Electric heater control method, device and air conditioner

Abstract

The application discloses an electric heater control method and device and an air conditioner. The method comprises the following steps: after the air conditioner is started, if the bottom plate electric heater meets the starting condition, the operation power of the electric heater is determined according to the outdoor ambient temperature, the outdoor humidity, the condensate water temperature and the air conditioner operation frequency; after the operation time of the electric heater exceeds the preset time length, the current condensate water temperature is obtained, and the operation power of the electric heater is adjusted according to the current condensate water temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature, the outdoor humidity and the air conditioner operation frequency. Through the application, the environmental data and the air conditioner data are detected in real time, the operation power of the bottom plate electric heater is automatically adjusted according to the preset logical formula operation, the real-time stepless adjustment of the electric heater operation power is realized, the electric energy utilization rate of the electric heater is maximized, the intelligent ice melting effect is achieved and the energy consumption is reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of air conditioning technology, and more specifically, to an electric heater control method, device, and air conditioner. Background Technology

[0002] When the outdoor temperature drops below zero, water will freeze after a certain period of time. Some air conditioners on the market use chassis electric heating. When the air conditioner heat pump is running, in low-temperature conditions or during defrosting, the condenser of the outdoor unit produces a mixture of water and ice water. Under its own weight, this mixture flows down the fins to the chassis of the outdoor unit, causing ice to form at the bottom and preventing it from draining through the drain outlet, leading to the accumulation of water or ice water mixture. After prolonged operation, the ice becomes increasingly thick, ultimately affecting the heat exchange efficiency of the outdoor unit. Especially in low-temperature, high-humidity environments, the freezing rate is faster, leading to water leakage from the outdoor unit and easily causing customer complaints. Therefore, defrosting via heating is necessary.

[0003] The function of chassis electric heating is to heat the condensate water or chilled water mixture at the bottom of the air conditioner into a flowable liquid under heat pump operation. In existing solutions, chassis electric heating is fixed in power or multi-level control at the factory, using relays as the switching control quantity. The start and stop conditions of chassis electric heating are determined only by the outer ring temperature or bottom temperature, and the control logic is not intelligent enough.

[0004] Electric heaters typically operate at a fixed power or multiple power levels, which presents the following drawbacks: When the chassis is dry or has only a small amount of water in a preset low-temperature environment, the heater may dry-burn and waste energy. When there is a large amount of water or an ice-water mixture, the heating power is limited, and the heating rate is not matched to the rate at which the ice-water mixture is formed. Factors such as the external fan drawing in snowflakes that fall onto the chassis can also cause blockages in the drain. If the electric heater's power rating is too low, it will not achieve the desired ice-melting effect; if it is too high, it will waste energy and pose a risk of dry-burning.

[0005] There is currently no effective solution to the problem that the heating speed of electric heaters cannot be fully matched with the mixing speed of ice and water when the power is adjusted in multiple levels in the existing technology. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This invention provides an electric heater control method, device, and air conditioner to solve the problem in the prior art where the heating speed of an electric heater cannot be fully adapted to the mixing speed of ice and water when the power of the electric heater is adjusted in multiple levels.

[0007] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this invention provides an electric heater control method, wherein the method includes: after the unit is started, if the chassis electric heater meets the start-up conditions, determining the operating power of the electric heater based on the outdoor ambient temperature, outdoor humidity, condensate water temperature, and unit operating frequency; after the electric heater's operating time exceeds a preset duration, acquiring the current condensate water temperature, and adjusting the operating power of the electric heater based on the current condensate water temperature, the outdoor ambient temperature, the outdoor humidity, and the unit operating frequency.

[0008] Furthermore, the activation conditions include: the outdoor ambient temperature is lower than the preset outdoor ambient temperature, and the condensate water temperature is lower than the preset condensate water temperature.

[0009] Furthermore, the operating power of the chassis electric heater is determined based on the outdoor ambient temperature, outdoor humidity, condensate water temperature, and unit operating frequency, using the following formula:

[0010] P=(β*B-α*A-δ*C)*θ*D;

[0011] Where P is the operating power of the electric heater, A is the outdoor ambient temperature, α is the ambient temperature coefficient, B is the outdoor humidity, β is the humidity coefficient, C is the condensate temperature, δ is the water temperature coefficient, D is the unit operating frequency, and θ is the frequency coefficient.

[0012] Furthermore, after determining the operating power of the electric heater based on the outdoor ambient temperature, outdoor humidity, condensate water temperature, and unit operating frequency, the method further includes: determining whether the determined operating power of the electric heater exceeds a preset threshold; if so, turning on the electric heater according to the operating power; if not, turning off the electric heater and re-determining whether the electric heater meets the turning conditions.

[0013] Furthermore, after obtaining the current condensate water temperature, the method further includes: determining whether the current condensate water temperature is lower than a preset value; if so, triggering the adjustment of the operating power of the electric heater based on the current condensate water temperature, the outdoor ambient temperature, the outdoor humidity, and the unit operating frequency; if not, turning off the electric heater and re-determining whether the electric heater meets the start-up conditions.

[0014] Further, the current condensate water temperature is acquired, and the operating power of the electric heater is adjusted based on the current condensate water temperature, the outdoor ambient temperature, the outdoor humidity, and the unit's operating frequency. This includes: periodically acquiring the condensate water temperature; calculating the difference Δ between the currently acquired condensate water temperature and the previously acquired condensate water temperature; and determining the water temperature coefficient δ based on the magnitude of the difference Δ. n The operating power of the electric heater can be calculated using the following formula:

[0015] P=(β*B-α*A-δ n*C n )*θ*D;

[0016] Where P is the operating power of the electric heater, A is the outdoor ambient temperature, α is the ambient temperature coefficient, B is the outdoor humidity, β is the humidity coefficient, and C is the ambient temperature coefficient. n This is the current condensate temperature, δ n θ is the current water temperature coefficient, D is the unit operating frequency, and θ is the frequency coefficient.

[0017] Furthermore, the water temperature coefficient δ is determined based on the magnitude of the difference. n ,include:

[0018] If Δ < 0, then δ n =δ n-1 +0.1;

[0019] If Δ = 0, then δ n =δ n-1 ;

[0020] If Δ > 0, then δ n =δ n-1 -0.1;

[0021] Where, δ n-1 It is the water temperature coefficient from the previous test.

[0022] Furthermore, after the unit is started, the method also includes: if the compressor is in a closed state, controlling the electric heater to turn off; if the compressor is in a closed state, triggering a determination of whether the chassis electric heater meets the opening conditions.

[0023] Furthermore, the method also includes: when the unit is running and the electric heater is off, detecting the outdoor ambient temperature and outdoor humidity; if the outdoor ambient temperature is lower than a first preset temperature and the outdoor humidity is lower than a first preset humidity, and this is maintained for a preset time, forcibly turning on the electric heater and operating it at a preset power; if water is detected at the chassis drain outlet, gradually increasing the operating power of the electric heater until the preset maximum power is reached; if no water is detected at the chassis drain outlet, turning off the electric heater.

[0024] The present invention also provides an electric heater control device, wherein the device includes: a power control module, used to determine the operating power of the electric heater based on the outdoor ambient temperature, outdoor humidity, condensate water temperature, and unit operating frequency after the unit is started and if the chassis electric heater meets the start-up conditions; and a power adjustment module, used to obtain the current condensate water temperature after the electric heater has been running for a preset time, and adjust the operating power of the electric heater based on the current condensate water temperature, the outdoor ambient temperature, the outdoor humidity, and the unit operating frequency.

[0025] The present invention also provides an air conditioner, wherein the air conditioner includes an electric heater control device.

[0026] The present invention also provides a computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, characterized in that the program, when executed by a processor, implements the method described above.

[0027] By applying the technical solution of this invention, the outdoor ambient temperature, outdoor humidity, condensate water temperature and unit operating frequency are detected in real time. Based on the preset logic formula, the operating power of the chassis electric heater is automatically adjusted to achieve real-time stepless adjustment of the electric heater's operating power, thereby maximizing the energy utilization rate of the electric heater, achieving intelligent ice melting effect while reducing energy consumption. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of the electric heater control scheme of related technologies;

[0029] Figure 2 This is a flowchart of an electric heater control method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 3 This is a flowchart of the intelligent control process for the chassis electric heater according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 4 This is a structural block diagram of an electric heater control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0032] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this invention, and not all of them. Based on the embodiments of this invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0033] The terminology used in the embodiments of this invention is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the invention. The singular forms “a,” “the,” and “the” as used in the embodiments of this invention and the appended claims are also intended to include the plural forms, and “multiple” generally includes at least two unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0034] It should be understood that the term "and / or" used in this article is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, and B existing alone. Additionally, the character " / " in this article generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0035] Depending on the context, the words “if” or “suppose” as used here can be interpreted as “when” or “in response to determination” or “in response to detection.” Similarly, depending on the context, the phrases “if determination” or “if detection (of the stated condition or event)” can be interpreted as “when determination” or “in response to determination” or “when detection (of the stated condition or event)” or “in response to detection (of the stated condition or event).”

[0036] It should also be noted that the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that an article or device that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such an article or device. Without further limitation, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the article or device that includes said element.

[0037] In existing technologies, electric heaters typically heat at a fixed power or multiple power levels, which limits the heating power and makes the heating speed unsuitable for the speed at which ice and water are mixed. Figure 1 This is a flowchart of the electric heater control scheme of related technologies, such as... Figure 1 As shown, it includes the following steps:

[0038] Step S101: The unit is started and running, and the compressor status is determined to be on or off.

[0039] Step S102: If the compressor is off, then turn off the chassis electric heater.

[0040] Step S103: If the compressor is on, determine the heat pump operating conditions:

[0041] (1) If the outdoor ambient temperature T 外环 <-2℃, turn on the chassis electric heating belt, and determine the number and power level of the electric heaters;

[0042] (2) If T 外环 If the value is greater than 0, the chassis electric heating belt will be turned off.

[0043] (3) If -2℃≤T 外环 If the value is ≤0, the chassis electric heating belt will remain in its original state.

[0044] After the chassis electric heater has been running for more than 10 minutes, the operation of the electric heater will be controlled according to the chassis temperature. Specifically:

[0045] (1) If T 底盘温度 If the temperature is below 2℃, the chassis electric heater will be turned on.

[0046] (2) If T 底盘温度 If the value is greater than 5, the chassis electric heater will be turned off; this is because the heated water will not freeze when it flows into the drain pipe after the chassis is heated to a higher temperature (e.g., 5°C).

[0047] (3) If 2≤T 底盘温度 If the value is ≤5, the chassis electric heater will remain in its original state.

[0048] The values ​​above are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be specific. Specific temperature thresholds should be set engineeringly according to the application scenario. Figure 1 It is known that in the existing technical solution, the opening and closing of the chassis electric heater is controlled according to the outdoor ambient temperature and chassis temperature. Furthermore, the operating power of the electric heater after it is turned on is adjustable in multiple levels, which cannot achieve stepless adjustment for better ice melting effect.

[0049] The optional embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0050] Example 1

[0051] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method embodiment for controlling an electric heater is provided. It should be noted that the steps shown in the flowchart in the accompanying drawings can be executed in a computer system such as a set of computer-executable instructions. Furthermore, although a logical order is shown in the flowchart, in some cases, the steps shown or described may be executed in a different order than that shown here.

[0052] Figure 2 This is a flowchart of an electric heater control method according to an embodiment of the present invention, as follows: Figure 2 As shown, the method includes the following steps:

[0053] Step S201: After the unit is started, if the chassis electric heater meets the activation conditions, the operating power of the electric heater is determined based on the outdoor ambient temperature, outdoor humidity, condensate water temperature, and unit operating frequency. The activation conditions include: the outdoor ambient temperature is lower than the preset outdoor ambient temperature, and the condensate water temperature is lower than the preset condensate water temperature. In low-temperature environments with low condensate water temperatures, the electric heater needs to be turned on for heating. If the activation conditions are not met, the electric heater is turned off.

[0054] Step S202: After the electric heater has been running for a preset time, the current condensate temperature is obtained, and the operating power of the electric heater is adjusted according to the current condensate temperature, outdoor ambient temperature, outdoor humidity, and unit operating frequency.

[0055] This embodiment monitors the outdoor ambient temperature, outdoor humidity, condensate water temperature, and unit operating frequency in real time. Based on a preset logic formula, it automatically adjusts the operating power of the chassis electric heater or shuts it off, achieving real-time stepless adjustment of the electric heater's operating power. This maximizes the electric heater's energy utilization, achieving intelligent ice melting while reducing energy consumption. It also effectively prevents the chassis drain outlet from becoming clogged due to ice or ice-water mixtures.

[0056] This embodiment calculates the operating power of the electric heater according to a preset logic formula, specifically, through the following formula:

[0057] P=(β*B-α*A-δ*C)*θ*D;

[0058] Where P is the operating power of the electric heater, A is the outdoor ambient temperature, α is the ambient temperature coefficient, B is the outdoor humidity, β is the humidity coefficient, C is the condensate temperature, δ is the water temperature coefficient, D is the unit operating frequency, and θ is the frequency coefficient. α, β, δ, and θ are program-set values, which can be manually set or intelligently corrected by the program.

[0059] After calculating the operating power of the electric heater, it is necessary to determine whether the operating power P exceeds 15W. If P < 15W, the electric heater is turned off, and the output voltage of the electric heater is forced to 0V. If P ≥ 15W, the operation is determined by P = U... 2 / R yields This allows for the regulation of the electric heater's output voltage, thereby adjusting its operating power. Specifically, it determines whether the calculated operating power of the electric heater exceeds a preset threshold; if so, the electric heater is activated at that power; otherwise, it is deactivated, and the activation conditions are reassessed. Based on this, it ensures that the electric heater only starts operating when the calculated power exceeds the preset threshold, guaranteeing its effective and efficient operation.

[0060] After the electric heater has been running for a preset time, the current condensate temperature is obtained. Then, it is determined whether the current condensate temperature is lower than the preset value. If it is, it means that the heating speed of the electric heater is not matched with the speed of ice-water mixing. In this case, the operating power of the electric heater is adjusted according to the current condensate temperature, outdoor ambient temperature, outdoor humidity, and unit operating frequency. If not, it means that the heating effect of the electric heater can achieve intelligent ice melting. In this case, the electric heater is turned off, and the electric heater is re-evaluated to see if it meets the start-up conditions.

[0061] When adjusting the operating power of the electric heater, specifically: periodically acquire the condensate water temperature; calculate the difference Δ between the acquired condensate water temperature and the previous acquired condensate water temperature; determine the water temperature coefficient δ based on the magnitude of the difference Δ. n The operating power of the electric heater can be calculated using the following formula:

[0062] P=(β*B-α*A-δ n *C n )*θ*D;

[0063] Where P is the operating power of the electric heater, A is the outdoor ambient temperature, α is the ambient temperature coefficient, B is the outdoor humidity, β is the humidity coefficient, and C is the ambient temperature coefficient. n This is the current condensate temperature, δ n θ is the current water temperature coefficient, D is the unit operating frequency, and θ is the frequency coefficient.

[0064] The key feature is that the water temperature coefficient δ is determined based on the magnitude of the difference. n ,include:

[0065] If Δ < 0, then δ n =δ n-1 +0.1;

[0066] If Δ = 0, then δ n =δ n-1 ;

[0067] If Δ > 0, then δ n =δ n-1 -0.1; where δ n-1 It is the water temperature coefficient from the previous test.

[0068] Based on the calculations using the above formulas, it is possible to increase the operating power of the electric heater when the condensate temperature shows a downward trend, not adjust the operating power when the condensate temperature remains stable, and decrease the operating power when the condensate temperature shows an upward trend. Therefore, the operating power of the electric heater can be adaptively and steplessly adjusted in real time according to the changing trend of the condensate temperature, maximizing the energy utilization rate of the electric heater, achieving intelligent ice melting while reducing energy consumption.

[0069] It should be noted that in this embodiment, after the unit is started, the on / off state of the compressor is determined. If the compressor is off, the electric heater is controlled to turn off; if the compressor is on, the determination of whether the chassis electric heater meets the opening conditions is triggered.

[0070] In this embodiment, when calculating the operating power of the electric heater, it is necessary to rely on detection data such as outdoor ambient temperature, outdoor humidity, condensate water temperature, and unit operating frequency. To prevent the detection module from freezing or failing to detect due to other external reasons, the unit detects the outdoor ambient temperature and outdoor humidity while it is running and the electric heater is off. If the outdoor ambient temperature is lower than a first preset temperature and the outdoor humidity is lower than a first preset humidity, and this is maintained for a preset time, the electric heater is forcibly turned on and operates at a preset power. If water is detected at the chassis drain outlet, the operating power of the electric heater is gradually increased until the preset maximum power is reached. If no water is detected at the chassis drain outlet, the electric heater is turned off.

[0071] It should be noted that without the proposed solution, the chassis electric heater activates when the outdoor environment is preset. When the chassis has no water or only a small amount of water, activating the heater wastes energy and may lead to dry burning, potentially damaging air conditioning components. When there is a large amount of water or a mixture of ice and water, the heating speed is slow due to limited heating power, which can also cause blockage of the drain outlet. The energy efficiency of electric heating cannot be maximized. Using the proposed solution, the chassis electric heater can effectively and intelligently refrigerate and achieve energy-saving effects.

[0072] Example 2

[0073] Figure 3 This is a flowchart of the intelligent control process for the chassis electric heater according to an embodiment of the present invention, as follows: Figure 3 As shown, it includes the following steps:

[0074] Step 1: After the unit is started, determine the activation conditions of the chassis electric heater. In heating mode, if the compressor is running, the chassis electric heater will only be activated if either condition 1 or 2 is met.

[0075] 1) Outer ring temperature < T 设a ;

[0076] 2) Condensate temperature < T 设c .

[0077] If conditions 1 and 2 are not met, then turn off the chassis electric heater.

[0078] Among them, T 设a The parameter setting range is [-15, 10], with a default of -2; T 设c The parameter setting range is [-5, 0), with a default value of -3. T 设a and T 设c These are engineering parameters.

[0079] Step 2: After the chassis electric heater is turned on, calculate the operating power of the electric heater according to the default coefficients [α, β, δ, θ] by executing the following formula:

[0080] P=(β*B-α*A-δ*C)*θ*D;

[0081] A—Outdoor ambient temperature (°C):

[0082] B—Outdoor humidity %: The humidity in the environment will not be less than 0%, therefore B ≥ 0%.

[0083] C—Condensate temperature (°C);

[0084] D—Current compressor operating frequency (Hz): In actual operation, D > 0; when the compressor stops, D = 0, therefore D ≥ 0.

[0085] α—Ambient temperature coefficient, β—Humidity coefficient, δ—Water temperature coefficient, θ—Frequency coefficient;

[0086] The general formula for calculating electrical power is: P = U 2 / R

[0087] In the formula, P: power (W), U: voltage (V), R: internal resistance (Ω).

[0088] As can be seen from the formula, increasing power can be considered from the following aspects:

[0089] 1. Decrease R: With the voltage constant, adjust the output power by changing the internal resistance of the electric heater. 2. Increase U: With the internal resistance relatively fixed, adjust the output voltage U to change the output power of the electric heater. Considering that the internal resistance of the electric heater is determined during production, this embodiment chooses to adjust the control voltage U to regulate the power.

[0090] The relationship coefficients were derived by analyzing experimental data and fitting correlation coefficients.

[0091] α = f(A); α ∈ (0, 10)

[0092] β = f(B); β ∈ (0, 10)

[0093] δ = f(C); δ ∈ (0, 10)

[0094] θ = f(D); θ ∈ [0, 10]

[0095] For detailed calculations: δ∈(0,10).

[0096] Step 3: When the electric heater running time is greater than the preset time T1 and the condensate temperature is less than the preset value (preset value < 0), start detecting the condensate temperature C. The detection time interval is T2. Assume the number of cycles is n, n≥1. The change in condensate temperature is Δ=C. n -C n-1 (Precision 1).

[0097] 1) If Δ < 0, then δ n =δn-1 +0.1,δ∈(0,10];

[0098] 2) If Δ=0, then δ n =δ n-1 ,δ∈(0,10];

[0099] 3) If Δ>0, then δ n =δ n-1 -0.1,δ∈(0,10).

[0100] Based on the above rules, we can obtain:

[0101] P n =(β*B-α*A-δ) n *C n )*θ*D;

[0102] P n-1 =(β*B-α*A-δ) n-1 *C n-1 )*θ*D;

[0103] P n -P n-1 =(β*B-α*A-δ) n *C n )*θ*D-(β*B-α*A-δ n-1 *C n-1 )*θ*D;

[0104] After simplifying the original expression, we get:

[0105] P n -P n-1 =-δ n *C n *θ*D+δ n-1 *C n-1 *θ*D.

[0106] 1) When Δ < 0, then δ n =δ n-1 +0.1, C n <C n-1 Substituting into the original equation, we get:

[0107] P n -P n-1 =-(δ) n-1 +0.1)*C n *θ*D+δ n-1 *C n-1 *θ*D;

[0108] Simplifying, we get:

[0109] P n -Pn-1 =δ n-1 *(C n-1 -C n )*θ*D-0.1*C n *θ*D;

[0110] Because of C n <C n-1 Since <0 and δ>0, we know that P n -P n-1 >0 means increased operating power.

[0111] 2) When Δ=0, then δ n =δ n-1 ;

[0112] P n -P n-1 =δ n-1 *C n *θ*D+δ n-1 *C n-1 *θ*D;

[0113] Simplifying, we get:

[0114] P n -P n-1 =δ n-1 *(C n-1 -C n )*θ*D;

[0115] Because of C n =C n-1 It can be known that P n -P n-1 =0, meaning the operating power remains unchanged.

[0116] 3) When Δ>0, then δ n =δ n-1 -0.1, C n >C n-1 Substituting into the original equation, we get:

[0117] P n -P n-1 =-(δ) n-1 -0.1)*C n *θ*D+δ n-1 *C n-1 *θ*D

[0118] Simplifying, we get:

[0119] P n -P n-1 =δ n-1 *(C n-1 -C n )*θ*D+0.1*Cn *θ*D;

[0120] Because of C n-1 <C n Since <0 and δ>0, we know that P n -P n-1 <0 means the operating power is reduced.

[0121] When the electric heating operation time is greater than the preset time T1 and the condensate water temperature is greater than or equal to the preset value (the preset value is less than 0), P = 0.

[0122] It should be noted that the coefficients for the above conditions are adjusted according to the ice melting situation to fine-tune the electric heating output power. Default values ​​are preset at the factory. Fine-tuning can also be performed during engineering installations based on specific circumstances until the desired engineering requirements are met.

[0123] The lower the outdoor ambient temperature, the higher the humidity, the higher the unit operating frequency, the more condensate is produced, and the faster the freezing speed. Therefore, it is necessary to adjust the electric heating output power to be greater, and vice versa.

[0124] The following examples illustrate this point using specific data:

[0125] When A—outdoor ambient temperature -5℃; B—outdoor humidity 70%; C—condensate temperature -5℃; D—current operating frequency 50Hz; α—outer ring coefficient 0.5; β—humidity coefficient 1.5; δ—condensate coefficient 0.5; θ—frequency coefficient 0.01, select an electric heating internal resistance of 500 ohms.

[0126] Substituting the values ​​into the formula, the required operating power of the electric heater is calculated to be 55W.

[0127] Using the formula: P = U 2 / R yields Right now The output voltage is then adjusted to 165V. The output voltage is an integer; the decimal point is calculated and controlled as an integer, with a maximum control voltage of 220V AC.

[0128] Example 3

[0129] Corresponding to Figure 2 The electric heater control method described herein is illustrated in this embodiment, which provides an electric heater control device, such as... Figure 4 The diagram shown depicts the structure of an electric heater control device, which includes:

[0130] The power control module 10 is used to determine the operating power of the electric heater based on the outdoor ambient temperature, outdoor humidity, condensate water temperature, and unit operating frequency after the unit is started, if the chassis electric heater meets the start-up conditions.

[0131] The power adjustment module 20 is used to obtain the current condensate temperature after the electric heater has been running for a preset time, and adjust the operating power of the electric heater according to the current condensate temperature, the outdoor ambient temperature, the outdoor humidity, and the unit operating frequency.

[0132] In practical applications, the aforementioned electric heater control device can implement the electric heater control method described in the above embodiments, which will not be repeated here. The electric heater control device can: real-time detect the outdoor ambient temperature, outdoor humidity, condensate water temperature, and unit operating frequency; calculate based on preset logic formulas; and automatically adjust the operating power of the chassis electric heater or shut it off, achieving real-time stepless adjustment of the electric heater's operating power. This maximizes the electric heater's energy utilization rate, achieving intelligent ice melting while reducing energy consumption. It effectively prevents the chassis drain outlet from being blocked by ice or ice-water mixtures.

[0133] This embodiment also provides an air conditioner, including the electric heater control device described above.

[0134] This embodiment can also be implemented through the following modules: the control module of the electric heater includes: a temperature and humidity detection module, a water sensing detection module, a unit frequency detection module, and a voltage output control module.

[0135] Temperature and humidity detection module: used to detect outdoor ambient temperature and humidity.

[0136] Water sensor module: Used to detect the presence of conductive liquids such as water or ice-water mixtures in the chassis, and also to detect water temperature. After a preset time has elapsed since the electric heater was turned on, the water sensor module automatically checks whether water is flowing from the drain outlet, and simultaneously detects the temperature. If no water is detected for a preset time, the chassis electric heater is turned off. Based on this, it can detect whether there is condensation on the chassis.

[0137] Unit frequency detection module: used to detect the unit's operating frequency.

[0138] Voltage output control module: used to regulate the voltage of the electric heating load.

[0139] In practical applications, after the detection module collects the data, it transmits the data to the MCU processor of the controller. The logic formula is set by the program to calculate the data, and finally the output voltage of the electric heating is controlled to adjust the output power.

[0140] When the unit produces more condensate or ice-water mixture during defrosting than during normal operation, the MCU processor detects that the unit has entered the defrosting function and controls the electric heater to output maximum power to prevent the falling ice-water mixture from clogging the drain outlet. After defrosting is completed, the power output is calculated normally.

[0141] After the electric heater has run for the preset time according to the calculation results, it checks whether the condensate temperature at the drain outlet has reached the preset temperature (default -3 degrees Celsius). The condensate coefficient "δ" is adjusted, and after a preset cycle, the condensate temperature at the drain outlet is checked again to see if it has reached the preset temperature. This process is repeated cyclically to perform logical operation control. When it is determined that the output power of the electric heater no longer decreases or increases, and the state is maintained for the preset time, all adjusted coefficients are written into the MCU and stored. Subsequently, under this operating condition, the output electric heating power is controlled according to the adjusted coefficients.

[0142] To prevent the detection module from freezing or failing to detect due to other external reasons, when the unit is running and the electric heater is off, if it detects that the outdoor environment temperature is lower than the preset temperature (default -2 degrees Celsius) and the humidity is lower than the preset humidity (default 50%) for a preset period of time, it will forcibly turn on the electric heater and re-detect the condensate water at the default power of 30W. After running for a period of time: if water flows out of the detection module, it indicates that there is ice in the detection module or chassis. At this time, the operating power can be gradually increased, for example, by increasing the power by 1W per minute until the maximum operating power is reached; if the detection module does not detect water, it indicates that there is no ice in the detection module or chassis. At this time, the electric heater will be turned off.

[0143] Example 4

[0144] This embodiment provides an electronic device for an electric heater control method. The electronic device includes: at least one processor; and a memory communicatively connected to the at least one processor; wherein...

[0145] The memory stores instructions executable by the at least one processor. These instructions are executed by the at least one processor to enable the at least one processor to: after the unit is powered on, if the chassis electric heater meets the activation conditions, determine the operating power of the electric heater based on the outdoor ambient temperature, outdoor humidity, condensate water temperature, and the unit's operating frequency; and after the electric heater has been running for a preset time, acquire the current condensate water temperature and adjust the operating power of the electric heater based on the current condensate water temperature, outdoor ambient temperature, outdoor humidity, and the unit's operating frequency.

[0146] Example 5

[0147] This invention provides software for executing the technical solutions described in the above embodiments and preferred embodiments.

[0148] This invention provides a non-volatile computer storage medium storing computer-executable instructions that can execute the electric heater control method in any of the above method embodiments.

[0149] The aforementioned storage medium stores the aforementioned software, and the storage medium includes, but is not limited to, optical discs, floppy disks, hard disks, and rewritable memory.

[0150] The sequence numbers of the above embodiments of the present invention are for descriptive purposes only and do not represent the superiority or inferiority of the embodiments.

[0151] In the above embodiments of the present invention, the descriptions of each embodiment have different focuses. For parts not described in detail in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions of other embodiments.

[0152] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed technical content can be implemented in other ways. The device embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for example, the division of units can be a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For instance, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the displayed or discussed mutual coupling, direct coupling, or communication connection may be through some interfaces; the indirect coupling or communication connection between units or modules may be electrical or other forms.

[0153] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0154] Furthermore, the functional units in the various embodiments of the present 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. The integrated unit can be implemented in hardware or as a software functional unit.

[0155] 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 computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present invention, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or 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 computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of the present invention. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), portable hard drives, magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0156] The above-described product can execute the method provided in the embodiments of the present invention, and has the corresponding functional modules and beneficial effects for executing the method. Technical details not described in detail in this embodiment can be found in the method provided in the embodiments of the present invention.

[0157] The electronic devices of this invention exist in various forms, including but not limited to:

[0158] (1) Mobile communication devices: These devices are characterized by their mobile communication capabilities and primarily aim to provide voice and data communication. These terminals include: smartphones (e.g., iPhones), multimedia phones, feature phones, and low-end phones, etc.

[0159] (2) Ultra-mobile personal computer devices: These devices fall under the category of personal computers, possessing computing and processing capabilities, and generally also have mobile internet access features. These terminals include PDAs, MIDs, and UMPCs, such as the iPad.

[0160] (3) Portable entertainment devices: These devices can display and play multimedia content. This category includes audio and video players (such as iPods), handheld game consoles, e-book readers, as well as smart toys and portable car navigation devices.

[0161] (4) Server: A device that provides computing services. The components of a server include a processor, hard disk, memory, device bus, etc. Servers are similar to general computer architectures, but because they need to provide highly reliable services, they have higher requirements in terms of processing power, stability, reliability, security, scalability, and manageability.

[0162] (5) Other electronic devices with data interaction functions, such as televisions and in-vehicle screens.

[0163] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an electric heater, characterized in that, The method includes: After the unit is started, if the chassis electric heater meets the start-up conditions, the operating power of the electric heater is determined based on the outdoor ambient temperature, outdoor humidity, condensate water temperature, and unit operating frequency, using the following formula: P = (β*B - α*A - δ*C) * θ*D; where P is the operating power of the electric heater, A is the outdoor ambient temperature, α is the ambient temperature coefficient, B is the outdoor humidity, β is the humidity coefficient, C is the condensate water temperature, δ is the water temperature coefficient, D is the unit operating frequency, and θ is the frequency coefficient. After the electric heater has been running for a preset period of time, the current condensate water temperature is acquired. The operating power of the electric heater is adjusted based on the current condensate water temperature, the outdoor ambient temperature, the outdoor humidity, and the unit's operating frequency. This includes: periodically acquiring the condensate water temperature; calculating the difference Δ between the current condensate water temperature and the previous condensate water temperature; and determining the water temperature coefficient δ based on the magnitude of the difference Δ. n The operating power of the electric heater can be calculated using the following formula: P = (β*B - α*A - δ) n *C n )*θ*D; where P is the operating power of the electric heater, A is the outdoor ambient temperature, α is the ambient temperature coefficient, B is the outdoor humidity, β is the humidity coefficient, and C n This is the current condensate temperature, δ n Here, δ is the current water temperature coefficient, D is the unit operating frequency, and θ is the frequency coefficient; the water temperature coefficient δ is determined based on the magnitude of the difference. n This includes: if △ < 0, then If Δ = 0, then If △>0, then ; where δ n-1 It is the water temperature coefficient from the previous test.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The activation conditions include: The outdoor ambient temperature is lower than the preset outdoor ambient temperature, and the condensate water temperature is lower than the preset condensate water temperature.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, After determining the operating power of the electric heater based on the outdoor ambient temperature, outdoor humidity, condensate water temperature, and unit operating frequency, the method further includes: Determine whether the operating power of the electric heater exceeds a preset threshold. If so, the electric heater will be started according to the stated operating power. If not, then turn off the electric heater and re-evaluate whether the electric heater meets the turn-on conditions.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, After obtaining the current condensate water temperature, the method further includes: Determine if the current condensate water temperature is lower than the preset value; If so, the operating power of the electric heater will be adjusted based on the current condensate water temperature, the outdoor ambient temperature, the outdoor humidity, and the unit's operating frequency. If not, turn off the electric heater and re-evaluate whether the electric heater meets the turn-on conditions.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, After the unit is started, the method further includes: If the compressor is off, then the electric heater is controlled to turn off; If the compressor is on, a check is triggered to determine whether the chassis electric heater meets the activation conditions.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, The method further includes: When the unit is running and the electric heater is off, monitor the outdoor ambient temperature and outdoor humidity. If the outdoor ambient temperature is lower than the first preset temperature and the outdoor humidity is lower than the first preset humidity, and this is maintained for a preset time, the electric heater will be forcibly turned on and will operate at the preset power. If water is detected at the chassis drain outlet, gradually increase the operating power of the electric heater until the preset maximum power is reached; If no water is detected at the chassis drain, turn off the electric heater.

7. An electric heater control device for implementing the electric heater control method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The device includes: The power control module is used to determine the operating power of the electric heater based on the outdoor ambient temperature, outdoor humidity, condensate water temperature, and unit operating frequency after the unit is started, if the chassis electric heater meets the start-up conditions. The power adjustment module is used to obtain the current condensate temperature after the electric heater has been running for a preset time, and adjust the operating power of the electric heater according to the current condensate temperature, the outdoor ambient temperature, the outdoor humidity, and the unit operating frequency.

8. An air conditioner, characterized in that, The air conditioner includes: the electric heater control device as described in claim 7.

9. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, characterized in that, When the program is executed by the processor, it implements the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 6.

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