Air conditioner and water heater linkage control method, system, device and storage medium

Abstract

The embodiment of the application discloses a linkage control method, system and device of an air conditioner and a water heater and a storage medium. The method comprises the following steps: detecting an outdoor environment parameter and / or an operation setting parameter of the air conditioner; controlling a water flow path to be conducted and controlling the water heater to pass cold water or hot water into the water flow path to flow to the outdoor heat exchanger according to the outdoor environment parameter and / or the operation setting parameter. According to the application, the water heater passes cold water or hot water into the water flow path to exchange heat in the outdoor heat exchanger. In summer, the cold water in the water heater flows through the water flow path, can take away part of the heat of the outdoor heat exchanger, and simultaneously provides the part of heat for the water heater. In winter, the hot water in the water heater flows through the water flow path, is beneficial to heat exchange of the outdoor heat exchanger, avoids frequent defrosting, and improves heating comfort experience.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] Air conditioners and water heaters are two commonly used household appliances. In summer, when using air conditioners for cooling, the outdoor unit's poor ventilation hinders heat dissipation, resulting in poor cooling performance in high-temperature environments. In winter, when using air conditioners for heating, the low outdoor temperature causes frequent defrosting, affecting user comfort. Furthermore, water heaters typically heat cold water before supplying it to the user, and since users don't always use all the hot water, the heat from the unused water in the heater is wasted. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This invention provides a method, system, device, and storage medium for the linkage control of an air conditioner and a water heater, aiming to solve the problem of poor heat exchange effect in existing air conditioners.

[0004] In a first aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide a method for the coordinated control of an air conditioner and a water heater, comprising:

[0005] Detect outdoor environmental parameters and / or the operating settings parameters of the air conditioner;

[0006] The system controls the water flow path to be opened according to the outdoor environmental parameters and / or the operating settings parameters, and controls the water heater to supply cold or hot water to the water flow path so that it flows to the outdoor heat exchanger.

[0007] Secondly, embodiments of the present invention also provide a linkage control system for an air conditioner and a water heater, characterized in that the system is applied to the above-mentioned linkage control method for an air conditioner and a water heater, the system includes the air conditioner and the water heater and a water flow path, the air conditioner includes an outdoor heat exchanger, the water flow path includes an inlet end and an outlet end and a flow path pipe section connecting the inlet end and the outlet end, the inlet end and the outlet end are located in the water heater, the flow path pipe section is at least partially located in the outdoor heat exchanger, the outdoor heat exchanger is provided with a refrigerant flow path, and the water flow path and the refrigerant flow path are not interconnected.

[0008] Thirdly, embodiments of the present invention also provide a linkage control device for an air conditioner and a water heater, which includes a unit for performing the above-described method.

[0009] Fourthly, embodiments of the present invention also provide a linkage control system for an air conditioner and a water heater, which includes a memory and a processor. The memory stores a computer program, and the processor executes the computer program to implement the above-described method.

[0010] Fifthly, embodiments of the present invention also provide a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program, the computer program including program instructions that, when executed by a processor, can implement the above-described method.

[0011] This invention provides a method, system, device, and storage medium for the coordinated control of an air conditioner and a water heater. The method includes: detecting outdoor environmental parameters and / or the operating settings parameters of the air conditioner; controlling the water flow path to be open based on the outdoor environmental parameters and / or the operating settings parameters, and controlling the water heater to supply cold or hot water to the water flow path to the outdoor heat exchanger. This invention utilizes the method of supplying cold or hot water from the water heater to the outdoor heat exchanger for heat exchange. The cold water cools the outdoor heat exchanger, removing heat and thus improving the air conditioner's cooling capacity in high-temperature environments; the hot water heats the outdoor heat exchanger, increasing its surface temperature, preventing frequent defrosting, and improving the air conditioner's heating comfort. Attached Figure Description

[0012] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings used in the following description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0013] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the linkage control system between an air conditioner and a water heater provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0014] Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating the linkage control method between an air conditioner and a water heater provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a sub-process of the linkage control method between an air conditioner and a water heater provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0016] Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a sub-process of the linkage control method between an air conditioner and a water heater provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0017] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a sub-process of the linkage control method between an air conditioner and a water heater provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 6 A flowchart illustrating a method for the linkage control of an air conditioner and a water heater according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 7 A schematic block diagram of the linkage control device for air conditioner and water heater provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 8 A schematic block diagram of the linkage control system between an air conditioner and a water heater provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure label:

[0022] 10. Outdoor heat exchanger; 20. Indoor heat exchanger; 30. Compressor; 40. Throttling element; 50. Four-way valve; 60. Water flow path; 70. Water heater. Detailed Implementation

[0023] 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 some, not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0024] It should be understood that, when used in this specification and the appended claims, the terms "comprising" and "including" indicate the presence of the described features, integrals, steps, operations, elements and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integrals, steps, operations, elements, components and / or collections thereof.

[0025] It should also be understood that the terminology used in this specification is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the invention. As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0026] It should also be further understood that the term "and / or" as used in this specification and the appended claims refers to any combination of one or more of the associated listed items and all possible combinations, and includes such combinations.

[0027] This invention provides a method, system, device, and storage medium for the linkage control of an air conditioner and a water heater, which solves the problem of poor heat exchange effect in existing air conditioners. By introducing cold or hot water into the water flow path through the water heater to exchange heat with the outdoor heat exchanger, the heat exchange effect of the air conditioner is improved, thereby enhancing the user experience.

[0028] To address the problem of poor heat exchange performance in air conditioners, the present invention provides the following technical solution:

[0029] The specific solution is as follows: When the air conditioner is cooling, its operating status is monitored in real time. If the air conditioner is operating under overload, it indicates that the outdoor heat exchanger is overheating and accumulating heat. Since the high temperature is difficult to dissipate, cold water is introduced into the water flow path from the water heater. The cold water flows through the outdoor heat exchanger, carrying away the heat and lowering its temperature, ensuring its normal operation and improving the cooling effect. When the air conditioner is heating, the outdoor humidity is monitored in real time. When the humidity is too high, the outdoor heat exchanger is prone to frosting, leading to frequent defrosting and affecting heating performance. Hot water is introduced into the water flow path from the water heater. The hot water flows through the outdoor heat exchanger, raising its surface temperature and preventing frosting. This reduces the impact of frequent defrosting on heating performance and improves overall heating efficiency.

[0030] In addition, when the water heater is heating, the temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger and the water temperature in the water heater are detected to determine whether there is excess heat in the outdoor heat exchanger to heat the water in the water heater. If there is excess heat, the water heater will send water to be heated into the water flow path, and use the excess heat to heat the water to be heated, thus saving energy.

[0031] To better understand the above technical solutions, the following will provide a detailed explanation of the technical solutions in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific implementation methods.

[0032] Please see Figure 1 , Figure 1 This invention provides a linkage control system for an air conditioner and a water heater 70. The system includes the air conditioner, the water heater 70, and a water flow path 60. The air conditioner includes an outdoor heat exchanger 10. The water flow path 60 includes an inlet end and an outlet end, as well as a flow path pipe section connecting the inlet end and the outlet end. The inlet end and the outlet end are located in the water heater 70. The flow path pipe section is at least partially located in the outdoor heat exchanger 10. The outdoor heat exchanger 10 has a refrigerant flow path. The water flow path 60 and the refrigerant flow path are not interconnected.

[0033] Specifically, the air conditioner includes an indoor heat exchanger 20, an outdoor heat exchanger 10, a compressor 30, a throttling element 40, and a four-way valve 50. The indoor heat exchanger 20, outdoor heat exchanger 10, compressor 30, throttling element 40, and four-way valve 50 are connected through a refrigerant flow path, in which the refrigerant circulates. Specifically, the water flow path 60 is made of copper pipe, and the overall water flow path is a U-shaped pipe. The two ends of the U-shaped pipe are the inlet and outlet, respectively, and both the inlet and outlet are connected to the water storage structure in the water heater 70. The flow path section is also the section of the U-shaped pipe, and the bend in the U-shaped pipe section is located in the outdoor heat exchanger 10, specifically in the lower middle part of the outdoor heat exchanger. Therefore, water flows into the water storage structure through the inlet, flows to the outdoor heat exchanger 10, bends back through the U-shaped pipe section, and then flows back to the water storage structure of the water heater 70 from the outlet, achieving circulation. During the flow of water through the outdoor heat exchanger 10, it can cool or heat the outdoor heat exchanger 10. It should be noted that the outdoor heat exchanger 10 has a portion of refrigerant flow path, i.e., the outdoor coil. This portion of the refrigerant flow path is independent of the water flow path 60 and is not interconnected. The refrigerant flow only performs cooling and heating cycles, while the water flow path 60 only performs cold water and hot water cycles. Throughout the entire control process, the refrigerant does not participate in heat exchange and will not affect the refrigerant flow path of the air conditioner.

[0034] By implementing this embodiment, a water flow path 60 is provided between the outdoor heat exchanger 10 and the water heater 70. Cold water or hot water in the water heater 70 flows through the water flow path 60 to the outdoor heat exchanger 10 for heat exchange, thereby heating and cooling the outdoor heat exchanger 10 and improving the heat exchange effect of the air conditioner.

[0035] Please see Figure 2 , Figure 2 This is a flowchart illustrating the linkage control method between an air conditioner and a water heater provided in an embodiment of the present invention. The linkage control method between the air conditioner and the water heater will be described in detail below. Figure 1 As shown, the method includes the following steps S110-S120.

[0036] S110. Detect outdoor environmental parameters and / or the operating setting parameters of the air conditioner;

[0037] In this embodiment, outdoor environmental parameters refer to parameters indicating the state of the outdoor environment, such as outdoor temperature and outdoor humidity. Operating setting parameters refer to parameters set by the user for the air conditioner's operation, such as the set temperature or indoor fan speed set by the user via remote control. The outdoor environmental parameters are detected by a temperature sensor or humidity sensor, while the operating setting parameters are received by the air conditioner. Specifically, the user transmits a remote control signal to the air conditioner, and the operating setting parameters are obtained through this signal. It is understood that other methods can be used to obtain the outdoor environmental parameters and operating setting parameters, and these are not limited here.

[0038] Furthermore, different parameters are detected for different operating modes of the air conditioner. This can involve detecting only outdoor environmental parameters, only operating setting parameters, or both simultaneously. In this embodiment, for cooling mode, the air conditioner detects the outdoor ambient temperature, the set temperature, and the indoor fan speed. For heating mode, the air conditioner detects the outdoor ambient temperature and outdoor humidity. For ease of description of the outdoor ambient temperature, set temperature, and indoor fan speed below, the outdoor ambient temperature will be abbreviated as t. X The set temperature is abbreviated as T. x The internal fan speed setting is abbreviated as P. X By detecting outdoor environmental parameters and operating settings, it is used to determine whether the outdoor heat exchanger is overloaded in summer and whether the air conditioner frequently enters defrosting mode in winter, and thus control the flow of water in the system.

[0039] S120. Control the water flow path to be opened according to the outdoor environmental parameters and / or the operating setting parameters, and control the water heater to supply cold or hot water to the water flow path so that it flows to the outdoor heat exchanger.

[0040] In this embodiment, a valve is installed in the water flow path. By controlling the opening and closing of the valve, the water flow path can be opened or closed. Simultaneously, the flow rate can be controlled by adjusting the valve opening. When the water heater is not heating, the water in the storage structure is cold water; when the water heater is heating, the water in the storage structure is hot water. It should be noted that the water flow path can also directly draw cold water from the cold water inlet of the water heater without heating. Furthermore, in this embodiment, cold water and hot water are not absolutely cold and hot water, but rather relative to the temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger. If the water temperature of the water heater is lower than the temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger, the water in the water heater is cold water; if the water temperature of the water heater is higher than the temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger, the water in the water heater is hot water. After detecting outdoor environmental parameters and operating settings, the system determines whether the temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger is within a suitable range. If the outdoor heat exchanger temperature is too high, the valve is opened to open the water flow path, controlling the water heater to supply cold water. The cold water flows through the outdoor heat exchanger, carrying away its heat and thus cooling it down. If the outdoor heat exchanger temperature is too low, the water heater is controlled to supply hot water. The hot water flows through the outdoor heat exchanger, heating it and thus raising its temperature. This ensures that the outdoor heat exchanger temperature remains within a suitable range, preventing overheating that could affect cooling performance and avoiding excessively low surface temperatures that could lead to frequent defrosting and affect heating, thereby improving the air conditioner's heat exchange efficiency.

[0041] By implementing this embodiment, cold or hot water is introduced into the water flow path through the water heater to the outdoor heat exchanger for heat exchange. The cold water cools the outdoor heat exchanger and removes its heat, thereby improving the air conditioner's cooling capacity in high-temperature environments. The hot water heats the outdoor heat exchanger, increasing its surface temperature, preventing frequent defrosting, and improving the air conditioner's heating comfort.

[0042] In one embodiment, such as Figure 3 As shown, step S120 includes: S121a-S123a.

[0043] S121a. If the air conditioner is operating in cooling mode, determine whether the outdoor environmental parameters and the operating setting parameters exceed their respective preset parameter thresholds.

[0044] S122a. If any one of the outdoor environmental parameters and the operating setting parameters exceeds its corresponding preset parameter threshold, the valve in the water flow path is opened to open the water flow path and the water heater is controlled to supply cold water to the water flow path.

[0045] S123a. If neither the outdoor environmental parameter nor the operating setting parameter exceeds its corresponding preset parameter threshold, then control the valve in the water flow path to close to disconnect the water flow path.

[0046] In this embodiment, the preset parameter threshold is a threshold pre-set in the system to represent the load level of the air conditioner. When the preset parameter threshold is exceeded, it indicates that the air conditioner may be under heavy load. This embodiment has multiple preset parameter thresholds, each corresponding to the outdoor environmental parameter t. X The outdoor environmental threshold t0 corresponds to the set temperature T. x The set temperature threshold T0, and the corresponding indoor fan speed P X The threshold value P0 for the indoor fan speed. As mentioned earlier, different parameters are detected for different modes. In this embodiment, the air conditioner is operating in cooling mode, and the detected parameters include t. X T x P X , will t X T x P X Each parameter is compared with t0, T0, and P0 one by one. When any parameter t is detected in real time... X T x P X When values ​​> t0, T0, and P0, it is determined that the air conditioner load is slightly high. The valve is opened to open the water flow path, allowing cold water to flow from the water heater into the path. This cold water flows through the outdoor heat exchanger, carrying away heat and thus cooling the outdoor heat exchanger. In other words, if any parameter exceeds its corresponding preset threshold, the air conditioner is considered overloaded, and cold water is introduced into the water flow path to cool the outdoor heat exchanger, thereby improving the air conditioner's cooling effect in high-temperature environments. When the real-time measured parameters are all above the preset threshold, the system is considered to be overloaded. X T x P X When t0, T0, and P0 are ≤, it is determined that the air conditioner load is relatively low. The valves are closed to disconnect the water flow path, ensuring only the refrigerant flow path remains open. This embodiment improves the air conditioner's cooling effect in high-temperature summer environments by using a water heater to supply cold water to the outdoor heat exchanger.

[0047] In one embodiment, such as Figure 4 As shown, after step S121a, the steps further include: S124a-S126a.

[0048] S124a. Determine the number of parameters among the outdoor environmental parameters and the plurality of operating setting parameters that exceed their respective preset parameter thresholds;

[0049] S125a. When the number of parameters is the first number, the valve of the water flow path is adjusted so that the water in the water flow path flows at the first flow rate.

[0050] S126a. When the number of parameters is the second number, the valve of the water flow path is adjusted so that the water in the water flow path flows at a second flow rate, wherein the second number is greater than the first number and the second flow rate is greater than the first flow rate.

[0051] In this embodiment, as the air conditioner's load increases, the cooling effect is severely affected, thus requiring further improvement in the cooling effect on the outdoor heat exchanger. This embodiment uses an increase in the flow rate of cold water in the water path to further improve the cooling effect on the outdoor heat exchanger. The operating settings parameters in this embodiment include two parameters, namely T... x P X Specifically, after comparing t X T x P X After t0, T0, and P0, count how many parameters exceed the threshold to obtain the number of parameters that are overloaded. For example, among all parameters, only t... X If t > 0, and both parameters are less than the corresponding parameter thresholds, then the number of parameters is 1. For example, if t exists among all parameters... X >t0, T x If the number of parameters exceeds T0, then the number of parameters is 2. A higher number of parameters indicates a greater load on the air conditioner, requiring a higher flow rate. Therefore, in this embodiment, the first quantity is 1, the second quantity is 2, the first flow rate is S0, and the second flow rate is S1, where S1 is greater than S0. When the number of parameters is 1, the flow rate in the water path is maintained at S0 by adjusting the valve opening. When the number of parameters is 2, it indicates an increased load on the air conditioner, requiring a higher flow rate; therefore, the flow rate in the water path is maintained at S1 by adjusting the valve opening. This embodiment determines the water flow rate based on the number of parameters exceeding a threshold to match the load level of the air conditioner, thereby ensuring good cooling performance.

[0052] In one embodiment, such as Figure 5 As shown, step S120 includes: S121b-S124b.

[0053] S121b. If the air conditioner is operating in heating mode, the outdoor environmental parameters include outdoor environmental humidity and outdoor environmental temperature. The outdoor relative humidity is determined based on the outdoor environmental humidity and the outdoor environmental temperature.

[0054] S122b: Determine whether the relative humidity of the outdoor environment exceeds a preset humidity threshold;

[0055] S123b. If the relative humidity of the outdoor environment exceeds a preset humidity threshold, the valve in the water flow path is opened to open the water flow path and the water heater is controlled to supply hot water to the water flow path.

[0056] S124b: If the relative humidity of the outdoor environment does not exceed the preset humidity threshold, then control the valve in the water flow path to close to disconnect the water flow path.

[0057] In this embodiment, when the air conditioner is in heating mode, it only detects outdoor environmental parameters, including outdoor humidity and outdoor temperature. Higher humidity indicates a higher proportion of moisture in the air, and outdoor temperatures below 0°C make frost formation more likely. Therefore, this embodiment determines the frost condition of the air conditioner by detecting outdoor humidity and outdoor temperature. Specifically, the outdoor relative humidity W is first calculated based on the outdoor humidity and outdoor temperature. x The calculation process for outdoor relative humidity is well known to those skilled in the art and will not be elaborated here. Next, the outdoor relative humidity W... x Compare with the preset humidity threshold W0, if W x If W is greater than 0, the outdoor heat exchanger is considered to be in a state prone to frosting. By opening the valve to open the water flow path, hot water is introduced into the water flow path from the water heater. The hot water passes through the outdoor heat exchanger, raising its temperature, delaying the frosting cycle, avoiding frequent defrosting, and improving the heating comfort of the air conditioner. It is understandable that if W... x If the value is less than W0, it is assumed that the outdoor heat exchanger is not prone to frost formation, and the water flow path is disconnected by closing the valve.

[0058] In one embodiment, such as Figure 6 As shown, the linkage control method between the air conditioner and the water heater also includes steps S130-S150.

[0059] S130. Detect the temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger and the water temperature in the water heater;

[0060] S140. Determine whether the preset heating conditions are met based on the outdoor heat exchanger temperature and the water temperature.

[0061] S150. If the preset heating conditions are met, the valve in the water flow path is opened to open the water flow path and the water heater is controlled to supply water to be heated into the water flow path.

[0062] In this embodiment, to avoid energy waste and save energy, the high temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger is cleverly used to heat the water flow in the water heater. This allows the water heater to save energy by fully utilizing the heat from the outdoor heat exchanger. Specifically, firstly, the temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger and the water temperature in the water heater are detected; then, the temperature difference between the two is calculated, and it is determined whether this temperature difference is greater than a temperature difference threshold, i.e., whether the temperature difference is large enough. If it is large enough, it indicates that the outdoor heat exchanger has excess heat that can be used for heating. If the temperature difference is greater than the temperature difference threshold, it is determined that the preset heating conditions are met. Finally, the valve is opened to open the water flow path, allowing the water to be heated to flow into the water heater. The water flows through the outdoor heat exchanger and exchanges heat with it, using the heat from the outdoor heat exchanger to heat the water. The water then returns to the water heater, thus completing the heating of the water and saving energy.

[0063] Figure 7 This is a schematic block diagram of an air conditioner and water heater linkage control device 200 provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 As shown, corresponding to the above-described air conditioner and water heater linkage control method, the present invention also provides an air conditioner and water heater linkage control device. This air conditioner and water heater linkage control device includes a unit for executing the above-described air conditioner and water heater linkage control method, and the device can be configured in an air conditioner and water heater linkage control system. Specifically, please refer to... Figure 7 The linkage control device between the air conditioner and the water heater includes a detection unit 201 and a control unit 202.

[0064] The detection unit 201 is used to detect outdoor environmental parameters and / or the operating setting parameters of the air conditioner; the control unit 202 is used to control the water flow path to be opened according to the outdoor environmental parameters and / or the operating setting parameters, and to control the water heater to supply cold or hot water to the water flow path to the outdoor heat exchanger.

[0065] In one embodiment, the control unit 202 includes: a first judgment unit, a first opening unit, and a closing unit.

[0066] The system includes a first determining unit, configured to determine whether the outdoor environmental parameters and the operating setting parameters exceed their respective preset parameter thresholds if the air conditioner is operating in cooling mode; a first opening unit, configured to control the valve in the water flow path to open the water flow path and control the water heater to supply cold water to the water flow path if either the outdoor environmental parameters or the operating setting parameters exceed their respective preset parameter thresholds; and a closing unit, configured to control the valve in the water flow path to close the water flow path to disconnect the water flow path if neither the outdoor environmental parameters nor the operating setting parameters exceed their respective preset parameter thresholds.

[0067] In one embodiment, the control unit 202 includes: a determining unit, a first adjusting unit, and a second adjusting unit.

[0068] The system includes a determining unit for determining the number of outdoor environmental parameters and multiple operating setting parameters that exceed their respective preset parameter thresholds; a first adjusting unit for adjusting the valve of the water flow path to make the water flow in the water flow path flow at a first flow rate when the number of parameters is a first number; and a second adjusting unit for adjusting the valve of the water flow path to make the water flow in the water flow path flow at a second flow rate when the number of parameters is a second number, wherein the second number is greater than the first number and the second flow rate is greater than the first flow rate.

[0069] In one embodiment, the control unit 202 includes: a humidity determination unit, a second judgment unit, and a second opening unit.

[0070] The unit includes a humidity determination unit, used to determine the outdoor relative humidity based on the outdoor environmental parameters (including outdoor humidity and outdoor temperature) when the air conditioner is operating in heating mode; a second judgment unit, used to determine whether the outdoor relative humidity exceeds a preset humidity threshold; and a second opening unit, used to control the valve in the water flow path to open the water flow path and control the water heater to supply hot water to the water flow path if the outdoor relative humidity exceeds the preset humidity threshold.

[0071] In one embodiment, the linkage control device 200 for the air conditioner and water heater further includes: a temperature detection unit, a third judgment unit, and a third opening unit.

[0072] The unit includes a temperature detection unit for detecting the temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger and the water temperature in the water heater; a third judgment unit for judging whether the preset heating conditions are met based on the outdoor heat exchanger temperature and the water temperature; and a third opening unit for controlling the valve in the water flow path to open to open the water flow path and controlling the water heater to supply water to be heated into the water flow path if the preset heating conditions are met.

[0073] It should be noted that those skilled in the art can clearly understand that the specific implementation process of the above-mentioned air conditioner and water heater linkage control device 200 and each unit can be referred to the corresponding description in the foregoing method embodiments. For the sake of convenience and brevity, it will not be repeated here.

[0074] The aforementioned linkage control device between the air conditioner and the water heater can be implemented as a computer program, which can, for example... Figure 8The air conditioner and water heater linkage control system shown is in operation.

[0075] Please see Figure 8 , Figure 8 This is a schematic block diagram of a linkage control system for an air conditioner and a water heater provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0076] See Figure 8 The linkage control system 500 for the air conditioner and water heater includes a processor 502, a memory and a network interface 505 connected via a system bus 501. The memory may include a non-volatile storage medium 503 and internal memory 504.

[0077] The non-volatile storage medium 503 may store an operating system 5031 and a computer program 5032. The computer program 5032 includes program instructions that, when executed, cause the processor 502 to perform a linkage control method for an air conditioner and a water heater.

[0078] The processor 502 provides computing and control capabilities to support the operation of the entire air conditioner and water heater linkage control system 500.

[0079] The internal memory 504 provides an environment for the operation of the computer program 5032 in the non-volatile storage medium 503. When the computer program 5032 is executed by the processor 502, the processor 502 can execute a linkage control method for an air conditioner and a water heater.

[0080] This network interface 505 is used for network communication with other devices. Those skilled in the art will understand that... Figure 8 The structure shown is merely a block diagram of a portion of the structure related to the present application and does not constitute a limitation on the air conditioner and water heater linkage control system 500 applied thereto. The specific air conditioner and water heater linkage control system 500 may include more or fewer components than shown in the figure, or combine certain components, or have different component arrangements.

[0081] The processor 502 is used to run a computer program 5032 stored in a memory to implement any embodiment of the linkage control method between the air conditioner and the water heater described above.

[0082] It should be understood that in the embodiments of this application, the processor 502 may be a central processing unit (CPU), or it may be other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0083] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that all or part of the processes in the methods of the above embodiments can be implemented by a computer program instructing related hardware. The computer program includes program instructions and can be stored in a storage medium, which is a computer-readable storage medium. The program instructions are executed by at least one processor in the computer system to implement the process steps of the embodiments of the above methods.

[0084] Therefore, the present invention also provides a storage medium. This storage medium can be a computer-readable storage medium. The storage medium stores a computer program, wherein the computer program includes program instructions. When executed by a processor, the program instructions cause the processor to perform any embodiment of the above-described air conditioner and water heater linkage control method.

[0085] The storage medium can be any computer-readable storage medium capable of storing program code, such as a USB flash drive, portable hard drive, read-only memory (ROM), magnetic disk, or optical disk.

[0086] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination of both. To clearly illustrate the interchangeability of hardware and software, the components and steps of the various examples have been generally described in terms of functionality in the foregoing description. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementations should not be considered beyond the scope of this invention.

[0087] In the several embodiments provided by this invention, it should be understood that the disclosed apparatus and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For example, the division of each unit is merely a logical functional division, and there may be other division methods in actual implementation. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed.

[0088] The steps in the method of this invention can be adjusted, merged, or reduced in order according to actual needs. The units in the device of this invention can be merged, divided, or reduced according to actual needs. Furthermore, the functional units in the various embodiments of this invention can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit.

[0089] If the integrated unit is implemented as a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present invention, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or all or part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a linkage control system of an air conditioner and a water heater to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of the present invention.

[0090] In the above embodiments, the descriptions of each embodiment have different focuses. For parts that are not described in detail in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions in other embodiments.

[0091] Obviously, those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to this invention without departing from its spirit and scope. Since these modifications and variations fall within the scope of the claims and their equivalents, this invention also intends to include these modifications and variations.

[0092] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can easily conceive of various equivalent modifications or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention, and these modifications or substitutions should all be covered within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method for the linkage control of an air conditioner and a water heater, characterized in that, include: Detect outdoor environmental parameters and / or the operating settings parameters of the air conditioner; Based on the outdoor environmental parameters and / or the operating setting parameters, control the water flow path to be opened and control the water heater to supply cold or hot water to the water flow path to the outdoor heat exchanger. The step of controlling the water flow path to be open and controlling the water heater to supply cold or hot water to the water flow path to the outdoor heat exchanger based on the outdoor environmental parameters and / or the operating setting parameters includes: if the air conditioner is operating in cooling mode, determining whether the outdoor environmental parameters and the operating setting parameters exceed their respective preset parameter thresholds; if either the outdoor environmental parameters or the operating setting parameters exceed their corresponding preset parameter thresholds, then controlling the valve in the water flow path to open the water flow path and controlling the water heater to supply cold water to the water flow path; After the step of determining whether the outdoor environmental parameters and the operating setting parameters exceed their respective preset parameter thresholds, the method further includes: determining the number of outdoor environmental parameters and multiple operating setting parameters that exceed their respective preset parameter thresholds; when the number of parameters is a first number, adjusting the valve of the water flow path to make the water flow in the water flow path flow at a first flow rate; when the number of parameters is a second number, adjusting the valve of the water flow path to make the water flow in the water flow path flow at a second flow rate, wherein the second number is greater than the first number, and the second flow rate is greater than the first flow rate.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, After the step of determining whether the outdoor environmental parameters and the operating setting parameters exceed their respective preset parameter thresholds, the method further includes: If neither the outdoor environmental parameters nor the operating setting parameters exceed their respective preset parameter thresholds, then the valves in the water flow path are closed to disconnect the water flow path.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The step of controlling the water flow path and controlling the water heater to supply cold or hot water to the water flow path to the outdoor heat exchanger based on the outdoor environmental parameters and / or the operating setting parameters includes: If the air conditioner is operating in heating mode, the outdoor environmental parameters include outdoor environmental humidity and outdoor environmental temperature, and the outdoor relative humidity is determined based on the outdoor environmental humidity and outdoor environmental temperature; Determine whether the relative humidity of the outdoor environment exceeds a preset humidity threshold; If the relative humidity of the outdoor environment exceeds a preset humidity threshold, the valve in the water flow path is opened to open the water flow path and the water heater is controlled to supply hot water to the water flow path.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: Detect the temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger and the water temperature in the water heater; Determine whether the preset heating conditions are met based on the outdoor heat exchanger temperature and the water temperature. If the preset heating conditions are met, the valve in the water flow path is opened to open the water flow path and the water heater is controlled to supply water to be heated into the water flow path.

5. A linkage control system for an air conditioner and a water heater, characterized in that, The system is applied to the linkage control method of air conditioner and water heater as described in any one of claims 1-4. The system includes the air conditioner, the water heater, and a water flow path. The air conditioner includes an outdoor heat exchanger. The water flow path includes an inlet end and an outlet end, and a flow path pipe section connecting the inlet end and the outlet end. The inlet end and the outlet end are located in the water heater. The flow path pipe section is at least partially located in the outdoor heat exchanger. The outdoor heat exchanger is provided with a refrigerant flow path. The water flow path and the refrigerant flow path are not interconnected.

6. A linkage control device for an air conditioner and a water heater, characterized in that, Includes a unit for performing the method as described in any one of claims 1-4.

7. A linkage control system for an air conditioner and a water heater, characterized in that, The system includes a memory and a processor, wherein the memory stores a computer program, and the processor executes the computer program to implement the method as described in any one of claims 1-4.

8. A storage medium, characterized in that, The storage medium stores a computer program, which includes program instructions that, when executed by a processor, can implement the method as described in any one of claims 1-4.

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