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

Abstract

The application discloses a control method of an air conditioner, the air conditioner and a storage medium. The air conditioner comprises an energy storage device and a carrier refrigerant circulating system. The carrier refrigerant circulating system comprises a circulating pump, an indoor heat exchanger, a bypass branch and a flow regulating module. The inlet pipeline of the indoor heat exchanger is connected in parallel with the bypass branch. The bypass branch is in heat exchange connection with the outlet pipeline of the indoor heat exchanger. The flow regulating module is used for regulating the flow of the carrier refrigerant in the bypass branch and the inlet pipeline. The method comprises the following steps: controlling the circulating pump to be turned on so that the carrier refrigerant releases the cold energy stored in the energy storage device to the indoor environment through the indoor heat exchanger, and obtaining a state parameter. The state parameter indicates whether the indoor heat exchanger has a condensation risk. When the state parameter reaches a preset condition corresponding to the condensation risk of the indoor heat exchanger, the flow regulating module is controlled to operate so as to increase the flow of the carrier refrigerant in the bypass branch. The application aims to reduce the condensation risk of the air conditioner and improve the indoor user experience.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] Energy storage air conditioners have technological advantages such as energy saving, consumption reduction, and good economic benefits, and their application in daily life and production is becoming increasingly widespread. In energy storage mode, energy storage air conditioners can store the heat or cooling generated in the refrigerant circulation loop. In energy release mode, the stored heat or cooling can be absorbed by the refrigerant circulation and transferred to the indoor heat exchanger for heat exchange, thereby regulating the indoor environment.

[0003] When the air conditioner is in cooling mode, the indoor heat exchanger is in an evaporating state. When the surface temperature of the indoor heat exchanger is too low, condensation is likely to occur, causing the air conditioner to blow water, which affects the user experience. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The main objective of this invention is to provide a control method for an air conditioner, an air conditioner, and a storage medium, which aims to reduce the risk of condensation in the air conditioner and improve the indoor user experience.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a control method for an air conditioner. The air conditioner includes an energy storage device and a refrigerant circulation system. The refrigerant circulation system includes a circulation pump, an indoor heat exchanger, a bypass branch, and a flow regulation module. The inlet pipe of the indoor heat exchanger is connected in parallel with the bypass branch, and the bypass branch is heat-exchange connected to the outlet pipe of the indoor heat exchanger. The flow regulation module is used to regulate the refrigerant flow rate in the bypass branch and the inlet pipe. The control method for the air conditioner includes the following steps:

[0006] The circulation pump is controlled to start so that the refrigerant releases the cold energy stored in the energy storage device into the indoor environment through the indoor heat exchanger, and the status parameters are obtained; the status parameters characterize whether there is a risk of condensation in the indoor heat exchanger;

[0007] When the state parameters reach the preset conditions corresponding to the risk of condensation in the indoor heat exchanger, the flow regulation module is controlled to operate to increase the flow rate of the refrigerant in the bypass branch.

[0008] Optionally, the flow regulation module includes a regulating valve located in the bypass branch, and the step of controlling the operation of the flow regulation module to increase the flow rate of the refrigerant in the bypass branch includes:

[0009] Control the regulating valve to increase its opening degree.

[0010] Optionally, the step of obtaining the state parameters includes:

[0011] The inlet temperature of the indoor heat exchanger and the environmental parameter values ​​of the indoor environment where the indoor heat exchanger is located are obtained. The state parameters include the inlet temperature and the environmental parameter values.

[0012] Optionally, after the step of obtaining the inlet temperature of the indoor heat exchanger and the environmental parameter values ​​of the indoor environment where the indoor heat exchanger is located, the method further includes:

[0013] The dew point temperature of the indoor environment is determined based on the environmental parameter values.

[0014] Determine a first temperature difference value between the inlet temperature and the dew point temperature;

[0015] When the first temperature difference is less than or equal to the first preset temperature difference, it is determined that the state parameter has reached the preset condition.

[0016] Optionally, after determining the first temperature difference between the inlet temperature and the dew point temperature, the method further includes:

[0017] When the first temperature difference is greater than the second preset temperature difference, the flow regulation module is controlled to operate to reduce the flow rate of the refrigerant in the bypass branch, wherein the second preset temperature difference is greater than or equal to the first preset temperature difference.

[0018] Optionally, after the step of controlling the flow regulation module to increase the flow rate of the refrigerant in the bypass branch when the state parameter reaches the preset condition corresponding to the risk of condensation in the indoor heat exchanger, the method further includes:

[0019] Determine a second temperature difference between the outlet temperature and the inlet temperature of the indoor heat exchanger;

[0020] Adjust the operating speed of the indoor fan corresponding to the indoor heat exchanger according to the second temperature difference value.

[0021] Optionally, the step of adjusting the operating speed of the indoor fan corresponding to the indoor heat exchanger based on the second temperature difference value includes:

[0022] When the second temperature difference is less than or equal to the third preset temperature difference, the indoor fan speed is increased.

[0023] When the second temperature difference value is greater than the fourth preset temperature difference, the indoor fan speed is reduced.

[0024] Wherein, the fourth preset temperature difference is greater than or equal to the third preset temperature difference.

[0025] Optionally, before the step of adjusting the operating speed of the indoor fan corresponding to the indoor heat exchanger based on the second temperature difference value, the method further includes:

[0026] Obtain the current flow rate of the circulating pump;

[0027] The third preset temperature difference and / or the fourth preset temperature difference are determined based on the flow rate.

[0028] Furthermore, in order to achieve the above objectives, this application also proposes an air conditioner, which includes:

[0029] Energy storage device;

[0030] A refrigerant circulation system includes a circulation pump, an indoor heat exchanger, a bypass branch, and a flow regulation module. The inlet pipe of the indoor heat exchanger is connected in parallel with the bypass branch, and the bypass branch is heat-exchange connected with the outlet pipe of the indoor heat exchanger. The flow regulation module is used to regulate the refrigerant flow rate in the bypass branch and the inlet pipe.

[0031] A control device, wherein the circulating pump and the flow regulating module are both connected to the control device, the control device comprising: a memory, a processor, and an air conditioner control program stored in the memory and executable on the processor, wherein when the air conditioner control program is executed by the processor, it implements the steps of the air conditioner control method as described in any of the preceding claims.

[0032] In addition, to achieve the above objectives, this application also proposes a storage medium storing a control program for an air conditioner, which, when executed by a processor, implements the steps of the control method for the air conditioner as described in any of the preceding claims.

[0033] This invention proposes a control method for an air conditioner, based on an air conditioner with an energy storage device in the refrigerant circulation system. The air conditioner has a bypass branch connected in parallel with the inlet pipe of the indoor heat exchanger, and the bypass branch is heat-exchange connected to the outlet pipe of the indoor heat exchanger. A flow regulation module is used to regulate the refrigerant flow rate in the bypass branch and the inlet pipe. During the process of the circulating pump in the refrigerant circulation system being activated to release the stored cooling energy into the indoor environment through the indoor heat exchanger, the method obtains data characterizing whether there is a risk of condensation in the indoor heat exchanger. When the state parameters reach the preset conditions, it indicates that there is a risk of condensation in the indoor heat exchanger. At this time, the control flow regulation module increases the cooling capacity of the refrigerant in the bypass branch. When the refrigerant flows through the bypass branch, it exchanges heat with the higher-temperature refrigerant flowing out of the indoor heat exchanger outlet pipe and its temperature rises. This can raise the temperature of the refrigerant flowing into the indoor heat exchanger, thereby increasing the temperature of the indoor heat exchanger to a certain extent. This avoids the indoor heat exchanger temperature from being too low, which would cause condensation and water blowing, effectively reducing the risk of condensation in the air conditioner. In addition, it can also avoid the indoor air outlet temperature from being too low, which can effectively improve the indoor user experience. Attached Figure Description

[0034] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the system structure of an embodiment of the air conditioner of the present invention;

[0035] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the system structure of another embodiment of the air conditioner of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the hardware structure involved in the operation of an embodiment of the air conditioner of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of the control method for an air conditioner according to the present invention;

[0038] Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating another embodiment of the control method for an air conditioner according to the present invention;

[0039] Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating another embodiment of the control method for an air conditioner according to the present invention;

[0040] Figure 7 for Figure 6 A detailed flowchart of step S40.

[0041] The realization of the objective, functional features and advantages of the present invention will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0042] It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention.

[0043] The main solution of this invention is: an air conditioning method based on an air conditioner, wherein the refrigerant circulation system includes an energy storage device, a circulation pump, an indoor heat exchanger, a bypass branch, and a flow regulation module. The inlet pipe of the indoor heat exchanger is connected in parallel with the bypass branch, and the bypass branch is heat-exchange connected with the outlet pipe of the indoor heat exchanger. The flow regulation module is used to regulate the refrigerant flow rate in the bypass branch and the inlet pipe. The method includes: controlling the circulation pump to start so that the refrigerant releases the cold energy stored in the energy storage device into the indoor environment through the indoor heat exchanger, and obtaining state parameters; the state parameters characterize whether there is a risk of condensation in the indoor heat exchanger; when the state parameters reach a preset condition corresponding to the risk of condensation in the indoor heat exchanger, controlling the flow regulation module to operate to increase the refrigerant flow rate in the bypass branch.

[0044] In existing technologies, when energy storage air conditioners are running and releasing cold air, the indoor heat exchanger is in an evaporating state. When the surface temperature of the indoor heat exchanger is too low, condensation is likely to occur, causing the air conditioner to blow water, which affects the user experience.

[0045] The present invention provides the above-mentioned solution, which aims to reduce the risk of condensation in air conditioners and improve the indoor user experience.

[0046] In this embodiment, refer to Figures 1 to 3 The air conditioner includes an energy storage device 1, a refrigerant circulation system, and a control device. The refrigerant circulation system is connected to the control device.

[0047] The energy storage device 1 may be a water tank filled with water. In other embodiments, the energy storage device 1 may also be a storage device filled with other types of refrigerants (such as ethylene glycol solution).

[0048] In this embodiment, the refrigerant circulation system is an energy-releasing system that utilizes the energy stored in the energy storage device 1 for heat exchange in the indoor environment. Specifically, in this embodiment, the refrigerant circulation system includes a circulation pump 7, an indoor heat exchanger 8, a bypass branch 100, and a flow regulation module 200. The circulation pump 7 and the indoor heat exchanger 8 are connected by pipelines. The channel on the indoor heat exchanger 8 through which the refrigerant flows in is defined as the inlet of the indoor heat exchanger 8, and the channel on the indoor heat exchanger 8 through which the refrigerant flows out is defined as the outlet of the indoor heat exchanger 8. The pipeline connected to the inlet of the indoor heat exchanger 8 is defined as the inlet pipeline 801 of the indoor heat exchanger 8, and the pipeline connected to the outlet of the indoor heat exchanger 8 is defined as the outlet pipeline 802 of the indoor heat exchanger 8. The bypass branch 100 is connected in parallel with the inlet pipeline 801 of the indoor heat exchanger, and the bypass branch 100 is heat-exchange connected with the outlet pipeline 802 of the indoor heat exchanger. Specifically, the bypass branch 100 and the outlet pipe 802 are connected for heat exchange within the regenerating heat exchanger 300.

[0049] In this embodiment, the refrigerant in the refrigerant circulation system is water. In other embodiments, the refrigerant in the refrigerant circulation system can be other types of refrigerant besides water, such as ethylene glycol solution. Furthermore, in other embodiments, the refrigerant circulation system can also be a system connected to the energy release system for heat exchange, or a system that simultaneously has energy storage and energy release functions.

[0050] In the energy release mode (such as cooling mode or heating mode) of the air conditioner, the circulation pump 7 is turned on. Driven by the circulation pump 7, the refrigerant flows to the energy storage device 1 and absorbs the energy (cooling or heating) stored in the energy storage device 1. The refrigerant carrying energy flows to the indoor heat exchanger 8 and exchanges heat with the indoor air, releasing the energy into the indoor air.

[0051] In one embodiment, reference is made to Figure 1The refrigerant circulation loop in the refrigerant circulation system is connected to the energy storage device 1 for heat exchange. Specifically, in addition to the aforementioned circulation pump 7 and indoor heat exchanger 8, the refrigerant circulation system may also include an energy release heat exchanger 9, which is located within the energy storage device 1. In the air conditioner's energy release mode (such as cooling mode or heating mode), the circulation pump 7 is turned on. Driven by the circulation pump 7, the refrigerant circulates between the energy release heat exchanger 9 and the indoor heat exchanger 8. When the refrigerant flows to the energy release heat exchanger 9, it absorbs the energy (cooling or heating) stored in the energy storage device 1. The refrigerant carrying energy then flows to the indoor heat exchanger 8 and exchanges heat with the indoor air, releasing the energy into the indoor air.

[0052] In another embodiment, reference is made to Figure 2 The energy storage device 1 is located within the refrigerant circulation loop of the refrigerant circulation system. Specifically, the aforementioned indoor heat exchanger 8, circulation pump 7, and energy storage device 1 are connected via pipelines. In the air conditioner's energy release mode (such as cooling mode or heating mode), the circulation pump 7 is turned on. Driven by the circulation pump 7, the refrigerant circulates between the energy release heat exchanger 9 and the energy storage device 1. When the refrigerant flows to the energy storage device 1, it absorbs the energy (cold or hot) stored in the energy storage device 1. The refrigerant carrying energy then flows to the indoor heat exchanger 8 and exchanges heat with the indoor air, releasing the energy into the indoor air.

[0053] Furthermore, the air conditioner also includes an indoor fan 6 corresponding to the indoor heat exchanger 8. When the air conditioner is in energy dissipation mode, the indoor fan 6 is turned on to drive indoor air into the air conditioner to exchange heat with the indoor heat exchanger 8.

[0054] The flow regulation module 200 is used to regulate the refrigerant flow rate in the bypass branch 100 and the inlet pipe 801. In this embodiment, refer to... Figure 1 and Figure 2The flow regulation module 200 includes a regulating valve 210 disposed in the bypass branch 100. In this embodiment, the regulating valve 210 is a flow valve with adjustable opening, such as an electronic expansion valve. In other embodiments, the regulating valve 210 may also be a flow valve with non-adjustable opening, such as a solenoid valve. Specifically, when the regulating valve 210 is open, the refrigerant is allowed to flow into the indoor heat exchanger 8 through the bypass branch 100. Part of the refrigerant absorbing energy from the energy storage device 1 flows into the indoor heat exchanger 8 through the inlet pipe 801, and the other part flows into the indoor heat exchanger 8 through the bypass branch 100. When the regulating valve 210 is closed, the refrigerant is not allowed to flow into the indoor heat exchanger 8 through the bypass branch 100. All the refrigerant absorbing energy from the energy storage device 1 flows into the indoor heat exchanger 8 through the inlet pipe 801. When the opening of the regulating valve 210 is adjustable, the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing into the indoor heat exchanger 8 through the bypass branch 100 increases when the opening of the regulating valve 210 increases, and the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing into the indoor heat exchanger 8 through the bypass branch 100 decreases when the opening of the regulating valve 210 decreases.

[0055] In other embodiments, the flow regulation module 200 may also include a control valve located on the inlet pipe 801. The control valve may be a flow valve that allows adjustment of its opening degree or a flow valve that does not allow adjustment of its opening degree. When the control valve is open, the refrigerant is allowed to flow into the indoor heat exchanger 8 through the inlet pipe 801; when the control valve is closed, the refrigerant is not allowed to flow into the indoor heat exchanger 8 through the inlet pipe 801. When the opening of the control valve is adjustable, when the opening of the control valve decreases, the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing into the indoor heat exchanger 8 through the inlet pipe 801 decreases. If the opening of the regulating valve 210 is constant or the bypass branch 100 is not equipped with a regulating valve 210, the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing into the indoor heat exchanger 8 through the bypass branch 100 increases. When the opening of the control valve increases, the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing into the indoor heat exchanger 8 through the inlet pipe 801 increases. If the opening of the regulating valve 210 is constant or the bypass branch 100 is not equipped with a regulating valve 210, the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing into the indoor heat exchanger 8 through the bypass branch 100 decreases.

[0056] In other embodiments, the flow regulation module 200 may also include a three-way valve, with the inlet or outlet of the inlet pipe 801 and the bypass branch 100 both connected to the three-way valve.

[0057] Furthermore, the air conditioner also includes a refrigerant circulation system. Specifically, the refrigerant circulation system includes a compressor 2, a first heat exchanger 3, a throttling device 4, and a second heat exchanger 5 connected by pipelines. The second heat exchanger 5 is located within an energy storage device 1, which stores the energy (cooling or heating) released by the second heat exchanger 5. Both the throttling device 4 and the compressor 2 are connected to the control device.

[0058] The second heat exchanger 5 is equipped with multiple parallel refrigerant pipelines, and the refrigerant can flow into different refrigerant pipelines for heat exchange.

[0059] When the air conditioner is in cold storage operation, the refrigerant flowing from the compressor 2 flows sequentially through the first heat exchanger 3, the throttling device 4, and the second heat exchanger 5 before returning to the compressor 2. The first heat exchanger 3 is in a condensing state, while the second heat exchanger 5 is in an evaporating state. The cold energy released by the second heat exchanger 5 is stored in the energy storage device 1. For example, if water is stored in the energy storage device 1, the cold energy released by the second heat exchanger 5 causes the water to freeze and be stored in ice.

[0060] When the air conditioner is in heat storage operation, the refrigerant flowing out of the compressor 2 flows through the second heat exchanger 5, the throttling device 4 and the first heat exchanger 3 in sequence and then flows back to the compressor 2. The first heat exchanger 3 is in the evaporation state, and the second heat exchanger 5 is in the condensation state. The heat released by the second heat exchanger 5 is stored in the energy storage device 1.

[0061] Furthermore, refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The air conditioner may also include a first temperature sensor 01, which is connected to the control device. The first temperature sensor 01 is used to measure the inlet temperature of the indoor heat exchanger 8. The first temperature sensor 01 is located at the inlet of the indoor heat exchanger 8.

[0062] Furthermore, refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The air conditioner may also include a second temperature sensor 02, which is connected to the control device. The second temperature sensor 02 is used to measure the outlet temperature of the indoor heat exchanger 8. The second temperature sensor 02 is located at the outlet of the indoor heat exchanger 8.

[0063] Furthermore, refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The air conditioner may also include an environmental parameter detection module 03, which is connected to the control device. The environmental parameter detection module 03 is used to detect indoor environmental parameter values, including indoor temperature and / or indoor humidity. The environmental parameter detection module 03 is located in the indoor environment where the indoor heat exchanger 8 is situated.

[0064] In this embodiment of the invention, reference is made to Figure 3 The control unit of the air conditioner includes a processor 1001 (e.g., CPU), a memory 1002, a timer 1003, etc. The components in the control unit are connected via a communication bus. The memory 1002 can be a high-speed RAM or a stable, non-volatile memory, such as a disk drive. Optionally, the memory 1002 can also be a storage device independent of the aforementioned processor 1001.

[0065] Those skilled in the art will understand that Figure 3The device structure shown does not constitute a limitation on the device and may include more or fewer components than shown, or combine certain components, or have different component arrangements.

[0066] like Figure 3 As shown, the memory 1002, which serves as a storage medium, may include a control program for an air conditioner. Figure 3 In the device shown, the processor 1001 can be used to call the control program of the air conditioner stored in the memory 1002 and execute the relevant steps of the control method of the air conditioner in the following embodiments.

[0067] This invention also provides a control method for an air conditioner, applied to the aforementioned air conditioner.

[0068] Reference Figure 4 This application proposes an embodiment of a control method for an air conditioner. In this embodiment, the air conditioner includes an energy storage device and a refrigerant circulation system. The refrigerant circulation system includes a circulation pump, an indoor heat exchanger, a bypass branch, and a flow regulation module. The inlet pipe of the indoor heat exchanger is connected in parallel with the bypass branch, and the bypass branch is heat-exchange connected to the outlet pipe of the indoor heat exchanger. The flow regulation module is used to regulate the refrigerant flow rate in the bypass branch and the inlet pipe. The control method of the air conditioner includes:

[0069] Step S10: Control the circulation pump to start so that the refrigerant releases the cold energy stored in the energy storage device into the indoor environment through the indoor heat exchanger, and obtain the status parameters; the status parameters characterize whether there is a risk of condensation in the indoor heat exchanger;

[0070] When the circulation pump is turned on, the air conditioner is in a cooling state. The circulation pump drives the refrigerant to circulate to the energy storage device to absorb cooling capacity. After absorbing cooling capacity, the refrigerant flows to the indoor heat exchanger to exchange heat with the indoor air. After heat exchange, the refrigerant, with its increased temperature, flows out from the outlet pipe of the indoor heat exchanger and flows back into the energy storage device to absorb cooling capacity. The indoor environment corresponding to the indoor heat exchanger is in an open state. When the indoor fan is turned on, it drives indoor air into the air conditioner to exchange with the indoor heat exchanger. The indoor air absorbs the cooling capacity released by the indoor heat exchanger and is then blown into the room.

[0071] Status parameters are monitored during the operation of the circulating pump. These status parameters can be parameters related to condensation on the indoor heat exchanger itself or the environment in which it is located. These parameters may include the central temperature, outlet temperature, inlet temperature of the indoor heat exchanger, indoor ambient temperature, and / or indoor ambient humidity.

[0072] The risk of condensation on the indoor heat exchanger here specifically refers to the state where condensation has already started on the surface of the indoor heat exchanger or where condensation will begin within a preset time period after the current moment in the current state; the risk of condensation not occurring on the indoor heat exchanger here specifically refers to the state where condensation has not started on the surface of the indoor heat exchanger or where condensation will not occur within a preset time period after the current moment in the current state.

[0073] Step S20: When the state parameter reaches the preset condition corresponding to the risk of condensation in the indoor heat exchanger, control the flow regulation module to operate to increase the flow rate of the refrigerant in the bypass branch.

[0074] When there is only one state parameter, the preset conditions may include the parameter range that the state parameter needs to reach when there is a risk of condensation on the indoor heat exchanger, or the target relationship that the state parameter needs to achieve with respect to a preset threshold. When the state parameter includes more than one sub-parameter, the preset conditions may include the sub-parameter range that each sub-parameter needs to reach, the target magnitude relationship between each sub-parameter, or the target quantity relationship, etc. When the state parameter reaches the preset conditions, it can be considered that there is a risk of condensation on the indoor heat exchanger. At this time, the flow regulation module can be controlled to operate with the first operating parameter to increase the flow rate of the refrigerant in the bypass branch. Specifically, if the bypass branch is in the closed state when the state parameter reaches the preset conditions, the first operating parameter can be the parameter used to open the bypass branch; if the bypass branch is in the open state when the state parameter reaches the preset conditions, the first operating parameter can be the parameter used to further increase the bypass branch flow rate based on the current bypass branch flow rate.

[0075] In one implementation of this embodiment, the flow regulation module includes a regulating valve located in the bypass branch. The step of controlling the flow regulation module to increase the flow rate of the refrigerant in the bypass branch may include: controlling the regulating valve to increase its opening. Specifically, controlling the regulating valve to increase its opening may include switching the regulating valve from its current closed state to an open state, or it may include further increasing the opening of the regulating valve based on its current opening. The adjustment range of the opening during the process of increasing the opening of the regulating valve may be a pre-set fixed value or a value determined by state parameters. Furthermore, when the flow regulation module includes a control valve located in the inlet pipe in addition to the regulating valve, the step of controlling the flow regulation module to increase the flow rate of the refrigerant in the bypass branch may include: controlling the regulating valve to increase its opening and controlling the control valve to operate at an opening less than or equal to the current opening.

[0076] In another implementation of this embodiment, the flow regulation module may also include a control valve located in the inlet pipe. The step of controlling the flow regulation module to increase the flow rate of the refrigerant in the bypass branch may include: controlling the control valve to reduce its opening. Controlling the control valve to reduce its opening specifically includes switching the control valve from its current open state to a closed state, or it may include further reducing the opening of the control valve based on its current opening. The adjustment range of the opening during the reduction process may be a pre-set fixed value or a value determined by state parameters. Furthermore, when the flow regulation module includes a regulating valve located in the bypass branch in addition to the control valve, the step of controlling the flow regulation module to increase the flow rate of the refrigerant in the bypass branch may include: controlling the control valve to reduce its opening and controlling the control valve to operate at an opening greater than or equal to the current opening.

[0077] This invention proposes a control method for an air conditioner. Based on an air conditioner with an energy storage device in its refrigerant circulation system, the air conditioner has a bypass branch connected in parallel with the inlet pipe of the indoor heat exchanger. The bypass branch is heat-exchange connected to the outlet pipe of the indoor heat exchanger. A flow regulation module is used to regulate the refrigerant flow rate in the bypass branch and the inlet pipe. During the process of the circulating pump in the refrigerant circulation system being activated to release the stored cooling energy into the indoor environment through the indoor heat exchanger, the method obtains data characterizing whether there is a risk of condensation in the indoor heat exchanger. The status parameters indicate a risk of condensation on the indoor heat exchanger when they reach preset conditions. In this case, the flow regulation module increases the cooling capacity of the refrigerant in the bypass branch. As the refrigerant flows through the bypass branch, it exchanges heat with the higher-temperature refrigerant flowing out of the indoor heat exchanger's outlet pipe, raising its temperature. This increases the temperature of the refrigerant flowing into the indoor heat exchanger, thus raising its overall temperature and preventing condensation caused by excessively low temperatures. This effectively reduces the risk of condensation in the air conditioner and also prevents excessively low indoor air outlet temperatures, improving the user experience. Specifically, increasing the refrigerant flow rate in the bypass branch via a regulating valve allows for direct control of the refrigerant flow, rapidly increasing the rate of flow and quickly raising the indoor heat exchanger temperature, further reducing the risk of condensation.

[0078] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, after step S10, the method further includes: when the state parameter does not meet the preset condition, controlling the flow regulation module to maintain the current state of operation. Specifically, when the state parameter does not meet the preset condition, it indicates that there is no risk of condensation on the indoor heat exchanger, meaning the temperature of the indoor heat exchanger is suitable and there will be no problem of condensation due to excessively low temperatures. Therefore, the flow regulation module can maintain the current state of operation to ensure that the indoor heat exchanger maintains its current temperature for heat exchange. Specifically, when the flow regulation module includes the aforementioned regulating valve, when the state parameter does not meet the preset condition and the regulating valve is in a closed state, the regulating valve can be controlled to remain closed; when the state parameter does not meet the preset condition and the regulating valve is in an open state, the regulating valve can be controlled to maintain its current opening degree.

[0079] Furthermore, based on the above embodiments, another embodiment of the control method for the air conditioner of this application is proposed. In this embodiment, reference is made to... Figure 5 The steps for obtaining the state parameters include:

[0080] Step S11: Obtain the inlet temperature of the indoor heat exchanger and the environmental parameter values ​​of the indoor environment where the indoor heat exchanger is located. The status parameters include the inlet temperature and the environmental parameter values.

[0081] In this embodiment, the environmental parameter values ​​include ambient temperature and / or ambient humidity, which are specifically detected by the aforementioned environmental parameter detection module. The inlet temperature is specifically detected by the aforementioned first temperature sensor.

[0082] Based on step S11, the following steps are also included:

[0083] Step S12: Determine the dew point temperature of the indoor environment based on the environmental parameter values;

[0084] Specifically, in this embodiment, the environmental parameter value includes ambient temperature, which can be substituted into a preset formula to calculate the estimated dew point temperature. In other embodiments, when the environmental parameter value includes ambient temperature and ambient humidity, the dew point temperature can be calculated using the ambient temperature and ambient humidity.

[0085] Step S13: Determine the first temperature difference between the inlet temperature and the dew point temperature;

[0086] In this embodiment, the first temperature difference value is specifically the calculated result obtained by subtracting the dew point temperature from the inlet temperature. In other embodiments, the first temperature difference value may also be the absolute value of the difference between the dew point temperature and the inlet temperature.

[0087] Step S14: When the first temperature difference value is less than or equal to the first preset temperature difference, it is determined that the state parameter has reached the preset condition.

[0088] The first preset temperature difference can be a fixed value set in advance, or it can be a value obtained based on the current operating parameters of the refrigerant circulation system (such as the power or flow rate of the circulation pump).

[0089] Specifically, let the inlet temperature be T1, the dew point temperature be Tw, and the first preset temperature difference be ΔT1. Then the first temperature difference is T1-Tw. If T1-Tw>ΔT1, then it can be determined that the state parameters have reached the preset conditions; if T1-Tw≤ΔT1, then it can be determined that the state parameters have not reached the preset conditions.

[0090] In this embodiment, combining the inlet temperature of the indoor heat exchanger with environmental parameter values ​​helps to accurately characterize the condensation risk of the low-temperature refrigerant in the environment where the indoor heat exchanger is located after it flows in. Based on this, determining whether there is a condensation risk in the indoor heat exchanger by combining the inlet temperature of the indoor heat exchanger with environmental parameter values ​​improves the accuracy of the condensation risk identification results and enables accurate control of the flow regulation module to further reduce the condensation risk of the indoor heat exchanger. In particular, after determining the dew point temperature of the indoor environment based on the environmental parameter values, the first temperature difference between the inlet temperature and the dew point temperature can more accurately characterize the condensation risk of the indoor heat exchanger in its indoor environment, which helps to further improve the accuracy of the flow regulation module control and further reduce the condensation risk of the indoor heat exchanger.

[0091] In other embodiments, the state parameters may be determined to have met the preset conditions when the inlet temperature is less than a first temperature threshold, the ambient temperature is greater than a second temperature threshold, and the ambient humidity is greater than a preset humidity value. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the state parameters may include the outlet temperature of the indoor heat exchanger and the ambient parameter value, and the state parameters may be determined to have met the preset conditions when the temperature difference between the outlet temperature and the ambient parameter value is less than or equal to the target temperature difference.

[0092] Furthermore, in this embodiment, after step S13, the following may also be included:

[0093] Step S15: When the first temperature difference is greater than the second preset temperature difference, control the flow regulation module to operate to reduce the flow rate of the refrigerant in the bypass branch, wherein the second preset temperature difference is greater than or equal to the first preset temperature difference.

[0094] The specific order in which steps S14 and S15 are executed is not limited.

[0095] In this embodiment, the second preset temperature difference is greater than the first preset temperature difference. The first preset temperature difference is a critical value for distinguishing the risk of condensation in the indoor heat exchanger. When the first temperature difference is less than or equal to the first preset temperature difference, it indicates that the risk of condensation in the indoor heat exchanger is high. When the first temperature difference is greater than the first preset temperature difference, it indicates that the risk of condensation in the indoor heat exchanger is low. When the first temperature difference is greater than the second preset temperature difference, it indicates that there is no risk of condensation in the indoor heat exchanger.

[0096] In other embodiments, the second preset temperature difference may also be equal to the first preset temperature difference, which is a critical value used to distinguish whether there is a risk of condensation in the indoor heat exchanger.

[0097] In this embodiment, when the flow regulation module includes a regulating valve located in the bypass branch, the regulating valve is controlled to reduce its opening degree when the first temperature difference value is greater than the second preset temperature difference. Specifically, controlling the regulating valve to reduce its opening degree includes: controlling the regulating valve to switch from the current open state to the closed state, or controlling the regulating valve to reduce its opening degree based on the current opening degree. The adjustment range of the opening degree during the process of reducing the opening degree of the regulating valve can be a preset fixed value, or a parameter determined according to the difference between the first temperature difference value and the second preset temperature difference. Further, when the flow regulation module includes a control valve located in the inlet pipe in addition to the regulating valve, the step of controlling the flow regulation module to reduce the flow rate of the refrigerant in the bypass branch may include: controlling the regulating valve to reduce its opening degree and controlling the control valve to operate at an opening degree greater than or equal to the current opening degree.

[0098] In other embodiments, the flow regulation module may also include a control valve located on the inlet pipe. The step of controlling the flow regulation module to reduce the flow rate of the refrigerant in the bypass branch may include: controlling the control valve to increase its opening. Specifically, controlling the control valve to increase its opening includes switching the control valve from its current closed state to its open state, or it may include further increasing the opening of the control valve based on its current opening. The adjustment range of the opening during the process of increasing the opening of the control valve may be a preset fixed value, or it may be a parameter determined based on the difference between a first temperature difference and a second preset temperature difference. Furthermore, when the flow regulation module includes a regulating valve located on the bypass branch in addition to the control valve, the step of controlling the flow regulation module to reduce the flow rate of the refrigerant in the bypass branch may include: controlling the control valve to increase its opening and controlling the control valve to operate at an opening less than or equal to the current opening.

[0099] In this embodiment, when the first temperature difference is greater than the second preset temperature difference, it indicates that there is no risk of condensation or the risk of condensation in the indoor heat exchanger is extremely low. At this time, reducing the flow rate of the refrigerant in the bypass branch can lower the temperature of the refrigerant entering the indoor heat exchanger. This helps to ensure that the indoor heat exchanger will not have condensation or water blowing problems while maximizing the heat exchange efficiency of the indoor heat exchanger, so as to effectively balance the prevention of condensation and the cooling comfort of indoor users.

[0100] Furthermore, in this embodiment, after step S20 or the step of controlling the flow regulation module to reduce the flow rate of refrigerant in the bypass branch, the process can return to step S10. Based on this, it can be ensured that the air conditioner, through the circulation regulation of the flow regulation module, can maintain the indoor heat exchanger in a state where condensation does not occur throughout the entire cooling process, which is beneficial to improving the indoor user experience.

[0101] Furthermore, based on any of the above embodiments, another embodiment of the control method for the air conditioner of this application is proposed. In this embodiment, reference is made to... Figure 6 After step S20, the method further includes:

[0102] Step S30: Determine a second temperature difference between the outlet temperature and the inlet temperature of the indoor heat exchanger;

[0103] The outlet temperature is specifically detected by the second temperature sensor mentioned above.

[0104] In this embodiment, the second temperature difference is the calculated result obtained by subtracting the inlet temperature from the outlet temperature. In other embodiments, the second temperature difference is also the difference between the inlet temperature and the outlet temperature, or the absolute value of the difference.

[0105] The inlet and outlet temperatures can be detected after step S20, or simultaneously during the execution of step S11.

[0106] Step S40: Adjust the operating speed of the indoor fan corresponding to the indoor heat exchanger according to the second temperature difference value.

[0107] Different second temperature difference values ​​correspond to different target speeds for the indoor fan. In this embodiment, the target speed of the indoor fan is negatively correlated with the second temperature difference value. In other embodiments, the target speed of the indoor fan may be positively correlated with the second temperature difference value, or there may be no clear correlation.

[0108] Specifically, a correspondence between the second temperature difference value and the control parameters of the indoor fan can be established in advance. This correspondence can take the form of a calculation formula, mapping relationship, etc. The control parameters here can specifically include the target operating speed of the indoor fan, the direction of indoor fan speed adjustment (e.g., increasing or decreasing speed), and / or the indoor fan speed adjustment value (e.g., adjustment range or adjustment rate). Based on this correspondence, the target control parameters of the indoor fan corresponding to the second temperature difference value can be determined, and the indoor fan operation can be controlled according to the determined target control parameters.

[0109] In this embodiment, based on the operation and regulation of the flow regulation module to prevent condensation on the indoor heat exchanger, the second temperature difference value can accurately reflect the cooling capacity output by the air conditioner. Adapting to the operation and regulation of the indoor fan by the second temperature difference value helps to ensure that the cooling capacity loss caused by the anti-condensation control is compensated by the auxiliary regulation of the indoor fan, and ensures that the cooling capacity output by the air conditioner to the indoor environment can be maintained within a sufficient range. This achieves the goal of preventing condensation on the indoor heat exchanger while ensuring that the air conditioner outputs sufficient cooling capacity to ensure the comfort of indoor users.

[0110] It should be noted that when step S10 is followed by step S15 as described above, steps S30 and S40 are also executed after step S15.

[0111] Furthermore, in this embodiment, referring to Figure 7 Step S40 includes:

[0112] Step S41: When the second temperature difference is less than or equal to the third preset temperature difference, control the indoor fan to increase its speed;

[0113] Step S42: When the second temperature difference is greater than the fourth preset temperature difference, control the indoor fan to reduce its speed; wherein the fourth preset temperature difference is greater than or equal to the third preset temperature difference.

[0114] In this embodiment, the fourth preset temperature difference is greater than the third preset temperature difference. The third preset temperature difference is the minimum threshold value used to distinguish whether the cooling capacity output of the air conditioner can meet the user's needs, and the fourth preset temperature difference is the maximum threshold value used to distinguish whether the cooling capacity output of the air conditioner can meet the user's needs. Specifically, when the second temperature difference is greater than the third preset temperature difference and less than or equal to the fourth preset temperature difference, it indicates that the current cooling capacity output of the air conditioner can meet the user's comfort needs; when the second temperature difference is less than or equal to the third preset temperature difference, it indicates that the current cooling capacity output of the air conditioner is too small to meet the user's comfort needs; and when the second temperature difference is greater than the fourth preset temperature difference, it indicates that the current cooling capacity output of the air conditioner is too large to meet the user's comfort needs.

[0115] In other embodiments, the fourth preset temperature difference may also be equal to the third preset temperature difference. The third preset temperature difference and the fourth preset temperature difference are the temperature difference thresholds corresponding to when the cooling capacity output by the air conditioner meets the user's needs. When the second temperature difference is less than or equal to the third preset temperature difference, it indicates that the cooling capacity output by the air conditioner is too low and cannot meet the user's comfort needs. When the second temperature difference is greater than the fourth preset temperature difference, it indicates that the cooling capacity output by the air conditioner is too high and cannot meet the user's comfort needs.

[0116] The third and fourth preset temperature differences can be fixed values ​​set in advance, or values ​​determined based on the actual operating state of the refrigerant circulation system. Specifically, in this embodiment, before step S40, the method further includes: obtaining the current flow rate of the circulation pump; and determining the third and / or fourth preset temperature differences based on the flow rate. Different flow rates result in different third and / or fourth preset temperature differences. Specifically, the third and / or fourth preset temperature differences can be obtained through flow rate calculation or table lookup. Based on this, determining the third and / or fourth preset temperature differences through the flow rate of the circulation pump helps improve the accuracy of whether the cooling capacity output by the air conditioner, as represented by the third and / or fourth preset temperature differences, meets the user's comfort level. This, in turn, helps improve the precision of indoor fan speed control, ensuring that the cooling capacity output by the air conditioner can accurately match the comfort needs of the indoor user.

[0117] When the indoor fan speed is increased or decreased, it can be adjusted according to a preset fixed speed adjustment value, or it can be adjusted according to the speed adjustment value determined by the actual operating state of the refrigerant circulation system. Specifically, in this embodiment, a first temperature difference can be determined between a second temperature difference value and a third preset temperature difference, and a first speed adjustment value for the indoor fan can be determined based on the first temperature difference. The indoor fan speed is then increased according to the first speed adjustment value. Conversely, a second temperature difference can be determined between a second temperature difference value and a fourth preset temperature difference, and a second speed adjustment value for the indoor fan can be determined based on the second temperature difference. The indoor fan speed is then decreased according to the second speed adjustment value.

[0118] In this embodiment, when the second temperature difference is less than or equal to the third preset temperature difference, it indicates that the air conditioner's output cooling capacity is too low. At this time, increasing the speed of the indoor fan helps to increase the air conditioner's output cooling capacity to a value or range that meets the user's comfort. When the second temperature difference is greater than the fourth preset temperature difference, it indicates that the air conditioner's output cooling capacity is too high. At this time, decreasing the speed of the indoor fan helps to reduce the air conditioner's output cooling capacity to a value or range that meets the user's comfort. Based on this, the risk of condensation on the indoor heat exchanger can be reduced while ensuring that the air conditioner's output cooling capacity meets the indoor comfort requirements, thereby further improving the indoor user experience.

[0119] Furthermore, this embodiment of the invention also proposes a storage medium storing a control program for an air conditioner. When the control program for the air conditioner is executed by a processor, it implements the relevant steps of any embodiment of the control method for the air conditioner described above.

[0120] It should be noted that, in this document, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or system that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or system. Unless otherwise specified, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or system that includes that element.

[0121] 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.

[0122] Through the above description of the embodiments, those skilled in the art can clearly understand that the methods of the above embodiments can be implemented by means of software plus necessary general-purpose hardware platforms. Of course, they can also be implemented by hardware, but in many cases the former is a better implementation method. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present invention, or the part that contributes to the prior art, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium (such as ROM / RAM, magnetic disk, optical disk) as described above, and includes several instructions to cause a terminal device (which may be a mobile phone, computer, server, air conditioner, or network device, etc.) to execute the methods described in the various embodiments of the present invention.

[0123] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not limit the scope of the patent. Any equivalent structural or procedural transformations made based on the description and drawings of the present invention, or direct or indirect applications in other related technical fields, are similarly included within the scope of patent protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A control method for an air conditioner, characterized in that, The air conditioner includes an energy storage device and a refrigerant circulation system. The refrigerant circulation system includes a circulation pump, an indoor heat exchanger, a bypass branch, and a flow regulation module. The inlet pipe of the indoor heat exchanger is connected in parallel with the bypass branch, and the bypass branch is connected to the outlet pipe of the indoor heat exchanger for heat exchange. The flow regulation module is used to regulate the refrigerant flow rate in the bypass branch and the inlet pipe. The control method of the air conditioner includes the following steps: The circulation pump is controlled to start so that the refrigerant releases the cold energy stored in the energy storage device into the indoor environment through the indoor heat exchanger, and the status parameters are obtained; the status parameters characterize whether there is a risk of condensation in the indoor heat exchanger; When the state parameters reach the preset conditions corresponding to the risk of condensation in the indoor heat exchanger, the flow regulation module is controlled to operate to increase the flow rate of the refrigerant in the bypass branch; The flow regulation module includes a regulating valve located in the bypass branch, and the step of controlling the operation of the flow regulation module to increase the flow rate of the refrigerant in the bypass branch includes: The regulating valve is controlled to increase its opening. When the regulating valve is open, part of the refrigerant that absorbs energy from the energy storage device flows into the indoor heat exchanger through the inlet pipe, and another part flows into the indoor heat exchanger through the bypass branch. The refrigerant flowing through the bypass branch exchanges heat with the refrigerant flowing out of the outlet pipe and then rises in temperature.

2. The control method for an air conditioner as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The steps for obtaining the state parameters include: The inlet temperature of the indoor heat exchanger and the environmental parameter values ​​of the indoor environment where the indoor heat exchanger is located are obtained. The state parameters include the inlet temperature and the environmental parameter values.

3. The control method for an air conditioner as described in claim 2, characterized in that, After the steps of obtaining the inlet temperature of the indoor heat exchanger and the environmental parameter values ​​of the indoor environment where the indoor heat exchanger is located, the method further includes: The dew point temperature of the indoor environment is determined based on the environmental parameter values. Determine a first temperature difference value between the inlet temperature and the dew point temperature; When the first temperature difference is less than or equal to the first preset temperature difference, it is determined that the state parameter has reached the preset condition.

4. The control method for an air conditioner as described in claim 3, characterized in that, After the step of determining the first temperature difference between the inlet temperature and the dew point temperature, the method further includes: When the first temperature difference is greater than the second preset temperature difference, the flow regulation module is controlled to operate to reduce the flow rate of the refrigerant in the bypass branch, wherein the second preset temperature difference is greater than or equal to the first preset temperature difference.

5. The control method for an air conditioner as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, After the step of controlling the flow regulation module to increase the flow rate of the refrigerant in the bypass branch when the state parameter reaches the preset condition corresponding to the risk of condensation in the indoor heat exchanger, the method further includes: Determine a second temperature difference between the outlet temperature and the inlet temperature of the indoor heat exchanger; Adjust the operating speed of the indoor fan corresponding to the indoor heat exchanger according to the second temperature difference value.

6. The control method for an air conditioner as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The step of adjusting the operating speed of the indoor fan corresponding to the indoor heat exchanger based on the second temperature difference value includes: When the second temperature difference is less than or equal to the third preset temperature difference, the indoor fan speed is increased. When the second temperature difference value is greater than the fourth preset temperature difference, the indoor fan speed is reduced. Wherein, the fourth preset temperature difference is greater than or equal to the third preset temperature difference.

7. The control method for an air conditioner as described in claim 6, characterized in that, Before the step of adjusting the operating speed of the indoor fan corresponding to the indoor heat exchanger based on the second temperature difference value, the method further includes: Obtain the current flow rate of the circulating pump; The third preset temperature difference and / or the fourth preset temperature difference are determined based on the flow rate.

8. An air conditioner, characterized in that, The air conditioner includes: Energy storage device; A refrigerant circulation system includes a circulation pump, an indoor heat exchanger, a bypass branch, and a flow regulation module. The inlet pipe of the indoor heat exchanger is connected in parallel with the bypass branch, and the bypass branch is heat-exchange connected to the outlet pipe of the indoor heat exchanger. The flow regulation module is used to regulate the refrigerant flow rate in the bypass branch and the inlet pipe, and the flow regulation module includes a regulating valve located in the bypass branch. The control device includes a circulating pump and a flow regulating module, both of which are connected to the control device. The control device includes a memory, a processor, and an air conditioner control program stored in the memory and executable on the processor. When the air conditioner control program is executed by the processor, it implements the steps of the air conditioner control method as described in any one of claims 1 to 7.

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

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