An air conditioner incorporating a gravity heat pipe

Abstract

An embodiment of the present application provides an air conditioner including a gravity heat pipe. The air conditioner includes: an indoor heat exchanger, a compressor, and an outdoor heat exchanger that are connected end to end in sequence; an outdoor gravity heat pipe including an inlet end and an outlet end lower than the inlet end, for connecting to the indoor heat exchanger; a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure value inside the outdoor gravity heat pipe; and a controller for performing the following steps: in the refrigeration mode, if it is determined that the detected pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe is within the target pressure range, then control the compressor to shut down. The technical solution of the embodiment of the present application can determine whether the detected pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe is within the target pressure range to judge whether the refrigerant can be effectively cooled by the outdoor gravity heat pipe. If it is determined to be yes, it means that the temperature drop amount after the refrigerant circulates in the outdoor gravity heat pipe can meet the requirements of the cooling mode, and then control the compressor to shut down to reduce resource consumption.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the technical field of air conditioners, and more particularly, to an air conditioner incorporating a gravity heat pipe. Background Art

[0002] Currently, air conditioning equipment is widely used in various scenarios of daily life, such as offices, computer rooms, data storage centers, etc.

[0003] In the prior art, in the cooling mode, work is usually done by a compressor in the air conditioner to drive the refrigerant in the air conditioner to absorb heat indoors and discharge heat outdoors. However, a large number of heat-generating devices are placed in computer rooms or data storage centers. Therefore, the air conditioner needs to be turned on for a long time to cool down, resulting in a significant increase in the power consumption of the air conditioner and a decrease in user satisfaction with the air conditioner. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To solve the above technical problems, an embodiment of this application provides an air conditioner incorporating a gravity heat pipe.

[0005] The air conditioner incorporating a gravity heat pipe provided in the first embodiment of this application includes: an indoor heat exchanger, a compressor, and an outdoor heat exchanger connected end to end in sequence, forming a first refrigeration circuit in which the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger is compressed by the compressor and then cooled by the outdoor heat exchanger, and then flows back to the indoor heat exchanger; an outdoor gravity heat pipe, including an inlet end and an outlet end lower than the inlet end, for connecting with the indoor heat exchanger, forming a second refrigeration circuit in which the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger enters the outdoor gravity heat pipe through the inlet end, is cooled, and then flows back to the indoor heat exchanger under the action of gravity through the outlet end; a pressure sensor disposed in the second refrigeration circuit for detecting the pressure value in the outdoor gravity heat pipe; and a controller for performing the following steps: in the cooling mode, if it is determined that the detected pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe is within the target pressure range, the compressor is controlled to turn off, so that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger circulates through the second refrigeration circuit.

[0006] In the air conditioner including a gravity heat pipe provided in the first embodiment of the present application, two refrigeration methods are provided. The first is that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger is compressed by the compressor and then cooled by the outdoor heat exchanger in sequence, and then flows back to the indoor heat exchanger to form a first refrigeration circuit for temperature reduction. The second is that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger enters the outdoor gravity heat pipe through the inlet end and is cooled, and then flows back to the indoor heat exchanger through the outlet end under the action of gravity to form a second refrigeration circuit for temperature reduction, so as to utilize the natural cold source for temperature reduction, thereby improving the temperature reduction effect while reducing resource consumption. Moreover, in the refrigeration mode, if the controller determines that the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe detected is within the target pressure range, it indicates that the refrigerant in the outdoor gravity heat pipe is sufficient and not excessive, enabling the outdoor gravity heat pipe to effectively cool the refrigerant using the natural cold source and improving the refrigeration efficiency of the outdoor gravity heat pipe. Therefore, the compressor is controlled to shut down, so that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger circulates through the second refrigeration circuit, thereby reducing resource consumption, lowering the power consumption of the air conditioner, and ensuring the refrigeration efficiency of the air conditioner, thus improving the user's satisfaction with the air conditioner.

[0007] The air conditioner including a gravity heat pipe provided in the second embodiment of the present application further includes: an indoor temperature sensor for detecting the indoor ambient temperature; an outdoor temperature sensor for detecting the outdoor ambient temperature; the controller is configured to perform the following steps: in the refrigeration mode, if it is determined that the temperature difference between the detected indoor ambient temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than the set temperature difference threshold, and the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe is within the target pressure range, then control the compressor to shut down, so that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger circulates through the second refrigeration circuit.

[0008] In the air conditioner including a gravity heat pipe provided in the second embodiment of the present application, since the outdoor gravity heat pipe cools the refrigerant inside it through the outdoor natural cold source, the temperature of the outdoor natural cold source directly affects the temperature reduction effect of the outdoor gravity heat pipe. Therefore, an indoor temperature sensor for detecting the indoor ambient temperature and an outdoor temperature sensor for detecting the outdoor ambient temperature are provided. In the refrigeration mode, if the controller determines that the temperature difference between the detected indoor ambient temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than the set temperature difference threshold, it indicates that the natural cold source corresponding to the outdoor ambient temperature can effectively cool the refrigerant through the outdoor gravity heat pipe. At the same time, if the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe is within the target pressure range, then control the compressor to shut down, so that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger circulates through the second refrigeration circuit, thereby ensuring that the outdoor gravity heat pipe using the outdoor natural cold source to achieve temperature reduction can effectively cool the refrigerant.

[0009] The air conditioner including a gravity heat pipe provided in the third embodiment of the present application further includes a first control valve disposed in the first refrigeration circuit for controlling the connection state of the first refrigeration circuit; a second control valve disposed in the second refrigeration circuit for controlling the connection state of the second refrigeration circuit; the controller is configured to perform the following steps: in the refrigeration mode, if it is determined that the temperature difference between the detected indoor ambient temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than a set temperature difference threshold, and the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe is within the target pressure range, then control the compressor and the first control valve to close to disconnect the first refrigeration circuit; and control the second control valve to open so that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger circulates through the second refrigeration circuit.

[0010] In the air conditioner including a gravity heat pipe provided in the third embodiment of the present application, when the controller in the refrigeration mode determines that the temperature difference between the detected indoor ambient temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than a set temperature difference threshold, and the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe is within the target pressure range, it controls the compressor and the first control valve for controlling the connection state of the first refrigeration circuit to close, and controls the second control valve for controlling the connection state of the second refrigeration circuit to open, so that the first refrigeration circuit is disconnected and the second refrigeration circuit is connected; on the one hand, it enables the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger to circulate through the second refrigeration circuit, and on the other hand, it makes it difficult for the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger to enter the first refrigeration circuit, ensuring that the refrigerant amount in the outdoor gravity heat pipe is within a suitable range, avoiding a decrease in the pressure value in the outdoor gravity heat pipe that receives the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger, and preventing the situation where the refrigerant in the outdoor gravity heat pipe cannot be effectively cooled.

[0011] The air conditioner including a gravity heat pipe provided in the fourth embodiment of the present application, the first control valve includes: a first solenoid valve disposed between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger; a second solenoid valve disposed between the indoor heat exchanger and the compressor; the second control valve includes: a third solenoid valve disposed between the inlet end of the outdoor gravity heat pipe and the indoor heat exchanger; a fourth solenoid valve disposed between the outlet end of the outdoor gravity heat pipe and the indoor heat exchanger; the controller is configured to perform the following steps: in the refrigeration mode, if it is determined that the temperature difference between the detected indoor ambient temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than a set temperature difference threshold, and the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe is within the target pressure range, then control the compressor, the first solenoid valve, and the second solenoid valve to close to disconnect the first refrigeration circuit; control the third solenoid valve and the fourth solenoid valve to open so that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger circulates through the second refrigeration circuit.

[0012] In the air conditioner including a gravity heat pipe provided in the fourth embodiment of the present application, in the refrigeration mode, if the controller determines that the temperature difference between the detected indoor ambient temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than the set temperature difference threshold, and the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe is within the target pressure range, it controls the compressor, the first solenoid valve, and the second solenoid valve to be closed, so as to disconnect the first refrigeration circuit; since the first solenoid valve is arranged between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger, and the second solenoid valve is arranged between the indoor heat exchanger and the compressor, by controlling the first solenoid valve and the second solenoid valve to be closed, the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger is not easily introduced into the compressor, and the refrigerant discharged from the outdoor heat exchanger is not easily introduced into the indoor heat exchanger either, so that the pressure value in the outdoor gravity heat pipe receiving the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger is not easily changed, ensuring that the refrigerant amount in the outdoor gravity heat pipe is within a suitable range, thereby further ensuring that the refrigerant in the outdoor gravity heat pipe is effectively cooled; the controller also controls the third solenoid valve and the fourth solenoid valve to be opened, so as to connect the second refrigeration circuit.

[0013] In the air conditioner including a gravity heat pipe provided in the fifth embodiment of the present application, the target pressure range includes a pressure lower limit value and a pressure upper limit value; the controller is further configured to perform the following steps: in the refrigeration mode, if it is determined that the temperature difference between the detected indoor ambient temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than the set temperature difference threshold, and the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe is less than the pressure lower limit value, it controls the compressor, the first solenoid valve, and the third solenoid valve to be opened, and closes the second solenoid valve, so that the refrigerant output by the compressor sequentially passes through the outdoor heat exchanger, the first solenoid valve, the indoor heat exchanger, and the third solenoid valve, and then enters the outdoor gravity heat pipe to increase the pressure of the outdoor gravity heat pipe; continuously detect the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe through the pressure sensor, if it is detected that the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe increases to the pressure lower limit value, it controls the compressor and the first control valve to be closed to disconnect the first refrigeration circuit, and controls the second control valve to be opened, so that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger circulates through the second refrigeration circuit.

[0014] In the air conditioner including a gravity heat pipe provided in the fifth embodiment of the present application, during the operation of the outdoor gravity heat pipe, if the pressure value in the outdoor gravity heat pipe is too low, the refrigerant in the outdoor gravity heat pipe cannot be effectively cooled; if the pressure value in the outdoor gravity heat pipe is too high, it is easy to cause damage to the outdoor gravity heat pipe and result in refrigerant leakage. Therefore, the target pressure range includes a lower pressure limit value and an upper pressure limit value. If the controller in the cooling mode determines that the temperature difference between the detected indoor ambient temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than the set temperature difference threshold, and the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe is less than the lower pressure limit value, it indicates that there is less refrigerant in the outdoor gravity heat pipe and the refrigeration efficiency in the outdoor gravity heat pipe is low. Then, the controller controls the compressor, the first solenoid valve, and the third solenoid valve to open, and closes the second solenoid valve, so that the refrigerant output by the compressor sequentially passes through the outdoor heat exchanger, the first solenoid valve, the indoor heat exchanger, and the third solenoid valve and then enters the outdoor gravity heat pipe to increase the pressure of the outdoor gravity heat pipe, thereby raising the pressure value in the outdoor gravity heat pipe to within the target pressure range and making the refrigerant amount in the outdoor gravity heat pipe within a suitable range.

[0015] Meanwhile, the pressure sensor continues to detect the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe. If the controller detects that the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe has increased to the lower pressure limit value, it controls the compressor and the first control valve to close to disconnect the first refrigeration circuit, so that the pressure value in the outdoor gravity heat pipe receiving the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger is not likely to change. The controller also controls the second control valve to open, so that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger circulates through the second refrigeration circuit.

[0016] According to the air conditioner including a gravity heat pipe provided in the sixth embodiment of the present application, the controller is further configured to perform the following steps: in the cooling mode, if it is determined that the temperature difference between the detected indoor ambient temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than the set temperature difference threshold, and the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe is less than the lower pressure limit value, then control the fourth solenoid valve to open.

[0017] In the air conditioner including a gravity heat pipe provided in the sixth embodiment of the present application, since the fourth solenoid valve is provided between the outlet end of the outdoor gravity heat pipe and the indoor heat exchanger, if the controller in the cooling mode determines that the temperature difference between the detected indoor ambient temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than the set temperature difference threshold, and the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe is less than the lower pressure limit value, by controlling the fourth solenoid valve to open, when the refrigerant output by the compressor increases the pressure of the outdoor gravity heat pipe, there is not likely to be a gap between the outlet end of the outdoor gravity heat pipe and the indoor heat exchanger, thereby ensuring that the pressure value in the outdoor gravity heat pipe is not likely to decrease after the compressor is controlled to close.

[0018] In the air conditioner including a gravity heat pipe provided in the seventh embodiment of the present application, the target pressure range includes a lower pressure limit value and an upper pressure limit value; the controller is further configured to perform the following steps: in the cooling mode, if it is determined that the temperature difference between the detected indoor ambient temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than a set temperature difference threshold, and the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe is greater than the upper pressure limit value, then control the compressor, the second solenoid valve, the third solenoid valve, and the fourth solenoid valve to open, and close the first solenoid valve, so that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger sequentially passes through the fourth solenoid valve, the indoor heat exchanger, and the second solenoid valve and then enters the compressor to reduce the pressure of the outdoor gravity heat pipe; continue to detect the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe through the pressure sensor, and if it is detected that the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe drops to the upper pressure limit value, then control the compressor and the first control valve to close to disconnect the first refrigeration circuit, and control the second control valve to open, so that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger circulates through the second refrigeration circuit.

[0019] In the air conditioner including a gravity heat pipe provided in the seventh embodiment of the present application, to avoid excessive pressure value in the outdoor gravity heat pipe, resulting in damage to the outdoor gravity heat pipe and refrigerant leakage; if the controller in the cooling mode determines that the temperature difference between the detected indoor ambient temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than the set temperature difference threshold, and the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe is greater than the upper pressure limit value, it indicates that the pressure in the outdoor gravity heat pipe is relatively high and the probability of damage to the outdoor gravity heat pipe is relatively high. Then control the compressor, the second solenoid valve, the third solenoid valve, and the fourth solenoid valve to open, and close the first solenoid valve, so that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger sequentially passes through the fourth solenoid valve, the indoor heat exchanger, and the second solenoid valve and then enters the compressor to reduce the pressure of the outdoor gravity heat pipe, thereby reducing the pressure value in the outdoor gravity heat pipe to within the target pressure range.

[0020] At the same time, continue to detect the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe through the pressure sensor. If the controller detects that the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe drops to the upper pressure limit value, then control the compressor and the first control valve to close to disconnect the first refrigeration circuit, so that the pressure value in the outdoor gravity heat pipe receiving the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger is not likely to change; the controller controls the second control valve to open, so that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger circulates through the second refrigeration circuit.

[0021] According to the air conditioner including a gravity heat pipe provided in the eighth embodiment of the present application, the controller is configured to perform the following steps: In the cooling mode, if it is determined that the temperature difference between the detected indoor ambient temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than a set temperature difference threshold, the first control valve and the second control valve are opened to connect the first refrigeration circuit and the second refrigeration circuit; after the first refrigeration circuit and the second refrigeration circuit are in a connected state, the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe is detected by the pressure sensor; if it is detected that the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe is within the target pressure range, the compressor and the first control valve are controlled to close to disconnect the first refrigeration circuit; and the second control valve is controlled to open so that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger circulates through the second refrigeration circuit.

[0022] In the air conditioner including a gravity heat pipe provided in the eighth embodiment of the present application, in the cooling mode, if the controller determines that the temperature difference between the detected indoor ambient temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than the set temperature difference threshold, the first control valve and the second control valve are opened to connect the first refrigeration circuit and the second refrigeration circuit. After the first refrigeration circuit and the second refrigeration circuit are in a connected state, the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe is detected by the pressure sensor to improve the accuracy of detecting the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe by the pressure sensor. If the controller determines that the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe is within the target pressure range, the compressor and the first control valve are controlled to close to disconnect the first refrigeration circuit; and the second control valve is controlled to open so that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger circulates through the second refrigeration circuit.

[0023] According to the air conditioner including a gravity heat pipe provided in the ninth embodiment of the present application, the controller is further configured to perform the following steps: In the cooling mode, if it is determined that the temperature difference between the detected indoor ambient temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature is less than the set temperature difference threshold, the second control valve is controlled to close to disconnect the second refrigeration circuit; and the first control valve and the compressor are controlled to open so that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger circulates through the first refrigeration circuit.

[0024] In the air conditioner including a gravity heat pipe provided in the ninth embodiment of the present application, since the outdoor gravity heat pipe cools the refrigerant inside it through the outdoor natural cold source, when the temperature of the outdoor natural cold source is too high, the cooling effect of the outdoor gravity heat pipe is poor, and it may even be unable to cool the refrigerant; therefore, if the controller in the cooling mode determines that the temperature difference between the detected indoor ambient temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature is less than the temperature difference threshold, it controls the second control valve to close and controls the first control valve and the compressor to open, so that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger circulates through the first refrigeration circuit, thereby stopping the use of the outdoor gravity heat pipe for cooling by disconnecting the second refrigeration circuit, and avoiding the refrigerant cooled by the compressor from entering the outdoor gravity heat pipe, resulting in a decrease in the cooling efficiency of the air conditioner.

[0025] In the air conditioner including a gravity heat pipe provided in the tenth embodiment of the present application, the outlet end of the outdoor gravity heat pipe is higher than the indoor heat exchanger.

[0026] In the air conditioner including a gravity heat pipe provided in the tenth embodiment of the present application, the outlet end of the outdoor gravity heat pipe is higher than the indoor heat exchanger, so that the refrigerant in the outdoor gravity heat pipe can easily flow into the indoor heat exchanger under the action of gravity. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The accompanying drawings here are incorporated into the specification and form a part of this specification, showing embodiments consistent with the present application, and are used together with the specification to explain the principles of the present application. Obviously, the accompanying drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present application, and those of ordinary skill in the art can obtain other drawings based on these drawings without creative efforts. In the drawings:

[0028] Figure 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an air conditioner including a gravity heat pipe provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0029] Figure 2 is a schematic structural diagram of an air conditioner including a gravity heat pipe provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0030] Figure 3 is a schematic structural diagram of an outdoor gravity heat pipe in an air conditioner provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0031] Figure 4 is a schematic structural diagram of an air conditioner including a gravity heat pipe provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0032] Figure 5 is a schematic structural diagram of an air conditioner including a gravity heat pipe provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0033] Figure 6 is a schematic structural diagram of an air conditioner including a gravity heat pipe provided by an embodiment of the present application.

[0034] Figure 7 It is a flowchart of a control method of a controller in an air conditioner including a gravity heat pipe shown in an exemplary embodiment of the present application. Detailed implementation manners

[0035] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the example embodiments can be implemented in various forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this application will be more complete and comprehensive, and will fully convey the concept of the example embodiments to those skilled in the art.

[0036] In addition, the described features, structures, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to give a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the present application. However, those skilled in the art will realize that the technical solutions of the present application can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or other methods, components, devices, steps, etc. can be adopted. In other cases, well-known methods, devices, implementations, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the present application.

[0037] The flowchart shown in the accompanying drawings is only an exemplary illustration, and does not necessarily include all the contents and operations / steps, nor is it necessary to be executed in the described order. For example, some operations / steps can be decomposed, and some operations / steps can be combined or partially combined, so the actual execution order may be changed according to the actual situation.

[0038] It should be noted that: "a plurality of" mentioned herein means two or more. "And / or" describes the association relationship of associated objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. The character " / " generally represents an "or" relationship between the associated objects before and after.

[0039] Figure 1 It is a schematic structural diagram of an air conditioner including a gravity heat pipe provided by an embodiment of the present application. As Figure 1 shown, the air conditioner 100 includes an indoor heat exchanger 110, a compressor 120, an outdoor heat exchanger 130, an outdoor gravity heat pipe 140, a pressure sensor 150, and a controller, and each part will be introduced one by one below.

[0040] The indoor heat exchanger 110 is used to function as an evaporator in the cooling mode. The compressor 120 is driven by a motor, and the compressor 120 is used to compress the refrigerant in the cooling mode. The outdoor heat exchanger 130 is used to function as a condenser in the cooling mode.

[0041] In an embodiment of the present application, an indoor heat exchanger 110, a compressor 120, and an outdoor heat exchanger 130 that are sequentially connected end to end form a first refrigeration circuit in which the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger 110 flows back to the indoor heat exchanger 110 after being compressed by the compressor 120 and cooled by the outdoor heat exchanger 130 in sequence.

[0042] Among them, the refrigeration principle of the first refrigeration circuit is that the refrigerant is first compressed by the compressor 120 to form a high-temperature and high-pressure gas; then the refrigerant forming the high-temperature and high-pressure gas is transported to the outdoor heat exchanger 130 through the connecting pipeline between the compressor 120 and the outdoor heat exchanger 130 for condensation, so that the refrigerant becomes a liquid after discharging heat; then the refrigerant that has become a liquid is transported to the indoor heat exchanger 110 through the connecting pipeline between the outdoor heat exchanger 130 and the indoor heat exchanger 110 for temperature reduction, that is, heat exchange occurs between the refrigerant and the indoor heat exchanger 110, so as to absorb the heat transferred on the indoor heat exchanger 110 through the refrigerant, thereby achieving the purpose of temperature reduction. In addition, the refrigerant that has absorbed heat in the indoor heat exchanger 110 becomes a gas and is recovered to the compressor 120 through the connecting pipeline between the indoor heat exchanger 110 and the compressor 120 for re-compression, and then the first refrigeration circuit realizes the function of continuous cyclic refrigeration.

[0043] In an example of the present application, reference may be made to Figure 2 As shown, a throttling device 210 is provided between the outdoor heat exchanger 130 and the indoor heat exchanger 110 to cool and depressurize the refrigerant during the process of transporting the refrigerant from the outdoor heat exchanger 130 to the indoor heat exchanger 110, thereby reducing the flow rate of the refrigerant, and further avoiding damage to the indoor heat exchanger 110 due to too high a flow rate of the refrigerant.

[0044] The outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 includes an inlet end and an outlet end lower than the inlet end. The inlet end of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 is used to receive the refrigerant and transport it to the outlet end of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140. During this process, heat exchange occurs between the refrigerant and the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 to cool the refrigerant through the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140.

[0045] In an embodiment of the present application, the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 is used to be connected to the indoor heat exchanger 110 to form a second refrigeration circuit in which the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger 110 enters the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 through the inlet end for cooling and then flows back to the indoor heat exchanger 110 through the outlet end under the action of gravity.

[0046] Among them, in one example of the setting method of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140, the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 can be arranged on the side of the indoor heat exchanger 110 away from the ground, and the outlet end of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 is higher than the indoor heat exchanger 110. That is to say, the horizontal height of the outlet end of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 is greater than the horizontal height of the indoor heat exchanger 110, so that the refrigerant in the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 can easily flow into the indoor heat exchanger 110 under the action of gravity.

[0047] In addition, in one example of the present application, reference can be made to Figure 3 As shown, a cooling pipe 310 is arranged between the inlet end and the outlet end of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140. The cooling pipe 310 is wound in an S shape, and both ends of the cooling pipe 310 are respectively connected to the inlet end and the outlet end, and the cooling pipe 310 is inclined towards the side close to the outlet end, so as to lengthen the movement path of the refrigerant from the inlet end to the outlet end through the cooling pipe 310, thereby improving the cooling efficiency of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140.

[0048] The pressure sensor 150 is arranged in the second refrigeration circuit and is used to detect the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140. In the embodiment of the present application, the pressure sensor 150 can be set as a strain type pressure sensor or a piezoresistive pressure sensor, which is not limited here.

[0049] The controller is arranged in the air conditioner 100. The controller is electrically connected to the compressor 120 and the pressure sensor 150 respectively to control the opening and closing of the compressor 120 and obtain the pressure value collected by the pressure sensor 150. The controller is configured to perform the following steps:

[0050] In the refrigeration mode, if it is determined that the detected pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 is within the target pressure range, the compressor 120 is controlled to be turned off, so that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger 110 circulates through the second refrigeration circuit.

[0051] First of all, it should be noted that the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 needs to be within a certain pressure range inside it to effectively cool the refrigerant.

[0052] Among them, the target pressure range is used to represent the pressure range required for the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 to reach the cooling temperature range corresponding to the current refrigeration mode. The target pressure range can also be used to represent the allowable working pressure range of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140.

[0053] In addition, the pressure value inside the outdoor gravity heat pipe is related to the refrigerant content inside it. The higher the refrigerant content, the higher the pressure value inside the outdoor gravity heat pipe. Therefore, by setting the target pressure range, it is also possible to ensure that the refrigerant content inside the outdoor gravity heat pipe reaches a suitable range, thereby improving the refrigeration efficiency of the outdoor gravity heat pipe for the refrigerant.

[0054] In an embodiment of the present application, in the refrigeration mode, the controller can obtain the pressure value inside the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 through the electrical connection with the pressure sensor 150 to determine whether the pressure value inside the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 is within the target pressure range. If it is determined to be yes, the compressor 120 is controlled to shut down through the electrical connection with the compressor 120, so that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger 110 circulates through the second refrigeration circuit, thereby achieving the purpose of using natural cold sources for cooling and reducing resource consumption.

[0055] Through the above embodiment, in the refrigeration mode, on the one hand, the refrigerant is cooled simultaneously through the first refrigeration circuit and the second refrigeration circuit, thereby improving the refrigeration efficiency and reducing resource consumption; on the other hand, if the controller determines that the detected pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 is within the target pressure range, it means that the refrigerant inside the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 is sufficient and not excessive, so that the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 can effectively cool the refrigerant using natural cold sources, improving the refrigeration efficiency of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140. Therefore, the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger 110 only circulates through the second refrigeration circuit to further reduce resource consumption while achieving cooling, thereby enhancing the user's satisfaction with the air conditioner.

[0056] In another exemplary embodiment, the air conditioner 100 further includes an indoor temperature sensor and an outdoor temperature sensor.

[0057] The indoor temperature sensor is used to detect the indoor environmental temperature, and the outdoor temperature sensor is used to detect the outdoor environmental temperature. In the embodiment of the present application, the temperature sensors used for the indoor temperature sensor and the outdoor temperature sensor include but are not limited to thermocouple sensors, thermistor sensors, and infrared temperature sensors, and the sensor type and parameters can be adjusted during actual use to adapt to different usage environments and usage requirements.

[0058] The controller is electrically connected to both the indoor temperature sensor and the outdoor temperature sensor to obtain the temperature values detected by the indoor temperature sensor and the outdoor temperature sensor. In addition, the controller is further configured to perform the following steps:

[0059] In the refrigeration mode, if it is determined that the temperature difference between the detected indoor environmental temperature and the outdoor environmental temperature is greater than the set temperature difference threshold, and the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 is within the target pressure range, the compressor 120 is controlled to shut down, so that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger 110 circulates through the second refrigeration circuit.

[0060] Since the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 cools the refrigerant inside it through the outdoor natural cold source, the temperature of the outdoor natural cold source directly affects the cooling effect of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140. Secondly, if the temperature difference between the outdoor temperature and the indoor temperature is small, the cooling effect generated by the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 will also be weak.

[0061] Among them, the set temperature difference threshold is used to characterize the temperature difference corresponding to the set temperature difference threshold. After the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 cools the refrigerant, the refrigerant can meet the refrigeration requirements of the current refrigeration mode. Correspondingly, the refrigeration requirements corresponding to different refrigeration modes are different. That is to say, the corresponding set temperature difference threshold can be matched based on the refrigeration requirements corresponding to different refrigeration modes.

[0062] In the embodiment of the present application, in the refrigeration mode, after the controller obtains the pressure value inside the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140, it can obtain the indoor environmental temperature and the outdoor environmental temperature through the electrical connection with the outdoor temperature sensor and the indoor temperature sensor to determine whether the temperature difference between the indoor environmental temperature and the outdoor environmental temperature is greater than the set temperature difference threshold. If it is determined to be yes, and the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 is within the target pressure range, the compressor 120 is controlled to turn off, so that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger 110 circulates through the second refrigeration circuit, thereby ensuring that after the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 cools the refrigerant based on the current temperature difference between indoor and outdoor, the cooled refrigerant can meet the refrigeration requirements of the current refrigeration mode, and further avoiding that when the temperature difference between indoor and outdoor is small, the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 is used alone to cool the refrigerant, resulting in the cooling effect generated by the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 on the refrigerant not being able to meet the refrigeration requirements required by the current refrigeration mode.

[0063] Figure 4 It is a schematic structural diagram of an air conditioner including a gravity heat pipe provided by an embodiment of the present application. As Figure 4 shown, the air conditioner 100 further includes a first control valve 410 and a second control valve 420.

[0064] The first control valve 410 is arranged in the first refrigeration circuit, and the first control valve 410 is used to control the connection state of the first refrigeration circuit. The second control valve 420 is arranged in the second refrigeration circuit, and the second control valve 420 is used to control the connection state of the second refrigeration circuit. Among them, the control valves used for the first control valve 410 and the second control valve 420 include but are not limited to direct-acting solenoid valves, distributed direct-acting solenoid valves, and pilot-operated solenoid valves, and the type and parameters of the control valve can be adjusted during actual use to adapt to different use environments and use requirements.

[0065] The controller is electrically connected to both the first control valve 410 and the second control valve 420 to control the opening and closing of the first control valve 410 and the second control valve 420. Additionally, the controller is further configured to perform the following steps:

[0066] In the refrigeration mode, if it is determined that the temperature difference between the detected indoor ambient temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than the set temperature difference threshold, and the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 is within the target pressure range, then control the compressor 120 and the first control valve 410 to close to disconnect the first refrigeration circuit; and control the second control valve 420 to open so that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger 110 circulates through the second refrigeration circuit.

[0067] In an embodiment of the present application, for the controller in the refrigeration mode, after obtaining the pressure value inside the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 and the indoor ambient temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature, if it is determined that the temperature difference between the detected indoor ambient temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than the set temperature difference threshold, and the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 is within the target pressure range, then the compressor 120 can be controlled to close, and through the electrical connection with the first control valve 410, the first control valve 410 is controlled to close to disconnect the first refrigeration circuit, so that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger 110 is not likely to enter the first refrigeration circuit, causing the pressure value inside the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 to drop, thereby ensuring that the refrigerant inside the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 is effectively cooled; also through the electrical connection with the second control valve 420, the second control valve 420 is controlled to open so that the second refrigeration circuit is conducted, and thus the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger 110 circulates through the second refrigeration circuit.

[0068] Figure 5 It is a schematic structural diagram of an air conditioner including a gravity heat pipe provided by an embodiment of the present application. As Figure 5 shown, the first control valve 410 includes a first solenoid valve 510 and a second solenoid valve 520. The second control valve 420 includes a third solenoid valve 530 and a fourth solenoid valve 540.

[0069] The first solenoid valve 510 is arranged between the outdoor heat exchanger 130 and the indoor heat exchanger 110, and the second solenoid valve 520 is arranged between the indoor heat exchanger 110 and the compressor 120. The third solenoid valve 530 is arranged between the inlet end of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 and the indoor heat exchanger 110, and the fourth solenoid valve 540 is arranged between the outlet end of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 and the indoor heat exchanger 110.

[0070] In addition, the setting manners of the first solenoid valve 510, the second solenoid valve 520, the third solenoid valve 530, and the fourth solenoid valve 540 can also refer to Figure 6As shown in the figure, a first three-way valve 610 is provided at the inlet end of the indoor heat exchanger 110, and the three ends of the first three-way valve 610 are respectively connected to the first solenoid valve 510, the inlet end of the indoor heat exchanger 110, and the fourth solenoid valve 540. A second three-way valve 620 is provided at the outlet end of the indoor heat exchanger 110, and the three ends of the second three-way valve 620 are respectively connected to the second solenoid valve 520, the outlet end of the indoor heat exchanger 110, and the third solenoid valve 530. This facilitates the adaptation of the indoor heat exchanger 110 with only one inlet end and one outlet end to be connected to the first refrigeration circuit and the second refrigeration circuit simultaneously.

[0071] The controller is electrically connected to the first solenoid valve 510, the second solenoid valve 520, the third solenoid valve 530, and the fourth solenoid valve 540 to control the opening and closing of the first solenoid valve 510, the second solenoid valve 520, the third solenoid valve 530, and the fourth solenoid valve 540. In addition, the controller is further configured to perform the following steps:

[0072] In the refrigeration mode, if it is determined that the temperature difference between the detected indoor ambient temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than the set temperature difference threshold, and the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 is within the target pressure range, then control the compressor 120, the first solenoid valve 510, and the second solenoid valve 520 to be closed to disconnect the first refrigeration circuit; control the third solenoid valve 530 and the fourth solenoid valve 540 to be opened, so that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger 110 circulates through the second refrigeration circuit.

[0073] In the embodiment of the present application, in the refrigeration mode, after the controller obtains the pressure value inside the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 and the indoor ambient temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature, if it is determined that the temperature difference between the detected indoor ambient temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than the set temperature difference threshold, and the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 is within the target pressure range, then the compressor 120 can be controlled to be closed, and through the electrical connection with the first solenoid valve 510 and the second solenoid valve 520, control the first solenoid valve 510 and the second solenoid valve 520 to be closed, so that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger 110 is not easily introduced into the first refrigeration circuit, and the refrigerant in the first refrigeration circuit is not easily introduced into the indoor heat exchanger 110, thereby disconnecting the first refrigeration circuit. At the same time, the controller controls the third solenoid valve 530 and the fourth solenoid valve 540 to be opened through the electrical connection with the third solenoid valve 530 and the fourth solenoid valve 540, so that the indoor heat exchanger 110 is connected to the inlet end and the outlet end of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140, thereby connecting the second refrigeration circuit, and enabling the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger 110 to circulate through the second refrigeration circuit.

[0074] Through the above-described embodiments, when the refrigerant circulates through the second refrigeration circuit for refrigeration, that is, during the process of cooling the refrigerant solely by the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140, the controller controls both the first solenoid valve 510 and the second solenoid valve 520 to be closed, such that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger 110 is not likely to enter the first refrigeration circuit, and the refrigerant in the first refrigeration circuit is not likely to enter the indoor heat exchanger 110, so that the refrigerant in the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 is not likely to increase or decrease, thereby further ensuring that the pressure value in the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 is not likely to change, and further enabling the refrigerant in the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 to be stably and effectively cooled.

[0075] According to the above-described embodiments, considering that during the operation of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140, if the pressure value in the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 is too low, the refrigerant in the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 cannot be effectively cooled or the cooling effect is weak; if the pressure value in the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 is too high, it is likely to cause damage to the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140, resulting in refrigerant leakage. Thus, in another exemplary embodiment, the target pressure range includes an upper pressure limit value and a lower pressure limit value, and the controller is further configured to perform the following steps:

[0076] In the refrigeration mode, if it is determined that the temperature difference between the detected indoor ambient temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than the set temperature difference threshold, and the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 is less than the lower pressure limit value, then control the compressor 120, the first solenoid valve 510, and the third solenoid valve 530 to be opened, and close the second solenoid valve 520;

[0077] Continue to detect the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 through the pressure sensor 150. If it is detected that the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 has increased to the lower pressure limit value, then control the compressor 120 and the first control valve 410 to be closed, and control the second control valve 420 to be opened.

[0078] In an embodiment of the present application, in the refrigeration mode, after the controller obtains the pressure value inside the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140, the indoor ambient temperature, and the outdoor ambient temperature, if it is determined that the temperature difference between the detected indoor ambient temperatures is greater than the set temperature difference threshold, and the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 is less than the lower pressure limit value, it indicates that the refrigerant inside the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 cannot effectively cool at the current pressure value or the cooling amount of the refrigerant at the current pressure value cannot meet the temperature reduction required by the refrigeration mode. Then, the controller controls the compressor 120, the first solenoid valve 510, and the third solenoid valve 530 to open, and closes the second solenoid valve 520, so that the refrigerant output by the compressor 120 passes through the outdoor heat exchanger 130, the first solenoid valve 510, the indoor heat exchanger 110, and the third solenoid valve 530 in sequence, and then enters the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 to increase the pressure of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140, thereby gradually raising the pressure value inside the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 to within the target pressure range.

[0079] Meanwhile, the pressure sensor 150 continues to detect the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140. If the controller determines that the detected pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 has increased to the lower pressure limit value, it indicates that the current pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 has reached within the target pressure range. Then, the controller controls the compressor 120 and the first control valve 410 to close to disconnect the first refrigeration circuit, thereby preventing the pressure value inside the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 from exceeding the upper pressure limit value and causing damage to the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140, and controls the second control valve 420 to open, so that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger 110 circulates through the second refrigeration circuit.

[0080] For example, under the condition that the set temperature difference threshold corresponding to the current refrigeration mode is 5°C, and the target pressure range is 0.1 - 2.0 MPa. When the indoor temperature sensor detects that the indoor ambient temperature is 20°C and the outdoor temperature sensor detects that the outdoor ambient temperature is 10°C, the temperature difference between the indoor ambient temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature is 10°C. That is to say, the temperature difference between the indoor ambient temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than the set temperature difference threshold. If the pressure value detected by the pressure sensor 150 is 1 MPa, it indicates that the current pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 is within the target pressure range. The controller can directly control the compressor 120, the first solenoid valve 510, and the second solenoid valve 520 to close to disconnect the first refrigeration circuit, and control the third solenoid valve 530 and the fourth solenoid valve 540 to remain open, so that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger 110 circulates through the second refrigeration circuit.

[0081] If the pressure value detected by the pressure sensor 150 is 0.05 MPa, it indicates that the current pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 is less than the lower limit value of the target pressure range, which is 0.1 MPa. Then the controller controls the compressor 120, the first solenoid valve 510, and the third solenoid valve 530 to open, and closes the second solenoid valve 520, so that the refrigerant output by the compressor 120 passes through the outdoor heat exchanger 130, the first solenoid valve 510, the indoor heat exchanger 110, and the third solenoid valve 530 in sequence, and then enters the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140, thereby increasing the pressure of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140. At the same time, the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 is continuously detected through the pressure sensor 150. If the controller determines that the detected pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 reaches 0.1 MPa, it indicates that the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 has been increased to the lower limit value of the pressure, which means that the current pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 has reached within the target pressure range. Then the controller controls the compressor 120 and the first control valve 410 to close to disconnect the first refrigeration circuit. On the one hand, it avoids the pressure value in the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 exceeding the upper limit value and causing damage to the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140. On the other hand, after the pressure value in the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 is within the target pressure range, the compressor 120 is timely controlled to close, thereby saving resource consumption. In addition, the controller also controls the second control valve 420 to remain open to ensure that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger 110 can circulate through the second refrigeration circuit.

[0082] In the above process, the controller is further configured to perform the following steps:

[0083] In the refrigeration mode, if it is determined that the temperature difference between the detected indoor environmental temperature and the outdoor environmental temperature is greater than the set temperature difference threshold, and the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 is less than the lower limit value of the pressure, the fourth solenoid valve 540 is controlled to open.

[0084] It should be noted that since the fourth solenoid valve 540 is arranged between the outlet end of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 and the indoor heat exchanger 110, that is to say, there is a certain gap between the fourth solenoid valve 540 and the indoor heat exchanger 110. Therefore, in the embodiment of the present application, in the refrigeration mode, if the controller determines that the temperature difference between the detected indoor environmental temperature and the outdoor environmental temperature is greater than the set temperature difference threshold, and the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 is less than the lower limit value of the pressure, it not only controls the compressor 120, the first solenoid valve 510, and the third solenoid valve 530 to open, but also controls the fourth solenoid valve 540 to open, so that when the refrigerant output by the compressor 120 increases the pressure value in the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140, it is not easy to generate a gap between the outlet end of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 and the indoor heat exchanger 110, thereby ensuring that after the compressor 120 is controlled to close, the pressure value in the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 is not easy to decrease.

[0085] To avoid the situation where the pressure value in the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 is too high, resulting in damage to the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140, in another exemplary embodiment, the controller is further configured to perform the following steps:

[0086] In the cooling mode, if it is determined that the temperature difference between the detected indoor ambient temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than the set temperature difference threshold, and the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 is greater than the upper pressure limit value, then control the compressor 120, the second solenoid valve 520, the third solenoid valve 530, and the fourth solenoid valve 540 to open, and close the first solenoid valve 510;

[0087] Continue to detect the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 through the pressure sensor 150. If it is detected that the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 drops to the upper pressure limit value, then control the compressor 120 and the first control valve 410 to close, and control the second control valve 420 to open.

[0088] In the embodiment of the present application, in the cooling mode, after the controller obtains the pressure value in the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140, the indoor ambient temperature, and the outdoor ambient temperature, if it is determined that the temperature difference between the detected indoor ambient temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than the set temperature difference threshold, and the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 is greater than the upper pressure limit value, it indicates that the pressure value in the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 is relatively high, and the probability of damage to the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 is relatively high. Then control the compressor 120, the second solenoid valve 520, the third solenoid valve 530, and the fourth solenoid valve 540 to open, and close the first solenoid valve 510, so that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger 110 passes through the fourth solenoid valve 540, the indoor heat exchanger 110, and the second solenoid valve 520 in sequence, and then enters the compressor 120 to reduce the pressure of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140, so that the pressure value in the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 gradually drops to the target pressure range.

[0089] At the same time, continue to detect the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 through the pressure sensor 150. If the controller determines that the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 drops to the upper pressure limit value, it indicates that the current pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 has returned to the target pressure range. Then control the compressor 120 and the first control valve 410 to close to disconnect the first refrigeration circuit, so as to avoid the pressure value in the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 dropping to the lower pressure limit value, resulting in the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 being unable to effectively cool the refrigerant, and control the second control valve 420 to open, so that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger 110 circulates through the second refrigeration circuit.

[0090] Referring to the above example, under the condition that the target pressure range is 0.1 - 2.0 MPa, if the pressure value detected by the pressure sensor 150 is 2.05 MPa, it indicates that the current pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 is greater than the upper limit value of the target pressure range, which is 2 MPa. Then the controller controls the compressor 120, the second solenoid valve 520, the third solenoid valve 530, and the fourth solenoid valve 540 to open, and closes the first solenoid valve 510, so that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger 110 passes through the fourth solenoid valve 540, the indoor heat exchanger 110, and the second solenoid valve 520 in sequence and then enters the compressor 120, thereby reducing the pressure of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140. Meanwhile, the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 is continuously detected through the pressure sensor 150. If the controller determines that the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 detected reaches 2 MPa, it indicates that the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 has been reduced to the upper limit value of the pressure, which means that the current pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 has been restored to the target pressure range. Then the controller controls the compressor 120 and the first control valve 410 to close to disconnect the first refrigeration circuit. On the one hand, this can avoid the pressure value in the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 dropping to the lower limit value of the pressure, resulting in the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 being unable to effectively cool the refrigerant. On the other hand, by timely controlling the compressor 120 to close after the pressure value in the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 is restored to the target pressure range, the consumption of resources can be further saved. In addition, the controller also controls the second control valve 420 to remain open to ensure that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger 110 can circulate through the second refrigeration circuit.

[0091] In another exemplary embodiment, the controller is further configured to perform the following steps:

[0092] In the refrigeration mode, if it is determined that the temperature difference between the detected indoor ambient temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than the set temperature difference threshold, the first control valve 410 and the second control valve 420 are opened;

[0093] After the first refrigeration circuit and the second refrigeration circuit are in a connected state, the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 is detected through the pressure sensor 150;

[0094] If the detected pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 is within the target pressure range, the compressor 120 and the first control valve 410 are controlled to close to disconnect the first refrigeration circuit; and the second control valve 420 is controlled to open so that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger 110 circulates through the second refrigeration circuit.

[0095] In an embodiment of the present application, in the refrigeration mode, after the controller obtains the indoor ambient temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature, if it is determined that the temperature difference between the detected indoor ambient temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than the set temperature difference threshold, the first control valve 410 and the second control valve 420 can be opened to connect the first refrigeration circuit and the second refrigeration circuit, so that the refrigerant between the first refrigeration circuit and the second refrigeration circuit can flow mutually, thereby making it difficult to generate a pressure difference between the first refrigeration circuit and the second refrigeration circuit.

[0096] After the first refrigeration circuit and the second refrigeration circuit are in a connected state, the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 is detected by the pressure sensor 150 to improve the accuracy of detecting the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 by the pressure sensor 150. At the same time, if the detected pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 is within the target pressure range, the compressor 120 and the first control valve 410 are controlled to close to disconnect the first refrigeration circuit; and the second control valve 420 is controlled to open, so that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger 110 circulates through the second refrigeration circuit.

[0097] In another exemplary embodiment, the controller is further configured to perform the following steps:

[0098] In the refrigeration mode, if it is determined that the temperature difference between the detected indoor ambient temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature is less than the set temperature difference threshold, the second control valve 420 is controlled to close, and the first control valve 410 and the compressor 120 are controlled to open.

[0099] Since the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 cools the refrigerant inside it through the outdoor natural cold source, when the temperature of the outdoor natural cold source is too high, the cooling effect of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 on the refrigerant is weak, and even the refrigerant cannot be cooled down.

[0100] Therefore, in an embodiment of the present application, in the refrigeration mode, after the controller obtains the indoor ambient temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature, if it is determined that the temperature difference between the detected indoor ambient temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature is less than the set temperature difference threshold, the second control valve 420 can be controlled to close to disconnect the second refrigeration circuit, and the first control valve 410 and the compressor 120 are controlled to open, so that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger 110 circulates through the first refrigeration circuit. On the one hand, by disconnecting the second refrigeration circuit, the use of the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140 for cooling is stopped. On the other hand, it is avoided that the refrigerant cooled by the compressor 120 enters the outdoor gravity heat pipe 140, resulting in a decrease in the cooling efficiency of the air conditioner.

[0101] Figure 7 It is a flowchart of the control of the controller of an air conditioner including a gravity heat pipe in an exemplary embodiment of the present application, as Figure 7As shown, the specific implementation method at least includes steps S701 to S714, which are introduced in detail as follows:

[0102] In step S701, enter the cooling mode.

[0103] Among them, the air conditioner includes multiple modes during actual use, such as the cooling mode, the heating mode, or the ventilation mode, etc. The way to enter the cooling mode can be set according to actual needs. In one example, a switching mode signal can be sent through a remote control matching the air conditioner to enter the cooling mode. In another example, a wireless network connection can be established with the air conditioner to send a switching mode signal based on the wireless network connection, thereby entering the cooling mode.

[0104] In step S702, obtain the detected indoor environmental temperature and outdoor environmental temperature.

[0105] Among them, the specific method of obtaining the detected indoor environmental temperature and outdoor environmental temperature has been described in detail in the above process and will not be elaborated here.

[0106] In step S703, determine whether the temperature difference between the indoor environmental temperature and the outdoor environmental temperature is greater than the set temperature threshold.

[0107] After obtaining the detected indoor environmental temperature and outdoor environmental temperature, the temperature difference between the indoor environmental temperature and the outdoor environmental temperature can be calculated to determine whether the temperature difference is greater than the set temperature threshold.

[0108] In step S703, if it is determined to be yes, then execute step S704.

[0109] In step S704, obtain the pressure value in the outdoor gravity heat pipe detected.

[0110] Among them, the specific method of obtaining the pressure value in the outdoor gravity heat pipe detected has been described in detail in the above process and will not be elaborated here. In addition, after obtaining the pressure value in the outdoor gravity heat pipe detected, step S705 is executed to determine whether the pressure value is within the target pressure range.

[0111] Step S705 includes step S706. If it is determined that the pressure value is less than the lower limit value of the target pressure range, control the first solenoid valve, the third solenoid valve, and the fourth solenoid valve to open, and control the second solenoid valve to close.

[0112] If it is determined that the pressure value is less than the lower limit value of the target pressure range, it indicates that the refrigerant in the outdoor gravity heat pipe cannot be effectively cooled at the current pressure value or the temperature drop amount required by the refrigeration mode cannot be met after the refrigerant is cooled at the current pressure value. Then, control the second solenoid valve, the third solenoid valve, and the fourth solenoid valve to open, and control the second solenoid valve to close, so that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger is not easily introduced into the compressor through the second solenoid valve.

[0113] After controlling the first solenoid valve, the third solenoid valve, and the fourth solenoid valve to open and controlling the second solenoid valve to close, execute step S707 to control the compressor to start. The refrigerant output by the compressor sequentially passes through the outdoor heat exchanger, the first solenoid valve, the indoor heat exchanger, and the third solenoid valve, and then enters the outdoor gravity heat pipe to increase the pressure of the outdoor gravity heat pipe, so that the pressure value in the outdoor gravity heat pipe gradually rises to within the target pressure range.

[0114] Step S705 also includes step S708. If it is determined that the pressure value is within the target pressure range, control the first solenoid valve and the second solenoid valve to close.

[0115] If it is determined that the pressure value is within the target pressure range, it indicates that the outdoor gravity heat pipe can effectively cool the refrigerant at the current pressure value, and the refrigerant cooled by the outdoor gravity heat pipe meets the temperature required by the temperature drop mode. Then, control the first solenoid valve and the second solenoid valve to close, so that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger is not easily introduced into the first refrigeration circuit, and the refrigerant in the first refrigeration circuit is not easily introduced into the indoor heat exchanger, thereby disconnecting the first refrigeration circuit and further ensuring that the pressure value in the outdoor gravity heat pipe is not easily changed again.

[0116] In addition, during the execution of step S707, the pressure value in the outdoor gravity heat pipe will gradually rise. Therefore, when the pressure value in the outdoor gravity heat pipe is within the target pressure range, step S707 jumps to execute step S708.

[0117] After controlling the first solenoid valve and the second solenoid valve to close, execute step S709 to control the third solenoid valve and the fourth solenoid valve to open.

[0118] To ensure that the indoor heat exchanger and the second refrigeration circuit are in a connected state, the controller can control the third solenoid valve and the fourth solenoid valve to open to prevent the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger from not being able to circulate through the second refrigeration circuit due to the closing of the third solenoid valve or the fourth solenoid valve.

[0119] After controlling the third solenoid valve and the fourth solenoid valve to open, execute step S710 to control the compressor to stop.

[0120] Since the refrigerant cooled by the outdoor gravity heat pipe meets the temperature required by the cooling mode, the controller can control the compressor to shut down, so as to reduce resource consumption while achieving cooling.

[0121] Step S711 is also included in step S705. If it is determined that the pressure value is greater than the upper limit of the target pressure range, the second solenoid valve, the third solenoid valve and the fourth solenoid valve are controlled to open, and the first solenoid valve is controlled to close.

[0122] If it is determined that the pressure value is greater than the lower limit of the target pressure range, it means that the pressure value in the outdoor gravity heat pipe is relatively high, and the probability of damage to the outdoor gravity heat pipe is relatively high. Then the second solenoid valve, the third solenoid valve and the fourth solenoid valve are controlled to open, and the first solenoid valve is controlled to close, so that the refrigerant discharged from the outdoor heat exchanger is not easily introduced into the indoor heat exchanger through the first solenoid valve.

[0123] After controlling the second solenoid valve, the third solenoid valve and the fourth solenoid valve to open and the first solenoid valve to close, step S712 is executed to control the compressor to start. The refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger enters the compressor after passing through the fourth solenoid valve, the indoor heat exchanger and the second solenoid valve in sequence, so as to reduce the pressure of the outdoor gravity heat pipe, and thus gradually reduce the pressure value in the outdoor gravity heat pipe to within the target pressure range.

[0124] In addition, during the execution of step S712, the pressure value in the outdoor gravity heat pipe will gradually decrease. Therefore, when the pressure value in the outdoor gravity heat pipe is within the target pressure range, step S712 jumps to execute step S708.

[0125] In step S703, if the determination is negative, that is, the temperature difference between the indoor environment temperature and the outdoor environment temperature is less than the set temperature threshold, then step S713 is executed.

[0126] In step S713, the first solenoid valve and the second solenoid valve are controlled to open, and the third solenoid valve and the fourth solenoid valve are controlled to close.

[0127] Since the outdoor gravity heat pipe cools the refrigerant inside it through the outdoor natural cold source, when the temperature of the outdoor natural cold source is too high, the cooling effect of the outdoor gravity heat pipe is poor, and it may even be unable to cool the refrigerant. Therefore, if the controller determines that the temperature difference between the indoor environment temperature and the outdoor environment temperature is less than the set temperature threshold, it can control the first solenoid valve and the second solenoid valve to open to connect the first refrigeration circuit, and control the third solenoid valve and the fourth solenoid valve to close to disconnect the second refrigeration circuit, so as to stop using the outdoor gravity heat pipe for cooling, and thus avoid the reduction of the cooling efficiency of the air conditioner caused by the outdoor gravity heat pipe.

[0128] After controlling the first solenoid valve and the second solenoid valve to open and controlling the third solenoid valve and the fourth solenoid valve to close, step S714 is executed to control the compressor to start, so that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger flows back to the first refrigeration circuit of the indoor heat exchanger for temperature reduction after being compressed by the compressor and cooled by the outdoor heat exchanger in sequence.

[0129] Those skilled in the art will readily conceive of other embodiments of the present application after considering the specification and practicing the embodiments disclosed herein. The present application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the present application, which follow the general principles of the present application and include common general knowledge or conventional technical means in the technical field not disclosed in the present application.

[0130] It should be understood that the present application is not limited to the exact structures described above and shown in the drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from its scope. The scope of the present application is only limited by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An air conditioner comprising a gravity heat pipe, characterized in that, Comprising: An indoor heat exchanger, a compressor, and an outdoor heat exchanger connected end to end in sequence, forming a first refrigeration circuit in which the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger is compressed by the compressor and then cooled by the outdoor heat exchanger, and then flows back to the indoor heat exchanger. An outdoor gravity heat pipe, including an inlet end and an outlet end lower than the inlet end, for connecting with the indoor heat exchanger, forming a second refrigeration circuit in which the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger enters the outdoor gravity heat pipe through the inlet end, is cooled, and then flows back to the indoor heat exchanger under the action of gravity through the outlet end. A cooling pipe, arranged between the inlet end and the outlet end, both ends of the cooling pipe are respectively communicated with the inlet end and the outlet end, and the cooling pipe is inclined towards the side close to the outlet end. A pressure sensor, arranged in the second refrigeration circuit, for detecting the pressure value in the outdoor gravity heat pipe. An indoor temperature sensor, for detecting the indoor ambient temperature. An outdoor temperature sensor, for detecting the outdoor ambient temperature. A first control valve, arranged in the first refrigeration circuit, for controlling the connection state of the first refrigeration circuit; the first control valve includes a first solenoid valve, the first solenoid valve is arranged between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger, the first control valve includes a second solenoid valve, and the second solenoid valve is arranged between the indoor heat exchanger and the compressor. A second control valve, arranged in the second refrigeration circuit, for controlling the connection state of the second refrigeration circuit; the second control valve includes a third solenoid valve, the third solenoid valve is arranged between the inlet end of the outdoor gravity heat pipe and the indoor heat exchanger, the second control valve includes a fourth solenoid valve, and the fourth solenoid valve is arranged between the outlet end of the outdoor gravity heat pipe and the indoor heat exchanger. A first three-way valve, arranged at the inlet end of the indoor heat exchanger, and three ends of the first three-way valve are respectively communicated with the first solenoid valve, the inlet end of the indoor heat exchanger, and the fourth solenoid valve. A second three-way valve, arranged at the outlet end of the indoor heat exchanger, and three ends of the second three-way valve are respectively communicated with the second solenoid valve, the outlet end of the indoor heat exchanger, and the third solenoid valve. A controller, for performing the following steps: In the refrigeration mode, if it is determined that the temperature difference between the detected indoor ambient temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than the set temperature difference threshold, and the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe is within the target pressure range, then control the compressor, the first solenoid valve, and the second solenoid valve to be all closed to disconnect the first refrigeration circuit. Control the third solenoid valve and the fourth solenoid valve to be opened, so that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger circulates through the second refrigeration circuit.

2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that, The target pressure range includes a pressure lower limit value and a pressure upper limit value; the controller is further used for performing the following steps: In the refrigeration mode, if it is determined that the temperature difference between the detected indoor ambient temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than the set temperature difference threshold, and the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe is less than the lower pressure limit value, the controller controls the compressor, the first solenoid valve, and the third solenoid valve to open, and closes the second solenoid valve, so that the refrigerant output by the compressor sequentially passes through the outdoor heat exchanger, the first solenoid valve, the indoor heat exchanger, and the third solenoid valve, and then enters the outdoor gravity heat pipe to increase the pressure of the outdoor gravity heat pipe; The pressure sensor continues to detect the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe. If it is detected that the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe has increased to the lower pressure limit value, the controller controls the compressor and the first control valve to close to disconnect the first refrigeration circuit, and controls the second control valve to open, so that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger circulates through the second refrigeration circuit.

3. The air conditioner according to claim 2, characterized in that, The controller is further configured to perform the following steps: In the refrigeration mode, if it is determined that the temperature difference between the detected indoor ambient temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than the set temperature difference threshold, and the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe is less than the lower pressure limit value, the controller controls the fourth solenoid valve to open.

4. The air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that, The target pressure range includes a lower pressure limit value and an upper pressure limit value; the controller is further configured to perform the following steps: In the refrigeration mode, if it is determined that the temperature difference between the detected indoor ambient temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than the set temperature difference threshold, and the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe is greater than the upper pressure limit value, the controller controls the compressor, the second solenoid valve, the third solenoid valve, and the fourth solenoid valve to open, and closes the first solenoid valve, so that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger sequentially passes through the fourth solenoid valve, the indoor heat exchanger, and the second solenoid valve, and then enters the compressor to reduce the pressure of the outdoor gravity heat pipe; The pressure sensor continues to detect the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe. If it is detected that the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe has decreased to the upper pressure limit value, the controller controls the compressor and the first control valve to close to disconnect the first refrigeration circuit, and controls the second control valve to open, so that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger circulates through the second refrigeration circuit.

5. The air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that, The controller is configured to perform the following steps: In the refrigeration mode, if it is determined that the temperature difference between the detected indoor ambient temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than the set temperature difference threshold, the controller opens the first control valve and the second control valve to connect the first refrigeration circuit and the second refrigeration circuit; After the first refrigeration circuit and the second refrigeration circuit are in a connected state, the pressure sensor detects the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe; If it is detected that the pressure value of the outdoor gravity heat pipe is within the target pressure range, the controller controls the compressor and the first control valve to close to disconnect the first refrigeration circuit; and controls the second control valve to open, so that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger circulates through the second refrigeration circuit.

6. The air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that, The controller is further configured to perform the following steps: In the refrigeration mode, if it is determined that the temperature difference between the detected indoor ambient temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature is less than the set temperature difference threshold, control the second control valve to close to disconnect the second refrigeration circuit; and control the first control valve and the compressor to turn on, so that the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger circulates through the first refrigeration circuit.

7. The air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outlet end of the outdoor gravity heat pipe is higher than the indoor heat exchanger.

Images