Air conditioner and control method thereof

Abstract

The present invention discloses an air conditioner and a control method thereof, wherein the air conditioner comprises: a housing, a heat exchanger, a heat exchange fan, a high-temperature steam generating device, a humidity sensor and a controller. The controller is configured to: in response to an instruction to start the air purification function of the air conditioner, control the high-temperature steam generating device to start operation; obtain the humidity of the indoor air; and control the operating power of the high-temperature steam generating device according to the humidity, so as to avoid the humidity of the indoor air being too high or too low, thereby ensuring that the indoor air is in an appropriate humidity range, making the indoor personnel in a comfortable state, and improving the user experience.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] At present, the high-temperature steam purification device in the air conditioner will continuously release high-temperature steam into the room when purifying the indoor air, causing the humidity of the indoor air to change. The greater the operating power of the high-temperature steam generating device, the greater the humidity of the indoor air. If the humidity of the indoor air exceeds the appropriate humidity range, the user experience is poor. Therefore, how to ensure that the humidity of the indoor air is within the appropriate humidity range during the operation of the steam generating device is an urgent problem to be solved. Summary of the invention

[0003] The present invention aims to solve at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. To this end, the purpose of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner and a control method thereof.

[0004] An air conditioner proposed in the present invention comprises: a casing, on which an indoor air inlet and an outdoor air inlet are provided; a heat exchanger, which is arranged inside the casing; a heat exchange fan, which is arranged inside the casing, and through the operation of the heat exchange fan, the airflow outside the casing is introduced into the casing from the heat exchange inlet, and heat exchanged through the heat exchanger to form a heat exchange airflow, and the heat exchange airflow is output to the room under the operation of the heat exchange fan; a high-temperature steam generating device is arranged in the casing and connected to the indoor air inlet and / or the outdoor air inlet, and the high-temperature steam generating device is used to generate high-temperature steam and release it to the outside of the casing; a humidity sensor is arranged on the casing and is used to detect the humidity of the indoor air; a controller is configured to: in response to an instruction to turn on the air purification function of the air conditioner, control the high-temperature steam generating device to start operation; obtain the humidity of the indoor air; and control the operating power of the high-temperature steam generating device according to the humidity.

[0005] In addition, the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention may also have the following additional technical features:

[0006] Furthermore, the high-temperature steam generating device comprises: a water storage tank, which is provided with a steam outlet and has a water storage space and an air duct formed therein, wherein the air duct is separated from the water storage space, and water is stored in the water storage space; a water storage tank base, which is provided below the water storage tank and is connected to the air duct, wherein a waste liquid recovery chamber is provided in the water storage tank base, and a water guide groove is provided in the middle of the waste liquid recovery chamber; a steam generating assembly, which is provided in the waste liquid recovery chamber, and the steam generating assembly comprises: a steam generating element, a steam generating chamber and a steam emitting element, wherein the water in the water storage space is discharged through the water guide groove; The groove flows toward the steam generating chamber, the steam generating element is arranged in the steam generating chamber and is configured to heat the water in the steam generating chamber to generate steam, and the steam emitting element is configured to spray the steam toward the air duct and the water tank base; an air supply component is arranged below the water tank base and is connected to the indoor air inlet and / or the outdoor air inlet, and the air supply component is configured to convey airflow from the indoor air inlet and / or the outdoor air inlet to the water tank base, the steam generating element and the air duct when it is driven and operated.

[0007] Further, when the operating power of the high-temperature steam generating device is controlled according to the humidity, the controller is specifically configured to: determine whether the humidity is within a preset humidity range; when it is determined that the humidity is within the preset humidity range, control the heating power of the steam generating element to be a first preset heating power; when it is determined that the humidity is less than the lower limit value of the preset humidity range, control the heating power of the steam generating element to be a second preset heating power; when it is determined that the humidity is greater than the upper limit value of the preset humidity range, control the heating power of the steam generating element to be a third preset heating power; wherein the third preset heating power is less than the first preset heating power, and the first preset heating power is less than the second preset heating power.

[0008] Furthermore, the air supply component includes: a driving fan and an air supply housing, wherein the driving fan is arranged inside the air supply housing; the air supply housing is arranged below the water tank base, an air supply duct is formed in the air supply housing, the air supply duct is connected to the water tank base, the steam generating component and the air duct, so as to transport air flow to the water tank base, the steam generating component and the air duct under the driving operation of the driving fan; and an air path switching component is provided on the air supply housing, so that the air supply housing is selectively connected to the outdoor air inlet and / or the indoor air inlet, so as to introduce outdoor air from the outdoor air inlet and / or introduce indoor air from the indoor air inlet.

[0009] Further, when controlling the heating power of the steam generating element to be a second preset heating power, the controller is also configured to: control the speed of the driving fan to be a first preset speed, wherein the first preset speed is greater than the driving fan speed corresponding to the humidity being within the preset humidity range.

[0010] Further, when controlling the heating power of the steam generating element to be a third preset heating power, the controller is also configured to: control the speed of the driving fan to be a second preset speed, wherein the second preset speed is less than the driving fan speed corresponding to when the humidity is within the preset humidity range.

[0011] Further, after controlling the heating power of the steam generating element to be the second preset heating power or the third preset heating power, the controller is also configured to: when the humidity reaches the preset humidity, control the heating power of the steam generating element to be the first preset heating power, wherein the preset humidity is within the preset humidity range.

[0012] Furthermore, the air conditioner also includes: a temperature sensor, which is arranged at the heat exchange outlet and is used to detect the temperature at the heat exchange outlet. The controller is also configured to: obtain the temperature at the heat exchange outlet when controlling the heating power of the steam generating element to be a second preset heating power; and control the operating frequency of the compressor according to the temperature.

[0013] Further, when the operating frequency of the compressor is controlled according to the temperature, the controller is specifically configured to: determine whether the temperature exceeds the preset temperature; when it is determined that the temperature exceeds the preset temperature, control the frequency of the compressor to be a first preset frequency; when it is determined that the temperature does not exceed the preset temperature, control the frequency of the compressor to be a second preset frequency; wherein the first preset frequency is greater than the second preset frequency.

[0014] According to the air conditioner of the embodiment of the present invention, when executing the instruction of the air purification function, by obtaining the humidity of the indoor air and controlling the operating power of the high-temperature steam generating device according to the humidity, the humidity of the indoor air can be avoided from being too high or too low, thereby ensuring that the indoor air is in an appropriate humidity range, so that the indoor personnel are in a comfortable state, and the user experience is improved. Further, when adjusting the operating power of the high-temperature steam generating device for humidification or dehumidification, the speed of the driving fan is controlled, so that rapid humidification or dehumidification can be achieved, so that the humidity of the indoor air quickly reaches the preset humidity range; when controlling the heating power of the steam generating element for switching, the humidity switching critical point is set to the preset humidity, so that the frequent adjustment of the heating power of the steam generating element can be avoided, the stability of the system is improved, and the humidity of the indoor air can be kept in the appropriate humidity range for a long time, and the user experience is further improved. Further, when the heating power of the steam generating element is controlled to be the second preset heating power, while increasing the humidity of the indoor air, the operating frequency of the compressor is adjusted according to the temperature at the heat exchange outlet, so that the temperature at the heat exchange outlet is in the appropriate temperature range, and the user experience is improved.

[0015] In response to the above-mentioned problems, the present invention also proposes a method for controlling an air conditioner, which is used for an air conditioner as described in any of the above-mentioned embodiments, and the method comprises the following steps: in response to an instruction to turn on the air purification function of the air conditioner, controlling the high-temperature steam generating device to start operation; obtaining the humidity of the indoor air; and controlling the operating power of the high-temperature steam generating device according to the humidity.

[0016] According to the control method of the air conditioner of the embodiment of the present invention, when the air conditioner executes the instruction of the air purification function, by obtaining the humidity of the indoor air and controlling the operating power of the high-temperature steam generating device according to the humidity, the humidity of the indoor air can be avoided from being too high or too low, thereby ensuring that the indoor air is in an appropriate humidity range, so that the indoor personnel are in a comfortable state, and the user experience is improved. Further, when adjusting the operating power of the high-temperature steam generating device for humidification or dehumidification, the speed of the driving fan is controlled, so that rapid humidification or dehumidification can be achieved, so that the humidity of the indoor air quickly reaches the preset humidity range; when controlling the heating power of the steam generating element for switching, the humidity switching critical point is set to the preset humidity, so that frequent adjustment of the heating power of the steam generating element can be avoided, the stability of the system is improved, and the humidity of the indoor air can be kept in an appropriate humidity range for a long time, further improving the user experience. Further, when the heating power of the steam generating element is controlled to be the second preset heating power, while increasing the humidity of the indoor air, the operating frequency of the compressor is adjusted according to the temperature at the heat exchange outlet, so that the temperature at the heat exchange outlet is in an appropriate temperature range, and the user experience is improved.

[0017] Additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will be given in part in the following description and in part will be obvious from the following description, or will be learned through practice of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and easily understood from the description of the embodiments in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

[0019] Figure 1 is a structural schematic diagram of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a high temperature steam generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 ;

[0021] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a high temperature steam generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 ;

[0022] Figure 4 is a flow chart of controlling the operating power of a high-temperature steam generating device according to humidity according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a high-temperature steam generating device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 6 is a flow chart of controlling the operating frequency of a compressor according to temperature according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 7 is a flow chart of a method for controlling an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0027] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "center", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", etc., indicating the orientation or position relationship are based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as a limitation on the present invention.

[0028] The terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of the indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the features. In the description of the present invention, unless otherwise specified, "plurality" means two or more.

[0029] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise clearly specified and limited, the terms "installed", "connected", and "connected" should be understood in a broad sense, for example, it can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection, or it can be indirectly connected through an intermediate medium, or it can be the internal communication of two components. For ordinary technicians in this field, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood according to specific circumstances.

[0030] The air conditioner of the present invention performs a refrigeration cycle of the air conditioner by using a compressor, a condenser, an electronic expansion valve and an evaporator. The refrigeration cycle includes a series of processes involving compression, condensation, expansion and evaporation, and supplies refrigerant to the air that has been conditioned and heat exchanged.

[0031] The compressor compresses the refrigerant gas in a high temperature and high pressure state and discharges the compressed refrigerant gas. The discharged refrigerant gas flows into the condenser. The condenser condenses the compressed refrigerant into a liquid phase, and the heat is released to the surrounding environment through the condensation process.

[0032] The electronic expansion valve expands the high-temperature and high-pressure liquid refrigerant condensed in the condenser into a low-pressure liquid refrigerant. The evaporator evaporates the refrigerant expanded in the electronic expansion valve and returns the refrigerant gas in a low-temperature and low-pressure state to the compressor. The evaporator can achieve a refrigeration effect by utilizing the latent heat of evaporation of the refrigerant to exchange heat with the material to be cooled. In the entire cycle, the air conditioner can adjust the temperature of the indoor space.

[0033] The outdoor unit of the air conditioner refers to a portion of a refrigeration cycle including a compressor and an outdoor heat exchanger, the indoor unit of the air conditioner includes an indoor heat exchanger, and the electronic expansion valve may be provided in the indoor unit or the outdoor unit.

[0034] The indoor heat exchanger and the outdoor heat exchanger function as a condenser or an evaporator. When the indoor heat exchanger functions as a condenser, the air conditioner functions as a heater in a heating mode, and when the indoor heat exchanger functions as an evaporator, the air conditioner functions as a cooler in a cooling mode.

[0035] Reference below Figure 1-Figure 7 An air conditioner and a control method thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention are described.

[0036] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 As shown, an air conditioner comprises: a casing 1, a heat exchanger 2, a heat exchange fan 3, a high-temperature steam generator 4, a humidity sensor 5 and a controller 6. The casing 1 is provided with an indoor air inlet and an outdoor air inlet; the heat exchanger 2 is arranged inside the casing 1; the heat exchange fan 3 is arranged inside the casing 1, and the airflow outside the casing 1 is introduced into the casing 1 from the heat exchange inlet through the operation of the heat exchange fan 3, and heat exchanged through the heat exchanger 2 to form a heat exchange airflow, and the heat exchange airflow is output to the room under the operation of the heat exchange fan 3; the high-temperature steam generator 4 is arranged in the casing 1 and is connected to the indoor air inlet and / or the outdoor air inlet, and the high-temperature steam generator 4 is used to generate high-temperature steam and release it to the outside of the casing 1; the humidity sensor 5 is arranged on the casing 1, and is used to detect the humidity of the indoor air; the controller 6 is configured to: in response to the instruction to start the air purification function of the air conditioner, control the high-temperature steam generator 4 to start running; obtain the humidity of the indoor air; and control the operating power of the high-temperature steam generator 4 according to the humidity.

[0037] Specifically, when the air conditioner receives the instruction of the air purification function, the controller 6 controls the high-temperature steam generator 4 to start running. Since the high-temperature steam generator 4 is connected to the indoor air inlet and / or the outdoor air inlet, the indoor air can be introduced into the high-temperature steam generator 4 through the indoor air inlet, or the outdoor air can be introduced into the high-temperature steam generator 4 through the outdoor air inlet, or the indoor air and the outdoor air can be introduced into the high-temperature steam generator 4 together, so that after the high-temperature steam generator 4 generates high-temperature steam, it contacts with the introduced airflow. On the one hand, the metabolic activities of the bacteria and virus cells in the airflow disappear due to the high temperature, and the cells die; on the other hand, when the dust, hair, and dust mites in the air contact with the high-humidity air, the water vapor in the air will settle them, further filter the air, and release the purified airflow to the outside of the casing 1, thereby achieving the air purification effect. Specifically, the high-temperature steam generator 4 releases high-temperature steam to the outside of the casing 1 through the high-temperature steam nozzle. When the high-temperature steam generator 4 is in operation, it will spray high-temperature steam outside the casing 1 to humidify the indoor air, thereby causing the humidity of the indoor air to change. The greater the operating power of the high-temperature steam generator 4, the more high-temperature steam it generates, and the greater the humidity of the indoor air. Therefore, after the air conditioner receives the instruction of the air purification function and controls the high-temperature steam generator 4 to start running, it is necessary to control the operating power of the high-temperature steam generator 4 according to the humidity of the indoor air to avoid the humidity of the indoor air being too high or too low, thereby ensuring that the indoor air is in an appropriate humidity range, making the indoor personnel in a comfortable state and improving the user experience.

[0038] In a specific embodiment, for the air purification function command of the air conditioner, the user can send the air purification command to the air conditioner through the remote control, the air conditioner APP (Application) in the mobile terminal or the control panel on the air conditioner body through language, gestures and other operation methods to trigger the air purification function of the air conditioner. Alternatively, the air conditioner can be set to periodically self-start the air purification command to trigger the air purification function of the air conditioner, that is, the air conditioner will automatically trigger the air purification command at regular intervals to perform the air purification function, so that the air purification command can be automatically turned on periodically without manual operation by the user to purify the indoor environment, thereby improving the intelligence of the air conditioner.

[0039] In one embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 and Figure 3As shown, the high-temperature steam generating device 4 comprises: a water storage tank 20, a water storage tank base 30, a steam generating assembly 40 and an air supply assembly 44. The water storage tank 20 is provided with a steam outlet and has a water storage space 22 and an air duct 23 formed therein. The air duct 23 is separated from the water storage space 22, and water is stored in the water storage space 22. The water storage tank base 30 is provided below the water storage tank 20 and communicates with the air duct 23. A waste liquid recovery chamber 31 is provided in the water storage tank base 30, and a water guide groove 32 is provided in the middle of the waste liquid recovery chamber 31. The steam generating assembly 40 is provided in the waste liquid recovery chamber 31. The steam generating assembly 40 comprises: a steam generating element 41, a steam generating chamber 42 and a steam emitting element 43. The water in the water storage space 22 is discharged through the steam generating element 41, a steam generating chamber 42 and a steam emitting element 43. The water flows from the water guide groove 32 to the steam generating chamber 42. The steam generating element 41 is arranged in the steam generating chamber 42 and is configured to heat the water in the steam generating chamber 42 to generate steam. The steam emitting element 43 is configured to spray steam to the air duct 23 and the water tank base 30. The air supply component 44 is arranged below the water tank base 30 and is connected to the indoor air inlet and / or the outdoor air inlet. The air supply component 44 is configured to transport airflow from the indoor air inlet and / or the outdoor air inlet to the water tank base 30, the steam generating component 40 and the air duct 23 under its driving operation.

[0040] Specifically, water is stored in the water storage space 22, which can provide a water source for the steam generating assembly 40, so that the steam generating assembly 40 heats the water to generate high-temperature steam, which contacts with the introduced airflow for sterilization and then delivers moist purified air to the outside through the air duct 23. In addition, the water storage tank 20 and the water storage tank base 30 are fixedly connected up and down, and the water guide groove 32 is used to guide the water in the water storage space 22 to the steam generating assembly 40. In a specific embodiment, the steam generating element 41 is an electric heating element, which is arranged in the steam generating chamber 42. When the high-temperature steam generating device 4 is controlled to start running, the electric heating element heats the water in the steam generating chamber 42 to generate high-temperature steam, and the steam is ejected into the air duct 23 and the water storage tank base 30 through the steam ejecting element 43. In this way, the steam is fully mixed with the airflow introduced into the high-temperature steam generating device 4 to sterilize and remove dust from the airflow, thereby purifying the indoor air. Moreover, the steam can increase the humidity of the airflow, and the mixed airflow can humidify the indoor air after being blown into the room.

[0041] In one embodiment of the present invention, Figure 4As shown, when the operating power of the high-temperature steam generating device 4 is controlled according to the humidity, the controller 6 is specifically configured to: determine whether the humidity is within the preset humidity range; when it is determined that the humidity is within the preset humidity range, control the heating power of the steam generating element 41 to be the first preset heating power; when it is determined that the humidity is less than the lower limit of the preset humidity range, control the heating power of the steam generating element 41 to be the second preset heating power; when it is determined that the humidity is greater than the upper limit of the preset humidity range, control the heating power of the steam generating element 41 to be the third preset heating power; wherein the third preset heating power is less than the first preset heating power, and the first preset heating power is less than the second preset heating power.

[0042] Specifically, the preset humidity range is the indoor humidity range corresponding to the indoor personnel being in a comfortable state. When it is judged that the humidity of the indoor air is within the preset humidity range, the heating power of the steam generating element 41 is controlled to be the first preset heating power, so as to heat the water in the steam generating chamber 42 to generate high-temperature steam. At this time, while purifying and sterilizing the indoor air, the indoor environmental humidity will not be too high or too low. When it is judged that the humidity of the indoor air is less than the lower limit of the preset humidity range, it is considered that the humidity of the indoor air is low, and the user will feel that the indoor air is dry. At this time, the heating power of the steam generating element 41 is controlled to be the second preset heating power. It can be understood that the second preset heating power is greater than the first preset heating power, so that more water in the steam generating chamber 42 forms steam and is released to the outside of the casing, thereby increasing the indoor air humidity. When it is judged that the humidity is greater than the upper limit of the preset humidity range, it is considered that the humidity of the indoor air is high and the air is humid. At this time, the heating power of the steam generating element 41 is controlled to be the third preset heating power. It can be understood that the third preset heating power is less than the first preset heating power, so as to reduce the amount of steam generated, thereby reducing the indoor air humidity. In a specific embodiment, the first preset heating power is medium power, the third preset heating power is low power, and the second preset heating power is high power.

[0043] In one embodiment of the present invention, Figure 5 As shown, the air supply component 44 includes: a driving fan 441 and an air supply housing 442. The driving fan 441 is arranged inside the air supply housing 442, and the air supply housing 442 is arranged below the water storage tank base 30. An air supply duct 23 is formed in the air supply housing 442, and the air supply duct 23 is connected to the water storage tank base, the steam generating component and the air duct, so as to transport air flow to the water storage tank base 30, the steam generating component 40 and the air duct 23 under the driving operation of the driving fan; and an air path switching component (not shown in the figure) is arranged on the air supply housing 442, so that the air supply housing 442 is selectively connected to the outdoor air inlet and / or the indoor air inlet, so as to introduce outdoor air from the outdoor air inlet and / or introduce indoor air from the indoor air inlet.

[0044] Specifically, the air supply shell 442 is fixed below the water tank base 30, and the air supply duct 23 formed in the air supply shell 442 is connected to the water tank base 30, the steam generating assembly 40 and the air duct 23, and the driving fan 441 is located inside the air supply shell 442. In this way, under the driving operation of the driving fan 441, outdoor air or indoor air or indoor air and outdoor air can be introduced into the air supply duct 23, so that the introduced airflow can be in contact with the high-temperature steam generated by the steam generating assembly 40 to achieve the effect of air sterilization and purification. The air supply shell 442 is provided with an air path switching component. Through the switching operation of the air path switching component, the air supply shell 442 can be connected to the outdoor air inlet, and the outdoor air can be introduced into the air supply duct 23 via the outdoor air inlet; or it can be connected to the indoor air inlet, and the indoor air can be introduced into the air supply duct 23 via the indoor air inlet; or it can be connected to the indoor air inlet and the outdoor air inlet, and the outdoor air and the indoor air can be introduced into the air supply duct 23 together, and then mixed with the steam generated by the steam generating component 40 to achieve full contact between the steam and the air, thereby effectively improving the air purification effect.

[0045] In a specific embodiment, the wind path switching component can be a windshield and a driving member, and the driving member is used to drive the windshield to rotate so as to selectively block the outdoor air inlet or the indoor air inlet. When the wind path switching component is switched to the connection between the air supply housing 442 and the outdoor air inlet, and the steam generating assembly 40 is not working, at this time, the driving fan 441 is started, and the outdoor fresh air flow can be sucked in from the outdoor air inlet, and after being filtered by the driving fan 441, the fresh air is discharged from the purification outlet 21 to the room, thereby improving the indoor air quality and ensuring the normal operation of the fresh air mode of the air conditioner. That is, the outdoor air inlet is the fresh air inlet, and the purification outlet is also the fresh air outlet, that is, the same outlet. When the air supply housing 442 is connected to the indoor air inlet, the airflow outside the casing 1 enters the interior of the high-temperature steam generating device 4 from the indoor air inlet, so that the indoor wind and steam are mixed to achieve the steam purification effect on the indoor airflow. Alternatively, the air supply shell 442 is connected to the indoor air inlet and the outdoor air inlet at the same time, so that the indoor air and the outdoor fresh air enter the steam generating chamber 42 and the air duct 23 in the high-temperature steam generating device 4 together and mix with the steam.

[0046] In one embodiment of the present invention, when controlling the heating power of the steam generating element 41 to be a second preset heating power, the controller 6 is also configured to: control the rotational speed of the driving fan 441 to be a first preset rotational speed, wherein the first preset rotational speed is greater than the corresponding rotational speed of the driving fan 441 when the humidity is within a preset humidity range.

[0047] Specifically, when the heating power of the steam generating element 41 is controlled to be the second preset heating power, the humidity of the indoor air is low. At this time, the speed of the driving fan 41 is controlled to be the first preset speed, so as to introduce more outdoor air or indoor air or indoor air and outdoor air into the air supply duct 23, so that a larger amount of air flows through the steam generating component 40, so as to be fully mixed with the generated steam, and achieve rapid humidification, so that the humidity of the indoor air quickly reaches the preset humidity range, and further improves the user experience. It can be understood that when the humidity is in the preset humidity range, the corresponding speed of the driving fan 441 can maintain a normal air volume through the steam generating component 40, ensuring that the indoor air humidity is in a suitable humidity range, and the first preset speed is greater than the corresponding speed of the driving fan 441 when the humidity is in the preset humidity range, so that a larger amount of air flows through the steam generating component 40, and rapid humidification is achieved. In a specific embodiment, when the humidity is in the preset humidity range, the corresponding speed of the driving fan 441 is, for example, a medium speed, and the first preset speed is a high speed.

[0048] In one embodiment of the present invention, when controlling the heating power of the steam generating element 41 to be a third preset heating power, the controller 6 is also configured to: control the rotational speed of the driving fan 441 to be a second preset rotational speed, wherein the second preset rotational speed is less than the corresponding rotational speed of the driving fan 441 when the humidity is within the preset humidity range.

[0049] Specifically, when the heating power of the steam generating element 41 is controlled to be the third preset heating power, the humidity of the indoor air is relatively high. At this time, the speed of the driving fan 441 is controlled to be the second preset speed, so that less outdoor air or indoor air or both indoor air and outdoor air are introduced into the air supply duct 23, so that less air volume flows through the steam generating component 40, thereby reducing the amount of steam released outside the casing 1, achieving rapid dehumidification, and making the humidity of the indoor air quickly reach the preset humidity range, further improving the user experience. It can be understood that when the humidity is in the preset humidity range, the corresponding speed of the driving fan 441 can maintain a normal air volume through the steam generating component 40, ensuring that the indoor air humidity is in a suitable humidity range, and the second preset speed is less than the corresponding speed of the driving fan 441 when the humidity is in the preset humidity range, so that less air volume flows through the steam generating component 40, achieving rapid dehumidification. In a specific embodiment, when the humidity is in the preset humidity range, the corresponding speed of the driving fan 441 is, for example, a medium speed, and the second preset speed is a low speed.

[0050] In one embodiment of the present invention, after controlling the heating power of the steam generating element 41 to be the second preset heating power or the third preset heating power, the controller 6 is further configured to: when the humidity reaches the preset humidity, control the heating power of the steam generating element 41 to be the first preset heating power, wherein the preset humidity is within the preset humidity range.

[0051] Specifically, after the heating power of the steam generating element 41 is controlled to be the second preset heating power, the humidity of the indoor air will gradually increase, or, after the heating power of the steam generating element 41 is controlled to be the third preset heating power, the humidity of the indoor air will gradually decrease. In the process of the humidity of the indoor air rising or falling, if it is detected that the humidity of the indoor air reaches the preset humidity, the heating power of the steam generating element 41 is controlled to be the first preset heating power, and at this time the humidity of the indoor air is within the preset humidity range. Preferably, the preset humidity is the humidity corresponding to the center point in the preset humidity range. It is understandable that when the heating power of the steam generating element 41 is switched, the humidity switching critical point is set to the preset humidity instead of the upper limit or lower limit of the preset humidity range, so as to avoid frequent adjustment of the heating power of the steam generating element 41, improve the stability of the system, and enable the humidity of the indoor air to be maintained within an appropriate humidity range for a long time, thereby improving the user experience.

[0052] In one embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioner also includes: a temperature sensor, which is arranged at the heat exchange outlet and is used to detect the temperature at the heat exchange outlet. The controller 6 is also configured to: obtain the temperature at the heat exchange outlet when the heating power of the steam generating element 41 is controlled to be a second preset heating power; and control the operating frequency of the compressor according to the temperature.

[0053] Specifically, when the heating power of the steam generating element 41 is controlled to be the second preset heating power, the amount of steam generated increases due to the increase in the heating power of the steam generating element 41, and the temperature at the heat exchange outlet also increases. When the air outlet temperature of the heat exchange outlet is too high, the user will feel that the air outlet temperature is too high, and the user experience is poor. Therefore, when the heating power of the steam generating element 41 is controlled to be the second preset heating power, while increasing the indoor air humidity, it is necessary to adjust the operating frequency of the compressor according to the temperature at the heat exchange outlet so that the temperature at the heat exchange outlet is within an appropriate temperature range.

[0054] In one embodiment of the present invention, Figure 6 As shown, when the operating frequency of the compressor is controlled according to the temperature, the controller 6 is specifically configured to: determine whether the temperature exceeds the preset temperature; when it is determined that the temperature exceeds the preset temperature, control the frequency of the compressor to be a first preset frequency; when it is determined that the temperature does not exceed the preset temperature, control the frequency of the compressor to be a second preset frequency; wherein the first preset frequency is greater than the second preset frequency.

[0055] Specifically, the preset temperature is the temperature at the heat exchange outlet corresponding to the indoor occupants being in a comfortable state. When it is determined that the temperature at the heat exchange outlet exceeds the preset temperature, the frequency of the compressor is controlled to be the first preset frequency to reduce the temperature at the heat exchange outlet to the preset temperature; when it is determined that the temperature at the heat exchange outlet does not exceed the preset temperature, the frequency of the compressor is controlled to be the second preset frequency. It should be noted that the first preset frequency and the second preset frequency can be determined based on experiments, which will not be described in detail here.

[0056] According to the air conditioner of the embodiment of the present invention, when executing the instruction of the air purification function, by obtaining the humidity of the indoor air and controlling the operating power of the high-temperature steam generating device according to the humidity, the humidity of the indoor air can be avoided from being too high or too low, thereby ensuring that the indoor air is in an appropriate humidity range, so that the indoor personnel are in a comfortable state, and the user experience is improved. Further, when adjusting the operating power of the high-temperature steam generating device for humidification or dehumidification, the speed of the driving fan is controlled, so that rapid humidification or dehumidification can be achieved, so that the humidity of the indoor air quickly reaches the preset humidity range; when controlling the heating power of the steam generating element for switching, the humidity switching critical point is set to the preset humidity, so that the frequent adjustment of the heating power of the steam generating element can be avoided, the stability of the system is improved, and the humidity of the indoor air can be kept in the appropriate humidity range for a long time, and the user experience is further improved. Further, when the heating power of the steam generating element is controlled to be the second preset heating power, while increasing the humidity of the indoor air, the operating frequency of the compressor is adjusted according to the temperature at the heat exchange outlet, so that the temperature at the heat exchange outlet is in the appropriate temperature range, and the user experience is improved.

[0057] A further embodiment of the present invention also discloses a control method for an air conditioner, which is used for the air conditioner as described in any of the above embodiments. Figure 7 As shown, the method comprises the following steps:

[0058] Step S1: In response to an instruction to start the air purification function of the air conditioner, the high-temperature steam generating device is controlled to start operation.

[0059] Step S2: Obtain the humidity of indoor air.

[0060] Step S3: Control the operating power of the high-temperature steam generating device according to the humidity.

[0061] In one embodiment of the present invention, a high-temperature steam generating device includes: a water storage tank, a water storage tank base, a steam generating component and an air supply component. The water storage tank is provided with a steam outlet and a water storage space and an air duct are formed inside, the air duct and the water storage space are separated, and water is stored in the water storage space; the water storage tank base is arranged below the water storage tank and is connected with the air duct, a waste liquid recovery chamber is arranged inside the water storage tank base, and a water guide groove is arranged in the middle of the waste liquid recovery chamber; the steam generating assembly is arranged in the waste liquid recovery chamber, the steam generating assembly includes: a steam generating element, a steam generating chamber and a steam emitting element, the water in the water storage space flows to the steam generating chamber through the water guide groove, the steam generating element is arranged in the steam generating chamber and is configured to heat the water in the steam generating chamber to generate steam, and the steam emitting element is configured to spray steam to the air duct and the water storage tank base; the air supply assembly is arranged below the water storage tank base and is connected with the indoor air inlet and / or the outdoor air inlet, and the air supply assembly is configured to transport airflow from the indoor air inlet and / or the outdoor air inlet to the water storage tank base, the steam generating assembly and the air duct under its driving operation.

[0062] In one embodiment of the present invention, the operating power of the high-temperature steam generating device is controlled according to the humidity, including: judging whether the humidity is within a preset humidity range; when judging that the humidity is within the preset humidity range, controlling the heating power of the steam generating element to be a first preset heating power; when judging that the humidity is less than a lower limit value of the preset humidity range, controlling the heating power of the steam generating element to be a second preset heating power; when judging that the humidity is greater than an upper limit value of the preset humidity range, controlling the heating power of the steam generating element to be a third preset heating power; wherein the third preset heating power is less than the first preset heating power, and the first preset heating power is less than the second preset heating power.

[0063] In one embodiment of the present invention, the air supply assembly includes: a driving fan and an air supply housing. The driving fan is arranged inside the air supply housing, the air supply housing is arranged below the water storage tank base, an air supply duct is formed inside the air supply housing, the air supply duct is connected to the water storage tank base, the steam generating assembly and the air duct, so as to transport air to the water storage tank base, the steam generating assembly and the air duct under the driving operation of the driving fan; and an air path switching assembly is arranged on the air supply housing, so as to selectively connect the air supply housing to the outdoor air inlet and / or the indoor air inlet, so as to introduce outdoor air from the outdoor air inlet and / or introduce indoor air from the indoor air inlet.

[0064] In one embodiment of the present invention, when controlling the heating power of the steam generating element to be a second preset heating power, the method further includes: controlling the speed of the driving fan to be a first preset speed, wherein the first preset speed is greater than the corresponding driving fan speed when the humidity is within a preset humidity range.

[0065] In one embodiment of the present invention, when controlling the heating power of the steam generating element to be a third preset heating power, the method further includes: controlling the speed of the driving fan to be a second preset speed, wherein the second preset speed is less than the corresponding driving fan speed when the humidity is within a preset humidity range.

[0066] In one embodiment of the present invention, after controlling the heating power of the steam generating element to be a second preset heating power or a third preset heating power, the method further includes: when the humidity reaches a preset humidity, controlling the heating power of the steam generating element to be a first preset heating power, wherein the preset humidity is within a preset humidity range.

[0067] In one embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioner also includes: a temperature sensor, which is arranged at the heat exchange outlet and is used to detect the temperature at the heat exchange outlet. The method also includes: when the heating power of the steam generating element is controlled to be a second preset heating power, obtaining the temperature at the heat exchange outlet; and controlling the operating frequency of the compressor according to the temperature.

[0068] In one embodiment of the present invention, the operating frequency of the compressor is controlled according to the temperature, including: judging whether the temperature exceeds the preset temperature; when judging that the temperature exceeds the preset temperature, controlling the frequency of the compressor to be a first preset frequency; when judging that the temperature does not exceed the preset temperature, controlling the frequency of the compressor to be a second preset frequency; wherein the first preset frequency is greater than the second preset frequency.

[0069] It should be noted that when the air conditioner in the embodiment of the present invention is controlled, its specific implementation method is similar to the specific implementation method of the control method of the air conditioner controller in the embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to the description of the method part for details. In order to reduce redundancy, it will not be repeated here.

[0070] According to the control method of the air conditioner of the embodiment of the present invention, when the air conditioner executes the instruction of the air purification function, by obtaining the humidity of the indoor air and controlling the operating power of the high-temperature steam generating device according to the humidity, the humidity of the indoor air can be avoided from being too high or too low, thereby ensuring that the indoor air is in an appropriate humidity range, so that the indoor personnel are in a comfortable state, and the user experience is improved. Further, when adjusting the operating power of the high-temperature steam generating device for humidification or dehumidification, the speed of the driving fan is controlled, so that rapid humidification or dehumidification can be achieved, so that the humidity of the indoor air quickly reaches the preset humidity range; when controlling the heating power of the steam generating element for switching, the humidity switching critical point is set to the preset humidity, so that frequent adjustment of the heating power of the steam generating element can be avoided, the stability of the system is improved, and the humidity of the indoor air can be kept in an appropriate humidity range for a long time, further improving the user experience. Further, when the heating power of the steam generating element is controlled to be the second preset heating power, while increasing the humidity of the indoor air, the operating frequency of the compressor is adjusted according to the temperature at the heat exchange outlet, so that the temperature at the heat exchange outlet is in an appropriate temperature range, and the user experience is improved.

[0071] In the description of this specification, the description with reference to the terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "illustrative embodiments", "examples", "specific examples", or "some examples" means that the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the schematic representation of the above terms does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example.

[0072] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions and variations may be made to the embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present invention, and that the scope of the present invention is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An air conditioner, characterized in that: include: A casing, wherein the casing is provided with an indoor air inlet and an outdoor air inlet; a heat exchanger, the heat exchanger being arranged inside the casing; A heat exchange fan, the heat exchange fan is arranged inside the casing, and the airflow outside the casing is introduced into the casing from the heat exchange air inlet through the operation of the heat exchange fan, and heat is exchanged through the heat exchanger to form a heat exchange airflow, and the heat exchange airflow is output to the room under the operation of the heat exchange fan; a high-temperature steam generating device, disposed in the casing and connected to the indoor air inlet and / or the outdoor air inlet, the high-temperature steam generating device being used to generate high-temperature steam and release it to the outside of the casing; A humidity sensor is disposed on the housing and is used to detect the humidity of indoor air; The controller is configured to: in response to an instruction to start the air purification function of the air conditioner, control the high-temperature steam generating device to start operation; obtaining the humidity of the indoor air; controlling the operating power of the high-temperature steam generating device according to the humidity; The high-temperature steam generating device comprises: a water storage tank, which is provided with a steam outlet and has a water storage space and an air duct formed therein, wherein the air duct is separated from the water storage space, and water is stored in the water storage space; A water storage tank base is arranged below the water storage tank and is in communication with the air duct, a waste liquid recovery chamber is arranged in the water storage tank base, and a water guide groove is arranged in the middle of the waste liquid recovery chamber; A steam generating assembly is arranged in the waste liquid recovery chamber, the steam generating assembly comprises: a steam generating element, a steam generating chamber and a steam emitting element, the water in the water storage space flows to the steam generating chamber via the water guide groove, the steam generating element is arranged in the steam generating chamber and is configured to heat the water in the steam generating chamber to generate steam, and the steam emitting element is configured to spray the steam to the air duct and the water storage tank base; An air supply component is arranged below the water tank base and is connected to the indoor air inlet and / or the outdoor air inlet. The air supply component is configured to convey airflow from the indoor air inlet and / or the outdoor air inlet to the water tank base, the steam generating component and the air duct when the air supply component is driven and operated.

2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that: When the operating power of the high-temperature steam generating device is controlled according to the humidity, the controller is specifically configured as follows: Determining whether the humidity is within a preset humidity range; When it is determined that the humidity is within the preset humidity range, controlling the heating power of the steam generating element to be a first preset heating power; When it is determined that the humidity is less than the lower limit of the preset humidity range, controlling the heating power of the steam generating element to be a second preset heating power; When it is determined that the humidity is greater than the upper limit of the preset humidity range, the heating power of the steam generating element is controlled to be a third preset heating power; wherein the third preset heating power is less than the first preset heating power, and the first preset heating power is less than the second preset heating power.

3. The air conditioner according to claim 2, characterized in that: The air supply component includes: a driving fan and an air supply housing, wherein the driving fan is arranged inside the air supply housing; the air supply housing is arranged below the water storage tank base, an air supply duct is formed in the air supply housing, the air supply duct is connected to the water storage tank base, the steam generating component and the air duct, so as to transport air flow to the water storage tank base, the steam generating component and the air duct under the driving operation of the driving fan; and an air path switching component is arranged on the air supply housing, so that the air supply housing is selectively connected to the outdoor air inlet and / or the indoor air inlet, so as to introduce outdoor air from the outdoor air inlet and / or introduce indoor air from the indoor air inlet.

4. The air conditioner according to claim 3, characterized in that: When controlling the heating power of the steam generating element to be the second preset heating power, the controller is further configured to: The rotation speed of the driving fan is controlled to be a first preset rotation speed, wherein the first preset rotation speed is greater than the corresponding driving fan rotation speed when the humidity is within the preset humidity range.

5. The air conditioner according to claim 3, characterized in that: When controlling the heating power of the steam generating element to be a third preset heating power, the controller is further configured to: The rotation speed of the driving fan is controlled to be a second preset rotation speed, wherein the second preset rotation speed is less than the corresponding driving fan rotation speed when the humidity is within the preset humidity range.

6. The air conditioner according to claim 2, characterized in that: After controlling the heating power of the steam generating element to be the second preset heating power or the third preset heating power, the controller is further configured to: When the humidity reaches a preset humidity, the heating power of the steam generating element is controlled to be the first preset heating power, wherein the preset humidity is within the preset humidity range.

7. The air conditioner according to claim 2, characterized in that: The air conditioner further includes: a temperature sensor, which is disposed at the heat exchange air outlet and is used to detect the temperature at the heat exchange air outlet. The controller is further configured as follows: When the heating power of the steam generating element is controlled to be a second preset heating power, obtaining the temperature at the heat exchange air outlet; The operating frequency of the compressor is controlled according to the temperature.

8. The air conditioner according to claim 7, characterized in that: When the operating frequency of the compressor is controlled according to the temperature, the controller is specifically configured as follows: Determining whether the temperature exceeds a preset temperature; When it is determined that the temperature exceeds the preset temperature, controlling the frequency of the compressor to be a first preset frequency; When it is determined that the temperature does not exceed the preset temperature, the frequency of the compressor is controlled to be a second preset frequency; wherein the first preset frequency is greater than the second preset frequency.

9. A method for controlling an air conditioner, characterized in that: For the air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 8, the method comprises the following steps: In response to an instruction to start the air purification function of the air conditioner, controlling the high-temperature steam generating device to start operation; Get the humidity of indoor air; The operating power of the high temperature steam generating device is controlled according to the humidity.

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