pipe 7 are connected in order to form an annular refrigerant circuit 11. The outdoor unit 20 includes a compressor 21, a four-way switching valve 22, an outdoor heat exchanger 23, an outdoor expansion valve 25, an outdoor fan 26, an outdoor temperature sensor 27, a liquid side closing valve 28a, a gas side closing valve 28b, an accumulator 29, and An outdoor unit control device 62 is provided.

  The compressor 21 is a hermetic compressor driven by a compressor motor. The rotation speed of the compressor motor is controlled by, for example, an inverter, and the compressor 21 is configured to be able to vary the operating capacity. One end of the outdoor heat exchanger 23 is connected to the four-way switching valve 22, and the other end is connected to the outdoor expansion valve 25. The accumulator 29 is disposed between the four-way switching valve 22 and the compressor 21. The four-way switching valve 22 is a mechanism for switching the direction of refrigerant flow. During the cooling operation, the outdoor heat exchanger 23 functions as a radiator for the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 21, and the indoor heat exchangers 32 a, 32 b, 32 c are the refrigerant evaporators cooled in the outdoor heat exchanger 23. To function as. For this purpose, the four-way switching valve 22 connects the refrigerant pipe on the discharge side of the compressor 21 and one end of the outdoor heat exchanger 23, and the suction side (including the accumulator 29) and the gas side closing valve of the compressor 21. 28b (see the solid line of the four-way switching valve 22 in FIG. 1). In addition, the four-way switching valve 22 causes the indoor heat exchangers 32a, 32b, and 32c to function as a radiator for the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 21 during heating operation, and the outdoor heat exchanger 23 is used as the indoor heat exchanger. It functions as an evaporator of the refrigerant cooled in 32a, 32b, 32c. For this purpose, the four-way switching valve 22 connects the refrigerant pipe on the discharge side of the compressor 21 and the gas-side closing valve 28b, and connects the suction side of the compressor 21 and one end of the outdoor heat exchanger 23 ( (Refer to the broken line of the four-way selector valve 22 in FIG. 1).

  The outdoor fan 26 sucks outdoor air into the outdoor unit 20 and sends it to the outdoor heat exchanger 23, and also sends air after heat exchange with the refrigerant to the outdoor again. The outdoor fan 26 promotes heat exchange between the outdoor air and the refrigerant flowing through the outdoor heat exchanger 23. The outdoor fan 26 is a fan capable of changing the air volume of air supplied to the outdoor heat exchanger 23, and is, for example, a propeller fan driven by a DC fan motor.

  The outdoor expansion valve 25 is a mechanism for decompressing the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 11, and is an electric valve capable of adjusting the opening degree. The outdoor expansion valve 25 is arranged on the downstream side of the outdoor heat exchanger 23 in the refrigerant flow direction in the refrigerant circuit 11 during the cooling operation in order to adjust the pressure and flow rate of the refrigerant flowing in the main refrigerant circuit 11. Has been. The outdoor expansion valve 25 has one end connected to the outdoor heat exchanger 23 and the other end connected to the liquid side closing valve 28a.

  In addition, the outdoor unit control device 62 in which the outdoor unit control unit 62 is built in transmits control of various devices including the compressor 21, the outdoor fan 26, the four-way switching valve 22, and the outdoor expansion valve 25 from the air conditioning control unit 40. Based on the control command to be executed. In order to control the outdoor unit 20, the outdoor unit control device 62 receives information regarding the outdoor temperature measured by the outdoor temperature sensor 27 from the outdoor temperature sensor 27.

(2-3) Air Conditioning Control Device As shown in FIG. 2, the air conditioning control device 40 includes a communication unit 41 for transmitting / receiving instruction information, a control unit 42 including a CPU and a RAM, and a memory 43. I have. The communication unit 41 receives the instruction information from the air conditioning target person transmitted via the controller 50 and transmits the instruction information to the control unit 42. Further, the communication unit 41 transmits the control command received from the control unit 42 to the indoor unit control devices 61a, 61b, 61c and the outdoor unit control device 62. The memory 43 stores information necessary for control by the control unit 42.

  The control unit 42 transmits, to the communication unit 41, a control command for the operation details performed by the air conditioner 10 based on the instruction information from the air conditioning target person transmitted from the communication unit 41. The control command for the operation content is, for example, a command for starting the air-conditioning operation, a command for stopping the operation, a command for changing the target set temperature or the set air volume, and a command for the preheating operation.

  The control unit 42 has a preheating mode separately from the normal operation mode. The control unit 42 includes a calculation unit 42a for performing calculation related to the distribution schedule in the preheating mode. The calculation related to the distribution schedule will be described in detail later.

  The normal operation mode is a conventionally known mode. For example, the control unit 42 performs control according to the conditions (target set temperature, set air volume, etc.) set by the controller 50, and responds to the instruction information from the air conditioning target person. The indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c receive the distribution of the air conditioning capacity according to their required loads. For example, in the cooling operation, when the room temperature of each of the rooms 2a, 2c, and 2d is 32 ° C., there is an instruction to start operation all at once in the normal operation mode, and the target set temperatures of the indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c Is considered to be 29 ° C., 28 ° C., and 27 ° C., respectively. Since the target set temperature of all the indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c is lower than the indoor temperature at the time of starting operation, all the indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c are thermo-on. Therefore, the outdoor unit 20 exhibits an air conditioning capability that meets the total required load of the three indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c. Then, after a while, when the indoor temperature of the room 2a falls below the target set temperature of the indoor unit 30a, only the indoor unit 30a is thermo-off, so that the outdoor unit 20 is changed from the indoor unit control device 61a of the indoor unit 30a to the outdoor unit control device. The information that the indoor unit 30a is thermo-off is transmitted to 62, and the air conditioning capacity is reduced to the required load of the two indoor units 30b and 30c. Similarly, when the indoor units 30b and 30c are sequentially thermo-off, the outdoor unit 20 sequentially reduces the air conditioning capacity by the information transmitted from the indoor unit control devices 61b and 61c to the outdoor unit control device 62. If all the indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c are thermo-off, the air conditioning capability to be distributed to the indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c is not necessary, so that the outdoor unit 20 operates with as little power consumption as possible. At that time, if the room temperature of each of the rooms 2a, 2b, and 2c approaches the target set temperature of the indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c, the required load is reduced, so that the indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c can be thermo-off. The outdoor unit 20 distributes the air conditioning to the indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c according to the information on the required load of the indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c transmitted from the indoor unit control units 61b and 61c to the outdoor unit control unit 62. Operate according to changes in ability. In the normal operation mode, information related to changes in the required load of the indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c between the indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c and the outdoor unit 20 is transferred from the indoor unit control devices 61a, 61b, and 61c to the outdoor unit control device 62. The outdoor unit 20 distributes the air conditioning capacity according to the required load to the indoor units 30a, 30b, 30c, and changes the capacity to match the air conditioning capacity distributed to the indoor units 30a, 30b, 30c. Is driven.

  In the preheating mode performed in response to the preheating operation command with respect to such a normal operation mode, the preheating target temperature set for each of the indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c is set in advance as the indoor temperature to be reached in the preheating mode. Therefore, the indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c are operated in accordance with a schedule that is set in advance with a constant air conditioning capability that is predetermined for each of the indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c. Therefore, while the preheating operation is being performed in the preheating mode, the outdoor unit 20 is predetermined based on the control command from the control unit 42 of the air conditioning control device 40 regardless of the temperature change of each room 2a, 2b, 2c. Operate to distribute the air conditioning capacity. Therefore, in principle, the difference between the preheating mode and the normal mode is that the air conditioning capacity distributed by the outdoor unit 20 is not changed in response to a request from the indoor units 30a, 30b, 30c during the preheating operation. . Note that, as an exception, the control unit 42 of the air conditioning control device 40 may determine the preheating operation status and give an interrupt, but details will be described later.

  In the preheating mode, for example, an operation as shown in FIG. 3 is performed. In the uppermost column of FIG. 3, the passage of unit time is shown. In the uppermost column, “1” indicates that one unit time has elapsed from the start of operation, and “2” indicates from the end of one unit time to the end of two unit times. That is, the vertical column in FIG. 3 shows the air conditioning capacity per unit time. The preheating operation of FIG. 3 is completed in 5 unit hours. The air conditioning capabilities distributed to the indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c per unit time are “0.2”, “0.8”, and “1.0” in order. As a result, the outdoor unit 20 distributes the total air conditioning capacity “2” of the indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c per unit time from the start of the preheating operation to the end of the preheating operation based on the control command from the control unit 42. to continue. The indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c also have an air conditioning capability of “0.2”, “0.8”, and “1.0” per unit time based on a control command from the control unit 42 regardless of the room temperature. Continue to drive in response to the distribution.

(3) Control of Air Conditioner in Preheat Mode Control of the air conditioner 10 in the preheat mode will be described along the control flow shown in FIG. First, when the preheating operation in the preheating mode is instructed, the control unit 42 of the air conditioning control device 40 determines a distribution schedule of the air conditioning function before starting the preheating operation. Hereinafter, the control of the air conditioner 10 in the preheating mode will be described by taking the case of precooling as an example. In order to determine the distribution schedule, the control unit 42 acquires the air conditioning capability when the outdoor unit 20 operates with high efficiency from the information regarding the outdoor unit 20 stored in the memory 43 (step S1). Here, the high-efficiency operation refers to an operation when the outdoor unit 20 achieves a predetermined coefficient of performance (COP), and the setting for performing the high-efficiency operation is when the air conditioner 10 is installed. The input is appropriately completed and stored in the memory 43. The air conditioning capability with which the outdoor unit 20 can be operated with high efficiency may be calculated in advance by performing a trial operation or the like and stored in the memory 43, and the control unit 42 may calculate the numerical value obtained by simulation or the like. It may be configured. For example, in step S1, the control unit 42 acquires a value of “2.04” per unit time as the air conditioning capability HC when the outdoor unit 20 is operating with high efficiency.

  Next, the air conditioning loads UL1, UL2, UL3 necessary for the indoor units 30a, 30b, 30c to reach the target temperatures by the target time indicated in the preheating mode are set for the indoor units 30a, 30b, 30 respectively. Calculate (step S2). For calculating the air conditioning load, a conventionally known general formula can be used. For example, the control unit 42 determines the indoor temperature measured by the indoor temperature sensors 34a, 34b, 34c, the outdoor temperature measured by the outdoor temperature sensor 27, the preheating target temperature, and the size of each room 2qa, 2b, 2c. It may be received from the indoor unit control devices 61 a, 61 b, 61 c, the outdoor unit control device 62 and the memory 43 and calculated by the calculation unit 42 a of the control unit 42. In addition, the past operating conditions of the indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c are stored in the memory 43, and an air conditioning load corresponding to an operating condition that approximates the indoor temperature, the outdoor temperature, and the preheating target temperature at the time of the preheating operation is set for each room. You may extract as an air-conditioning load of machine 30a, 30b, 30c. By performing the calculation in step S2, the air conditioning loads CL1, CL2, CL3 necessary for precooling the indoor units 30a, 30b, 30c described in the rightmost column of FIG. 3 are “1”, “4”, “ 5 "are calculated respectively. The through-flow loads in the rooms 2a, 2b, and 2c are “0.01”, “0.01”, and “0.02”, respectively, per unit time.

  The control unit 42 calculates the total ΣCL of the air conditioning loads CL1, CL2, and CL3 necessary for precooling the indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c calculated in step S2 in order to calculate the preheating time. In the example shown in FIG. 3, CL1 + CL2 + CL3 = 10. Further, the control unit 42 calculates the total ΣTL of the through-flow loads TL1, TL2, and TL3 of all the indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c per unit time. Then, the control unit 42 is a value obtained by subtracting the total through-flow load ΣTL from the air-conditioning capacity HC per unit time when the outdoor unit 20 is operating at high efficiency, and the total ΣCL of the air-conditioning loads necessary for precooling. And the precooling time PCt is calculated (step S3). That is, PCt = ΣUL ÷ (HC−ΣTL). In the example shown in FIG. 3, since the total ΣCL of the once-through load is 0.04 and the air-conditioning processing amount (HC−ΣTL) is 2 (= 2.04−0.4), the precooling time PCt 5 unit time is obtained from 10 ÷ 2.

  Next, the control unit 42 determines whether or not the precooling time is appropriate (step S4). In order to determine whether or not the precooling time is appropriate, it is determined whether or not all the indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c are completed within the precooling time PCt calculated in step S3. Therefore, for the indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c installed in the rooms 2a, 2b, and 2c, from the air conditioning rated capacities RC1, RC2, and RC3, which are the capacities that can be exhibited under the operating conditions defined in Japanese Industrial Standards. The value obtained by subtracting the once-through loads TL1, TL2, and TL3 is divided by the air-conditioning loads CL1, CL2, and CL3 necessary for pre-cooling the indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c, respectively, and the pre-cooling time PCt obtained in step S3. Compare with That is, it is determined whether PCt ≧ {CL1 ÷ (RC1-TL1)} and PCt ≧ {CL2 ÷ (RC2-TL2)} and PCt ≧ {CL3 ÷ (RC3-TL3)}. If the above-mentioned conditions are satisfied, it is determined to be appropriate, and the process proceeds to the next step S5.

  Usually, sufficient air-conditioning rated capacities RC1, RC2, and RC3 are set for the rooms 2a, 2b, and 2c, respectively, so that the determination in step S4 can be omitted. The process when it is determined to be inappropriate in step S4 will be described in detail later.

  In the next step S5, the control unit 42 determines whether there is an indoor unit that should be rated. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the rated capacity (= 1)> 0.2 of the indoor unit 30a, the rated capacity (= 2)> 0.8 of the indoor unit 30b, and the rated capacity (= 4) of the indoor unit 30c. Since> 1.0, the control unit 42 determines that there is no indoor unit that needs to be rated and determines the remaining air conditioning capacity for the remaining indoor units, in this case, the three indoor units 30a and 30b. , 30c are distributed to the indoor units 30a, 30b, 30c according to the required load ratio (step S6). Since the required load ratios of the three indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c are “1”, “4”, and “5”, respectively, the indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c have 2 × 1 ÷ 10, 2 Distribute air conditioning capacity of × 4 ÷ 10 and 2 × 5 ÷ 10. If there is an indoor unit that should be rated, the process proceeds to step S8, and the indoor unit that is rated first is scheduled first. Then, after the scheduling in step S8 ends, the process proceeds to step S6, and the remaining air conditioning capacity is distributed to the remaining indoor units according to the ratio of the required load of the remaining indoor units.

  Finally, the control unit 42 calculates the valve openings of the indoor expansion valves 31a, 31b, and 31c of the indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c according to the created distribution schedule.

  If it is determined in step S4 that there is an indoor unit that does not finish pre-cooling within the pre-cooling time calculated in step S3 even if the air-conditioning rated capacity is continuously operated, the routine shown in FIG. The schedule is distributed. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, for example, the air conditioning load CL1 of the room 2a is “6”, and the air conditioning loads CL2 and CL3 of the rooms 2b and 2c are “2”. It is assumed that the air conditioning capacity HC of the outdoor unit 20 per unit time, the air conditioning rated capacities RC2 and RC3 of the indoor units 30b and 30c, and the once-through load are the same as those in FIG. It is assumed that the air conditioning rated capacity RC1 is “1.1”. Therefore, the air conditioning load (the air conditioning rated capacity RC1—the through load TL1 of the indoor unit 30a) is smaller than 1.2 (= 6/5), and the precooling of the indoor unit 30a is not completed within 5 unit hours.

  Therefore, in step S11, the entire precooling time is calculated based on the air conditioning rated capacity RC1 of the indoor unit 30a and the once-through load TL1 of the indoor unit 30a. Since “1.0” can be secured as (air conditioning rated capacity RC1—through-flow load TL1 of the indoor unit 30a), pre-cooling can be completed within 5 unit hours. That is, it is determined that the preheating operation of 6 unit hours is performed from (6 ÷ 6) ≦ (1.1−0.01) <(6 ÷ 5).

  The controller 42 first schedules the indoor unit 30a that has calculated the preheating operation time in step S11 (step S12). When such a calculation is performed, all of the row of the indoor unit 30a in FIG. 6 from the first unit time to the sixth unit time is filled with “1.0”.

  Next, the air conditioning processing amount (HC-ΣTL) per unit time when the outdoor unit 20 operates with high efficiency is sequentially entered from the time near the end of the preheating operation. Then, the total column from the sixth time unit to the third time unit is filled with “2”. Accordingly, “1” is inevitably entered in the total column of the first unit time and the second unit time.

  Next, in step S13, the remaining air conditioning capacity is distributed to the indoor units 30b and 30c according to the required load ratio of the remaining indoor units, in this case, the two indoor units 30b and 30c. In FIG. 6, “0.5” is entered in all the columns from the third unit time to the sixth unit time in the two rows of the indoor units 30 b and 30 c.

  In the distribution schedule as shown in FIG. 6, the first unit time and the second unit time are in the extension mode, and the third unit time to the sixth unit time are in the preheating mode.

(4) Distribution schedule according to once-through load In the above description, the air conditioning capacity distributed to each of the indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c has the same value in each unit time. However, the distribution of the air conditioning force to one indoor unit may be different for each unit time. For example, the distribution of air conditioning capacity to an indoor unit with a large once-through load may be increased as the preheating operation ends, and the distribution of air conditioning capacity to an indoor unit with a small once-through load may be decreased as the preheating operation ends. In other words, the air conditioning capacity of the indoor unit with a large through-flow load is allocated in the second half of the preheating operation, and the air conditioning capacity of the indoor unit with a small through-flow load is allocated in the first half of the preheating operation.

  For example, when the once-through load of the indoor unit 30b is larger than that of the indoor unit 30c, scheduling can be performed as shown in FIG. 7 instead of the scheduling of FIG. The air conditioning capacity “0” and “0 .0” of the first half time period from the first unit time to the fifth unit time, which is the preheating operation time zone of the indoor unit 30b, that is, the first unit time and the second unit time. The sum of “4” is 0.4. On the other hand, the total of the air conditioning capacities “1.2” and “1.2” in the second half of the preheating operation time zone of the indoor unit 30b, that is, the fourth unit time and the fifth unit time is 2.4. It is. Further, the air conditioning capacity “1.8” of the first half time period from the first unit time to the fifth unit time, which is the preheating operation time zone of the indoor unit 30c, that is, the first unit time and the second unit time. And “1.4” is 3.2 in total. On the other hand, the total of the air conditioning capacities “0.6” and “0.6” in the second half of the preheating operation time zone of the indoor unit 30c, that is, the fourth unit time and the fifth unit time is 1.2. It is.

  As described above, in the first half of the preheating operation, the air conditioning capacity is allocated to the indoor unit 30c having a small once-through load as compared with the indoor unit 30b having a large once-through load. The air conditioning capacity is determined to be distributed more than the indoor unit 30c having a small once-through load. By scheduling in this way, the loss caused by the flow through can be reduced.

  In addition, as described above, when the air conditioning capacity is distributed in an inclined manner, it includes a case where only the indoor unit with a small through load is operated in the first half and only an indoor unit with a large through load is operated in the second half. In the case of such scheduling, the air conditioning capacity to the indoor unit with a large once-through load may be allocated from the time zone, unlike the completion of the preheating operation, and the remaining air-conditioning capacity may be allocated to the indoor unit with a small once-through load.

(5) Control at the time of preheating operation Next, the control by the control unit 42 of the air conditioning apparatus 10 from when the air conditioning apparatus 10 starts the preheating operation in the preheating mode according to the above-described distribution schedule to when the preheating operation ends is illustrated. This will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The control unit 42 transmits the valve opening degrees of the indoor expansion valves 31a, 31b, 31c calculated in step S7 of FIG. 4 to the indoor unit control devices 61a, 61b, 61c through the communication unit 41. Indoor unit control device 61a, 61b, 61c adjusts the valve opening degree of indoor expansion valve 31a, 31b, 31c, respectively. When the adjustment of the valve opening degree of the indoor expansion valves 31a, 31b, 31c is completed, the preheating operation is started.

  When the preheating operation is started, the control unit 42 relates to the environmental information such as the indoor temperature and the outdoor temperature from the indoor unit control devices 61a, 61b, 61c and the outdoor unit control device 62 received by the communication unit 41 and the refrigerant circuit 11. Refrigerant circuit information is acquired (step S21).

  The calculation unit 42a of the control unit 42 uses the information used for calculation of the distribution schedule stored in the memory 43 to predict the room temperature of each room 2a, 2b, 2c until the target time is reached by the preheating operation. (Step S22). Then, the control unit 42 compares the indoor temperature predicted by the calculation unit 42a with the current temperature closest to the determination point sent from the indoor unit control devices 61a, 61b, 61c. For example, the straight line L1 shown in FIG. 7 shows the predicted value of the room temperature of the room 2a, and the straight line L2 shows the measured value of the room 2a transmitted from the indoor unit control device 61a. The control unit 42 compares the indoor temperature predicted by the calculation unit 42a with the current temperature closest to the determination time sent from the indoor unit control devices 61a, 61b, 61c.

  The predicted value and the measured value of the room temperature as shown in FIG. 9A are compared, and each room is determined depending on whether or not the deviation temperature ΔT between the predicted value and the measured value is within a predetermined allowable range Ta. It is determined whether or not the room temperatures 2a, 2b, and 2c reach the target temperature at the target time (step S23). Data relating to the allowable range Ta is stored in the memory 43 in advance, for example. If | ΔT | <Ta for all the rooms 2a, 2b, 2c, it is determined that there are no indoor units 30a, 30b, 30c.

  When it is determined in step S23 that all the indoor units 30a, 30b, 30c can reach the target temperature at the target time, the preheating operation is performed according to the original distribution schedule without performing exceptional processing such as correction of the distribution schedule. Continue (step S29).

  When it is determined in step S23 that at least one of the indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c cannot reach the target temperature at the target time, the control unit 42 needs to reach the target temperature by the preheating operation. The priority order is determined in descending order of performance (step S24). The priorities are set in advance and stored in the memory 43, for example.

  In the next step S25, the control unit 42 determines whether or not to modify the distribution schedule. For example, if the priority of the indoor units that do not reach the target temperature at the target time is the lowest, the preheating operation is continued according to the original distribution schedule without changing the distribution schedule (step S29). In this case, it is not necessary to correct the distribution schedule because the higher priority reaches the target temperature at the target time.

  Step S26 is a process of grasping the current state performed by the control unit 42 to correct the distribution schedule. Specifically, the control unit 42 grasps an amount that is out of prediction. The control unit 42 uses the environmental information and refrigerant circuit information acquired from the indoor unit control devices 61a, 61b, 61c and the outdoor unit control device 62, and information stored in the memory 43, during high-efficiency operation of the outdoor unit 20. The air conditioning capacity HC that can be distributed and the air conditioning loads UL1, UL2, and UL3 for each of the indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c are recalculated. And the control part 42 is the parameter required in order to determine a distribution schedule, the air conditioning capability HC which can be distributed at the time of the highly efficient operation of the outdoor unit 20, and air conditioning load UL1, UL2, each indoor unit 30a, 30b, 30c UL3 is corrected (step S27).

  For example, the calculation unit 42a of the control unit 42 can correct the air conditioning load using the straight line L1 of the predicted value of the room temperature and the straight line L2 of the measured value shown in FIG. For example, if the indoor unit 30a initially calculated by the calculating unit 42a is the air conditioning load UL1, the corrected air conditioning load UL1a can be obtained from UL1a = UL1 × (inclination of the straight line L2) ÷ (inclination of the straight line L1). In other words, in the actual pre-cooling operation shown in FIG. 9A, the air-conditioning load was not sufficiently cooled by the given air-conditioning capability, and the fact was that the actual air-conditioning load was larger than the initially predicted air-conditioning load. It is shown that. In such a case, the corrected air conditioning load UL1a is estimated to be larger than the initial air conditioning load UL1. The above formula is used in the case of the pre-cooling operation, and in the case of the pre-heating operation, UL1a = UL1 × (inclination of the straight line L1) ÷ (inclination of the straight line L2). That is, if the actual air conditioning load is larger than the initially predicted air conditioning load UL1, the preheating will be insufficient, and the temperature will only reach a temperature lower than the predicted indoor temperature, indicating a measured value. The slope of the straight line L2 becomes small.

  The air conditioning capacity HC that can be distributed during the high-efficiency operation of the outdoor unit 20 is substantially constant in the preheating mode. For example, as shown in FIG. The value of the air conditioning capability HC that can be distributed during operation may be replaced with the value of the air conditioning capability at the current time. In FIG. 9B, ΔHC is the correction amount.

  When the parameter correction is completed, the calculation unit 42a of the control unit 42 next corrects the distribution schedule (step S28). In order to correct the distribution schedule, the air conditioning capability HC that can be distributed during high-efficiency operation of the outdoor unit 20 is calculated using the corrected parameters. Then, the calculation unit 42a calculates the air conditioning load up to the target time for the indoor unit with the highest priority. If the air conditioning load of the indoor unit with the highest priority does not exceed the air conditioning processing amount, the same calculation is performed for the air conditioning load of the indoor unit with the second highest priority. If the total air conditioning load of the indoor unit having the highest priority and the second highest indoor unit does not exceed the air conditioning processing amount, the same calculation is performed for the air conditioning load of the indoor unit having the third highest priority. The calculation unit 42a sequentially performs such calculations on the lower indoor units. Then, the calculation after the total air conditioning load exceeds the air conditioning processing amount is stopped.

  The control unit 42 sets the indoor unit at the time when the total air conditioning load exceeds the air conditioning processing amount as a control target, and sets the indoor unit having a lower priority order to be stopped or thermo-off only during the preheating mode.

  An example of the modification of the distribution schedule as described above will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 10, the indoor unit 30c has the highest priority, the indoor unit 30b has the next highest priority, and the indoor unit 30a has the lowest priority. Initially, the preheating operation was performed according to the distribution schedule shown in FIG. 3, and when the preheating operation until the second unit time was completed, it was found that the target temperature could not be reached at the target time for the indoor unit 30c. Suppose that it did (step S23). Then, when the control unit 42 grasps the unpredicted amount, the correction amount ΔHC shown in FIG. 9B is “0.5”, and the indoor unit 30c (inclination of the straight line L2 / inclination of the straight line L1). ) Is “2”. In this case, the air conditioning processing amount (HC-ΣTL) is corrected from “2” to “2.5”, and UL3 is corrected from “3” to “6”.

  When the control unit 42 corrects the distribution schedule using the parameters corrected in this way, first, the total air conditioning processing amount from the third unit time to the fifth unit time is “7.5” (= 2.5 × 3) is required. This value enters the right end of the bottom column of FIG. Since the total air conditioning load of the indoor unit 30c with the highest priority is “6”, the air conditioning processing amount is not exceeded, so the same calculation is performed for the air conditioning load of the indoor unit 30b with the second highest priority. The control unit 42 determines that the total air conditioning load of the indoor unit 30c having the highest priority and the indoor unit 30b having the second highest priority is “8.4” (= 2 × 3 + 0.8 × 3). Since the amount is exceeded, the subsequent calculation is stopped. Then, in order to thermo-off the indoor unit 30a, the control unit 42 performs control to close the indoor expansion valve 31a by setting the air conditioning capability to be distributed to “0”.

  For sufficient preheating operation of the indoor unit 30b, only the air conditioning load UL2 of “2.4” is required, but the remaining distributable air conditioning capacity is only “1.5”. Distribute to 30b. By distributing in this way, the air-conditioning capability HC at the time of high-efficiency operation of the outdoor unit 20 can be ensured.

  The processing from step S21 to step S29 is performed a predetermined number of times or every predetermined time after a certain amount of time has elapsed since the start of the preheating operation. Such a determination period ends for a while before reaching the end point of the preheating operation, for example, when the third unit time has ended. For example, the processing shown in FIG. 8 is performed at the end of the first unit time, the end of the second unit time, and the end of the third unit time. Since a reliable judgment cannot be made immediately after the preheating operation, it is possible to avoid making a judgment immediately after the preheating operation. Moreover, even if the distribution schedule correction as described above is performed immediately before the preheating operation, the effect is small, and even if there is a small difference between the target temperature and the current temperature immediately before, the target of the indoor temperature at the end of the preheating mode This is because the deviation from the temperature is small, so that the air conditioning subject is less uncomfortable.

(6) Features (6-1)
As described above, the control unit 42 causes the indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c (examples of utilization units) and the outdoor unit 20 (examples of heat source units) to operate with high efficiency according to the distribution schedule in the preheating mode. . Since the outdoor unit 20 performs the pre-cooling operation while maintaining the state of the high efficiency operation, the outdoor unit 20 becomes the high load factor operation or the low load factor operation, and the operation efficiency deteriorates, or the indoor units 30a, 30b, 30c It can be prevented that a part of the target temperature reaches the target temperature early to cause an energy loss or a long precooling time. As a result, when performing the precooling operation by supplying cold heat from the outdoor unit 20 to the plurality of indoor units 30a, 30b, 30c, it is possible to suppress energy loss while keeping the precooling operation time at an appropriate length.

(6-2)
When the control unit 42 is in the preheating mode, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, the total of the air conditioning loads (examples of air conditioning load throughput) of the plurality of indoor units 30 a, 30 b, 30 c in each time zone becomes uniform. The distribution schedule determined as follows is used. By using the distribution schedule determined in this way, the air conditioning load of the plurality of indoor units 30a, 30b, 30c is close to the air conditioning processing amount (an example of the air conditioning load processing amount) at which the operation efficiency of the outdoor unit 20 is maximized. The total can be maintained. As a result, it is easy to increase the operating efficiency of the outdoor unit 20.

(6-3)
In the example shown in FIG. 7, in the distribution schedule used by the control unit 42, the air conditioning capacity is distributed to the indoor unit 30 c with a small through-flow load in the first half time zone as compared with the indoor unit 30 b with a large through-flow load. Since it is determined that the air conditioning capacity is allocated to the indoor unit 30b having a large once-through load more than the indoor unit 30c having the smaller one-through load, the air-conditioning capacity of the indoor unit 30b having a large once-through load is provided in the first half time zone. Compared with the case where many are distributed, the movement of the heat generated in the indoor unit 30b during the first half of the time zone can be suppressed to be small.

(6-4)
The control unit 42 calculates the air conditioning load (an example of the preheating air conditioning load) of each indoor unit 30a, 30b, 30c during the preheating operation based on the indoor temperature, the outdoor temperature, and the target temperature (an example of the target set temperature) to preheat. Since the total air conditioning load in the mode is determined, the total amount of air conditioning processing in the preheating mode can be determined in consideration of changes in the total air conditioning load depending on the room temperature, the outdoor temperature, and the target temperature. As a result, control can be performed so that the target temperature can be preheated even if the conditions of the room temperature, the outdoor temperature, and the target temperature change.

(6-5)
The control unit 42 is obtained by dividing the total air conditioning load of the plurality of indoor units 30a, 30b, 30 by the air conditioning processing amount per unit time (HC-ΣTL) when the outdoor unit 20 maintains high efficiency operation. Preheat in preheat mode for preheat time. As a result, the control unit 42 keeps the outdoor unit 20 in a predetermined high efficiency operation during the preheating time controlled in the preheating mode so that many indoor units 30a, 30b, 30c reach the target temperature in a short preheating time. It is possible to suppress energy loss by performing preheating operation.

(6-6)
The control unit 42 that performs scheduling as described with reference to FIG. 6 further has an extension mode in addition to the normal operation mode and the preheating mode. In the extension mode of the first unit time and the second unit time in FIG. 6, the control is performed according to the extension schedule for supplying heat to the plurality of indoor units 30a, 30b, 30c in a state where the outdoor unit 20 does not maintain the high efficiency operation. The controller 42 can perform preheating using the extension mode when comfortable preheating cannot be performed only by the preheating mode. If such an extension mode is provided, a comfortable preheating operation can be set. The schedule for the first unit time and the second unit time in FIG. 6 is stopped, and the extension mode is not provided. If only the preheating mode is set, the preheating operation with small energy loss can be set.

(6-7)
As described with reference to FIG. 8, when the preheating to the target temperature of the indoor unit 30c (an example of a predetermined use unit) cannot be achieved, the supply of cold heat to the indoor unit 30c is increased, thereby increasing the indoor unit 30c. Thus, it is possible to perform cooling to bring the room temperature where air conditioning is performed closer to the target temperature. As a result, it is easy to ensure comfort in the room where air conditioning is performed by the indoor unit 30c.

(6-8)
The plurality of indoor units 30a, 30b, 30 are configured to perform a preliminary air conditioning operation for cooling or heating with individually set specific air conditioning capabilities, and the control unit 42 is configured to perform the indoor unit 30a in the preheating mode. , 30b, and 30 for controlling the start and end of the preliminary air conditioning operation according to the distribution schedule. As described with reference to FIG. 3, when the indoor units 30a, 30b, 30 perform cooling with a specific air conditioning capability, setting of a distribution schedule to be performed by the control unit 42 is facilitated, and control in the preheating mode is facilitated. become.

(7) Modification (7-1) Modification 1A
In the above embodiment, as a specific example of the priority determination method in the control unit 42, the case where the priority is preset and stored in the memory 43 by, for example, a person to be air-conditioned has been described. The method for determining the priority order is not limited to such a method. For example, the priority order may be determined by the following method. You may set the priority of an indoor unit with a big deviation with room temperature and target temperature high. By setting such priorities, it is possible to eliminate a room in which comfort is greatly impaired due to a large difference between the room temperature and the target temperature. Moreover, you may set high the priority of the indoor unit with small required load by target time. If such priority order is set, the number of indoor units that can achieve the target temperature can be increased. Moreover, you may set the high priority of the indoor unit in which the air conditioning subject already exists. Moreover, you may set the high priority of the indoor unit in which an air-conditioning subject enters early from the past performance.

(7-2) Modification 1B
In the above embodiment, the precooling operation of the air conditioner 10 has been described as the preliminary operation. However, the preheating operation may be performed as the preliminary operation.

(7-3) Modification 1C
In the above-described embodiment, the air conditioner 10 that supplies cold and hot heat using a refrigerant has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to the air conditioner 110 that supplies cold and hot heat using air as illustrated in FIG. 11. The air conditioner 110 is an air conditioning system provided for performing individual air conditioning of a plurality of air conditioning spaces (here, four air conditioning spaces A to D) in a building, and mainly includes an air conditioning unit 120 and a main duct 103. And a plurality (four in this case) of auxiliary ducts 104a to 104d. The air conditioning unit 120 of the air conditioning apparatus 110 is a duct type air conditioning unit provided in a ceiling space of a building or the like. The air conditioning unit 120 mainly includes a unit casing 121, a blower 122, and a heat exchanger 123. The unit casing 121 is formed with an air inlet 121a for sucking outdoor or indoor air and an air outlet 121b for discharging conditioned air. The air inlet 121 a is connected to the suction duct 105, and the air outlet 121 b is connected to the main duct 103. The blower 122 is a blower that is provided in the unit casing 121 and performs a blowing operation of sucking air from the air inlet 121a and discharging it from the air outlet 121b. The motor 124 is a variable speed motor. For this reason, the blower 122 constitutes a variable speed rotation type blower capable of performing capacity control by changing the rotation speed of the motor 124.

  The heat exchanger 123 is a heat exchanger that adjusts the temperature and humidity of the air sucked into the unit casing 121 by the blowing operation of the blower 122. The air conditioning unit 120 is provided with a control unit 125 for performing operation control of equipment such as the blower 122. The control unit 125 is connected to an air conditioning remote controller 126 for remotely operating / stopping the air conditioning unit 120.

  The sub ducts 104a to 104d are provided in the ceiling space of the building or the like, and are branched from the main duct 103 to the air conditioning spaces A to D. Each of the sub ducts 104a to 104d is provided with variable opening air conditioning dampers 41a to 41d. The air conditioning dampers 141a to 141d are connected to the corresponding damper remote controllers 142a to 142d. For example, the damper remote controllers 142a to 142d are provided in the air conditioning spaces A to D, respectively, and can perform control to change the opening degrees of the corresponding air conditioning dampers 141a to 141d. For this reason, the air conditioning dampers 141a to 141d can perform control to change the amount of air passing through the sub ducts 104a to 104d, that is, the amount of air supplied to the air conditioned spaces A to D. Here, the air conditioning dampers 141a to 141d are only controlled to change the opening according to the operation signals of the corresponding damper remote controllers 142a to 142d, and the air conditioning dampers 141a to 141d are air-conditioned. Control that is transmitted to the control unit 125 of the unit 120 and reflected in the capacity control of the blower 122 is performed.

  In such an air conditioner 110, an air conditioning unit 120 (an example of a heat source unit) corresponds to the outdoor unit 20 of the above embodiment, and includes indoor units 130a to 130d (utilization) including air conditioning dampers 141a to 141d and damper remote controllers 142a to 142d. An example of the unit corresponds to the indoor units 30a, 30b, and 30c. The air conditioning dampers 141a to 141d correspond to the indoor expansion valves 31a, 31b, and 31c. In such an example, the plurality of indoor units 130a to 130d are configured to perform a preheating precooling operation in which cooling or heating is performed with specific air conditioning capabilities set individually. In the preheating mode, the control unit 125 causes the air conditioning unit 120 and the indoor units 130a to 130d to operate with high efficiency according to the distribution schedule similar to the above embodiment.

(7-4) Modification 1D
In the above-described embodiment, the air conditioner 10 that supplies cold and hot heat using a refrigerant has been described. However, the present invention is applied to the air conditioner 210 that supplies hot and / or cold heat using hot water and / or cold water as illustrated in FIG. You can also. In FIG. 12, the outdoor unit 220 includes a water heat exchanger 224a and a pump 224b, and can supply hot water or cold water to the indoor units 230a, 230b, and 230c through pipes 206 and 207 so that the flow rate can be changed. In the water heat exchanger 224a, heat is exchanged between the refrigerant and water. The indoor units 230a, 230b, and 230c are configured such that the amount of supplied hot water or cold water can be adjusted by valves 231a, 231b, and 231c. The supplied hot water or cold water is subjected to heat exchange with room air in the coils 232a, 232b, and 232c. Hot water or cold water whose heat exchange has been completed in the coils 232a, 232b, and 232c is circulated by the pump 224b, and heat exchange is performed again with the refrigerant in the water heat exchanger 224a.

  In such an air conditioner 210, the outdoor unit 220 (an example of a heat source unit) corresponds to the outdoor unit 20 of the above embodiment, and the indoor units 230a, 230b, and 230c (an example of a utilization unit) are indoor units 30a, 30b, Corresponds to 30c. The valves 231a, 231b, and 231c correspond to the indoor expansion valves 31a, 31b, and 31c. In FIG. 12, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 correspond to the components having the same reference numerals in FIG. In such an example, the plurality of indoor units 230a, 230b, and 230c are configured to perform a preheating precooling operation in which cooling or heating is performed with specific air conditioning capabilities that are individually set. In the preheating mode, the control unit 242 of the air conditioning control device 40 causes the outdoor unit 220 and the indoor units 230a, 230b, and 230c to operate with high efficiency according to the distribution schedule similar to the above embodiment.

  In the present invention, the concept of floor heating is included in the air conditioning. For example, a floor heating system can be used instead of the indoor units 230a, 230b, and 230c described above.

10, 110, 210 Air conditioner 20,220 Outdoor unit (example of heat source unit)
120 Air conditioning unit (Example of heat source unit)
30a, 30b, 30c indoor unit (example of use unit)
130a, 130b, 130c, 130d Indoor units (examples of units used)
230a, 230b, 230c Indoor unit (example of use unit)
40 Air-conditioning control device 42, 125, 242 Control unit

JP 2012-202581 A

Claims (3)

A heat source unit (20, 120, 220);
A plurality of utilization units (30a to 30c, 130a to 130d, 230a to 230c) that perform air conditioning using cold and / or warm heat supplied from the heat source unit via a fluid;
A control having a preheating mode separately from the normal operation mode, wherein the heat source unit is controlled according to a distribution schedule of heat supply to the plurality of utilization units determined so as to maintain a predetermined high efficiency operation. Part (42, 125, 242),
Equipped with a,
The said control part is an air conditioning apparatus which controls according to the distribution schedule determined so that the sum in each time slot | zone of the air-conditioning load processing amount of the said some utilization unit may become uniform in the said preheating mode . A heat source unit (20, 120, 220);
A plurality of utilization units (30a to 30c, 130a to 130d, 230a to 230c) that perform air conditioning using cold and / or warm heat supplied from the heat source unit via a fluid;
A control having a preheating mode separately from the normal operation mode, wherein the heat source unit is controlled according to a distribution schedule of heat supply to the plurality of utilization units determined so as to maintain a predetermined high efficiency operation. Part (42, 125, 242),
With
In the preheating mode, the control unit is configured such that the total of the through-flow loads of the usage units operating in the first half time zone is smaller than the total of the through-flow loads of the usage units operating in the second half time zone. The air conditioner is controlled according to the distribution schedule determined by the company. A heat source unit (20, 120, 220);
A plurality of utilization units (30a to 30c, 130a to 130d, 230a to 230c) that perform air conditioning using cold and / or warm heat supplied from the heat source unit via a fluid;
A control having a preheating mode separately from the normal operation mode, wherein the heat source unit is controlled according to a distribution schedule of heat supply to the plurality of utilization units determined so as to maintain a predetermined high efficiency operation. Part (42, 125, 242),
With
The control unit calculates the preheating air conditioning load of each of the usage units based on the indoor temperature, the outdoor temperature, and the set temperature of the room in which each usage unit is installed. Determining the total amount of air conditioning load throughput when heat is supplied to the plurality of usage units in the mode based on the sum of the preheating air conditioning loads of the plurality of usage units;
The control unit is only for a preheating time obtained by dividing the total preheating air conditioning load of the plurality of utilization units by the air conditioning load processing amount per unit time when the heat source unit maintains a predetermined high efficiency operation. An air conditioner for preheating in the preheating mode.

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