Method, apparatus, air conditioner and storage medium for humidification control in air conditioners

Abstract

This application relates to the field of smart home appliance technology, and discloses a method for humidification control of an air conditioner. The outdoor unit of the air conditioner is equipped with a waterless humidification module, and the indoor unit includes a main heat exchanger. The method includes: the waterless humidification module processes the water vapor collected from the outdoor air to obtain humidified hot fresh air; the humidified hot fresh air is delivered to the indoor unit; the main heat exchanger is activated to heat the mixed air formed by the humidified hot fresh air and indoor air; and the heated mixed air is delivered indoors. This achieves the provision of humidified hot fresh air with suitable temperature and humidity to the indoor environment during winter using the waterless humidification module. This application also discloses a device, an air conditioner, and a storage medium for humidification control of an air conditioner.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of smart home appliance technology, such as a method, apparatus, air conditioner, and storage medium for humidification control of an air conditioner. Background Technology

[0002] When an air conditioner is turned on in heating mode during winter, the hot air blown out will make the indoor environment dry and the humidity low. Therefore, it is necessary to humidify the room. Also, with doors and windows closed, the indoor air cannot circulate and needs to be refreshed.

[0003] However, in winter, outdoor air has low humidity and low temperature. If outdoor air is brought indoors directly, the indoor humidity will not be improved and the indoor temperature will be lowered, thus affecting the comfort of the environment. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed embodiments, a brief summary is given below. This summary is not intended as a general commentary, nor is it intended to identify key / important components or describe the scope of protection of these embodiments, but rather as a prelude to the detailed description that follows.

[0005] This disclosure provides a method, apparatus, air conditioner, and storage medium for humidification control of an air conditioner, to improve air comfort when introducing outdoor air into the room during winter.

[0006] In some embodiments, the outdoor unit of the air conditioner is equipped with a waterless humidification module, and the indoor unit includes a main heat exchanger; the method includes: the waterless humidification module processes the water vapor collected from the outdoor air to obtain humidified fresh air; the humidified fresh air is delivered to the indoor unit; the main heat exchanger is activated to heat the mixed air formed by the humidified fresh air and the indoor air; and the heated mixed air is delivered indoors.

[0007] In some embodiments, the main heat exchanger is connected to the outdoor heat exchanger via a first circulation pipeline, the first circulation pipeline being equipped with a first on-off valve located between the main heat exchanger and the outdoor heat exchanger; the auxiliary heat exchanger is connected to the outdoor heat exchanger via a second circulation pipeline, the second circulation pipeline being equipped with a second on-off valve and a check valve, the second on-off valve located between the auxiliary heat exchanger and the outdoor heat exchanger, and the check valve located between the auxiliary heat exchanger and the outdoor heat exchanger; a branch pipeline is connected to the first circulation pipeline, and one end of the branch pipeline... The connection point of the branch pipeline to the first circulation pipeline is located between the main heat exchanger and the first on / off valve. The other end of the branch pipeline is connected to the second circulation pipeline, and the connection point of the branch pipeline to the second circulation pipeline is located between the auxiliary heat exchanger and the one-way valve. A third on / off valve is provided on the branch pipeline. The step of starting the main heat exchanger to heat the mixed air formed by the humid and hot fresh air and the indoor air includes: controlling the second on / off valve and the third on / off valve to close, so that the auxiliary heat exchanger is in a closed state; controlling the first on / off valve to open, so that the main heat exchanger starts and heats the mixed air.

[0008] In some embodiments, controlling the opening of the first on / off valve to start the main heat exchanger and heat the mixed air includes: determining the user-set heating temperature as the heating temperature of the main heat exchanger for the mixed air; and controlling the opening degree of the first on / off valve according to the heating temperature to control the main heat exchanger to heat the mixed air at the heating temperature.

[0009] In some embodiments, controlling the opening degree of the first on / off valve according to the heating temperature includes: gradually increasing the opening degree of the first on / off valve until the heating temperature matches the user-set temperature, and then stopping the increase of the opening degree of the first on / off valve.

[0010] In some embodiments, before the waterless humidification module processes the collected water vapor in the outdoor air, the method further includes: determining the operating state of the waterless humidification module based on the indoor humidity requirement; if the indoor humidity requirement indicates that humidification is required, then the operating state of the waterless humidification module is determined to be collecting water vapor in the outdoor air; if the indoor humidity requirement indicates that humidification is not required, then the operating state of the waterless humidification module is determined to be in a shutdown state.

[0011] In some embodiments, if the humidity content of the indoor air is less than a first humidity threshold, it is determined that the indoor humidity requirement indicates that humidification is needed; if the humidity content of the indoor air is greater than or equal to the first humidity threshold, it is determined that the indoor humidity requirement indicates that humidification is not needed.

[0012] In some embodiments, after the heated mixed air is delivered to the room, the method further includes: real-time detection of the humidity content of the indoor air; when the humidity content of the indoor air is greater than or equal to a second humidity threshold, the waterless humidification module stops collecting water vapor from the outdoor air.

[0013] In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a processor and a memory storing program instructions, the processor being configured to execute the aforementioned method for humidification control of an air conditioner when the program instructions are executed.

[0014] In some embodiments, the air conditioner includes an outdoor unit equipped with a waterless humidification module, and an indoor unit comprising a main heat exchanger, an auxiliary heat exchanger, and the aforementioned device for humidification control of the air conditioner connected in parallel. The main heat exchanger is connected to the outdoor heat exchanger via a first circulation pipeline, and a first on-off valve is provided on the first circulation pipeline, located between the main heat exchanger and the outdoor heat exchanger. The auxiliary heat exchanger is connected to the outdoor heat exchanger via a second circulation pipeline, and a second on-off valve and a check valve are provided on the second circulation pipeline, located between the auxiliary heat exchanger and the outdoor heat exchanger, and between the auxiliary heat exchanger and the outdoor heat exchanger. A branch pipeline is connected to the first circulation pipeline, with one end of the branch pipeline connected to the first circulation pipeline between the main heat exchanger and the first on-off valve, and the other end of the branch pipeline connected to the second circulation pipeline, located between the auxiliary heat exchanger and the check valve. A third on-off valve is provided on the branch pipeline.

[0015] In some embodiments, the storage medium stores program instructions that, when executed, perform the aforementioned method for humidification control of an air conditioner.

[0016] The method, apparatus, air conditioner, and storage medium for humidification control of an air conditioner provided in this disclosure can achieve the following technical effects:

[0017] The system utilizes a waterless humidification module to produce humid and hot fresh air with a certain temperature. Since the main heat exchanger has a stronger heat exchange capacity than the auxiliary heat exchanger, when users require a higher heating temperature, turning on the main heat exchanger to heat the mixed air can meet the user's needs. Thus, in winter, the system can provide indoor humid and hot fresh air with suitable temperature and humidity using a waterless humidification module.

[0018] The above general description and the description below are exemplary and illustrative only and are not intended to limit this application. Attached Figure Description

[0019] One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. These illustrations and drawings do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments. Elements having the same reference numerals in the drawings are shown as similar elements. The drawings are not to be scaled. And wherein:

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a refrigerant circulation system provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0021] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an air conditioner provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0022] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a method for humidification control of an air conditioner provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0023] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the method for humidification control of an air conditioner provided in this disclosure, in which the main heat exchanger is activated to heat the mixed air formed by the humid and hot fresh air and the indoor air.

[0024] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram illustrating a method for humidifying control of an air conditioner provided in this embodiment, in which the first on / off valve is opened to start the main heat exchanger and heat the mixed air.

[0025] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of another method for humidification control of an air conditioner provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0026] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of another method for humidification control of an air conditioner provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0027] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of another method for humidification control of an air conditioner provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0028] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of another device for humidification control of an air conditioner provided in an embodiment of this disclosure.

[0029] Figure label:

[0030] 001, Compressor; 002, Outdoor heat exchanger; 003, Waterless humidification module; 004, Water washing module; 005, Temperature and humidity sensor; 100, Circulation pipeline; 101, First circulation pipeline; 102, Second circulation pipeline; 200, Main heat exchanger; 201, First on / off valve; 202, First temperature sensor; 300, Auxiliary heat exchanger; 301, Second on / off valve; 302, Check valve; 303, Second temperature sensor; 400, Branch pipeline; 401, Third on / off valve; 500, Four-way valve. Detailed Implementation

[0031] To provide a more detailed understanding of the features and technical content of the embodiments of this disclosure, the implementation of the embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the embodiments of this disclosure. In the following technical description, for ease of explanation, several details are used to provide a full understanding of the disclosed embodiments. However, one or more embodiments may still be implemented without these details. In other cases, well-known structures and devices may be simplified in their depiction to simplify the drawings.

[0032] The terms "first," "second," etc., used in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this disclosure are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate for the embodiments of this disclosure described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion.

[0033] Unless otherwise stated, the term "multiple" means two or more.

[0034] In this embodiment of the disclosure, the character " / " indicates that the objects before and after it are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B means: A or B.

[0035] 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.

[0036] Combination Figure 1 As shown, this disclosure provides a schematic diagram of a refrigerant circulation system. Figure 1As shown, the refrigerant circulation system includes: a compressor 001, an outdoor heat exchanger 002, a main heat exchanger 200, an auxiliary heat exchanger 300, and branch pipes 400. The compressor 001 is connected to the outdoor heat exchanger 002 via a circulation pipe 100. The circulation pipe 100 includes a first circulation pipe 101 and a second circulation pipe 102 arranged in parallel. The main heat exchanger 200 is connected to the first circulation pipe 101. A first on / off valve 201 is installed on the first circulation pipe 101, and the first on / off valve 201 is located between the main heat exchanger 200 and the outdoor heat exchanger 002. The auxiliary heat exchanger 300 is connected to the second circulation pipe 102. A second on / off valve 301 and a one-way valve 302 are installed on the loop pipe 102. The second on / off valve 301 is located between the auxiliary heat exchanger 300 and the outdoor heat exchanger 002, and the one-way valve 302 is located between the auxiliary heat exchanger 300 and the compressor 001. One end of the branch pipe 400 is connected to the first circulation pipe 101, and the connection point with the first circulation pipe 101 is located between the main heat exchanger 200 and the first on / off valve 201. The other end is connected to the second circulation pipe 102, and the connection point with the second circulation pipe 102 is located between the auxiliary heat exchanger 300 and the one-way valve 302. A third on / off valve 401 is installed on the branch pipe 400.

[0037] Using the refrigerant circulation system provided in this embodiment, when the refrigerant circulation system is in refrigeration cycle mode, with the first on / off valve 201, the second on / off valve 301, and the one-way valve 302 all in the open state, and the third on / off valve 401 in the closed state, the compressor 001 compresses the gaseous refrigerant into a high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous state, and delivers it to the outdoor heat exchanger 002 through the circulation pipeline 100 for liquefaction. The liquefied refrigerant can enter the main heat exchanger 200 and the auxiliary heat exchanger 300, and evaporate in the main heat exchanger 200 and the auxiliary heat exchanger 300, thereby enabling both the main heat exchanger 200 and the auxiliary heat exchanger 300 to have a cooling effect; when the refrigerant circulation system is in heating cycle mode... With the second on-off valve 301 and the third on-off valve 401 both in the open state and the first on-off valve 201 in the closed state, the compressor 001 compresses the gaseous refrigerant into a high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous state, and delivers it to the main heat exchanger 200 for liquefaction through the circulation pipeline 100. The liquefied refrigerant then enters the auxiliary heat exchanger 300 and evaporates within it, thus giving the auxiliary heat exchanger 300 a cooling effect. Consequently, regardless of whether the refrigerant circulation system is in a cooling or heating cycle, the auxiliary heat exchanger 300 can perform cooling, ensuring that it can always condense the passing airflow and produce liquid water, meeting the user's needs.

[0038] It is worth noting that when the refrigerant circulation system is in refrigeration cycle, both the main heat exchanger 200 and the auxiliary heat exchanger 300 are evaporators, and the outdoor heat exchanger 002 is a condenser; when the refrigerant circulation system is in heating cycle, the main heat exchanger 200 is a condenser, and both the auxiliary heat exchanger 300 and the outdoor heat exchanger 002 are evaporators.

[0039] Optionally, the one-way valve 302 includes an inlet end and an outlet end, with the inlet end located close to the auxiliary heat exchanger 300 and the outlet end located away from the auxiliary heat exchanger 300. This ensures that the refrigerant can only flow from the inlet end to the outlet end and cannot flow in the reverse direction. Therefore, the refrigerant in the circulation pipeline 100 can only flow from the outdoor heat exchanger 002 through the auxiliary heat exchanger 300 to the compressor 001, during which the auxiliary heat exchanger 300 provides a cooling effect. Alternatively, the refrigerant can flow from the compressor 001 to the main heat exchanger 200, then from the main heat exchanger 200 to the auxiliary heat exchanger 300, and finally from the auxiliary heat exchanger 300 to the outdoor heat exchanger 002. In this process, the auxiliary heat exchanger 300 also provides a cooling effect. Thus, regardless of whether the circulation system is in cooling or heating mode, cooling can be achieved using the auxiliary heat exchanger 300, meeting the user's needs.

[0040] Optionally, the refrigerant circulation system also includes a four-way valve 500. One end of the four-way valve 500 is connected to the compressor 001, and the other end is connected to the circulation pipeline 100. When the four-way valve 500 is in the first passage, the circulation system operates in a refrigeration cycle, and when the four-way valve 500 is in the second passage, the circulation system operates in a heating cycle. Thus, when the four-way valve 500 is in the first passage, the circulation system operates in a refrigeration cycle. The compressor 001 compresses the gaseous refrigerant into a high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous state, which is then transported to the outdoor heat exchanger 002 via the circulation pipe 100 for liquefaction. At this time, the first shut-off valve 201, the second shut-off valve 301, and the check valve 302 are opened, while the third shut-off valve 401 is closed. The liquefied refrigerant can then enter both the main heat exchanger 200 and the auxiliary heat exchanger 300, where it evaporates, thus providing a cooling effect to both. When the four-way valve 500 is in the second passage, the circulation... When the refrigerant system operates in heating cycle, the second on / off valve 301 and the third on / off valve 401 are opened, and the first on / off valve 201 is closed. The compressor 001 compresses the gaseous refrigerant into a high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous state, and delivers it to the main heat exchanger 200 for liquefaction through the circulation pipeline 100. The liquefied refrigerant then enters the auxiliary heat exchanger 300 and evaporates within it, thus giving the auxiliary heat exchanger 300 a cooling effect. Consequently, regardless of whether the refrigerant circulation system is in cooling or heating cycle mode, the auxiliary heat exchanger 300 can perform cooling, ensuring that it can always condense the passing airflow and produce liquid water, meeting the user's needs.

[0041] Optionally, the refrigerant circulation system further includes: a temperature and humidity sensor 005, a first temperature sensor 202, and a second temperature sensor 303. The temperature and humidity sensor 005 is installed in the duct before the auxiliary heat exchanger 300 to detect the temperature and humidity of the humid fresh air before it enters the indoor unit, thereby obtaining the dew point temperature at that location. The first temperature sensor 202 is installed inside the indoor unit and located on the heat exchange coil of the main heat exchanger 200; the second temperature sensor 303 is installed inside the indoor unit and located on the heat exchange coil of the auxiliary heat exchanger 300. Thus, by using the first temperature sensor 202 installed on the main heat exchanger 200, the surface temperature of the main heat exchanger 200 can be detected. By comparing the temperature of the main heat exchanger 200 with the dew point temperature, the opening degree of the first on / off valve 201 can be controlled to keep the temperature of the main heat exchanger 200 below or above the dew point temperature. A second temperature sensor 303 installed on the auxiliary heat exchanger 300 can detect the surface temperature of the auxiliary heat exchanger 300. By comparing the temperature of the auxiliary heat exchanger 300 with the dew point temperature, the opening degree of the second on / off valve 301 can be controlled to keep the temperature of the auxiliary heat exchanger 300 below or above the dew point temperature. Based on the user's airflow requirements and using the acquired dew point temperature, the temperatures at the main heat exchanger 200 and the auxiliary heat exchanger 300 can be controlled, resulting in more comfortable airflow and an improved user experience.

[0042] Optionally, the first on / off valve 201, the second on / off valve 301, and the third on / off valve 401 are all electronic expansion valves.

[0043] This disclosure provides an air conditioner including the aforementioned refrigerant circulation piping. See also... Figure 2 The air conditioner includes an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. A waterless humidification module 003 and an outdoor heat exchanger 002 are installed on the outdoor unit, while a water-washing module 004 is installed on the indoor unit. The waterless humidification module 003 collects water vapor from outdoor air B and processes it to obtain humidified fresh air C. The waterless humidification module 003 delivers the humidified fresh air C to the indoor unit. The main heat exchanger 200 heats the mixture of the humidified fresh air and indoor air, while the auxiliary heat exchanger 300 is shut off. The heated mixture A is then delivered indoors.

[0044] Combination Figure 3 As shown, this disclosure provides a method for humidification control in an air conditioner, comprising:

[0045] S01, the waterless humidification module of the air conditioner processes the water vapor collected from the outdoor air to produce humid and hot fresh air.

[0046] S02, the air conditioner delivers hot and humid fresh air to the indoor unit.

[0047] S03, the air conditioner starts the main heat exchanger to heat the mixed air formed by the humid and hot fresh air and the indoor air.

[0048] S04, the air conditioner delivers heated mixed air into the room.

[0049] The waterless humidification module collects moisture from outdoor air and converts it into hot steam to create humidified fresh air. This humidified fresh air is then delivered to the indoor unit, maintaining the temperature at 30℃-40℃ and the relative humidity at 30%-18%. Inside the indoor unit, the humidified fresh air mixes with indoor air to form a mixed airflow. The air conditioner then activates the main heat exchanger to heat the mixed air. The fan module then delivers the heated mixed air into the room.

[0050] In this embodiment, outdoor air is processed by a waterless humidification module to form humidified fresh air. The main heat exchanger then heats the humidified fresh air to a certain temperature, thus transforming the outdoor air into fresh air with suitable temperature and humidity, satisfying both the user's heating and humidity requirements. The air at the main heat exchanger is a mixture of indoor air and the humidified fresh air supplied by the waterless humidification module. Therefore, activating the main heat exchanger to heat the mixed air ensures that its temperature better matches the user's heating temperature, thereby achieving accurate control of the temperature of the mixed air delivered indoors and improving the user experience.

[0051] Optionally, see Figure 4 The main heat exchanger is activated to heat the mixture of humid fresh air and indoor air, including:

[0052] S41, the air conditioner controls the second and third on / off valves to close, thus shutting down the auxiliary heat exchanger.

[0053] S42, the air conditioner controls the first on / off valve to open, causing the main heat exchanger to start and heat the mixed air.

[0054] The air conditioner controls the second and third on / off valves to close, thereby shutting down the auxiliary heat exchanger; and the air conditioner controls the first on / off valve to open, allowing the refrigerant to circulate between the outdoor heat exchanger and the main heat exchanger, thereby starting the main heat exchanger, where the high-temperature refrigerant heats the mixed air.

[0055] In this embodiment, the refrigerant circulation system of the air conditioner in the foregoing embodiment shuts down the auxiliary heat exchanger by closing the second and third on / off valves; and opens the first on / off valve to allow the refrigerant to circulate between the outdoor heat exchanger and the main heat exchanger, thereby controlling the start-up of the main heat exchanger. The humidified fresh air obtained using the waterless humidification module has a certain temperature, so only one heat exchanger needs to be turned on to heat the humidified fresh air to meet the user's heating needs. Since the main heat exchanger has a stronger heat exchange capacity than the auxiliary heat exchanger, when the user requires a higher heating temperature, only the main heat exchanger needs to be turned on, thus enabling the use of the waterless humidification module to provide indoor humidified fresh air with suitable temperature and humidity in winter.

[0056] Optionally, see Figure 5 The control valve opens the first on / off valve, causing the main heat exchanger to start and heat the mixed air, including:

[0057] S51, the air conditioner determines the coil temperature of the main heat exchanger as the preset temperature based on the user-set heating temperature; wherein, the preset temperature is greater than the user-set heating temperature.

[0058] S52, the air conditioner starts the compressor and controls the compressor frequency to rise to the preset frequency range.

[0059] S53, the air conditioner controls the opening degree of the first on / off valve according to the preset temperature.

[0060] In winter, users turn on the air conditioner to heat the indoor air and set the heating temperature. The coil temperature of the main heat exchanger should be slightly higher than the user-set heating temperature. This coil temperature is designated as the preset temperature. Since the preset temperature is higher than the user-set heating temperature, the main heat exchanger heats the mixed air at the preset temperature. The air conditioner starts the compressor and gradually increases its frequency to the preset frequency range. Then, based on the preset temperature, the opening degree of the first on / off valve is controlled. For example, if the indoor temperature is 20℃ and the user-set heating temperature is 28℃, the coil temperature of the main heat exchanger should be higher than 28℃. According to the control logic, the coil temperature of the main heat exchanger can be set to 30℃, thus the preset temperature is 30℃. Based on the temperature difference between the preset temperature and the indoor temperature, as well as the outdoor temperature, the compressor starts and gradually increases its frequency to the preset frequency range. Then, based on the preset temperature, the opening degree of the first on / off valve is controlled to control the main heat exchanger to heat the mixed air at the preset temperature. This is because the opening degree of the first on / off valve affects the refrigerant flow rate, thereby affecting the heating temperature of the main heat exchanger. It should be noted that the specific method of starting the compressor based on the temperature difference between the preset temperature and the indoor temperature, as well as the outdoor temperature, and gradually increasing the compressor frequency to the preset frequency range, is well known to those skilled in the art and will not be described in detail here. The preset frequency range can be determined according to actual needs, and this disclosure does not limit it in any way.

[0061] In this embodiment of the disclosure, by setting a preset temperature slightly higher than the user-set heating temperature as the heating temperature of the main heat exchanger for the mixed air, the temperature of the fresh air delivered to the room by the air conditioner can be made more in line with the user's temperature requirements; the auxiliary heat exchanger is shut down by closing the second and third on / off valves; since the opening degree of the first on / off valve affects the refrigerant flow rate into the main heat exchanger, the heating temperature of the main heat exchanger for the mixed air is controlled by controlling the opening degree of the first on / off valve.

[0062] Optionally, the opening degree of the first on-off valve is controlled according to the preset temperature, including: gradually increasing the opening degree of the first on-off valve until the coil temperature of the main heat exchanger matches the preset temperature, and then stopping the increase in the opening degree of the first on-off valve. After the first on-off valve is opened, the opening degree of the first on-off valve can be gradually adjusted by the compressor return gas temperature. The first temperature sensor detects the temperature of the main heat exchanger in real time and feeds it back to the air conditioner. Then, the opening degree of the first on-off valve is finely adjusted until the coil temperature of the main heat exchanger matches the preset temperature. The air conditioner then controls the cessation of increasing the opening degree of the first on-off valve, and the opening degree of the first on-off valve stabilizes at the current opening degree. The temperature of the air outlet from the air conditioner can reach the user-set heating temperature. Matching the coil temperature of the main heat exchanger with the preset temperature can mean that the coil temperature of the main heat exchanger is equal to the preset temperature, or that there is a certain error between the coil temperature of the main heat exchanger and the preset temperature. The specific error range can be determined according to actual needs, and this embodiment does not impose any limitations. By gradually increasing the opening of the first on / off valve based on real-time feedback of the main heat exchanger temperature until the coil temperature of the main heat exchanger matches the preset temperature, the error between the coil temperature and the preset temperature can be minimized, thereby enabling more accurate control of the temperature of the mixed air by the main heat exchanger. It should be noted that the specific implementation method of gradually adjusting the opening of the first on / off valve based on the compressor return gas temperature is well known to those skilled in the art and will not be elaborated here.

[0063] A temperature and humidity sensor is installed in the channel before the auxiliary heat exchanger to detect the temperature and humidity of the hot and humid fresh air passing through. According to a preset correspondence, the saturated water vapor corresponding to the temperature detected by the temperature and humidity sensor is used as the reference saturated water vapor at that temperature. The product of the reference saturated water vapor and the humidity detected by the temperature and humidity sensor is used as the actual saturated water vapor. According to the preset correspondence, the temperature corresponding to the actual saturated water vapor is used as the dew point temperature at the location of the temperature and humidity sensor.

[0064] Since indoor air requires a certain level of humidity in winter, it's not necessary to trap moisture from the outdoor air when introducing it. Therefore, the temperature of the main heat exchanger should be above the dew point. The surface temperature of the main heat exchanger is detected by a first temperature sensor installed on the heat exchange coils. The opening of the first on / off valve is controlled to keep the main heat exchanger temperature above the dew point. It should be noted that because the main heat exchanger heats the mixed air, its temperature must be above the dew point. Therefore, it's not necessary to specifically monitor whether the main heat exchanger temperature is above the dew point, but the above logic can still be used to verify this and ensure the main heat exchanger temperature remains above the dew point.

[0065] The preset correspondence is the relationship between temperature and saturated water vapor, which is well known to those skilled in the art and will not be elaborated here.

[0066] See Figure 6 This disclosure provides a method for humidification control in an air conditioner, comprising:

[0067] S05, the air conditioner determines the operating status of the waterless humidification module based on the indoor humidity requirements;

[0068] S06, If the indoor humidity demand indicates that humidification is required, the air conditioner determines that the waterless humidification module is in operation to collect water vapor from the outdoor air.

[0069] S07, if the indoor humidity requirement indicates that no humidification is needed, the air conditioner determines that the waterless humidification module is in the off state.

[0070] S01, after the air conditioner executes S06, it executes the waterless humidification module to process the water vapor in the collected outdoor air to obtain humid and hot fresh air.

[0071] S02, the air conditioner delivers hot and humid fresh air to the indoor unit.

[0072] S03, the air conditioner starts the main heat exchanger to heat the mixed air formed by the humid and hot fresh air and the indoor air.

[0073] S04, the air conditioner delivers heated mixed air into the room.

[0074] If the indoor air humidity is less than a first humidity threshold, the indoor humidity requirement indicates that humidification is needed; if the indoor air humidity is greater than or equal to the first humidity threshold, the indoor humidity requirement indicates that humidification is not needed. The air conditioner determines the operating state of the waterless humidification module based on the indoor humidity requirement. If the indoor humidity requirement indicates that humidification is needed, the waterless humidification module is set to collect water vapor from the outdoor air; if the indoor humidity requirement indicates that humidification is not needed, the waterless humidification module is set to be off. A comfortable indoor humidity level is 45%-60%, which, after calculation, yields an air humidity of 6.5 g / kg-11.2 g / kg. Preferably, the first humidity threshold is 6.5 g / kg. After determining that the waterless humidification module is set to collect water vapor from the outdoor air, the air conditioner controls the waterless humidification module to operate. The waterless humidification module collects water vapor from the outdoor air and converts the collected water vapor into hot steam to form humidified fresh air. The waterless humidification module delivers warm, humid air to the indoor unit, where it mixes with indoor air to form a mixed airflow. The air conditioner then activates the main heat exchanger to heat the mixed air. The fan module then delivers the heated mixed air into the room.

[0075] It should be noted that the specific implementation process of steps S01, S02, S03 and S04 can be referred to the above embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0076] In this embodiment of the disclosure, the indoor humidity is first determined to determine whether humidification is needed. After determining that humidification is needed, the waterless humidification module is turned on. If it is determined that humidification is not needed, the waterless humidification module does not need to be turned on, which reduces the energy consumption of the air conditioner to a certain extent.

[0077] See Figure 7 This disclosure provides a method for humidification control in an air conditioner, comprising:

[0078] S01, the waterless humidification module of the air conditioner processes the water vapor collected from the outdoor air to produce humid and hot fresh air.

[0079] S02, the air conditioner delivers hot and humid fresh air to the indoor unit.

[0080] S03, the air conditioner starts the main heat exchanger to heat the mixed air formed by the humid and hot fresh air and the indoor air.

[0081] S04, the air conditioner delivers heated mixed air into the room.

[0082] S08, the air conditioner monitors the humidity of indoor air in real time;

[0083] S09, when the humidity of indoor air is greater than or equal to the second humidity threshold, the waterless humidification module of the air conditioner stops collecting water vapor from the outdoor air.

[0084] The waterless humidification module collects moisture from outdoor air and converts it into hot steam to create warm, humidified fresh air. This warm, humidified fresh air is then delivered to the indoor unit, where it mixes with indoor air to form a mixed airflow. The air conditioner then activates the main heat exchanger to heat the mixed air. The fan module delivers the heated mixed air into the room. The air conditioner is equipped with a humidity sensor to detect the humidity in the indoor air. By referring to an enthalpy-humidity chart, the corresponding moisture content of the air can be determined. When the moisture content of the indoor air is greater than or equal to a second moisture content threshold, it indicates that the humidity level is suitable for the user. If the moisture content is too high, it becomes excessively damp, so the air conditioner controls the waterless humidification module to stop collecting moisture from the outdoor air. The comfortable indoor humidity is 45%-60%. Based on calculations, the moisture content in the air is 6.5g / kg-11.2g / kg. Preferably, the second moisture content threshold is 11.2g / kg.

[0085] It should be noted that the specific implementation process of steps S01, S02, S03 and S04 can be referred to the above embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0086] In this embodiment, a waterless humidification module is used to obtain humidified and warm fresh air. Since this humidified and warm fresh air has a certain temperature, only one heat exchanger needs to be activated to heat the humidified and warm fresh air to meet the user's heating needs. Because the main heat exchanger has a stronger heat exchange capacity than the auxiliary heat exchanger, when the user requires a higher heating temperature, only the main heat exchanger needs to be activated. This achieves the goal of providing suitable temperature and humidity humidified and warm fresh air to the room in winter using the waterless humidification module. During the process of the air conditioner delivering fresh air to the room, the humidity content of the indoor air is monitored in real time. If the indoor humidity content is greater than or equal to a second humidity threshold, the waterless humidification module is controlled to stop operating. This prevents excessive indoor humidity and reduces the energy consumption of the air conditioner.

[0087] See Figure 8 This disclosure provides a method for humidification control in an air conditioner, comprising:

[0088] S05, the air conditioner determines the operating status of the waterless humidification module based on the indoor humidity requirements;

[0089] S06, If the indoor humidity demand indicates that humidification is required, the air conditioner determines that the waterless humidification module is in operation to collect water vapor from the outdoor air.

[0090] S07, if the indoor humidity requirement indicates that no humidification is needed, the air conditioner determines that the waterless humidification module is in the off state.

[0091] S01, after the air conditioner executes S06, it executes the waterless humidification module to process the water vapor in the collected outdoor air to obtain humid and hot fresh air.

[0092] S02, the air conditioner delivers hot and humid fresh air to the indoor unit.

[0093] S03, the air conditioner starts the main heat exchanger to heat the mixed air formed by the humid and hot fresh air and the indoor air.

[0094] S04, the air conditioner delivers heated mixed air into the room.

[0095] S08, the air conditioner monitors the humidity of indoor air in real time;

[0096] S09, when the humidity of indoor air is greater than or equal to the second humidity threshold, the waterless humidification module of the air conditioner stops collecting water vapor from the outdoor air.

[0097] If the indoor air humidity is less than a first humidity threshold, the indoor humidity requirement indicates that humidification is needed; if the indoor air humidity is greater than or equal to the first humidity threshold, the indoor humidity requirement indicates that humidification is not needed. The air conditioner determines the operating state of the waterless humidification module based on the indoor humidity requirement. If the indoor humidity requirement indicates that humidification is needed, the waterless humidification module is set to collect water vapor from the outdoor air; if the indoor humidity requirement indicates that humidification is not needed, the waterless humidification module is set to be off. A comfortable indoor humidity level is 45%-60%, which, after calculation, yields an air humidity of 6.5 g / kg-11.2 g / kg. Preferably, the first humidity threshold is 6.5 g / kg. After determining that the waterless humidification module is set to collect water vapor from the outdoor air, the air conditioner controls the waterless humidification module to operate. The waterless humidification module collects water vapor from the outdoor air and converts the collected water vapor into hot steam to form humidified fresh air. The waterless humidification module delivers warm, humid air to the indoor unit, where it mixes with indoor air to form a mixed airflow. The air conditioner then activates the main heat exchanger to heat the mixed air. The fan module then delivers the heated mixed air into the room.

[0098] The air conditioner is equipped with a humidity sensor to detect the humidity in the indoor air. By referring to an enthalpy-humidity chart, the corresponding moisture content of the air can be determined. When the moisture content of the indoor air is greater than or equal to a second moisture content threshold, it indicates that the moisture content of the indoor air is suitable for the user. Therefore, at this time, the air conditioner controls the waterless humidification module to stop collecting water vapor from the outdoor air. Preferably, the second moisture content threshold is 11.2 g / kg.

[0099] It should be noted that the specific implementation process of steps S01, S02, S03 and S04 can be referred to the above embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0100] In this embodiment, the system first determines whether humidification is needed based on the indoor air humidity. If humidification is required, the waterless humidification module is activated. If humidification is not needed, the waterless humidification module is not activated, thus reducing the energy consumption of the air conditioner. The waterless humidification module provides warm, humid air with a certain temperature, so only one heat exchanger needs to be activated to heat the air to meet the user's heating needs. Since the main heat exchanger has a stronger heat exchange capacity than the auxiliary heat exchanger, when a higher heating temperature is required, only the main heat exchanger needs to be activated, thus providing suitable warm, humid air with appropriate temperature and humidity in winter. During the process of the air conditioner delivering fresh air to the room, the indoor air humidity is monitored in real time. If the indoor humidity is greater than or equal to a second humidity threshold, the waterless humidification module is stopped. This prevents excessive indoor humidity and reduces the energy consumption of the air conditioner.

[0101] Combination Figure 9 As shown, this disclosure provides an apparatus for humidification control of an air conditioner, including a processor 100 and a memory 101. Optionally, the apparatus may further include a communication interface 102 and a bus 103. The processor 100, communication interface 102, and memory 101 can communicate with each other via the bus 103. The communication interface 102 can be used for information transmission. The processor 100 can call logical instructions in the memory 101 to execute the humidification control method for an air conditioner described in the above embodiment.

[0102] Furthermore, the logic instructions in the aforementioned memory 101 can be implemented as software functional units and, when sold or used as independent products, can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium.

[0103] The 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 this disclosure. The processor 100 executes functional applications and data processing by running the program instructions / modules stored in the memory 101, that is, it implements the method for humidification control of an air conditioner in the above embodiments.

[0104] The memory 101 may include a program storage area and a data storage area. The program storage area may store the operating system and applications required for at least one function; the data storage area may store data created based on the use of the terminal device. Furthermore, the memory 101 may include high-speed random access memory and may also include non-volatile memory.

[0105] This disclosure provides a storage medium storing computer-executable instructions configured to perform the above-described method for humidification control of an air conditioner.

[0106] The aforementioned storage medium can be a transient computer-readable storage medium or a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.

[0107] The technical solutions of this disclosure can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes one or more instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the method described in this disclosure. The aforementioned storage medium can be a non-transitory storage medium, including: a USB flash drive, a portable hard drive, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk, and other media capable of storing program code; it can also be a transient storage medium.

[0108] The foregoing description and accompanying drawings fully illustrate embodiments of this disclosure to enable those skilled in the art to practice them. Other embodiments may include structural, logical, electrical, procedural, and other changes. The embodiments represent only possible variations. Individual components and functions are optional unless explicitly required, and the order of operation may vary. Parts and features of some embodiments may be included in or replace parts and features of other embodiments. Moreover, the terminology used in this application is for describing embodiments only and is not intended to limit the claims. As used in the description of embodiments and claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to equally include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Similarly, the term “and / or” as used in this application means including one or more of the associated listed items and all possible combinations thereof. Additionally, when used in this application, the term "comprise" and its variations "comprises" and / or "comprising" refer to the presence of stated features, integrals, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integrals, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprises a..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, or apparatus that includes said element. In this document, each embodiment may focus on the differences from other embodiments, and similar or identical parts between embodiments can be referred to mutually. For methods, products, etc., disclosed in the embodiments, if they correspond to the method section disclosed in the embodiments, the relevant parts can be referred to the description of the method section.

[0109] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the units and algorithm steps of the various examples 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 implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of the embodiments of this disclosure. Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and units described above can be referred to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0110] The methods and products (including but not limited to devices and equipment) disclosed in the embodiments herein can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For instance, the division of units may be merely a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. In addition, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection between the shown or discussed units may be through some interfaces, and the indirect coupling or communication connection between devices or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms. The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units may be selected to implement this embodiment according to actual needs. Furthermore, the functional units in the embodiments of this disclosure may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

[0111] The flowcharts and block diagrams in the accompanying drawings illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to embodiments of this disclosure. In this regard, each block in a flowchart or block diagram may represent a module, segment, or portion of code containing one or more executable instructions for implementing a specified logical function. In some alternative implementations, the functions marked in the blocks may occur in a different order than that shown in the drawings. For example, two consecutive blocks may actually be executed substantially in parallel, and they may sometimes be executed in reverse order, depending 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 blocks may also occur in a different order than disclosed in the description, and sometimes there is no specific order between different operations or steps. For example, two consecutive operations or steps may actually be executed substantially in parallel, and they may sometimes be executed in reverse order, depending on the functions involved. Each block in a block diagram and / or flowchart, and combinations of blocks in a block diagram and / or flowchart, can be implemented using a dedicated hardware-based system that performs the specified function or action, or using a combination of dedicated hardware and computer instructions.

Claims

1. A method for controlling humidification in an air conditioner, characterized in that, The outdoor unit of the air conditioner is equipped with a waterless humidification module, and the indoor unit includes a main heat exchanger and an auxiliary heat exchanger connected in parallel. The main heat exchanger is connected to the outdoor heat exchanger through a first circulation pipeline, and a first on-off valve is provided on the first circulation pipeline, located between the main heat exchanger and the outdoor heat exchanger. The auxiliary heat exchanger is connected to the outdoor heat exchanger through a second circulation pipeline, and a second on-off valve and a check valve are provided on the second circulation pipeline, located between the auxiliary heat exchanger and the outdoor heat exchanger, and the check valve is located between the auxiliary heat exchanger and the compressor. A branch pipeline is connected to the first circulation pipeline, with one end of the branch pipeline connected to the first circulation pipeline between the main heat exchanger and the first on-off valve, and the other end of the branch pipeline connected to the second circulation pipeline between the auxiliary heat exchanger and the check valve. A third on-off valve is provided on the branch pipeline. The method includes: The waterless humidification module processes the water vapor collected from the outdoor air to produce humid and hot fresh air; The hot and humid fresh air is delivered to the indoor unit; The main heat exchanger is activated to heat the mixed air formed by the hot and humid fresh air and the indoor air; The heated mixed air is delivered indoors; The step of activating the main heat exchanger to heat the mixed air formed by the humid fresh air and indoor air includes: controlling the second on-off valve and the third on-off valve to close, so that the auxiliary heat exchanger is in a closed state; and controlling the first on-off valve to open, so that the main heat exchanger is activated and the mixed air is heated.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control of opening the first on / off valve includes: The coil temperature of the main heat exchanger is determined as a preset temperature based on the user-set heating temperature; wherein, the preset temperature is greater than the user-set heating temperature. Start the compressor and control the compressor frequency to rise to a preset frequency range; The opening degree of the first on / off valve is controlled according to the preset temperature.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The step of controlling the opening degree of the first on / off valve according to the preset temperature includes: Gradually increase the opening of the first on / off valve until the coil temperature of the main heat exchanger matches the preset temperature, then stop increasing the opening of the first on / off valve.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, Before the waterless humidification module processes the collected water vapor in the outdoor air, it also includes: The operating status of the waterless humidification module is determined based on the indoor humidity requirements. If the indoor humidity requirement indicates the need for humidification, then the operating state of the waterless humidification module is determined to be collecting water vapor from the outdoor air; If the indoor humidity requirement indicates that humidification is not required, then the operating status of the waterless humidification module is determined to be in the off state.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, If the indoor air humidity is less than the first humidity threshold, then the indoor humidity requirement indicates that humidification is needed. If the indoor air humidity is greater than or equal to the first humidity threshold, then the indoor humidity requirement indicates that humidification is not required.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, After delivering the heated mixed air into the room, the process further includes: Real-time monitoring of indoor air humidity; When the humidity of the indoor air is greater than or equal to the second humidity threshold, the waterless humidification module stops collecting water vapor from the outdoor air.

7. A device for humidification control in an air conditioner, comprising a processor and a memory storing program instructions, characterized in that, The processor is configured to, when executing the program instructions, perform the method for humidification control of an air conditioner as described in any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. An air conditioner, wherein the outdoor unit is equipped with a waterless humidification module, characterized in that, The indoor unit includes a main heat exchanger, an auxiliary heat exchanger, and a device for humidification control of an air conditioner as described in claim 7, all connected in parallel. The main heat exchanger is connected to the outdoor heat exchanger via a first circulation pipeline. A first on-off valve is installed on the first circulation pipeline, and the first on-off valve is located between the main heat exchanger and the outdoor heat exchanger. The auxiliary heat exchanger is connected to the outdoor heat exchanger via a second circulation pipeline. A second on-off valve and a check valve are installed on the second circulation pipeline. The second on-off valve is located between the auxiliary heat exchanger and the outdoor heat exchanger, and the check valve is located between the auxiliary heat exchanger and the compressor. A branch pipeline is connected to the first circulation pipeline. One end of the branch pipeline is connected to the first circulation pipeline at a point between the main heat exchanger and the first on-off valve. The other end of the branch pipeline is connected to the second circulation pipeline at a point between the auxiliary heat exchanger and the check valve. A third on-off valve is installed on the branch pipeline.

9. A storage medium storing program instructions, characterized in that, When the program instructions are executed, they perform the method for humidification control of an air conditioner as described in any one of claims 1 to 6.

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