KR20200001931A - Apparatus and method for controlling referigerant leakake in multi type air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus for detecting and controlling a refrigerant leakage in a multi-type air conditioner, which recognizes the refrigerant leakage through a refrigerant leakage sensor attached to each indoor device, and rapidly inhibits the refrigerant leakage by locking a refrigerant pipe and controlling a compressor. To achieve the purpose, the present invention provides an apparatus for detecting and controlling a refrigerant leakage in a multi-type air conditioner, comprising: an outdoor device including an outdoor heat exchanger, a compressor, a four-way valve for cooling and heating conversion, an outdoor expansion valve adjusting a flow rate of a refrigerant, and an outdoor control module for control; a refrigerant pipe which communicates with the outdoor device and in which the refrigerant circulates; and a plurality of indoor devices each including an indoor heat exchanger, an indoor expansion valve and an indoor control module for control, and further comprising: a refrigerant leakage sensor installed in each indoor device to sense a refrigerant leakage; and an outdoor blocking valve installed in the refrigerant pipe to open and close the refrigerant pipe, where in the case that the refrigerant leakage sensor senses a refrigerant leakage, the indoor control module stops operation of the corresponding indoor device, and then outputs a refrigerant leakage signal to the outdoor control module, and the outdoor control module receives the refrigerant leakage signal, and then operates the outdoor blocking valve to close the refrigerant pipe.

Description

Apparatus and method for controlling referigerant leakake in multi type air conditioner}

The present invention relates to a refrigerant leak detection control device and method of a multi-air conditioner, and more particularly, to a refrigerant leak detection control device and method of a multi-air conditioner operating when the refrigerant leaks.

In general, an air conditioner is connected to an indoor unit and an outdoor unit through a refrigerant pipe. The indoor unit is provided with an evaporator, and the outdoor unit is provided with a compressor, a condenser, and an expansion valve.

Meanwhile, a multi air conditioner or a system air conditioner is operated by connecting a plurality of indoor units to one set of outdoor units, and is mainly applied to a place where a large number of separate spaces exist, such as a school, a company, and a commercial building.

The multi-air conditioner can selectively drive air-conditioning, and is provided by a supply flow path for supplying refrigerant to a plurality of indoor units from a single outdoor unit and two flow paths for returning the refrigerant from the indoor unit to the outdoor unit after heat exchange is completed in the indoor unit. The outdoor unit and many indoor units are connected.

As described above, in the case of the multi-air conditioner, the outdoor unit and all the indoor units are connected to each other through the same supply flow path and return flow path, and are configured to provide proper refrigerant distribution. Therefore, when a refrigerant leak occurs in one indoor unit, a large amount of the refrigerant distributed through the flow path may leak.

In particular, in the cooling operation, since the cooling space is generally sealed in order to prevent power loss and obtain a high cooling effect, serious damage may occur when the refrigerant is leaked.

In order to improve the above, a configuration for separately driving an air conditioner when leakage of a refrigerant has been proposed.

For example, Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-0074544 discloses that when a refrigerant leak occurs from any indoor unit side in a multi-air conditioner using a plurality of indoor units, it detects this and performs control to prevent further refrigerant leakage. The present invention is characterized in that for the control, the pressure sensor for detecting the refrigerant leak is installed on all the indoor unit side, and when the refrigerant leak occurs, the refrigerant remaining in the indoor unit is recovered, the refrigerant during the operation In order to suppress the occurrence of reverse flow of the checker is installed a check valve for controlling the refrigerant to flow in only one direction in the outdoor unit, to suppress the leakage of all the refrigerant to be supplied to the plurality of indoor units, the user in a closed space A configuration is disclosed that can prevent serious damage to a person.

In addition, Korean Patent Laid-Open No. 2014-0100341 has a plurality of sensors installed in the refrigerant pipe for sensing the acoustic wave generated from the refrigerant leakage position; A detection value selecting unit for selecting first and second detection values ranked at the highest level by aligning the detection values measured by the plurality of sensors in order of magnitude; And a detection value calculator configured to output information on the refrigerant leakage position based on the selected first and second detection values.

In the above configurations, the confirmation of the corresponding position and leakage is actively performed when the refrigerant leaks. However, the above configuration is insufficient in the configuration of suppressing the refrigerant leakage when the refrigerant leaks.

The present invention has been made in order to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art as described above, the refrigerant leakage through each of the refrigerant leak sensor attached to the indoor unit, the refrigerant leak through the refrigerant pipe lock and the compressor control to suppress the refrigerant leak quickly It is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerant leak detection control apparatus of an air conditioner.

In addition, another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerant leakage detection control method for a multi air conditioner which is efficiently controlled by using a refrigerant leakage detection control device of a multi air conditioner.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention, an outdoor heat exchanger, compressor, four-way valve for heating and cooling conversion, outdoor expansion valve for controlling the flow rate of the refrigerant, an outdoor unit including an outdoor control module for control; A refrigerant tube in communication with the outdoor unit, the refrigerant circulating therein; And an indoor heat exchanger, an indoor expansion valve, and a plurality of indoor units including a plurality of indoor units for controlling the refrigerant, wherein the refrigerant leak detection control apparatus of the multi air conditioner is mounted on each indoor unit to detect a refrigerant leak. sensor; And an outdoor shut-off valve installed in the coolant pipe to open and close the coolant pipe. When the coolant leak is detected by the coolant leak sensor, the indoor control module stops the operation of the indoor unit. And outputs a refrigerant leakage signal, and the outdoor control module closes the refrigerant pipe by operating the outdoor shut-off valve after receiving the refrigerant leakage signal.

Preferably, the outdoor control module is characterized in that the pump down mode for collecting the refrigerant to the outdoor unit.

Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a central control unit communicating with the outdoor control module and the indoor control module, wherein the indoor control module of the indoor unit in which the refrigerant leakage occurs transmits a refrigerant leakage signal to the central control unit, and the central control unit It is characterized by generating an alarm.

Preferably, the indoor unit further includes an indoor shutoff valve mounted to a portion connected to the refrigerant pipe, and the indoor control module of the indoor unit in which the refrigerant leak occurs operates the indoor shutoff valve to block the flow of the refrigerant. It features.

More preferably, the indoor control module of the indoor unit is characterized in that for outputting an alarm informing of the refrigerant leakage to the remote control of the indoor unit.

In addition, the present invention includes an outdoor heat exchanger, an outdoor unit including a compressor, a four-way valve for heating and cooling conversion, an outdoor expansion valve for controlling the flow rate of the refrigerant, an outdoor control module for controlling; A refrigerant tube in communication with the outdoor unit, the refrigerant circulating therein; And a plurality of indoor units including an indoor heat exchanger, an indoor expansion valve, and an indoor control module for controlling, a refrigerant leak sensor installed in each indoor unit, and an outdoor shut-off valve installed in the refrigerant pipe to open and close the refrigerant pipe. CLAIMS What is claimed is: 1. A method of controlling refrigerant leakage detection in an air conditioner, the method comprising: driving a multi air conditioner; Refrigerant leak detection step of the refrigerant leakage sensor to operate the refrigerant leakage sensor to recognize the refrigerant leakage by the indoor control module; The control module of the indoor unit recognizing the leakage of the refrigerant stops the operation of the indoor unit, and outputs an error signal to the indoor unit operation stop step; The indoor control module of the indoor unit recognizing the leakage of the refrigerant outdoor unit communication step of outputting a leakage signal to the outdoor unit control module; And an outdoor unit pumping-down step of operating the outdoor shut-off valve to close the refrigerant pipe and pumping down the compressor by receiving the refrigerant leakage signal.

Preferably, the indoor unit further comprises an indoor shutoff valve for blocking the refrigerant flow to the indoor unit, the indoor unit blocking step of operating the indoor shutoff valve by the indoor control module of the indoor unit in which the refrigerant leakage occurs after the outdoor unit pump down step It characterized in that it further comprises.

More preferably, further comprising a central control unit for communicating with the plurality of indoor control module and the indoor control module, the central alarm operation step of performing the refrigerant leakage alarm operation by the central control unit after the outdoor unit pump down step It characterized in that it further comprises.

Refrigerant leakage detection control device of the multi-air conditioner according to the present invention comprises a valve of the refrigerant pipe is connected to a plurality of indoor units in one outdoor unit and a refrigerant leakage sensor installed in each indoor unit, the refrigerant leakage is recognized In this case, after shutting off the outdoor shut-off valve installed in the refrigerant pipe, the pump-down mode is performed, and then the air shut-off valve is controlled to minimize the amount of refrigerant leakage by blocking the indoor shut-off valve installed in the pipe between the refrigerant pipe and the indoor unit. It has the effect of increasing the safety of use.

1 is a block diagram of a multi air conditioner according to the present invention,
2 is an explanatory diagram of a refrigerant leak detection control apparatus applied to the multi-air conditioner of FIG.
3 is a block diagram of FIG.
4 is a flowchart illustrating a refrigerant free snow detection control method of a multi-air conditioner according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In addition, the suffixes 'module' and 'unit' for the components used in the following description are merely given in consideration of ease of preparation of the present specification, and do not give particular meanings or roles by themselves. Therefore, the 'module' and 'unit' may be used interchangeably.

Refrigerant leakage detection control device of the multi-air conditioner according to the present invention is a configuration that is applied to the multi-air conditioner 100, as shown in Figure 1, is connected to a single outdoor unit 20, the outdoor unit 20 It comprises a refrigerant pipe (10) including two flow paths and a plurality of indoor units (30) connected to the refrigerant pipe (10).

That is, in the multi-air conditioner 100 according to the present invention, a plurality of indoor units 30 are connected to one outdoor unit 20, wherein the one outdoor unit 20 is a total of a plurality of indoor units 30. It is set to a capacity proportional to the capacity.

In addition, the outdoor unit 20 has a four-way valve for controlling the direction of the refrigerant circulating the refrigeration cycle according to the cooling and heating operation state, a compressor for compressing the refrigerant at high temperature and high pressure, and an outdoor heat exchanger for condensing the compressed refrigerant to discharge hot air to the outside And, it is configured to include an outdoor expansion valve for controlling the flow rate of the refrigerant, and further comprises an outdoor control module 40 for controlling the configuration of the outdoor unit (20).

Meanwhile, when the refrigerant discharged from the outdoor expansion valve is connected to the high pressure liquid pipe, and the refrigerant discharged from the compressor is connected to the high pressure engine and finally to the low pressure engine to which the refrigerant flowing into the compressor is connected, the refrigerant pipe 10 ) Operates in communication with the high pressure liquid tube and the high pressure tube or the low pressure tube and the high pressure liquid tube, respectively, depending on the air-conditioning selection, and each indoor unit 30 may be separately performed as needed.

Each indoor unit 30 passes through an indoor heat exchanger that communicates with the refrigerant pipe 10 to flow the refrigerant into the indoor unit 30 to perform cooling and heating, an indoor fan that introduces air into the indoor unit 30, and an indoor heat exchanger. Indoor expansion valve to flatten the refrigerant before, temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the inlet and outlet of the indoor heat exchanger, temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the room, human body sensor for detecting the presence of a person in the room, the entire indoor unit ( 30 is configured to include an indoor control module 50 for controlling.

The temperature sensor, the human body sensor, and the like are configured for temperature control of the space in which the indoor unit 30 is disposed, and are mounted on the indoor unit 30 or the wired remote controller, and the indoor control module 50 includes the indoor unit 30. It may be implemented in a remote control attached to the inside or the wall.

The indoor unit 30 individually controls the heating and cooling of the space by controlling the driving of the indoor fan and the indoor expansion valve based on the temperature sensor.

In addition, the multi air conditioner 100 may functionally include a central control unit 90, and the central control unit 90 may provide information through communication with the outdoor control module 40 and the indoor control module 50. Share. Of course, the central control unit 90 is functionally defined, and in hardware, any one of the outdoor control module 40 or the plurality of indoor control modules 50 may be set as the central control unit 90.

On the other hand, the refrigerant leakage detection control device 200 of the multi-air conditioner according to the present invention, as shown in Figure 2, in addition to the configuration of the multi-air conditioner 100 is mounted to each refrigerant pipe (10) as necessary The outdoor shut-off valve 201 for blocking the flow of the refrigerant, the indoor shut-off valve 202 is mounted on each indoor unit 30 side to block the flow of the refrigerant circulated to the indoor unit 30 through the refrigerant pipe 10 And a refrigerant leak sensor 203 mounted on the indoor unit 30 to detect leakage of the refrigerant.

Of course, the outdoor control module 40 is configured for the control of the outdoor shut-off valve 201, the indoor control module 50 is the operation of the refrigerant leakage sensor 203 and the indoor shut-off valve 202 This is the configuration for operation. In addition, the central control unit 90 is used as a configuration for control and communication of the outdoor control module 40 and the plurality of indoor control modules 50, and the configuration of the entire control device is shown in FIG.

Here, each indoor unit 30 is sequentially assigned a number, or is distinguished from other indoor units 30 through a unique ID. In addition, the indoor control module 50 is also distinguished from each other through a unique ID, and the central control unit 90 distinguishes each indoor unit 30 from each other through a unique ID, and if necessary, the central control unit 90 selects a specific indoor unit ( Communication with the specific indoor control module 40 of 30).

Here, the operation of the outdoor shut-off valve 201 is controlled by the outdoor control module 40, and the operation of the indoor shut-off valve 202 of each indoor unit 30 is controlled by the corresponding indoor control module 50. do.

In addition, each indoor unit 30 includes a refrigerant leak sensor 203, and when the signal of the refrigerant leak sensor 203 is detected, the indoor unit 30 is a corresponding indoor unit 30 through the indoor control module 50. ) To generate an alarm.

Of course, the central control unit 90 recognizes the ID of the indoor control module 50 that detects the refrigerant leakage, and performs the alarm operation according to the indoor unit 30 refrigerant leakage.

On the other hand, the operation of the refrigerant leak detection control device 200 will be described in detail.

First, when a refrigerant leak occurs in a specific indoor unit 30, the indoor control module 50 of the indoor unit 30 recognizes the refrigerant leakage sensor 203 signal, and determines that the refrigerant has leaked.

When it is determined that the refrigerant is leaked, the indoor control module 50 stops the operation of the indoor unit 30, generates an alarm, and generates a refrigerant leakage flag along with the ID of the indoor unit 30 (coolant leakage state). Transmits to the outdoor control module 40.

The outdoor control module 40 receiving the refrigerant leakage state blocks the flow of the refrigerant by operating the outdoor shutoff valve 201 of the outdoor unit 20.

Thereafter, the outdoor control module 40 proceeds to the 'pump down' mode of the outdoor unit 20 compressor. The 'pump down' mode refers to an operation of driving the compressor of the outdoor unit and collecting the refrigerant to the condenser side of the outdoor unit while blocking the refrigerant output from the condenser.

That is, when the coolant leaks from the indoor unit 30, the outdoor control module 40 operates the outdoor shutoff valve 201 to stop the movement of the coolant, and then collects the coolant toward the outdoor unit 20 ( Pump down operation).

In addition, the central control unit 90 alarms the refrigerant leakage state to guide the emergency situation.

Thereafter, the indoor control module 50 operates the indoor shutoff valve 202 to prevent an additional refrigerant leakage between the refrigerant pipe 10 and the indoor unit 30.

When the central control unit 90 is connected to the building ventilation system, the central control unit 90 may operate to discharge the refrigerant leaked into the room to the outside by driving the ventilation system after an alarm occurs.

Thereafter, after the refrigerant leakage part is identified, when the further action is completed, the leakage control operation as described above is stopped.

On the other hand, with reference to Figure 4 will be described in detail with respect to the refrigerant leakage detection control method of the multi-air conditioner according to the present invention.

When a driving signal is applied to the multi-air conditioner 100, electricity is supplied to various electrical components, and the indoor control module 50 on the indoor unit 30 side and the outdoor control module 40 on the outdoor unit 20 side and the center The controller 90 transmits and receives various signals required for driving.

In addition, the outdoor control module 40 of the outdoor unit 20 receives a signal for driving the compressor, drives the compressor, and the outdoor fan, the four sides, and the like are controlled in a state according to the current operation mode.

Meanwhile, the indoor control module 50 of the indoor unit 30 operates the indoor fan, and after the refrigerant compressed at high temperature and high pressure in the outdoor unit 20 compressor performs heat exchange with the outdoor heat exchanger, It is supplied to each indoor unit 30 side.

After the refrigerant supplied to each indoor unit 30 performs heat exchange with the indoor air, the refrigerant is returned to the outdoor unit 20 through the refrigerant pipe 10 again. The refrigerant returned to the outdoor unit 20 passes through the accumulator and flows into the compressor.

Of course, by controlling the indoor expansion valve in accordance with the temperature of the indoor unit 30 to adjust the amount of refrigerant flowing to finally adjust the indoor air temperature.

The above control is made of the same process between the outdoor unit 20 and the indoor unit 30, and by repeating the control operation as described above, the interior of the air conditioning space where each indoor unit 30 is installed at a temperature required by the user. It is adjusted to fit (step S101).

As described above, refrigerant leakage may occur at any indoor unit 30 in the state where the multi-air conditioner 100 is driven (S102).

At this time, when the refrigerant leaks, a signal is generated from the refrigerant leak sensor 203 installed on the indoor unit 30 side. That is, the refrigerant leak sensor 203 operates so that the indoor control module 50 of the indoor unit 30 recognizes the refrigerant leak (S103).

When the refrigerant leak is detected, the indoor control module 50 of the indoor unit 30 stops the operation of the indoor unit 30, and then outputs a corresponding error code that is previously defined in relation to the refrigerant leakage (S104). ).

The indoor control module 50 of the indoor unit 30 outputs the refrigerant leakage signal to the outdoor control module 40 of the outdoor unit 20, and generates an alarm on the remote controller attached to the indoor unit 30 (S105).

Thereafter, the outdoor control module 40 operates the outdoor shut-off valve 201 to block the flow of the coolant in the coolant pipe 10, stops the operation of the remaining operating devices of the outdoor unit 30, and 'pumps down'. It performs (S106).

The outdoor control module 40 transmits the indoor unit 30 number corresponding to the refrigerant leakage to the central control unit 90, and the central control unit 90 performs the entire alarm operation (S107).

In addition, the indoor control module 50 of the indoor unit 30 in which the leakage occurs operates the indoor shutoff valve 202 to block the refrigerant that may leak from the pipe between the refrigerant pipe 10 and the indoor unit 30 (S108). ).

Apparatus and method for controlling refrigerant leakage detection of a multi-air conditioner according to the present invention are not limited to the configuration of the embodiments described as described above, but the embodiments may be modified in various ways so that various modifications can be made. All or part may be optionally combined.

In addition, although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, but the technical field to which the invention belongs without departing from the spirit of the invention claimed in the claims. Of course, various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art, and these modifications should not be individually understood from the technical spirit or the prospect of the present invention.

10: refrigerant pipe 20: outdoor unit
30: indoor unit 40: outdoor control module
50: indoor control module 90: central control unit
100: multi air conditioner 200: refrigerant leak detection control device
201: outdoor shutoff valve 202: indoor shutoff valve
203: refrigerant leak sensor

Claims (8)

An outdoor unit including an outdoor heat exchanger, a compressor, a four-way valve for switching between heating and cooling, an outdoor expansion valve for controlling a flow rate of a refrigerant, and an outdoor control module for controlling; A refrigerant tube in communication with the outdoor unit, the refrigerant circulating therein; And an indoor heat exchanger, an indoor expansion valve, and a plurality of indoor units including a plurality of indoor units including an indoor control module for controlling the refrigerant leakage detection control apparatus of the multi-air conditioner.
A refrigerant leak sensor mounted on each indoor unit to detect a refrigerant leak; And
Including an outdoor shut-off valve installed in the refrigerant pipe to open and close the refrigerant pipe,
The indoor control module stops the operation of the indoor unit when the refrigerant leakage is detected by the refrigerant leakage sensor, and outputs a refrigerant leakage signal to the outdoor control module,
And the outdoor control module closes the refrigerant pipe by operating the outdoor shutoff valve after receiving the refrigerant leakage signal.
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the outdoor control module performs a pump down mode for collecting the refrigerant to an outdoor unit.
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a central control unit communicating with the outdoor control module and the indoor control module, wherein the indoor control module of the indoor unit in which the refrigerant leakage occurs transmits a refrigerant leakage signal to the central control unit. Refrigerant leakage detection control device of a multi-air conditioner, characterized in that for generating an alarm.
The method of claim 1, wherein the indoor unit further comprises an indoor shut-off valve mounted to the portion connected to the refrigerant pipe,
The indoor control module of the indoor unit in which the refrigerant leak occurs operates the indoor shutoff valve to block the flow of the refrigerant.
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the indoor control module of the indoor unit outputs an alarm indicating a refrigerant leak to a remote controller of the indoor unit.
An outdoor unit including an outdoor heat exchanger, a compressor, a four-way valve for switching between heating and cooling, an outdoor expansion valve for controlling a flow rate of a refrigerant, and an outdoor control module for controlling; A refrigerant tube in communication with the outdoor unit, the refrigerant circulating therein; And a plurality of indoor units including an indoor heat exchanger, an indoor expansion valve, and an indoor control module for controlling, a refrigerant leak sensor installed in each indoor unit, and an outdoor shut-off valve installed in the refrigerant pipe to open and close the refrigerant pipe. In the refrigerant leakage detection control method of the air conditioner,
A multi air conditioner driving step of driving a multi air conditioner;
Refrigerant leak detection step of the refrigerant leakage sensor to operate the refrigerant leakage sensor to recognize the refrigerant leakage by the indoor control module;
The control module of the indoor unit recognizing the leakage of the refrigerant stops the operation of the indoor unit, and outputs an error signal operation of the indoor unit;
The indoor control module of the indoor unit recognizing the leakage of the refrigerant outdoor unit communication step of outputting a leakage signal to the outdoor unit control module; And
The outdoor control module receiving the refrigerant leakage signal operates the outdoor shut-off valve to close the refrigerant pipe, and the outdoor unit pump down step of performing a pump down to the compressor, refrigerant leakage detection control of the multi air conditioner Way.
The method of claim 6, wherein the indoor unit further comprises an indoor shutoff valve for blocking the flow of refrigerant to the indoor unit,
After the outdoor unit pump down step, the indoor control module of the indoor unit in which the refrigerant leakage occurs further comprises the indoor unit shut-off step of operating the indoor shut-off valve.
The method of claim 7, further comprising a central control unit for communicating with the plurality of indoor control module and the indoor control module,
And a central alarm operation step of performing, by the central control unit, a refrigerant leakage alarm operation after the outdoor unit pumping-down step.

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