Air conditioner and method for controlling self-cleaning of air conditioner

Abstract

The present application relates to the field of smart home appliance technology and discloses an air conditioner comprising an outdoor unit, the outdoor unit comprising an outdoor heat exchanger, an outdoor fan, and a compressor; an air volume detection device disposed between the outdoor heat exchanger and the outdoor fan and configured to detect the air volume generated by the outdoor fan when the air conditioner is in operation; a condensate collection device disposed on one side of the outdoor heat exchanger and connected to the outdoor fan via a condensate pipe; wherein the blades and central axis of the outdoor fan are built-in, interconnected cavity structures, and drainage holes are distributed on the blades; when the condensate pipe is connected, the operation of the outdoor fan throws out condensate and hits the outdoor heat exchanger. The device can throw out condensate when the outdoor fan is in self-cleaning operation. The thrown condensate hits the outdoor heat exchanger, thereby removing stubborn impurities attached to the heat exchanger. The present application also discloses a method for controlling the self-cleaning of an air conditioner.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of smart home appliances, for example, to an air conditioner and a method for controlling self-cleaning of the air conditioner. Background Art

[0002] Currently, air conditioners typically use cold expansion technology for self-cleaning. This involves defrosting the heat exchanger after frost forms, and using the defrosted water to remove dust and other debris from the heat exchanger fins. However, this method can only remove small objects like dust, but not leaves, and requires significant external force. Furthermore, the cold expansion self-cleaning compressor consumes significant energy, leading to high operating costs.

[0003] In the related art, during self-cleaning, the air conditioner is controlled to enter the refrigeration cycle to determine whether condensation water is formed on the surface of the indoor heat exchanger; when condensation water is formed on the surface of the indoor heat exchanger, the indoor fan is controlled to blow in the reverse direction at a speed of V1; the air conditioner is controlled to enter the heating cycle; it is determined whether condensation water is formed on the surface of the outdoor heat exchanger; when condensation water is formed on the surface of the outdoor heat exchanger, the outdoor fan is controlled to blow in the reverse direction at a speed of V2.

[0004] During the implementation of the embodiments of the present disclosure, it was found that at least the following problems exist in the related art:

[0005] Related technologies use the reverse rotation of the indoor fan and the condensate from the indoor heat exchanger to clean the air duct. However, this still requires the operation of a compressor, which results in high energy consumption.

[0006] It should be noted that the information disclosed in the above background technology section is only used to enhance the understanding of the background of this application, and therefore may include information that does not constitute prior art known to ordinary technicians in this field. Summary of the Invention

[0007] In order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed embodiments, a brief summary is given below. The summary is not an extensive review, nor is it intended to identify key / critical elements or delineate the scope of protection of these embodiments, but rather serves as a prelude to the detailed description that follows.

[0008] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an air conditioner and a method for controlling self-cleaning of the air conditioner, so as to reduce energy consumption of the air conditioner and improve the cleaning effect of a heat exchanger.

[0009] In some embodiments, the air conditioner includes: an outdoor unit, the outdoor unit including an outdoor heat exchanger, an outdoor fan and a compressor, and further including: an air volume detection device, disposed between the outdoor heat exchanger and the outdoor fan, and configured to detect the air volume generated by the outdoor fan when the air conditioner is running; a condensed water collection device, disposed on one side of the outdoor heat exchanger and connected to the outdoor fan through a condensed water pipe;

[0010] Among them, the fan blades and the central axis of the outdoor fan are built-in interconnected cavity structures, and drainage holes are distributed on the fan blades; when the condensed water pipe is connected, the condensed water is also thrown out and hits the outdoor heat exchanger under the operation of the outdoor fan.

[0011] In some embodiments, the method includes: when the air conditioner is running, obtaining a real-time average value of multiple air volume detection values; judging whether the air conditioner needs self-cleaning based on the real-time average value and the preset average value; when the air conditioner starts self-cleaning, controlling the condensation water collection device to provide condensation water to the outdoor fan, and controlling the outdoor fan to run at a target speed.

[0012] The air conditioner and the method for controlling the self-cleaning of the air conditioner provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure can achieve the following technical effects:

[0013] The air conditioner's outdoor fan structure has been improved, and a condensate collection device has been installed to provide condensate for the outdoor fan. During self-cleaning operation, the outdoor fan can discard condensate. This condensate strikes the outdoor heat exchanger, removing stubborn impurities. The outdoor fan's speed can also be controlled to adjust the impact force of the condensate to accommodate impurities of varying strengths. This eliminates the need for defrosting by the compressor during self-cleaning, reducing energy consumption and improving the self-cleaning effect.

[0014] The above general description and the following description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not intended to limit the present application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] One or more embodiments are exemplarily described by corresponding drawings. These exemplary descriptions and drawings do not limit the embodiments. Elements with the same reference numerals in the drawings are shown as similar elements. The drawings do not constitute a scale limitation. In addition,

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of an outdoor unit of an air conditioner provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0017] Figure 2 is a partial structural diagram of an outdoor fan provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0018] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the wind flow direction when the outdoor unit is running according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0019] Figure 4 Schematic diagram of the structure of the air volume detection bracket provided by the embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0020] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram of a method for controlling self-cleaning of an air conditioner provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0021] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram of another method for controlling self-cleaning of an air conditioner provided by an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0022] Figure 7 Schematic diagram of a device for controlling self-cleaning of an air conditioner provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0023] Reference numerals:

[0024] 10: Outdoor unit; 20: Outdoor heat exchanger; 30: Compressor; 40: Outdoor fan; 41: Fan blades; 42: Center axis; 43: Drain hole; 50: Air volume detection device; 51: Center frame; 52: Sub-bracket; 53: Air volume sensor; 60: Condensate collection device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] In order to be able to understand the features and technical content of the embodiments of the present disclosure in more detail, the implementation of the embodiments of the present disclosure is described in detail below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings are for reference only and are not used to limit the embodiments of the present disclosure. In the following technical description, for the sake of convenience of explanation, a full understanding of the disclosed embodiments is provided through multiple details. However, one or more embodiments can still be implemented without these details. In other cases, to simplify the drawings, well-known structures and devices can be simplified for display.

[0026] In the description and claims of the embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as in the accompanying drawings, the terms "first," "second," and the like are used to distinguish similar items and are not necessarily used to describe a particular order or precedence. It should be understood that the terms used in this manner are interchangeable where appropriate to describe the embodiments of the present disclosure herein. In addition, the terms "including," "having," and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions.

[0027] Unless otherwise stated, the term "plurality" means two or more.

[0028] In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the character " / " indicates that the preceding and following objects are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B means: A or B.

[0029] The term "and / or" describes an association between objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B means: A or B, or A and B.

[0030] The term "correspondence" can refer to an association or binding relationship. The correspondence between A and B means that there is an association or binding relationship between A and B. Figure 1 、 2The outdoor unit 10 of the air conditioner includes an outdoor heat exchanger 20, an outdoor fan 40, a compressor 30, an air volume detection device 50 and a condensed water collection device 60. The air volume detection device 50 is arranged between the outdoor heat exchanger 20 and the outdoor fan 40, and is fixed on the housing of the outdoor unit 10 or on the mounting frame of the outdoor fan 40. The air volume detection device 50 is used to detect the air volume generated by the outdoor fan 40 when the air conditioner is running. The condensed water collection device 60 is arranged on one side of the outdoor heat exchanger 20 and is used to collect the condensed water generated on the surface of the indoor heat exchanger. The fan blades 41 of the outdoor fan 40 and the central shaft 42 connected to the fan blades 41 are mutually connected cavity structures. A drainage hole 43 is provided on the fan blades 41, and the condensed water collection device 60 is connected to the central shaft 42 of the outdoor fan 40 through a condensed water pipe. In order to provide condensed water for the outdoor fan 40, the condensed water is thrown out under the rotation of the outdoor fan 40 and hits the outdoor heat exchanger 20 for self-cleaning (the flow direction of the condensed water in the outdoor fan is as follows Figure 2 When the outdoor heat exchanger does not require self-cleaning, the condensate collection device does not provide condensate to the outdoor fan.

[0031] An air conditioner provided by the disclosed embodiments improves the structure of the air conditioner's outdoor fan and provides a condensate collection device to supply condensate to the outdoor fan. This allows the condensate to be discarded during the outdoor fan's self-cleaning operation. The discarded condensate strikes the outdoor heat exchanger, thereby removing stubborn impurities adhering to the heat exchanger.

[0032] like Figure 3 As shown in the figure, when the air conditioner is running, the outdoor fan operates. Under the action of the outdoor fan, outdoor air passes through the outdoor heat exchanger and is drawn into the outdoor unit. The degree of contamination of the outdoor heat exchanger affects the amount of air entering. As can be understood, the more impurities adhering to the surface of the outdoor heat exchanger, the more severe the blockage of the outdoor heat exchanger fins, and the corresponding decrease in outdoor air volume. Therefore, an air volume detection device can monitor the air volume passing through the outdoor heat exchanger to determine whether the outdoor heat exchanger requires self-cleaning.

[0033] Alternatively, as Figure 4 As shown, the air volume detection device 50 includes an air volume detection bracket and multiple air volume sensors 53. The air volume detection bracket is fixed to the housing of the outdoor unit 10 and includes a central bracket 51 and multiple sub-brackets 52. The sub-brackets 52 are evenly distributed on the central bracket 51. The multiple air volume sensors 53 are evenly distributed on the air volume detection bracket.

[0034] Here, because the outdoor heat exchanger has a certain volume and the surface impurities are unevenly distributed, this leads to differences in the detection values ​​of different air volume detection points. In order to ensure the accuracy of the detection, a plurality of air volume sensors are provided on the air volume detection bracket. And the air volume detection bracket includes a central frame and a plurality of sub-brackets. The central frame is fixedly connected to the plurality of sub-brackets, and when the number of sub-brackets is an odd number, the stability of the fan detection bracket is ensured. Multiple air volume sensors are evenly distributed on the central frame and the plurality of sub-brackets. To improve the comprehensiveness and accuracy of air volume detection. In addition, in some embodiments, the central frame is a circular frame, and its diameter is slightly larger than the diameter of the outdoor fan shaft. In other embodiments, the length of the sub-bracket depends on the size of the outdoor heat exchanger and the installation position of the air volume detection bracket. Such as Figure 4 As shown, the lengths of the multiple sub-stents are different.

[0035] Optionally, the condensed water collecting device 60 further includes a control valve disposed on the condensed water pipe, and configured so that when the control valve is controlled to open, the condensed water in the condensed water collecting device flows into the outdoor fan.

[0036] Here, the control valve is used to control whether the condensed water flows into the outdoor fan, so as to prevent the outdoor fan from throwing out the condensed water in a non-self-cleaning state.

[0037] Combine Figure 4 As shown, based on the above air conditioner structure, the embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for controlling self-cleaning of the air conditioner, including:

[0038] S101: When the air conditioner is running, the processor obtains a real-time average value of multiple air volume detection values.

[0039] S102: The processor determines whether the air conditioner needs to start self-cleaning based on the real-time average value and the preset average value.

[0040] S103: When the air conditioner starts self-cleaning, the processor controls the condensed water collection device to provide condensed water to the outdoor fan, and controls the outdoor fan to run at a target speed.

[0041] In the embodiment of the present disclosure, Figure 3It can be seen that impurities accumulated on the surface of the outdoor heat exchanger can affect the air volume of the outdoor fan. Therefore, when the air conditioner is operating, the air volume sensor on the air volume detection bracket can detect the air volume at multiple detection points in real time. It can also calculate a real-time average of these air volume detection values. Based on the real-time average and a preset average, the contamination level of the air conditioner's outdoor heat exchanger can be determined. If the outdoor heat exchanger is severely contaminated, the air conditioner determines that self-cleaning is necessary. When self-cleaning is activated, the condensate control valve is controlled to open, and the condensate collection device supplies condensate to the outdoor fan. The outdoor fan is then operated at a target speed. This allows the outdoor fan blades to throw condensate against the outdoor heat exchanger, effectively removing impurities from the outdoor heat exchanger fins. In this way, impurities in the outdoor heat exchanger are removed by the operation of the outdoor fan, and the energy consumption of the outdoor fan operation is far lower than that of the compressor. Compared with cold expansion defrosting and cleaning, this embodiment significantly reduces operating costs and achieves better cleaning results.

[0042] The target speed is typically the mid-range speed range for the outdoor fan and can be set based on user needs or the air conditioner's application scenario. For example, the air conditioner is used in windy areas, especially in northern autumn. The outdoor heat exchanger is prone to accumulation of impurities; in this case, the target speed can be set to a higher speed. The preset average value refers to the normal air volume when the outdoor fan is running without impurities. Typically, different outdoor fan speeds correspond to different preset average values.

[0043] In addition, it should be noted that, during the self-cleaning process, unless otherwise specified, the direction of operation of the outdoor fan refers to the direction of operation during normal operation of the air conditioner, so that the condensed water in the outdoor fan blades can hit the heat exchanger.

[0044] The method for controlling the self-cleaning of an air conditioner provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure is used to improve the structure of the outdoor fan of the air conditioner, and a condensate collection device is provided to provide condensate for the outdoor fan. The outdoor fan can throw out condensate during self-cleaning operation. The thrown-out condensate hits the outdoor heat exchanger, thereby removing stubborn impurities attached to the heat exchanger. At the same time, the speed of the outdoor fan can be controlled to adjust the impact force of the condensate to adapt to impurities of different strengths. In this way, there is no need to use a compressor for frosting and defrosting during self-cleaning, which reduces energy consumption and improves the self-cleaning effect.

[0045] Optionally, in step S102, the processor determines whether the air conditioner needs to start self-cleaning based on the real-time average value and the preset average value, including:

[0046] When a first difference between the preset average value and the real-time average value is greater than or equal to a preset threshold, the processor obtains the operating time of the air conditioner.

[0047] When the operating time is greater than a preset time, the processor determines that the air conditioner needs to perform self-cleaning.

[0048] Here, the first difference between the preset average value and the real-time average value is calculated. If the first difference is greater than the preset threshold value, it indicates that the real-time average value is less than the preset average value, and the difference between the two is large. In other words, the outdoor heat exchanger may be clogged with impurities, resulting in a reduction in air volume. Further, it is determined whether the operating time of the air conditioner is greater than the preset time. If it is greater, it is determined that impurities exist in the outdoor heat exchanger and self-cleaning is required. In the initial stage of the air conditioner startup, unstable operation of the outdoor fan will cause inaccurate air volume detection, so the detection value after the air conditioner is running stably is relatively accurate. Among them, the preset threshold value is the maximum value of the normal fluctuation range allowed when the outdoor fan is running. The preset time can be 30 minutes.

[0049] Optionally, in step S102, the processor determines a preset average value by:

[0050] The processor obtains an average air volume when the outdoor fan operates normally at different speeds.

[0051] The processor obtains the average air volume value corresponding to the current outdoor unit speed according to the correspondence between the outdoor fan speed and the average air volume value, and uses it as the preset average value.

[0052] In the disclosed embodiment, the average air volume of the outdoor fan at different speeds under normal air conditioner operation can be obtained through experimental testing. The measured average air volume is recorded, and a corresponding relationship between the average wind speed and the outdoor fan speed is established. Furthermore, this corresponding relationship can be stored for easy access at any time. Therefore, when the current outdoor unit speed is determined, the corresponding relationship is called to find the average air volume corresponding to the current outdoor unit speed. This average air volume is then used as the preset average.

[0053] In some embodiments, before the air conditioner initiates self-cleaning, the water level in the condensate collection device may be detected. If the water level is sufficient, the air conditioner is controlled to initiate self-cleaning. If the water level is insufficient, the condensate collection device is first refilled with water, and then the air conditioner is controlled to initiate self-cleaning after the water level is refilled.

[0054] Combine Figure 3 As shown, the embodiment of the present disclosure provides another method for controlling the self-cleaning of an air conditioner, comprising:

[0055] S101: When the air conditioner is running, the processor obtains a real-time average value of multiple air volume detection values.

[0056] S102: The processor determines whether the air conditioner needs to start self-cleaning based on the real-time average value and the preset average value.

[0057] S103: When the air conditioner starts self-cleaning, the processor controls the condensed water collection device to provide condensed water to the outdoor fan, and controls the outdoor fan to run at a target speed.

[0058] S204: After the self-cleaning operation has completed for a first period of time, the processor re-obtains an average value of the plurality of air volume detection values.

[0059] S205: The processor determines a correction plan for the outdoor fan based on the new average value and the preset average value, and executes the correction plan.

[0060] In the disclosed embodiment, after the outdoor fan has been running at the target speed for a first period of time for self-cleaning, the shut-off valve of the condensate water pipeline is closed. When the outdoor fan is running normally, the detection values ​​of multiple air volume detection points are re-obtained, and a new average value is calculated. Then, based on the new average value and the preset average value, a correction plan for the outdoor fan is determined. Here, the correction plan mainly involves correcting the operating parameters of the outdoor fan, including the speed of the outdoor fan, the direction of rotation of the outdoor fan, etc. After determining the correction plan, if it is necessary to continue cleaning, the condensate water control valve needs to be controlled to open for self-cleaning.

[0061] The first duration may be 3-5 minutes. The specific value of the first duration may be determined based on user needs or the cleaning frequency. For example, if the cleaning frequency is low, the first duration may be longer.

[0062] Optionally, in step S205, the processor determines a correction scheme for the outdoor fan according to the new average value and the preset average value, including:

[0063] S251: When a second difference between the preset average value and the new average value is greater than or equal to a preset threshold, the processor determines that the outdoor fan executes a first correction solution.

[0064] S252: When the second difference between the preset average value and the new average value is smaller than the preset threshold value, the processor determines that the outdoor fan executes the second correction scheme.

[0065] Here, a second difference between the preset average value and the new average value is calculated, and a correction plan for the outdoor fan is determined based on the magnitude relationship between the second difference and the preset threshold. Specifically, if the second difference is greater than or equal to the preset threshold, it indicates that the outdoor heat exchanger still contains a large amount of impurities. In this case, the first correction plan may be to increase the speed of the outdoor fan, thereby increasing the impact force of the condensed water and clearing the severely blocked impurities. If the second difference is less than the preset threshold, it indicates that the outdoor heat exchanger is basically clean. In this case, the second correction plan may be to dry the outdoor heat exchanger to prevent frost and ice from forming after cleaning.

[0066] Optionally, at S251, the processor determines that the outdoor fan executes a first correction solution, including:

[0067] The processor calculates a ratio of the second difference to a preset threshold value and uses the ratio as a correction factor.

[0068] The processor determines the corrected speed of the outdoor fan as the product of the target speed and the correction factor.

[0069] In a case where the condensate collecting device provides condensate to the outdoor fan, the processor determines that the outdoor fan operates at the corrected speed for a second period of time.

[0070] In the embodiment of the present disclosure, a correction factor is introduced, and the target speed of the outdoor fan is corrected based on the correction factor. The corrected speed of the correction scheme is obtained, and the outdoor fan is controlled to run at the corrected speed for a second period of time when the outdoor heat exchanger is cleaned again. Specifically, the ratio of the second difference and the preset threshold is calculated. The larger the ratio, the greater the cleaning intensity required for the outdoor heat exchanger. Therefore, the speed of the outdoor fan is corrected based on the ratio. The corrected speed is the product of the target speed and the ratio. In other words, the speed of the outdoor fan in the correction scheme is greater than the target speed in the current cleaning scheme, thereby removing more stubborn impurities.

[0071] The second duration is generally less than or equal to the first duration, for example, 2 minutes. Because the correction scheme primarily focuses on cleaning stubborn impurities, the second duration may be slightly shorter than the first duration. Furthermore, it should be noted that after executing the second correction scheme for the second duration, the average value of the air volume detection device is re-obtained. A third difference is calculated and obtained. When the third difference is less than a preset threshold, the outdoor fan is controlled to execute the second correction scheme.

[0072] Optionally, at S252, the processor determines that the outdoor fan executes a second correction solution, including:

[0073] When the condensed water collecting device stops providing condensed water to the outdoor fan, the processor determines that the outdoor fan maintains the target speed for a third time period.

[0074] The processor determines that the outdoor fan operates in reverse for a fourth time period.

[0075] In the embodiment of the present disclosure, since the second difference is less than the preset threshold, the outdoor heat exchanger is basically clean. Therefore, the second correction scheme is to dry the outdoor heat exchanger. Specifically, the control valve of the condenser is controlled to close, and the outdoor fan is controlled to maintain the target speed for the third time. Then, the outdoor fan is controlled to reverse and run for the fourth time. That is, the residual condensed water in the outdoor heat exchanger is dried by the forward and reverse rotation of the outdoor fan. This prevents the outdoor heat exchanger from frosting and icing in a low temperature environment, which affects the performance of the air conditioner. Among them, the third time length can be 1-2 minutes, and the fourth time length can be 2-3 minutes. There is no specific limitation on the third time length and the fourth time length here.

[0076] An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a device for controlling the self-cleaning function of an air conditioner, comprising an acquisition module, a determination module, and a control module. The acquisition module is configured to obtain a real-time average value of multiple air volume detection values ​​while the air conditioner is operating. The determination module is configured to determine whether the air conditioner should initiate self-cleaning based on the real-time average value and a preset average value. The control module is configured to control a condensate collection device to provide condensate to an outdoor fan and control the outdoor fan to operate at a target speed when the air conditioner initiates self-cleaning.

[0077] The device for controlling the self-cleaning of an air conditioner provided in an embodiment of the present disclosure is used to improve the structure of the outdoor fan of the air conditioner, and a condensate collection device is provided to provide condensate for the outdoor fan. The outdoor fan can throw out condensate during self-cleaning operation. The thrown-out condensate hits the outdoor heat exchanger, thereby removing stubborn impurities attached to the heat exchanger. At the same time, the speed of the outdoor fan can be controlled to adjust the impact force of the condensate to adapt to impurities of different strengths. In this way, there is no need to use a compressor for frosting and defrosting during self-cleaning, which reduces energy consumption and improves the self-cleaning effect.

[0078] Combine Figure 7 As shown, an embodiment of the present disclosure provides a device for controlling the self-cleaning of an air conditioner, including a processor 100 and a memory 101. Optionally, the device may further include a communication interface 102 and a bus 103. The processor 100, the communication interface 102, and the memory 101 can communicate with each other through the bus 103. The communication interface 102 can be used for information transmission. The processor 100 can call the logic instructions in the memory 101 to execute the method for controlling the self-cleaning of the air conditioner of the above embodiment.

[0079] In addition, the logic instructions in the memory 101 can be implemented in the form of software functional units and can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium when sold or used as an independent product.

[0080] Memory 101, as a computer-readable storage medium, can be used to store software programs and computer-executable programs, such as program instructions / modules corresponding to the methods in the embodiments of the present disclosure. Processor 100 executes the program instructions / modules stored in memory 101 to execute functional applications and data processing, thereby implementing the method for controlling air conditioner self-cleaning in the above-described embodiments.

[0081] The memory 101 may include a program storage area and a data storage area. The program storage area may store an operating system and at least one application required for a function; the data storage area may store data generated based on the use of the terminal device. Furthermore, the memory 101 may include high-speed random access memory and non-volatile memory.

[0082] An embodiment of the present disclosure provides an air conditioner, comprising the above-mentioned device for controlling self-cleaning of the air conditioner.

[0083] An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a storage medium storing computer-executable instructions, wherein the computer-executable instructions are configured to execute the above-mentioned method for controlling the self-cleaning of an air conditioner.

[0084] The aforementioned storage medium may be a transient computer-readable storage medium or a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.

[0085] The technical solution of the embodiments of the present disclosure may be embodied in the form of a software product, which is stored in a storage medium and includes one or more instructions for causing a computer device (which may be a personal computer, a server, or a network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the method described in the embodiments of the present disclosure. The aforementioned storage medium may be a non-transitory storage medium, including: 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, and other media that can store program code, or a transient storage medium.

[0086] The above description and the accompanying drawings fully illustrate the embodiments of the present disclosure so that those skilled in the art can practice them. Other embodiments may include structural, logical, electrical, process and other changes. The embodiments represent only possible variations. Unless explicitly required, individual components and functions are optional, and the order of operations may vary. Parts and features of some embodiments may be included in or replace parts and features of other embodiments. Moreover, the words used in this application are only used to describe the embodiments and are not used to limit the claims. As used in the description of the embodiments and claims, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to also include plural forms. Similarly, the term "and / or" as used in this application refers to any and all possible combinations of one or more associated listings. In addition, when used in this application, the term "comprise" and its variations "comprises" and / or comprising refer to the presence of stated features, wholes, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, wholes, steps, operations, elements, components and / or groups of these. In the absence of further restrictions, an element defined by the sentence "comprising a..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method or device that includes the element. In this article, each embodiment may focus on the differences from other embodiments, and the same and similar parts between the various embodiments can be referenced to each other. For the methods, products, etc. disclosed in the embodiments, if they correspond to the method part disclosed in the embodiments, then the relevant parts can be found in the description of the method part.

[0087] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the units and algorithm steps of each example described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are performed in hardware or software may depend on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. The technicians may use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered to be beyond the scope of the embodiments of the present disclosure. The technicians will clearly understand that, for the convenience and brevity of description, the specific working processes of the systems, devices and units described above can refer to the corresponding processes in the aforementioned method embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0088] In the embodiments disclosed herein, the disclosed methods and products (including but not limited to devices, equipment, etc.) can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For example, the division of the units can be merely a logical functional division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods, such as multiple units or components can be combined or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. In addition, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection between each other shown or discussed can be through some interfaces, indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or units, and can be electrical, mechanical or other forms. The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separated, and the components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place, or they may be distributed on multiple network units. Some or all of the units may be selected according to actual needs to implement this embodiment. In addition, the functional units in the embodiments of the present disclosure may be integrated into a processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

[0089] The flowcharts and block diagrams in the accompanying drawings show the possible implementation architectures, functions and operations of the systems, methods and computer program products according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. In this regard, each box in the flowchart or block diagram can represent a module, program segment or part of the code, and the module, program segment or part of the code contains one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical functions. In some alternative implementations, the functions marked in the box can also occur in an order different from that marked in the accompanying drawings. For example, two consecutive boxes can actually be executed substantially in parallel, or they can sometimes be executed in the opposite order, which can depend on the functions involved. In the descriptions corresponding to the flowcharts and block diagrams in the accompanying drawings, the operations or steps corresponding to different boxes can also occur in an order different from that disclosed in the description, and sometimes there is no specific order between different operations or steps. For example, two consecutive operations or steps can actually be executed substantially in parallel, or they can sometimes be executed in the opposite order, which can depend on the functions involved. Each block in the block diagrams and / or flowcharts, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and / or flowcharts, may be implemented by a dedicated hardware-based system that performs the specified function or action, or may be implemented by a combination of dedicated hardware and computer instructions.

Claims

1. A method for controlling self-cleaning of an air conditioner, characterized in that: The outdoor unit includes: an air volume detection device, which is arranged between an outdoor heat exchanger and an outdoor fan; a condensed water collection device, which is arranged on one side of the outdoor heat exchanger and is connected to the outdoor fan through a condensed water pipe; the fan blades and the central axis of the outdoor fan are built-in interconnected cavity structures, and drainage holes are distributed on the fan blades; the method includes: When the air conditioner is running, obtain the real-time average value of multiple air volume detection values; Determining whether the air conditioner needs to start self-cleaning based on the real-time average value and the preset average value; When the air conditioner starts self-cleaning, controlling the condensed water collection device to provide condensed water to the outdoor fan, and controlling the outdoor fan to operate at a target speed; After the self-cleaning operation has run for a first period of time, an average value of the plurality of air volume detection values ​​is obtained again; Based on the new average value and the preset average value, a correction scheme for the outdoor fan is determined and executed; wherein, when the second difference between the preset average value and the new average value is greater than or equal to the preset threshold value, the ratio of the second difference to the preset threshold value is calculated, and the ratio is used as a correction factor; the corrected speed of the outdoor fan is determined to be the product of the target speed and the correction factor; when the second difference between the preset average value and the new average value is less than the preset threshold value, if the condensate collection device stops providing condensate to the outdoor fan, the outdoor fan is determined to maintain the target speed for a third time period, and the outdoor fan is determined to run in reverse for a fourth time period.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The step of determining whether the air conditioner needs to start self-cleaning based on the real-time average value and the preset average value includes: When a first difference between the preset average value and the real-time average value is greater than or equal to a preset threshold, obtaining the operating time of the air conditioner; When the operating time is greater than a preset time, it is determined that the air conditioner needs to be self-cleaned.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The preset average value is determined by: Obtaining an average value of air volume at different speeds when the outdoor fan is operating normally; According to the correspondence between the outdoor fan speed and the average air volume, the average air volume corresponding to the current outdoor fan speed is obtained and used as the preset average value.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein When the second difference between the preset average value and the new average value is greater than or equal to a preset threshold, determining that the outdoor fan executes the correction solution further includes: In a case where the condensed water collecting device provides condensed water for the outdoor fan, it is determined that the outdoor fan runs at the corrected speed for a second time period.

5. An air conditioner comprising an outdoor unit, wherein the outdoor unit comprises an outdoor heat exchanger, an outdoor fan and a compressor, wherein: Also includes: an air volume detection device, disposed between the outdoor heat exchanger and the outdoor fan, and configured to detect the air volume generated by the outdoor fan when the air conditioner is in operation; A condensed water collection device is provided on one side of the outdoor heat exchanger and is connected to the outdoor fan through a condensed water pipe; The blades and the central axis of the outdoor fan are built-in interconnected cavity structures, and drainage holes are distributed on the blades; when the condensate pipe is connected, the operation of the outdoor fan throws out the condensate and hits the outdoor heat exchanger; as well as A device for controlling the self-cleaning of an air conditioner, wherein the device executes the method for controlling the self-cleaning of an air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The air conditioner according to claim 5, characterized in that The air volume detection device comprises: An air volume detection bracket is fixed in the outdoor unit and includes a central bracket and a plurality of sub-brackets; wherein the sub-brackets are evenly distributed on the central bracket; A plurality of air volume sensors are evenly distributed on the air volume detection bracket.

7. The air conditioner according to claim 6, characterized in that The condensed water collecting device further comprises: The control valve is arranged on the condensed water pipe and is configured so that when the control valve is controlled to open, the condensed water in the condensed water collecting device flows into the outdoor fan.

Images