JPS5913663B2 - How to operate an air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an operating method for an air conditioner, and particularly to an operating method related to temperature control.

Air conditioners that can switch between cooling operation, which operates to lower the temperature of the controlled space, and heating operation, which operates to raise the temperature, include compressors, four-way valves, outdoor heat exchangers, throttling devices, and indoor A heat pump refrigeration cycle is constructed by sequentially communicating heat exchangers and providing a blower, and the four-way valve selectively switches the flow direction of the refrigerant to switch between heating and cooling operation. something is generally known.

When automatically switching between heating and cooling in this type of air conditioner, the set target temperature and room temperature are compared using a heat response switch, etc., and the four-way valve is activated or deactivated based on this comparison signal. A known method is to perform control such that heating operation is performed when the indoor temperature is lower than the target temperature, and cooling operation is performed when it is higher than the target temperature.

In general, when it comes to air conditioners, including those that automatically switch between cooling and heating, if you want to operate the air conditioner while you are sleeping to control the temperature. There is no problem in setting the target temperature a little higher, and since bedding is usually used in the winter, it is better to set the target temperature a little lower so that it is not too cold.

For this reason, in the air conditioner that automatically switches between cooling and heating, the user only needs to set a new target temperature before going to bed, but for example, if the user sets a higher target temperature before going to bed in summer, When the outside temperature drops as the night progresses and the indoor temperature tends to drop below the target temperature set before going to bed, heating operation is automatically started to raise the indoor temperature to the target temperature. This results in extremely wasteful driving.

Similarly, in the winter, when the sun rises and the outside temperature rises, which causes the indoor temperature to rise, there is also the disadvantage that unnecessary cooling operations are performed.

In view of the above-mentioned points, the present invention provides, for example, +3 degrees Celsius and -5 degrees Celsius with respect to the target temperature during normal operation by the operation mode switching instruction.
The first and second set values of °C are set again as target temperatures, and when the indoor temperature is above the first target temperature (+3 °C), cooling operation is performed, and when it is below the second target temperature (-5 °C) By switching to a control mode that performs heating operation when the temperature is within the first and second target temperatures and only performs ventilation when the temperature is within the first and second target temperatures, unnecessary operation is prevented and comfortable sleep at the desired temperature is combined with economical operation. The purpose is to make it possible to implement the system.

A further object of the present invention is to prevent the shift in target temperature during sleep from becoming too high or too low and causing discomfort to occupants.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

FIG. 1 schematically explains a known heat pump air conditioner, in which 1 is an electric compressor powered by commercial power;
2 is an electrically controlled four-way valve, 3 is an outdoor heat exchanger, 4 is a throttle device, and 5 is an indoor heat exchanger, which are connected by refrigerant piping.

Reference numeral 6 denotes an electric fan for indoor ventilation, which is installed close to the indoor heat exchanger 5 and whose rotational speed can be controlled in several stages.

Reference numeral 7 denotes an electric fan for blowing outdoor air, which is provided close to the outdoor heat exchanger 3.

Reference numeral 8 denotes an electric heater for heating assistance, which is provided close to the indoor heat exchanger 5.

The four-way valve 2 normally circulates the refrigerant in the direction of the solid line to perform the cooling cycle, and when electrically energized, switches the flow direction of the refrigerant in the direction of the dashed arrow shown in the figure to perform the heating cycle.

The compressor 1, four-way valve 2, indoor blower fan 6, outdoor blower fan 7, electric heater 8, etc.
It is connected to the electrical control device shown in the figure and a commercial power source, and is brought into a power supply state by an operation command signal output from the electrical control device to perform its respective functions.

The electrical control device shown in FIG. 2 is a microcontroller that performs processing according to a predetermined software program as a main component for outputting operating command signals for equipment such as the compressor in accordance with various input conditions. 10, which uses a computer, includes CPU, RAM, ROM,
and a one-chip microcomputer with built-in input/output ports, 11a is the controlled space, ie, the indoor heat exchanger 5.
11b is a variable resistor that sets the target temperature for control; 12 is a thermal resistor 11a and a variable resistor 11b;
The one chip is an A-D converter that converts an analog voltage corresponding to the detected indoor temperature and an analog voltage corresponding to the target temperature into binary code data so that they can be input to the microcomputer 10.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a clock or a display device for displaying target temperature, etc., and is composed of a 7-segment light emitting diode, a fluorescent display tube, or the like.

14 is a decoder for driving each segment of the display.
It's a driver.

A driver 15 drives each digit of the display.

Reference numeral 16 denotes a switch unit provided with various control switches, which is scanned by the output of the driver 15 and various switch signals are sequentially input to the one-chip microcomputer 10.

17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 are the compressor 1, outdoor fan 7, four-way valve 2, indoor fan 6, and auxiliary electric heater 8 shown in FIG. This is a relay driver consisting of a transistor relay, etc. that supplies AC power to the

Reference numeral 23 is a Schmitt circuit that rectifies and shapes the waveform of a 50 or 60 Hz commercial AC power source and inputs it to the interrupt input terminal of the one-chip microcomputer 10. The one-chip microcomputer 10 counts the output of the Schmitt circuit 23. It has a clock function that displays on the display 13.

24 is a clock generation circuit that supplies a reference clock signal for processing of the microcomputer 10;
It is connected to the clock input terminal of the chip microcomputer 10.

A reset circuit 25 resets the one-chip microcomputer 10 to its initial state when the power is turned on.

26 is a 50/60 Hz switching circuit that switches in accordance with the commercial AC frequency input to the Schmitt circuit 23.

As described above, the system configuration of an electrical control device using a microcomputer has become common due to the spread of microcomputers.

3 and 4 are control diagrams showing operation command signals of the electrical control device shown in FIG. 2, that is, operations of each component of the air conditioner, and a first control mode showing normal operation, and a second control mode indicating operation during sleep.

The parameter Ta on the horizontal axis is the temperature difference between the indoor temperature and the target temperature, and the operating state of each device is determined by this temperature difference Ta.

The electric control device calculates the temperature difference Ta between the indoor temperature measured by the heat-sensitive resistor 11a and the target temperature arbitrarily set by the variable resistor 11b, and calculates the magnitude of this temperature difference Ta according to the control diagram described above. The operating states of the compressor 1, four-way valve 2, blower fan 6.7, and electric heater 8 are determined by comparing with Operate each of the above devices.

In FIG. 3 showing the control diagram for normal operation, when the value of Ta is positive, that is, when the indoor temperature is higher than the target temperature, the four-way valve 2 is deenergized and the refrigerant flows in the direction of the solid line arrow in FIG. 1, leading to cooling operation. I do.

When the value of Ta is negative, that is, when the indoor temperature is lower than the target temperature, the four-way valve 2 is energized and performs heating operation.

The indoor fan 6 switches between weak, medium, and strong winds by changing the rotational speed, and the larger the absolute value of Ta, the greater the amount of air blown.

The compressor 1 operates together with the outdoor fan 7 in both cooling and heating operations.

The auxiliary electric heater 8 is energized during heating operation to supplement heating heat.

Switching between energization and de-energization of each component according to the value of Ta is performed using Ta.
A hysteresis of approximately 1°C is provided to ensure stable operation.

In FIG. 4, which shows a control diagram when sleep driving is instructed, a first target temperature is 3°C higher than the target temperature during normal operation, that is, the value of Ta = 0, and a second target temperature is 5°C lower. is set, and when the indoor temperature is below the first target temperature, that is, Ta≧3, the cooling operation is performed, and when it is below the second target temperature, that is, when Ta≦−5, the heating operation is performed. , within the first and second target temperatures, that is, −5<Ta<
At the time of 3, the indoor ventilation fan is controlled to perform only weak operation.

Next, FIG. 5 is a flowchart schematically showing the control of the one-chip microcomputer 10 shown in FIG. 2, which shows an electrical control device.

When the power is turned on, the microcomputer 10 executes an initial setting routine 50 that sets various flags, input/output boards, etc. to the initial state, and then scans the various switches in the control switch section 16 shown in FIG. A switch-on cultin 60 is executed to set and reset various flags in response to the operation of the switch.

Here, the sleep driving instruction switch is located in the control switch section 16, and when the instruction switch is pressed, a sleep driving flag is set.

Next, the A-D converter 12 shown in FIG.
A temperature measurement routine 70 is executed to input the target temperature set by b.

Next, the difference Ta between the measured indoor temperature and the target temperature is determined, and if the sleep operation flag is set by the switch-on control circuit 60, the control diagram shown in FIG. 4 is followed, and if it is not set, the control diagram shown in FIG. A drive output routine 80 is executed to output operation command signals for driving the compressor 1 (including the outdoor blower fan 7), the four-way valve 2, the indoor blower fan 6, and the auxiliary electric heater 8 according to the control diagram. Then, the process returns to the switch-on cultin 60 and thereafter performs similar control.

Here, the count display of the clock and the display of the target temperature are performed by an interrupt processing routine (not shown), and the 1-chip microcomputer 10 is interrupted by the output of the Schmitt circuit 23 shown in FIG. If the flag is set, a clock is displayed, and if the target temperature flag is set, the target temperature is displayed using binary code data indicating the target temperature of the A-D converter 12 shown in FIG.

Both of these flags are switched on
Set and reset at 0.

To set the target temperature, use the numerical keys provided on the control switch section in Figure 2 above and press the switch button 6.
It may be stored as 0.

FIG. 6 shows a part of the drive output routine 80 from the overall flowchart in FIG. 5, and shows, as an example, the control for a four-way valve during normal times and during sleep shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. There is.

First, it is determined in step 801 whether the sleep driving flag is set, and if it is set, it is determined that sleep driving is in progress, and in step 802 Ta (indoor temperature -
Target temperature)≦-6℃, and when Ta is smaller than -6℃, that is, the indoor temperature is 16
If the distance is more than 0.degree. C., an operation command signal is output to turn on (energize) the four-way valve in step 803.

If the distance is not more than -6℃, in step 804
Compare whether the distance is 4°C or more, and if it is, step 80
At step 5, an operation command signal to turn off (de-energize) the four-way valve is output.

On the other hand, if the sleeping operation flag is not set, it is compared and judged in steps 806 and 808 whether there is a difference of -1°C or +1°C or more, and if there is a difference, the four-way valve is set in step 807.
809 to turn it on or off.

Regarding the compressor, indoor ventilation fan, and auxiliary electric heater, as with the four-way valve, the point on the control chart where the value of Ta is located is calculated and the respective operation command signals are output.

In the above explanation, during sleep operation, the first target temperature of +3°C and the second target temperature of -5°C were set relative to the target temperature during normal operation, but the reference target temperature was set from the beginning. When set to a high value or a low value, the difference from the reference target value is reduced without unconditionally sliding the first and second target values by +3°C or -5°C.

For example, if you set the first target value as a limit of 30℃ and the second target value as a limit of 15℃, when the reference target value is 27℃ or higher, the first target value The target value is 30°C, and when the reference target value exceeds 30°C, the first target value is made the same as the reference target value.

Similarly, when the reference target value is 20°C or less, the second target value is 15°C, and when the reference target value is 15°C or less, the second target value is the same as the reference target value. .

FIG. 7 shows that the control system shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 5 performs control to change the first and second target temperatures at bedtime based on the reference target temperature value as described above. A part of the flowchart is shown.

First, in step 812, it is determined whether or not the reference target temperature Ts set by the variable resistor 11b in FIG. Set to .

When Ts is less than 30°C, and step 814
If it is determined that Ts is 27° C. or higher, a correction value Ta for setting the first target temperature to 30° C. is calculated in step 815.

Further, when Ts is smaller than 27°C, the correction value Tβ of the second target temperature is set at steps 816, 817, 818, 8
19, and set the first and second target temperatures to 30°C and 15°C.
If it is within the range, the correction value Tα is set in step 820.

Let Ta be O.

Next, in step 801, as in Fig. 6, it is determined whether or not sleep operation is being performed, and if it is sleep operation, Ta is compared with Ta and the value corrected by Ta (steps 810 and 811) L, and whether the four-way valve is on or off is determined. do.

If it is not sleep driving, steps 806 and 8 as in FIG.
Based on the determination in step 08, it is determined whether the four-way valve is on or off.

The compressor, four-way valve, indoor fan, and auxiliary electric heater are also calculated and output in the same way.

Note that, in the present invention, economical driving is also carried out during sleep driving, but if you want to carry out economical driving not only during sleeping, for example, the first target temperature is set to the target temperature +
2° C., the second target temperature is set to −2° C. as the reference target temperature, and a temperature control method for economical driving may be provided by providing a switch for instructing economical driving separately from sleeping driving.

Further, a timer function may be provided so that the changeover from normal operation to sleep operation is executed several minutes after the control switch is used to instruct the changeover.

As described above, in the present invention, in an air conditioner that automatically switches between cooling and heating, the first system with high accuracy performs cooling when the measured temperature is higher than the target value of the control temperature and performs heating when it is lower. A first target temperature that is higher by a certain temperature than the target value of the control temperature, and a second target temperature that is lower by a certain temperature are provided, and when the measured temperature is higher than the first target temperature, cooling operation is performed. When the measured temperature is lower than the second target temperature, heating operation is performed, and the first and second
When the indoor temperature is within the target temperature, the second control mode, which only performs ventilation operation, can be selected and controlled at will, allowing highly accurate temperature control, setting the optimal temperature at bedtime, and economical operation. and can be easily selected and executed with any target temperature set.
In the second control mode that performs bedtime operation, if the reference target temperature is too high or too low, the settings of the first and second target temperatures are also restricted, so that the reference temperature becomes too high or too low. It has the excellent effect of automatically preventing the sleeping temperature from rising or falling too much in accordance with the target temperature.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an example of an air conditioner used to carry out the operating method of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an electrical wiring diagram showing an electrical control device for the air conditioner shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. , FIG. 4 is a control diagram showing the control mode during normal operation and sleeping operation of the air conditioner shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a control diagram showing the control mode shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a part of FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the inventive operating method. 1... Compressor, 2... Four-way valve,
6... Indoor ventilation fan, 8... Auxiliary electric heater, 10... L chip microcomputer, 11a... Heat sensitive resistor for temperature measurement, 1
1b... Variable resistor for setting target temperature, 12...
...A-D converter, 16...Control switch section, 17.18, 19, 20゜21.22...
...Relay driver.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In an operating method of an air conditioner that switches between heating operation and cooling operation and adjusts the temperature of a controlled space by a combination of blowing operation, the measured value of the temperature of the controlled space is greater than the target value of the control temperature. a first control mode in which switching between the heating operation and the cooling operation is performed by determining whether the control temperature is small; a first set value that is higher than the target value of the control temperature by a predetermined temperature T1; and a predetermined temperature T2. and, with this selection, the predetermined temperature T1. T2 shall be limited to a small value when the target value of the control temperature deviates from a predetermined reference range, and when the measured value is larger than the first set value, the cooling operation is performed and the measured value is When the measured value is smaller than the second setting, the heating operation is performed, and when the measured value is between the first and second setting values, only the ventilation operation is performed. A method of operating an air conditioner characterized by: