Method for controlling the operating mode of an air conditioner

Abstract

The present application relates to the air conditioning technical field, specifically to a kind of air conditioner's operating mode control method.The present application aims to solve the problem that the operating mode of air conditioner cannot match the current environment, leading to the decline of user comfort.To this end, the control method of the present application includes: in response to the received operating mode instruction, obtaining indoor environment temperature;Determine the temperature interval in which the indoor environment temperature is located;Based on the operating mode instruction and the interval in which the indoor environment temperature is located, determine the actual operating mode of air conditioner;Control air conditioner to run in actual operating mode;Operating mode instruction includes refrigeration instruction and dehumidification instruction, and actual operating mode includes constant temperature dehumidification mode, conventional dehumidification mode and conventional refrigeration mode.The present application can always maintain the operating mode matching the current operating environment under different operating environments, control temperature and humidity to be in a relatively ideal interval, thereby meeting the comfort needs of users and improving the user experience.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of air conditioning technology, and more specifically to a method for controlling the operation mode of an air conditioner. Background Technology

[0002] The basic functions of an air conditioner are cooling and heating. During the cooling process, a dehumidification process occurs. When the coil temperature is lower than the dew point temperature of the indoor air, the moisture in the humid air entering the indoor unit will condense into water droplets during the heat exchange with the indoor heat exchanger and flow into the water collection tank along the fins of the indoor heat exchanger.

[0003] However, in some seasons, such as the transition between spring and summer, the transition between autumn and winter, the plum rain season, and coastal areas, the indoor humidity is high, but the temperature is not high. Users only need dehumidification and do not need cooling. However, when the air conditioner is turned on in dehumidification mode, the dry air that has had its moisture removed passes through the low-temperature coil during the dehumidification process, and the temperature will also drop, resulting in a lower room temperature. This makes the user experience more damp and cold, and fails to meet the user's need for air conditioning comfort.

[0004] Accordingly, a new technical solution is needed in this field to solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address at least one of the aforementioned problems in the prior art, namely, to resolve the issue of air conditioner operating modes failing to match the current environment, leading to a decrease in user comfort, this application provides an air conditioner operating mode control method, the operating mode control method comprising:

[0006] In response to the received operating mode command, the indoor ambient temperature is obtained;

[0007] Determine the temperature range within which the indoor ambient temperature falls;

[0008] The actual operating mode of the air conditioner is determined based on the operating mode command and the range of the indoor ambient temperature.

[0009] Control the air conditioner to operate in the actual operating mode;

[0010] The operating mode commands include cooling commands and dehumidification commands, and the actual operating modes include constant temperature dehumidification mode, normal dehumidification mode, and normal cooling mode.

[0011] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned air conditioner operation mode control method, the step of "determining the actual operation mode of the air conditioner based on the operation mode command and the range of the indoor ambient temperature" further includes:

[0012] If the operating mode command is a dehumidification command, and the indoor ambient temperature is less than or equal to the first preset temperature threshold, then the actual operating mode of the air conditioner is determined to be constant temperature dehumidification mode.

[0013] If the operating mode command is a dehumidification command and the indoor ambient temperature is greater than the first preset temperature threshold, then the actual operating mode of the air conditioner is determined to be the normal dehumidification mode.

[0014] If the operating mode command is a cooling command and the indoor ambient temperature is less than or equal to the second preset temperature threshold, then the actual operating mode of the air conditioner is determined to be constant temperature dehumidification mode.

[0015] If the operating mode command is a cooling command and the indoor ambient temperature is greater than the second preset temperature threshold, then the actual operating mode of the air conditioner is determined to be the normal cooling mode.

[0016] Wherein, the first preset temperature threshold is greater than the second preset temperature threshold.

[0017] In the preferred technical solution of the above-mentioned air conditioner operation mode control method, the air conditioner compressor is a variable capacity compressor, the variable capacity compressor has two compression cylinders, the working mode of the variable capacity compressor includes a dual-cylinder mode and a dual-stage mode. In the dual-cylinder mode, the two compression cylinders of the variable capacity compressor compress the refrigerant separately, and in the dual-stage mode, the two compression cylinders of the variable capacity compressor compress the refrigerant sequentially.

[0018] The outdoor heat exchanger of the air conditioner includes multiple heat exchange tube sections. The outdoor heat exchanger is also equipped with an on / off valve group, which includes multiple on / off valves. The on / off valve group is configured to control the connection between the multiple heat exchange tube sections.

[0019] The indoor heat exchanger of the air conditioner includes an internal heat exchange pipe and an external heat exchange pipe. A first throttling element is provided on the inlet end of the internal heat exchange pipe, and a second throttling element is provided on the inlet end of the external heat exchange pipe. The first and second throttling elements are simultaneously connected to the outlet end of a third throttling element. The inlet end of the third throttling element is connected to the outlet end of the outdoor heat exchanger. The outlet ends of the internal and external heat exchange pipes are respectively connected to the suction port of the variable capacity compressor.

[0020] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned air conditioner operation mode control method, the outdoor heat exchanger includes a first heat exchange pipe section, a second heat exchange pipe section, and a third heat exchange pipe section connected in sequence. The outdoor heat exchanger also includes a first branch pipe and a second branch pipe. The first end of the first branch pipe is connected to the refrigerant pipe between the variable capacity compressor and the first heat exchange pipe section. The second end of the first branch pipe is connected to the refrigerant pipe between the second heat exchange pipe section and the third heat exchange pipe section. The first end of the second branch pipe is connected to the refrigerant pipe between the first heat exchange pipe section and the second heat exchange pipe section. The second end of the second branch pipe is connected to the end of the third heat exchange pipe section near the second heat exchange pipe section. The on / off valve group includes a first on / off valve, a second on / off valve, and a third on / off valve. The first on / off valve is disposed on the first branch pipe. The second on / off valve is disposed on the refrigerant pipe between the second heat exchange pipe section and the third heat exchange pipe section and is located between the second end of the first branch pipe and the third heat exchange pipe section. The third on / off valve is disposed on the second branch pipe.

[0021] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned air conditioner operation mode control method, the operation mode control method further includes:

[0022] When the air conditioner is running in the constant temperature and dehumidification mode, the indoor ambient temperature, indoor ambient humidity and outdoor ambient temperature are obtained.

[0023] Calculate the indoor dew point temperature based on the indoor ambient temperature and humidity.

[0024] Based on the range of outdoor ambient temperature and the indoor dew point temperature, the operating mode of the variable capacity compressor, the on / off state of the on / off valve group, and the opening degree of the first throttling element, the second throttling element, and the third throttling element are controlled.

[0025] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned air conditioner operation mode control method, the step of "controlling the operating mode of the variable capacity compressor, the on / off state of the on / off valve group, and the opening degree of the first throttling element, the second throttling element, and the third throttling element based on the range of the outdoor ambient temperature and the indoor dew point temperature" further includes:

[0026] If the outdoor ambient temperature is less than the third preset temperature threshold, the variable capacity compressor is controlled to operate in two-stage mode, the first on / off valve is controlled to close, the second on / off valve is controlled to open, the third on / off valve is controlled to close, the third throttling element is controlled to fully open, the opening degree of the first throttling element is adjusted so that the temperature of the internal exhaust heat exchange pipeline is greater than the dew point temperature, and the opening degree of the second throttling element is adjusted so that the temperature of the external exhaust heat exchange pipeline is less than the dew point temperature.

[0027] If the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the third preset temperature threshold, the variable capacity compressor is controlled to operate in dual-cylinder mode, the first on / off valve is controlled to open, the second on / off valve is controlled to close, the third on / off valve is controlled to open, the third throttling element is controlled to fully open, the opening degree of the first throttling element is adjusted so that the temperature of the internal exhaust heat exchange pipeline is greater than the dew point temperature, and the opening degree of the second throttling element is adjusted so that the temperature of the external exhaust heat exchange pipeline is less than the dew point temperature.

[0028] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned air conditioner operation mode control method, the operation mode control method further includes:

[0029] When the air conditioner is running in the conventional dehumidification mode, the outdoor ambient temperature is obtained;

[0030] Based on the range of outdoor ambient temperature, the operating mode and frequency of the variable capacity compressor, the on / off state of the on / off valve group, the opening degree of the first throttling element, the second throttling element and the third throttling element, and the speed of the indoor fan of the air conditioner are controlled.

[0031] In the preferred technical solution of the above-mentioned air conditioner operation mode control method, the step of "controlling the operating mode and operating frequency of the variable capacity compressor, the on / off state of the on / off valve group, the opening degree of the first throttling element, the second throttling element and the third throttling element, and the speed of the indoor fan of the air conditioner based on the range of the outdoor ambient temperature" further includes:

[0032] If the outdoor ambient temperature is less than the fourth preset temperature threshold, the variable capacity compressor is controlled to operate in a two-stage mode, the first on-off valve is controlled to be closed, the second on-off valve is controlled to be open, the third on-off valve is controlled to be closed, the first throttling element and the second throttling element are controlled to be fully open, the opening degree of the third throttling element is adjusted based on the target exhaust temperature of the variable capacity compressor, and the operating frequency of the variable capacity compressor and the speed of the indoor fan are controlled based on the outdoor ambient temperature.

[0033] If the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the fourth preset temperature threshold, the variable capacity compressor is controlled to operate in dual-cylinder mode, the first on / off valve is controlled to open, the second on / off valve is controlled to close, the third on / off valve is controlled to open, the first throttling element and the second throttling element are controlled to be fully open, the opening degree of the third throttling element is adjusted based on the target exhaust temperature of the variable capacity compressor, and the operating frequency of the variable capacity compressor and the speed of the indoor fan are controlled based on the outdoor ambient temperature.

[0034] In the preferred embodiment of the above-mentioned air conditioner operation mode control method, the operation mode control method further includes:

[0035] When the air conditioner is running in the conventional cooling mode, the outdoor ambient temperature is obtained;

[0036] Based on the range of outdoor ambient temperature, the operating mode, operating frequency, and target exhaust temperature of the variable capacity compressor, the on / off state of the on / off valve group, and the opening degree of the first throttling element, the second throttling element, and the third throttling element are controlled.

[0037] In the preferred technical solution of the above-mentioned air conditioner operation mode control method, the step of "controlling the operating mode, operating frequency and target exhaust temperature of the variable capacity compressor, the on / off state of the on / off valve group, and the opening degree of the first throttling element, the second throttling element and the third throttling element based on the range of the outdoor ambient temperature" further includes:

[0038] If the outdoor ambient temperature is less than the fifth preset temperature threshold, the variable capacity compressor is controlled to operate in a two-stage mode, the first on-off valve is controlled to be closed, the second on-off valve is controlled to be open, the third on-off valve is controlled to be closed, the first throttling element and the second throttling element are controlled to be fully open, the operating frequency of the variable capacity compressor is controlled based on the outdoor ambient temperature, the target discharge temperature of the variable capacity compressor is adjusted based on the operating frequency, and the opening degree of the third throttling element is adjusted based on the target discharge temperature.

[0039] If the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the fifth preset temperature threshold, the variable capacity compressor is controlled to operate in dual-cylinder mode, the first on / off valve is controlled to open, the second on / off valve is controlled to close, the third on / off valve is controlled to open, the first throttling element and the second throttling element are controlled to be fully open, the operating frequency of the variable capacity compressor is controlled based on the outdoor ambient temperature, the target exhaust temperature of the variable capacity compressor is adjusted based on the operating frequency, and the opening degree of the third throttling element is adjusted based on the target exhaust temperature.

[0040] The control method of this application determines the actual operating mode of the air conditioner based on the operating mode command and the temperature range of the indoor environment. It can always maintain an operating mode that matches the current operating environment under different operating conditions, and control the temperature and humidity within a relatively ideal range, thereby meeting the user's comfort needs and improving the user experience. Attached Figure Description

[0041] The present application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0042] Figure 1 This is a system diagram of the air conditioner according to this application when the compressor is operating in two-stage mode;

[0043] Figure 2This is a system diagram of the air conditioner according to this application when the compressor is operating in dual-cylinder mode;

[0044] Figure 3 This is a flowchart of the air conditioner operation mode control method of this application.

[0045] List of reference numerals

[0046] 1. Compressor; 11. First compression cylinder; 12. Second compression cylinder; 13. First port; 14. Second port; 15. Third port; 16. Fourth port; 17. Exhaust port; 21. First throttling element; 22. Second throttling element; 3. Outdoor heat exchanger; 31. First heat exchange tube section; 32. Second heat exchange tube section; 33. Third heat exchange tube section; 34. First branch pipe; 35. Second branch pipe; 4. Third throttling element; 5. Indoor heat exchanger; 51. Internal exhaust heat exchange pipe; 52. External exhaust heat exchange pipe; 6. Refrigerant pipe; 81. First on / off valve; 82. Second on / off valve; 83. Third on / off valve; 9. Four-way valve; 10. Gas-liquid separator. Detailed Implementation

[0047] Preferred embodiments of this application are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art should understand that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the technical principles of this application and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this application. For example, although the detailed steps of the method of this application are described in detail below, those skilled in the art can combine, split, and rearrange the following steps without departing from the basic principles of this application. Such modified technical solutions do not change the basic concept of this application and therefore also fall within the scope of protection of this application.

[0048] It should be noted that in the description of this application, terms such as "upper" and "lower," indicating directional or positional relationships, are based on the directional or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings. This is merely for ease of description and does not indicate or imply that the device or element must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation; therefore, it should not be construed as a limitation of this application. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," "third," "fourth," and "fifth" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. Additionally, in the description of this application, "a plurality of" refers to at least two.

[0049] Furthermore, it should be noted that, in the description of this application, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this application according to the specific circumstances.

[0050] First refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The present application describes the air conditioner.

[0051] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the air conditioner of this application includes a compressor 1, an outdoor heat exchanger 3, a third throttling element 4, and an indoor heat exchanger 5. The compressor 1, outdoor heat exchanger 3, third throttling element 4, and indoor heat exchanger 5 are sequentially connected via refrigerant pipes 6 to form a refrigerant circulation system. The above connection method and the working principle of the air conditioner are conventional techniques in this field and will not be elaborated further in this application.

[0052] Preferably, the outdoor heat exchanger 3 includes multiple heat exchange tube sections, and an on / off valve assembly is also provided within the outdoor heat exchanger 3. The on / off valve assembly includes multiple on / off valves and is configured to control the connection between the multiple heat exchange tube sections. Specifically, the outdoor heat exchanger 3 includes a first heat exchange tube section 31, a second heat exchange tube section 32, and a third heat exchange tube section 33 connected in sequence. The first heat exchange tube section 31 is located in the middle of the outdoor heat exchanger 3, the second heat exchange tube section 32 is located above the first heat exchange tube section 31, and the third heat exchange tube section 33 is located below the first heat exchange tube section 31. One end of the first heat exchange tube section 31 is connected to the exhaust port 17 of the compressor 1 through a refrigerant pipe 6, the other end of the first heat exchange tube section 31 is connected to one end of the second heat exchange tube section 32 through a refrigerant pipe 6, the other end of the second heat exchange tube section 32 is connected to one end of the third heat exchange tube section 33 through a refrigerant pipe 6, and the other end of the third heat exchange tube section 33 is connected to the third throttling element 4 through a refrigerant pipe 6.

[0053] The outdoor heat exchanger 3 also includes a first branch pipe 34 and a second branch pipe 35. The first end of the first branch pipe 34 is connected to the refrigerant pipe 6 between the compressor 1 and the first heat exchange tube section 31, and the second end of the first branch pipe 34 is connected to the refrigerant pipe 6 between the second heat exchange tube section 32 and the third heat exchange tube section 33. The first end of the second branch pipe 35 is connected to the refrigerant pipe 6 between the first heat exchange tube section 31 and the second heat exchange tube section 32, and the second end of the second branch pipe 35 is connected to the end of the third heat exchange tube section 33 closest to the second heat exchange tube section 32 (i.e., the end where the third heat exchange tube section 33 connects to the second heat exchange tube section 32).

[0054] The on / off valve assembly includes a first on / off valve 81, a second on / off valve 82, and a third on / off valve 83. Preferably, the first on / off valve 81, the second on / off valve 82, and the third on / off valve 83 are all solenoid valves. Specifically, the first on / off valve 81 is located on the first branch pipe 34, the second on / off valve 82 is located on the refrigerant pipe 6 between the second heat exchange pipe section 32 and the third heat exchange pipe section 33, and is situated between the second end of the first branch pipe 34 and the third heat exchange pipe section 33. The third on / off valve 83 is located on the second branch pipe 35.

[0055] Under the above configuration, by controlling the opening and closing of the first on / off valve 81, the second on / off valve 82, and the third on / off valve 83, different connection forms of the first heat exchange tube section 31, the second heat exchange tube section 32, and the third heat exchange tube section 33 can be realized, thereby achieving different flow distribution methods and heat exchange effects of the outdoor heat exchanger 3.

[0056] See also Figure 1 and Figure 2 Preferably, the indoor heat exchanger 5 includes an internal heat exchange pipe 51 and an external heat exchange pipe 52. A first throttling element 21 is installed on the inlet end of the internal heat exchange pipe 51, and a second throttling element 22 is installed on the inlet end of the external heat exchange pipe 52. The first throttling element 21 and the second throttling element 22 are simultaneously connected to the outlet end of a third throttling element 4. Figure 1 The first throttling element 21, the second throttling element 22, and the third throttling element 4 are connected to the left end of the compressor 1. The inlet end of the third throttling element 4 is connected to the outlet end of the outdoor heat exchanger 3. The outlet ends of the inner heat exchange pipeline 51 and the outer heat exchange pipeline 52 are respectively connected to the suction port of the compressor 1. Preferably, the first throttling element 21, the second throttling element 22, and the third throttling element 4 are all electronic expansion valves.

[0057] Further reference Figure 2 In one embodiment, compressor 1 is a variable displacement compressor, which has two compression cylinders. Specifically, the variable displacement compressor has a first compression cylinder 11 and a second compression cylinder 12 inside. The compressor 1 housing has four ports and an exhaust port 17. The first port 13 is connected to the air inlet of the first compression cylinder 11, the second port 14 is connected to the air outlet of the first compression cylinder 11, the third port 15 is connected to the air inlet of the second compression cylinder 12, the air outlet of the second compression cylinder 12 is connected to the exhaust port 17, and the fourth port 16 is connected to the exhaust port 17 through the inside of the housing.

[0058] The variable displacement compressor is also equipped with a four-way valve 9, which has four ports a, b, c, and d. Port a is connected to the fourth port 16, port b is connected to the second port 14, and port c is connected to the third port 15. A moving part is installed inside the four-way valve 9. When the four-way valve 9 is energized or de-energized, the moving part moves within the four-way valve 9 to connect or disconnect the different ports.

[0059] The outlet ends of the internal heat exchanger pipe 51 and the external heat exchanger pipe 52 are respectively connected to two gas-liquid separators 10, and the outlets of the two gas-liquid separators 10 are respectively connected to the two compression cylinders of the variable displacement compressor. Among them, the outlet of one gas-liquid separator 10 is directly connected to the first port 13, and the outlet of the other gas-liquid separator 10 is indirectly connected to the third port 15 through the fourth port d of the four-way valve 9.

[0060] Under the above configuration, the variable displacement compressor operates in two-cylinder and two-stage modes. See also... Figure 1 When the four-way valve 9 is powered on, it operates in two-stage mode. In this mode, the two compression cylinders of the variable capacity compressor compress the refrigerant sequentially. Specifically, the first port a and the fourth port d of the four-way valve 9 are separated by a moving part. The refrigerant discharged from the outdoor heat exchanger 3 passes through one of the gas-liquid separators 10 and then enters the first compression cylinder 11 through the first port 13. After being compressed by the first compression cylinder 11, it is discharged through the second port 14. Then, after passing through the second port b and the third port c of the four-way valve 9, it enters the second compression cylinder 12 through the third port 15. After being compressed a second time by the second compression cylinder 12, it is discharged through the exhaust port 17.

[0061] See Figure 2 Conversely, when the four-way valve 9 is de-energized, it operates in dual-cylinder mode. In this mode, the two compression cylinders of the variable-capacity compressor compress the refrigerant independently. Specifically, a portion of the refrigerant discharged from the outdoor heat exchanger 3 passes through one of the gas-liquid separators 10 and enters the first compression cylinder 11 through the first port 13. After being compressed by the first compression cylinder 11, it is discharged through the second port 14, then passes through the second port b and the first port a of the four-way valve 9 into the housing and finally exits through the exhaust port 17. The other portion of the refrigerant passes through the other gas-liquid separator 10 and then through the fourth port d and the third port c of the four-way valve 9, then enters the second compression cylinder 12 through the third port 15. After being compressed by the second compression cylinder 12, it is discharged through the exhaust port 17.

[0062] By installing a variable capacity compressor, multiple operating modes can be switched, making the air conditioner operate more efficiently and stably.

[0063] Those skilled in the art will understand that the above-described air conditioner configuration is merely a preferred embodiment. They can adjust the structure of the air conditioner without departing from the principles of this application to make it applicable to more specific application scenarios. For example, although the air conditioner is described in conjunction with a single-cooling air conditioner, this implementation is not fixed. In other embodiments, those skilled in the art can also install a four-way valve 9 to make the air conditioner a cooling and heating air conditioner. Furthermore, the specific form of the third throttling element 4 is not limited in this application; it can also be a capillary tube or a thermal expansion valve, etc. Moreover, those skilled in the art can adapt and adjust the number and configuration of the heat exchange tubes of the outdoor heat exchanger 3, the number and connection methods of the branch pipes, and the number and location of the on / off valves in the on / off valve group to make this application applicable to more specific application scenarios. For example, those skilled in the art can increase or decrease the number, location, and connection methods of the heat exchange tubes; or, they can increase or decrease the number and connection relationships of the branch pipes; or, they can increase or decrease the number and location of the on / off valves. In summary, as long as the connection mode of the heat exchange tube section can be adjusted by controlling the opening and closing of the on / off valves in the on / off valve group, such changes do not deviate from the principle of this application. For example, the switching between the two-cylinder mode and the two-stage mode of the variable capacity compressor can be achieved not through the four-way valve 9, but by setting multiple valve groups and controlling the opening and closing of each valve within the valve group. Furthermore, the specific structural form of the variable capacity compressor is not fixed. Provided that the switching between the two-cylinder mode and the two-stage mode can be achieved, those skilled in the art can adjust the structure of the variable capacity compressor, such as changing the number, position, and connection relationship of the ports. For example, the setting of the gas-liquid separator 10 is not mandatory; those skilled in the art can choose according to specific needs. Furthermore, the specific structure of the indoor heat exchanger 5 is not fixed; those skilled in the art can adjust it. For example, the number of internal exhaust heat exchange pipes 51 and external exhaust heat exchange pipes 52 can be increased, or the internal exhaust heat exchange pipes 51 and external exhaust heat exchange pipes 52 can be connected in series, and the following constant temperature dehumidification mode can be achieved by setting heaters, etc.

[0064] The following reference Figure 1 and Figure 3 The control method of the air conditioner of this application is described.

[0065] To address the problem of air conditioner operating modes failing to match the current environment, leading to decreased user comfort, the air conditioner operation mode control method of this application includes:

[0066] S101, in response to the received operating mode command, acquires the indoor ambient temperature. For example, the indoor ambient temperature can be acquired by installing a temperature sensor on the indoor unit, or by communicating with other devices capable of acquiring temperature, such as an air conditioner.

[0067] S103, determine the temperature range of the indoor ambient temperature. For example, if the temperature range is preset, after obtaining the indoor ambient temperature, compare it with the endpoint values ​​of the preset temperature range to determine the range of the indoor ambient temperature.

[0068] S105 determines the actual operating mode of the air conditioner based on the operating mode command and the range of indoor ambient temperature. For example, the operating mode command includes cooling and dehumidification commands. When the air conditioner receives different operating modes, it indicates that the user's needs are different. At this time, the actual operating mode of the air conditioner is determined according to the range of indoor ambient temperature to provide the user with a more suitable operating effect and improve user comfort. Among them, the actual operating modes include constant temperature dehumidification mode, normal dehumidification mode, and normal cooling mode.

[0069] S107, Control the air conditioner to operate in the actual operating mode. For example, after determining the actual operating mode, control the air conditioner to operate in that actual mode to achieve seamless mode control while meeting the user's comfort needs.

[0070] The control method of this application determines the actual operating mode of the air conditioner based on the operating mode command and the temperature range of the indoor environment. It can always maintain an operating mode that matches the current operating environment under different operating conditions, and control the temperature and humidity within a relatively ideal range, thereby meeting the user's comfort needs and improving the user experience.

[0071] The preferred embodiments of the control method of this application are described below.

[0072] In one implementation, the step of "determining the actual operating mode of the air conditioner based on the operating mode command and the range of indoor ambient temperature" further includes:

[0073] If the operating mode command is a dehumidification command and the indoor ambient temperature is less than or equal to the first preset temperature threshold, then the actual operating mode of the air conditioner is determined to be constant temperature dehumidification mode; otherwise, if the operating mode command is a dehumidification command and the indoor ambient temperature is greater than the first preset temperature threshold, then the actual operating mode of the air conditioner is determined to be regular dehumidification mode.

[0074] If the operating mode command is a cooling command and the indoor ambient temperature is less than or equal to the second preset temperature threshold, then the actual operating mode of the air conditioner is determined to be constant temperature dehumidification mode; otherwise, if the operating mode command is a cooling command and the indoor ambient temperature is greater than the second preset temperature threshold, then the actual operating mode of the air conditioner is determined to be normal cooling mode.

[0075] In this application, the first preset temperature threshold is greater than the second preset temperature threshold. The following description uses an example where the first preset temperature threshold is 28℃ and the second preset temperature threshold is 22℃. When the operating mode command is dehumidification mode, it indicates that the indoor humidity is high and the user wants to reduce it. However, conventional dehumidification mode, while reducing indoor humidity, also lowers the indoor temperature, which can lead to decreased user comfort. Therefore, the indoor ambient temperature is assessed. If the indoor ambient temperature is less than or equal to 28℃, it indicates a relatively comfortable indoor temperature. In this case, a constant temperature dehumidification mode is used to dehumidify the room while maintaining or slightly reducing the temperature, ensuring that both indoor temperature and humidity remain within an optimal range. Conversely, if the indoor ambient temperature is greater than 28℃, it indicates a high indoor temperature, and dehumidification is needed to lower the indoor temperature. In this case, a conventional dehumidification mode is used to cool the room while dehumidifying, reducing both temperature and humidity to a suitable range.

[0076] When the operating mode command is set to cooling mode, it indicates that the indoor temperature is high and the user wishes to lower it. In this case, the system assesses the indoor ambient temperature. If the ambient temperature is 22°C or lower, it indicates that the indoor temperature is too low; further lowering would severely impact comfort. Therefore, the system switches to constant temperature and dehumidification mode to maintain a relatively constant or slightly lower temperature while controlling humidity, ensuring both temperature and humidity remain within an optimal range. Conversely, if the indoor ambient temperature is above 22°C, it indicates that the indoor temperature is too high and needs to be lowered. In this case, the system switches to regular cooling mode to reduce the indoor temperature to a comfortable range.

[0077] In this way, by determining the actual operating mode of the air conditioner based on the operating mode command and the indoor ambient temperature, the indoor temperature and humidity can be adjusted together, so that the indoor temperature and humidity are both within a suitable range. Moreover, this adjustment process is seamless, and the user only needs to input the desired operating mode without performing more detailed operations, thus reducing the complexity of user operation.

[0078] Of course, the specific values ​​of the first and second preset temperature thresholds are not unique, and those skilled in the art can adjust them so that this application can be applied to more specific application scenarios.

[0079] The control process of the three actual operating modes mentioned above will be described in detail below.

[0080] In one embodiment, the operation mode control method further includes: when the air conditioner is running in constant temperature and dehumidification mode, acquiring indoor ambient temperature, indoor ambient humidity and outdoor ambient temperature; calculating indoor dew point temperature based on indoor ambient temperature and indoor ambient humidity; and controlling the operating mode of variable capacity compressor, the on / off state of on / off valve group and the opening degree of first throttling element, second throttling element and third throttling element based on the range of outdoor ambient temperature and indoor dew point temperature.

[0081] Specifically, taking a third preset temperature threshold of 29℃ as an example, when the air conditioner is running in constant temperature and dehumidification mode, it first obtains the indoor ambient temperature t, indoor ambient humidity U, and outdoor ambient temperature Tao. Then, based on the indoor ambient temperature t and indoor ambient humidity U, it calculates the indoor dew point temperature td. The specific formula for calculating the dew point temperature td is as follows:

[0082]

[0083] After calculating the dew point temperature, if the outdoor ambient temperature is less than the third preset temperature threshold, the variable capacity compressor is controlled to operate in two-stage mode. The first on / off valve is closed, the second on / off valve is opened, and the third on / off valve is closed. The third throttling element is fully opened, the opening degree of the first throttling element is adjusted so that the temperature of the internal exhaust heat exchange pipeline is greater than the dew point temperature, and the opening degree of the second throttling element is adjusted so that the temperature of the external exhaust heat exchange pipeline is less than the dew point temperature.

[0084] Specifically, when the outdoor ambient temperature is <29℃, the outdoor unit load is small, and the heat exchange is low. At this time, the compressor is controlled in a two-stage mode. In this mode, the variable-capacity compressor can achieve a higher compression ratio at a lower operating frequency, thereby meeting the condensing temperature requirements and ensuring the air conditioner's cooling effect and efficiency. With the first on / off valve closed, the second on / off valve open, and the third on / off valve closed, the refrigerant, after being discharged from the compressor, enters the first heat exchange tube section from the upper part, exits from the lower part of the first heat exchange tube section, enters the second heat exchange tube section from the lower part, then exits from the upper part of the second heat exchange tube section, enters the third heat exchange tube section from the upper part, and finally exits from the lower part of the third heat exchange tube section to the third throttling element. In this mode, the refrigerant flow in the outdoor heat exchanger is one inlet and one outlet, with a long flow path, a large subcooled end, and a fast flow rate. This results in high efficiency, large convective heat exchange, low power consumption, and high energy efficiency for the outdoor heat exchanger.

[0085] Then, the third throttling element is fully open, and the refrigerant, after passing through the third throttling element, is divided into two paths entering the indoor heat exchanger: the internal exhaust heat exchange pipe and the external exhaust heat exchange pipe. The opening degrees of the first and second throttling elements are adjusted so that the temperature of the external exhaust heat exchange pipe is lower than the dew point temperature, while the temperature of the internal exhaust heat exchange pipe is higher than the dew point temperature. This ensures that when indoor air passes through the indoor heat exchanger, it first exchanges heat with the external exhaust heat exchange pipe for condensation and dehumidification, and then exchanges heat with the internal exhaust heat exchange pipe for heating, ultimately achieving constant temperature dehumidification. Preferably, the opening degree of the second throttling element is controlled so that the coil temperature of the external exhaust heat exchange pipe is lower than the dew point temperature. For example, PID control is used to ensure that the coil temperature Tp2 of the external exhaust heat exchange pipe satisfies td-3≤Tp2≤td-1, preventing the external exhaust heat exchange pipe temperature from being too low and affecting the outlet air temperature. Preferably, the opening degree of the first throttling element is controlled so that the coil temperature Tp1 of the internal exhaust heat exchange pipeline is higher than the dew point temperature. For example, the coil temperature Tp1 of the internal exhaust heat exchange pipeline is made to satisfy td+3≤Tp1≤td+5 through PID control, thereby heating the low-temperature air passing through the external exhaust heat exchange pipeline and restoring it to the inlet temperature of the indoor heat exchanger, so as to achieve the purpose of dehumidification without cooling.

[0086] After calculating the dew point temperature, if the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the third preset temperature threshold, the variable capacity compressor is controlled to operate in dual-cylinder mode. The first on / off valve is controlled to open, the second on / off valve is controlled to close, and the third on / off valve is controlled to open. The third throttling element is controlled to be fully open. The opening degree of the first throttling element is adjusted so that the temperature of the internal exhaust heat exchange pipeline is greater than the dew point temperature, and the opening degree of the second throttling element is adjusted so that the temperature of the external exhaust heat exchange pipeline is less than the dew point temperature.

[0087] Specifically, when the outdoor ambient temperature is ≥29℃, the outdoor unit has a large load and a large heat exchange. At this time, the compressor is controlled in dual-cylinder mode. In this mode, the compressor frequency is lower for the same displacement, resulting in lower high pressure and higher low pressure in the air conditioning system. This reduces the compressor's compression ratio, making it more suitable for medium-to-high temperatures and situations requiring higher operating frequencies. The first on / off valve is open, the second on / off valve is closed, and the third on / off valve is open. The refrigerant discharged from the compressor is divided into two parts. One part enters the first heat exchanger section through the upper part and exits through the lower part. The other part enters the second heat exchanger section through the upper part and exits through the lower part. The refrigerant discharged from the first and second heat exchanger sections merge and enters the third heat exchanger section through the upper part, finally exiting through the lower part to the third throttling element. In this mode, the refrigerant flow is two inlets and one outlet, with a short flow path, a small subcooling end, and a slower flow rate. It is suitable for medium to high temperatures and higher frequencies. This type of flow splitting is suitable for large loads, high ambient temperatures, low condensing temperatures, and low power consumption.

[0088] Then, the third throttling element is fully open, and the refrigerant, after passing through the third throttling element, is divided into two paths entering the indoor heat exchanger: the internal exhaust heat exchange pipe and the external exhaust heat exchange pipe. The opening degrees of the first and second throttling elements are adjusted so that the temperature of the external exhaust heat exchange pipe is lower than the dew point temperature, while the temperature of the internal exhaust heat exchange pipe is higher than the dew point temperature. This ensures that when indoor air passes through the indoor heat exchanger, it first exchanges heat with the external exhaust heat exchange pipe for condensation and dehumidification, and then exchanges heat with the internal exhaust heat exchange pipe for heating, ultimately achieving constant temperature dehumidification. Preferably, the opening degree of the second throttling element is controlled so that the coil temperature of the external exhaust heat exchange pipe is lower than the dew point temperature. For example, PID control is used to ensure that the coil temperature Tp2 of the external exhaust heat exchange pipe satisfies td-3≤Tp2≤td-1, preventing the external exhaust heat exchange pipe temperature from being too low and affecting the outlet air temperature. Preferably, the opening degree of the first throttling element is controlled so that the coil temperature Tp1 of the internal exhaust heat exchange pipeline is higher than the dew point temperature. For example, the coil temperature Tp1 of the internal exhaust heat exchange pipeline is made to satisfy td+3≤Tp1≤td+5 through PID control, thereby heating the low-temperature air passing through the external exhaust heat exchange pipeline and restoring it to the inlet temperature of the indoor heat exchanger, so as to achieve the purpose of dehumidification without cooling.

[0089] The above control method, without cooling or dehumidifying, can control the compressor mode and the opening and closing of the on / off valve group based on the outdoor ambient temperature, so that the operation of the air conditioner is adapted to the current environment and the overall energy efficiency is improved.

[0090] Of course, the above control methods are merely preferred options, and those skilled in the art can adjust them without departing from the principles of this application. For example, when the compressor is a conventional compressor, those skilled in the art can adjust the compressor frequency based on the outdoor ambient temperature. When the form of the on / off valve group changes, those skilled in the art can adaptively adjust the control method. The opening control method for the first and second throttling elements can be any possible method besides PID control. When controlling the temperature of the internal and external heat exchange pipelines, those skilled in the art can also adjust the temperature range. Furthermore, the size of the third preset temperature threshold is not unique; those skilled in the art can adjust it based on specific application scenarios.

[0091] In one embodiment, the operation mode control method further includes: when the air conditioner is running in conventional dehumidification mode, acquiring the outdoor ambient temperature; and based on the range of the outdoor ambient temperature, controlling the operating mode and operating frequency of the variable capacity compressor, the on / off state of the on / off valve group, the opening degree of the first throttling element, the second throttling element and the third throttling element, and the speed of the indoor fan of the air conditioner.

[0092] The fourth preset temperature threshold is taken as 29℃ in this application. If the outdoor ambient temperature Tao < 29℃, the variable capacity compressor is controlled to operate in a two-stage mode, the first on-off valve is controlled to be closed, the second on-off valve is controlled to be open, and the third on-off valve is controlled to be closed. The first throttling element and the second throttling element are controlled to be fully open. The opening degree of the third throttling element is adjusted based on the target exhaust temperature of the variable capacity compressor. The operating frequency of the variable capacity compressor and the speed of the indoor fan are controlled based on the outdoor ambient temperature.

[0093] Specifically, when the outdoor ambient temperature is <29℃, the outdoor unit load is small, and the heat exchange is low. At this time, the compressor is controlled in a two-stage mode. In this mode, the variable-capacity compressor can achieve a higher compression ratio at a lower operating frequency, thereby meeting the condensing temperature requirements and ensuring the air conditioner's cooling effect and efficiency. With the first on / off valve closed, the second on / off valve open, and the third on / off valve closed, the refrigerant, after being discharged from the compressor, enters the first heat exchange tube section from the upper part, exits from the lower part of the first heat exchange tube section, enters the second heat exchange tube section from the lower part, then exits from the upper part of the second heat exchange tube section, enters the third heat exchange tube section from the upper part, and finally exits from the lower part of the third heat exchange tube section to the third throttling element. In this mode, the refrigerant flow in the outdoor heat exchanger is one inlet and one outlet, with a long flow path, a large subcooled end, and a fast flow rate. This results in high efficiency, large convective heat exchange, low power consumption, and high energy efficiency for the outdoor heat exchanger.

[0094] Then, the first and second throttling elements are fully open, and the third throttling element is adjusted normally according to the target discharge temperature of the compressor. The operating frequency of the variable displacement compressor and the speed of the indoor fan are adjusted based on the outdoor ambient temperature. The specific adjustment methods of the third throttling element, the operating frequency of the compressor, and the speed of the indoor fan are all conventional methods in the art, and will not be described in detail here.

[0095] If the outdoor ambient temperature Tao ≥ 29℃, the variable capacity compressor is controlled to operate in dual-cylinder mode, the first on / off valve is opened, the second on / off valve is closed, the third on / off valve is opened, the first and second throttling elements are fully opened, the opening degree of the third throttling element is adjusted based on the target exhaust temperature of the variable capacity compressor, and the operating frequency of the variable capacity compressor and the speed of the indoor fan are controlled based on the outdoor ambient temperature.

[0096] Specifically, when the outdoor ambient temperature is ≥29℃, the outdoor unit has a large load and a large heat exchange. At this time, the compressor is controlled in dual-cylinder mode. In this mode, the compressor frequency is lower for the same displacement, resulting in lower high pressure and higher low pressure in the air conditioning system. This reduces the compressor's compression ratio, making it more suitable for medium-to-high temperatures and situations requiring higher operating frequencies. The first on / off valve is open, the second on / off valve is closed, and the third on / off valve is open. The refrigerant discharged from the compressor is divided into two parts. One part enters the first heat exchanger section through the upper part and exits through the lower part. The other part enters the second heat exchanger section through the upper part and exits through the lower part. The refrigerant discharged from the first and second heat exchanger sections merge and enters the third heat exchanger section through the upper part, finally exiting through the lower part to the third throttling element. In this mode, the refrigerant flow is two inlets and one outlet, with a short flow path, a small subcooling end, and a slower flow rate. It is suitable for medium to high temperatures and higher frequencies. This type of flow splitting is suitable for large loads, high ambient temperatures, low condensing temperatures, and low power consumption.

[0097] Then, the first and second throttling elements are fully open, and the third throttling element is adjusted normally according to the target discharge temperature of the compressor. The operating frequency of the variable displacement compressor and the speed of the indoor fan are adjusted based on the outdoor ambient temperature. The specific adjustment methods of the third throttling element, the operating frequency of the compressor, and the speed of the indoor fan are all conventional methods in the art, and will not be described in detail here.

[0098] In this way, the temperature and humidity of the indoor environment can be regulated simultaneously, so that the indoor temperature and humidity are in the optimal range at the same time, and the operation of the air conditioner is adapted to the environment, which is more conducive to the overall energy efficiency.

[0099] Of course, the above control method is merely a preferred option, and those skilled in the art can adjust it. For example, the size of the fourth preset temperature threshold can be adjusted by those skilled in the art based on specific application scenarios, and it does not necessarily have to be consistent with the third preset temperature threshold.

[0100] In one embodiment, the operation mode control method further includes: when the air conditioner is running in conventional cooling mode, acquiring the outdoor ambient temperature; and based on the range of the outdoor ambient temperature, controlling the operating mode, operating frequency, target exhaust temperature, on / off state of the on / off valve group, and opening degree of the first throttling element, the second throttling element, and the third throttling element of the variable capacity compressor.

[0101] Specifically, the fifth preset temperature threshold is still taken as 29℃. If the outdoor ambient temperature Tao < 29℃, the variable capacity compressor is controlled to operate in a two-stage mode, controlling the first on-off valve to be closed, the second on-off valve to be open, and the third on-off valve to be closed. The first and second throttling elements are controlled to be fully open. The operating frequency of the variable capacity compressor is controlled based on the outdoor ambient temperature. The target discharge temperature of the variable capacity compressor is adjusted based on the operating frequency. The opening degree of the third throttling element is adjusted based on the target discharge temperature.

[0102] Specifically, when the outdoor ambient temperature is <29℃, the outdoor unit load is small, and the heat exchange is low. At this time, the compressor is controlled in a two-stage mode. In this mode, the variable-capacity compressor can achieve a higher compression ratio at a lower operating frequency, thereby meeting the condensing temperature requirements and ensuring the air conditioner's cooling effect and efficiency. With the first on / off valve closed, the second on / off valve open, and the third on / off valve closed, the refrigerant, after being discharged from the compressor, enters the first heat exchange tube section from the upper part, exits from the lower part of the first heat exchange tube section, enters the second heat exchange tube section from the lower part, then exits from the upper part of the second heat exchange tube section, enters the third heat exchange tube section from the upper part, and finally exits from the lower part of the third heat exchange tube section to the third throttling element. In this mode, the refrigerant flow in the outdoor heat exchanger is one inlet and one outlet, with a long flow path, a large subcooled end, and a fast flow rate. This results in high efficiency, large convective heat exchange, low power consumption, and high energy efficiency in the outdoor heat exchanger.

[0103] Then, the first and second throttling elements are fully open, and the third throttling element is adjusted normally according to the target discharge temperature of the compressor. The operating frequency of the variable displacement compressor is adjusted based on the outdoor ambient temperature. The specific adjustment method of the compressor's operating frequency is a conventional method in this field and will not be described in detail here. The target discharge temperature is determined according to the following formula:

[0104] DisT=a×f+b+c (2)

[0105] Where: DisT is the target exhaust temperature, f is the compressor frequency, a is a coefficient, b is a constant, and C is the outdoor ambient temperature correction factor. The above formula can be determined experimentally or empirically.

[0106] If the outdoor ambient temperature Tao ≥ 29℃, the variable displacement compressor is controlled to operate in dual-cylinder mode. The first on / off valve is controlled to open, the second on / off valve is controlled to close, and the third on / off valve is controlled to open. The first and second throttling elements are controlled to be fully open. The operating frequency of the variable displacement compressor is controlled based on the outdoor ambient temperature. The target discharge temperature of the variable displacement compressor is adjusted based on the operating frequency. The opening degree of the third throttling element is adjusted based on the target discharge temperature.

[0107] Specifically, when the outdoor ambient temperature is ≥29℃, the outdoor unit has a large load and a large heat exchange. At this time, the compressor is controlled in dual-cylinder mode. In this mode, the compressor frequency is lower for the same displacement, resulting in lower high pressure and higher low pressure in the air conditioning system. This reduces the compressor's compression ratio, making it more suitable for medium-to-high temperatures and situations requiring higher operating frequencies. The first on / off valve is open, the second on / off valve is closed, and the third on / off valve is open. The refrigerant discharged from the compressor is divided into two parts. One part enters the first heat exchanger section through the upper part and exits through the lower part. The other part enters the second heat exchanger section through the upper part and exits through the lower part. The refrigerant discharged from the first and second heat exchanger sections merge and enters the third heat exchanger section through the upper part, finally exiting through the lower part to the third throttling element. In this mode, the refrigerant flow is two inlets and one outlet, with a short flow path, a small subcooling end, and a slower flow rate. It is suitable for medium to high temperatures and higher frequencies. This type of flow splitting is suitable for large loads, high ambient temperatures, low condensing temperatures, and low power consumption.

[0108] Then, the first and second throttling elements are fully open, and the third throttling element is adjusted normally according to the target discharge temperature of the compressor. The operating frequency of the variable displacement compressor is adjusted based on the outdoor ambient temperature. The above-mentioned methods for adjusting the operating frequency of the compressor are all conventional methods in this field, and will not be described in detail here. The target discharge temperature is determined according to the above formula (2), and will not be described in detail here.

[0109] In this way, the indoor temperature can be regulated, keeping the indoor temperature within an optimal range, and the air conditioner's operating status is adapted to the environment, which is more conducive to overall energy efficiency.

[0110] Of course, the above control method is merely a preferred option, and those skilled in the art can adjust it. For example, the size of the fifth preset temperature threshold can be adjusted by those skilled in the art based on specific application scenarios, and it does not necessarily have to be consistent with the third preset temperature threshold.

[0111] Although the steps in the above embodiments are described in the above order, those skilled in the art will understand that in order to achieve the effect of this embodiment, different steps do not need to be executed in such order. They can be executed simultaneously (in parallel) or in reverse order. These simple changes are all within the protection scope of this application.

[0112] Furthermore, those skilled in the art will understand that although some embodiments described herein include certain features included in other embodiments but not others, combinations of features from different embodiments are intended to be within the scope of this application and form different embodiments. For example, any of the claimed embodiments in the claims of this application can be used in any combination.

[0113] The technical solutions of this application have been described above with reference to the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that the scope of protection of this application is obviously not limited to these specific embodiments. Without departing from the principles of this application, those skilled in the art can make equivalent changes or substitutions to the relevant technical features, and the technical solutions after these changes or substitutions will all fall within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the operation mode of an air conditioner, characterized in that, The operation mode control method includes: In response to the received operating mode command, the indoor ambient temperature is obtained; Determine the temperature range within which the indoor ambient temperature falls; The actual operating mode of the air conditioner is determined based on the operating mode command and the range of the indoor ambient temperature. Control the air conditioner to operate in the actual operating mode; The operating mode commands include cooling commands and dehumidification commands, and the actual operating modes include constant temperature dehumidification mode, normal dehumidification mode and normal cooling mode. The compressor of the air conditioner is a variable capacity compressor, which has two compression cylinders. The working modes of the variable capacity compressor include dual-cylinder mode and dual-stage mode. In dual-cylinder mode, the two compression cylinders of the variable capacity compressor compress the refrigerant individually. In dual-stage mode, the two compression cylinders of the variable capacity compressor compress the refrigerant sequentially. The outdoor heat exchanger of the air conditioner includes multiple heat exchange tube sections. The outdoor heat exchanger is also equipped with an on / off valve group, which includes multiple on / off valves. The on / off valve group is configured to control the connection between the multiple heat exchange tube sections. The indoor heat exchanger of the air conditioner includes an internal heat exchange pipe and an external heat exchange pipe. A first throttling element is provided on the inlet end of the internal heat exchange pipe, and a second throttling element is provided on the inlet end of the external heat exchange pipe. The first and second throttling elements are simultaneously connected to the outlet end of a third throttling element. The inlet end of the third throttling element is connected to the outlet end of the outdoor heat exchanger. The outlet ends of the internal and external heat exchange pipes are respectively connected to the suction port of the variable capacity compressor. The outdoor heat exchanger includes a first heat exchange tube section, a second heat exchange tube section, and a third heat exchange tube section connected in sequence. The outdoor heat exchanger also includes a first branch pipe and a second branch pipe. The first end of the first branch pipe is connected to a refrigerant pipe between the variable capacity compressor and the first heat exchange tube section. The second end of the first branch pipe is connected to a refrigerant pipe between the second heat exchange tube section and the third heat exchange tube section. The first end of the second branch pipe is connected to a refrigerant pipe between the first heat exchange tube section and the second heat exchange tube section. The second end of the second branch pipe is connected to the end of the third heat exchange tube section closest to the second heat exchange tube section. The on / off valve assembly includes a first on / off valve, a second on / off valve, and a third on / off valve. The first on / off valve is located on the first branch pipe. The second on / off valve is located on the refrigerant pipe between the second heat exchange tube section and the third heat exchange tube section and is situated between the second end of the first branch pipe and the third heat exchange tube section. The third on / off valve is located on the second branch pipe.

2. The air conditioner operation mode control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of "determining the actual operating mode of the air conditioner based on the operating mode command and the range of the indoor ambient temperature" further includes: If the operating mode command is a dehumidification command, and the indoor ambient temperature is less than or equal to the first preset temperature threshold, then the actual operating mode of the air conditioner is determined to be constant temperature dehumidification mode. If the operating mode command is a dehumidification command and the indoor ambient temperature is greater than the first preset temperature threshold, then the actual operating mode of the air conditioner is determined to be the normal dehumidification mode. If the operating mode command is a cooling command and the indoor ambient temperature is less than or equal to the second preset temperature threshold, then the actual operating mode of the air conditioner is determined to be constant temperature dehumidification mode. If the operating mode command is a cooling command and the indoor ambient temperature is greater than the second preset temperature threshold, then the actual operating mode of the air conditioner is determined to be the normal cooling mode. Wherein, the first preset temperature threshold is greater than the second preset temperature threshold.

3. The air conditioner operation mode control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The operation mode control method also includes: When the air conditioner is running in the constant temperature and dehumidification mode, the indoor ambient temperature, indoor ambient humidity and outdoor ambient temperature are obtained. Calculate the indoor dew point temperature based on the indoor ambient temperature and humidity. Based on the range of outdoor ambient temperature and the indoor dew point temperature, the operating mode of the variable capacity compressor, the on / off state of the on / off valve group, and the opening degree of the first throttling element, the second throttling element, and the third throttling element are controlled.

4. The air conditioner operation mode control method according to claim 3, characterized in that, The step of "controlling the operating mode of the variable capacity compressor, the on / off state of the on / off valve group, and the opening degree of the first throttling element, the second throttling element, and the third throttling element based on the range of the outdoor ambient temperature and the indoor dew point temperature" further includes: If the outdoor ambient temperature is less than the third preset temperature threshold, the variable capacity compressor is controlled to operate in two-stage mode, the first on / off valve is controlled to close, the second on / off valve is controlled to open, the third on / off valve is controlled to close, the third throttling element is controlled to fully open, the opening degree of the first throttling element is adjusted so that the temperature of the internal exhaust heat exchange pipeline is greater than the dew point temperature, and the opening degree of the second throttling element is adjusted so that the temperature of the external exhaust heat exchange pipeline is less than the dew point temperature. If the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the third preset temperature threshold, the variable capacity compressor is controlled to operate in dual-cylinder mode, the first on / off valve is controlled to open, the second on / off valve is controlled to close, the third on / off valve is controlled to open, the third throttling element is controlled to fully open, the opening degree of the first throttling element is adjusted so that the temperature of the internal exhaust heat exchange pipeline is greater than the dew point temperature, and the opening degree of the second throttling element is adjusted so that the temperature of the external exhaust heat exchange pipeline is less than the dew point temperature.

5. The air conditioner operation mode control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The operation mode control method also includes: When the air conditioner is running in the conventional dehumidification mode, the outdoor ambient temperature is obtained; Based on the range of outdoor ambient temperature, the operating mode and frequency of the variable capacity compressor, the on / off state of the on / off valve group, the opening degree of the first throttling element, the second throttling element and the third throttling element, and the speed of the indoor fan of the air conditioner are controlled.

6. The air conditioner operation mode control method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The step of "controlling the operating mode and frequency of the variable capacity compressor, the on / off state of the on / off valve group, the opening degree of the first throttling element, the second throttling element and the third throttling element, and the speed of the indoor fan of the air conditioner based on the range of the outdoor ambient temperature" further includes: If the outdoor ambient temperature is less than the fourth preset temperature threshold, the variable capacity compressor is controlled to operate in a two-stage mode, the first on-off valve is controlled to be closed, the second on-off valve is controlled to be open, the third on-off valve is controlled to be closed, the first throttling element and the second throttling element are controlled to be fully open, the opening degree of the third throttling element is adjusted based on the target exhaust temperature of the variable capacity compressor, and the operating frequency of the variable capacity compressor and the speed of the indoor fan are controlled based on the outdoor ambient temperature. If the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the fourth preset temperature threshold, the variable capacity compressor is controlled to operate in dual-cylinder mode, the first on / off valve is controlled to open, the second on / off valve is controlled to close, the third on / off valve is controlled to open, the first throttling element and the second throttling element are controlled to be fully open, the opening degree of the third throttling element is adjusted based on the target exhaust temperature of the variable capacity compressor, and the operating frequency of the variable capacity compressor and the speed of the indoor fan are controlled based on the outdoor ambient temperature.

7. The air conditioner operation mode control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The operation mode control method also includes: When the air conditioner is running in the conventional cooling mode, the outdoor ambient temperature is obtained; Based on the range of outdoor ambient temperature, the operating mode, operating frequency, and target exhaust temperature of the variable capacity compressor, the on / off state of the on / off valve group, and the opening degree of the first throttling element, the second throttling element, and the third throttling element are controlled.

8. The air conditioner operation mode control method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The step of "controlling the operating mode, operating frequency, and target discharge temperature of the variable capacity compressor, the on / off state of the on / off valve group, and the opening degree of the first throttling element, the second throttling element, and the third throttling element based on the range of the outdoor ambient temperature" further includes: If the outdoor ambient temperature is less than the fifth preset temperature threshold, the variable capacity compressor is controlled to operate in a two-stage mode, the first on-off valve is controlled to be closed, the second on-off valve is controlled to be open, the third on-off valve is controlled to be closed, the first throttling element and the second throttling element are controlled to be fully open, the operating frequency of the variable capacity compressor is controlled based on the outdoor ambient temperature, the target discharge temperature of the variable capacity compressor is adjusted based on the operating frequency, and the opening degree of the third throttling element is adjusted based on the target discharge temperature. If the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the fifth preset temperature threshold, the variable capacity compressor is controlled to operate in dual-cylinder mode, the first on / off valve is controlled to open, the second on / off valve is controlled to close, the third on / off valve is controlled to open, the first throttling element and the second throttling element are controlled to be fully open, the operating frequency of the variable capacity compressor is controlled based on the outdoor ambient temperature, the target exhaust temperature of the variable capacity compressor is adjusted based on the operating frequency, and the opening degree of the third throttling element is adjusted based on the target exhaust temperature.

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