Method and apparatus for controlling air conditioner, air conditioner, storage medium

Abstract

The application discloses a method for controlling an air conditioner, the air conditioner comprising: an indoor-side circulating loop, sequentially provided with a water pump, an intermediate heat exchanger, a first electronic expansion valve and an indoor unit along a medium flow direction during refrigeration; and an energy storage device, one end of which is connected to a medium inflow end of the first electronic expansion valve, and the other end of which is connected to a medium inflow end of the water pump; the method comprising: determining an actual temperature of the energy storage device in a case where a working period of the indoor unit is a first period; closing an outdoor unit and determining an air conditioner target temperature and an indoor environment temperature in a case where the actual temperature of the energy storage device meets a discharging condition; and controlling a first electronic expansion valve opening degree and a water pump operating frequency according to the actual temperature of the energy storage device, the air conditioner target temperature and the indoor environment temperature. The application combines the adjustment of the water pump operating frequency and the electronic expansion valve opening degree to more accurately and reasonably control the flow size in the circulating loop. The application also discloses a device for controlling an air conditioner, an air conditioner and a storage medium.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] Currently, in the application of home appliances, in order to separate the refrigerant circulation loop from the water circulation loop, an intermediate heat exchanger is used to achieve heat exchange between the two loops. Specifically, such as... Figure 1 As shown, taking refrigeration as an example, the water circulation loop is arranged sequentially along the water flow direction, consisting of a water pump 1, an intermediate heat exchanger 2, a first shut-off valve 3, and an indoor unit 4. The refrigerant circulation loop is arranged sequentially along the refrigerant flow direction, consisting of a compressor 5, an outdoor unit 6, a second shut-off valve 7, and an intermediate heat exchanger 2. Water and refrigerant exchange heat in the intermediate heat exchanger, and their flow directions are opposite. However, this arrangement results in low system energy efficiency, making it difficult to meet user needs.

[0003] To improve system energy efficiency, a phase change thermal storage heating system and its control method are disclosed, including: controlling and switching between the thermal storage operation of the thermal storage device, the independent heating of the thermal storage device, the independent hot water production of the heat pump, and the combined heating mode of the heat pump and the thermal storage device. When the system includes a first shut-off valve, a second shut-off valve, a third shut-off valve, and a three-way valve: When the heat storage mode is required, the second shut-off valve and the third shut-off valve are both opened, and the first shut-off valve and the three-way valve are both closed; when the heat storage unit independently heats the system, the second shut-off valve and the three-way valve are both opened, and the second water pipe is connected to the hot water outlet, while the first shut-off valve and the third shut-off valve are closed; when the heat pump heating and heat storage unit combined heating mode is required, the first shut-off valve, the second shut-off valve, the third shut-off valve, and the three-way valve are all opened, and the second water pipe is connected to the hot water outlet; when the heat pump independently heats the system, the first shut-off valve, the third shut-off valve, and the three-way valve are opened, and the second water pipe is connected to the hot water outlet, while the second shut-off valve is closed.

[0004] In the process of implementing the embodiments of this disclosure, at least the following problems were found in the related art:

[0005] The existing technology only controls the opening and closing of valves to switch operating modes, which prevents the air conditioner from adjusting the flow rate in the circulation loop according to actual operating conditions. Therefore, regardless of whether the system requires a large or small flow rate, it can only use the same amount of flow, which is not conducive to energy saving and does not significantly improve the system's energy efficiency.

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

[0007] To provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed embodiments, a brief summary is given below. This summary is not intended as a general commentary, nor is it intended to identify key / important components or describe the scope of protection of these embodiments, but rather as a prelude to the detailed description that follows.

[0008] This disclosure provides a method and apparatus for controlling an air conditioner, an air conditioner, and a storage medium, so that the flow rate setting in the circulation loop is more in line with the actual operating conditions, thereby making the air conditioner more energy-efficient.

[0009] In some embodiments, taking a cooling mode as an example, the air conditioner includes: an indoor circulation loop, which is sequentially arranged along the medium flow direction, including a water pump, an intermediate heat exchanger, a first electronic expansion valve, and an indoor unit; an energy storage device, one end of which is connected to the medium inflow end of the first electronic expansion valve, and the other end of which is connected to the medium inflow end of the water pump; the method includes: determining the actual temperature of the energy storage device when the indoor unit is operating during a first time period; controlling the outdoor unit to shut down when the actual temperature of the energy storage device meets the energy release conditions, and determining the air conditioner target temperature and the indoor ambient temperature; and controlling the opening degree of the first electronic expansion valve and the operating frequency of the water pump according to the actual temperature of the energy storage device, the air conditioner target temperature, and the indoor ambient temperature.

[0010] Optionally, the first time period is either a peak electricity consumption period or a user-defined time period.

[0011] Optionally, under cooling conditions, if T0 ≤ Tup, the actual temperature of the energy storage device satisfies the energy release condition; under heating conditions, if T0 ≥ Tlow, the actual temperature of the energy storage device satisfies the energy release condition; where T0 is the actual temperature of the energy storage device, Tup is the upper limit operating temperature of the energy storage device under cooling conditions, and Tlow is the lower limit operating temperature of the energy storage device under heating conditions.

[0012] Optionally, the opening degree of the first electronic expansion valve and the operating frequency of the water pump are controlled according to the actual temperature of the energy storage device, the target temperature of the air conditioner, and the indoor ambient temperature, including: when |ΔT|≥5, controlling the opening degree of the first electronic expansion valve to k1max and the operating frequency of the water pump to f1max; when |ΔT|<5, controlling the opening degree of the first electronic expansion valve and the operating frequency of the water pump according to the temperature difference between the actual temperature of the energy storage device and the limited operating temperature of the energy storage device; wherein, ΔT 为The temperature difference between the indoor ambient temperature and the target temperature of the air conditioner, k1max is the maximum opening of the first electronic expansion valve, and f1max is the highest operating frequency of the water pump.

[0013] Optionally, based on the temperature difference between the actual temperature of the energy storage device and its limited operating temperature, the opening degree of the first electronic expansion valve and the operating frequency of the water pump are controlled, including: when 2 ≤ |ΔT| < 5 and dt > 2, the opening degree of the electronic expansion valve 1 is controlled to be k1max and the operating frequency of the water pump is f1max × a; when 2 ≤ |ΔT| < 5 and dt ≤ 2, the opening degree of the electronic expansion valve 1 is controlled to be k1max and the operating frequency of the water pump is f1max; when 1 ≤ |ΔT| < 2 and dt > 2... Under the following conditions, the opening degree of the electronic expansion valve 1 is controlled to be k1max, and the water pump operating frequency is f1min; when 1≤|ΔT|<2 and dt≤2, the opening degree of the electronic expansion valve 1 is controlled to be k1max, and the water pump operating frequency is f1max×a; when |ΔT|<1 and dt>2, the opening degree of the electronic expansion valve 1 is controlled to be k1max×b, and the water pump operating frequency is f1min; when |ΔT|<1 and dt≤2, the opening degree of the electronic expansion valve 1 is controlled to be k1max, and the water pump operating frequency is f1min; where f1min is the minimum operating frequency of the water pump, 0<b<1, 0<a<1.

[0014] Optionally, ΔT = Tr - Tset, where Tr is the indoor ambient temperature and Tset is the target temperature for air conditioning.

[0015] Optionally, the indoor circulation loop further includes: a second electronic expansion valve, disposed between the first electronic expansion valve and the intermediate heat exchanger; a third electronic expansion valve, disposed between the water pump and the intermediate heat exchanger; a fourth electronic expansion valve, disposed between the indoor unit and the water pump; a fifth electronic expansion valve, one end connected to the energy storage device and the other end connected between the first electronic expansion valve and the second electronic expansion valve; a sixth electronic expansion valve, disposed between the energy storage device and the medium outlet end of the fourth electronic expansion valve; and a seventh electronic expansion valve, one end connected between the water pump and the third electronic expansion valve and the other end connected between the energy storage device and the sixth electronic expansion valve. The method further includes: when the indoor unit is operating during the first period, the outdoor unit is off, and the energy storage device is in the energy release mode, controlling the second, third, and sixth electronic expansion valves to close, and the fourth, fifth, and seventh electronic expansion valves to open to the maximum.

[0016] Optionally, the air conditioner further includes: an outdoor circulation loop, in which a compressor, an outdoor unit, an eighth electronic expansion valve, and an intermediate heat exchanger are sequentially arranged along the refrigerant flow direction; the method further includes: when the actual temperature of the energy storage device does not meet the energy release conditions, controlling the outdoor unit to start, and determining the air conditioner target temperature and the indoor ambient temperature; adjusting the opening degree of the first electronic expansion valve, the opening degree of the second electronic expansion valve, the water pump operating frequency, and the compressor operating frequency according to the air conditioner target temperature and the indoor ambient temperature.

[0017] In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a processor and a memory storing program instructions, the processor being configured to execute, when running the program instructions, the method for controlling an air conditioner as described in any of the above embodiments.

[0018] In some embodiments, taking the cooling mode as an example, the air conditioner includes: an indoor circulation loop, which is sequentially arranged along the medium flow direction, including a water pump, an intermediate heat exchanger, a first electronic expansion valve, and an indoor unit; an energy storage device, one end of which is connected to the medium inflow end of the first electronic expansion valve, and the other end of which is connected to the medium inflow end of the water pump; and, the device for controlling the air conditioner described in any of the above embodiments.

[0019] Optionally, the indoor circulation loop further includes: a second electronic expansion valve, disposed between the first electronic expansion valve and the intermediate heat exchanger; a third electronic expansion valve, disposed between the water pump and the intermediate heat exchanger; a fourth electronic expansion valve, disposed between the indoor unit and the water pump; a fifth electronic expansion valve, one end of which is connected to the energy storage device, and the other end of which is connected between the first electronic expansion valve and the second electronic expansion valve; a sixth electronic expansion valve, disposed between the energy storage device and the medium outlet end of the fourth electronic expansion valve; and a seventh electronic expansion valve, one end of which is connected between the water pump and the third electronic expansion valve, and the other end of which is connected between the energy storage device and the sixth electronic expansion valve.

[0020] Optionally, the air conditioner further includes: an outdoor circulation loop, in which a compressor, an outdoor unit, an eighth electronic expansion valve, and an intermediate heat exchanger are arranged sequentially along the refrigerant flow direction.

[0021] The method, apparatus, air conditioner, and storage medium for controlling an air conditioner provided in this disclosure can achieve the following technical effects:

[0022] This embodiment adjusts the opening degree of the electronic expansion valve and the operating frequency of the water pump according to actual operating conditions, making the flow rate in the circulation loop more consistent with actual conditions. Compared to related technologies, this embodiment combines the adjustment of the water pump operating frequency and the opening degree of the electronic expansion valve to achieve more precise and reasonable control of the flow rate in the circulation loop. This makes the flow rate setting in the circulation loop more closely match actual operating conditions, thereby making the air conditioner more energy-efficient and improving system energy efficiency.

[0023] The above general description and the description below are exemplary and illustrative only and are not intended to limit this application. Attached Figure Description

[0024] One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. These illustrations and drawings do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments. Elements having the same reference numerals in the drawings are shown as similar elements. The drawings are not to be scaled. And wherein:

[0025] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of an air conditioner;

[0026] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the air conditioner structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0027] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a method for controlling an air conditioner provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0028] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of another method for controlling an air conditioner provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0029] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of another method for controlling an air conditioner provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0030] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of a device for controlling an air conditioner provided in an embodiment of this disclosure. Detailed Implementation

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

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

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

[0034] The term "and / or" describes an association between objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B means: A or B, or A and B.

[0035] The term "correspondence" can refer to an association or binding relationship. The correspondence between A and B means that there is an association or binding relationship between A and B.

[0036] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in the present disclosure can be combined with each other.

[0037] Currently, in the application of home appliances, in order to separate the refrigerant circulation loop from the water circulation loop, an intermediate heat exchanger is used to achieve heat exchange between the two loops. Specifically, such as... Figure 1 As shown, taking refrigeration as an example, the water circulation loop is arranged sequentially along the water flow direction, consisting of a water pump 1, an intermediate heat exchanger 2, a first shut-off valve 3, and an indoor unit 4. The refrigerant circulation loop is arranged sequentially along the refrigerant flow direction, consisting of a compressor 5, an outdoor unit 6, a second shut-off valve 7, and an intermediate heat exchanger 2. Water and refrigerant exchange heat in the intermediate heat exchanger, and their flow directions are opposite. However, this arrangement results in low system energy efficiency, making it difficult to meet user needs.

[0038] To address the problems existing in related technologies, this disclosure adjusts the opening degree of the electronic expansion valve and the operating frequency of the water pump according to actual working conditions, making the flow rate in the circulation loop more consistent with actual working conditions. Combined with... Figure 2As shown, this embodiment of the present disclosure provides an air conditioner 200. Taking the cooling mode as an example, the air conditioner 200 includes: an indoor circulation loop and an energy storage device 8. The indoor circulation loop is arranged sequentially along the medium flow direction, including a water pump 1, an intermediate heat exchanger 2, a first electronic expansion valve 9, and an indoor unit 4. One end of the energy storage device 8 is connected to the medium inflow end of the first electronic expansion valve 9, and the other end of the energy storage device 8 is connected to the medium inflow end of the water pump 1. The indoor circulation loop also includes: a second electronic expansion valve 10, located between the first electronic expansion valve 9 and the intermediate heat exchanger 2; a third electronic expansion valve 11, located between the water pump 1 and the intermediate heat exchanger 2; a fourth electronic expansion valve 12, located between the indoor unit 4 and the water pump 1; a fifth electronic expansion valve 13, one end connected to the energy storage device 8, and the other end connected between the first electronic expansion valve 9 and the second electronic expansion valve 10; a sixth electronic expansion valve 14, located between the energy storage device 8 and the medium outlet end of the fourth electronic expansion valve 12; and a seventh electronic expansion valve 15, one end connected between the water pump 1 and the third electronic expansion valve 11, and the other end connected between the energy storage device 8 and the sixth electronic expansion valve 14. The air conditioner also includes an outdoor circulation loop, with a compressor 5, an outdoor unit 6, an eighth electronic expansion valve 16, and an intermediate heat exchanger 2 arranged sequentially along the refrigerant flow direction. Furthermore, the air conditioner also includes an electronic control system (not shown in the figure), which includes a processor. The processor is configured to adjust the opening of the electronic expansion valve and the operating frequency of the water pump according to actual operating conditions, making the flow rate in the circulation loop more consistent with those conditions. This allows for more precise and reasonable control of the flow rate in the circulation loop. Consequently, the flow rate setting in the circulation loop is more closely aligned with actual operating conditions, resulting in greater energy savings for the air conditioner and improved system energy efficiency.

[0039] Combination Figure 2 The present disclosure provides a method for controlling an air conditioner, as shown in the embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0040] like Figure 3 As shown, the method includes:

[0041] S301, when the indoor unit is in its first operating period, the processor determines the actual temperature of the energy storage device.

[0042] S302, when the actual temperature of the energy storage device meets the energy release conditions, the processor controls the outdoor unit to shut down and determines the target air conditioning temperature and the indoor ambient temperature.

[0043] S303, the processor controls the opening degree of the first electronic expansion valve and the operating frequency of the water pump based on the actual temperature of the energy storage device, the target temperature of the air conditioner and the indoor ambient temperature.

[0044] The air conditioning control method provided in this embodiment adjusts the opening degree of the electronic expansion valve and the operating frequency of the water pump according to actual operating conditions, making the flow rate in the circulation loop more consistent with the actual conditions. Simultaneously, by combining the adjustment of the water pump operating frequency and the opening degree of the electronic expansion valve, the flow rate in the circulation loop is controlled more precisely and reasonably. This makes the flow rate setting in the circulation loop more closely match the actual operating conditions, thereby making the air conditioning more energy-efficient and improving system energy efficiency.

[0045] Optionally, the first time period can be either peak electricity consumption time or a user-defined time period. Since electricity prices are higher during peak hours, the energy storage device is activated during peak hours or the user-defined time period (which users can flexibly set according to electricity prices) to power the indoor units. This results in lower air conditioning costs and better meets users' needs for low-cost air conditioning.

[0046] Optionally, in cooling mode, if T0 ≤ Tup, the actual temperature of the energy storage device meets the energy release condition; in heating mode, if T0 ≥ Tlow, the actual temperature of the energy storage device meets the energy release condition; where T0 is the actual temperature of the energy storage device, Tup is the upper limit operating temperature of the energy storage device in cooling mode, and Tlow is the lower limit operating temperature of the energy storage device in heating mode. By setting different energy release conditions according to different air conditioning operating conditions, it can be ensured that the temperature of the energy storage device is sufficient to provide electrical energy to the indoor unit, thus maintaining the normal operation of the indoor unit and improving the stability of air conditioning operation.

[0047] Optionally, the opening degree of the first electronic expansion valve and the operating frequency of the water pump are controlled according to the actual temperature of the energy storage device, the target temperature of the air conditioner, and the indoor ambient temperature, including: when |ΔT|≥5, controlling the opening degree of the first electronic expansion valve to k1max and the operating frequency of the water pump to f1max; when |ΔT|<5, controlling the opening degree of the first electronic expansion valve and the operating frequency of the water pump according to the temperature difference between the actual temperature of the energy storage device and the limited operating temperature of the energy storage device; wherein, ΔT 为 The temperature difference between the indoor ambient temperature and the target temperature of the air conditioner, k1max is the maximum opening of the first electronic expansion valve, and f1max is the highest operating frequency of the water pump. In this way, the opening of the electronic expansion valve and the operating frequency of the water pump can be controlled by the actual temperature of the energy storage device, the target temperature of the air conditioner, and the indoor ambient temperature, making the flow rate in the circulation loop more consistent with actual operating conditions. This, in turn, makes the air conditioner more energy-efficient and improves the system's energy efficiency.

[0048] Optionally, based on the temperature difference between the actual temperature of the energy storage device and its limited operating temperature, the opening degree of the first electronic expansion valve and the operating frequency of the water pump are controlled, including: when 2 ≤ |ΔT| < 5 and dt > 2, the opening degree of the electronic expansion valve 1 is controlled to be k1max and the operating frequency of the water pump is f1max × a; when 2 ≤ |ΔT| < 5 and dt ≤ 2, the opening degree of the electronic expansion valve 1 is controlled to be k1max and the operating frequency of the water pump is f1max; when 1 ≤ |ΔT| < 2 and dt > 2... Under the following conditions, the opening degree of electronic expansion valve 1 is controlled to be k1max, and the water pump operating frequency is f1min; when 1≤|ΔT|<2 and dt≤2, the opening degree of electronic expansion valve 1 is controlled to be k1max, and the water pump operating frequency is f1max×a; when |ΔT|<1 and dt>2, the opening degree of electronic expansion valve 1 is controlled to be k1max×b, and the water pump operating frequency is f1min; when |ΔT|<1 and dt≤2, the opening degree of electronic expansion valve 1 is controlled to be k1max, and the water pump operating frequency is f1min; where f1min is the minimum operating frequency of the water pump, 0<b<1, 0<a<1. In this way, the opening degree of the electronic expansion valve and the water pump operating frequency can be adjusted simultaneously based on the temperature difference between the indoor ambient temperature and the target temperature of the air conditioner, and the temperature difference between the actual temperature of the energy storage device and the limited operating temperature of the energy storage device. This allows for setting different flow rates according to the actual operating conditions of the indoor unit. Furthermore, by adjusting the opening of the electronic expansion valve, the operating frequency of the water pump can be reduced while ensuring that the flow rate in the circulation loop remains constant, thus making the air conditioner more energy-efficient.

[0049] Optionally, ΔT = Tr - Tset, where Tr is the indoor ambient temperature and Tset is the target temperature for air conditioning.

[0050] Optionally, the indoor circulation loop further includes: a second electronic expansion valve, disposed between the first electronic expansion valve and the intermediate heat exchanger; a third electronic expansion valve, disposed between the water pump and the intermediate heat exchanger; a fourth electronic expansion valve, disposed between the indoor unit and the water pump; a fifth electronic expansion valve, one end connected to the energy storage device and the other end connected between the first electronic expansion valve and the second electronic expansion valve; a sixth electronic expansion valve, disposed between the energy storage device and the medium outlet end of the fourth electronic expansion valve; and a seventh electronic expansion valve, one end connected between the water pump and the third electronic expansion valve and the other end connected between the energy storage device and the sixth electronic expansion valve. The method further includes: when the indoor unit is operating during the first period, the outdoor unit is off, and the energy storage device is in the energy release mode, controlling the second, third, and sixth electronic expansion valves to close, and the fourth, fifth, and seventh electronic expansion valves to open to the maximum.

[0051] Combination Figure 4As shown in the embodiments of this disclosure, another method for controlling an air conditioner is provided, including:

[0052] S401, when the indoor unit is operating during the first period, the processor determines the actual temperature of the energy storage device.

[0053] S402, when the actual temperature of the energy storage device meets the energy release conditions, the processor controls the outdoor unit to shut down and determines the target air conditioning temperature and the indoor ambient temperature.

[0054] S403, the processor controls the opening degree of the first electronic expansion valve and the operating frequency of the water pump based on the actual temperature of the energy storage device, the target temperature of the air conditioner and the indoor ambient temperature.

[0055] S404: When the indoor unit is in the first working period, the outdoor unit is off, and the energy storage device is in the energy release mode, the processor controls the second, third, and sixth electronic expansion valves to close, and the fourth, fifth, and seventh electronic expansion valves to open to the maximum.

[0056] The air conditioning control method provided in this disclosure adjusts the opening of the electronic expansion valve and the operating frequency of the water pump according to actual operating conditions, making the flow rate in the circulation loop more consistent with the actual conditions. Simultaneously, by combining the adjustment of the water pump operating frequency and the opening of the electronic expansion valve, the flow rate in the circulation loop is controlled more precisely and reasonably. This makes the flow rate setting in the circulation loop more closely match the actual operating conditions, thereby making the air conditioner more energy-efficient and improving system energy efficiency. Furthermore, the opening of each electronic expansion valve is adjusted according to the operating conditions of the energy storage device, enabling the energy storage device to switch between different operating conditions. Specifically, the second, third, and sixth electronic expansion valves are controlled to be closed, while the fourth, fifth, and seventh electronic expansion valves are opened to their maximum extent, allowing the energy storage device to independently supply energy to the indoor unit. This reduces air conditioning costs during peak electricity price periods.

[0057] Optionally, the air conditioner also includes: an outdoor circulation loop, in which a compressor, an outdoor unit, an eighth electronic expansion valve, and an intermediate heat exchanger are arranged sequentially along the refrigerant flow direction; the method further includes: when the actual temperature of the energy storage device does not meet the energy release conditions, controlling the outdoor unit to start, and determining the air conditioning target temperature and the indoor ambient temperature; adjusting the opening degree of the first electronic expansion valve, the opening degree of the second electronic expansion valve, the water pump operating frequency, and the compressor operating frequency according to the air conditioning target temperature and the indoor ambient temperature.

[0058] Combination Figure 5 As shown in the embodiments of this disclosure, another method for controlling an air conditioner is provided, including:

[0059] S501, when the indoor unit is in its first operating period, the processor determines the actual temperature of the energy storage device.

[0060] S502, when the actual temperature of the energy storage device meets the energy release conditions, the processor controls the outdoor unit to shut down and determines the target air conditioning temperature and the indoor ambient temperature.

[0061] S503, the processor controls the opening degree of the first electronic expansion valve and the operating frequency of the water pump based on the actual temperature of the energy storage device, the target temperature of the air conditioner and the indoor ambient temperature.

[0062] S504: When the actual temperature of the energy storage device does not meet the energy release conditions, the processor controls the outdoor unit to start and determines the target air conditioning temperature and the indoor ambient temperature.

[0063] S505, the processor adjusts the opening degree of the first electronic expansion valve, the opening degree of the second electronic expansion valve, the water pump operating frequency, and the compressor operating frequency according to the target temperature of the air conditioner and the indoor ambient temperature.

[0064] The air conditioning control method provided in this disclosure adjusts the opening degree of the electronic expansion valve and the operating frequency of the water pump according to actual operating conditions, making the flow rate in the circulation loop more consistent with the actual conditions. Simultaneously, by combining the adjustment of the water pump operating frequency and the opening degree of the electronic expansion valve, the flow rate in the circulation loop is controlled more precisely and rationally. Furthermore, when the energy storage device does not meet the energy release conditions, the outdoor unit supplies energy to the indoor unit, and the opening degrees of the first and second electronic expansion valves, the water pump operating frequency, and the compressor operating frequency are adjusted according to the target air conditioning temperature and the indoor ambient temperature. This adjusts the flow rate in the loop. Thus, the flow rate setting in the circulation loop is more closely aligned with actual operating conditions, resulting in greater energy savings for the air conditioner and improved system energy efficiency.

[0065] Combination Figure 6 As shown, this disclosure provides an apparatus 600 for controlling an air conditioner, including a processor 601 and a memory 602. Optionally, the apparatus may further include a communication interface 603 and a bus 604. The processor 601, communication interface 603, and memory 602 can communicate with each other via the bus 604. The communication interface 603 can be used for information transmission. The processor 601 can call logical instructions in the memory 602 to execute the method for controlling the air conditioner described in the above embodiment.

[0066] Furthermore, the logic instructions in the aforementioned memory 602 can be implemented as software functional units and, when sold or used as independent products, can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium.

[0067] The memory 602, as a storage medium, can be used to store software programs and computer-executable programs, such as program instructions / modules corresponding to the methods in the embodiments of this disclosure. The processor 601 executes functional applications and data processing by running the program instructions / modules stored in the memory 603, thereby implementing the method for controlling the air conditioner in the above embodiments.

[0068] The memory 602 may include a program storage area and a data storage area. The program storage area may store the operating system and applications required for at least one function. The data storage area may store data created based on the use of the terminal device. Furthermore, the memory 602 may include high-speed random access memory and may also include non-volatile memory.

[0069] Combination Figure 2 As shown in the figure, this disclosure provides an air conditioner 200. Taking the cooling mode as an example, the air conditioner 200 includes: an indoor circulation loop, an energy storage device 8, and a device for controlling the air conditioner as described in the above embodiment (not shown in the figure). The indoor circulation loop is arranged sequentially along the medium flow direction, including a water pump 1, an intermediate heat exchanger 2, a first electronic expansion valve 9, and an indoor unit 4. The energy storage device 8 has one end connected to the medium inflow end of the first electronic expansion valve 9, and the other end connected to the medium inflow end of the water pump 1. The device 600 for controlling the air conditioner is installed in the air conditioner body. The installation relationship described herein is not limited to placement inside the product, but also includes installation and connection with other components of the product, including but not limited to physical connection, electrical connection, or signal transmission connection. Those skilled in the art will understand that the device 600 for controlling the air conditioner can be adapted to feasible product bodies to achieve other feasible embodiments.

[0070] Optionally, the indoor circulation loop further includes: a second electronic expansion valve 10, a third electronic expansion valve 11, a fourth electronic expansion valve 12, a fifth electronic expansion valve 13, a sixth electronic expansion valve 14, and a seventh electronic expansion valve 15. The second electronic expansion valve 10 is located between the first electronic expansion valve 9 and the intermediate heat exchanger 2. The third electronic expansion valve 11 is located between the water pump 1 and the intermediate heat exchanger 2. The fourth electronic expansion valve 12 is located between the indoor unit 4 and the water pump 1. One end of the fifth electronic expansion valve 13 is connected to the energy storage device 8, and the other end is connected between the first electronic expansion valve 9 and the second electronic expansion valve 10. The sixth electronic expansion valve 14 is located between the energy storage device 8 and the medium outlet end of the fourth electronic expansion valve 12. One end of the seventh electronic expansion valve 15 is connected between the water pump 1 and the third electronic expansion valve 11, and the other end is connected between the energy storage device 8 and the sixth electronic expansion valve 14.

[0071] Optionally, the air conditioner also includes: an outdoor circulation loop, in which a compressor 5, an outdoor unit 6, an eighth electronic expansion valve 16, and an intermediate heat exchanger 2 are arranged sequentially along the refrigerant flow direction.

[0072] This disclosure provides a storage medium storing computer-executable instructions configured to perform the above-described method for controlling an air conditioner.

[0073] The aforementioned storage medium can be a transient computer-readable storage medium or a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.

[0074] The technical solutions of this disclosure can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes one or more instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods of this disclosure. The aforementioned storage medium can be a non-transitory storage medium, including: a USB flash drive, a portable hard drive, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk, and other media capable of storing program code; it can also be a transient storage medium.

[0075] The foregoing description and accompanying drawings fully illustrate embodiments of this disclosure to enable those skilled in the art to practice them. Other embodiments may include structural, logical, electrical, procedural, and other changes. The embodiments represent only possible variations. Individual components and functions are optional unless explicitly required, and the order of operation may vary. Parts and features of some embodiments may be included in or replace parts and features of other embodiments. Moreover, the terminology used in this application is for describing embodiments only and is not intended to limit the claims. As used in the description of embodiments and claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to equally include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Similarly, the term “and / or” as used in this application means including one or more of the associated listed items and all possible combinations thereof. Additionally, when used in this application, the term "comprise" and its variations "comprises" and / or "comprising" refer to the presence of stated features, integrals, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integrals, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprises a..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, or apparatus that includes said element. In this document, each embodiment may focus on the differences from other embodiments, and similar or identical parts between embodiments can be referred to mutually. For methods, products, etc., disclosed in the embodiments, if they correspond to the method section disclosed in the embodiments, the relevant parts can be referred to the description of the method section.

[0076] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of the embodiments of this disclosure. Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and units described above can be referred to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0077] The methods and products (including but not limited to devices and equipment) disclosed in the embodiments herein can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For instance, the division of units may be merely a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. In addition, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection between the shown or discussed units may be through some interfaces, and the indirect coupling or communication connection between devices or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms. The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units may be selected to implement this embodiment according to actual needs. Furthermore, the functional units in the embodiments of this disclosure may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

[0078] The flowcharts and block diagrams in the accompanying drawings illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to embodiments of this disclosure. In this regard, each block in a flowchart or block diagram may represent a module, segment, or portion of code containing one or more executable instructions for implementing a specified logical function. In some alternative implementations, the functions marked in the blocks may occur in a different order than that shown in the drawings. For example, two consecutive blocks may actually be executed substantially in parallel, and they may sometimes be executed in reverse order, depending on the functions involved. In the descriptions corresponding to the flowcharts and block diagrams in the accompanying drawings, the operations or steps corresponding to different blocks may also occur in a different order than disclosed in the description, and sometimes there is no specific order between different operations or steps. For example, two consecutive operations or steps may actually be executed substantially in parallel, and they may sometimes be executed in reverse order, depending on the functions involved. Each block in a block diagram and / or flowchart, and combinations of blocks in a block diagram and / or flowchart, can be implemented using a dedicated hardware-based system that performs the specified function or action, or using a combination of dedicated hardware and computer instructions.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an air conditioner, characterized in that, In cooling mode, the air conditioner includes: an indoor circulation loop, sequentially arranged along the medium flow direction, comprising a water pump, an intermediate heat exchanger, a first electronic expansion valve, and an indoor unit; an energy storage device, one end of which is connected to the medium inflow end of the first electronic expansion valve, and the other end of which is connected to the medium inflow end of the water pump; a third electronic expansion valve, disposed between the water pump and the intermediate heat exchanger; a fourth electronic expansion valve, disposed between the indoor unit and the water pump; a sixth electronic expansion valve, disposed between the energy storage device and the medium outflow end of the fourth electronic expansion valve; and a seventh electronic expansion valve, one end of which is connected between the water pump and the third electronic expansion valve, and the other end of which is connected between the energy storage device and the sixth electronic expansion valve; the method includes: Determine the actual temperature of the energy storage device when the indoor unit is operating during the first period; When the actual temperature of the energy storage device meets the energy release conditions, the outdoor unit is shut down, the third and sixth electronic expansion valves are closed, and the fourth and seventh electronic expansion valves are opened to their maximum degree; and the target air conditioning temperature and indoor ambient temperature are determined. The opening degree of the first electronic expansion valve and the operating frequency of the water pump are controlled according to the actual temperature of the energy storage device, the target temperature of the air conditioner, and the indoor ambient temperature. This includes: controlling the opening degree of the first electronic expansion valve to k1max and the operating frequency of the water pump to f1max×a when 2≤|ΔT|<5 and dt>2; controlling the opening degree of the first electronic expansion valve to k1max and the operating frequency of the water pump to f1max when 2≤|ΔT|<5 and dt≤2; and controlling the opening degree of the first electronic expansion valve to k1max and the operating frequency of the water pump to f1max when 1≤|ΔT|<2 and dt>2. The expansion valve opening is k1max, and the water pump operating frequency is f1min. When 1 ≤ |ΔT| < 2 and dt ≤ 2, the opening of the first electronic expansion valve is controlled to be k1max, and the water pump operating frequency is f1max × a. When |ΔT| < 1 and dt > 2, the opening of the first electronic expansion valve is controlled to be k1max × b, and the water pump operating frequency is f1min. When |ΔT| < 1 and dt ≤ 2, the opening of the first electronic expansion valve is controlled to be k1max, and the water pump operating frequency is f1min. Where ΔT is the temperature difference between the indoor ambient temperature and the air conditioning target temperature, dt is the temperature difference between the actual temperature of the energy storage device and the limited operating temperature of the energy storage device, k1max is the maximum opening of the first electronic expansion valve, f1max is the highest operating frequency of the water pump, f1min is the lowest operating frequency of the water pump, and 0 < b < 1, 0 < a < 1.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first time period is either the peak electricity consumption period or a user-defined time period.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Under refrigeration conditions, if T0≤Tup, then the actual temperature of the energy storage device meets the energy release condition. Under heating conditions, if T0 ≥ Tlow, then the actual temperature of the energy storage device meets the energy release condition. Where T0 is the actual temperature of the energy storage device, Tup is the upper limit operating temperature of the energy storage device under cooling conditions, and Tlow is the lower limit operating temperature of the energy storage device under heating conditions.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control of the opening degree of the first electronic expansion valve and the operating frequency of the water pump based on the actual temperature of the energy storage device, the target temperature of the air conditioner, and the indoor ambient temperature also includes: When |ΔT|≥5, the opening degree of the first electronic expansion valve is controlled to be k1max, and the operating frequency of the water pump is f1max.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, ΔT = Tr - Tset, where Tr is the indoor ambient temperature and Tset is the target temperature for air conditioning.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The indoor circulation loop also includes: a second electronic expansion valve, disposed between the first electronic expansion valve and the intermediate heat exchanger; and a fifth electronic expansion valve, one end of which is connected to the energy storage device, and the other end of which is connected between the first and second electronic expansion valves; the method further includes: When the indoor unit is in its first working period, the outdoor unit is off, and the energy storage device is in the energy release mode, the second electronic expansion valve is closed, and the fifth electronic expansion valve is at its maximum opening.

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

8. An air conditioner, characterized in that, In cooling mode, the air conditioner includes: The indoor circulation loop is sequentially arranged along the medium flow direction, including a water pump, an intermediate heat exchanger, a first electronic expansion valve, and an indoor unit. An energy storage device, one end of which is connected to the medium inflow end of the first electronic expansion valve, and the other end of which is connected to the medium inflow end of the water pump. The third electronic expansion valve is located between the water pump and the intermediate heat exchanger; The fourth electronic expansion valve is located between the indoor unit and the water pump; The sixth electronic expansion valve is located between the energy storage device and the medium outlet end of the fourth electronic expansion valve; The seventh electronic expansion valve is connected at one end between the water pump and the third electronic expansion valve, and at the other end between the energy storage device and the sixth electronic expansion valve; and, The device for controlling an air conditioner as described in claim 7.

9. The air conditioner according to claim 8, characterized in that, The indoor circulation loop also includes: The second electronic expansion valve is located between the first electronic expansion valve and the intermediate heat exchanger; The fifth electronic expansion valve is connected at one end to the energy storage device and at the other end between the first electronic expansion valve and the second electronic expansion valve.

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

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