Circulating water delivery device, air conditioner, humidification control method and device

Abstract

The application relates to the air conditioning technical field, and relates to a circulating water conveying device, an air conditioner, a humidification control method and a device. The air conditioner comprises an outdoor unit, an indoor unit and a circulating water conveying device; the rotating shaft of the circulating water conveying device is rotatably arranged between a second water storage tank and a first water storage tank; the water conveying pipe is spirally wound on the rotating shaft, so that the rotating shaft drives the water conveying pipe to synchronously rotate; two ends of the water conveying pipe are respectively provided with a first pipe opening and a second pipe opening along the axial extension direction of the rotating shaft; the first pipe opening is located in the first water storage tank, and the second pipe opening is located in the second water storage tank; when the rotating shaft rotates, water can flow between the second water storage tank and the first water storage tank through the water conveying pipe. The first water storage tank is arranged in the outdoor unit and is used for receiving water generated during defrosting; the second water storage tank is arranged in the indoor unit and is used for receiving indoor condensate water. The air conditioner can utilize the self-generated water for humidification, the problem of frequent manual water adding is solved, the use convenience is ensured, and the user experience is improved.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the air conditioning technical field, and in particular, relates to a circulating water delivery device, an air conditioner, a humidification control method and device. BACKGROUND

[0002] Air conditioners are widely used to adjust the temperature of the environment; among them, the air conditioner is easy to make the air humidity drop in the process of heating; in the process of air conditioner refrigeration, due to the indoor evaporator in the dehumidification state, in the long time use process of air conditioner, it is also easy to make the air humidity drop. Therefore, in the related art, the humidity of the indoor environment is adjusted by the indoor humidification device during the operation of the air conditioner to improve the comfort.

[0003] However, the humidifier provided by the related art for the air conditioner needs frequent manual water addition when in use, which is inconvenient to use and has poor user experience. SUMMARY

[0004] The present application solves the problem of how to improve the problem that the humidifier provided by the air conditioner needs frequent manual water addition, ensures the convenience of use, and improves the user experience.

[0005] To solve the above problems, in a first aspect, the present application provides a circulating water delivery device, comprising:

[0006] a first water storage tank;

[0007] a second water storage tank;

[0008] a rotating shaft, the rotating shaft being rotatably arranged between the second water storage tank and the first water storage tank; and

[0009] a water delivery pipe, the water delivery pipe being spirally wound on the rotating shaft to make the rotating shaft drive the water delivery pipe to rotate synchronously; the two ends of the water delivery pipe are respectively provided with a first pipe opening and a second pipe opening along the axial extension direction of the rotating shaft; the first pipe opening is located in the first water storage tank, and the second pipe opening is located in the second water storage tank;

[0010] When the rotating shaft rotates, water can flow between the second water storage tank and the first water storage tank through the water delivery pipe.

[0011] The rotating shaft drives the water conveying pipe to rotate, so that water can flow between the first water storage tank and the second water storage tank through the water conveying pipe, that is, water in the first water storage tank can flow into the second water storage tank through the water conveying pipe, and water in the second water storage tank can flow into the first water storage tank through the water conveying pipe. When the circulating water conveying device is applied to an air conditioner, one of the first water storage tank and the second water storage tank can be used to receive water generated when the outdoor unit is defrosted during air conditioning heating or condensate water of the indoor unit during air conditioning cooling, and the collected water can be conveyed to the other one of the first water storage tank and the second water storage tank through the water conveying pipe. In addition, one of the first water storage tank and the second water storage tank can be connected to a humidifier, so that the water generated by defrosting or the condensate water can be conveyed to the humidifier. Therefore, the circulating water conveying device can improve the problem that the humidifier provided in the air conditioner needs to be frequently manually supplied with water during use, thereby ensuring the convenience of use and improving the user experience.

[0012] In an optional embodiment, along the up-down direction, the second water storage tank is located above the first water storage tank, and the rotating shaft of the rotating shaft has an acute angle with the horizontal plane.

[0013] The acute angle between the rotating shaft of the rotating shaft and the horizontal plane can ensure that the water in the first water storage tank located below can be conveyed to the second water storage tank through the water conveying pipe in an oblique upward direction, thereby ensuring the reliability of the water conveying pipe wound in a spiral shape around the rotating shaft in conveying water between the first water storage tank and the second water storage tank.

[0014] In an optional embodiment, the maximum angle θmax between the rotating shaft of the rotating shaft and the horizontal plane satisfies arctan(λ / 2 / (R1+R2)); wherein,

[0015] R1 is the diameter of the rotating shaft, R2 is the diameter of the water conveying pipe, and λ is the spiral wavelength of the water conveying pipe.

[0016] The inclination angle of the rotating shaft should not be too large. The angle between the rotating shaft of the rotating shaft and the horizontal plane is optimized to reliably ensure that the water in the first water storage tank located below can be conveyed to the second water storage tank through the water conveying pipe in an oblique upward direction, thereby ensuring the reliability of the water conveying pipe wound in a spiral shape around the rotating shaft in conveying water between the first water storage tank and the second water storage tank.

[0017] In an optional embodiment, the diameter R1 of the rotating shaft, the diameter R2 of the water conveying pipe, and the size of the angle θ between the rotating shaft of the rotating shaft and the horizontal plane satisfy: 0.1×R2≤R1≤0.3×R2, R2≤λ≤3×R2, and the range of θ is [0.2×θmax, 0.9×θmax].

[0018] The inclination angle of the rotating shaft should not be too small, and the angle between the rotating axis of the rotating shaft and the horizontal plane is optimized to reliably ensure that the water in the first water storage tank below can be transported to the second water storage tank through the water conveying pipe obliquely upward, thereby ensuring the reliability of the water conveying device in conveying water between the first water storage tank and the second water storage tank through the water conveying pipe spirally wound on the rotating shaft.

[0019] In an optional embodiment, the circulating water conveying device further comprises a gear coaxially connected with the rotating shaft.

[0020] By coaxially connecting the gear with the rotating shaft, the structure of the circulating water conveying device can be miniaturized and the occupied space can be reduced.

[0021] In an optional embodiment, at least one of the first water storage tank and the second water storage tank is provided with a water level sensor.

[0022] The water level sensor facilitates detection of the water level, so that the water in the first water storage tank is conveyed to the second water storage tank through the water conveying pipe, or the water in the second water storage tank is conveyed to the first water storage tank through the water conveying pipe, as needed according to the water level.

[0023] In a second aspect, the present application provides an air conditioner comprising an outdoor unit, an indoor unit, and the circulating water conveying device of any one of the preceding embodiments; the first water storage tank is arranged in the outdoor unit and is used to receive water generated by defrosting; and the second water storage tank is arranged in the indoor unit and is used to receive indoor condensate water.

[0024] When the air conditioner is heating, the first water storage tank can be used to receive water generated by defrosting; when the air conditioner is cooling, the second water storage tank can be used to receive condensate water; and the water conveying pipe spirally wound on the rotating shaft can make the water flow between the first water storage tank and the second water storage tank, i.e., the defrosting water received by the first water storage tank can flow into the second water storage tank, or the condensate water received by the second water storage tank can flow into the first water storage tank; when the first water storage tank or the second water storage tank is connected to a humidifier, the humidifier can be used for humidification without manual water addition, i.e., the condensate water or the defrosting water generated by the air conditioner can enter the humidifier through the first water storage tank or the second water storage tank to complete the humidification, which can improve the problem of frequent manual water addition, ensure the convenience of use, and improve the user experience.

[0025] In an optional embodiment, the air conditioner further comprises a humidifier in communication with the second water storage tank through a pipeline.

[0026] Since the second water storage tank is used to receive condensate water of the indoor unit, the second water storage tank can be arranged in the indoor unit, and the humidifier can be arranged in the indoor unit in communication with the second water storage tank to humidify the indoor air.

[0027] When the air conditioner is cooling, the condensate water of the indoor unit is received by the second water storage tank, and can flow into the humidifier from the second water storage tank for humidification. Since the water in the second water storage tank can flow to the first water storage tank through the water conveying pipe, when the humidifier is filled with water or the water stored in the second water storage tank exceeds the preset water level, the water in the second water storage tank can be transported to the first water storage tank for temporary storage. When the water in the second water storage tank is insufficient to supplement into the humidifier, the water in the first water storage tank can be transported to the second water storage tank again through the water conveying pipe, so as to supplement the water to the humidifier.

[0028] When the air conditioner is cooling, the condensate water of the indoor unit is received by the second water storage tank, and can flow into the humidifier from the second water storage tank for humidification. Since the water in the second water storage tank can flow to the first water storage tank through the water conveying pipe, when the humidifier is filled with water or the water stored in the second water storage tank exceeds the preset water level, the water in the second water storage tank can be transported to the first water storage tank for temporary storage. When the water in the second water storage tank is insufficient to supplement into the humidifier, the water in the first water storage tank can be transported to the second water storage tank again through the water conveying pipe, so as to supplement the water to the humidifier.

[0029] In an optional embodiment, the pipeline is provided with a valve for controlling the opening and closing of the pipeline.

[0030] The valve can be used to control the pipeline connecting the second water storage tank and the humidifier to be blocked when the humidifier is filled with water, so that the second water storage tank no longer supplies water to the humidifier, thereby ensuring the safe use of the humidifier.

[0031] In an optional embodiment, the outdoor unit comprises a compressor, and the gas outlet bypass of the compressor is used to insulate the first water storage tank.

[0032] The first water storage tank can be insulated by the gas outlet bypass of the compressor, so as to prevent the water in the first water storage tank from freezing due to low temperature, thereby ensuring the reliability of humidification using the water generated by defrosting.

[0033] In a third aspect, the present application provides a humidification control method applied to the air conditioner of the foregoing embodiments, and the second water storage tank of the air conditioner is used to communicate with the humidifier through a pipeline;

[0034] The humidification control method comprises:

[0035] According to the working condition, the water is transported between the first water storage tank and the second water storage tank of the air conditioner; and

[0036] The water in the second water storage tank is controlled to flow to the humidifier.

[0037] According to the working condition, the water is transported between the first water storage tank and the second water storage tank of the air conditioner, so that the water generated by defrosting or the water generated by condensation can be added to the humidifier for indoor environment humidification when the air conditioner is cooling or heating, respectively. Furthermore, manual frequent water supply is not required, thereby ensuring the convenience of use and improving the user experience.

[0038] In an optional embodiment, the step of transporting the water between the first water storage tank and the second water storage tank of the air conditioner according to the working condition comprises:

[0039] In heating mode, the control shaft rotates in a first direction to allow water in the first water tank to flow to the second water tank via a water pipe; or...

[0040] In refrigeration mode, the control shaft rotates in the second direction so that the water in the second water tank flows to the first water tank through the water pipe.

[0041] The first direction is opposite to the second direction, and the spiral direction of the water pipe is opposite to the first direction.

[0042] In heating mode, the water generated during defrosting of the outdoor unit is collected in the first water tank. The shaft rotates in the first direction, while the spiral direction of the water pipe is opposite to the first direction. This ensures that the water pipe rotates synchronously with the shaft, allowing water from the first water tank to be transferred to the second water tank. From there, the water generated after defrosting is transferred to the humidifier to replenish its water supply. In cooling mode, the condensate generated by the indoor unit is collected in the second water tank and transferred to the humidifier to replenish its water supply. When the water in the second water tank reaches a certain level or the humidifier is full, the shaft can be rotated in the second direction, allowing water from the second water tank to be transferred to the first water tank for temporary storage via the water pipe. If the water in the second water tank is insufficient to replenish the humidifier, water from the first water tank can be transferred back to the second water tank via the water pipe to replenish the humidifier. In this way, when the air conditioner is heating or cooling, the water or condensate produced during defrosting can be reliably delivered to the humidifier, thereby reducing the need for frequent manual water refills, ensuring ease of use, and improving the user experience.

[0043] In an optional embodiment, under heating conditions, the step of controlling the rotating shaft to rotate in a first direction so that water in the first water tank flows to the second water tank through the water pipe includes:

[0044] Determine whether the water level h1 in the first water tank satisfies: hmin1≤h1;

[0045] Determine whether the water level h2 in the second water tank satisfies: h2≤hmax2;

[0046] When the water level h1 in the first water tank satisfies hmin1≤h1 and the water level h2 in the second water tank satisfies h2≤hmax2, the rotating shaft is controlled to rotate in the first direction according to the water level h1 in the first water tank.

[0047] Where hmin1 is the lowest position height of the first pipe opening in the first water storage tank, and hmax2 is the height of the second pipe opening when it is rotated to the lowest position in the second water storage tank.

[0048] In heating mode, the water in the outdoor first water tank is transported as much as possible to the indoor second water tank for storage, which can improve the problem that the water stored in the first water tank freezes due to low outdoor temperature and cannot be transported to the humidifier to complete the water filling.

[0049] In an optional implementation, the step of controlling the rotating shaft to rotate in the first direction according to the water level h1 in the first water tank includes:

[0050] Based on the water level h1 in the first water tank, the rotating shaft is controlled to rotate in the first direction at a first speed n11, a second speed n12, or a third speed n13, where the first speed n11 < the second speed n12 < the third speed n13;

[0051] When h1 satisfies: h1≥(3 / 4)×hmax1 and h2≤(1 / 2)×hmax2, the shaft rotates at the third speed n13;

[0052] When h1 satisfies: h1≤(1 / 2)×hmax1 and h2≥(3 / 4)×hmax2, the shaft rotates at the first speed n11;

[0053] When h1 does not satisfy conditions a) and b), the shaft rotates at the second speed n12;

[0054] Where hmax1 is the height of the inlet of the first water tank.

[0055] Based on the specific water level in the first water tank, the rotating shaft is controlled to rotate at different speeds, thereby allowing the water in the first water tank to be transported to the second water tank at different rates. Under heating conditions, this ensures that as much water as possible from the outdoor first water tank is transported to the indoor second water tank for storage, improving the problem that the water in the outdoor first water tank is prone to freezing, which prevents the defrosting water from being reliably delivered to the humidifier for refilling.

[0056] In an optional implementation, the humidification control method further includes:

[0057] Under heating conditions, when the water level h1 in the first water tank is greater than the water inlet height hmax1, no more defrosting water will be injected into the first water tank.

[0058] This design avoids storing too much water in the first water tank, thus preventing the formation of large amounts of ice in the first water tank due to low outdoor temperatures. This also prevents the shaft and water pipes from freezing, ensuring that the water generated during defrosting of the outdoor unit can be reliably delivered to the second water tank indoors, and ensuring the reliability of using the defrosting water to add water to the humidifier.

[0059] In an optional embodiment, under refrigeration conditions, the step of controlling the rotating shaft to rotate in the second direction so that water in the second water tank flows to the first water tank through the water pipe includes:

[0060] Determine whether the water level h2 in the second water tank has overflowed the second pipe opening;

[0061] When the water level h2 in the second water tank overflows the second pipe opening, the rotating shaft is controlled to rotate in the second direction according to the water level h2 in the second water tank.

[0062] This design allows excess water from the second water tank to be temporarily stored in the first water tank when the humidifier is full, thus ensuring a larger water storage capacity.

[0063] In an optional implementation, the step of controlling the rotation of the shaft in the second direction according to the water level h2 in the second water tank includes:

[0064] Determine whether the water level height h2 of the second water tank satisfies ε×hmax2;

[0065] When the water level height h2 in the second water tank satisfies ε×hmax2, the rotating shaft is controlled to rotate along the second direction at a fourth speed n21, a fifth speed n22, a sixth speed n23 or a seventh speed n24 according to the water level h2 in the second water tank. The sixth speed n23 ≥ the fifth speed n22 ≥ the fourth speed n21, and the seventh speed n24 is 0.

[0066] When ε∈[hmin2 / hmax2,1], the shaft rotates at the seventh rotational speed n24;

[0067] When ε∈(1, 0.8×hmax3 / hmax2], the shaft rotates at the fourth rotational speed n21;

[0068] When ε∈(0.8×hmax3 / hmax2, hmax3 / hmax2], the shaft rotates at the fifth rotational speed n22;

[0069] When ε > hmax3 / hmax2, the shaft rotates at the sixth rotational speed n23;

[0070] Wherein, ε ranges from [hmin2 / hmax2, hmax3 / hmax2]; hmin2 is the height of the outlet of the second water tank, hmax2 is the height of the second pipe opening when it rotates to the lowest position in the second water tank, and hmax3 is the height of the second pipe opening when it rotates to the highest position in the second water tank.

[0071] Based on the specific water level in the second water tank, the rotating shaft is controlled to rotate at different speeds so that the water in the second water tank can be transported to the first water tank at different rates. This ensures that while the first water tank is used to temporarily store condensate, the second water tank can deliver a sufficient amount of water to the humidifier, thus ensuring reliable humidification operation of the humidifier.

[0072] In an optional implementation, the humidification control method further includes:

[0073] Under refrigeration conditions, when the water level h1 in the first water storage tank is greater than hmax4, the water in the first water storage tank will be discharged from the drain outlet.

[0074] When the water level h1 in the first water tank is less than or equal to hmax4, neither the drain nor the inlet of the first water tank can output water from the first water tank.

[0075] Where hmax4≥hmax1, hmax1 is the height of the inlet of the first water tank.

[0076] When the water level h1 in the first water tank is greater than hmax4, the water in the first water tank can be discharged from the drain outlet to avoid overloading of the water in the first water tank, prevent the water in the first water tank from flowing back into the outdoor unit, and avoid adverse effects on the performance of the outdoor unit.

[0077] When the water level h1 in the first water tank is less than or equal to hmax4, neither the drain nor the inlet of the first water tank can output water from the first water tank. This prevents water from being reversed and sent to the outdoor unit, thus avoiding any adverse effects on the performance of the outdoor unit.

[0078] In an optional implementation, the humidification control method further includes:

[0079] The opening degree of the valves in the control pipeline is determined according to the humidifier's setting.

[0080] This setting allows water to be added at different rates according to the humidifier's humidification efficiency, avoiding excessive or insufficient water addition and ensuring the humidifier's performance.

[0081] Fourthly, the present invention provides a humidification control device applied to the air conditioner of the aforementioned embodiments, wherein the second water storage tank of the air conditioner is connected to the humidifier via a pipeline;

[0082] The humidification control device includes:

[0083] The first execution module is used to transfer water between the first and second water storage tanks of the air conditioner according to the operating conditions; and,

[0084] The second execution module is used to control the flow of water in the second water tank to the humidifier. Attached Figure Description

[0085] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the humidifier and circulating water supply device in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0086] Figure 2 This is a partial structural diagram of the rotating shaft and water pipe in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0087] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the rotating shaft, water supply pipe, and transmission wheel in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0088] Figure 4 for Figure 3 Enlarged view of section IV;

[0089] Figure 5 This is a block diagram of an air conditioner in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0090] Figure 6 This is a flowchart of the humidification control method in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0091] Figure 7 This is a flowchart of the humidification control method under heating conditions in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0092] Figure 8 This is a flowchart of the humidification control method under refrigeration conditions in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0093] Figure 9 This is a block diagram of the humidification control device in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0094] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0095] 100 - Circulating water supply device; 110 - First water storage tank; 111 - Inlet; 112 - Outlet; 120 - Second water storage tank; 121 - Outlet; 122 - Inlet; 130 - Rotating shaft; 140 - Water supply pipe; 141 - First pipe opening; 142 - Upper water supply pipe; 143 - Lower water supply pipe; 151 - First valve; 152 - Second valve; 153 - Third valve; 160 - Humidifier; 171 - Gear; 172 - Transmission wheel; 181 - First execution module; 182 - Second execution module; 200 - Controller; 300 - Storage medium; 400 - Bus; 500 - Humidification control device. Detailed Implementation

[0096] Air conditioners tend to lower air humidity during heating; similarly, during cooling, the indoor evaporator dehumidifies, leading to further humidity drops over extended use. To address this issue, technologies incorporate indoor humidification devices to regulate humidity and improve comfort.

[0097] However, humidifiers using this technology require frequent manual refilling, which is inconvenient and results in a poor user experience.

[0098] The circulating water supply device, air conditioner, humidification control method and device provided in this embodiment can improve the problem of frequent manual water addition when humidifying indoor air, ensuring ease of use and enhancing user experience.

[0099] To make the above-mentioned objects, features and advantages of the present invention more apparent and understandable, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0100] The air conditioner in this embodiment includes an outdoor unit and an indoor unit. The indoor unit is installed indoors and is used to supply hot and cold air to the room; the outdoor unit is located outdoors. The working principle of the air conditioner is similar to related technologies. When the air conditioner is heating, the outdoor unit will frost, including but not limited to the outdoor condenser. Subsequently, when the air conditioner is heating, the outdoor unit will usually defrost, which will melt the crystallized ice into water. When the air conditioner is cooling, the indoor unit will produce condensate due to the temperature difference.

[0101] It should be noted that the indoor unit can refer to either a wall-mounted unit or a floor-standing unit; no specific limitation is made here.

[0102] Further, please refer to Figure 1 The air conditioner also includes a humidifier 160, which is installed indoors to humidify the indoor air.

[0103] Furthermore, the air conditioner also includes a water circulation device 100, which can transport water between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit and deliver the water to the humidifier 160 to complete the water filling of the humidifier 160. This eliminates the need for manual water filling of the humidifier 160, ensuring the convenience of using the humidifier 160 and improving the user experience.

[0104] The circulating water supply device 100 includes a first water storage tank 110, a second water storage tank 120, a rotating shaft 130, and a water supply pipe 140. The rotating shaft 130 is rotatably disposed between the second water storage tank 120 and the first water storage tank 110. The water supply pipe 140 is spirally wound around the rotating shaft 130 so that the rotating shaft 130 drives the water supply pipe 140 to rotate synchronously. Along the axial extension direction of the rotating shaft 130, the two ends of the water supply pipe 140 are respectively provided with a first pipe opening 141 and a second pipe opening. The first pipe opening 141 is located inside the first water storage tank 110, and the second pipe opening is located inside the second water storage tank 120. When the rotating shaft 130 rotates, water can flow through the water supply pipe 140 between the second water storage tank 120 and the first water storage tank 110. The first water storage tank 110 is located in the outdoor unit and is used to collect water generated during defrosting. The second water storage tank 120 is located in the indoor unit and is used to collect indoor condensate.

[0105] The rotating shaft 130 drives the water pipe 140 to rotate, so that water can flow between the first water tank 110 and the second water tank 120 through the water pipe 140. That is, water in the first water tank 110 can flow into the second water tank 120 through the water pipe 140, and similarly, water in the second water tank 120 can flow into the first water tank 110 through the water pipe 140. When the air conditioner is heating, the first water tank 110 can be used to collect the water produced during defrosting; when the air conditioner is cooling, the second water tank 120 can be used to collect the condensate. The water pipe 140, which is spirally wound around the rotating shaft 130, allows water to flow between the first water tank 110 and the second water tank 120. That is, the defrosting water collected in the first water tank 110 can flow into the second water tank 120, or the condensate collected in the second water tank 120 can flow into the first water tank 110. Whether the first water tank 110 or the second water tank 120 is connected to the humidifier 160, humidification can be performed without manual addition of water to the humidifier 160. That is, the condensate or defrosting water produced by the air conditioner can enter the humidifier 160 through the first water tank 110 or the second water tank 120 to complete the humidification operation. This can improve the problem of frequent manual water addition, ensure the convenience of use, and enhance the user experience.

[0106] In order to reliably humidify indoor air using the humidifier 160, the humidifier 160 is installed indoors and is connected to the second water tank 120 via a pipe.

[0107] When the air conditioner is cooling, the condensate from the indoor unit is collected by the second water tank 120 and can flow from the second water tank 120 into the humidifier 160 for humidification. Since the water in the second water tank 120 can flow to the first water tank 110 via the water pipe 140, the water in the second water tank 120 can be temporarily stored in the first water tank 110 when the humidifier 160 is full or when the water in the second water tank 120 exceeds the preset water level. When the water in the second water tank 120 is insufficient to replenish the humidifier 160, the water in the first water tank 110 can be returned to the second water tank 120 via the water pipe 140 for replenishment. When the air conditioner is heating, the water generated during defrosting of the outdoor unit is collected by the first water tank 110 and can flow from the first water tank 110 into the second water tank 120 and then into the humidifier 160, thus humidifying the indoor air during heating.

[0108] Furthermore, the pipeline is equipped with a valve (hereinafter referred to as the second valve 152) to control the opening and closing of the pipeline.

[0109] The valve is designed to prevent the pipe connecting the second water tank 120 and the humidifier 160 from being filled with water when the humidifier 160 is full, thus preventing the second water tank 120 from adding water to the humidifier 160 and ensuring the safe use of the humidifier 160.

[0110] In this embodiment, the first water storage tank 110 is provided with an inlet 111 and a drain outlet 112. In the vertical direction, the inlet 111 is located above the drain outlet 112. The inlet 111 is used to allow water generated by the defrosting of the outdoor unit to enter the first water storage tank 110, and the drain outlet 112 is used to discharge the water stored in the first water storage tank 110.

[0111] Furthermore, the circulating water supply device 100 also includes a third valve 153 and a first valve 151. The inlet 111 is connected to the outdoor unit through a pipeline, for example, to the chassis of the outdoor unit, so that the water generated by the defrosting of the outdoor unit can be input into the first water storage tank 110 through the corresponding pipeline and the inlet 111. The first valve 151 is set on the pipeline connected to the inlet 111 to control the opening and closing of the inlet 111, that is, to control the water flow through the inlet 111 to enter and exit the first water storage tank 110. The drain outlet 112 can discharge the water in the first water storage tank 110 through the corresponding pipeline. The third valve 153 is set on the pipeline connected to the drain outlet 112, so that the opening and closing of the drain outlet 112 can be controlled by the third valve 153, that is, to control the water flow through the drain outlet 112 to enter and exit the first water storage tank 110.

[0112] It should be noted that, in order to ensure ease of control, the first valve 151, the second valve 152, and the third valve 153 can all be solenoid valves.

[0113] The second water tank 120 is provided with a water outlet 121, which is connected to the humidifier 160 through a pipeline so that the water in the second water tank 120 can enter the pipeline through the water outlet 121 and then enter the humidifier 160.

[0114] Furthermore, the second water storage tank 120 is also provided with a water inlet 122, which is located above the water outlet 121 in the vertical direction; the condensate generated by the air conditioner can enter the second water storage tank 120 from the water inlet 122.

[0115] In this embodiment, the second water tank 120 is located above the first water tank 110 along the vertical direction, and the rotation axis of the rotating shaft 130 forms an acute angle with the horizontal plane; the two ends of the rotating shaft 130 are respectively obliquely inserted into the first water tank 110 and the second water tank 120. This configuration ensures that, on the one hand, the second water tank 120 can reliably receive the condensate generated by the indoor unit, and the first water tank 110 can reliably receive the defrosting water generated by the outdoor unit. This, in turn, ensures that the circulating water supply device 100 can deliver water to the humidifier 160 without requiring manual refilling of the humidifier 160. On the other hand, by configuring the rotation axis of the rotating shaft 130 to an acute angle with the horizontal plane, it ensures that the water in the lower first water tank 110 can be delivered obliquely upward through the water supply pipe 140 to the second water tank 120. This, in turn, ensures the reliability of the circulating water supply device 100 in delivering water between the first water tank 110 and the second water tank 120 through the water supply pipe 140, which is spirally wound around the rotating shaft 130.

[0116] To ensure that the water supply pipe 140 can reliably rotate synchronously with the rotating shaft 130, the water supply pipe 140 is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft 130 so that there is no relative displacement between the water supply pipe 140 and the rotating shaft 130 when the rotating shaft 130 rotates; the water supply pipe 140 includes, but is not limited to, a flexible water supply hose. The connection method between the water supply pipe 140 and the rotating shaft 130 includes, but is not limited to, adhesive bonding and snap-fit ​​bonding.

[0117] Please refer to Figure 2 When it is necessary to transfer water from the first water tank 110 to the second water tank 120, the rotating shaft 130 rotates in the first direction, and the spiral direction of the water supply pipe 140 is opposite to the first direction. For example, the rotating shaft 130 rotates in the clockwise direction, and the water supply pipe 140 is wound around the rotating shaft 130 in the counterclockwise direction. When the first opening 141 is submerged in the water stored in the first water tank 110, and the rotating shaft 130 rotates along the first direction, the water in the first water tank 110 can enter the water supply pipe 140 from the first opening 141. Since the spiral direction of the water supply pipe 140 is opposite to the first direction, the water supply pipe 140 within half a wavelength range of the upper water supply pipe 142 near the first opening 141 moves from top to bottom, and the lower water supply pipe 143 moves from bottom to top. The water entering the water supply pipe 140 cannot flow downward under the action of gravity. When the rotating shaft 130 rotates by an angle dα along the first direction, the water entering the water supply pipe 140 can move along the rotation axis X of the rotating shaft 130. x satisfies the relation x = λ × dα / 360, where λ is the helical wavelength. This means that as the shaft rotates, the water flows upwards along the hose and not downwards.

[0118] When it is necessary to transfer water from the second water tank 120 to the first water tank 110, the rotating shaft 130 rotates in the second direction, which is opposite to the first direction. That is, the spiral direction of the water pipe 140 is the same as the second direction.

[0119] The tilt angle of the inclined shaft 130 should not be too large, and it is necessary to ensure that the position of the second pipe opening is higher than the position of the first pipe opening 141. The maximum angle θmax between the rotation axis of the shaft 130 and the horizontal plane satisfies arctan(λ / 2 / (R1+R2)); where R1 is the diameter of the shaft 130, R2 is the diameter of the water supply pipe 140, and λ is the helical wavelength of the water supply pipe 140. It can be seen that the size of the angle θ depends on the diameter R1 of the shaft 130, the diameter R2 of the water supply pipe 140, and the helical wavelength λ of the water supply pipe 140; the larger the value of λ, the smaller θ is; conversely, the smaller the value of λ, the larger θ is. The tilt angle of the rotating shaft 130 should not be too large. Optimize the angle between the rotation axis of the rotating shaft 130 and the horizontal plane to reliably ensure that the water in the first water tank 110 located below can be transported obliquely upward through the water pipe 140 to the second water tank 120, thereby ensuring the reliability of the circulating water conveying device 100 in conveying water between the first water tank 110 and the second water tank 120 through the water pipe 140 which is spirally wound around the rotating shaft 130.

[0120] Furthermore, the diameter R1 of the rotating shaft 130, the diameter R2 of the water supply pipe 140, and the angle θ between the rotation axis of the rotating shaft 130 and the horizontal plane satisfy the following: 0.1×R2≤R1≤0.3×R2, R2≤λ≤3×R2, and the range of θ is [0.2×θmax, 0.9×θmax]. The tilt angle of the rotating shaft 130 should not be too small. Optimizing the angle between the rotation axis of the rotating shaft 130 and the horizontal plane reliably ensures that the water in the first water storage tank 110 located below can be transported obliquely upward through the water supply pipe 140 to the second water storage tank 120, thereby ensuring the reliability of the circulating water supply device 100 in transporting water between the first water storage tank 110 and the second water storage tank 120 through the water supply pipe 140, which is spirally wound around the rotating shaft 130.

[0121] In this embodiment, the water supply pipe 140 is wound around the rotating shaft 130 with a uniform pitch, meaning the pitch of the water supply pipe 140 is evenly spaced. This allows the water supply pipe 140 to uniformly and stably transport water between the first water storage tank 110 and the second water storage tank 120. Of course, in other embodiments, the pitch of the water supply pipe 140 wound around the rotating shaft 130 can be non-uniform. For example, from the direction from the first water storage tank 110 to the second water storage tank 120, the pitch of the water supply pipe 140 gradually increases or decreases, or the pitch first increases and then decreases, etc., which is not specifically limited here.

[0122] Please refer to Figure 3 and Figure 4In order to make full use of space, the circulating water conveying device 100 also includes a gear 171, which is coaxially connected to the rotating shaft 130. By coaxially connecting the gear 171 to the rotating shaft 130, the miniaturized design of the circulating water conveying device 100 structure can be ensured, reducing the space occupied.

[0123] Furthermore, the air conditioner also includes a motor and a drive wheel 172. The output shaft of the motor is connected to the drive wheel 172, and the drive wheel 172 meshes with a gear 171. When the output shaft of the motor rotates, it drives the drive wheel 172 to drive the gear 171, which in turn drives the rotating shaft 130 to rotate around its own axis. The meshing of the drive wheel 172 and the gear 171 ensures a compact structural design, makes full use of assembly space, and reduces the space occupied.

[0124] It should be noted that the gear 171 can be located at one end of the rotating shaft 130 near the first port 141 or one end near the second port, without any specific limitation.

[0125] It should also be noted that gear 171 and transmission wheel 172 can be bevel gears, cylindrical gears, etc., without specific limitations.

[0126] It should be understood that in other embodiments, the rotating shaft 130 may also be directly connected to the output shaft of the motor so as to directly drive the rotating shaft 130 to rotate using the output shaft of the motor.

[0127] The air conditioner in this embodiment also includes a compressor (not shown in the figure). The compressor's outlet bypass is used to insulate the first water storage tank 110. Optionally, the compressor's outlet bypass can deliver hot air to the first water storage tank 110 to directly heat the water inside, or deliver it to the outside of the first water storage tank 110 so that the hot air blows onto the side wall of the first water storage tank 110 to insulate the first water storage tank 110. By using the compressor's outlet bypass to insulate the first water storage tank 110, the phenomenon of water freezing in the first water storage tank 110 due to low temperatures can be prevented, thereby ensuring the reliability of humidification using the water generated during defrosting.

[0128] At least one of the first water tank 110 and the second water tank 120 is equipped with a water level sensor. The water level sensor facilitates the detection of the water level, so that water in the first water tank 110 can be transported to the second water tank 120 via the water pipe 140, or water in the second water tank 120 can be transported to the first water tank 110 via the water pipe 140, as needed according to the water level.

[0129] Furthermore, in order to facilitate the detection of the water level in the first water tank 110 and the second water tank 120, the first water tank 110 is equipped with a first water level sensor and the second water tank 120 is equipped with a second water level sensor, so that the water level height of the first water tank 110 and the second water tank 120 can be detected by the first water level sensor and the second water level sensor respectively.

[0130] Optionally, the air conditioner also includes a humidity sensor for detecting ambient humidity, thereby facilitating the control of the humidifier 160 to perform appropriate humidification based on the detected ambient humidity.

[0131] Please refer to Figure 5 The air conditioner in this embodiment also includes a controller 200. The first water level sensor, the second water level sensor, the motor, the first valve 151, the second valve 152 and the third valve 153 are all electrically connected to the controller 200. The controller 200 is used to execute an executable program so as to receive electrical control signals or send control signals.

[0132] The controller 200 can be an integrated circuit chip with signal processing capabilities. The aforementioned controller 200 can be a general-purpose processor, including a central processing unit (CPU), a network processor (NP), etc.; it can also be a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an off-the-shelf programmable gate array (FPGA), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, or discrete hardware components. It can implement or execute the relevant control methods of this embodiment.

[0133] The air conditioner also includes a storage medium 300, and the controller 200 can call various executable computer programs stored in the storage medium 300 that can perform corresponding functions.

[0134] Furthermore, the controller 200 is connected to the storage medium 300 via the bus 400. The storage medium 300 is used to store programs, parameters, etc., so that the controller 200 can call the relevant programs and parameters and execute the corresponding programs.

[0135] The storage medium 300 can take the form of various media capable of storing program code, such as a USB flash drive, a portable hard drive, a read-only memory (ROM), or a random access memory (RAM). In some optional embodiments, the storage medium 300 can also be integrated with the controller 200, for example, the storage medium 300 can be integrated with the controller 200 within a single chip.

[0136] Please refer to Figure 6This embodiment also provides a humidification control method for the air conditioner in this embodiment.

[0137] Humidification control methods include:

[0138] S100: Depending on the operating conditions, water is transported between the first water storage tank 110 and the second water storage tank 120 of the air conditioner.

[0139] Water is transported between the first water tank 110 and the second water tank 120 of the air conditioner according to the operating conditions. This allows the water generated during defrosting or condensation to be added to the humidifier 160 to humidify the indoor environment when the air conditioner is heating or cooling. This eliminates the need for frequent manual water replenishment, ensuring ease of use and improving the user experience.

[0140] Taking the air conditioner in this embodiment as an example, the operating conditions of the air conditioner include heating mode and cooling mode.

[0141] The steps for transferring water between the first water storage tank 110 and the second water storage tank 120 of the air conditioner, depending on the operating conditions, include:

[0142] Please refer to Figure 7 In heating mode, the control shaft 130 is rotated in the first direction so that the water in the first water tank 110 flows to the second water tank 120 through the water pipe 140.

[0143] In heating mode, the water generated during defrosting of the outdoor unit is received and collected by the first water tank 110. The rotating shaft 130 rotates in the first direction, and the spiral direction of the water supply pipe 140 is opposite to the first direction. This ensures that when the water supply pipe 140 rotates synchronously with the rotating shaft 130, the water in the first water tank 110 can be transported to the second water tank 120. The water generated after defrosting is then transported to the humidifier 160 through the second water tank 120 to complete the water filling of the humidifier 160. This also reduces the problem of frequent manual water filling, ensures the convenience of use, and improves the user experience.

[0144] In heating operation, the step of controlling the rotating shaft 130 to rotate in a first direction so that water in the first water tank 110 flows to the second water tank 120 through the water pipe 140 includes:

[0145] Determine whether the water level h1 in the first water storage tank 110 satisfies: hmin1≤h1; specifically, determine whether h1 satisfies: hmin1≤h1≤hmax1;

[0146] Determine whether the water level h2 in the second water tank 120 satisfies: h2≤hmax2; specifically, determine whether h2 satisfies: hmin2≤h2≤hmax2.

[0147] When the water level h1 in the first water tank 110 satisfies hmin1≤h1 and the water level h2 in the second water tank 120 satisfies h2≤hmax2, that is, when the water level h1 in the first water tank 110 satisfies hmin1≤h1≤hmax1 and the water level h2 in the second water tank 120 satisfies hmin2≤h2≤hmax2, the rotating shaft 130 is controlled to rotate in the first direction according to the water level h1 in the first water tank 110.

[0148] Wherein, hmin1 is the lowest position height of the first pipe opening 141 in the first water storage tank 110, hmax1 is the height of the inlet 111 of the first water storage tank 110, hmin2 is the height of the outlet 121 of the second water storage tank 120, and hmax2 is the height of the second pipe opening when it is rotated to the lowest position in the second water storage tank 120; all of the above parameters can be stored in the storage medium 300 so that the controller 200 can call each parameter.

[0149] In heating mode, the water in the outdoor first water storage tank 110 is transported to the indoor second water storage tank 120 for storage as much as possible. This can improve the problem that the water stored in the first water storage tank 110 freezes due to the low outdoor temperature and cannot be transported to the humidifier 160 to complete the water filling.

[0150] Further, the step of controlling the rotation of the rotating shaft 130 in the first direction according to the water level h1 in the first water tank 110 includes:

[0151] According to the water level h1 in the first water tank 110, the rotating shaft 130 is controlled to rotate in the first direction at a first speed n11, a second speed n12 or a third speed n13, where the first speed n11 < the second speed n12 < the third speed n13;

[0152] When h1 satisfies: h1≥(3 / 4)×hmax1 and h2≤(1 / 2)×hmax2, the shaft 130 rotates at the third speed n13;

[0153] When h1 satisfies: h1≤(1 / 2)×hmax1 and h2≥(3 / 4)×hmax2, the shaft 130 rotates at the first speed n11;

[0154] In other cases, when h1 does not satisfy conditions a) and b), the shaft 130 rotates at the second speed n12; other cases include: (1 / 2)×hmax1

[0155] ​Based on the specific water level in the first water tank 110, the rotating shaft 130 is controlled to rotate at different speeds, thereby enabling water in the first water tank 110 to be transported to the second water tank 120 at different rates. Specifically, the relationship between the water transport volume m1 of the water pipe 140 and the rotational speed n of the rotating shaft 130 satisfies: m1 = k × n, where the value of k is determined according to the diameter R2 of the water pipe 140. Therefore, given a fixed diameter R2 of the water pipe 140, the faster the rotational speed of the rotating shaft 130, the higher the water transport efficiency, i.e., the higher the water transport speed. The faster the rotation speed, the more water in the first water tank 110, the faster the shaft 130 rotates at a third speed n13. This allows the water in the first water tank 110 to be transported to the second water tank 120 more quickly. Consequently, under heating conditions, this ensures that as much water as possible from the outdoor first water tank 110 is transported to the indoor second water tank 120 for storage. This improves the problem of water in the outdoor first water tank 110 easily freezing, preventing reliable delivery of defrosting water to the humidifier 160 for refilling. When the water in the first water tank 110 is relatively low, the shaft 130 can rotate at slower speeds n12 and n11 to save energy.

[0156] It should be noted that the value of k can be obtained by looking up a table or calculated by a formula, and the corresponding tables and formulas can be stored in memory.

[0157] It should be noted that the water level h1 in the first water tank 110 is detected by the first water level sensor; and the water level information detected by the first water level sensor in the first water tank 110 is sent to the controller 200. Then, the controller 200 controls the rotating shaft 130 to rotate in the first direction according to the received water level information and the information of the lowest position height hmin1 of the first pipe port 141 in the first water tank 110, the height hmax1 of the inlet 111 of the first water tank 110, the height hmin2 of the outlet 121 of the second water tank 120, and the height hmax2 of the second pipe port when it is rotated to the lowest position in the second water tank 120.

[0158] It should be noted that, under heating conditions, when the water level h1 in the first water tank 110 is greater than the height hmax1 of the inlet 111, defrosting water will no longer be injected into the first water tank 110, and the rotation speed of the shaft 130 can be reduced to 0. Specifically, when the controller 200 receives the water level h1 of the first water tank 110 sent by the first water level sensor or the height hmax1 of the inlet 111 obtained by the controller 200, and h1 is greater than hmax1, the controller 200 sends control information to the first valve 151 to close it, so that defrosting water no longer flows into the first water tank 110. This setting can prevent the first water tank 110 from storing too much water, thereby preventing the low outdoor temperature from causing a large amount of ice to form in the first water tank 110, preventing the shaft 130 and the water pipe 140 from freezing, ensuring that the defrosting water generated by the outdoor unit can be reliably delivered to the indoor second water tank 120, and ensuring the reliability of using the defrosting water to add water to the humidifier 160.

[0159] Please refer to Figure 8 In cooling mode, the control shaft 130 rotates in the second direction so that water in the second water tank 120 flows to the first water tank 110 through the water pipe 140. The cooling mode can be a working mode that includes dehumidification.

[0160] In cooling mode, the condensate produced by the indoor unit is collected and stored in the second water tank 120, and then transported to the humidifier 160 to replenish the humidifier 160. When the water in the second water tank 120 reaches a certain amount or the humidifier 160 is full, the rotating shaft 130 can be controlled to rotate in the second direction, so that the water in the second water tank 120 is transported to the first water tank 110 for temporary storage via the water pipe 140. When the water in the second water tank 120 is insufficient to replenish the humidifier 160, the water in the first water tank 110 can be transported back to the second water tank 120 via the water pipe 140 to replenish the humidifier 160. This improves the problem of frequent manual water replenishment, ensures ease of use, and enhances the user experience.

[0161] In the cooling operation, the step of controlling the rotating shaft 130 to rotate in the second direction so that water in the second water tank 120 flows to the first water tank 110 through the water pipe 140 includes:

[0162] Determine whether the water level h2 in the second water tank 120 has overflowed the second pipe opening;

[0163] When the water level h2 in the second water tank 120 overflows the second pipe opening, the rotating shaft 130 is controlled to rotate in the second direction according to the water level h2 in the second water tank 120.

[0164] This design allows excess water in the second water tank 120 to be temporarily stored in the first water tank 110 when the humidifier 160 is full, thus ensuring a large water storage capacity.

[0165] The water level h2 in the second water tank 120 satisfies: hmin2 ≤ h2 ≤ hmax3, and h2 = ε × hmax2, where ε ranges from [hmin2 / hmax2, hmax3 / hmax2]. The step of controlling the rotation of the shaft 130 along the second direction based on the water level h2 in the second water tank 120 includes:

[0166] Determine whether the water level height h2 in the second water tank 120 satisfies ε×hmax2;

[0167] When the water level height h2 in the second water tank 120 satisfies ε×hmax2, the rotating shaft 130 is controlled to rotate in the second direction at a fourth speed n21, a fifth speed n22, a sixth speed n23 or a seventh speed n24 according to the water level h2 in the second water tank 120. The sixth speed n23 ≥ the fifth speed n22 ≥ the fourth speed n21, and the seventh speed n24 is 0.

[0168] When ε∈[hmin2 / hmax2,1], the water level h2 in the second water tank 120 does not overflow the second pipe opening, and the shaft 130 rotates at the seventh rotation speed n24;

[0169] When ε∈(1, 0.8×hmax3 / hmax2], the water level h2 in the second water tank 120 overflows the second pipe opening, and the shaft 130 rotates at the fourth rotation speed n21;

[0170] When ε∈(0.8×hmax3 / hmax2, hmax3 / hmax2], the water level h2 in the second water tank 120 overflows the second pipe opening, and the rotating shaft 130 rotates at the fifth rotation speed n22;

[0171] When ε>hmax3 / hmax2, the water level h2 in the second water tank 120 overflows the second pipe opening, and the rotating shaft 130 rotates at the sixth speed n23;

[0172] Where hmax3 is the height of the second pipe opening when it is rotated to the highest position inside the second water storage tank 120.

[0173] Based on the specific water level in the second water tank 120, the rotating shaft 130 is controlled to rotate at different speeds so that the water in the second water tank 120 can be transported to the first water tank 110 at different rates. This ensures that while the first water tank 110 temporarily stores condensate, the second water tank 120 can deliver a sufficient amount of water to the humidifier 160, thus ensuring that the humidifier 160 can reliably humidify the environment. Specifically, when the water in the second water tank 120 does not submerge the second pipe opening, there is no need to transfer the water from the second water tank 120 to the first water tank 110, and the rotating shaft 130 does not need to rotate. When the water in the second water tank 120 completely submerges the second pipe opening, the rotation speed of the rotating shaft 130 is greater than that when the water in the second water tank 120 does not completely submerge the second pipe opening. This ensures that when there is too much water in the second water tank 120, the water is quickly transferred to the first water tank 110 for temporary storage, and ensures that when there is not enough water in the second water tank 120, the rotating shaft 130 rotates slowly to save energy.

[0174] The water level height h2 of the second water tank 120 is sent to the controller 200 after the second water level sensor detects the water level height of the second water tank 120. The controller 200 can then retrieve the parameters hmin2, hmax2, and hmax3 from the storage medium 300, and execute the corresponding program based on these parameters and the detection signal, and control the rotating shaft 130 to rotate at the corresponding speed along the second direction.

[0175] Humidification control methods also include:

[0176] Under refrigeration conditions, when the water level h1 in the first water storage tank 110 is greater than hmax4, the water in the first water storage tank 110 is discharged from the drain outlet 112.

[0177] When the water level h1 of the first water tank 110 is less than or equal to hmax4, neither the drain outlet 112 nor the inlet 111 of the first water tank 110 can output water from the first water tank 110.

[0178] Wherein, the water level limit of the first water storage tank 110 is hmax4≥hmax1, and hmax1 is the height of the water inlet 111 of the first water storage tank 110.

[0179] Since hmax4≥hmax1, when the water level h1>hmax4 in the first water tank 110 is higher than the height of the inlet 111 of the first water tank 110, the water in the first water tank 110 is discharged from the drain 112, which can avoid overloading of the water in the first water tank 110, prevent the water in the first water tank 110 from flowing back into the outdoor unit, and avoid adverse effects on the performance of the outdoor unit.

[0180] Since hmax4≥hmax1, when the water level h1≤hmax4 in the first water tank 110, the water level in the first water tank 110 is less than or equal to the height of the inlet 111 of the first water tank 110. Neither the drain 112 nor the inlet 111 of the first water tank 110 can output water from the first water tank 110, which can prevent the water in the first water tank 110 from being transported back to the outdoor unit and avoid adverse effects on the performance of the outdoor unit.

[0181] Specifically, when the controller 200 receives the water level height h1 of the first water tank 110 sent by the first water level sensor, and obtains the limit water level hmax4 of the first water tank 110 from the storage medium 300, and compares h1 and hmax4, when the comparison result is h1>hmax4, the controller 200 sends control information to the third valve 153 to control the third valve 153 to open, so that the water in the first water tank 110 is discharged from the drain outlet 112; when the comparison result is h1≤hmax4, the controller sends control information to the third valve 153 and the first valve 151, so that the third valve 153 and the first valve 151 are both closed, and the water in the first water tank 110 cannot be output through the drain outlet 112 and the inlet 111.

[0182] S200: Controls the flow of water in the second water tank 120 to the humidifier 160.

[0183] Humidification control methods also include:

[0184] The opening degree of the valves in the control pipeline is determined according to the humidifier 160's speed setting. Specifically, the opening degree of the second valve 152 is e1 < e2 < e3; the speed settings of the humidifier 160 are: Q1 < Q2 < Q3, where Q1 corresponds to e1, and so on. Water is added at different rates according to the humidification efficiency of the humidifier 160 to avoid excessive or insufficient water addition, ensuring the humidifier 160's operational performance.

[0185] When the humidifier 160 is full of water, the second valve 152 closes, thus stopping the water supply to the humidifier 160 and ensuring its reliable operation, avoiding any adverse effects on its performance. Specifically, when the detection signal indicating that the humidifier 160 is full is sent to the controller 200, the controller 200 can send a control signal to the second valve 152 to close it.

[0186] Please refer to Figure 9 This embodiment also provides a humidification control device 500 for use in the air conditioner of this embodiment.

[0187] The humidification control device 500 includes:

[0188] The first execution module 181 is configured to, according to operating conditions, transfer water between the first water storage tank 110 and the second water storage tank 120 of the air conditioner; and,

[0189] The second execution module 182 is used to control the water flow in the second water tank 120 to the humidifier 160.

[0190] The implementation methods of the functions of each of the above modules can be referred to the description of the humidification control method above. It should be understood that each of the above modules can be an executable computer program that implements the corresponding function. It can be stored in the storage medium 300 and called and executed by the controller 200 to implement the corresponding function.

[0191] The humidification control device 500 includes at least one software function module that can be stored in the storage medium 300 or embedded in the operating system of the air conditioner in the form of software or firmware. After receiving the execution instruction, the controller 200 executes the above-mentioned program to implement the humidification control method disclosed above.

[0192] In summary, the air conditioner provided by the present invention can use the circulating water supply device 100 to perform humidification operation using the water generated by the air conditioner during heating or cooling, thereby improving the problem of the humidifier 160 equipped with the air conditioner requiring frequent manual water replenishment, ensuring ease of use, and enhancing the user experience.

[0193] While the present invention has been disclosed above, it is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can make various modifications and alterations without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention; therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A circulating water conveying device, characterized in that, include: The first water storage tank (110) is provided with a drain outlet (112). Second water storage tank (120); A rotating shaft (130) is rotatably disposed between the second water tank (120) and the first water tank (110); and, A water supply pipe (140) is spirally wound around the rotating shaft (130) so that the rotating shaft (130) drives the water supply pipe (140) to rotate synchronously; along the axial extension direction of the rotating shaft (130), a first pipe opening (141) and a second pipe opening are respectively provided at both ends of the water supply pipe (140); the first pipe opening (141) is located in the first water storage tank (110), and the second pipe opening is located in the second water storage tank (120); When the shaft (130) rotates, water can flow between the second water tank (120) and the first water tank (110) through the water pipe (140); The second water tank (120) is located above the first water tank (110), and the axis of rotation of the rotating shaft (130) forms an acute angle with the horizontal plane; The maximum angle θmax between the rotation axis of the rotating shaft (130) and the horizontal plane satisfies arctan(λ / 2 / (R1+R2)); where, R1 is the diameter of the rotating shaft (130), R2 is the diameter of the water supply pipe (140), and λ is the spiral wavelength of the water supply pipe (140).

2. The circulating water conveying device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The dimensions of the diameter R1 of the rotating shaft (130), the diameter R2 of the water pipe (140), and the angle θ between the rotation axis of the rotating shaft (130) and the horizontal plane satisfy: 0.1×R2≤R1≤0.3×R2, R2≤λ≤3×R2, and the range of θ is [0.2×θmax, 0.9×θmax].

3. The circulating water conveying device according to any one of claims 1-2, characterized in that, The circulating water conveying device also includes a gear (171), which is coaxially connected to the rotating shaft (130).

4. The circulating water conveying device according to any one of claims 1-2, characterized in that, At least one of the first water tank (110) and the second water tank (120) is equipped with a water level sensor.

5. An air conditioner, characterized in that, It includes an outdoor unit, an indoor unit, and a circulating water supply device as described in any one of claims 1-4; the first water storage tank (110) is disposed in the outdoor unit for receiving water generated during defrosting; the second water storage tank (120) is disposed in the indoor unit for receiving indoor condensate.

6. The air conditioner according to claim 5, characterized in that, The air conditioner also includes a humidifier (160), which is connected to the second water storage tank (120) via a pipeline.

7. The air conditioner according to claim 6, characterized in that, The pipeline is equipped with valves to control the opening and closing of the pipeline.

8. The air conditioner according to claim 5, characterized in that, The outdoor unit includes a compressor, the compressor's outlet bypass being used to insulate the first water storage tank (110).

9. A humidification control method, applied to the air conditioner of claim 5, characterized in that, The second water tank (120) of the air conditioner is connected to the humidifier (160) via a pipeline; The humidification control method includes: Depending on the operating conditions, water is transferred between the first water storage tank (110) and the second water storage tank (120) of the air conditioner; and, Control the flow of water in the second water tank (120) to the humidifier (160).

10. The humidification control method according to claim 9, characterized in that, The step of transferring water between the first water storage tank (110) and the second water storage tank (120) of the air conditioner according to the operating conditions includes: In heating mode, the rotating shaft (130) is controlled to rotate in a first direction so that water in the first water tank (110) flows through the water pipe (140) to the second water tank (120); or, In the cooling mode, the rotating shaft (130) is controlled to rotate in the second direction so that the water in the second water storage tank (120) flows to the first water storage tank (110) through the water supply pipe (140). Wherein, the first direction is opposite to the second direction, and the spiral direction of the water supply pipe (140) is opposite to the first direction.

11. The humidification control method according to claim 10, characterized in that, The step of controlling the rotating shaft (130) to rotate in a first direction under heating conditions so that water in the first water storage tank (110) flows through the water supply pipe (140) to the second water storage tank (120) includes: Determine whether the water level h1 in the first water storage tank (110) satisfies: hmin1≤h1; Determine whether the water level h2 in the second water storage tank (120) satisfies: h2≤hmax2; When the water level h1 in the first water tank (110) satisfies hmin1≤h1 and the water level h2 in the second water tank (120) satisfies h2≤hmax2, the rotating shaft (130) is controlled to rotate in the first direction according to the water level h1 in the first water tank (110). Wherein, hmin1 is the lowest position height of the first pipe opening (141) in the first water storage tank (110), and hmax2 is the height of the second pipe opening when it is rotated to the lowest position in the second water storage tank (120).

12. The humidification control method according to claim 11, characterized in that, The step of controlling the rotating shaft (130) to rotate in the first direction according to the water level h1 in the first water tank (110) includes: According to the water level h1 in the first water tank (110), the rotating shaft (130) is controlled to rotate along the first direction at a first speed n11, a second speed n12 or a third speed n13, wherein the first speed n11 < the second speed n12 < the third speed n13; a) When h1 satisfies: h1≥(3 / 4)×hmax1 and h2≤(1 / 2)×hmax2, the shaft (130) rotates at the third rotational speed n13; b) When h1 satisfies: h1≤(1 / 2)×hmax1 and h2≥(3 / 4)×hmax2, the shaft (130) rotates at the first rotational speed n11; When h1 does not satisfy conditions a) and b), the shaft (130) rotates at the second rotational speed n12; Where hmax1 is the height of the inlet (111) of the first water storage tank (110).

13. The humidification control method according to claim 12, characterized in that, The humidification control method further includes: Under the heating condition, when the water level h1 in the first water storage tank (110) is greater than the height hmax1 of the inlet (111), the defrosting water will no longer be injected into the first water storage tank (110).

14. The humidification control method according to claim 10, characterized in that, The step of controlling the rotating shaft (130) to rotate in the second direction under refrigeration conditions so that the water in the second water storage tank (120) flows to the first water storage tank (110) through the water supply pipe (140) includes: Determine whether the water level h2 in the second water storage tank (120) has overflowed the second pipe opening; When the water level h2 in the second water tank (120) overflows the second pipe opening, the rotating shaft (130) is controlled to rotate in the second direction according to the water level h2 in the second water tank (120).

15. The humidification control method according to claim 14, characterized in that, The step of controlling the rotating shaft (130) to rotate in the second direction according to the water level h2 in the second water tank (120) includes: Determine whether the water level height h2 of the second water storage tank (120) satisfies ε×hmax2; When the water level height h2 in the second water tank (120) satisfies ε×hmax2, the rotating shaft (130) is controlled to rotate along the second direction at a fourth speed n21, a fifth speed n22, a sixth speed n23 or a seventh speed n24 according to the water level h2 in the second water tank (120), wherein the sixth speed n23 ≥ the fifth speed n22 ≥ the fourth speed n21, and the seventh speed n24 is 0; When ε∈[hmin2 / hmax2,1], the shaft (130) rotates at the seventh rotational speed n24; When ε∈(1, 0.8×hmax3 / hmax2], the shaft (130) rotates at the fourth rotational speed n21; When ε∈(0.8×hmax3 / hmax2, hmax3 / hmax2], the shaft (130) rotates at the fifth rotational speed n22; When ε > hmax3 / hmax2, the shaft (130) rotates at the sixth rotational speed n23; Wherein, ε ranges from [hmin2 / hmax2, hmax3 / hmax2]; hmin2 is the height of the outlet (121) of the second water tank (120), hmax2 is the height of the second pipe opening when it rotates to the lowest position in the second water tank (120), and hmax3 is the height of the second pipe opening when it rotates to the highest position in the second water tank (120).

16. The humidification control method according to claim 14, characterized in that, The humidification control method further includes: Under refrigeration conditions, when the water level h1 of the first water storage tank (110) is greater than hmax4, the water in the first water storage tank (110) is discharged from the drain outlet (112); When the water level h1 of the first water storage tank (110) is less than or equal to hmax4, neither the drain outlet (112) nor the inlet (111) of the first water storage tank (110) can output water from the first water storage tank (110); Where hmax4≥hmax1, hmax1 is the height of the inlet (111) of the first water storage tank (110).

17. The humidification control method according to claim 9, characterized in that, The humidification control method further includes: The opening degree of the valves installed in the pipeline is controlled according to the setting of the humidifier (160).

18. A humidification control device, applied to the air conditioner according to claim 5, characterized in that, The second water tank (120) of the air conditioner is connected to the humidifier (160) via a pipeline; The humidification control device includes: The first execution module (181) is configured to, according to operating conditions, transfer water between the first water storage tank (110) and the second water storage tank (120) of the air conditioner; and, The second execution module (182) is used to control the water flow in the second water tank (120) to the humidifier (160).

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