JP6320617B2 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner that can automatically control a blower so as to have a predetermined air volume when it deviates from an initial static wind pressure value during operation.

  In conventional air conditioners, when duct connections are made, the required static pressure and air volume are calculated in advance at the equipment design stage, and the pulleys and belts that match them are selected to obtain the predetermined static pressure and air volume. It was. However, changes in air path pressure loss such as filter clogging may occur during operation of the air conditioner. When a change in the air flow occurs due to a change in the air passage pressure loss, conventionally, the operation is stopped and the air passage pressure loss is restored or the setting of the pulley belt is changed to maintain the predetermined air flow.

In a conventional air conditioner, when air conditioned air is conveyed through a duct, the air volume that is reduced due to the wind path pressure loss of the duct is estimated in advance, and added to the predetermined air volume, so that a predetermined amount is obtained at the duct outlet. The initial air volume was set to be the air volume.
However, as described above, when the increase or decrease in the wind path pressure loss occurs during operation, the predetermined air volume cannot be maintained. Therefore, a damper may be installed in the duct to adjust to a predetermined air volume. In the above-described method, even if the required air volume decreases, the power load of the blower hardly changes, so that energy loss occurs.

  In view of this, a technique has been shown in which a bypass damper is used in a constant air flow system, and the rotational speed of the blower is controlled by a duct outlet static pressure (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP-A-8-110079

  However, there is a problem that a device for measuring static pressure is required and the configuration becomes complicated. In addition, in the case of an installation configuration in which a plurality of indoor units are connected to a single duct, each indoor unit is controlled independently, making it difficult to adjust the overall air volume and optimize the power load. .

  The present invention is for solving the above-described problems, and in the case of an installation configuration in which a plurality of indoor units are connected to a single duct, the entire air volume can be efficiently reduced without measuring static pressure and air volume. An object is to provide an air conditioner to be controlled.

  An air conditioner according to the present invention includes a plurality of indoor units each having a fan and a control unit, and a duct connected to the plurality of indoor units and sending out air conditioned by the plurality of indoor units, One of the plurality of indoor units is a master unit, the other is a slave unit, and the control unit of the master unit and the control unit of the slave unit each determine the amount of air blown by the own unit, and the control unit of the master unit is , Taking in the blast volume of the slave unit, obtaining the overall blast volume of the plurality of indoor units including its own unit, determining whether the overall blast volume is excessive or insufficient with respect to the reference air volume, When it is determined that there is a shortage, the fan of the indoor unit that can be driven most efficiently among the plurality of indoor units including the own unit is selected, and a change in the rotation speed of the fan is commanded.

  According to the air conditioner according to the present invention, since the indoor unit fan that can be driven most efficiently among all the indoor units is selected and the rotation speed of the fan is instructed, it approaches the predetermined air volume. In the case of an installation configuration in which a plurality of indoor units are connected to a single duct, the entire air volume can be efficiently controlled without measuring the static pressure and the air volume.

It is a figure explaining the installation form of the indoor unit of the air conditioner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is the schematic explaining the structure of the indoor unit of the air conditioner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a refrigerant circuit diagram which shows schematic structure of the air conditioning apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the flow at the time of the test run of the indoor unit of the air conditioner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the flow at the time of the driving | operation of the main | base station of the air conditioner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the flow at the time of the driving | operation of the subunit | mobile_unit of the air conditioner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
In addition, in each figure, what attached | subjected the same code | symbol is the same or it corresponds, and this is common in the whole text of a specification.
Furthermore, the form of the constituent elements appearing in the whole specification is merely an example, and is not limited to these descriptions.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an installation mode of indoor units 1, 2, and 3 of an air conditioner 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Two or more indoor units 1, 2, and 3 of the air conditioner 100 shown in FIG. Here, a case where three units are installed will be described as an example.
The indoor units 1, 2, and 3 are connected to the duct 4, and the indoor units 1, 2, and 3 are communicably connected via the communication line 5. The communication line 5 may be wired or wireless. At this time, one of the indoor units 1, 2, and 3 is set as a master unit, and other indoor units other than the master unit are set as slave units. Here, the indoor unit 1 is assumed to be a master unit. The indoor units 2 and 3 are set as slave units.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the configuration of the indoor unit 1 of the air conditioner 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The indoor unit 1 controls a heat exchanger 6 that exchanges heat between refrigerant and room air, a fan 7 that causes room air to flow out into the duct 4, a motor 8 that imparts rotational driving force to the fan 7, and the motor 8. An inverter 9 and a microcomputer 10 that issues a control command to the inverter 9 are provided. The indoor units 2 and 3 have the same configuration as the indoor unit 1. Therefore, the configuration of only the indoor unit 1 will be described.

The indoor unit 1 of the air conditioner 100 harmonizes the air by the heat exchanger 6, drives the fan 7 by the motor 8 controlled by the inverter 9 having the microcomputer 10, and conditioned air (outdoors) Blow out air).
The microcomputer 10 included in the indoor unit 1 of the air conditioner 100 stores fan characteristics such as the rotational speed of the fan 7, the air volume, the static pressure, and the current.
The inverter 9 equipped with the microcomputer 10 includes a mechanism that can detect the rotation speed and current of the fan 7, and can change the rotation speed of the fan 7 by changing the current to the motor 8 that drives the fan 7.
The microcomputers 10 of the indoor units 1, 2 and 3 can communicate with each other via the communication line 5.
The microcomputer 10 provided in the indoor unit 1 constitutes a control unit of the master unit of the air conditioner 100. Moreover, the microcomputer 10 with which the indoor units 2 and 3 are provided comprises the control part of the subunit | mobile_unit of the air conditioner 100. FIG.

FIG. 3 is a refrigerant circuit diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the air conditioner 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
Next, an example of the operation of the air conditioner 100 during the cooling operation will be described with reference to FIG. When the microcomputer 10 switches the four-way valve 103 to the cooling operation, the refrigerant is compressed by the compressor 101 to become a high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant, and flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 104 through the four-way valve 103. The high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant that has flowed into the outdoor heat exchanger 104 undergoes heat exchange (heat radiation) with outdoor air that passes through the outdoor heat exchanger 104 and flows out as high-pressure liquid refrigerant. The high-pressure liquid refrigerant that has flowed out of the outdoor heat exchanger 104 is depressurized by the capillary tube 105 and the electronically controlled expansion valve 106, becomes a low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant, and flows into the heat exchanger 6. The gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant that has flowed into the heat exchanger 6 is heat-exchanged with the room air passing through the heat exchanger 6, cools the room air, and is sucked into the compressor 101 as a low-temperature and low-pressure gas refrigerant. .

  Next, an example of the operation of the air conditioner 100 during the heating operation will be described with reference to FIG. When the four-way valve 103 is switched to the heating operation by the microcomputer 10, the refrigerant is compressed by the compressor 101 in the same manner as described above to become a high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant and flows into the heat exchanger 6 through the four-way valve 103. To do. The high-temperature and high-pressure gas refrigerant that has flowed into the heat exchanger 6 is heat-exchanged with the room air that passes through the heat exchanger 6, and warms the room air to become a high-pressure liquid refrigerant. The high-pressure liquid refrigerant that has flowed out of the heat exchanger 6 is depressurized by the electronic control type expansion valve 106 and the capillary tube 105, becomes a low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant, and flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 104. The low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant that has flowed into the outdoor heat exchanger 104 is heat-exchanged with outdoor air that passes through the outdoor heat exchanger 104 and is sucked into the compressor 101 as a low-temperature and low-pressure gas refrigerant.

Next, the operation | movement which controls the air volume of the duct 4 of the air conditioner 100 which concerns on Embodiment 1 is demonstrated.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a flow during a trial operation of the indoor units 1, 2, and 3 of the air conditioner 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
First, the control flow at the time of trial operation of the indoor units 1, 2, and 3 of the air conditioner 100 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As step S1, the microcomputer 10 of each indoor unit 1, 2, 3 operates at a predetermined air volume Q0 in which the air volume of the duct 4 is constant during a trial operation such as construction, and the current value A0 of the fan 7 and rotation at that time The number N0 is stored in the microcomputer 10.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a flow during operation of the master unit of the air-conditioning apparatus 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
Next, the master unit control flow during operation of the master unit set in the indoor unit 1 of the air conditioner 100 will be described with reference to FIG.

As step ST <b> 1, the microcomputer 10 of the parent device transmits a calculation command for the air flow rate Q from the parent device to the child device through the communication line 5 during the start of operation. The master unit also calculates the air flow rate Q. The air flow rate Q is calculated by measuring the operating current value A and the operating rotational speed N and using the relationship stored in the microcomputer 10.
In step ST <b> 2, the microcomputer 10 of the parent device receives the data of the blowing amount Q of the child device through the communication line 5.
In step ST3, when the microcomputer 10 of the master unit receives the information on the air flow rate Q from the slave unit via the communication line 5, the predetermined air volume Q0 (reference air volume) that makes the duct 4 a constant air volume and all the indoor units 1 and 2 are set. 3 is calculated from the sum of the airflow rates Q of 3 (the overall airflow rate).
In step ST4, the microcomputer 10 of the master unit determines whether or not there is an excess / shortage amount ΔQ of the air flow. If the excess air shortage amount ΔQ exists in step ST4 (YES), the process proceeds to step ST5. When there is no excess air shortage ΔQ (NO), the process proceeds to step ST1.

In step ST5, the microcomputer 10 of the master unit sends a command to the slave unit to calculate the change amount ΔA between the current value A1 and the current value A when the blower amount is changed by the excess or shortage amount ΔQ. Send by. The master unit also calculates the change amount ΔA.
In step ST <b> 6, the microcomputer 10 of the parent device receives the change amount ΔA from the child device via the communication line 5.
In step ST7, the microcomputer 10 of the parent device compares the change amount ΔA of each child device transmitted through the communication line 5 with the change amount ΔA of the parent device.
In step ST8, the microcomputer 10 of the master unit performs the most efficient driving (the amount of current can be changed most efficiently) for the indoor unit that satisfies the amount of ventilation excess / deficiency ΔQ by the change amount ΔA. A command for changing the rotational speed N of the fan 7 by the amount of change ΔA is transmitted through the communication line 5.
Here, the most efficient driving by the change amount ΔA means that when the excess air shortage amount ΔQ is insufficient, the air amount is increased to increase the current value by ΔA in the indoor unit having the minimum change amount ΔA, This refers to minimizing the increase in the total amount of current. In addition, when the air flow excess / deficiency ΔQ is excessive, the air flow is decreased, so that the current value is decreased by the change ΔA in the indoor unit having the maximum change ΔA, thereby maximizing the decrease in the total current. Say. Thereby, the amount of current is changed most efficiently.

In step ST9, the microcomputer 10 of the parent device determines whether or not there is a command to change the rotational speed N of the fan 7. If there is a command to change the rotation speed N of the fan 7 in step ST9 (YES), the process proceeds to step ST10. If there is no command to change the rotational speed N of the fan 7 (NO), the process proceeds to step ST1.
In step ST10, the microcomputer 10 of the master unit changes the rotational speed N of the fan 7 by the amount of change of the change amount ΔA by controlling the inverter 9 in accordance with a command for changing the rotational speed N of the fan 7. From step ST10, the process returns to step ST1.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a flow during operation of the slave unit of the air conditioner 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
The subunit | mobile_unit control flow at the time of operation | movement of the indoor units 2 and 3 of the air conditioner 100 is demonstrated using FIG.

In step SH1, the microcomputer 10 of the slave unit receives an information transmission command (command of step ST1) from the master unit via the communication line 5 after the start of normal operation.
In step SH <b> 2, the microcomputer 10 of the slave unit measures the operating current value A and the operating rotational speed N for the indoor units 2 and 3, and calculates the air flow rate Q using the relationship stored in the microcomputer 10.
In step SH <b> 3, the microcomputer 10 of the child device transmits the calculated air flow rate Q to the parent device via the communication line 5.

In step SH4, the microcomputer 10 of the slave unit changes the current value A1 when the air flow rate is changed by the air flow excess / shortage amount ΔQ calculated from the predetermined air flow rate Q0 and the entire air flow rate Q via the communication line 5. It is determined whether or not there is a command (command in step ST5) for calculating the amount of change ΔA from the current value A. If there is a command to calculate the change amount ΔA in step SH4 (YES), the process proceeds to step SH5. If there is no command to calculate the change amount ΔA (NO), the process proceeds to step SH1.
In step SH5, the microcomputer 10 of the slave unit calculates the change amount ΔA from the difference between the current value A1 and the current value A when the air flow rate is changed by the air flow excess / deficiency amount ΔQ.
In step SH6, the microcomputer 10 of the child device transmits the change amount ΔA to the parent device via the communication line 5.

In step SH7, the microcomputer 10 of the slave unit determines whether or not there is a command for changing the rotational speed N of the fan 7 (command in step ST8) via the communication line 5. If there is a command to change the rotational speed N of the fan 7 in step SH7 (YES), the process proceeds to step SH8. If there is no command to change the rotational speed N of the fan 7 (NO), the process proceeds to step SH1.
In step SH8, the microcomputer 10 of the slave unit changes the rotational speed N of the fan 7 by the amount of change ΔA by controlling the inverter 9 in accordance with a command to change the rotational speed N of the fan 7 via the communication line 5. To do. From step SH8, the process returns to step SH1.

As described above, the flow of FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 is executed during operation, so that the microcomputer 10 of the slave unit calculates the air flow rate Q in accordance with the command of the microcomputer 10 of the master unit and transfers it to the microcomputer 10 of the master unit. It transmits by the communication line 5. The microcomputer 10 of the master unit that has received the air flow rate Q from the microcomputer 10 of the slave unit via the communication line 5 uses the air flow excess / shortage amount ΔQ from the predetermined air volume Q0 and the total air volume Q of all the indoor units 1, 2, and 3. Calculate
If the microcomputer 10 of the master unit determines that there is an excess / shortage amount ΔQ of the blower, it issues a command to the microcomputer 10 of the slave unit via the communication line 5 to change the blower amount by the excess / shortage amount ΔQ of the slave unit. The amount of change ΔA between the current value A1 and the current value A is calculated and transmitted to the microcomputer 10 of the parent machine via the communication line 5. The change amount ΔA is also calculated by the microcomputer 10 of the parent machine.
The microcomputer 10 of the master unit compares the transmitted change ΔA of the master unit and each slave unit, and can be driven most efficiently by the change amount ΔA of all indoor units 1, 2, and 3 of the master unit and the slave units. A command to control the rotational speed N of the fan 7 is transmitted through the communication line 5 to a simple indoor unit.
The microcomputer 10 of the indoor unit that has received the command changes the rotational speed of the fan 7 by the change amount of the change amount ΔA. By repeating this, the air flow rate Q can be adjusted to a predetermined air flow rate Q0.

  According to the first embodiment, it is possible to adjust the entire air flow rate Q so that the air flow rate Q0 (set value) becomes a predetermined air flow amount even if an increase or decrease in air path pressure loss such as filter clogging occurs during operation. Moreover, the information of the indoor units 1, 2, and 3 in operation is communicated among a plurality of indoor units, and the microcomputer 10 of the master unit is the most efficient indoor unit that can be driven by the change amount ΔA among all the indoor units. By instructing the change of the rotational speed N of the fan 7, the current value is efficiently changed to approach a predetermined air volume Q 0 (set value), and a plurality of indoor units 1, 2 for a single duct 4. 3 can be efficiently controlled without measuring static pressure and air volume. Further, since the master unit transmits a command to the slave unit and performs overall control, it is possible to achieve adjustment of the air volume and optimization of the power load in the plurality of indoor units 1, 2, and 3 as a whole.

  Further, since the number of rotations of the fan 7 is changed by the change amount of the current change amount ΔA only for the indoor unit that can be driven most efficiently by the current change amount ΔA, the change in the current value is the least increased. The current value is efficiently changed so as to decrease a lot, and can be brought close to a predetermined air volume Q0 (set value).

  According to the first embodiment described above, when it is determined that there is an excess or deficiency, the microcomputer 10 of the parent device can be driven most efficiently among the plurality of indoor units 1, 2, and 3 including the own device. The fan 7 of the indoor unit is selected, and the change of the rotation speed of the fan 7 is instructed. According to this, by changing the rotation speed of the fan 7 of the indoor unit that can be driven most efficiently, it approaches the predetermined air volume Q0 (set value), and a plurality of indoor units 1, In the case of the installation configuration in which two or three are connected, the entire air volume can be efficiently controlled without measuring the static pressure and the air volume.

  The microcomputer 10 of the slave unit obtains the air flow rate Q of its own unit based on a command from the microcomputer 10 of the master unit and transmits it to the microcomputer 10 of the master unit. According to this, comprehensive control by the microcomputer 10 of the master unit can be realized, and adjustment of the air volume and optimization of the power load in the plurality of indoor units 1, 2, and 3 can be achieved.

  The microcomputer 10 of the master unit acquires the change amount ΔA of the current of the slave unit, and is the indoor unit that can be driven most efficiently based on the change amount ΔA of the current of the plurality of indoor units 1, 2, and 3 including its own unit The fan 7 is selected, and a change in the rotational speed of the fan 7 is commanded so as to satisfy the excess / deficiency air volume. According to this, in the case of the installation form in which the current value is efficiently changed to approach a predetermined air volume Q0 (set value) and a plurality of indoor units 1, 2, and 3 are connected to a single duct 4, The entire air volume can be controlled efficiently without measuring the static pressure and the air volume.

  The microcomputer 10 of the master unit obtains the change amount ΔA of the current of the slave unit, and is the smallest change amount ΔA of the current among the change amounts ΔA of the plurality of indoor units 1, 2, and 3 including the self unit. The indoor unit is selected as the fan of the indoor unit that can be driven most efficiently, and an increase in the number of rotations of the fan 7 is commanded so as to satisfy the insufficient air volume. According to this, in the case of an installation configuration in which a plurality of indoor units 1, 2, 3 are connected to a single duct 4 while the current value efficiently increases to the minimum necessary and approaches the predetermined air volume Q 0 (set value). In addition, the entire air volume can be efficiently controlled without measuring the static pressure and the air volume.

  The microcomputer 10 of the slave unit obtains a change amount ΔA of the current of its own unit based on a command from the microcomputer 10 of the master unit and transmits it to the microcomputer 10 of the master unit. According to this, comprehensive control by the microcomputer 10 of the master unit can be realized, and adjustment of the air volume and optimization of the power load in the plurality of indoor units 1, 2, and 3 can be achieved.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Indoor unit, 2 Indoor unit, 3 Indoor unit, 4 Duct, 5 Communication line, 6 Heat exchanger, 7 Fan, 8 Motor, 9 Inverter, 10 Microcomputer, 100 Air conditioner, 101 Compressor, 103 Four-way valve, 104 Outdoor heat exchanger, 105 capillary tube, 106 electronically controlled expansion valve.

Claims (5)

A plurality of indoor units each having a fan and a control unit;
A duct connected to the plurality of indoor units and for sending out air conditioned by the plurality of indoor units;
With
One of the plurality of indoor units is a master unit, the other is a slave unit,
The control unit of the master unit and the control unit of the slave unit respectively obtain the air volume of the own unit,
The control unit of the master unit is
Taking in the blast volume of the slave unit, obtaining the overall blast volume of the plurality of indoor units including the self unit, determining whether the overall blast volume is excessive or insufficient with respect to the reference air volume,
When it is determined that there is an excess or deficiency, an air conditioner that selects an indoor unit fan that can be driven most efficiently among the plurality of indoor units including the own unit and commands a change in the rotation speed of the fan. . 2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the control unit of the slave unit obtains an amount of air blown from the base unit based on a command from the control unit of the base unit, and transmits the amount to the control unit of the base unit. When the control unit of the master unit determines that the overall air flow rate is excessive or insufficient with respect to the reference air flow rate,
The control unit of the master unit and the control unit of the slave unit each determine the amount of change in current when the air volume for excess and deficiency is changed in the own machine,
The control unit of the master unit obtains the amount of change in current of the slave unit, and determines the fan of the indoor unit that can be driven most efficiently based on the amount of change in current of the plurality of indoor units including its own unit. The air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the air conditioner is selected and commanded to change the rotational speed of the fan so as to satisfy the excess / deficiency air volume. When the control unit of the base unit determines that the overall air flow rate is insufficient with respect to the reference air flow rate,
The control unit of the master unit and the control unit of the slave unit respectively determine the amount of change in current when increasing the air volume of the shortage in the own unit,
The control unit of the master unit acquires the amount of change in the current of the slave unit, and selects the indoor unit having the smallest current change amount among the amount of change in the current of the plurality of indoor units including the self unit. 3. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the air conditioner is selected as an indoor unit fan that can be driven efficiently, and commands to increase the rotational speed of the fan so as to satisfy the insufficient air volume. The air conditioner according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the control unit of the slave unit calculates a change amount of the current of the own unit based on a command from the control unit of the master unit and transmits the change amount to the control unit of the master unit.

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