Air conditioner and control method thereof

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of household appliances, in particular to an air conditioner and a control method thereof. The air conditioner comprises a compressor, a first indoor heat exchanger and a second indoor heat exchanger, and is configured to have a first working mode in which the first indoor heat exchanger and the second indoor heat exchanger both serve as evaporators and a second working mode in which the first indoor heat exchanger serves as a condenser and the second indoor heat exchanger serves as an evaporator. The control method comprises: controlling the air conditioner to operate in the first working mode and acquiring an indoor temperature; in the case that the indoor temperature reaches a set temperature, acquiring an operating frequency of the compressor; judging whether a preset working mode switching condition is met according to the indoor temperature and the operating frequency; and if yes, controlling the air conditioner to operate in the second working mode. The air conditioner of the application avoids the problems of short service life of the compressor, loud noise and large temperature fluctuation caused by frequent start-stop by switching the working mode under control, and improves the use experience of the user.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of home appliance technology, and in particular to an air conditioner and its control method. Background Technology

[0002] During summer operation, when the user sets a high temperature, the outdoor temperature is not high, or during sleep at night, the air conditioner's cooling capacity requirement is relatively low. Even if the compressor runs at its lowest frequency, the cooling output is still too large, causing the indoor temperature to continue to drop. Some existing air conditioners typically employ an operating program that shuts off when the indoor temperature drops to a certain level and restarts when the indoor temperature rises to a certain level to prevent the indoor temperature from continuously dropping. For example, if the user sets the temperature to 27°C, the air conditioner will shut off when the indoor temperature reaches 26°C; after shutting off, the indoor temperature will rise; and when the indoor temperature rises to 28°C, the air conditioner will restart. Other existing air conditioners also employ a low-cooling-capacity operating scheme to reduce the frequency of repeated shutdowns and restarts.

[0003] However, existing air conditioners that shut down after reaching a temperature below the set point suffer from problems such as short compressor lifespan, high noise levels, and large temperature fluctuations due to frequent start-stop cycles, resulting in a poor user experience. Furthermore, existing air conditioners with low cooling capacity cannot meet the cooling demands of high-temperature conditions. Additionally, they lack the ability to achieve precise temperature control under low cooling capacity requirements. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of the above problems, the present invention proposes an air conditioner and a control method thereof that overcomes or at least partially solves the above problems.

[0005] One objective of the first aspect of this invention is to provide a control method for an air conditioner to avoid frequent start-stop of the air conditioner.

[0006] A further objective of the first aspect of the present invention is to achieve precise temperature control under low cooling capacity requirements.

[0007] The second objective of this invention is to provide an air conditioner using the above-described control method to improve the user experience.

[0008] According to a first aspect of the present invention, an air conditioner control method is provided. The air conditioner includes a compressor, a first indoor heat exchanger, and a second indoor heat exchanger. The air conditioner is configured to have a first operating mode in which both the first and second indoor heat exchangers function as evaporators and a second operating mode in which the first indoor heat exchanger functions as a condenser and the second indoor heat exchanger functions as an evaporator. The control method includes:

[0009] Control the air conditioner to operate in the first working mode and obtain the indoor temperature;

[0010] When the indoor temperature reaches the set temperature, obtain the compressor's operating frequency;

[0011] Based on the indoor temperature and operating frequency, determine whether the preset working mode switching conditions are met;

[0012] If so, control the air conditioner to operate in the second working mode.

[0013] Optionally, after the step of controlling the air conditioner to operate in the second operating mode, the control method further includes:

[0014] Adjust the air conditioner's operating parameters according to the rate of change of indoor temperature to control the air conditioner's heating and / or cooling capacity.

[0015] Optionally, the air conditioner also includes an indoor throttling device for regulating the refrigerant flow in the second indoor heat exchanger, a first indoor fan for driving indoor air to exchange heat with the first indoor heat exchanger, and a second indoor fan for driving indoor air to exchange heat with the second indoor heat exchanger. The operating parameters of the air conditioner include the opening degree of the indoor throttling device and the rotational speed of the first indoor fan and the second indoor fan.

[0016] Optionally, adjusting the air conditioner's operating parameters according to the rate of change of indoor temperature includes:

[0017] The time required for the indoor temperature to reach the preset temperature is obtained, wherein the difference between the preset temperature and the set temperature is the preset first temperature difference;

[0018] The running time is compared with the preset time threshold range, wherein different time threshold ranges are set according to the heat exchange rate of different running parameters in the second working mode.

[0019] The air conditioner is controlled to operate according to the operating parameters corresponding to the time threshold range to which the running time belongs.

[0020] Optionally, the preset duration threshold range includes at least a first threshold range not greater than a first preset duration, a second threshold range greater than the first preset duration but not greater than a second preset duration, and a third threshold range greater than the second preset duration, wherein the first preset duration is less than the second preset duration;

[0021] The operating parameters corresponding to the first threshold range include: the first indoor fan operates at a first speed, the second indoor fan reduces its speed by a first reduction value, and the indoor throttling device uses a first opening degree as its initial opening degree.

[0022] The operating parameters corresponding to the first threshold range include: the first indoor fan operating at a second speed, the second indoor fan reducing its speed by a second reduction value, and the indoor throttling device using a second opening degree as its initial opening degree; and

[0023] The operating parameters corresponding to the first threshold range include: the first indoor fan stops running, the second indoor fan maintains its speed, and the indoor throttling device uses the third opening degree as its initial opening degree; wherein

[0024] The first rotational speed is greater than the second rotational speed, the first deceleration value is greater than the second deceleration value, and the first opening degree is less than the second opening degree, which is less than the third opening degree.

[0025] Optionally, after the step of controlling the air conditioner to operate according to the operating parameters corresponding to the duration threshold range to which the operating duration belongs, the step of adjusting the operating parameters of the air conditioner according to the rate of change of the indoor temperature further includes:

[0026] The throttling device in the control room is PID regulated.

[0027] Optionally, based on indoor temperature and operating frequency, the determination of whether the preset working mode switching conditions are met includes:

[0028] Determine if the operating frequency has reached the minimum frequency;

[0029] If the condition is met, then the preset working mode switching conditions are satisfied.

[0030] If the desired effect is not achieved, adjust the compressor's operating frequency.

[0031] Determine whether the indoor temperature meets the preset temperature requirements;

[0032] If the conditions are met, then the preset working mode switching conditions are not met.

[0033] If not, then the preset working mode switching conditions are met.

[0034] Optionally, after determining whether the preset working mode switching conditions are met, the control method further includes:

[0035] If the preset conditions for switching operating modes are not met, the air conditioner will be kept in the first operating mode.

[0036] According to a second aspect of the present invention, the present invention also provides an air conditioner, the air conditioner including a first indoor heat exchanger and a second indoor heat exchanger, the air conditioner being configured to have a first operating mode in which both the first indoor heat exchanger and the second indoor heat exchanger function as evaporators and a second operating mode in which the first indoor heat exchanger functions as a condenser and the second indoor heat exchanger functions as an evaporator, and the air conditioner further includes:

[0037] The system includes a processing module and a storage module. The storage module stores a machine-executable program. When the machine-executable program is executed by the processing module, it is used to implement any of the control methods mentioned above.

[0038] Optionally, the air conditioner also includes an indoor throttling device for regulating the refrigerant flow in the second indoor heat exchanger, a first indoor fan for driving indoor air to exchange heat with the first indoor heat exchanger, and a second indoor fan for driving indoor air to exchange heat with the second indoor heat exchanger.

[0039] The air conditioner control method of the present invention configures the air conditioner to have a first operating mode in which both the first indoor heat exchanger and the second indoor heat exchanger act as evaporators, and a second operating mode in which the first indoor heat exchanger acts as a condenser and the second indoor heat exchanger acts as an evaporator. When the air conditioner is operating in the first operating mode and the indoor temperature reaches the set temperature, the method determines whether a preset operating mode switching condition is met based on the indoor temperature and the operating frequency. If the preset operating mode switching condition is confirmed to be met, the method controls the air conditioner to operate in the second operating mode. Temperature control can be achieved without frequent start-stop, avoiding problems such as short compressor life, high noise, and large temperature fluctuations caused by frequent start-stop of the air conditioner, thus improving the user experience.

[0040] Furthermore, the air conditioner control method of the present invention, by adjusting the operating parameters of the air conditioner according to the rate of change of indoor temperature in the second working mode, controls the heating and / or cooling capacity of the air conditioner, thereby achieving accurate adjustment of the heating and / or cooling capacity of the air conditioner and thus achieving precise temperature control under low cooling capacity requirements.

[0041] The above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0042] The following sections will describe some specific embodiments of the invention in detail by way of example and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals in the drawings denote the same or similar parts or portions. Those skilled in the art should understand that these drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. In the drawings:

[0043] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0044] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of an air conditioner operating in a first working mode according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0045] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of an air conditioner operating in a second working mode according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0046] Figure 4 This is a schematic block diagram of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0047] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of an air conditioner control method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0048] Figure 6 This is a control flowchart of an air conditioner control method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0049] Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. While exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the invention may be implemented in various forms and should not be limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

[0050] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 As shown, the air conditioner 1 may include a refrigeration system 10, an indoor unit 20, and an outdoor unit 30. Specifically, the refrigeration system 10 may include a refrigeration assembly 100 and a fan assembly 200.

[0051] The refrigeration assembly 100 includes a compressor 110, an outdoor heat exchanger 120, a first indoor heat exchanger 130, and a second indoor heat exchanger 140 for forming a refrigeration circuit 150. For example... Figure 1 As shown, compressor 110 and outdoor heat exchanger 120 are located inside outdoor unit 30, and first indoor heat exchanger 130 and second indoor heat exchanger 140 are located inside indoor unit 20. First indoor heat exchanger 130 and second indoor heat exchanger 140 are used to exchange heat with indoor air to regulate indoor temperature.

[0052] In this embodiment, the air conditioner 1 is configured to have a first operating mode in which both the first indoor heat exchanger and the second indoor heat exchanger function as evaporators, and a second operating mode in which the first indoor heat exchanger functions as a condenser and the second indoor heat exchanger functions as an evaporator. Specifically, when the air conditioner 1 operates in the first operating mode, the first indoor heat exchanger 130 and the second indoor heat exchanger 140 are connected in parallel so that both the first indoor heat exchanger 130 and the second indoor heat exchanger 140 function as evaporators for cooling. When the air conditioner 1 operates in the second operating mode, the first indoor heat exchanger 130 and the second indoor heat exchanger 140 are connected in series so that the second indoor heat exchanger 140 functions as an evaporator for cooling, and the first indoor heat exchanger 130 functions as a condenser for heating to offset at least a portion of the cooling capacity generated by the second indoor heat exchanger 140.

[0053] The fan assembly 200 includes a first indoor fan 210 and a second indoor fan 220. For example... Figure 1 As shown, the first indoor fan 210 is correspondingly arranged with the first indoor heat exchanger 130, and is used to drive indoor air to exchange heat with the first indoor heat exchanger 130. The second indoor fan 220 is correspondingly arranged with the second indoor heat exchanger 140, and is used to drive indoor air to exchange heat with the second indoor heat exchanger 140.

[0054] When the air conditioner 1 is operating in the first working mode, the heat exchange efficiency between the first indoor heat exchanger 130 and the second indoor heat exchanger 140 and the indoor air can be controlled by adjusting the frequency of the compressor 110. When the air conditioner 1 is operating in the second working mode, the heat exchange efficiency between the first indoor heat exchanger 130 and the second indoor heat exchanger 140 and the indoor air can also be controlled by adjusting the speed of the first indoor fan 210 and the second indoor fan 220, thereby achieving independent control of the heating capacity of the first indoor heat exchanger 130 and the cooling capacity of the second indoor heat exchanger 140.

[0055] It should be noted that the first indoor heat exchanger 130 and the second indoor heat exchanger 140 can be two independent heat exchangers or two parts of a single heat exchanger. For example, when air conditioner 1 is a vertical double-column cabinet air conditioner, the first indoor heat exchanger 130 and the second indoor heat exchanger 140 can be the heat exchangers in the left and right columns of the vertical double-column cabinet air conditioner, respectively. The first indoor heat exchanger 130 and the second indoor heat exchanger 140 can be controlled separately to achieve independent control of the heating capacity on the left and the cooling capacity on the right, thus enabling temperature control under low cooling capacity demand.

[0056] Furthermore, the area ratio of the first indoor heat exchanger 130 and the second indoor heat exchanger 140 can be designed as needed. For example, the area ratio of the first indoor heat exchanger 130 and the second indoor heat exchanger 140 can be between 0.4 and 2.4. In one specific embodiment, the area ratio of the first indoor heat exchanger 130 and the second indoor heat exchanger 140 can be 1. The first indoor heat exchanger 130 and the second indoor heat exchanger 140 can be arranged side by side or side by side, and the present invention does not limit this arrangement.

[0057] Furthermore, the specific locations of the first indoor fan 210 and the second indoor fan 220 can be set according to actual needs. For example, when air conditioner 1 is a vertical double-column cabinet air conditioner, in one specific embodiment, the first indoor fan 210 and the second indoor fan 220 can be respectively located at the bottom of the first indoor heat exchanger 130 and the second indoor heat exchanger 140. In another specific embodiment, such as... Figure 1 As shown, the first indoor fan 210 and the second indoor fan 220 can also be respectively installed on the top of the first indoor heat exchanger 130 and the second indoor heat exchanger 140. Figure 1 The example only illustrates the case where the first indoor fan 210 and the second indoor fan 220 are respectively installed on top of the first indoor heat exchanger 130 and the second indoor heat exchanger 140, but should not be regarded as a limitation on the specific installation positions of the first indoor fan 210 and the second indoor fan 220.

[0058] The two indoor heat exchangers in the air conditioner 1 of the present invention can independently perform cooling / heating, which facilitates flexible temperature control without shutting down the system and improves the user experience.

[0059] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of an air conditioner operating in a first working mode according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of an air conditioner operating in a second working mode according to an embodiment of the present invention. The following is in conjunction with... Figures 1-3 The structure of the air conditioner 1 of the present invention will be further described.

[0060] In some embodiments, such as Figures 1-3 As shown, the refrigeration system 10 also includes a throttling component 300. The throttling component 300 is connected to the refrigeration circuit 150 and is used to switch the refrigerant flow direction in the refrigeration circuit 150 so that the first indoor heat exchanger 130 and the second indoor heat exchanger 140 are arranged in parallel or in series between the compressor 110 and the outdoor heat exchanger 120.

[0061] The air conditioner 1 of the present invention can switch the refrigerant flow direction in the refrigeration circuit 150 and the parallel or series connection mode of the first indoor heat exchanger 130 and the second indoor heat exchanger 140 simply by setting a throttling component 300 connected to the refrigeration circuit 150. It does not require additional complex bypass defrosting pipes, which simplifies the structure of the refrigeration system 10 and reduces production costs.

[0062] In some embodiments, such as Figures 1-3 As shown, the throttling component 300 may include a first throttling component 310, a second throttling component 320, and a third throttling component 330.

[0063] The first throttling assembly 310 is disposed between the outlet end 122 of the outdoor heat exchanger 120 and the refrigerant inlets of the two indoor heat exchangers, and is used to open or close the connection between the outlet end 122 of the outdoor heat exchanger 120 and the refrigerant inlets of the two indoor heat exchangers. Specifically, the first throttling assembly 310 may include an outdoor throttling device 311, a first throttling element 312, and a second throttling element 313. The outdoor throttling device 311 and the first throttling element 312 are disposed in the outdoor unit 30 of the air conditioner 1, and the second throttling element 313 is disposed in the indoor unit 20 of the air conditioner 1. The outdoor throttling device 311 is disposed between the outlet end 122 of the outdoor heat exchanger and the refrigerant inlets of the two indoor heat exchangers, and is configured to open when the air conditioner 1 is operating in a first operating mode to throttle the refrigerant flowing to the two indoor heat exchangers and to close when the air conditioner 1 is operating in a second operating mode. The first throttling element 312 is connected in parallel with the outdoor throttling device 311 and is configured to open when the air conditioner 1 is running in the second operating mode to open the connection between the outlet end 122 of the outdoor heat exchanger 120 and the refrigerant inlet 131 of the first indoor heat exchanger 130. This allows the refrigerant flowing out of the outlet end 122 of the outdoor heat exchanger 120 to directly enter the first indoor heat exchanger 130 without undergoing throttling and pressure reduction, enabling the first indoor heat exchanger 130 to function as a condenser. This effectively utilizes the residual heat of the refrigerant after it flows through the outdoor heat exchanger 120 and avoids wasting cooling capacity. The second throttling element 313 is located between the first throttling element 312 and the refrigerant inlet 141 of the second indoor heat exchanger 140 and is configured to close when the air conditioner 1 is running in the second operating mode to shut off the connection between the outlet end 122 of the outdoor heat exchanger 120 and the refrigerant inlet 141 of the second indoor heat exchanger 140.

[0064] The second throttling assembly 320 is disposed between the refrigerant outlet 132 of the first indoor heat exchanger 130 and the refrigerant inlet 141 of the second indoor heat exchanger 140, and is used to open or close the connection between the refrigerant outlet 132 of the first indoor heat exchanger 130 and the refrigerant inlet 141 of the second indoor heat exchanger 140. Specifically, the second throttling assembly 320 may include a bypass pipe 321. The bypass pipe 321 is disposed within the indoor unit 20 of the air conditioner 1. The bypass pipe 321 is disposed between the refrigerant outlet 132 of the first indoor heat exchanger 130 and the refrigerant inlet 141 of the second indoor heat exchanger 140, and an indoor throttling device 322 is disposed on the bypass pipe 321. The indoor throttling device 322 is used to regulate the refrigerant flow in the second indoor heat exchanger 140. The indoor throttling device 322 is configured to be closed when the air conditioner 1 is operating in a first operating mode and open when the air conditioner 1 is operating in a second operating mode to throttle the refrigerant flowing to the second indoor heat exchanger 140.

[0065] The third throttling assembly 330 is disposed between the air inlet 111 of the compressor 110 and the refrigerant outlets of the two indoor heat exchangers, and is used to open or close the connection between the air inlet 111 of the compressor 110 and the refrigerant outlets of the two indoor heat exchangers. Specifically, the third throttling assembly may include a first throttling branch 331 and a second throttling branch 333. The first throttling branch 331 is disposed between the air inlet 111 of the compressor 110 and the refrigerant outlet 132 of the first indoor heat exchanger 130. Specifically, a third throttling element 332 is disposed on the first throttling branch 331, and the third throttling element 332 is disposed inside the indoor unit 20 of the air conditioner 1. The third throttling element 332 is disposed between the air inlet 111 of the compressor 110 and the refrigerant outlet 132 of the first indoor heat exchanger 130. The second throttling branch 333 is disposed between the air inlet 111 of the compressor 110 and the refrigerant outlet 132 of the first indoor heat exchanger 130, for connecting the air inlet 111 of the compressor 110 and the refrigerant outlet 142 of the second indoor heat exchanger 140.

[0066] In some embodiments, the opening degree of the throttling element can be adjusted as needed. Specifically, the throttling element can be a shut-off valve. That is, the first throttling element 312, the second throttling element 313, and the third throttling element 332 can all be shut-off valves. The refrigeration system 10 of this embodiment, by setting a shut-off valve as the throttling element, has the advantages of simple structure, low price, and adjustable valve opening degree.

[0067] In some embodiments, the throttling device is an electronic expansion valve. That is, both the outdoor throttling device 311 and the indoor throttling device 322 can be electronic expansion valves. In some specific embodiments, the electronic expansion valve can not only throttle and reduce pressure, but also be used for flow control, thereby further ensuring the stable operation of the refrigeration system 10.

[0068] When air conditioner 1 operates in the first working mode, the outdoor throttling device 311, the second throttling element 313, and the third throttling element 332 are all open, while the first throttling element 312 and the indoor throttling device 322 are all closed. Therefore, the refrigeration circuit 150 can include a primary refrigeration circuit and a secondary refrigeration circuit. At this time, the refrigerant flow direction in the primary refrigeration circuit is: compressor 110 → outdoor heat exchanger 120 → outdoor throttling device 311 → first indoor heat exchanger 130 → compressor 110; the refrigerant flow direction in the secondary refrigeration circuit is: compressor 110 → outdoor heat exchanger 120 → outdoor throttling device 311 → second indoor heat exchanger 140 → compressor 110. Thus, the first indoor heat exchanger 130 and the second indoor heat exchanger 140 are connected in parallel between the air inlet 111 of compressor 110 and the outlet of outdoor throttling device 311, and both are used as evaporators, thereby achieving cooling under high cooling capacity requirements.

[0069] When air conditioner 1 operates in the second working mode, the outdoor throttling device 311, the second throttling element 313, and the third throttling element 332 are all closed, while the first throttling element 312 and the indoor throttling device 322 are all open. Therefore, the refrigerant flow direction within the refrigeration circuit 150 is: compressor 110 → outdoor heat exchanger 120 → first indoor heat exchanger 130 → indoor throttling device 322 → second indoor heat exchanger 140 → compressor 110. This allows the first indoor heat exchanger 130 and the second indoor heat exchanger 140 to be connected in series between the compressor 110 inlet 111 and the first outdoor heat exchanger 120 outlet 122, with the first indoor heat exchanger 130 acting as a condenser and the second indoor heat exchanger 140 acting as an evaporator, thus achieving cooling under low cooling capacity requirements.

[0070] Figure 4 This is a schematic block diagram of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. The air conditioner 1 of the present invention may further include a processing module 40 and a storage module 50.

[0071] The processing module 40 and the storage module 50 are a collection of at least some of the functional modules used to store user-inputted data such as set temperature.

[0072] The storage module 50 and the processing module 40 can form part of the main control board of the air conditioner 1. The processing module 40 can be a central processing unit (CPU) or a digital processing unit (DSP), etc. The storage module 50 is used to store the program executed by the processing module 40. The storage module 50 stores a machine-executable program 51, which, when executed by the processing module 40, is used to implement the control method of the air conditioner 1 according to any of the following embodiments.

[0073] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of an air conditioner control method according to an embodiment of the present invention. The control method generally includes:

[0074] Step S502: Control the air conditioner 1 to operate in the first working mode and obtain the indoor temperature T. When the air conditioner 1 is operating in the first working mode, both the first indoor heat exchanger 130 and the second indoor heat exchanger 140 act as evaporators for cooling.

[0075] Step S504: When the indoor temperature T reaches the set temperature, obtain the operating frequency of the compressor 110.

[0076] Step S506: Based on the indoor temperature T and operating frequency, determine whether the preset working mode switching conditions are met. If so, proceed to step S508.

[0077] Step S508: Control the air conditioner 1 to operate in the second working mode. When the air conditioner 1 is operating in the second working mode, the first indoor heat exchanger 130 acts as a condenser for heating, and the second indoor heat exchanger 140 acts as an evaporator for cooling.

[0078] The control method of the air conditioner 1 in this embodiment determines whether the preset working mode switching conditions are met when the air conditioner 1 is running in the first working mode and the indoor temperature T reaches the set temperature, based on the indoor temperature T and the operating frequency. If the preset working mode switching conditions are confirmed to be met, the air conditioner 1 is controlled to run in the second working mode. Temperature control under low cooling capacity requirements can be achieved without frequent start-stop, avoiding problems such as short lifespan of compressor 110, high noise, and large temperature fluctuations caused by frequent start-stop of air conditioner 1, thus improving the user experience.

[0079] In some embodiments, in step S502 above, the indoor temperature T is the ambient temperature of the room where the indoor unit 20 is located, which can be detected by a temperature sensor. Additionally, the set temperature T in step S504 above... s It can be set by the user or calculated based on the user's historical usage habits; this invention does not limit this.

[0080] In some embodiments, step S506 may include the following steps: determining whether the operating frequency has reached the minimum frequency; if it has, determining that the preset operating mode switching condition is met; if it has not, adjusting the operating frequency of the compressor 110; determining whether the indoor temperature T can meet the preset temperature requirement; if it does, determining that the preset operating mode switching condition is not met; if it does not, determining that the preset operating mode switching condition is met. Specifically, reducing the operating frequency of the compressor 110 can reduce the heat exchange efficiency of the first indoor heat exchanger 130 and the second indoor heat exchanger 140, thereby reducing the cooling capacity generated by the air conditioner 1, and controlling the reduction of the indoor temperature T. That is, the preset operating mode switching condition can be determined to be met when the operating frequency reaches the minimum frequency or when the operating frequency does not reach the minimum frequency but the preset temperature requirement can be met after frequency adjustment. The preset operating mode switching condition is only determined to be not met when the operating frequency does not reach the minimum frequency and the preset temperature requirement cannot be met after frequency adjustment.

[0081] It should be noted that the minimum frequency is the minimum operating frequency at which the compressor 110 can operate stably. In some specific embodiments, the preset temperature requirement can be to maintain the indoor temperature T at a set temperature T. s For example, setting the temperature T s It can be set within the range of 22℃ to 28℃. Specifically, the set temperature T... sIt can be 27℃. In some other specific embodiments, the preset temperature requirement can also be that the indoor temperature T is at a set temperature T. s Within ±ΔT range. It should be noted that ΔT can be set as needed. For example, ΔT can be within the range of 0 to 1℃. Specifically, ΔT can be 0.5℃.

[0082] In some embodiments, after step S506 above, the control method of the present invention may further include the following step: if it is determined that the preset working mode switching conditions are not met, control the air conditioner 1 to maintain the first working mode.

[0083] The control method of the air conditioner 1 in this embodiment controls the air conditioner 1 to continue operating in the first working mode when it is confirmed that the preset working mode switching conditions are not met, thereby avoiding the problem of large temperature fluctuations caused by frequent shutdowns of the air conditioner 1 and realizing temperature control under high cooling capacity demand.

[0084] In some embodiments, after step S508 above, the control method of the present invention may further include the following steps: adjusting the operating parameters of the air conditioner 1 according to the rate of change of the indoor temperature T, so as to control the heating and / or cooling capacity of the air conditioner 1.

[0085] The control method of the air conditioner 1 of the present invention, by adjusting the operating parameters of the air conditioner 1 according to the rate of change of the indoor temperature T in the second working mode, controls the heating and / or cooling capacity of the air conditioner 1, thereby achieving accurate adjustment of the heating and / or cooling capacity of the air conditioner 1 and thus achieving precise temperature control under low cooling capacity requirements.

[0086] Furthermore, the steps described above for adjusting the operating parameters of air conditioner 1 based on the rate of change of indoor temperature T may include the following steps: obtaining the operating time Δt required for indoor temperature T to reach the preset temperature; comparing the operating time Δt with a preset time threshold range; and controlling air conditioner 1 to operate according to the operating parameters corresponding to the time threshold range to which the operating time Δt belongs. It should be noted that the preset temperature and the set temperature T... s The difference between them is the preset first temperature difference T1. Different time-limit intervals are set according to the heat exchange rate under different operating parameters in the second working mode. It should be noted that the preset first temperature difference T1 can be set as needed. For example, the preset first temperature difference T1 can be in the range of 0 to 1℃. In a specific embodiment, the preset first temperature difference T1 can be 0.5℃.

[0087] In some specific embodiments, the preset temperature may be less than the set temperature T. s At this time, the preset temperature can be the set temperature T. s - Preset first temperature difference T1. For example, the preset temperature can be the set temperature T. s -0.5℃.

[0088] In some embodiments, the preset duration threshold range includes at least a first threshold range not greater than a first preset duration, a second threshold range greater than the first preset duration but not greater than a second preset duration, and a third threshold range greater than the second preset duration. It should be noted that the first preset duration is less than the second preset duration. The first and second preset durations can be set as needed. For example, the first preset duration can be in the range of 5 min to 15 min, and the second preset duration can be in the range of 25 min to 35 min. In a specific embodiment, the first preset duration can be 10 min, and the second preset duration can be 30 min. Furthermore, the operating parameters of the air conditioner 1 may include the opening degree of the indoor throttling device 322, the rotation speed of the first indoor fan 210, and the rotation speed of the second indoor fan 220.

[0089] Based on this, the operating parameters corresponding to the first threshold range may include: the first indoor fan 210 operating at a first speed, the second indoor fan 220 reducing its speed by a first deceleration value, and the indoor throttling device 322 using a first opening degree as its initial opening degree. The operating parameters corresponding to the first threshold range may include: the first indoor fan 210 operating at a second speed, the second indoor fan 220 reducing its speed by a second deceleration value, and the indoor throttling device 322 using a second opening degree as its initial opening degree. The operating parameters corresponding to the first threshold range may include: the first indoor fan 210 stopping operation, the second indoor fan 220 maintaining its speed, and the indoor throttling device 322 using a third opening degree as its initial opening degree. It should be noted that the first speed is greater than the second speed, the first deceleration value is greater than the second deceleration value, and the first opening degree is less than the second opening degree and less than the third opening degree. For example, the first rotational speed can be in the range of 250 r / min to 350 r / min, the second rotational speed can be in the range of 150 r / min to 250 r / min, the first deceleration value can be in the range of 150 r / min to 250 r / min, the second deceleration value can be in the range of 50 r / min to 150 r / min, the first opening degree can be in the range of 150 steps to 250 steps, the second opening degree can be in the range of 250 steps to 335 steps, and the third opening degree can be in the range of 335 steps to 400 steps. In a specific embodiment, the first rotational speed can be 300 r / min, the second rotational speed can be 200 r / min, the first deceleration value can be 200 r / min, the second deceleration value can be 100 r / min, the first opening degree can be 200 steps, the second opening degree can be 300 steps, and the third opening degree can be 350 steps.

[0090] After the steps described above, which control the air conditioner 1 to operate according to the operating parameters corresponding to the time threshold interval to which the operating duration Δt belongs, the steps described above, which adjust the operating parameters of the air conditioner 1 according to the rate of change of the indoor temperature T, may further include the following steps: controlling the indoor throttling device 322 to perform PID valve adjustment. That is, after the indoor throttling device 322 operates with a certain opening degree as the initial opening degree, PID valve adjustment is performed to achieve automatic adjustment of the opening degree, thereby further improving the accuracy of temperature control under low cooling capacity demand.

[0091] The air conditioner 1 control method of the present invention, by pre-setting the correspondence between the time threshold range and the operating parameters, realizes the rapid determination of suitable operating parameters of the air conditioner 1 based on the rate of change of indoor temperature T, thereby further ensuring accurate temperature control under low cooling capacity requirements.

[0092] Figure 6 This is a control flowchart of an air conditioner control method according to an embodiment of the present invention. The control flowchart... Figure 1 Generally, it may include:

[0093] Step S602: Control the air conditioner 1 to operate in the first working mode and obtain the indoor temperature T. When the air conditioner 1 is operating in the first working mode, both the first indoor heat exchanger 130 and the second indoor heat exchanger 140 act as evaporators to perform cooling, thereby providing cooling under high cooling capacity requirements.

[0094] Step S604: When the indoor temperature T reaches the set temperature T s Under these circumstances, the operating frequency of compressor 110 is obtained.

[0095] Step S606: Determine whether the operating frequency has reached the minimum frequency. If yes, proceed to step S612; otherwise, proceed to step S608.

[0096] Step S608: Adjust the operating frequency of compressor 110. Specifically, this step can be performed by reducing the operating frequency of compressor 110.

[0097] Step S610: Determine whether the indoor temperature T can be maintained at the set temperature T. s If yes, proceed to step S622; otherwise, proceed to step S612.

[0098] Step S612: Control the air conditioner 1 to operate in the second working mode. When the air conditioner 1 is operating in the second working mode, the first indoor heat exchanger 130 acts as a condenser for heating, and the second indoor heat exchanger 140 acts as an evaporator for cooling, thereby providing cooling when the cooling capacity requirement is low.

[0099] Step S614, obtain the indoor temperature T until it reaches T sThe operating time Δt required to reach -0.5℃.

[0100] Step S616: Compare the running time Δt with a preset time threshold range. It should be noted that different time threshold ranges are set according to the heat exchange rate during different operating parameters in the second working mode.

[0101] Step S618: Control the air conditioner 1 to operate according to the operating parameters corresponding to the time threshold interval to which the operating duration Δt belongs. It should be noted that the operating parameters of the air conditioner 1 include the opening degree of the indoor throttling device 322 and the rotation speed of the first indoor fan 210 and the second indoor fan 220.

[0102] In step S620, the indoor throttling device 322 is controlled to perform PID valve adjustment to maintain the indoor temperature T at the set temperature T. s This concludes the process.

[0103] Step S622: Control the air conditioner 1 to maintain the first operating mode. This concludes the current process.

[0104] The control method of the air conditioner 1 of the present invention involves the air conditioner 1 operating in a first working mode and reaching a set temperature T when the indoor temperature T reaches a set temperature T. s In this case, based on the indoor temperature T and the operating frequency, it is determined whether the preset working mode switching conditions are met. If the preset working mode switching conditions are confirmed to be met, the air conditioner 1 is controlled to operate in the second working mode. Temperature control can be achieved without frequent start-stop, avoiding problems such as short lifespan of compressor 110, high noise, and large temperature fluctuations caused by frequent start-stop of air conditioner 1, thus improving the user experience.

[0105] Furthermore, the control method of the air conditioner 1 of the present invention, by adjusting the operating parameters of the air conditioner according to the rate of change of the indoor temperature T in the second working mode, controls the heating and / or cooling capacity of the air conditioner, thereby achieving accurate adjustment of the heating and / or cooling capacity of the air conditioner and thus achieving precise temperature control under low cooling capacity requirements.

[0106] In the description of this embodiment, it should be understood that the terms "first," "second," "primary," and "secondary," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Therefore, features defined as "first," "second," "primary," and "secondary" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of those features, that is, include one or more of those features.

[0107] Unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "connection" and "communication," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise expressly limited. Those skilled in the art should be able to understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0108] Therefore, those skilled in the art should recognize that although numerous exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described in detail herein, many other variations or modifications conforming to the principles of the present invention can be directly determined or derived from the disclosure of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the scope of the present invention should be understood and construed as covering all such other variations or modifications.

Claims

1. A control method for an air conditioner, the air conditioner comprising a compressor, a first indoor heat exchanger and a second indoor heat exchanger, an indoor throttling device for adjusting the refrigerant flow rate in the second indoor heat exchanger, a first indoor fan for driving indoor air to exchange heat with the first indoor heat exchanger, and a second indoor fan for driving indoor air to exchange heat with the second indoor heat exchanger, the air conditioner being configured to have a first operating mode in which both the first indoor heat exchanger and the second indoor heat exchanger function as evaporators, and a second operating mode in which the first indoor heat exchanger functions as a condenser and the second indoor heat exchanger functions as an evaporator, and the control method comprising: Control the air conditioner to operate in the first working mode and obtain the indoor temperature; When the indoor temperature reaches the set temperature, the operating frequency of the compressor is obtained; Determine whether the operating frequency has reached the minimum frequency; If so, then the preset working mode switching conditions are met, and the air conditioner is controlled to operate in the second working mode to obtain the running time required for the indoor temperature to reach the preset temperature. The runtime is compared with a preset runtime threshold range, wherein the preset runtime threshold range includes at least a first threshold range not greater than a first preset runtime, a second threshold range greater than the first preset runtime and not greater than a second preset runtime, and a third threshold range greater than the second preset runtime, wherein the first preset runtime is less than the second preset runtime. The air conditioner is controlled to operate according to operating parameters corresponding to the duration threshold range to which the operating time belongs; wherein The operating parameters corresponding to the first threshold range include: the first indoor fan operates at a first speed, the second indoor fan reduces its speed by a first reduction value, and the indoor throttling device uses a first opening degree as its initial opening degree; The operating parameters corresponding to the first threshold range include: the first indoor fan operates at a second speed, the second indoor fan reduces its speed by a second reduction value, and the indoor throttling device uses a second opening degree as its initial opening degree; the first speed is greater than the second speed, and the first reduction value is greater than the second reduction value; and The operating parameters corresponding to the first threshold range include: the first indoor fan stops running, the second indoor fan maintains its speed, and the indoor throttling device uses a third opening degree as its initial opening degree, wherein the first opening degree is less than the second opening degree and the third opening degree is less than the third opening degree.

2. The control method according to claim 1, wherein, The difference between the preset temperature and the set temperature is a preset first temperature difference; The different time threshold ranges are set according to the heat exchange rate when running with different operating parameters in the second working mode.

3. The control method according to claim 2, wherein, After the step of controlling the air conditioner to operate according to operating parameters corresponding to the duration threshold range to which the operating duration belongs, the step of adjusting the operating parameters of the air conditioner according to the rate of change of the indoor temperature further includes: The indoor throttling device is controlled by PID valve adjustment.

4. The control method according to claim 1, wherein, After the step of determining whether the operating frequency has reached the minimum frequency, the control method further includes: If the operating frequency does not reach the minimum frequency, then adjust the operating frequency of the compressor; Determine whether the indoor temperature meets the preset temperature requirement, wherein the preset temperature requirement is to maintain the indoor temperature at the set temperature; If the conditions are met, then the preset working mode switching conditions are not met. If not, then the preset working mode switching conditions are met.

5. The control method according to claim 4, wherein, After the step of determining whether the indoor temperature meets the preset temperature requirement, the control method further includes: If the preset working mode switching conditions are not met, the air conditioner is controlled to remain in the first working mode.

6. An air conditioner, comprising a first indoor heat exchanger, a second indoor heat exchanger, an indoor throttling device for adjusting the refrigerant flow rate in the second indoor heat exchanger, a first indoor fan for driving indoor air to exchange heat with the first indoor heat exchanger, and a second indoor fan for driving indoor air to exchange heat with the second indoor heat exchanger, the air conditioner being configured to have a first operating mode in which both the first indoor heat exchanger and the second indoor heat exchanger function as evaporators and a second operating mode in which the first indoor heat exchanger functions as a condenser and the second indoor heat exchanger functions as an evaporator, and the air conditioner further comprising: The system includes a processing module and a storage module, wherein the storage module stores a machine-executable program, which, when executed by the processing module, is used to implement the control method according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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