Air Conditioner Outdoor Unit and Defrosting Control Methods

Abstract

This application provides an outdoor unit for an air conditioner and a defrosting control method. The outdoor unit includes a body, a heat exchanger, a fan, and a circulation structure. The body has an air passage cavity, and the body has an air inlet and an air outlet communicating with the air passage cavity. The body also has a first baffle for opening and closing the air inlet and a second baffle for opening and closing the air outlet. The heat exchanger is installed in the air passage cavity, dividing it into a first air cavity and a second air cavity. The first air cavity communicates with the air inlet, and the second air cavity communicates with the air outlet. The fan is installed in the second air cavity, and a flow space is formed between the fan and the air outlet. The circulation structure has a circulation duct and a first vent and a second vent communicating with the circulation duct. The first vent communicates with the first air cavity, and the second vent communicates with the second air cavity, and the second vent is located within the flow space. The outdoor unit provided by this application solves the technical problem of low defrosting efficiency in existing air conditioners.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of air conditioning technology, and in particular to an outdoor unit of an air conditioner and a defrosting control method. Background Technology

[0002] After an air conditioner has been running in a low-temperature environment for a long time, frost will form on the condenser inside the outdoor unit. At this time, in order to ensure the heating effect in the room, the air conditioner needs to defrost before continuing to heat. However, the defrosting efficiency of existing air conditioners is low and the defrosting time is long, which can easily lead to a large drop in indoor temperature during the defrosting period, affecting the user experience. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This application provides an outdoor unit for an air conditioner to solve the technical problem of low defrosting efficiency in existing air conditioners.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the outdoor unit of the air conditioner proposed in this application includes a body, a heat exchanger, a fan, and a circulation structure; the body is provided with an air passage cavity, and the body is provided with an inlet / outlet communicating with the air passage cavity.

[0005] The unit includes an air inlet and an air outlet; the body is also equipped with a first baffle plate for opening and closing the air inlet, and a second baffle plate for opening and closing the air outlet; the heat exchanger is installed in the air passage cavity, and the heat exchanger divides the air passage cavity into a first air cavity and a second air cavity, the first air cavity being connected to the air inlet, and the second air cavity being connected to the air outlet; the fan is installed in the second air cavity, and a flow space is formed between the fan and the air outlet; the circulation structure...

[0006] It has a circulating air duct and a first vent and a second vent connected to the circulating air duct. The first vent is connected to the first air cavity, and the second vent is connected to the second air cavity. The second vent is located within the flow space.

[0007] Optionally, in one embodiment, the fan has a rotating shaft, and in the axial direction of the rotating shaft, the distance between the second vent and the air outlet is less than the distance between the second vent and the fan.

[0008] Optionally, in one embodiment, the heat exchanger is L-shaped and has a first heat exchange section and a second heat exchange section. The first heat exchange section and the air outlet are spaced apart from each other along the axial direction of the rotating shaft. The fan is located between the first heat exchange section and the air outlet. The second heat exchange section is located on one side of the fan and extends from the first heat exchange section to the side where the air outlet is located. The first air cavity is L-shaped and has a first air zone extending parallel to the first heat exchange section and a second air zone extending parallel to the second heat exchange section. The first vent communicates with the second air zone.

[0009] Optionally, in one embodiment, the body further has a front panel, the front panel is provided with the air outlet, the circulation structure is a connecting air duct, the connecting air duct is disposed in the air passage cavity, and the connecting air duct extends parallel to the front panel and passes through the second heat exchange section.

[0010] Optionally, in one embodiment, the second heat exchange section has a back side facing away from the fan, and the end of the circulation structure having the first vent does not protrude from the back side; and / or, the orthographic projection of the end of the circulation structure having the second vent on the front side panel is not located within the air outlet.

[0011] Optionally, in one embodiment, the air passage cavity is further provided with an electric heater, which is used to heat the frost falling from the heat exchanger during defrosting.

[0012] Optionally, in one embodiment, the circulating air duct is further provided with a switching valve, which is used to open and close the circulating air duct.

[0013] This application also proposes a defrosting control method, which is used to control the outdoor unit of the air conditioner in the above embodiments and includes:

[0014] Step S10: When the defrosting mode is turned on, control the fan to stop running, control the first baffle to close the air inlet, control the second baffle to close the air outlet, and monitor the coil temperature of the heat exchanger in real time.

[0015] Step S20: When the coil temperature of the heat exchanger is greater than the first preset temperature, control the switch valve to open the circulating air duct, control the fan to rotate in reverse, and monitor the coil temperature of the heat exchanger in real time.

[0016] Step S30: When the coil temperature of the heat exchanger is greater than the second preset temperature, exit the defrosting mode.

[0017] Optionally, in one embodiment, step S10 further includes: when the defrost mode is turned on, also starting to record the defrost time;

[0018] Following step S10, the method further includes:

[0019] Step S11: Determine whether the coil temperature of the heat exchanger is greater than the first preset temperature. If yes, proceed to step S20; otherwise, proceed to step S12.

[0020] Step S12: Determine whether the defrosting time is greater than the first preset time. If yes, proceed to step S13; otherwise, return to step S11.

[0021] Step S13: Control the switching valve to alternately open and close the circulating air duct, and when the switching valve opens the circulating air duct, control the fan to rotate in the opposite direction at a first speed; when the switching valve closes the circulating air duct, control the switching valve to rotate in the opposite direction at a second speed; the first speed is greater than the second speed, and after a second preset time, return to step S11.

[0022] Optionally, in one embodiment, the first rotational speed is the highest rotational speed of the fan, and the second rotational speed is the lowest rotational speed of the fan.

[0023] Optionally, in one embodiment, after step S20, the method further includes:

[0024] Step S21: When the coil temperature of the heat exchanger is greater than the third preset temperature, control the fan to rotate in the forward direction and monitor the coil temperature of the heat exchanger in real time; wherein, the third preset temperature is greater than the first preset temperature and less than the second preset temperature.

[0025] Optionally, in one embodiment, step S30 includes:

[0026] Step S31: When the coil temperature of the heat exchanger is greater than the second preset temperature, switch to heating mode, control the switch valve to open the circulating air duct, and control the fan to rotate in the forward direction;

[0027] Step S32: After the third preset time, control the fan to continue rotating, control the switch valve to close the circulating air duct, control the first baffle to open the air inlet, and control the second baffle to open the air outlet.

[0028] The outdoor unit of the air conditioner provided in this application firstly features a first baffle and a second baffle at its air inlet and outlet, respectively. When the air conditioner is in normal heating or cooling mode, the first and second baffles open the air inlet and outlet, respectively, without affecting the normal operation of the air conditioner. When the air conditioner enters defrost mode and clears the frost on the heat exchanger, the first and second baffles can be controlled to close the air inlet and outlet, respectively. This isolates the air passage from the outside cold air, preventing the outside cold air from carrying away heat from the heat exchanger during defrosting, thus avoiding the problem of slow defrosting efficiency and improving defrosting efficiency.

[0029] Meanwhile, the improved outdoor unit of the air conditioner in this application also features a circulation structure. This circulation structure connects the first and second air chambers located on both sides of the heat exchanger within the air passage cavity. Furthermore, the second vent on this circulation structure, which connects to the second air chamber, is located within the flow space between the fan and the air outlet. It can be understood that when the air conditioner enters defrost mode, in addition to the first and second baffles closing the air inlet and outlet respectively, the defrost efficiency can be improved by reversing the fan to blow off the frost on the heat exchanger. Simultaneously, because the circulation structure connects the first and second air chambers located on both sides of the heat exchanger, and the second vent is located on the suction side of the fan (Note: when the fan reverses, it blows air onto the heat exchanger), the defrosting efficiency is further enhanced.

[0030] The airflow space between the fan and the air outlet is under negative pressure (i.e., the airflow space is located on the fan's intake side), thus improving the airflow between the first and second air chambers, and consequently enhancing the sealing.

[0031] The subsequent airflow within the entire air passage not only increases the wind force acting on the frost layer, accelerating the frost shedding speed, but also raises the overall temperature within the air passage through the flowing air, thereby improving defrosting efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0032] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application, and will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

[0033] Without any creative effort, five other figures can be obtained based on the structures shown in these figures.

[0034] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to this application;

[0035] Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating the defrosting control method of this application;

[0036] Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating step S30 in the defrosting control method of this application.

[0037] Explanation of icon numbers:

[0038]

[0039]

[0040] The realization of the purpose, functional features and advantages of this application will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0041] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this application, and not all of them. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this application without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0042] This application provides an outdoor unit for an air conditioner to address the problem of low defrosting efficiency in existing air conditioners. The following description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, will illustrate this solution.

[0043] In the embodiments of this application, such as Figure 1 As shown, the outdoor unit 10 of the air conditioner includes a body 20, a heat exchanger 30, a fan 40, and a circulation structure 50. The body 20 has an air passage cavity 21, and an air inlet 22 and an air outlet 23 communicating with the air passage cavity 21. The body 20 also has a first baffle 24 for opening and closing the air inlet 22, and a second baffle 25 for opening and closing the air outlet 23. The heat exchanger 30 is installed in the air passage cavity 21, and the heat exchanger 30 divides the air passage cavity 21 into a first air cavity 211 and a second air cavity 212. The first air cavity 211 communicates with the air inlet 22, and the second air cavity 212 communicates with the air outlet 23. The fan 40 is installed in the second air cavity 212, and a flow space 212a is formed between the fan 40 and the air outlet 23.

[0044] Specifically, in this embodiment, the body 20 has a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape and an internal cavity. This cavity is divided into an air passage cavity 21 and an installation cavity by a partition 29. The air passage cavity 21 is mainly used to install the heat exchanger 30 and the fan 40, while the installation cavity is mainly used to install accessories such as the compressor, liquid storage tank, and four-way valve. The specific structure, connection relationship, and working principle of the heat exchanger 30, fan 40, compressor, liquid storage tank, and four-way valve can be referenced from existing technologies and will not be described in detail here. This embodiment also includes an air inlet 22 and an air outlet 23 for heat exchange. Specifically, as shown in the figure, the body 20 has a front panel 26 and a rear panel 27, and a left side panel 28 connecting the front panel 26 and the rear panel 27. The front panel 26, rear panel 27, left side panel 28, and the partition 29 within the body 20 enclose the air passage cavity 21.

[0045] The rear panel 27 and left panel 28 are each provided with an air inlet 22, and the front panel 26 is provided with an air outlet 23. The heat exchanger 30 is L-shaped and has a first heat exchange section 31 and a second heat exchange section 32. The first heat exchange section 31 extends parallel to the rear panel 27, and the second heat exchange section 32 extends parallel to the left panel 28, extending from the side where the first heat exchange section 31 is located on the front panel 26. Therefore, the heat exchanger 30 divides the air passage 21 into two air chambers. In this embodiment, the two air chambers are defined as the first air chamber 211 and the second air chamber 212, respectively. The first air chamber 211 is L-shaped and communicates with the two air inlets 22, and the second air chamber 212 communicates with the air outlet 23 and is equipped with a fan 40. When the air conditioner is cooling or heating normally, the fan 40 rotates in the forward direction. Outdoor air enters the air cavity 21 from the air inlet 22, is heated by the heat exchanger 30, and is then blown into the second air cavity 212, and then blown out from the air outlet 23.

[0046] Of course, in other embodiments, the heat exchanger 30 can also be in the shape of a straight line, a U-shape, etc. After the air passage 21 is divided into two air passages by the straight line, U-shape, or other shapes of the heat exchanger 30, the air passage connected to the air inlet 22 is the first air passage 211, and the air passage connected to the air outlet 23 is the second air passage 212. The specific shape of the heat exchanger 30 can be flexibly designed according to the actual situation. This specification uses an L-shaped heat exchanger 30 as an example for explanation.

[0047] In this embodiment, to improve defrosting efficiency, a first baffle plate 24 and a second baffle plate 25 are movably installed on the body 20. The first baffle plate 24 is used to open and close the air inlet 22, and the second baffle plate 25 is used to open and close the air outlet 23. The specific structure and movement of the first baffle plate 24 and the second baffle plate 25 can be varied. For example, both the first baffle plate 24 and the second baffle plate 25 can be composed of multiple rotating blades, with each air outlet 23 and each air inlet 22 corresponding to multiple blades. These blades are driven to rotate by a motor, and by rotating to different positions, they open or close the air inlet 22 and the air outlet 23. Alternatively, the first baffle plate 24 and the second baffle plate 25 can be sliding plates, allowing the air inlet 22 and the air outlet 23 to be opened and closed by sliding. In practical applications, the first wind deflector 24 and the second wind deflector 25 can be designed according to the needs. It is sufficient that the first wind deflector 24 can open and close the air inlet 22 and the second wind deflector 25 can open and close the air outlet 23.

[0048] It should be noted that the first baffle plate 24 and the second baffle plate 25 can be independent baffle structures or integrally formed structures. For example, the first baffle plate 24 and the second baffle plate 25 can be integrally formed into a U-shaped baffle plate. The U-shaped baffle plate is slidably installed on the outside of the machine body 20, and by sliding upward, it simultaneously opens the air inlet 22 and the air outlet 23, and by sliding downward, it simultaneously closes the air inlet 22 and the air outlet 23. In this case, the part of the baffle plate corresponding to the air inlet 22 is the first baffle plate 24, and the part corresponding to the air outlet 23 is the second baffle plate 25. Alternatively, a rewinding plate can be provided on the outside of the machine body 20. The rewinding plate is wound and unwound around the outer perimeter of the machine body 20, and the air inlet 22 and the air outlet 23 are opened when winding and closed when unwinding. When the coil is unwound, the part of the coil corresponding to the air inlet 22 is the first baffle 24, and the part of the coil corresponding to the air outlet 23 is the second baffle 25.

[0049] It is understood that the outdoor unit 10 of this application, by setting a first baffle 24 and a second baffle 25 at its air inlet 22 and air outlet 23 respectively, allows the air inlet 22 and air outlet 23 to be opened when the air conditioner is heating or cooling normally, without affecting the normal operation of the air conditioner. When the air conditioner enters defrosting mode and removes the frost on the heat exchanger 30, the first baffle 24 and the second baffle 25 can be controlled to close the air inlet 22 and air outlet 23 respectively, thereby isolating the air passage 21 from the outside cold air. This prevents the outside cold air from carrying away the heat on the heat exchanger 30 during the defrosting process, thus avoiding the problem of slow defrosting efficiency and improving defrosting efficiency.

[0050] Furthermore, during defrosting, since the air inlet 22 and air outlet 23 are closed by the first baffle 24 and the second baffle 25 respectively, even if the fan 40 is started, it will not draw in cold air from outside the unit 20. That is, there will be no problem of cold air from outside the unit 20 taking away the heat on the heat exchanger 30. Therefore, during defrosting, the fan 40 can be reversed to blow air onto the heat exchanger 30, which helps to blow off the frost layer on the heat exchanger 30 and thus improves the defrosting efficiency.

[0051] Furthermore, in order to make defrosting more efficient, such as Figure 1 As shown, the outdoor unit 10 of the air conditioner in this application is also provided with a circulation structure 50. The circulation structure 50 has a circulation duct 51 and a first vent 52 and a second vent 53 connected to the circulation duct 51. The first vent 52 is connected to the first air cavity 211, and the second vent 53 is connected to the second air cavity 212. The second vent 53 is located in the flow space 212a.

[0052] Specifically, in this embodiment, the specific form of the circulation structure 50 is not limited. For example, the circulation structure 50 can be a connecting duct with openings at both ends, forming a first ventilation port 52 and a second ventilation port 53, respectively. When the connecting duct is installed on the body 20, there are multiple installation methods for the connecting duct. For example, the connecting duct can be installed outside the body 20, with connecting openings on the surface of the body 20 corresponding to the first air cavity 211 and the second air cavity 212. The first ventilation port 52 and the second ventilation port 53 of the connecting duct are connected to the two connecting openings on the body 20, thus enabling the first ventilation port 52 to connect with the first air cavity 211 and the second ventilation port 53 to connect with the second air cavity 212. For example, to prevent the air in the circulating air duct 51 from being affected by cold air outside the body 20, the connecting air duct can be installed inside the air passage cavity 21. In this case, corresponding through holes can be opened on the heat exchanger 30, and the connecting air duct can then pass through the heat exchanger 30, so that the first vent 52 can be connected to the first air cavity 211, and the second vent 53 can be connected to the second air cavity 212. Alternatively, to avoid opening holes in the heat exchanger 30, ensure sufficient heat exchange area, and prevent the air in the connecting air duct from being affected by cold air outside the body 20, a sandwich structure can be set on the side wall of the body 20. The connecting air duct can be installed inside the sandwich structure, with the first vent 52 at one end connected to the first air cavity 211, and the second vent 53 at the other end connected to the second air cavity 212.

[0053] Of course, the circulation structure 50 can be formed not only by individual components forming the circulation duct 51 (such as the connecting ducts mentioned above), but also by opening channels in the body 20 or the heat exchanger 30. For example, in the L-shaped heat exchanger 30, since its second heat exchange section 32 extends into the flow space 212a between the fan 40 and the air outlet 23, holes can be opened in the second heat exchange section 32. The holes extend from the first air chamber 211 to the second air chamber 212 and correspond to the flow space 212a between the fan 40 and the air outlet 23. In this case, the circulation duct 51 is formed on the heat exchanger 30, and the two ends of the circulation duct 51 form the first vent 52 and the second vent 53, respectively. Alternatively, the second heat exchange section 32 can be spaced a certain distance from the front panel 26, and the gap formed by the distance creates the circulation structure 50. For example, a sandwich space can be formed on the inner wall of the body 20, with one end of the sandwich space connected to the first air cavity 211 and the other end connected to the second air cavity 212, thereby forming a circulation structure 50.

[0054] It should be noted that in this embodiment, when the second vent 53 is connected to the second air cavity 212, the second vent 53 is located in the flow space 212a between the fan 40 and the air outlet 23. This can improve the airflow within the air cavity 21, thereby improving the defrosting efficiency. Specifically, in this embodiment, the fan 40 is an axial flow fan with axial flow blades 42. The axial flow blades 42 are located between the front panel 26 and the rear panel 27, and are spaced apart from the front panel 26. Therefore, there is a flow space 212a between the axial flow blades 42 and the air outlet 23 for airflow. When the fan 40 rotates in the opposite direction and blows air towards the heat exchanger 30, the air in the flow space 212a flows towards the axial flow blades. At this time, the first air cavity 211 has a higher air pressure due to the continuous inflow of air, while the flow space 212a is in a negative pressure state due to the outflow of air, i.e., the air pressure is lower.

[0055] Therefore, it can be understood that at this time, because the first vent 52 is connected to the first air cavity 211 with higher air pressure, and the second vent is connected to the second air cavity 212 and located in the flow space 212a with lower air pressure, and compared to passing through the heat exchanger 30, the air in the first air cavity 211 is more likely to pass through the circulation duct 51 and return to the negative pressure side of the fan 40, and then blown towards the heat exchanger 30 and the first air cavity 211 under the drive of the fan 40, making the air flow in the air cavity 21 better. This not only increases the wind force acting on the frost layer and accelerates the frost layer falling off, but also quickly increases the overall temperature in the air cavity 21 through the flowing air, thereby improving the defrosting efficiency.

[0056] It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the flow space 212a refers to the space located between the fan 40 and the air outlet 23, which is under negative pressure when the fan 40 rotates in the opposite direction and the air flows towards the fan 40. Figure 1 As shown in the dashed box in the figure, the flow space 212a in this embodiment is roughly bounded by the front side panel 26 and the fan blades, and by the second heat exchange section 32 and the baffle 29 as the left and right boundaries.

[0057] Optionally, in one embodiment, such as Figure 1 As shown, the fan 40 has a rotating shaft 41. In the axial direction of the rotating shaft 41, the distance between the second vent 53 and the air outlet 23 is less than the distance between the second vent 53 and the fan 40. That is, the second vent 53, located between the fan 40 and the air outlet 23, is biased towards the air outlet 23. For example, taking the circulation structure 50 with a connecting duct as an example, the connecting duct is installed in the air passage cavity 21, and the end of the connecting duct with the second vent 53 is set close to the front panel 26. This can increase the circulation path of the air in the air passage cavity 21, improve airflow, and thus improve defrosting efficiency. Of course, in some other embodiments, the second vent 53 can also be set on the front panel 26 and face the fan 40 together with the air outlet 23. In this case, the distance between the second vent 53 and the air outlet 23 in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 41 is zero.

[0058] It should be noted that, in this embodiment, when the orthographic projection of the second vent 53 along the axial direction of the rotating shaft 41 is not within the air outlet 23 or on the fan 40, the distance between the second vent 53 and the air outlet 23, and the distance between the second vent 53 and the fan 40, are both straight-line distances parallel to the rotating shaft 41.

[0059] Optionally, in one embodiment, such as Figure 1 As shown, the heat exchanger 30 is L-shaped and has a first heat exchange section 31 and a second heat exchange section 32. The first heat exchange section 31 and the air outlet 23 are spaced apart from each other along the axial direction of the rotating shaft 41. The fan 40 is located between the first heat exchange section 31 and the air outlet 23. The second heat exchange section 32 is located on one side of the fan 40 and extends from the first heat exchange section 31 toward the side where the air outlet 23 is located. The first air cavity 211 is L-shaped and has a first air zone 211a extending parallel to the first heat exchange section 31 and a second air zone 211b extending parallel to the second heat exchange section 32. The first vent 52 communicates with the second air zone 211b.

[0060] In this embodiment, it can be understood that because the first heat exchange section 31 of the heat exchanger 30 is positioned directly opposite the fan 40 along the axial direction of the rotating shaft 41, when the fan 40 rotates in the opposite direction, the air blown out from the fan 40 will first pass through the first heat exchange section 31 and enter the first air zone 211a of the first air chamber 211. The air pressure in the first air zone 211a increases. At this time, because the air pressure in the second air zone 211b is lower than the air pressure in the first air zone 211a, and the first vent 52 of the circulation duct 51 is connected to the second air zone 211b, the air in the first air zone 211a will first flow along the extension direction of the heat exchanger 30 to the second air zone 211b, and then flow back to the negative pressure side of the fan 40 from the circulation duct 51. That is, compared with structural schemes where the first vent 52 is located in other positions, this scheme further increases the circulation path, improves airflow, and thus improves defrosting efficiency.

[0061] The first vent 52 can be connected to the second air zone 211b by passing through the left side panel 28, the front side panel 26, the top of the body 20, the bottom of the body 20, or the heat exchanger 30. The first vent 52 can be connected to any position in the extension direction of the second air zone 211b. Optionally, in one embodiment, in order to make the air circulation path in the air passage cavity 21 as long as possible and to facilitate assembly, the body 20 also has a front side panel 26, on which the air outlet 23 is provided. The circulation structure 50 is a connecting air duct, which is located in the air passage cavity 21 and extends parallel to the front side panel 26 and passes through the second heat exchange section 32. Specifically, in this embodiment, the connecting duct is a straight ventilation duct with openings at both ends, which is simple in structure, easy to obtain and assemble. The two openings of the connecting duct form the first ventilation port 52 and the second ventilation port 53, respectively. The connecting duct extends close to the front panel 26 and passes through the heat exchanger 30, so that the circulating air duct 51 connects the first air chamber 211 and the second air chamber 212. The second connecting port is also naturally located in the flow space 212a between the fan 40 and the air outlet 23.

[0062] Optionally, in one embodiment, such as Figure 1 As shown, the second heat exchange section 32 has a back side 321 facing away from the fan 40. The end of the circulation structure 50 with the first vent 52 does not protrude from the back side 321. This can prevent the circulation structure 50 from affecting the air flow in the second air zone 211b and ensure air flow.

[0063] Optionally, in one embodiment, the orthographic projection of the end of the circulation structure 50 having the second vent 53 on the front side panel is not located inside the air outlet 23, that is, the circulation structure 50 will not block the front side of the air outlet 23. It can be understood that when the air conditioner is running normally, the fan 40 rotates in the forward direction, and air is blown out of the body 20 from the air outlet 23. By ensuring that the circulation structure 50 does not block the front side of the air outlet 23, the situation where the heat exchange air volume is affected due to the obstruction of the circulation structure 50 can be avoided.

[0064] Optionally, in one embodiment, an electric heater (not shown) is also provided in the air passage 21. The electric heater is used to heat the frost that falls from the heat exchanger 30 during defrosting. Specifically, the electric heater can be set at the bottom of the air passage 21. When the frost layer falls off the heat exchanger 30, the electric heater can be activated to heat the fallen frost layer, thereby increasing the overall temperature in the air passage 21 and improving the defrosting efficiency.

[0065] Optionally, in one embodiment, such as Figure 1 As shown, a switching valve 54 is also provided in the circulating air duct 51. The switching valve 54 is used to open and close the circulating air duct 51. The specific structure, specific position in the circulating air duct 51, and mode of operation of the switching valve 54 are not limited, as long as it can open and close the circulating air duct 51. It can be understood that when the air conditioner is cooling or heating normally, the switching valve 54 can be controlled to close the circulating air duct 51 to prevent the air in the flow space 212a from flowing back into the first air chamber 211 through the circulating air duct 51, and thus colliding with the air flowing in from the air inlet 22, resulting in a large air intake resistance or turbulence. In addition, during the defrosting process, the switching valve 54 can be controlled to alternately open and close the circulating air duct 51, thereby forming an alternating airflow force on the heat exchanger 30. This can blow off the frost layer on the heat exchanger 30 more quickly, thereby improving the defrosting efficiency.

[0066] like Figure 2As shown, based on the outdoor unit 10 of the air conditioner in the above embodiment, this application also proposes a defrosting control method. It should be noted that the air conditioner includes an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, both equipped with heat exchangers. When the air conditioner is heating, the heat exchanger of the indoor unit acts as a condenser, and the refrigerant in the condenser is a high-temperature gas. The high-temperature gas releases heat and raises the temperature of the indoor air passing through it, thereby increasing the indoor temperature. Simultaneously, the heat exchanger 30 of the outdoor unit acts as an evaporator, and the refrigerant in the evaporator is a low-temperature liquid with a temperature lower than that of the outdoor air. In normal heating mode, the low-temperature gas in the evaporator absorbs heat from the air passing through it, thus transferring the heat to the indoor environment. However, because the evaporator's temperature is low, when the higher-temperature outdoor air encounters the evaporator, frost will form on it. The frost layer will hinder airflow and further lower the temperature of the refrigerant in the evaporator, thereby affecting the air conditioner's heating effect. Therefore, it is necessary to activate the defrosting mode to remove the frost.

[0067] When defrosting mode is activated, the air conditioner switches from heating mode to cooling mode via a four-way valve. At this time, the heat exchanger 30 in the outdoor unit becomes a condenser with high-temperature gas flowing inside, while the heat exchanger in the indoor unit becomes an evaporator with low-temperature liquid flowing inside (the air outlet 23 and fan wheel of the indoor unit can be closed to prevent cold air from blowing into the room). The heat from the high-temperature gas melts the frost on the heat exchanger 30, thus achieving defrosting.

[0068] Based on the above defrosting principles, the defrosting control method proposed in this application includes:

[0069] Step S10: When the defrosting mode is activated, control the fan 40 to stop operating, control the first baffle 24 to close the air inlet 22, control the second baffle 25 to close the air outlet 23, and monitor the coil temperature of the heat exchanger 30 in real time.

[0070] The conditions for starting the defrost mode can be designed according to actual conditions. For example, it can be started periodically based on the heating time of the air conditioner, or based on the coil temperature on the heat exchanger 30, or based on the coil temperature of the indoor unit. The specific conditions for starting the defrost mode are not limited. In this embodiment, when the defrost mode is started, it is assumed that the air conditioner has already performed the four-way valve reversal action. At this time, the refrigerant flowing in the coil of the heat exchanger 30 is a high-temperature gas. When the heat of the high-temperature gas is transferred to the coil and the frost layer, it can melt the frost layer.

[0071] To prevent cold outdoor air from flowing into the air passage cavity 21 through the air inlet 22 and air outlet 23, and then exchanging heat with the high-temperature gas in the heat exchanger 30, thus reducing the heat available for defrosting and resulting in low defrosting efficiency, the defrosting control method of this application controls the fan 40 to stop operating when the defrosting mode is activated, thereby stopping the intake of cold air into the air passage cavity 21. At the same time, it also controls the first baffle 24 and the second baffle 25 to close the air inlet 22 and air outlet 23 respectively, thereby isolating the air passage cavity 21 from the cold air outside the machine body 20, preventing cold air from automatically blowing into the air passage cavity 21 and stealing the heat available for defrosting, thus ensuring that most of the heat can be used for defrosting and improving defrosting efficiency.

[0072] Simultaneously, after the defrosting mode is activated, the coil temperature of the heat exchanger 30 is monitored in real time. Specifically, the heat exchanger 30 mainly consists of a coil and heat dissipation fins installed outside the coil. The refrigerant flows inside the coil, and frost will form on both the outside of the coil and the heat dissipation fins. Therefore, the coil temperature is determined by the temperature difference between the refrigerant and the frost layer. If the coil temperature is low, it can be determined that the frost layer has not started to melt or the frost layer is thick; if the coil temperature is higher than a preset value, it can be determined that the frost layer has started to melt; if the frost layer is higher than another higher preset value, it can be determined that defrosting is complete. Therefore, by monitoring the coil temperature of the heat exchanger 30 in real time, the defrosting progress can be monitored, thus facilitating the execution of the next action. The coil temperature can be detected using a temperature sensor, and the specific detection method can be implemented according to existing technology, which is not limited here, as long as the coil temperature can be detected in a timely and accurate manner.

[0073] Step S20: When the coil temperature of the heat exchanger 30 is greater than the first preset temperature, control the switch valve 54 to open the circulating air duct 51, control the fan 40 to rotate in reverse, and monitor the coil temperature of the heat exchanger 30 in real time.

[0074] Specifically, in this step, the first preset temperature can be any value between -2℃ and 2℃, such as -2℃, -1.5℃, -1℃, 0℃, 0.5℃, 1℃, 1.5℃, 2℃, etc. When the coil temperature of the heat exchanger 30 is greater than the first preset temperature, it indicates that the frost layer begins to melt, and the frost layer and the surface of the heat exchanger 30 change from an adhesive state to a loose state. At this time, the circulating air duct 51 is opened by controlling the switch valve 54, and the fan 40 is controlled to rotate in the opposite direction. The specific rotation speed can be selected according to the actual situation. In this embodiment, the fan 40 rotates in the opposite direction at the highest speed, so that the air force can be maximized, thereby allowing the fan 40 to better blow the frost layer on the surface of the heat exchanger 30, so that the frost layer can fall off the heat exchanger 30 more quickly, thereby accelerating the defrosting speed.

[0075] Understandably, the defrosting control method of this application initially heats the frost layer for a period of time using the refrigerant heat in the heat exchanger 30, ensuring that most of the refrigerant heat is concentrated and transferred to the frost layer, preventing it from being dissipated by the flowing air. This allows the frost layer and heat exchanger 30 to transition from an adhered state to a loosened state more quickly. Only when the coil temperature exceeds a first preset temperature, i.e., when the frost layer begins to loosen from the heat exchanger 30, is the fan 40 controlled to rotate in the opposite direction. This achieves simultaneous heating of the frost layer using refrigerant heat and further loosening or even removing the frost layer through rapidly flowing air, thereby improving defrosting efficiency.

[0076] In addition, because the defrosting control method of this application also controls the switching valve 54 to open the circulating air duct 51, the airflow in the closed air passage 21 is improved, which makes the wind force acting on the frost layer greater, and thus can blow the frost layer off more quickly, thereby improving the defrosting efficiency.

[0077] Step S30: When the coil temperature of the heat exchanger 30 is greater than the second preset temperature, exit the defrost mode. Specifically, in this step, the second preset temperature can be any value between 5℃ and 20℃, such as 5℃, 5.5℃, 8℃, 10℃, 15℃, 18℃, 20℃, etc. When the surface temperature of the heat exchanger 30 reaches the second preset temperature value, it indicates that defrosting is complete, and the defrost mode can be exited at this time. It should be noted that exiting the defrost mode can be divided into two situations: First, switch back to the air conditioning heating mode to continue heating the room. In this case, the fan 40 needs to rotate in the forward direction, the switch valve 54 needs to close the circulating air duct 51, and the first baffle 24 and the second baffle 25 need to open the air inlet 22 and the air outlet 23 respectively to facilitate heat exchange between the heat exchanger 30 and the outdoor air. Second, the air conditioner stops running. In this case, the fan 40 can stop running, and the first baffle 24 and the second baffle 25 can continue to close the air inlet 22 and the air outlet 23.

[0078] Optionally, in one embodiment, step S10 further includes: when the defrosting mode is activated, recording the defrosting time also begins. Specifically, when the defrosting mode is activated, a timer can be started simultaneously, and the timer records the time taken for defrosting, i.e., the defrosting time. By recording the defrosting time, this step can combine the defrosting time and coil temperature to determine whether the frost layer is thick or has formed ice. Specifically, if the defrosting time is long, but the coil temperature of the heat exchanger 30 is still not higher than the first preset temperature, it can be determined that the frost layer is thick or has formed ice, and then corresponding measures can be taken to accelerate the frosting speed.

[0079] Therefore, the defrosting method of this application further includes, after step S10:

[0080] Step S11: Determine whether the coil temperature of the heat exchanger 30 is greater than the first preset temperature. If yes, proceed to step S20; otherwise, proceed to step S12. Specifically, if the external coil temperature of the heat exchanger 30 is greater than the first preset temperature, it indicates that the frost layer is not thick and has melted to a loose state, in which case step S20 can be performed. However, if the coil temperature is not greater than the first preset temperature, one possibility is that the defrosting time is still relatively short, and the current state should be maintained for a period of time before making a judgment; another possibility is that the frost layer is thick or frozen, in which case corresponding measures need to be taken. Therefore, in order to accurately determine which situation is which, step S12 is also performed when the coil temperature is not greater than the first preset temperature.

[0081] Step S12: Determine whether the defrosting time is greater than a first preset time. If yes, proceed to step S13; otherwise, return to step S11. The first preset time can be 1 to 10 minutes, such as 1 minute, 3 minutes, 5 minutes, 8 minutes, or 10 minutes. When the defrosting time is less than the first preset time, the defrosting time is still relatively short, and the current state can be maintained while the coil temperature continues to be monitored in real time. If the defrosting time is greater than the first preset time, it can be determined that the frost layer is thick or frozen. Maintaining the current state will result in a slower defrosting speed and longer time consumption, leading to lower defrosting efficiency. Therefore, the defrosting control method of this application also executes step S13 after the defrosting time is less than the first preset time.

[0082] Step S13: Control the switching valve 54 to alternately open and close the circulating air duct 51, and when the switching valve 54 opens the circulating air duct 51, control the fan 40 to rotate in the opposite direction at a first speed; when the switching valve 54 closes the circulating air duct 51, control the switching valve 54 to rotate in the opposite direction at a second speed; the first speed is greater than the second speed, and after a second preset time, return to step S11.

[0083] Specifically, in this step, the switching valve 54 is first controlled to open the circulating air duct 51 for a third preset time, while the fan 40 is controlled to rotate in the opposite direction at the first speed. After the third preset time, the switching valve 54 is controlled to close the circulating air duct 51 for a fourth preset time, while the fan 40 is controlled to rotate in the opposite direction at the second speed. After the fourth preset time, the switching valve 54 is again controlled to open the circulating air duct 51 for a third preset time, and after the third preset time, the switching valve 54 is again controlled to close the circulating air duct 51 for a fourth preset time. This cycle is repeated, and the sum of N third preset times and M fourth preset times is the second preset time. After the second preset time, it is determined whether the coil temperature of the heat exchanger 30 is greater than the first preset temperature.

[0084] Wherein, N is the number of times the switching valve 54 opens the circulating air duct 51 within the second preset time period, and M is the number of times the switching valve 54 closes the circulating air duct 51 within the second preset time period.

[0085] It is understandable that in this step, by controlling the switching valve 54 to alternately open and close the circulating air duct 51, and when the switching valve 54 opens the circulating air duct 51, the fan 40 rotates at a higher speed, and when the switching valve 54 closes the circulating air duct 51, the fan 40 rotates at a lower speed, thereby applying alternating wind force to the frost layer on the heat exchanger 30. This can loosen and remove the thicker frost layer on the heat exchanger 30 more quickly, thereby improving the defrosting efficiency.

[0086] The second preset time can be any value between 60 and 600 seconds, the third preset time can be any value between 10 and 60 seconds, and the fourth preset time can be any value between 10 and 30 seconds. The specific values ​​can be flexibly selected according to actual conditions. Similarly, the first and second rotational speeds can also be flexibly set according to actual needs. For example, in this embodiment, the first rotational speed is the highest rotational speed of the fan 40, and the second rotational speed is the lowest rotational speed of the fan 40. In conjunction with the switching valve 54, wind forces of varying magnitudes and large differences can be alternately applied to the frost layer, thus loosening or removing the frost layer more quickly and accelerating defrosting efficiency.

[0087] Optionally, in one embodiment, after step S20, the method further includes:

[0088] Step S21: When the coil temperature of the heat exchanger 30 is greater than the third preset temperature, control the fan 40 to rotate in the forward direction and monitor the coil temperature of the heat exchanger 30 in real time; wherein, the third preset temperature is greater than the first preset temperature and less than the second preset temperature. Specifically, the third preset temperature can be any value between 2℃ and 10℃, for example, the second preset temperature can be 3℃, 4℃, 7℃, 8℃, 10℃, etc. When the coil temperature of the heat exchanger 30 is greater than the third preset temperature, it indicates that most of the frost layer has basically fallen off, and the small amount of frost layer remaining on the heat exchanger 30 can continue to melt by the heat of the refrigerant. At this time, the fan 40 can be controlled to rotate in the forward direction, and can rotate in the forward direction at the highest speed. This can avoid the fan 40 rotating in the reverse direction for a long time, which would affect its performance and lifespan, and can also ensure good airflow in the air passage 21, thereby improving the overall temperature in the air passage 21 and improving defrosting efficiency.

[0089] Optionally, in one embodiment, such as Figure 3 As shown, step S30 includes:

[0090] Step S31: When the coil temperature of the heat exchanger 30 is greater than the second preset temperature, switch to heating mode, control the switch valve 54 to open the circulating air duct 51, and control the fan 40 to rotate in the forward direction. Specifically, the heat exchanger 30 is usually frosted during the heating process of the air conditioner. After defrosting, in order to avoid a significant drop in indoor temperature, switch back to heating mode in time when defrosting is complete. At this time, the refrigerant flowing in the heat exchanger 30 is a low-temperature liquid. In order to enable the refrigerant to effectively absorb the remaining heat in the air cavity 21, this step controls the switch valve 54 to keep the circulating air duct 51 open and controls the fan 40 to rotate in the forward direction (at this time, the fan 40 can rotate at the speed during normal heating). This allows the refrigerant to effectively absorb the remaining heat in the air cavity 21 and avoid energy waste.

[0091] Step S32: After the third preset time, control the fan 40 to continue rotating, control the switch valve 54 to close the circulation duct 51, control the first baffle 24 to open the air inlet 22, and control the second baffle 25 to open the air outlet 23. The third preset time can be any value between 30 and 120 seconds. After the fan 40 has rotated within the closed air passage 21 for the third preset time, the remaining heat in the air passage 21 has been largely absorbed and carried into the room. At this point, the switch valve 54 can be controlled to close the circulation duct 51, and the first baffle 24 and the second baffle 25 can be controlled to open the air inlet 22 and the air outlet 23 respectively, while the fan 40 continues to rotate.

[0092] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have different focuses. Parts not described in detail in a particular embodiment can be referred to in the relevant descriptions of other embodiments. In the description of this application, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Therefore, features defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more features.

[0093] The above provides a detailed description of the outdoor air conditioning unit provided in the embodiments of this application. Specific examples have been used to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of this application. The description of the above embodiments is only for the purpose of helping to understand the method and core ideas of this application. At the same time, for those skilled in the art, there will be changes in the specific implementation methods and application scope based on the ideas of this application. Therefore, the content of this specification should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

Claims

1. A defrosting control method for controlling an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, characterized in that, The outdoor unit of the air conditioner includes: The machine body has an air passage chamber inside, and an air inlet and an air outlet communicating with the air passage chamber on the machine body; the machine body also has a first baffle for opening and closing the air inlet, and a second baffle for opening and closing the air outlet; A heat exchanger is installed inside the air passage cavity, and the heat exchanger divides the air passage cavity into a first air passage cavity and a second air passage cavity. The first air passage cavity is connected to the air inlet, and the second air passage cavity is connected to the air outlet. A fan, wherein the fan is installed within the second air chamber, and a flow space is formed between the fan and the air outlet; and, The circulating structure has a circulating air duct and a first vent and a second vent connected to the circulating air duct. The first vent is connected to a first air cavity, and the second vent is connected to a second air cavity. The second vent is located within the flow space. The circulating air duct is also provided with a switch valve for opening and closing the circulating air duct. The defrosting control method includes: Step S10: When the defrosting mode is turned on, control the fan to stop running, control the first baffle to close the air inlet, control the second baffle to close the air outlet, and monitor the coil temperature of the heat exchanger in real time. Step S20: When the coil temperature of the heat exchanger is greater than the first preset temperature, control the switch valve to open the circulating air duct, control the fan to rotate in reverse, and monitor the coil temperature of the heat exchanger in real time. Step S30: When the coil temperature of the heat exchanger is greater than the second preset temperature, exit the defrosting mode; Following step S10, the method further includes: Step S11: Determine whether the coil temperature of the heat exchanger is greater than the first preset temperature. If yes, proceed to step S20; otherwise, proceed to step S12. Step S12: Determine whether the defrosting time is greater than the first preset time. If yes, proceed to step S13; otherwise, return to step S11. Step S13: Control the switching valve to alternately open and close the circulating air duct, and when the switching valve opens the circulating air duct, control the fan to rotate in the opposite direction at a first speed; when the switching valve closes the circulating air duct, control the switching valve to rotate in the opposite direction at a second speed; the first speed is greater than the second speed, and after a second preset time, return to step S11.

2. The defrosting control method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The first speed is the highest speed of the fan, and the second speed is the lowest speed of the fan.

3. The defrosting control method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Following step S20, the method further includes: Step S21: When the coil temperature of the heat exchanger is greater than the third preset temperature, control the fan to rotate in the forward direction and monitor the coil temperature of the heat exchanger in real time; wherein, the third preset temperature is greater than the first preset temperature and less than the second preset temperature.

4. The defrosting control method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Step S30 includes: Step S31: When the coil temperature of the heat exchanger is greater than the second preset temperature, switch to heating mode, control the switch valve to open the circulating air duct, and control the fan to rotate in the forward direction; Step S32: After the third preset time, control the fan to continue rotating, control the switch valve to close the circulating air duct, control the first baffle to open the air inlet, and control the second baffle to open the air outlet.

5. The defrosting control method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The fan has a rotating shaft, and in the axial direction of the rotating shaft, the distance between the second vent and the air outlet is less than the distance between the second vent and the fan.

6. The defrosting control method as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The heat exchanger is L-shaped and has a first heat exchange section and a second heat exchange section. The first heat exchange section and the air outlet are spaced apart from each other along the axial direction of the rotating shaft. The fan is located between the first heat exchange section and the air outlet. The second heat exchange section is located on one side of the fan, and the second heat exchange section extends from the first heat exchange section toward the side where the air outlet is located; The first air cavity is L-shaped and has a first air zone extending parallel to the first heat exchange section and a second air zone extending parallel to the second heat exchange section. The first vent is connected to the second air zone.

7. The defrosting control method as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The body also has a front panel, on which the air outlet is provided. The circulation structure is a connecting air duct, which is located in the air passage cavity and extends parallel to the front panel and passes through the second heat exchange section.

8. The defrosting control method as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The second heat exchange section has a back side facing away from the fan, and the end of the circulation structure with the first vent does not protrude from the back side. And / or, the orthographic projection of the end of the circulation structure having the second vent on the front side panel is not located within the air outlet.

9. The defrosting control method as described in claim 1, characterized in that, An electric heater is also provided inside the air passage cavity, which is used to heat the frost that falls from the heat exchanger during defrosting.

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