JP3152616B2 - How to set the address of the air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for setting the address making it possible to automatically set the identification address of respective indoor units and an air conditioner as well as a method for detecting the connection making it possible to effectively detect the connecting state of the indoor unit in a multi- room split type air conditioner. SOLUTION: In this air conditioner having a plurality of indoor units 101 respectively connected to a plurality of refrigerant tube connecting ports 23a to 23c provided in an outdoor unit 100, refrigerant is selectively supplied to the respective ports 23a to 23c, the temperatures of heat exchangers 2a to 2c provided in the respective indoor units are detected, the indoor unit corresponding to the heat exchanger in which the detected temperature is changed at a predetermined temperature is recognized as the indoor unit connected to the port supplied with the refrigerant, and identification address intrinsic for the indoor unit is set.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioner in which a plurality of indoor units are connected to one outdoor unit, and more particularly, to a connection state of refrigerant pipes to each indoor unit, and further relates to each indoor unit. The present invention relates to a technology for automatically setting an identification address for a device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, a multi-system type air conditioner in which a plurality of indoor units are connected to one outdoor unit is known. In an air conditioner of this type, an outdoor unit is provided with a plurality of (for example, four) connection ports (joints) for connecting a plurality of refrigerant pipes (liquid pipes and gas pipes). One indoor unit is connected to the mouth.

[0003] In order to smoothly control the operation of such an air conditioner, it is necessary to clarify the connection relationship between the pipe connection port on the outdoor unit side and the indoor unit in the outdoor unit. Therefore, conventionally, when installing the air conditioner, the installer has manually set the address setting switch provided on the control board in the outdoor unit.

[0004]

However, a setting error may occur in the manual address setting,
If the air conditioner is set incorrectly, the operation of the air conditioner may not be possible. Therefore, a method for accurately and automatically setting the air conditioner has been desired.

On the other hand, in order to connect the indoor units beyond the number of connection ports provided in the outdoor unit, a branch having a plurality of connection ports in a refrigerant pipe provided between the outdoor unit and the outdoor unit. There is a kit-mediated system. In the air conditioner using such a branch kit, the setting of the addresses of the refrigerant pipes becomes more complicated, and setting errors easily occur.

[0006] As a problem before the address setting, there is a case where a wrong connection of a pipe to a connection port occurs, and a means for more reliably detecting a connection state is required.

An object of the present invention is to provide an address setting method capable of automatically setting an identification address of each indoor unit and a connection detecting method capable of reliably detecting a connection state of the indoor unit.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 is directed to an outdoor unit and a plurality of refrigerant pipe connection ports provided in the outdoor unit. In the method for setting an address of an air conditioner having an indoor unit, when a refrigerant is selectively supplied to each of the refrigerant pipe connection ports , a predetermined change is made to the supplied refrigerant temperature.
Checking whether or not the
Check if the internal unit is connected or not and this temperature change
If not, register it as a free address and
When a change in the temperature of the refrigerant occurs, the temperature of the heat exchanger provided in each of the indoor units is detected, and the refrigerant is supplied to the indoor unit corresponding to the heat exchanger having a predetermined change in the temperature. It is configured to recognize the indoor unit connected to the refrigerant pipe connection port and set a unique identification address to the indoor unit.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the refrigerant is selectively (alternatively) supplied to each refrigerant pipe connection port, so that the refrigerant is supplied to the indoor unit heat exchanger to which the refrigerant has been supplied. A temperature change occurs. The temperature of this heat exchanger is detected, and the detected unit recognizes that the indoor unit corresponding to the heat exchanger whose temperature has changed by a predetermined temperature is connected to the refrigerant pipe connection port that has supplied the refrigerant. A unique identification address is automatically set.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in an address setting method for an air conditioner having an outdoor unit and a plurality of indoor units connected to a plurality of refrigerant pipe connection ports provided in the outdoor unit, respectively. After recovering the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit of the plurality of indoor units to the outdoor unit side, when the refrigerant is selectively supplied to each of the refrigerant pipe connection ports , the supplied refrigerant
To determine whether a predetermined change in temperature has occurred.
Check whether an indoor unit is connected to the connection port
If this temperature change does not occur, register as an empty address.
In addition, when a temperature change occurs in the supply refrigerant, the temperature of a heat exchanger provided in each of the indoor units is detected, and the indoor unit corresponding to the heat exchanger whose detected temperature has changed by a predetermined temperature is detected. The indoor unit is configured to be recognized as an indoor unit connected to the refrigerant pipe connection port that has supplied the refrigerant, and to set a unique identification address to the indoor unit.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, prior to the setting of the identification address, the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit of the plurality of indoor units is recovered to the indoor unit side. The temperature difference between the heat exchangers disappears due to the ambient temperature, and the refrigerant is selectively (alternatively) supplied to each of the refrigerant pipe connection ports so that the temperature of the plurality of indoor unit heat exchangers is increased. The change can be detected more accurately. Then, it recognizes that the indoor unit corresponding to the heat exchanger whose detected temperature has changed by a predetermined temperature is connected to the refrigerant pipe connection port that has supplied the refrigerant, and a unique identification address for the indoor unit is automatically set. Is done.

[0012]

[0013]

[0014]

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(I) Configuration of Air Conditioner FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an air conditioner to which the present invention is applied.

The outdoor unit 100 has a connection pipe (liquid pipe) 28.
The indoor unit group 101 is connected via a to c and connection pipes (gas pipes) 29a to 29c. This air conditioner can perform cooling and heating operations, and in FIG.
The flow of the refrigerant during cooling is indicated by a solid line, and the flow of the refrigerant during heating is indicated by a broken line.

During cooling, the refrigerant exits the compressor 3, the muffler 4, the four-way valve 5, the outdoor heat exchanger 6, the modulator 7, the strainer 8, the motor-operated expansion valve 9 for controlling the refrigerant of the main refrigeration circuit , and the modulator 10. Shunted into three circuits. Each of the branch circuits is provided with a refrigerant control electric expansion valve 11a to 11c, and the refrigerant is supplied to a strainer 12a.
To 12c, liquid pipe side connection ports 23a to 23c, connection pipe 28
a to 28c, and sent to the indoor heat exchangers 2a to 2c. The refrigerant flowing out of the indoor heat exchangers 2a to 2c is connected to the connection pipe 2
Returning to the gas pipe side connection ports 27a to 27c via 9a to 29c, the muffler 13, the four-way valve 5, the accumulator 14,
The flow returns to the compressor 3 via 15.

On the other hand, during the heating, the refrigerant circulates in a path reverse to that during the above-described cooling, so that an arrow is indicated by a broken line and the details are omitted. In addition, 16 is an electromagnetic on-off valve for defrost,
When a part of the warm-air gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor 3 is started or is likely to form frost on the outdoor heat exchanger 6, a part of the warm-air gas refrigerant is supplied to the outdoor heat exchanger 6 to prevent defrosting or frost formation. Things.

Dividing liquid pipe temperature sensors 18a to 18c are attached to the respective flow dividing circuits on the liquid pipes 28a to 28c side. Similarly, each of the gas pipe side branch circuits is provided with a branch gas pipe temperature sensor 19a to 19c. A compressor discharge temperature sensor 20 is mounted on the discharge side of the compressor 3. Further, the outdoor heat exchanger 6 is provided with an outdoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 21, and an outdoor air temperature sensor 22 is provided on the windward side of the outdoor heat exchanger 6.
Is attached.

The outdoor unit 100 is a microcomputer 17
The microcomputer 17 includes the above-mentioned temperature sensors 18a to 18c, 19a to 19c, 20,
Upon receiving the temperature detection signals from 21 and 22, the outdoor unit 100 is controlled according to a control program stored in advance. The outdoor unit microcomputer 17 and each of the indoor unit microcomputers 26a to 26c to be described later are connected by a communication line (not shown) to communicate temperature data, compressor frequency data, and the like.

The microcomputer 17 includes a compressor discharge temperature sensor 20 and a branch liquid temperature sensor 18.
a to 18c and a refrigerant control electric expansion valve 11 based on temperature detection signals from the branch gas pipe temperature sensors 19a to 19c.
Calculation of the valve opening degree of a to 11c is performed.

The electric refrigerant expansion valves 11a to 11c for refrigerant control are
The valve opening is adjusted by an attached stepping motor, and the microcomputer 17 outputs a step number signal to the step motors of the refrigerant control electric expansion valves 11a to 11c based on the calculation result by the microcomputer 17. Thereby, the refrigerant control of the main circuit and the branch circuit is performed. These refrigerant control electric expansion valves 11a to 11a
11c operates in 511 steps until it is fully opened, and the microcomputer 17 outputs a valve opening control signal with a resolution of one step unit.

In this embodiment, the indoor unit group 101
Each of the indoor units has indoor heat exchangers 2a to 2c. Although not shown, the air conditioner has a blower fan, and the basic structure of the indoor unit itself may be a general structure.

In each of the indoor heat exchangers 2a to 2c, heat exchanger temperature sensors 24a to 24c and indoor suction air temperature sensors 25a to 25c are attached to the air suction ports.

Each indoor unit has a microcomputer 26a.
To 26c are built in each microcomputer 2
6a to 26c execute calculation and control of an air blowing amount and the like based on temperature detection signals from the heat exchanger temperature sensors 24a to 24c and the indoor suction air temperature sensors 25a to 25c ,
Also, necessary data is exchanged with the outdoor unit-side microcomputer 17 via a communication line (not shown).

In the above configuration, when installing the air conditioner, connecting pipes 28a to 28c and 29a are connected between the outdoor unit 100 and the indoor heat exchangers 2a to 2c of each indoor unit.
To 29c, but since there are multiple indoor units, which connection ports 23a to 23c and 27a to 27c
The microcomputer 17 needs to recognize whether the indoor unit is connected. For the recognition, an identification address is set for each indoor unit.

This embodiment discloses an example in which the identification address is automatically set by utilizing a temperature change of the indoor heat exchangers 2a to 2c during operation. In addition, the indoor heat exchanger 2
The temperature changes a to 2c differ depending on the operation mode, and appear as a temperature decrease in the cooling operation and a temperature increase in the heating operation. The present invention can be applied to any of the modes of temperature change, but in this embodiment, an example in which the connection state is detected by using “temperature decrease during cooling operation” and the identification address is set. Will be described below.

Detection of connection relation in this embodiment,
The determination and the address setting are performed by the microcomputer 17.
It is executed in accordance with an address setting program stored in advance in a memory such as a ROM or an EEPROM.

FIG. 4 shows an algorithm of an address setting program according to the present invention. Hereinafter, description will be made in the order of steps.

[Step S1: Address Setting Start] First, the outdoor unit microcomputer 17 is connected to the microcomputers 26a to 26c of all the connected indoor units.
Then, a signal for starting the address setting is transmitted.

[Step S2: Cooling operation mode setting] The indoor unit microcomputers 26a to 26c that have received the address start signal start the "cooling operation" with the air volume "strong" and the flap "automatic".

[Step S3: Pump Down] At this time, the outdoor unit microcomputer 17 closes all the electric expansion valves 11a to 11c and starts the compressor 3. As a result, the refrigerant in each of the indoor heat exchangers 2a to 2c and the indoor unit side pipe is recovered to the outdoor unit side. This operation is called pump down. Since it takes time to collect the refrigerant, the necessary time is counted in the next step S4.

[Step S4: Pump Down Completion Timer] When the time required for pump down (for example, 90 seconds) has been reached, the process proceeds to the next step S5.

[Step S5: Compressor OFF]
When the specified time is reached, the compressor 3 is turned off,
Pump down is complete. Since the refrigerant is recovered by the pump down in this manner, each of the indoor heat exchangers 2a to 2c
Have no temperature difference from each other, and have a temperature equal to the ambient temperature. This contributes to the uniformity of the temperature conditions when determining the temperature detection described later.

[Step S6: temperature data input]
The outdoor unit microcomputer 17 reads the initial heat exchanger temperatures of the heat exchanger temperature sensors 24a to 24c of each indoor unit and the initial temperatures TP1 of the branch liquid tube temperature sensors 18a to 18c and stores them in the internal memory.

However, at this time, the heat exchanger temperature sensor 24
a to 24c and the liquid pipe side connection port 23a to the outdoor unit
The correspondence with 23c has not been determined.

[Step S7: Valve Control] Next, the motor-operated valve (for example, 11a) of the shunt circuit corresponding to the connection port (for example, 23a) for which an address is to be set is opened, and another motor-operated valve (for example, 11b, 11c) are closed, the electric expansion valve 9 is opened, the four-way valve 5 is set to the cooling side, and the compressor 3 is started to operate at a predetermined frequency. By this operation, the refrigerant circulates to the branch circuit corresponding to the opened electric valve (11a), and the temperature of the corresponding indoor heat exchanger (2a) becomes lower than that of the other heat exchangers (11b, 11c). become.

[Step S8: Confirmation of Pipe Connection by Detecting Liquid Pipe Temperature] Prior to detection of a temperature change of the indoor heat exchanger temperature, first, it is determined whether or not a pipe is connected to a corresponding connection port (23a). Check. That is, the detected temperature TP2 of the liquid tube temperature sensor 18a at this time is read, and the difference temperature ΔTP from the detected temperature TP1 read in step S6.
Whether A (= TP1−TP2) is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature,
Therefore, it can be confirmed whether or not the refrigerant has flown by checking whether or not the temperature of the liquid pipe corresponding to the connection port (23a) for which an address is to be set has dropped.

If the determination in step S8 is NO, it means that the temperature does not decrease, and there is a possibility that the pipe is not connected to the connection port (23). For the confirmation, a predetermined time (for example, 120 seconds) is counted in step S11, and when this time has elapsed, it is regarded that the pipe is not connected to the connection port (23), and in step S12, an empty address is determined. (Registered).

On the other hand, the judgment in step S8 is YES
In this case, it means that the temperature is desired to be lowered, and it is understood that a pipe is provided in the connection port (23). In this case, the process proceeds to the next step S9.

[Step S9: Detection of Temperature Change of Indoor Heat Exchanger Temperature] In this step S9, among the detected temperature values obtained from the indoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 24, the lowest temperature TMIN and other indoor heat exchangers ΔT from the temperature detection value
The temperature difference ΔTIC (MI) between the lowest temperature TMIN of the detected temperature and the initial heat exchanger temperature of the indoor heat exchanger (step S6) in which the IC is 5 ° C. or more.
N) is 5 ° C. or higher (YES), the heat exchanger (2)
The process proceeds to step S10 in order to register the indoor unit having (a) as the indoor unit connected to the connection port (23a) for which the address is to be set and to register it as the identification address “A”.

On the other hand, if the decision result in step S9 is NO
If so, the process jumps to step S13.

[Step S10: Setting of Identification Address of Connected Indoor Unit] The address "A" of the indoor unit recognized in step S9 is stored in the memory of the microcomputer 17.

[Step S13: Confirmation of Address Setting]
The judgment result of step S9 is a predetermined time (for example, 15 minutes)
Has passed, and if the answer is NO, step S14
And the process is terminated.

[Step S15: Set Number Counter] Similarly, the processing of steps S6 to S15 is sequentially performed on the connection port 2
3a to 23c are performed, the number of address setting storages is compared with the number of connected indoor units, and the identification addresses are set in each indoor unit until the numbers match. .

(III) Method 2 for Setting Identification Address of Indoor Unit This address setting method 2 is used when the temperature drop of the heat exchanger temperature sensor 24 and the branch station temperature sensor 18 cannot be clearly detected due to the influence of the ambient temperature. The method of complementing is disclosed.

The case where the temperature drop cannot be detected due to the influence of the ambient temperature is the case where the outside air temperature is low, for example, in winter. That is, in the address setting method 1 described above, the initial heat exchanger temperature and the initial liquid tube temperature are determined in step S6, and the temperature difference is determined in steps S8 and S9. This is because the initial liquid tube temperature becomes close to the ambient temperature, and in the case of an originally low outside air temperature such as in winter, the temperature drop due to the cooling operation may be insufficient.

Therefore, in order to reduce the influence of the ambient temperature, the operating frequency of the compressor 3 in step S7 is determined by the outside air temperature sensor 22 of the outdoor unit 100.

Further, the compressor 3 is not always installed in the same type of air conditioner, and compressors having different capacities may be used even for similar air conditioners. Therefore, it is preferable to have versatility so that the address setting method of the present invention can be applied to compressors (or outdoor units) having different capacities.

In consideration of the above, the operating frequency of the compressor 3 in step S6 can be determined by the following equation in consideration of "outside air temperature" and "compressor capacity". Operating frequency = 20 + (compressor capacity coefficient) × (outside air temperature−10) Here, the outside air temperature is a detection value of the outside air temperature sensor 22, and the capacity coefficient of the compressor is a value shown in FIG. By selecting and setting, smooth address setting is possible.

(VI) Other Embodiments In the above example, an air conditioner in which an indoor unit group 101 including three indoor units is connected to one outdoor unit 100 has been described. There may be a case where more indoor units than the number of the connection ports 23 are connected depending on circumstances such as a margin of capacity of the outdoor units. When such an outdoor unit is added, a branch kit is used.

FIG. 2 shows an example of an air conditioner using the branch kit 30. The branch kit 30 has one connection port (FIG. 2).
Is a kit for further branching 23c) into multiple parts, and is an external or additional device part.

The branch kit has the same configuration as the configuration around the connection port in the outdoor unit.
31d , liquid pipe temperature sensors 32c to 32d , gas pipe temperature sensors 33c to 33d , and a strainer 35.

The identification address setting method of the present invention can be applied to a multi-system type air conditioner having such a refrigerant circuit. In other words, in this case, the branch kit 30 is apparently treated as one indoor unit, and the branch state in the branch kit 30 is not considered. And for the connection state of the branch kit 30, confirmation of the connection relationship by the microcomputer 34 incorporated in the branch kit 30 by applying the algorithm shown in FIG. 2 the branch kit 30 to Oite alone or independently Judgment and address setting can be performed. In this way, the address can be set by the branch kit alone, so that the load on the microcomputer 17 on the outdoor unit 100 side is reduced.

[0056]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the temperature change of the heat exchanger is detected, and the identification address unique to each indoor unit is accurately and automatically detected based on the temperature change. Can be set to

According to the second aspect of the present invention, prior to the setting of the identification address, the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit of the plurality of indoor units is recovered to the indoor unit side. Since the temperature difference between the heat exchangers disappears due to the ambient temperature, the refrigerant is selectively (alternatively) supplied to each refrigerant pipe connection port to change the temperature of the plurality of indoor unit heat exchangers. Can be detected more accurately.

[0058]

[0059]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a refrigerant circuit diagram showing another embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a capacity coefficient of a compressor.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an address setting algorithm of the indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 outdoor unit, 101 indoor unit group 2 a to 2 c indoor unit heat exchanger 3 compressor 4 muffler 5 four-way valve 6 outdoor heat exchanger 7 modulator 8 strainer 9 electric expansion valve for refrigerant control of main refrigeration circuit 10 strainer 11 a to 11 c branch circuit Electric expansion valve for refrigerant control of 12a-12c Strainer of shunt circuit 13 Muffler 14 Accumulator 15 Accumulator 16 Electromagnetic on-off valve for defrost 17 Microcomputer 18a-18c Separating liquid pipe temperature sensor 19a-19c Separating gas pipe temperature sensor 20 Compressor discharge temperature Sensor 21 Outdoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 22 Outdoor air temperature sensor 23a to 23c Liquid tube side connection port 24a to 24c Heat exchanger temperature sensor 25a to 25e Indoor suction air temperature sensor 26a to 26e Indoor unit microcomputer 27a to 27c Gas pipe side connection port 28a-28c Connection pipe 29a-29c Connection pipe 30 Split flow kit 31a-31c Electric expansion valve for split flow circuit 32c-32e Liquid pipe temperature sensor 33c-33e Split gas pipe temperature sensor 34 Microcomputer

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Koichi Aoishi 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hirotaka Murata 2-5-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka No. 5 Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Koichi Matsumoto 2-5-5, Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Prefecture No. 5 Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Isao Arai 2-5-Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka No. 5 Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-3-55456 (JP, A) JP-A-7-4798 (JP, A) JP-A 4-273942 (JP, A) JP-A-2 -133744 (JP, A) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) F24F 11/02 103 F24F 11/02 102

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An address setting method for an air conditioner having an outdoor unit and a plurality of indoor units connected to a plurality of refrigerant pipe connection ports provided in the outdoor unit, respectively, wherein each of the refrigerant pipe connection ports Whether a predetermined change has occurred in the temperature of the supplied refrigerant when the refrigerant is selectively supplied for each
Whether the indoor unit is connected to the connection port.
Check if this temperature change does not occur.
Register as an address and change the temperature of the supplied refrigerant.
In the case where the temperature change occurs, the temperature of the heat exchanger provided in each of the indoor units is detected, and the indoor unit corresponding to the heat exchanger in which a predetermined change in the temperature is obtained is connected to the refrigerant pipe supplying the refrigerant. An address setting method for an air conditioner, comprising recognizing an indoor unit connected to a connection port and setting a unique identification address to the indoor unit. 2. An address setting method for an air conditioner, comprising: an outdoor unit; and a plurality of indoor units connected to a plurality of refrigerant pipe connection ports provided in the outdoor unit, respectively. After recovering the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit to the outdoor unit side, when the refrigerant is selectively supplied to each of the refrigerant pipe connection ports , a predetermined change in the supplied refrigerant temperature is performed.
Check whether or not the connection has
Check that the temperature change does not occur.
If not, register it as a free address and
When a temperature change occurs in the medium, the temperature of the heat exchanger provided in each of the indoor units is detected, and the indoor unit corresponding to the heat exchanger whose detected temperature has changed by a predetermined temperature is connected to a refrigerant pipe that supplies the refrigerant. An address setting method for an air conditioner, comprising recognizing an indoor unit connected to a connection port and setting a unique identification address to the indoor unit.