Refrigeration system, control method of a refrigeration system, and air conditioner

Abstract

The application provides a refrigeration system, a control method of the refrigeration system and an air conditioner. The refrigeration system comprises a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger and an outdoor heat exchanger, the exhaust port of the compressor is connected with the indoor heat exchanger, the indoor heat exchanger is connected with the outdoor heat exchanger, the outdoor heat exchanger is connected with the suction port of the compressor; a defrosting heat exchange device has a refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet, the refrigerant inlet of the defrosting heat exchange device is connected between the exhaust port of the compressor and the indoor heat exchanger in an on-off manner, the refrigerant outlet of the defrosting heat exchange device is connected between the outdoor heat exchanger and the suction port of the compressor; and at least part of the defrosting heat exchange device is arranged on the indoor side of the outdoor coil of the outdoor heat exchanger, so as to heat the refrigerant in the outdoor coil and realize defrosting. The refrigeration system of the application ensures that the defrosting process is completed in a non-stop state, and the indoor heating is normally carried out in the defrosting process, thereby avoiding the defect that the indoor temperature is lowered in the conventional defrosting mode and improving the use experience of the user.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of electrical technology, and in particular to refrigeration systems, control methods for refrigeration systems, and air conditioners. Background Technology

[0002] In related technologies, when air conditioners are heating in winter, frost easily forms on the outdoor heat exchanger due to the low outdoor temperature. Frost buildup will cause fin blockage, reduced airflow, increased thermal resistance, and poor heat exchange efficiency, thus further resulting in poor heating performance of the entire machine.

[0003] The existing method involves shutting down the compressor for defrosting by switching the four-way valve, heating the outdoor heat exchanger, and cooling the indoor heat exchanger. When the outdoor heat exchanger is frosted to a certain extent, the compressor is stopped, the four-way valve is switched, and the compressor starts running. After defrosting is completed, the compressor stops, the four-way valve is switched again, and then the compressor starts again to complete the entire defrosting process.

[0004] The existing defrosting method described above does not operate the indoor fan of the air conditioner during defrosting, meaning that the air conditioner cannot heat normally in defrosting mode, and the temperature in the entire room will drop significantly, resulting in a decrease in human comfort. In addition, the existing defrosting method requires the four-way valve to switch twice and the compressor to be stopped during the defrosting process, resulting in poor energy efficiency of the entire system. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This invention provides a refrigeration system, a control method for the refrigeration system, and an air conditioner to overcome the deficiencies in the prior art and achieve the following technical effects: ensuring that the defrosting process is completed without shutting down the system, and that indoor heating continues normally during the defrosting process, avoiding the indoor temperature drop defect of traditional defrosting methods, and improving the user experience.

[0006] A refrigeration system according to a first aspect of the present invention includes:

[0007] The compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, and an outdoor heat exchanger are provided. The exhaust port of the compressor is connected to the indoor heat exchanger, the indoor heat exchanger is connected to the outdoor heat exchanger, and the outdoor heat exchanger is connected to the intake port of the compressor.

[0008] A defrosting heat exchange device has a refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet. The refrigerant inlet of the defrosting heat exchange device can be switched between the exhaust port of the compressor and the indoor heat exchanger. The refrigerant outlet of the defrosting heat exchange device is connected between the outdoor heat exchanger and the suction port of the compressor.

[0009] At least a portion of the defrosting heat exchange device is disposed inside the outdoor coil of the outdoor heat exchanger for heating the refrigerant in the outdoor coil and achieving defrosting.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the defrosting heat exchange device includes a bypass pipeline, a defrosting heat exchange pipeline, and a throttling element connected in sequence;

[0011] The inlet of the bypass pipe forms the refrigerant inlet, the outlet of the throttling device forms the refrigerant outlet, and the defrost heat exchange pipe is arranged inside the outdoor coil to heat the refrigerant in the outdoor coil and achieve defrosting.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a refrigerant channel is formed inside the outdoor coil, and the defrosting heat exchange pipeline is disposed inside the refrigerant channel;

[0013] Furthermore, the outdoor coil has a first opening and a second opening on its wall that connects to the refrigerant passage. The bypass pipe extends into the first opening to connect to the defrost heat exchange pipe, and the throttling device extends into the second opening to connect to the defrost heat exchange pipe.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a first sealing element is provided between the first opening and the bypass pipeline, and a second sealing element is provided between the second opening and the throttling element.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the outdoor coil is a hollow annular pipe, a refrigerant passage is defined between the outer and inner peripheral walls of the outdoor coil, and a hollow passage is defined by the inner peripheral wall of the outdoor coil, and the defrosting heat exchange pipe is installed in the hollow passage.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the defrosting heat exchange pipeline extends along the extension direction of the outdoor coil, and the total length of the defrosting heat exchange pipeline is greater than or equal to the total length of the outdoor coil.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the throttling element is a capillary tube, the inlet of the capillary tube is connected to the defrost heat exchange pipeline, and the outlet of the capillary tube forms the refrigerant outlet and is connected to the suction port of the compressor.

[0018] Alternatively, the throttling element is a throttling pipeline equipped with a throttling valve, the opening of which is adjustable.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the central axis of the outdoor coil coincides with the central axis of the defrosting heat exchange pipeline.

[0020] According to a second aspect embodiment of the present invention, a control method based on the above-described refrigeration system includes:

[0021] Obtain the temperature detected by the defrost sensor installed on the outdoor heat exchanger;

[0022] Once the temperature detected by the defrost sensor is determined to be lower than the first set temperature, the defrost mode is entered, and the defrost mode is exited once the temperature detected by the defrost sensor is higher than the second set temperature.

[0023] In the defrost mode, the refrigerant inlet of the defrost heat exchange device is connected to the exhaust port of the compressor.

[0024] An air conditioner according to a third aspect embodiment of the present invention includes:

[0025] The refrigeration system as described in the first aspect of the present invention.

[0026] This invention proposes a refrigeration system that incorporates a defrost heat exchange device. The high-temperature refrigerant flowing from the compressor's exhaust port is diverted into this device, where it defrosts the outdoor heat exchanger. This ensures the defrosting process is completed without shutting down the system, while indoor heating continues normally during defrosting. This avoids the temperature drop that occurs with traditional defrosting methods, improving the user experience. Furthermore, the high-temperature refrigerant in the defrost heat exchange device provides sufficient heat for the outdoor heat exchanger's heat absorption process, significantly increasing its heat exchange capacity, reducing the compressor's workload, and ultimately improving the air conditioner's heating efficiency and performance. Attached Figure Description

[0027] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in this invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of this invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0028] Figure 1 This is one of the structural schematic diagrams of the refrigeration system provided by the present invention;

[0029] Figure 2 This is the second schematic diagram of the refrigeration system provided by the present invention;

[0030] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the steps of the control method for the refrigeration system provided by the present invention;

[0031] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the electronic device provided by the present invention.

[0032] Figure label:

[0033] 1. Compressor; 11. Inlet; 12. Outlet;

[0034] 2. Indoor heat exchanger; 3. Outdoor heat exchanger; 31. Outdoor coil;

[0035] 41. Bypass piping; 42. Defrosting heat exchange piping; 43. Capillary tube; 44. Electronic expansion valve; 45. Switch valve; 5. Throttling device; 6. Outdoor fan. Detailed Implementation

[0036] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the technical solutions of this invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this invention without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0037] The following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, illustrates a refrigeration system and an air conditioner incorporating the refrigeration system provided by the present invention.

[0038] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the refrigeration system according to a first aspect embodiment of the present invention includes a compressor 1, an indoor heat exchanger 2, an outdoor heat exchanger 3, and a defrosting heat exchange device.

[0039] The discharge port 12 of compressor 1 is connected to indoor heat exchanger 2, indoor heat exchanger 2 is connected to outdoor heat exchanger 3, and outdoor heat exchanger 3 is connected to the suction port 11 of compressor 1. A throttling device 5 is also provided between indoor heat exchanger 2 and outdoor heat exchanger 3. Indoor coil (not shown in the figure) is provided in indoor heat exchanger 2, and outdoor coil 31 is provided in outdoor heat exchanger 3.

[0040] The defrosting heat exchange device has a refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet. The refrigerant inlet of the defrosting heat exchange device can be switched on and off between the exhaust port 12 of the compressor 1 and the indoor heat exchanger 2. The refrigerant outlet of the defrosting heat exchange device is connected between the outdoor heat exchanger 3 and the suction port 11 of the compressor 1.

[0041] At least part of the defrosting heat exchange device is installed inside the outdoor coil 31 of the outdoor heat exchanger 3 to heat the refrigerant in the outdoor coil 3 and achieve defrosting.

[0042] The refrigeration system according to an embodiment of the present invention operates on the following principle:

[0043] When the air conditioner is in normal heating mode, the refrigerant inlet of the defrost heat exchanger is disconnected from the exhaust port 12 of the compressor 1. High-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant is discharged from the exhaust port 12 of the compressor 1, dissipates heat to the indoor environment through the indoor heat exchanger 2, and then passes through the throttling device 5 to become low-temperature refrigerant. This low-temperature refrigerant then flows through the outdoor heat exchanger 3 to absorb heat, and finally returns to the suction port 11 of the compressor 1 and is recompressed by the compressor 1, completing one heating cycle. It is understandable that as the air conditioner operates in heating mode, the frost layer on the outdoor heat exchanger 3 will gradually increase in thickness. At this time, the heat exchange effect of the outdoor heat exchanger 3 will become increasingly worse, and the temperature of the defrost sensor located on the outdoor heat exchanger 3 will also decrease.

[0044] When the temperature of the defrost sensor is lower than the set value t1, the system performs defrosting. The specific operation and defrosting process of the defrosting mode are as follows: The refrigerant inlet of the defrosting heat exchange device is connected to the exhaust port 12 of the compressor 1. When the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant is discharged from the exhaust port 12 of the compressor 1, the refrigerant is divided into two paths. One path of refrigerant passes through the indoor heat exchanger 2, and the other path of refrigerant directly enters the defrosting heat exchange device through the refrigerant inlet. At this time, the low-temperature refrigerant flowing out of the indoor heat exchanger 2 flows through the outdoor heat exchanger 3. Since at least part of the defrosting heat exchange device is located inside the outdoor coil 31 of the outdoor heat exchanger 3, heat exchange will occur between the defrosting heat exchange device and the outdoor heat exchanger 3. Specifically, the defrosting heat exchange device heats the low-temperature refrigerant in the outdoor coil 31 located outside it, thereby achieving the defrosting effect on the outer peripheral wall of the outdoor coil.

[0045] During the heat exchange process between the defrosting heat exchange device and the indoor heat exchanger 2, on the one hand, the high-temperature refrigerant in the defrosting heat exchange device heats the low-temperature refrigerant in the outdoor coil 31 of the outdoor heat exchanger 3, thereby indirectly heating and melting the frost on the outside of the outdoor coil 31 to achieve defrosting. On the other hand, the high-temperature refrigerant in the defrosting heat exchange device can also provide sufficient heat for the heat absorption process of the outdoor heat exchanger 3, thereby greatly improving the heat exchange capacity of the outdoor heat exchanger 3, reducing the workload of the compressor 1, and thus improving the heating efficiency and heating effect of the air conditioner.

[0046] Furthermore, during the defrosting process described above, compressor 1 did not stop, and the four-way valve did not switch directions, so indoor heating proceeded normally. Therefore, the refrigeration system proposed in this invention can achieve defrosting without stopping the machine and ensure the normal operation of indoor heating.

[0047] Furthermore, the two refrigerants do not merge before the suction port 11 of compressor 1. Instead, after passing through the outdoor heat exchanger 3 and the defrost heat exchanger, the two refrigerants merge at the suction port 11 of compressor 1 and enter compressor 1 for compression. When the temperature of the defrost sensor is higher than the set value t2, the system exits the defrost mode. At this time, the refrigerant inlet of the defrost heat exchanger is disconnected from the discharge port 12 of compressor 1, and the air conditioner resumes normal heating mode.

[0048] In related technologies, when air conditioners are heating in winter, frost easily forms on the outdoor heat exchanger due to the low outdoor temperature. Frost buildup will cause fin blockage, reduced airflow, increased thermal resistance, and poor heat exchange efficiency, thus further resulting in poor heating performance of the entire machine.

[0049] The existing method involves shutting down the compressor for defrosting by switching the four-way valve, heating the outdoor heat exchanger, and cooling the indoor heat exchanger. When the outdoor heat exchanger is frosted to a certain extent, the compressor is stopped, the four-way valve is switched, and the compressor starts running. After defrosting is completed, the compressor stops, the four-way valve is switched again, and then the compressor starts again to complete the entire defrosting process.

[0050] The existing defrosting method described above does not operate the indoor fan of the air conditioner during defrosting, meaning that the air conditioner cannot heat normally in defrosting mode, and the temperature in the entire room will drop significantly, resulting in a decrease in human comfort. In addition, the existing defrosting method requires the four-way valve to switch twice and the compressor to be stopped during the defrosting process, resulting in poor energy efficiency of the entire system.

[0051] To address the technical deficiencies in the aforementioned related technologies, this invention proposes a refrigeration system incorporating a defrost heat exchange device. The high-temperature refrigerant flowing from the exhaust port 12 of the compressor 1 is diverted into this device, where it defrosts the outdoor heat exchanger 3. This ensures the defrosting process is completed without shutting down the system, while indoor heating continues normally during defrosting. This avoids the indoor temperature drop inherent in traditional defrosting methods, improving the user experience. Furthermore, the high-temperature refrigerant in the defrost heat exchange device provides sufficient heat for the outdoor heat exchanger 3's heat absorption process, significantly enhancing its heat exchange capacity, reducing the workload of the compressor 1, and ultimately improving the air conditioner's heating efficiency and performance.

[0052] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the defrosting heat exchange device includes a bypass pipe 41, a defrosting heat exchange pipe 42, and a throttling element connected in sequence.

[0053] The inlet of the bypass pipe 41 forms a refrigerant inlet, and the outlet of the throttling device forms a refrigerant outlet. The defrost heat exchange pipe 42 is installed inside the outdoor coil 3 to heat the refrigerant in the outdoor coil 3 and achieve defrosting.

[0054] In this embodiment, when the air conditioner enters the defrost mode, the inlet of the bypass pipe 41 (that is, the refrigerant inlet of the defrost heat exchange device) is connected to the exhaust port 12 of the compressor 1. The high-temperature refrigerant flowing out of the exhaust port 12 of the compressor 1 is divided into two paths. One path of high-temperature refrigerant flows through the indoor heat exchanger 2 and the throttling device 5 in sequence, becomes low-temperature refrigerant, and flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 3. The other path of high-temperature refrigerant enters the defrost heat exchange pipe 42 through the bypass pipe 41. At this time, the high-temperature refrigerant in the defrost heat exchange pipe 42 exchanges heat with the outdoor heat exchanger 3, thereby realizing the defrosting of the outdoor heat exchanger 3 and the heating of the low-temperature refrigerant in the outdoor heat exchanger 3. After the heat exchange, the refrigerant enters the throttling device and becomes low-temperature refrigerant. After the refrigerant flows out of the throttling device, it merges with the refrigerant flowing out of the outdoor heat exchanger 3. The merged refrigerant enters the compressor 1 and continues the next cycle.

[0055] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a refrigerant channel is formed inside the outdoor coil 3, and the defrost heat exchange pipeline 42 is located inside the refrigerant channel.

[0056] Furthermore, the outdoor coil 3 has a first opening and a second opening on its wall that connect to the refrigerant passage. A bypass pipe 41 extends into the first opening to connect to the defrost heat exchange pipe 42, and a throttling element extends into the second opening to connect to the defrost heat exchange pipe 42. This design is simple and easy to manufacture.

[0057] Furthermore, a first seal is provided between the first opening and the bypass pipe 41, and a second seal is provided between the second opening and the throttling device. This ensures the refrigerant passage is airtight and prevents refrigerant leakage. For example, the first and second seals can be rubber rings.

[0058] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the outdoor coil 31 is a hollow annular pipe, with a refrigerant passage defined between the outer and inner peripheral walls of the outdoor coil 31, and a hollow passage defined by the inner peripheral wall of the outdoor coil 31. The defrost heat exchange pipe 42 is installed inside the hollow passage. In this way, the structure has better sealing performance and is more stable.

[0059] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the defrost heat exchange pipe 42 is further installed close to the outdoor coil 3. This improves the heating effect of the defrost heat exchange pipe 42 on the refrigerant in the outdoor coil 3, thereby further improving the defrost efficiency in defrost mode.

[0060] like Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the central axis of the outdoor coil 31 coincides with the central axis of the defrost heat exchange pipeline 42. This makes the refrigerant in the outdoor coil 31 heated more evenly, improving defrost efficiency.

[0061] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the defrosting heat exchange pipe 42 extends along the extension direction of the outdoor coil 31, and the total length of the defrosting heat exchange pipe 42 is greater than or equal to the total length of the outdoor coil 31. This ensures that every part of the outdoor coil 31 can be heated by the defrosting heat exchange pipe 42, avoiding incomplete defrosting.

[0062] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the throttling element can be a capillary tube, a throttling valve, or an electronic expansion valve, etc., and the present invention does not impose any special limitations. It can be understood that the throttling valve can play a role in heat dissipation and throttling of the refrigerant, ensuring that the refrigerant flowing out of the defrosting heat exchange device can meet the return gas requirements of the compressor 1, and ensuring the normal operation of the compressor 1.

[0063] like Figure 1 As shown, in one embodiment of the present invention, the throttling element is a capillary tube 43. The inlet of the capillary tube 43 is connected to the defrost heat exchange pipeline 42, and the outlet of the capillary tube 43 forms a refrigerant outlet and is connected to the suction port 11 of the compressor 1.

[0064] like Figure 2 As shown, in another embodiment of the present invention, the throttling element is a throttling pipeline equipped with a throttling valve or an electronic expansion valve 44, the opening of which is adjustable.

[0065] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, according to some embodiments of the present invention, a switch valve 45 with adjustable opening is provided on the bypass pipeline 41. Thus, when it is necessary to enter the defrost mode, the controller can directly control the switch valve 45 to open, thereby connecting the defrost heat exchange pipeline 42 with the exhaust port 12 of the compressor 1; when it is necessary to exit the defrost mode, the controller can directly control the switch valve 45 to disconnect the defrost heat exchange pipeline 42 from the exhaust port 12 of the compressor 1.

[0066] like Figure 3 As shown, the present invention also provides a control method for a refrigeration system based on the structure of the refrigeration system described above, the control method comprising:

[0067] Step S1: Obtain the detected temperature of the defrost sensor installed on the outdoor heat exchanger 3;

[0068] Step S2: Determine that the temperature detected by the defrost sensor is lower than the first set temperature, enter the defrost mode, and exit the defrost mode when the temperature detected by the defrost sensor is higher than the second set temperature.

[0069] In defrost mode, the refrigerant inlet of the defrost heat exchanger is connected to the exhaust port 12 of the compressor 1, which means the switch valve 45 on the bypass line 41 is opened. When exiting defrost mode, the switch valve 45 on the bypass line 41 is closed.

[0070] According to the control method of the refrigeration system of the present invention, the high-temperature refrigerant flowing out of the exhaust port 12 of the compressor 1 is guided to the defrost heat exchange device, and the high-temperature refrigerant in the defrost heat exchange device is used to defrost the outdoor heat exchanger 3, thereby ensuring that the defrost process is completed without stopping the machine, and the indoor heating is carried out normally during the defrost process, avoiding the defect of indoor temperature drop under the traditional defrost method and improving the user experience.

[0071] According to a third aspect of the present invention, an air conditioner includes a compressor 1, an indoor heat exchanger 2, an outdoor heat exchanger 3, and a defrosting heat exchange device. The refrigerant inlet of the defrosting heat exchange device is connected to the exhaust port 12 of the compressor 1 through a switching valve 45, and its refrigerant outlet is connected to the suction port 11 of the compressor 1 through an electronic expansion valve 44. The defrosting heat exchange device is used to heat the outdoor heat exchanger 3 to achieve defrosting.

[0072] The following describes a control method for an air conditioner based on the third aspect embodiment described above. Before detailing the control method, the overall application scenario is first described. The air conditioner control method, control device, electronic device, and computer-readable storage medium of this invention can be applied to the air conditioner itself, to cloud platforms in the Internet field, or to other types of cloud platforms in the Internet field, or to third-party devices. These third-party devices may include various types such as mobile phones, tablets, laptops, in-vehicle computers, and other smart terminals.

[0073] The following description uses only the control method applicable to air conditioners as an example. It should be understood that the control method of this embodiment can also be applied to cloud platforms and third-party devices.

[0074] A method for controlling an air conditioner according to a fourth aspect of the present invention includes:

[0075] Step 100: Obtain the temperature of the outdoor coil 31 of the outdoor heat exchanger 3, and compare the outdoor coil 31 temperature with the set defrost temperature (i.e., the first set temperature mentioned above).

[0076] Step 200: Determine that the temperature of the outdoor coil 31 is lower than the set defrost temperature, and control the switch valve 45 to open to enter the defrost mode.

[0077] The air conditioner control method according to the embodiments of the present invention has the same working process as the description of the working process of the refrigeration system above, and will not be repeated here.

[0078] Therefore, according to the air conditioning control method of the present invention, a defrosting heat exchange device is added to the refrigeration system. The high-temperature refrigerant flowing out of the exhaust port 12 of the compressor 1 is diverted to the defrosting heat exchange device. The high-temperature refrigerant in the defrosting heat exchange device is used to defrost the outdoor heat exchanger 3, thereby ensuring that the defrosting process is completed without stopping the system. During the defrosting process, indoor heating continues normally, avoiding the indoor temperature drop defect of traditional defrosting methods and improving the user experience. In addition, the high-temperature refrigerant in the defrosting heat exchange device can also provide sufficient heat for the heat absorption process of the outdoor heat exchanger 3, thereby greatly improving the heat exchange capacity of the outdoor heat exchanger 3, reducing the workload of the compressor 1, and thus improving the heating efficiency and heating effect of the air conditioner.

[0079] According to some embodiments of the present invention, after determining that the outdoor coil 31 temperature is lower than the set defrost temperature and controlling the switch valve 45 to open to enter the defrost mode, the air conditioner control method further includes:

[0080] Obtain the frosting status of outdoor heat exchanger 3, and determine the frosting level of outdoor heat exchanger 3 based on the frosting status;

[0081] Adjust the opening of the electronic expansion valve 44 according to the frosting level of the outdoor heat exchanger 3.

[0082] In this embodiment, by adjusting the opening degree of the electronic expansion valve 44, the flow rate of the refrigerant in the defrosting heat exchange device can be adjusted, thereby adjusting the heating effect of the defrosting heat exchange device on the outdoor heat exchanger 3. It can be understood that when the opening degree of the electronic expansion valve 44 is larger, the flow rate of the refrigerant in the defrosting heat exchange device is larger, the defrosting heat exchange device provides more heat to the outdoor heat exchanger 3, and its heating effect is better; when the opening degree of the electronic expansion valve 44 is smaller, the flow rate of the refrigerant in the defrosting heat exchange device is smaller, and the defrosting heat exchange device provides less heat to the indoor heat exchanger 2.

[0083] However, given a fixed total refrigerant flow rate in the system, adjusting the opening of the electronic expansion valve 44 will indirectly affect the refrigerant flow rate in the indoor heat exchanger 2, thus affecting the heating effect of the air conditioner. It can be understood that the larger the opening of the electronic expansion valve 44, the larger the refrigerant flow rate in the defrost heat exchanger, and the smaller the refrigerant flow rate in the indoor heat exchanger 2, thus affecting the heating effect; conversely, the smaller the opening of the electronic expansion valve 44, the smaller the refrigerant flow rate in the defrost heat exchanger, and the larger the refrigerant flow rate in the indoor heat exchanger 2, resulting in a better heating effect.

[0084] Therefore, as can be seen from the above analysis, during the defrosting process, the opening of the electronic expansion valve 44 is not necessarily better the larger it is. The adjustment of the opening of the electronic expansion valve 44 should simultaneously consider the balance between the defrosting effect and the heating effect. Therefore, this method provides an implementation method that obtains the frosting condition of the outdoor heat exchanger 3 and determines its frosting level, thereby facilitating the adjustment of the opening of the electronic expansion valve 44 according to the frosting level. This ensures that the opening of the electronic expansion valve 44 is not blindly fully open or fully closed, while prioritizing the defrosting effect in the defrosting mode and avoiding excessive impact on the heating effect of the air conditioner.

[0085] In some specific embodiments of the present invention, the frosting level of the outdoor heat exchanger 3 includes light frosting, moderate frosting, and heavy frosting.

[0086] The steps for adjusting the opening of the electronic expansion valve 44 according to the frosting level of the outdoor heat exchanger 3 specifically include:

[0087] Based on the frosting level being light frosting, adjust the opening of the electronic expansion valve 44 to the first set opening.

[0088] Based on the frosting level being moderate frosting, adjust the opening of the electronic expansion valve 44 to the second set opening.

[0089] Based on the frosting level being heavy frosting, adjust the opening of the electronic expansion valve 44 to the third set opening.

[0090] The first set opening is less than the second set opening, and the second set opening is less than the third set opening.

[0091] As can be seen from the above embodiments, when the frosting level of the outdoor heat exchanger 3 is high (e.g., heavy frosting), the system prioritizes defrosting the outdoor heat exchanger 3. At this time, the controller controls the opening of the electronic expansion valve 44 to maintain a large opening value (e.g., the third set opening value), thereby quickly defrosting the outdoor heat exchanger 3. When the frosting level of the outdoor heat exchanger 3 is low (e.g., light frosting), the system simultaneously takes heating into account during the defrosting process. At this time, the controller controls the opening of the electronic expansion valve 44 to maintain a low opening value (e.g., the first set opening value). In this way, on the one hand, while meeting the defrosting requirements of the outdoor heat exchanger 3, it can also ensure that the refrigerant flow rate in the indoor heat exchanger 2 is at a high level, thereby ensuring the heating effect of the air conditioner. On the other hand, it achieves the matching of the frosting level and the refrigerant flow rate in the defrosting heat exchange device, avoids energy loss in the defrosting heat exchange device, and improves the system energy efficiency.

[0092] It should also be noted that the first, second, and third preset openings mentioned above are all preset values. The first, second, and third preset openings can be determined by the default settings in the system or by the user's preset settings. This invention does not impose any special limitations on the acquisition method or the specific size of the first, second, and third preset openings.

[0093] Furthermore, the steps of obtaining the frosting condition of the outdoor heat exchanger 3 and determining the frosting level of the outdoor heat exchanger 3 based on the frosting condition specifically include:

[0094] Determine the frosting condition based on the outdoor coil temperature (31).

[0095] When the temperature of the outdoor coil 31 is lower than the first set temperature, the frosting condition is determined to be mild, and the frosting level is mild frosting.

[0096] When the temperature of the outdoor coil 31 is lower than the second set temperature, and the frosting condition is determined to be mild, the frosting level is moderate.

[0097] If the temperature of the outdoor coil 31 is lower than the third set temperature, and the frosting condition is determined to be mild, then the frosting level is severe frosting.

[0098] The first set high temperature is greater than the second set temperature, and the second set temperature is greater than the third set temperature.

[0099] It is understood that the temperature of the outdoor coil 31 can reflect the current frosting condition of the outdoor heat exchanger 3. Specifically, the lower the temperature of the outdoor coil 31, the more severe the frosting of the outdoor heat exchanger 3; the higher the temperature of the outdoor coil 31, the less severe the frosting of the outdoor heat exchanger 3. Therefore, in this embodiment, by obtaining the temperature of the outdoor coil 31, the frosting condition of the outdoor heat exchanger 3 can be indirectly determined, and then the frosting degree of the outdoor heat exchanger 3 can be classified into frosting levels to obtain the current frosting level of the outdoor heat exchanger 3.

[0100] It should also be noted that the first, second, and third set temperatures mentioned above are all preset values. The first, second, and third set temperatures can be determined by the default settings in the system or by the user's preset settings. This invention does not impose any special limitations on the acquisition method or the specific value of the first, second, and third set temperatures.

[0101] According to some embodiments of the present invention, after determining that the outdoor coil 31 temperature is lower than the set defrost temperature and controlling the switch valve 45 to open to enter the defrost mode, the air conditioner control method further includes:

[0102] Obtain the indoor coil temperature of indoor heat exchanger 2 and compare the priority of the air conditioner's heating mode and defrosting mode.

[0103] If the indoor coil temperature is determined to be lower than the target heating temperature, and the priority of the heating mode is higher than that of the defrost mode, the opening of the electronic expansion valve 44 is reduced until the indoor coil temperature reaches the target heating temperature.

[0104] In this invention, due to the special nature of the air conditioner structure proposed in this invention, the air conditioner of this invention can run both defrost mode and heating mode simultaneously. When defrost mode and indoor heating mode are running simultaneously, the opening degree of the electronic expansion valve 44 will affect the refrigerant flow rate in the indoor heat exchanger 2 and the defrost heat exchange device. Thus, if the refrigerant flow rate in the defrost heat exchange device is too high when the defrost mode is running, the heating effect of the air conditioner on the indoor environment may be affected.

[0105] Therefore, in order to ensure good heating performance of the air conditioner during defrost mode operation, this embodiment compares the priorities of the air conditioner's heating mode and defrost mode. When the indoor coil temperature is lower than the target heating temperature (meaning that the air conditioner's heating performance has not met the target heating requirements) and the priority of the heating mode is greater than that of the defrost mode, the controller will control the opening of the electronic expansion valve 44 to decrease, thereby reducing the proportion of refrigerant flow in the defrost heat exchange device and increasing the proportion of refrigerant flow in the indoor heat exchanger 2, which in turn causes the indoor coil temperature of the indoor heat exchanger 2 to gradually increase.

[0106] Furthermore, once the indoor coil temperature of the indoor heat exchanger 2 rises to the target heating temperature, the controller will no longer reduce the opening of the electronic expansion valve 44. At this time, the heating effect of the indoor heat exchanger 2 will be guaranteed, that is, the heating effect of the air conditioner will meet the target heating requirements.

[0107] In another embodiment of the present invention, if it is determined that the indoor coil temperature is lower than the target heating temperature, but the priority of the heating mode is lower than the priority of the defrosting mode, the controller will not adjust the opening of the electronic expansion valve 44. At this time, the system will prioritize the defrosting effect of the air conditioner.

[0108] According to some embodiments of the present invention, after determining that the outdoor coil 31 temperature is lower than the set defrost temperature and controlling the switch valve 45 to open to enter the defrost mode, the air conditioner control method further includes:

[0109] Once the switching valve 45 is confirmed to be in the open state, the compressor 1 is controlled to perform a frequency increase operation.

[0110] Thus, due to the opening of the switch valve 45, a portion of the refrigerant will be diverted out, resulting in a reduction in the refrigerant flow into the indoor heat exchanger 2, which in turn weakens the heating capacity of the indoor heat exchanger 2. Therefore, in order to restore the refrigerant flow of the indoor heat exchanger 2 to its original level and avoid a decrease in its heating capacity, the system will control the frequency of the compressor 1 to increase, thereby increasing the total refrigerant flow of the system to maintain the flow in the indoor heat exchanger 2.

[0111] Furthermore, the steps for controlling compressor 1 to perform frequency increase operation specifically include:

[0112] The frequency increase value of compressor 1 is determined based on the opening degree of electronic expansion valve 44, and compressor 1 is frequency increased accordingly. The opening degree of electronic expansion valve 44 is positively correlated with the frequency increase value of compressor 1.

[0113] In this embodiment, the larger the opening of the electronic expansion valve 44, the greater the flow of refrigerant diverted by the defrosting heat exchange device, which means that the flow of refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger 2 is smaller than its original flow.

[0114] Therefore, in order to compensate for the missing refrigerant flow in the indoor heat exchanger 2, the system will determine the amount of missing refrigerant flow in the indoor heat exchanger 2 based on the opening degree of the electronic expansion valve 44, thereby determining the required frequency increase value for the compressor 1 and increasing the frequency of the compressor 1.

[0115] In this way, by increasing the total refrigerant flow of the system, the missing refrigerant flow in the indoor heat exchanger 2 is replenished. Furthermore, taking into account the influence of the opening degree of the electronic expansion valve 44 on the refrigerant flow, the refrigerant flow of the indoor heat exchanger 2 can always be restored to the original level under different opening degrees of the electronic expansion valve 44.

[0116] For example, when the opening degree of the electronic expansion valve 44 is in the first opening degree range, the system controls the compressor 1 to increase the frequency by a first frequency value; when the opening degree of the electronic expansion valve 44 is in the second opening degree range, the system controls the compressor 1 to increase the frequency by a second frequency value, wherein the first opening degree range is smaller than the second opening degree range, and the first frequency value is smaller than the second frequency value.

[0117] According to some embodiments of the present invention, after determining that the outdoor coil 31 temperature is lower than the set defrost temperature and controlling the switch valve 45 to open to enter the defrost mode, the air conditioner control method further includes:

[0118] Once the air conditioner has entered defrost mode, the speed of the outdoor fan 6 is reduced to the set speed.

[0119] Thus, in defrost mode, by reducing the speed of the outdoor fan 6, the temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger 3 can be increased, thereby accelerating the defrosting process. The outdoor fan 6 is a DC fan, which can dynamically match the system load.

[0120] According to some embodiments of the present invention, after determining that the outdoor coil 31 temperature is lower than the set defrost temperature and controlling the switch valve 45 to open to enter the defrost mode, the air conditioner control method further includes:

[0121] In defrost mode, if the temperature of the outdoor coil 31 is found to be higher than the set exit temperature, the control switch valve 45 is closed to exit the defrost mode.

[0122] The control device for an air conditioner provided by the present invention will be described below. The control device for an air conditioner described below can be referred to in correspondence with the control method for an air conditioner described above.

[0123] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioner control device includes a compressor 1, an indoor heat exchanger 2, an outdoor heat exchanger 3, and a defrosting heat exchange device. The refrigerant inlet of the defrosting heat exchange device is connected to the exhaust port 12 of the compressor 1 through a switching valve 45, and its refrigerant outlet is connected to the suction port 11 of the compressor 1 through an electronic expansion valve 44. The defrosting heat exchange device is used to heat the outdoor heat exchanger 3 to achieve defrosting.

[0124] The control device includes:

[0125] The acquisition module is used to acquire the temperature of the outdoor coil 31 of the outdoor heat exchanger 3 and compare the outdoor coil 31 temperature with the set defrost temperature.

[0126] The control module is used to determine that the temperature of the outdoor coil 31 is lower than the set defrost temperature, and to control the opening of the switch valve 45 to enter the defrost mode.

[0127] Figure 4An example is a schematic diagram of the physical structure of an electronic device, such as... Figure 4 As shown, the electronic device may include a processor 810, a communication interface 820, a memory 830, and a communication bus 840. The processor 810, communication interface 820, and memory 830 communicate with each other via the communication bus 840. The processor 810 can call logic instructions in the memory 830 to execute an air conditioner control method. This method includes: acquiring the temperature of the outdoor coil 31 of the outdoor heat exchanger 3, and comparing the outdoor coil 31 temperature with a set defrost temperature; determining that the outdoor coil 31 temperature is lower than the set defrost temperature, and controlling the switch valve 45 to open to enter defrost mode.

[0128] Furthermore, the logical instructions in the aforementioned memory 830 can be implemented as software functional units and, when sold or used as independent products, can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present invention, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or a part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several 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 the various embodiments of the present invention. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0129] On the other hand, the present invention also provides a computer program product, which includes a computer program that can be stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. When the computer program is executed by a processor, the computer can execute an air conditioner control method, which includes: acquiring the temperature of the outdoor coil 31 of the outdoor heat exchanger 3 and comparing the outdoor coil 31 temperature with a set defrost temperature; determining that the outdoor coil 31 temperature is lower than the set defrost temperature, and controlling the switch valve 45 to open to enter the defrost mode.

[0130] In another aspect, the present invention also provides a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, implements an air conditioner control method, the method comprising: acquiring the temperature of the outdoor coil 31 of the outdoor heat exchanger 3, and comparing the outdoor coil 31 temperature with a set defrost temperature; determining that the outdoor coil 31 temperature is lower than the set defrost temperature, and controlling the switch valve 45 to open to enter the defrost mode.

[0131] The device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and 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 modules can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs. Those skilled in the art can understand and implement this without any creative effort.

[0132] Through the above description of the embodiments, those skilled in the art can clearly understand that each embodiment can be implemented by means of software plus necessary general-purpose hardware platforms, and of course, it can also be implemented by hardware. Based on this understanding, the above technical solutions, in essence or the part that contributes to the prior art, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, such as ROM / RAM, magnetic disk, optical disk, etc., including several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute the methods of various embodiments or some parts of embodiments.

[0133] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A refrigeration system, characterized in that, include: The compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, and an outdoor heat exchanger are provided. The exhaust port of the compressor is connected to the indoor heat exchanger, the indoor heat exchanger is connected to the outdoor heat exchanger, and the outdoor heat exchanger is connected to the intake port of the compressor. A defrosting heat exchange device has a refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet. The refrigerant inlet of the defrosting heat exchange device can be switched between the exhaust port of the compressor and the indoor heat exchanger. The refrigerant outlet of the defrosting heat exchange device is connected between the outdoor heat exchanger and the suction port of the compressor. At least a portion of the defrosting heat exchange device is disposed inside the outdoor coil of the outdoor heat exchanger for heating the refrigerant in the outdoor coil and achieving defrosting; The defrosting heat exchange device includes a bypass pipe, a defrosting heat exchange pipe, and a throttling device connected in sequence; the inlet of the bypass pipe forms the refrigerant inlet, the outlet of the throttling device forms the refrigerant outlet, and the defrosting heat exchange pipe is arranged inside the outdoor coil to heat the refrigerant in the outdoor coil and achieve defrosting. When the air conditioner enters the defrost mode, the inlet of the bypass pipe is connected to the exhaust port of the compressor. The high-temperature refrigerant flowing out of the compressor exhaust port is divided into two paths. One path of high-temperature refrigerant flows through the indoor heat exchanger and the throttling device in sequence, becomes low-temperature refrigerant, and flows into the outdoor heat exchanger. The other path of high-temperature refrigerant enters the defrost heat exchange pipe through the bypass pipe. The throttling device includes an electronic expansion valve with adjustable opening. The air conditioner's control device acquires the indoor coil temperature of the indoor heat exchanger and compares the priorities of the air conditioner's heating mode and defrost mode. If the indoor coil temperature is determined to be lower than the target heating temperature, and the heating mode has a higher priority than the defrost mode, the control device reduces the opening of the electronic expansion valve until the indoor coil temperature reaches the target heating temperature. The outdoor coil is a hollow annular pipe, with a refrigerant passage defined between its outer and inner peripheral walls, and a hollow passage defined by the inner peripheral wall of the outdoor coil. The defrost heat exchange pipe is installed within the hollow passage and is closely attached to the outdoor coil.

2. The refrigeration system according to claim 1, characterized in that, A refrigerant passage is formed inside the outdoor coil, and the defrosting heat exchange pipeline is located inside the refrigerant passage. Furthermore, the outdoor coil has a first opening and a second opening on its wall that connects to the refrigerant passage. The bypass pipe extends into the first opening to connect to the defrost heat exchange pipe, and the throttling device extends into the second opening to connect to the defrost heat exchange pipe.

3. The refrigeration system according to claim 2, characterized in that, A first sealing element is provided between the first opening and the bypass pipeline, and a second sealing element is provided between the second opening and the throttling element.

4. The refrigeration system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The defrosting heat exchange pipeline extends along the extension direction of the outdoor coil, and the total length of the defrosting heat exchange pipeline is greater than or equal to the total length of the outdoor coil.

5. The refrigeration system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The throttling device is a capillary tube, the inlet of which is connected to the defrost heat exchange pipeline, and the outlet of which forms the refrigerant outlet and is connected to the suction port of the compressor. Alternatively, the throttling element is a throttling pipeline equipped with a throttling valve, the opening of which is adjustable.

6. The refrigeration system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The central axis of the outdoor coil coincides with the central axis of the defrosting heat exchange pipeline.

7. A control method for a refrigeration system based on any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, include: Obtain the temperature detected by the defrost sensor installed on the outdoor heat exchanger; Once the temperature detected by the defrost sensor is determined to be lower than the first set temperature, the defrost mode is entered, and the defrost mode is exited once the temperature detected by the defrost sensor is higher than the second set temperature. In the defrost mode, the refrigerant inlet of the defrost heat exchange device is connected to the exhaust port of the compressor.

8. An air conditioner, characterized in that, include: The refrigeration system as described in any one of claims 1 to 6.

Images