JPH0745951B2 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an air conditioner that automatically switches between a cooling operation mode and a heating operation mode, and particularly relates to a measure for switching control of an operation mode. Is.

(Prior Art) Generally, for example, in an air conditioner installed in a large building, an indoor unit of an air conditioning unit in which a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion mechanism, and an indoor heat exchanger are sequentially connected. Some are configured by installing multiple units in the same room.

Then, each of the air conditioning units, as disclosed in JP-A-62-196542, is configured to automatically switch between a cooling operation mode and a heating operation mode based on a preset set temperature. There is. For example, change the set temperature
When set to 25 ° C, it automatically switches to the cooling operation mode when the room temperature is 25 ° C or more and to the heating operation mode when the room temperature is 25 ° C or less, and blows cold air or warm air into the room I try to do air conditioning.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) In the air conditioner described above, conventionally, only the set temperature is commanded to the indoor units of a plurality of air conditioning units provided in the same room, and each air conditioning unit individually operates in the cooling operation mode. Since the heating operation mode is switched to the heating operation mode, there is a problem that all the air conditioning units are not operated in the same operation mode at the same time.

That is, as shown in FIG. 3, for example, when an indoor unit of four air conditioning units (b, b, ...) Is installed in one indoor (a), this indoor (a) will have a window (c). Will be divided into a perimeter zone (d) with a window and an interior zone (e) without a window (c).
In e), the room temperature will be different.

In particular, in the interim period, the indoor temperatures of both zones (d, e) differ near the set temperature, while the air conditioning units (b, b, ...) Can independently perform cooling and heating operations,
Moreover, since the operation modes are switched independently of each other, even if the air conditioning units (b, b, ...) Are set to different set temperatures in both zones (d, e), for example, the perimeter zone (d)
The air conditioning unit (b) of No. 2 is operated in the heating operation mode, and the air conditioning unit (b) of the interior zone (e) is operated in the cooling operation mode.

Moreover, the air conditioning unit (b) has a dead zone of ± 0.5 ° C. with respect to the set temperature. For example, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), the set temperature of the air conditioning unit (b) in the perimeter zone (d) is set. Is set to 24.9 ° C, the heating operation mode starts at an indoor temperature of 24.4 ° C and stops at 25.4 ° C, whereas as shown in Fig. 5 (b), the air conditioning unit (b) in the interior zone (e) is ) Set temperature to 25.1
When set to ° C, the cooling operation mode starts at an indoor temperature of 25.6 ° C and stops at 24.6 ° C.

Therefore, the air conditioning unit (b) in the perimeter zone (d) is in the heating operation mode until the temperature difference of 0.8 ° C. or more occurs in both zones (d, e), and the interior zone (e)
Since the air conditioning unit (b) of (1) is simultaneously operated in the cooling operation mode, there is a problem that comfortable air conditioning cannot be performed.

In view of such a point, the present invention operates different air conditioning units simultaneously by operating other air conditioning units in accordance with the operation mode of a specific air conditioning unit among a plurality of air conditioning units of independent refrigerant circuits. The purpose is to prevent driving and improve comfort.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the means taken by the present invention is, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. Then, the air conditioning unit (2,
2, ...) are installed in the same room.

Further, the operation mode of the air conditioning units (2,2, ...) Is independently switched for each air conditioning unit (2,2, ...) To the cooling operation mode and the heating operation mode. Setting means (7,7, ...) for setting the set temperature as the target value
Is provided.

Then, the air conditioning units (2, 2, ...) Above are set by setting means (7,
It is premised on an air conditioner capable of automatically controlling the cooling operation mode and the heating operation mode individually based on the comparison between the set temperature of 7, ...) and the room temperature.

In addition, selection means for selecting a specific air conditioning unit (2) that determines the operation mode of all air conditioning units (2,2, ...) Based on the set temperature set by the setting means (7,7, ...) 51) is provided.

Further, when the operation mode of the specific air conditioning unit (2) selected by the selection means (51) and the operation mode of the other air conditioning unit (2, 2, ...) Are different, the operation of the specific air conditioning unit (2) is performed. Based on the mode, the operation modes of the other air conditioning units (2,2, ...) are switched so that the operation modes of all the air conditioning units (2,2, ...) Are the same, and the other air conditioning units (2,2 ,. ...) is provided with a control means (61).

(Operation) With the above configuration, in the present invention, each air conditioning unit (2, 2,
…), For example, circulate the refrigerant among the compressor (31), the outdoor heat exchanger (32), the expansion mechanism (33, 42) and the indoor heat exchanger (41), and perform cooling operation independently of each other. The mode and the heating operation mode are reversibly operated, and cold air or warm air is blown into the room to air-condition the room.

The air conditioning unit (2,2, ...) Is set by the setting means (7).
The set temperature is set by, and the selecting means (51) selects the specific air conditioning unit (2) from the plurality of air conditioning units (2, 2, ...) And outputs the output signal of the selecting means (52). In response, the control means (61) switches the operation mode so that the operation mode of the specific air conditioning unit (2) becomes the operation mode of all the air conditioning units (2,2, ...) And the air conditioning units (2,2, ...)
Will be driving.

On the other hand, each of the air conditioning units (2, 2, ...) Independently switches between the operating state and the stopped state of cooling or heating based on the set temperature, air-conditions the room, and sets the room temperature to the set temperature. The heating operation or cooling / heating operation will be performed.

Therefore, all the air conditioning units (2,2, ...) in the same room are always operated in the same mode, and especially in the middle period even if the room temperature in the indoor perimeter zone is different from that in the interior zone. Since it is operated, it is possible to prevent a malfunction such as one air conditioning unit (2) performing a cooling operation during the heating operation, and in particular, it is possible to reliably prevent different operations in the dead zone and perform comfortable air conditioning. it can.

(Example) Hereinafter, the Example of this invention is described in detail based on drawing.

As shown in FIG. 2, (1) is an air conditioner installed in a large building or the like, which includes a plurality of air conditioning units (2,
2, ...) are used for air conditioning in the same room.

Each of the air conditioning units (2, 2, ...) Is of a heat pump type, and includes an outdoor unit (3) and an indoor unit (4).
Are constituted by independent refrigerant circuits that are connected by a refrigerant pipe (21), and are independently configured to be capable of reversible operation in a cooling operation mode and a heating operation mode.

The outdoor unit (3) includes a compressor (31), an outdoor heat exchanger (32), a heating operation expansion mechanism (33), and the like. The compressor (31) compresses a refrigerant and discharges it. The outdoor heat exchanger (32) is connected to the discharge port side of the compressor (31) through the four-way switching valve (34). The outdoor heat exchanger (32) serves as a condenser in the cooling operation mode and serves as an evaporator in the heating operation mode, and radiates heat to the atmosphere by the fan (35), and the heat is radiated to the atmosphere via the one-way valve (36). The expansion mechanism (33) is connected to the indoor unit (4) and bypasses the one-way valve (36). The suction side of the compressor (31) is connected to the indoor unit (4) via an oil separator (37) and the four-way switching valve (34).

On the other hand, the indoor unit (4) includes an indoor heat exchanger (41).
And an expansion mechanism (42) for cooling operation. The indoor heat exchanger (41) serves as an evaporator in the cooling operation mode and serves as a condenser in the heating operation mode, and the fan (43) blows cold and warm air. Then, one end of the indoor heat exchanger (41) is switched to the expansion mechanism (33) side of the outdoor unit (3) via the one-way valve (4), and the other end is switched in four directions of the outdoor unit (3). The expansion mechanism (42) is connected to the valve (34) side and bypasses the one-way valve (44).

The indoor unit (4) of the air conditioning unit (2) has a third
As shown in the figure, for example, four units are provided in one room (11) in the building, and these four indoor units (4, 4, ...) Are appropriately arranged. And, in the room (11), windows (12, 12, ...) Are provided on two side walls, the window (12, 12, ...) Side is the perimeter zone (11a), and the wall side is the interior zone (11b).
In the perimeter zone (11a), three indoor units (4,4,4) are installed in the interior zone (11b).
An indoor unit (4) is arranged.

Further, each of the air conditioning units (2, 2) ... Is configured such that a control signal is input from the host computer (5) via the local unit controller (6),
Although not shown, the indoor temperature sensor is configured to input an indoor temperature signal. Each of the air conditioning units (2,2, ...) As shown in FIG.
7, ...) are provided, and each of the setting means (7) sets the operation temperature of the air conditioning unit (2,2, ...) Unit (2,2,
..) is independently set for each of the cooling operation mode and the heating operation mode.

Then, in each of the air conditioning units (2, 2, ...), the local unit controller (6) compares the set temperature with the room temperature from the temperature sensor, and at the same time, the local unit controller (6) outputs a mode signal to cool the room. It is configured to be operated or heated, and can be automatically and individually controlled to be switched between an operating state and a stopped state based on the set temperature.

Next, the configuration and operation of the air conditioner (1) will be described.

First, the cooling / heating operation of the air conditioning unit (2) will be described. In the cooling operation mode, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor (31) is condensed in the outdoor heat exchanger (32) and then expanded in the expansion mechanism (42). After being evaporated in the indoor heat exchanger (41) and generating cold air, the oil is separated in the oil separator (37) and returned to the compressor (31). Further, in the heating operation mode, the above operation is performed in reverse, and the refrigerant discharged from the compressor (31) is condensed in the indoor heat exchanger (41) to generate warm air, and then the expansion mechanism (33). ), It evaporates in the outdoor heat exchanger (32), and returns to the said compressor (31).

Next, the operation mode switching control of each of the air conditioning units (2, 2, ...) Will be described based on the control flow shown in FIG.

First, in step ST1, the setting means (7) sets a set temperature at which each of the air conditioning units (2, 2, ...) Independently switches between the cooling operation mode and the heating operation mode. This set temperature has been transmitted to the host computer (5), and from this step ST1 to step ST2,
The host computer (5) is the entire air conditioning unit (2,2,
Select the specific air conditioning unit (2) that determines the mode. In other words, the selection means (51) by this step ST2
The selecting means (51) selects, for example, the air conditioning unit (2) provided on the upper left side in FIG. 3 as the specific air conditioning unit (2).

Then, in response to the output signal of the selecting means (51) in the host computer (5), the local unit controller (6) sets the operation mode of the specific air conditioning unit (2) to all air conditioning units (2, 2, ...) as the operation mode. In other words, this step ST3
Constitutes the control means (61), and, for example, when the specific air conditioning unit (2) is in the cooling operation mode, the other air conditioning units (2,
2, 2) is also in the cooling operation mode. After that, the process proceeds from step ST3 to step ST4, where the above set temperature and operation mode are instructed to each air conditioning unit (2,2, ...), and all air conditioning units (2,2, ...) receive the same cooling by this operation mode signal. It will be operated simultaneously in the operation mode or the heating operation mode.

Moreover, the air conditioning units (2, 2, ...) Independently switch between cooling and heating operating states and stop states based on the set temperature to air-condition the room.

Therefore, in the interim period, all the air conditioning units (2, 2, ...) Are operated in the same operation mode even if the indoor temperature of the perimeter zone (11a) and the interior zone (11b) are different near the set temperature. Become. That is, for example, when the air conditioning unit (2,2,2) of the perimeter zone (11a) is in the heating operation mode, even if the room temperature of the interior zone (11b) is higher than the set temperature, the interior zone (11b)
The air conditioning unit (2) will be operated in the heating operation mode. Therefore, the entire room (11) is air-conditioned for either cooling or heating, and in particular, the operation modes are unified in the dead zone with respect to the set temperature, so that air conditioning excellent in comfort can be performed.

In the present embodiment, the selection means (52) selects one air conditioning unit (2), but a majority of the air conditioning units (2,2, ...) Of all the air conditioning units (2,2, ...) …)
A plurality of air conditioning units (2,2, ...) Operating in the same operation mode may be selected so that the operation mode of is the operation mode of all the air conditioning units (2,2, ...).

Moreover, the air conditioning unit (2) is not limited to the embodiment.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the air conditioning apparatus of the present invention, the operation modes of the air conditioning units of the plurality of independent refrigerant circuits are matched with the operation modes of the specific air conditioning units to operate the air conditioning units. Therefore, the contradictory operation that would otherwise occur when a plurality of air conditioning units capable of independent cooling and heating operations are originally installed in the same room is surely prevented, that is, only one air conditioning unit in the same room has the other operation. Since it is possible to reliably prevent problems such as driving in the operation mode, it is possible to perform air conditioning with excellent comfort.

In addition, since each air conditioning unit has its set temperature set, it can be operated and stopped independently, so it will be operated according to the installation environment, and comfort will be improved. it can.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the present invention. 2 to 4 show an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a refrigerant circuit diagram of an air conditioner, FIG. 3 is a layout diagram of indoor units, and FIG. 4 is a control flow diagram of the air conditioner. Is. 5 (a) and 5 (b) are operation state diagrams with respect to the room temperature in the heating operation mode and the cooling operation mode. (1) …… Air conditioner, (2) …… Air conditioning unit,
(3) …… Outdoor unit, (4) …… Indoor unit,
(7) ... Setting means, (31) ... Compressor, (32) ... Outdoor heat exchanger, (33,42) ... Expansion mechanism, (41) ... Indoor heat exchanger, (51) ... … Selection means, (61) …… Control means.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-59-129341 (JP, A) Actually opened 50-62345 (JP, U) Actually opened 55-61243 (JP, U)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of air-conditioning units (2), (2), ... Installed in the same room, each of which is composed of an independent refrigerant circuit and is capable of independently performing reversible operation in a cooling operation mode and a heating operation mode. And a set temperature for switching the operation modes of the air conditioning units (2), (2), ... Independently to each of the air conditioning units (2), (2) ,. Setting means (7), (7), ... For setting a set temperature as a target value of the temperature control of the air conditioning units (2), (2) ,. ), ... In the air conditioner capable of automatically and separately controlling the cooling operation mode and the heating operation mode based on the comparison between the set temperature and the room temperature, the setting means (7), (7), Based on the set temperature set in…, all air conditioning units Tsu Doo (2), (2), the specific conditioning unit for determining the ... operation mode and selecting means for selecting a (2) (51), the particular air conditioning unit that is selected by said selecting means (51) (2)
If the operation mode of the air conditioning unit is different from the operation mode of the other air conditioning units (2), (2), ..., Based on the operation mode of the specific air conditioning unit (2), all air conditioning units (2), (2),
Control means (6) for operating the other air conditioning units (2), (2), ... by switching the operation modes of the other air conditioning units (2), (2), ... so that the operation modes of the other air conditioning units become the same.
1) An air conditioner comprising: