Control method and device of air conditioner, air conditioner and storage medium

Abstract

The application discloses a control method and device of an air conditioner, the air conditioner and a storage medium, and relates to the field of air conditioners. The control method of the air conditioner comprises the following steps: acquiring a current environment temperature when the air conditioner is cooling or heating; and then controlling the switch of an energy storage function and an energy release function according to the current environment temperature. The current environment temperature is used to determine the system pressure of the air conditioner, and then the switch control is performed on the energy storage function and the energy release function according to the system pressure of the air conditioner, so that the shutdown caused by the excessively high system pressure of the air conditioner is avoided, and the normal cooling or heating of the air conditioner is ensured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of air conditioning technology, and in particular to a control method, device, air conditioner, and storage medium for an air conditioner. Background Technology

[0002] Due to the unique environment of kitchens and bathrooms within a home, the air conditioners used in these spaces differ from conventional split-type household air conditioners. Kitchen and bathroom air conditioners have both energy storage and release functions. The energy storage function first stores cooling or heating energy, and then the release function releases the stored cooling or heating energy. However, kitchen and bathroom air conditioners are prone to system overload during operation, causing the air conditioner to shut down and cease functioning. Therefore, how to prevent overload problems in kitchen and bathroom air conditioners is a pressing technical issue that needs to be addressed. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The main objective of this invention is to provide a control method, device, air conditioner, and storage medium for an air conditioner, aiming to solve the technical problem of overload in kitchen and bathroom air conditioners in the prior art.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a control method for an air conditioner. The air conditioner includes an energy storage circuit, an energy release circuit, and an energy storage unit. The air conditioner has both energy storage and energy release functions. In the energy storage function, the air conditioner stores cooling or heating energy in the energy storage unit through the energy storage circuit. In the energy release function, the air conditioner utilizes the cooling or heating energy in the energy storage unit for cooling or heating through the energy release circuit. The control method for the air conditioner includes:

[0005] When the air conditioner is cooling or heating, obtain the current ambient temperature; and,

[0006] The switching on and off of the energy storage and energy release functions is controlled according to the current ambient temperature.

[0007] Optionally, the switching of the energy storage and energy release functions can be controlled according to the current ambient temperature, including:

[0008] Determine the current mode of the air conditioner, which is either cooling mode or heating mode;

[0009] Determine the energy release of the air conditioner based on the current mode and current ambient temperature; and,

[0010] The switching on and off of the energy storage and energy release functions is controlled based on the energy release capacity.

[0011] Optionally, the energy release includes a first step, a second step, and a third step that increase sequentially. The switching of the energy storage and energy release functions is controlled based on the energy release, including:

[0012] When the energy release is at the first level, the energy release function is activated, and the energy storage function is activated or deactivated according to user needs.

[0013] When the energy release is at the second stage, both the energy release function and the energy storage function are activated; and,

[0014] When the energy release is at the third level, the energy release function is activated and the energy storage function is deactivated.

[0015] Optionally, the energy output of the air conditioner can be determined based on the current mode and the current ambient temperature, including:

[0016] The corresponding reference temperature is determined based on the current mode. The reference temperature includes a first temperature and a second temperature.

[0017] The current ambient temperature is compared with the first temperature and the second temperature respectively to obtain the comparison results; and,

[0018] The energy release of the air conditioner is determined based on the comparison results.

[0019] Optional, the air conditioner includes a compressor;

[0020] Air conditioner control methods also include:

[0021] When the energy release is at the first level and the energy storage function is activated, the compressor is controlled to operate at a reference frequency, which changes with the current ambient temperature.

[0022] Optional, the air conditioner includes a compressor;

[0023] Air conditioner control methods also include:

[0024] When the energy release is at the second level, the compressor is controlled to operate at a frequency within the set frequency range.

[0025] Optionally, the energy storage unit includes a water tank that uses water to store cold or heat.

[0026] Air conditioner control methods also include:

[0027] After the air conditioner is turned on, the water temperature in the water tank is obtained;

[0028] When a cooling command is received and the water temperature is lower than the third temperature, the air conditioner is controlled to enter cooling mode.

[0029] When a heating command is received and the water temperature is greater than the fourth temperature, the air conditioner is controlled to enter the heating mode.

[0030] In addition, to achieve the above objectives, the present invention also proposes a control device for an air conditioner, the air conditioner including an energy storage circuit, an energy release circuit and an energy storage unit, the air conditioner having energy storage function and energy release function, under the energy storage function, the air conditioner stores cold or heat in the energy storage unit through the energy storage circuit; under the energy release function, the air conditioner uses the cold or heat in the energy storage unit for cooling or heating through the energy release circuit.

[0031] The control device of the air conditioner includes:

[0032] The detection module is used to obtain the current ambient temperature when the air conditioner is cooling or heating; and,

[0033] The control module is used to control the switching of the energy storage and energy release functions according to the current ambient temperature.

[0034] Furthermore, to achieve the above objectives, the present invention also proposes an air conditioner, comprising a first casing and a second casing. The first casing includes an air inlet pipe, an air outlet pipe, a water tank, a compressor, and a first heat exchanger. A water tank heat exchanger is provided inside the water tank. The compressor, the first heat exchanger, and the water tank heat exchanger form an energy storage circuit. The second casing includes a flow regulating pump and a second heat exchanger, which form an energy release circuit. The air conditioner has both energy storage and energy release functions. In the energy storage function, the air conditioner stores cooling or heating energy in the water tank through the energy storage circuit. In the energy release function, the air conditioner utilizes the cooling or heating energy in the water tank for cooling or heating through the energy release circuit.

[0035] The air conditioner also includes a controller, which is connected to the energy storage circuit and the energy release circuit. The controller includes a memory, a processor, and a control program for the air conditioner stored in the memory and executable on the processor. When the control program for the air conditioner is executed by the processor, it implements the control method for the air conditioner as described above.

[0036] In addition, to achieve the above objectives, the present invention also proposes a storage medium storing a control program for an air conditioner, which, when executed by a processor, implements the control method for the air conditioner as described above.

[0037] This invention acquires the current ambient temperature when the air conditioner is cooling or heating; and controls the switching on and off of the energy storage and energy release functions based on the current ambient temperature. This invention determines the air conditioner system pressure by using the current ambient temperature, and then controls the switching on and off of the energy storage and energy release functions according to the air conditioner system pressure, avoiding shutdown due to excessively high system pressure and ensuring that the air conditioner can normally achieve cooling or heating. Attached Figure Description

[0038] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first casing of the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second unit of the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 3 This is a system structure diagram of the air conditioner involved in the embodiment of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating the first embodiment of the control method for an air conditioner according to the present invention;

[0042] Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating the second embodiment of the control method for an air conditioner according to the present invention;

[0043] Figure 6 This is a structural block diagram of the first embodiment of the control device for the air conditioner of the present invention.

[0044] Explanation of icon numbers:

[0045] label name label name 1 First chassis 17 Temperature sensor 11 air inlet duct 18 Expansion valve 12 exhaust pipe 2 Second chassis 13 First heat exchanger 21 Flow regulating pump 14 compressor 22 Second heat exchanger 15 water tank 23 water outlet 16 Water tank heat exchanger 24 water inlet

[0046] The realization of the objective, functional features and advantages of the present invention will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0047] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0048] It should be noted that, in this document, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or system that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or system. Unless otherwise specified, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or system that includes that element.

[0049] The sequence numbers of the above embodiments of the present invention are for descriptive purposes only and do not represent the superiority or inferiority of the embodiments. In the unit claims listing several devices, several of these devices may be embodied by the same hardware item. The use of the terms first, second, and third, etc., does not indicate any order and can be interpreted as names.

[0050] To make the technical solutions involved in the implementation of each control method in this invention clearer, this invention first proposes an air conditioner. (Refer to...) Figure 1 and Figure 2 , Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the first casing of the air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second casing of the air conditioner involved in the embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the air conditioner includes a first casing 1 and a second casing 2. The first casing 1 includes an air inlet duct 11, an exhaust duct 12, a first heat exchanger 13, a compressor 14, and a water tank 15, which houses a water tank heat exchanger 16. The second casing 2 includes a flow regulating pump 21 and a second heat exchanger 22. The flow regulating pump 21 in the second casing 2 is connected to the water tank 15 in the first casing 1 via a water pipe. Both the first casing 1 and the second casing 2 are typically installed indoors and connected to the outdoor environment via the air inlet duct 11 and the exhaust duct 12. Alternatively, the first casing can also be installed directly outdoors.

[0052] The first casing 1 is also equipped with a first fan, which draws in outdoor air through the inlet pipe 11 and then discharges it to the outside through the exhaust pipe 12. The air flows through the first heat exchanger 13 within the first casing 1, exchanging heat with the refrigerant inside. The second casing 2 is similarly equipped with a second fan, an air inlet, and an air outlet. This second fan draws in indoor air through the air inlet and then discharges it to the room through the air outlet. The air flows through the second heat exchanger 22 within the second casing 2, exchanging heat with the refrigerant inside.

[0053] Or refer to Figure 4 , Figure 4 This is a system structure diagram of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. The air conditioner has energy storage and energy release functions. The compressor 14, the first heat exchanger 13, the water tank heat exchanger 16, and the expansion valve 18 form an energy storage circuit. In energy storage mode, the air conditioner stores cold or heat energy in the water tank 15 through the energy storage circuit. The water tank 15 stores water; heat storage is achieved by raising the water temperature, and cold storage is achieved by lowering the water temperature. During cold storage, the compressor 14 starts, transferring gaseous refrigerant to the first heat exchanger 13 for condensation, and then through the expansion valve 18 into the water tank heat exchanger 16 for evaporation, thereby lowering the water temperature. During heat storage, the compressor 14 starts, transferring gaseous refrigerant to the water tank heat exchanger 16 for condensation, and then through the expansion valve 18 into the first heat exchanger 13 for evaporation, thereby lowering the increased temperature. One or more temperature sensors 17 can also be installed in the water tank 15 to monitor the water temperature.

[0054] A flow regulating pump 21, an energy storage unit, and a second heat exchanger 22 form an energy release circuit. The energy storage unit can be a water tank 15, which has an outlet 23 and an inlet 24. The flow regulating pump 21 can be a water pump. In energy release mode, the air conditioner utilizes the cooling or heating energy in the water tank 15 through the energy release circuit for cooling or heating. After the flow regulating pump starts, it draws water from the water tank 15 and sends it to the second heat exchanger 22. When the water in the water tank 15 is cold, the second heat exchanger 22 can lower the temperature to the temperature of the indoor air flowing through it, thus achieving a cooling effect. When the water in the water tank 15 is hot, the second heat exchanger 22 can raise the temperature of the indoor air flowing through it, thus achieving a heating effect.

[0055] The air conditioner also includes a controller connected to the compressor 14, flow regulating pump 21, and fan, for controlling the operation of each component. The controller 8 may include a processor and a memory. The memory stores the air conditioner's control program, which the processor calls to execute the air conditioner control method provided in this embodiment of the invention.

[0056] Those skilled in the art will understand that Figure 1 and Figure 2 The structure shown does not constitute a limitation on the air conditioner and may include more or fewer components than shown, or combine certain components, or have different component arrangements.

[0057] Based on the above hardware structure, an embodiment of the control method for the air conditioner of the present invention is proposed.

[0058] Reference Figure 4 , Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating the first embodiment of the control method for an air conditioner according to the present invention, which presents the first embodiment of the control method for an air conditioner according to the present invention.

[0059] In the first embodiment, the control method for the air conditioner includes the following steps:

[0060] Step S10: Obtain the current ambient temperature when the air conditioner is cooling or heating.

[0061] It should be understood that the executing entity in this embodiment can be the controller in the aforementioned air conditioner, which has functions such as data processing, data communication, and program execution. Of course, it can also be other devices with similar functions, and this embodiment does not limit this.

[0062] The air conditioner can be equipped with a temperature sensor, which can be installed on the first unit (such as at the air inlet duct) to detect the outdoor ambient temperature and thus determine the current ambient temperature. Alternatively, the temperature sensor can be installed on the second unit to detect the indoor ambient temperature and thus determine the current ambient temperature. Of course, the current ambient temperature can also be obtained in other ways, such as by obtaining it from a meteorological database via a network, and this embodiment does not limit this.

[0063] The temperature sensor can feed back data to the controller at set time intervals, reducing the power consumption of the temperature sensor. This time interval can be 1 minute or 2 minutes, etc., and its specific value can be set according to requirements; this embodiment does not impose any limitations on it. Each time the controller receives feedback data from the temperature sensor, it executes the control process involved in this embodiment based on the received current ambient temperature.

[0064] Air conditioners typically have heating and cooling modes. To more accurately control the operation of the air conditioner, the water temperature in the water tank can be obtained after the air conditioner is turned on. When a cooling command is received and the water temperature is lower than a third temperature, the air conditioner is controlled to enter cooling mode. When a heating command is received and the water temperature is higher than a fourth temperature, the air conditioner is controlled to enter heating mode.

[0065] Temperature sensors can also be installed inside the water tank, and the controller receives the temperature data from these sensors or from the water temperature inside the tank. When the water tank is large, multiple temperature sensors can be used to detect the water temperature, thereby improving the accuracy of the temperature detection.

[0066] When cooling, the water tank typically needs to store sufficient cold energy; conversely, when heating, it typically needs to store sufficient heat energy. The water temperature in the tank reflects the amount of cold or heat energy stored; the more cold energy, the lower the water temperature; the more heat energy, the higher the water temperature. The third temperature can be below zero, such as -2°C or -3°C. When the water temperature is below the third temperature, it indicates that the cold energy in the tank is sufficient, and cooling can begin upon receiving a cooling command. The fourth temperature is usually higher, such as 60°C or 65°C. When the water temperature is above the third temperature, it indicates that the heat energy in the tank is sufficient, and heating can begin upon receiving a heating command. Users can also input cooling or heating commands via function buttons on a remote control or mobile device.

[0067] Step S20: Control the switching of energy storage and energy release functions according to the current ambient temperature.

[0068] In this embodiment, the energy storage and energy release functions of the air conditioner can operate independently or simultaneously. For example, after the air conditioner is started, the energy storage function is activated, the compressor starts, and it stores cold or heat in the water tank; at this time, only the energy storage function is operating. After the cold or heat storage reaches a certain level, the flow regulating pump is turned on to release cold or heat using the water in the tank; at this time, the compressor can remain running, i.e., the energy storage and energy release functions operate simultaneously. When the cold or heat storage in the water tank reaches a set upper limit, the compressor can be turned off, while the flow regulating pump remains running; at this time, only the energy release function is operating. Referring to the aforementioned air conditioner structure, the energy storage circuit and the energy release circuit are two different circuits, each driven by different components. Therefore, the energy storage circuit and the energy release circuit do not directly affect each other during operation.

[0069] It should be noted that when an air conditioner is cooling, the higher the ambient temperature, the greater the system pressure during cold storage and release; conversely, when an air conditioner is heating, the lower the ambient temperature, the greater the system pressure during heat storage and release. Excessive system pressure can cause the air conditioner to shut down, affecting the user experience.

[0070] To prevent excessive system pressure, the energy storage and energy release functions need to be controlled separately. The energy storage function is primarily controlled by regulating the compressor's operating status. When the energy storage function needs to be activated, the compressor can be kept on; when the energy storage function needs to be deactivated, the compressor can be kept off. The energy release function is primarily controlled by regulating the flow regulating pump's operating status. When the energy release function needs to be activated, the flow regulating pump can be kept on; when the energy release function needs to be deactivated, the flow regulating pump can be kept off.

[0071] To ensure a good user experience, the cooling or heating function should be prioritized when the user needs cooling or heating. To avoid excessive system pressure, the energy storage function can be selectively activated or deactivated. Specifically, during cooling, if the ambient temperature is high, the cooling storage function can be deactivated while the cooling function remains active; during heating, if the ambient temperature is low, the heating storage function can be deactivated while the heating function remains active. When the user turns off cooling or heating, both the energy storage and heating functions are deactivated.

[0072] In this embodiment, the current ambient temperature is obtained when the air conditioner is cooling or heating; then the switching of the energy storage function and the energy release function is controlled according to the current ambient temperature; thereby, the switching of the energy storage function and the energy release function are controlled according to the air conditioner system pressure, so as to avoid the air conditioner system pressure from being too high and causing the machine to shut down, thus ensuring that the air conditioner can normally achieve cooling or heating.

[0073] Reference Figure 5 , Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating a second embodiment of the control method for an air conditioner according to the present invention. Based on the first embodiment described above, a second embodiment of the control method for an air conditioner according to the present invention is proposed.

[0074] In this embodiment, to more effectively regulate the pressure of the air conditioning system, step S20 may include:

[0075] Step S201: Determine the current mode of the air conditioner.

[0076] Air conditioners typically operate in two modes: cooling and heating. Users usually turn on cooling mode when the room temperature is high and heating mode when the room temperature is low. In cooling mode, the higher the room temperature, the higher the air conditioner system pressure, and vice versa; in heating mode, the higher the room temperature, the lower the air conditioner system pressure, and vice versa. Therefore, the system pressure reflected by the current ambient temperature differs in different modes.

[0077] The operating mode of an air conditioner is typically controlled by the user, so the current mode can be determined based on the control commands input by the user. If the user inputs a cooling command, the current mode is cooling mode; if the user inputs a heating command, the current mode is heating mode. Currently, the controller can also drive the current mode based on the air conditioner's operating parameters.

[0078] Step S202: Determine the energy output of the air conditioner based on the current mode and the current ambient temperature.

[0079] It should be noted that energy release refers to the amount of cooling or heating capacity required by the air conditioner. Therefore, if the controller is cooling, the higher the current ambient temperature, the more cooling capacity is required and the greater the energy release, and vice versa; if the controller is heating, the lower the current ambient temperature, the more heating capacity is required and the greater the energy release, and vice versa.

[0080] In this embodiment, the energy release can be set to a first step, a second step, and a third step that increase sequentially. Specifically, a corresponding reference temperature can be determined based on the current mode, including a first temperature and a second temperature; the current ambient temperature is compared with the first temperature and the second temperature respectively to obtain the comparison result; and the energy release of the air conditioner is determined based on the comparison result.

[0081] The system is divided into three temperature ranges by setting a first temperature and a second temperature, with each temperature range corresponding to a specific energy release. As mentioned earlier, the system pressure reflected by the current ambient temperature varies depending on the air conditioner's operating mode; therefore, the first temperature and the second temperature will also differ in different operating modes.

[0082] For example, when the air conditioner is in cooling mode, the first temperature can be 35°C and the second temperature can be 43°C. If the current ambient temperature is less than or equal to 35°C, the energy release is at the first level; if the current ambient temperature is greater than 35°C and less than or equal to 43°C, the energy release is at the second level; and if the current ambient temperature is greater than 35°C, the energy release is at the third level. When the air conditioner is in heating mode, the first temperature can be 5°C and the second temperature can be 12°C. If the current ambient temperature is less than 5°C, the energy release is at the third level; if the current ambient temperature is greater than or equal to 5°C and less than 12°C, the energy release is at the second level; and if the current ambient temperature is greater than or equal to 12°C, the energy release is at the first level. Of course, the above values ​​are only examples, and the specific values ​​of the first and second temperatures can be set according to needs. This implementation does not limit this.

[0083] Step S203: Control the switching of the energy storage function and the energy release function according to the energy release capacity.

[0084] To ensure users' cooling or heating needs, the energy release function must be kept on. Then, the energy storage function is controlled based on the pressure generated by the energy release function. When the energy release is large, the system pressure (pressure in the energy storage circuit) generated by the energy release function is high, in which case the energy storage function can be turned off; conversely, when the energy release is large, the pressure generated by the energy release function is low, in which case the energy storage function can be turned on.

[0085] Taking the energy release as an example, which includes the first, second, and third steps, when the energy release is at the first step, the energy release function is turned on, and the energy storage function is turned on or off according to user needs; when the energy release is at the second step, both the energy release function and the energy storage function are turned on; when the energy release is at the third step, the energy release function is turned on, and the energy storage function is turned off.

[0086] When the energy release is at the first level, it indicates that the system pressure from the energy release circuit is not high, and the air conditioner system pressure is low. Therefore, the energy release function can be kept on. Similarly, because the energy release is low, the consumption of the cold or heat stored in the water tank is also low, so the energy storage function can be directly turned off. Alternatively, to maintain the long-term operation of the energy release function, the energy storage function can be activated. When the energy storage function is activated, the compressor can be controlled to operate at a reference frequency, which changes with the current ambient temperature. In cooling mode, the reference frequency is positively correlated with the current ambient temperature; that is, provided the current ambient temperature is less than or equal to 35°C, the higher the current ambient temperature, the higher the reference frequency, to ensure that cooling meets user needs. In heating mode, the reference frequency is negatively correlated with the current ambient temperature; that is, provided the current ambient temperature is greater than 12°C, the lower the current ambient temperature, the higher the reference frequency, to ensure that heating meets user needs.

[0087] When the energy release is at the second stage, the air conditioner's load is relatively high, and its peak cooling or heating capacity is high. Energy release alone may not be enough to meet user needs. At this time, since the system pressure is still within a controllable range, both the energy storage and energy release functions can be activated simultaneously. Furthermore, to avoid system overload, the compressor can be controlled to operate at a frequency within a set range, thereby limiting the pressure exerted by the energy storage function and preventing overpressure in the air conditioning system. This set frequency range can be set according to requirements, and this embodiment does not impose any restrictions on it.

[0088] When the energy release is at the third stage, the system pressure exceeds the limit. To ensure system reliability and meet user needs, the energy storage function needs to be shut down, and only the energy release function should be maintained. Typically, at higher ambient temperatures, the system pressure may exceed the limit as the water tank evaporation pressure increases.

[0089] In this embodiment, the current mode of the air conditioner is determined; then, the energy release is determined based on the current mode and the current ambient temperature; and finally, the switching on and off of the energy storage and energy release functions is controlled based on the energy release. This embodiment differentiates the energy release of the air conditioner using the current ambient temperature, thereby controlling the switching on and off of the energy storage and energy release functions at different energy release levels. This limits the pressure on the air conditioner system while ensuring user needs are met, preventing shutdown due to overpressure.

[0090] Furthermore, this invention also proposes a storage medium storing a control program for an air conditioner. When executed by a processor, the control program implements the steps of the air conditioner control method described above. Since this storage medium can employ the technical solutions of all the above embodiments, it at least possesses the beneficial effects brought about by the technical solutions of the above embodiments, and will not be elaborated further here.

[0091] In addition, refer to Figure 6 , Figure 6 This is a structural block diagram of a first embodiment of the control device for an air conditioner according to the present invention. The present invention also proposes a control device for an air conditioner.

[0092] In this embodiment, the control device for the air conditioner includes:

[0093] The detection module 10 is used to obtain the current ambient temperature when the air conditioner is cooling or heating.

[0094] The air conditioner can be equipped with a temperature sensor, which can be installed on the first unit (such as at the air inlet duct) to detect the outdoor ambient temperature and thus determine the current ambient temperature. Alternatively, the temperature sensor can be installed on the second unit to detect the indoor ambient temperature and thus determine the current ambient temperature. Of course, the current ambient temperature can also be obtained in other ways, such as by obtaining it from a meteorological database via a network, and this embodiment does not limit this.

[0095] The temperature sensor can feed back data to the controller at set time intervals, reducing the power consumption of the temperature sensor. This time interval can be 1 minute or 2 minutes, etc., and its specific value can be set according to requirements; this embodiment does not impose any limitations on it. Each time the detection module 10 receives feedback data from the temperature sensor, it executes the control flow involved in this embodiment based on the received current ambient temperature.

[0096] Air conditioners typically have heating and cooling modes. To more accurately control the operation of the air conditioner, the water temperature in the water tank can be obtained after the air conditioner is turned on. When a cooling command is received and the water temperature is lower than a third temperature, the air conditioner is controlled to enter cooling mode. When a heating command is received and the water temperature is higher than a fourth temperature, the air conditioner is controlled to enter heating mode.

[0097] A temperature sensor can also be installed inside the water tank. The detection module 10 receives the temperature data from the temperature sensor installed inside the water tank or from the water temperature inside the tank. When the water tank is large, multiple temperature sensors can be used to detect the water temperature, thereby improving the accuracy of water temperature detection.

[0098] When cooling, the water tank typically needs to store sufficient cold energy; conversely, when heating, it typically needs to store sufficient heat energy. The water temperature in the tank reflects the amount of cold or heat energy stored; the more cold energy, the lower the water temperature; the more heat energy, the higher the water temperature. The third temperature can be below zero, such as -2°C or -3°C. When the water temperature is below the third temperature, it indicates that the cold energy in the tank is sufficient, and cooling can begin upon receiving a cooling command. The fourth temperature is usually higher, such as 60°C or 65°C. When the water temperature is above the third temperature, it indicates that the heat energy in the tank is sufficient, and heating can begin upon receiving a heating command. Users can also input cooling or heating commands via function buttons on a remote control or mobile device.

[0099] The control module 20 is used to control the switching of the energy storage function and the energy release function according to the current ambient temperature.

[0100] Referring to the aforementioned air conditioner structure, the energy storage circuit and the energy release circuit are two different circuits, each driven by different components. Therefore, the energy storage circuit and the energy release circuit do not directly affect each other during operation.

[0101] It should be noted that when an air conditioner is cooling, the higher the ambient temperature, the greater the system pressure during cold storage and release; conversely, when an air conditioner is heating, the lower the ambient temperature, the greater the system pressure during heat storage and release. Excessive system pressure can cause the air conditioner to shut down, affecting the user experience.

[0102] To prevent excessive system pressure, the energy storage and energy release functions need to be controlled separately. The energy storage function is primarily controlled by regulating the compressor's operating status. When the energy storage function needs to be activated, the compressor can be kept on; when the energy storage function needs to be deactivated, the compressor can be kept off. The energy release function is primarily controlled by regulating the flow regulating pump's operating status. When the energy release function needs to be activated, the flow regulating pump can be kept on; when the energy release function needs to be deactivated, the flow regulating pump can be kept off.

[0103] To ensure a good user experience, the cooling or heating function should be prioritized when the user needs cooling or heating. To avoid excessive system pressure, the energy storage function can be selectively activated or deactivated. Specifically, during cooling, if the ambient temperature is high, the cooling storage function can be deactivated while the cooling function remains active; during heating, if the ambient temperature is low, the heating storage function can be deactivated while the heating function remains active. When the user turns off cooling or heating, both the energy storage and heating functions are deactivated.

[0104] In this embodiment, the detection module 10 acquires the current ambient temperature when the air conditioner is cooling or heating; the control module 20 controls the switching of the energy storage function and the energy release function according to the current ambient temperature; thereby controlling the switching of the energy storage function and the energy release function according to the air conditioner system pressure to avoid the air conditioner system pressure from being too high and causing shutdown, thus ensuring that the air conditioner can normally achieve cooling or heating.

[0105] In one embodiment, the control module 20 is further configured to determine the current mode of the air conditioner, which is either cooling mode or heating mode; determine the energy release based on the current mode and the current ambient temperature; and control the switching of the energy storage function and the energy release function based on the energy release.

[0106] In one embodiment, optionally, the energy release includes a first step, a second step, and a third step that increase sequentially. The control module 20 is further configured to control the energy release function to be turned on when the energy release is at the first step, and control the energy storage function to be turned on or off according to user needs; control both the energy release function and the energy storage function to be turned on when the energy release is at the second step; and control the energy release function to be turned on and the energy storage function to be turned off when the energy release is at the third step.

[0107] In one embodiment, the control module 20 is further configured to determine a corresponding reference temperature based on the current mode, the reference temperature including a first temperature and a second temperature; compare the current ambient temperature with the first temperature and the second temperature respectively to obtain a comparison result; and determine the energy release of the air conditioner based on the comparison result.

[0108] In one embodiment, the control module 20 is further configured to control the compressor to operate at a reference frequency when the energy release is at the first level and the energy storage function is activated. The reference frequency varies with the current ambient temperature.

[0109] In one embodiment, the control module 20 is further configured to control the compressor to operate at a frequency within a set frequency range when the energy release is at the second level.

[0110] Other embodiments or specific implementation conditions of the control device for the air conditioner described in this invention can refer to the above-described method embodiments, and therefore have at least all the beneficial effects brought about by the technical solutions of the above embodiments, which will not be repeated here.

[0111] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not limit the scope of the patent. Any equivalent structural or procedural transformations made based on the description and drawings of the present invention, or direct or indirect applications in other related technical fields, are similarly included within the scope of patent protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A control method for an air conditioner, characterized in that, The air conditioner includes an energy storage circuit, an energy release circuit, and an energy storage unit. The air conditioner has both energy storage and energy release functions. In the energy storage function, the air conditioner stores cooling or heating energy in the energy storage unit through the energy storage circuit. In the energy release function, the air conditioner utilizes the cooling or heating energy in the energy storage unit for cooling or heating through the energy release circuit. The control method includes: When the air conditioner is cooling or heating, the current ambient temperature is obtained; and, The switching on and off of the energy storage function and the energy release function are controlled according to the current ambient temperature. The method of controlling the switching of the energy storage function and the energy release function according to the current ambient temperature includes: Determine the current mode of the air conditioner, which is either cooling mode or heating mode; The energy release of the air conditioner is determined based on the current mode and the current ambient temperature, wherein the energy release represents the amount of cooling or heating capacity required by the air conditioner; and, The switching on and off of the energy storage function and the energy release function are controlled according to the energy release capacity; The energy release includes a first step, a second step, and a third step that increase sequentially. Controlling the switching of the energy storage function and the energy release function based on the energy release includes: When the energy release is at the first level, the energy release function is activated, and the energy storage function is activated or deactivated according to user needs. When the energy release is at the second level, both the energy release function and the energy storage function are activated; and, When the energy release is at the third level, the energy release function is turned on and the energy storage function is turned off. The air conditioner includes a compressor; The control method for the air conditioner also includes: When the released energy is at the first level and the energy storage function is activated, the compressor is controlled to operate at a reference frequency, which varies with the current ambient temperature.

2. The control method for an air conditioner as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Determining the energy release of the air conditioner based on the current mode and the current ambient temperature includes: A corresponding reference temperature is determined based on the current mode, and the reference temperature includes a first temperature and a second temperature. The current ambient temperature is compared with both the first temperature and the second temperature to obtain the comparison results; and, The energy release of the air conditioner is determined based on the comparison results.

3. The control method for an air conditioner as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The control method for the air conditioner also includes: When the energy release is at the second level, the compressor is controlled to operate at a frequency within a set frequency range.

4. The control method for an air conditioner as described in any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The energy storage unit includes a water tank, which uses water to store cold or heat. The control method for the air conditioner also includes: After the air conditioner is started, the water temperature in the water tank is obtained; Upon receiving a cooling command, and when the water temperature is lower than a third temperature, the air conditioner is controlled to enter cooling mode; and, Upon receiving a heating command and when the water temperature is greater than the fourth temperature, the air conditioner is controlled to enter the heating mode.

5. A control device for an air conditioner, characterized in that, An air conditioner includes an energy storage circuit, an energy release circuit, and an energy storage unit. The air conditioner has energy storage and energy release functions. Under the energy storage function, the air conditioner stores cold or heat energy into the energy storage unit through the energy storage circuit. Under the energy release function, the air conditioner uses the cold or heat energy in the energy storage unit for cooling or heating through the energy release circuit. The control device for the air conditioner includes: The detection module is used to acquire the current ambient temperature when the air conditioner is cooling or heating; and, The control module is used to control the switching of the energy storage function and the energy release function according to the current ambient temperature; The control module is further configured to determine the current mode of the air conditioner, which is either a cooling mode or a heating mode; determine the energy release of the air conditioner based on the current mode and the current ambient temperature, wherein the energy release represents the amount of cooling or heating that the air conditioner needs to provide; and control the switching on and off of the energy storage function and the energy release function based on the energy release. The energy release includes a first step, a second step, and a third step that increase sequentially. The control module is also used to control the energy release function to be turned on when the energy release is at the first step, and to control the energy storage function to be turned on or off according to user needs; when the energy release is at the second step, both the energy release function and the energy storage function are turned on; when the energy release is at the third step, the energy release function is turned on and the energy storage function is turned off. The control module is also used to control the compressor to operate at a reference frequency when the energy release is at the first level and the energy storage function is activated. The reference frequency changes with the current ambient temperature.

6. An air conditioner, characterized in that, The air conditioner includes a first casing and a second casing. The first casing includes an air inlet pipe, an air outlet pipe, a water tank, a compressor, and a first heat exchanger. The water tank contains a water tank heat exchanger. The compressor, the first heat exchanger, and the water tank heat exchanger form an energy storage circuit. The second casing includes a flow regulating pump and a second heat exchanger. The flow regulating pump and the second heat exchanger form an energy release circuit. The air conditioner has both energy storage and energy release functions. Under the energy storage function, the air conditioner stores cold or heat energy in the water tank through the energy storage circuit. Under the energy release function, the air conditioner utilizes the cold or heat energy in the water tank for cooling or heating through the energy release circuit. The air conditioner also includes a controller connected to the energy storage circuit and the energy release circuit. The controller includes a memory, a processor, and a control program for the air conditioner stored in the memory and executable on the processor. When the control program for the air conditioner is executed by the processor, it implements the control method for the air conditioner as described in any one of claims 1 to 4.

7. A storage medium, characterized in that, The storage medium stores a control program for an air conditioner, which, when executed by a processor, implements the control method for an air conditioner as described in any one of claims 1 to 4.

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