Air conditioner, control method thereof, and device storage medium

Abstract

The present invention provides an air conditioner, a control method thereof, and a device storage medium. The control method of the air conditioner includes the following steps: obtaining the flow path temperatures of all flow paths within the air conditioner; obtaining the first flow path with the highest temperature and the second flow path with the lowest temperature; obtaining the temperature difference between the first flow path and the second flow path; and controlling the opening and closing of the throttle valves of the first flow path and the second flow path respectively based on the relationship between the temperature difference and a first preset temperature difference. In the control method of the air conditioner provided by the present invention, the first flow path with the highest temperature and the second flow path with the lowest temperature are obtained, and based on the temperature difference, it is determined whether there is an uneven distribution of refrigerant between the various flow paths of the air conditioner. The throttle valves on the first flow path and the second flow path are then controlled to open and close respectively, and then diversion adjustment is performed to ensure uniform diversion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of air conditioning devices, and in particular to an air conditioner, a control method thereof, and a device storage medium. Background Art

[0002] In an air conditioner, in order to facilitate the use of the evaporator, multiple flow channels are often set up when the refrigerant passes through the evaporator. The refrigerant is transported from the compressor to different flow channels to facilitate heat exchange between the refrigerant and the evaporator.

[0003] However, in the current air conditioning industry, evaporator flow dividers often suffer from uneven flow distribution, resulting in poor evaporator performance and impacting the air conditioner's cooling and heating energy efficiency. Prior art approaches typically achieve uniform evaporator flow distribution by adjusting the capillary lengths corresponding to each evaporator branch during product development. However, this approach is time-consuming and has high production costs. During air conditioning operation, as the ambient temperature fluctuates, the system's refrigerant circulation volume changes accordingly, and uneven flow distribution can still occur across the flow paths, impacting cooling and heating performance and potentially causing condensation. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention provides an air conditioner and a control method thereof, and a device storage medium, which are used to solve the problem of uneven flow distribution in the air conditioner and realize uniform flow distribution in the air conditioner.

[0005] The present invention provides a method for controlling an air conditioner, comprising the following steps:

[0006] Obtaining flow path temperatures of all flow paths in the air conditioner;

[0007] Obtaining a first flow path with the highest temperature and a second flow path with the lowest temperature;

[0008] obtaining a temperature difference between the first flow path and the second flow path;

[0009] According to the relationship between the temperature difference and the first preset temperature difference, the opening and closing of the throttle valves of the first flow path and the second flow path are controlled respectively.

[0010] According to the air conditioner control method provided by the present invention, the steps of controlling the opening and closing of the throttle valves of the first flow path and the second flow path respectively according to the relationship between the temperature difference and the first preset temperature difference include:

[0011] When the temperature difference is greater than the first preset temperature difference, the opening and closing of the throttle valves of the first flow path and the second flow path are controlled respectively.

[0012] According to the control method of the air conditioner provided by the present invention, the steps of respectively controlling the opening and closing of the throttle valves of the first flow path and the second flow path include:

[0013] respectively obtaining a first average temperature difference and a second average temperature difference between the first flow path and the second flow path and the remaining flow paths;

[0014] The opening and closing of the throttle valves of the first flow path and the second flow path are controlled respectively according to the relationship between the first average temperature difference and the second average temperature difference.

[0015] According to the control method of the air conditioner provided by the present invention, the steps of respectively controlling the opening and closing of the throttle valves of the first flow path and the second flow path include:

[0016] When the first average temperature difference is greater than the second average temperature difference, controlling the throttle valve of the first flow path to open;

[0017] When the second average temperature difference is greater than the first average temperature difference, the throttle valve of the second flow path is controlled to open.

[0018] According to the control method of the air conditioner provided by the present invention, when the throttle valve of the first flow path is open, the greater the first average temperature difference, the greater the opening degree of the throttle valve of the first flow path;

[0019] When the throttle valve of the second flow path is open, the larger the second average temperature difference is, the larger the opening degree of the throttle valve of the second flow path is.

[0020] According to the air conditioner control method provided by the present invention, the air conditioner control method further includes:

[0021] When the temperature difference is greater than a second preset temperature difference, the throttle valves of the first flow path and the second flow path are controlled to open simultaneously;

[0022] Wherein, the second preset temperature difference is greater than the first preset temperature difference.

[0023] According to the air conditioner control method provided by the present invention, before the step of obtaining the flow path temperatures of all flow paths in the air conditioner, the method further includes:

[0024] obtaining a stable state of the air conditioner;

[0025] When the air conditioner is in a stable temperature control state, the flow path temperature is controlled and obtained.

[0026] The present invention also provides an air conditioner control device, comprising a memory, a processor, and an air conditioner control program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, wherein the air conditioner control program is configured to implement an air conditioner control method according to any one of the above items.

[0027] The present invention also provides a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, wherein the computer program, when executed by a processor, implements the control method of the air conditioner according to any one of the above items.

[0028] The present invention also provides an air conditioner, comprising:

[0029] A liquid mixer for containing refrigerant;

[0030] A plurality of flow paths are connected to the liquid mixer, and each of the flow paths is provided with a throttle valve, and the flow paths are used to circulate refrigerant; and

[0031] A control device, wherein the control device is based on the above-mentioned control device, and the control device is electrically connected to the throttle valve.

[0032] In the control method of the air conditioner provided by the present invention, the air conditioner is provided with a plurality of flow paths for circulating refrigerant and a liquid mixer connected to the plurality of flow paths. When the air conditioner is operating, the refrigerant enters the plurality of flow paths. At this time, the flow path temperature of each of the flow paths is detected, and the first flow path with the highest temperature and the second flow path with the lowest temperature are obtained, and the temperature difference between the first flow path and the second flow path is obtained. According to the temperature difference, it is judged whether there is a problem of uneven refrigerant distribution between the various flow paths of the air conditioner, and then the opening and closing of the throttle valves on the first flow path and the second flow path are controlled respectively, and the flow rate of the refrigerant in at least one of the first flow path and the second flow path is changed, and then the diversion adjustment is performed to ensure the uniformity of the diversion. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the present invention or the prior art, a brief introduction is given below to the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0034] Figure 1 A flowchart of an embodiment of a method for controlling an air conditioner provided by the present invention;

[0035] Figure 2 A schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a control device provided by the present invention;

[0036] Figure 3 This is a structural block diagram of an embodiment of the air conditioner provided by the present invention.

[0037] Reference numerals:

[0038] 100. Air conditioner; 1. Mixer; 2. Flow path; 21. Throttle valve. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention more clear, the technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the embodiments described are only some of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of them. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0040] See also Figure 1 The present invention provides a method for controlling an air conditioner, comprising the following steps:

[0041] S10, obtaining flow path temperatures of all flow paths in the air conditioner;

[0042] S20, obtaining the first flow path with the highest temperature and the second flow path with the lowest temperature;

[0043] S30, obtaining a temperature difference between the first flow path and the second flow path;

[0044] S40 , controlling the opening and closing of the throttle valves of the first flow path and the second flow path respectively according to the relationship between the temperature difference and a first preset temperature difference.

[0045] In the control method of the air conditioner provided by the present invention, the air conditioner is provided with a plurality of flow paths for circulating refrigerant and a liquid mixer connected to the plurality of flow paths. When the air conditioner is operating, the refrigerant enters the plurality of flow paths. At this time, the flow path temperature of each of the flow paths is detected, and the first flow path with the highest temperature and the second flow path with the lowest temperature are obtained, and the temperature difference between the first flow path and the second flow path is obtained. According to the temperature difference, it is judged whether there is a problem of uneven refrigerant distribution between the various flow paths of the air conditioner, and then the opening and closing of the throttle valves on the first flow path and the second flow path are controlled respectively, and the flow rate of the refrigerant in at least one of the first flow path and the second flow path is changed, and then the diversion adjustment is performed to ensure the uniformity of the diversion.

[0046] Furthermore, step S40 includes:

[0047] S41 . When the temperature difference is greater than the first preset temperature difference, respectively control the opening and closing of the throttle valves of the first flow path and the second flow path.

[0048] In this embodiment, when the temperature difference is greater than the first preset temperature difference, it is considered that an uneven flow distribution problem has occurred in the air conditioner. By controlling the throttle valves on the first flow path and the second flow path respectively, the amount of liquid entering the first flow path or the second flow path from the liquid mixer is readjusted, and then the temperature of the first flow path and the second flow path is adjusted to be less than the first preset temperature difference.

[0049] Furthermore, step S41 includes:

[0050] S411, respectively obtaining a first average temperature difference and a second average temperature difference between the first flow path, the second flow path, and the remaining flow paths;

[0051] S412: Control the opening and closing of the throttle valves of the first flow path and the second flow path respectively according to the relationship between the first average temperature difference and the second average temperature difference.

[0052] It should be noted that, in the first flow path and the second flow path, not both branches need to be adjusted, and there may be an uneven liquid separation problem in only one of the branches. In this embodiment, the average temperature difference of the first flow path and the second flow path is calculated respectively. Based on the first average temperature difference and the second average temperature difference, it is determined whether the first flow path or the second flow path needs to be controlled, so as to facilitate precise control.

[0053] Specifically, step S412 includes:

[0054] S4121: When the first average temperature difference is greater than the second average temperature difference, control the throttle valve of the first flow path to open;

[0055] In this embodiment, when the first average temperature difference calculated based on the temperature difference between the first flow path and the remaining flow paths is greater than the second average temperature difference, it proves that the first flow path is larger than the second flow path and the remaining flow paths in the air conditioner. At this time, it can be judged that this is caused by the uneven distribution of the refrigerant medium in the first flow path and other paths. At this time, the throttle valve of the first flow path is opened to allow the refrigerant in the first flow path to be connected to the mixer to form a new balance, including transporting excess refrigerant to the mixer or replenishing new refrigerant from the mixer due to insufficient refrigerant.

[0056] S4122. When the second average temperature difference is greater than the first average temperature difference, control the throttle valve of the second flow path to open.

[0057] Similarly, when it is determined that the refrigerant in the second flow path is unevenly distributed, the throttle valve on the second flow path is controlled to open, so that the refrigerant in the second flow path and the refrigerant in the liquid mixer are exchanged and redistributed.

[0058] Specifically, in this embodiment, when the throttle valve of the first flow path is open, the greater the first average temperature difference, the greater the opening of the throttle valve of the first flow path. In this embodiment, the greater the first average temperature difference, the greater the difference in refrigerant distribution between the first flow path and other flow paths. By adjusting the throttle valve of the first flow path, the rate of refrigerant replenishment or diversion in the first flow path is changed, thereby achieving faster rebalancing.

[0059] When the throttle valve of the second flow path is open, the larger the second average temperature difference is, the larger the opening degree of the throttle valve of the second flow path is.

[0060] Similarly, the replenishment rate of the refrigerant in the second flow path is changed by adjusting the throttle valve on the second flow path.

[0061] On the other hand, the control method of the air conditioner further includes:

[0062] S42, when the temperature difference is greater than a second preset temperature difference, simultaneously controlling the throttle valves of the first flow path and the second flow path to open;

[0063] Wherein, the second preset temperature difference is greater than the first preset temperature difference.

[0064] When the temperature difference is greater than the first preset temperature difference, the flow path with abnormal temperature in the air conditioner is rebalanced of the internal refrigerant. However, when there is too much or too little refrigerant in a certain path, resulting in a temperature difference greater than the second preset temperature difference, the refrigerant that can be accommodated in the mixer itself is limited, and the flow path cannot be rebalanced even through the mixer. At this time, the throttle valves of the first flow path and the second flow path are opened at the same time, so that the two flow paths with the largest temperature difference and the mixer begin to rebalance, ensuring the redistribution and balance of the refrigerant in the flow path, and avoiding the problem of being unable to achieve refrigerant balance due to relying solely on the mixer.

[0065] In addition, in the embodiment provided by the present invention, before step S10, the following steps are further included:

[0066] S01, obtaining the stable state of the air conditioner;

[0067] S02. When the air conditioner is maintaining a stable temperature, control and obtain the flow path temperature.

[0068] When the air conditioner is just started, the refrigerant begins to generate an initial flow between the various flow paths. However, the flow paths themselves may contain refrigerant that was not completely recovered before the last shutdown, or the compressor may not work evenly and completely when just started, resulting in an uneven initial distribution of the refrigerant. In this embodiment, the flow path temperature is obtained only after the air conditioner temperature is running to avoid misjudgment.

[0069] Based on the above-mentioned air conditioner control method, the present invention provides a specific embodiment.

[0070] In this embodiment, the flow path temperatures of all refrigerant flow paths in the air conditioner are controlled and detected. Specifically, in this embodiment, the air conditioner includes four flow paths. For example, in the cooling state, the temperatures of the four branches are 15°, 16°, 16°, and 21°, respectively. The flow path at 21° is the first flow path, and the flow path at 15° is the second flow path.

[0071] When the temperature difference between the flow path with the highest temperature and the flow path with the lowest temperature is greater than a first preset temperature difference, it is considered that the flow splitting is uneven. Specifically, in this embodiment, the first preset temperature difference is 3°. In this embodiment, when the temperature difference between the first flow path and the second flow path exceeds 3°, it is considered that flow splitting control is required.

[0072] Calculate the average temperature differences between the first flow path, the second flow path, and the remaining flow paths respectively. In this embodiment, the first average temperature difference of the first flow path is 4.6, and the second average temperature difference of the second flow path is 2.6;

[0073] When the first average temperature difference is greater, it is confirmed that the flow rate of the refrigerant in the first flow path with the highest temperature is abnormal. At this time, the throttle valve on the first flow path is opened to allow it to balance with the refrigerant in the liquid mixer. Similarly, when the second average temperature difference is greater, the throttle valve on the second flow path is opened. In this embodiment, it is obvious that the first average temperature difference is greater, so it is confirmed that the flow path with refrigerant abnormality is the first flow path. At this time, the throttle valve on the first flow path is controlled to open, so that the refrigerant in the first flow path begins to exchange with the refrigerant in the liquid mixer.

[0074] Wherein, the opening of the throttle valve increases as the average temperature difference increases;

[0075] When the temperature difference between the flow path with the highest temperature and the flow path with the lowest temperature is greater than the second preset temperature difference, it is considered that the diversion is seriously uneven and the refrigerant cannot be compensated by exchanging and supplementing with the mixer. At this time, the first flow path and the second flow path are opened at the same time to facilitate dynamic balance of the refrigerant.

[0076] The embodiment of the present invention further provides a controller, Figure 2 The physical structure diagram of the controller is shown as follows: Figure 2 As shown, the controller may include: a processor (processor) 1001, a communication interface (Communications Interface) 1002, a memory (memory) 1003 and a communication bus 1004, wherein the processor 1001, the communication interface 1002, and the memory 1003 communicate with each other through the communication bus 1004.

[0077] The processor 1001 can call the logical instructions in the memory 1003 to execute the above method: obtain the flow path temperatures of all flow paths in the air conditioner; obtain the first flow path with the highest temperature and the second flow path with the lowest temperature; obtain the temperature difference between the first flow path and the second flow path; and control the opening and closing of the throttle valves of the first flow path and the second flow path respectively according to the relationship between the temperature difference and the first preset temperature difference.

[0078] In addition, the logic instructions in the above-mentioned memory 1003 can be implemented in the form of a software functional unit and can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium when sold or used as an independent product. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present invention is essentially or the part that contributes to the prior art or the part of the technical solution can be embodied in the form of a software product, and the computer software product is stored in a storage medium, including a number of instructions for enabling a computer device (which can be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to perform all or part of the steps of the method described in each embodiment of the present invention. The aforementioned storage medium includes: various media that can store program codes, such as a USB flash drive, a mobile hard disk, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk or an optical disk.

[0079] It should be noted that the controller in this embodiment can be a server, a PC, or other devices in specific implementation, as long as its structure includes the following Figure 2 The processor 1001, communication interface 1002, memory 1003, and communication bus 1004 are shown, wherein the processor 1001, communication interface 1002, and memory 1003 communicate with each other via the communication bus 1004, and the processor 1001 can call the logic instructions in the memory 1003 to execute the above method. This embodiment does not limit the specific implementation form of the controller.

[0080] On the other hand, the present invention also provides a computer program product, which includes a computer program stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, and the computer program includes program instructions. When the program instructions are executed by a computer, the computer can execute the control method of the air-conditioning system provided by the above-mentioned method embodiments, the method including: obtaining the flow path temperatures of all flow paths in the air conditioner; obtaining the first flow path with the highest temperature and the second flow path with the lowest temperature; obtaining the temperature difference between the first flow path and the second flow path; and controlling the opening and closing of the throttle valves of the first flow path and the second flow path respectively according to the relationship between the temperature difference and the first preset temperature difference.

[0081] On the other hand, the present invention also provides a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, which is implemented when the computer program is executed by a processor to execute the control method of the air-conditioning system provided by the above-mentioned method embodiments.

[0082] The device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, i.e., they may be located in one location or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the modules may be selected based on actual needs to achieve the objectives of the present embodiment. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will be able to understand and implement the present invention without inventive effort.

[0083] See also Figure 3 Based on the above-mentioned air conditioner control method, the present invention also provides an air conditioner 100, including a liquid mixer 1, multiple flow paths 2 and a control device; the liquid mixer 1 is used to accommodate refrigerant; multiple flow paths 2 are connected to the liquid mixer 1, and each of the flow paths 2 is provided with a throttle valve 21, and the flow paths 2 are used to circulate refrigerant.

[0084] In this embodiment, when the air conditioner is working, the compressor diverts the refrigerant into each flow path 2, each of the flow paths 2 is connected to the liquid mixer 1, and a throttle valve 21 is provided on each of the flow paths 2. Through the setting of the throttle valve 21, the exchange of refrigerant between the flow path 2 and the liquid mixer 1 can be controlled.

[0085] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the aforementioned embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the aforementioned embodiments, or make equivalent replacements for some of the technical features therein. However, these modifications or replacements do not deviate the essence of the corresponding technical solutions from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the various embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an air conditioner, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: Obtaining flow path temperatures of all flow paths in the air conditioner; According to the flow path temperatures, obtaining a first flow path with the highest temperature and a second flow path with the lowest temperature; obtaining a temperature difference between the first flow path and the second flow path; According to the relationship between the temperature difference and the first preset temperature difference, respectively controlling the opening and closing of the throttle valves of the first flow path and the second flow path; The steps of respectively controlling the opening and closing of the throttle valves of the first flow path and the second flow path according to the relationship between the temperature difference and the first preset temperature difference include: When the temperature difference is greater than the first preset temperature difference, the throttle valves of the first flow path and the second flow path are controlled to open and close respectively; The steps of respectively controlling the opening and closing of the throttle valves of the first flow path and the second flow path include: respectively obtaining a first average temperature difference and a second average temperature difference between the first flow path and the second flow path and the remaining flow paths; Controlling the opening and closing of the throttle valves of the first flow path and the second flow path respectively according to the relationship between the first average temperature difference and the second average temperature difference specifically includes: When the first average temperature difference is greater than the second average temperature difference, controlling the throttle valve of the first flow path to open; When the second average temperature difference is greater than the first average temperature difference, the throttle valve of the second flow path is controlled to open.

2. The air conditioner control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the throttle valve of the first flow path is open, the greater the first average temperature difference, the greater the opening of the throttle valve of the first flow path; When the throttle valve of the second flow path is open, the larger the second average temperature difference is, the larger the opening degree of the throttle valve of the second flow path is.

3. The air conditioner control method according to claim 1, wherein: The control method of the air conditioner further includes: When the temperature difference is greater than a second preset temperature difference, the throttle valves of the first flow path and the second flow path are controlled to open simultaneously; Wherein, the second preset temperature difference is greater than the first preset temperature difference.

4. The air conditioner control method according to claim 1, wherein: Before the step of obtaining the flow path temperatures of all flow paths in the air conditioner, the method further includes: obtaining a stable state of the air conditioner; When the air conditioner is in a stable temperature control state, the flow path temperature is controlled and obtained.

5. A control device for an air conditioner, characterized in that: The invention comprises a memory, a processor and an air conditioner control program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, wherein the air conditioner control program is configured to implement the air conditioner control method according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, characterized in that: When the computer program is executed by a processor, the control method of the air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 4 is implemented.

7. An air conditioner, characterized in that: include: A liquid mixer for containing refrigerant; A plurality of flow paths are connected to the liquid mixer, and each of the flow paths is provided with a throttle valve, and the flow paths are used to circulate refrigerant; as well as, A control device, wherein the control device is the control device according to claim 5, and the control device is electrically connected to the throttle valve.

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