Method and device for detecting refrigerant leakage, electronic device, storage medium

CN117190395BActive Publication Date: 2026-09-11QINGDAO HAIER AIR CONDITIONER GENERAL CORP LTD
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Patent Information

Application Number
CN202311117258.5
Authority / Receiving Office
CN · China
Patent Type
Patents(China)
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2023-08-31
Publication Date
2026-09-11
Estimated Expiration
2043-08-31

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

然而,若室内环境温度与内盘管的盘管温度相差较大,即使冷媒未发生泄露,内盘管的盘管温度也会产生剧烈变化

Benefits of technology

[0017] The method, apparatus, electronic device, and storage medium for detecting refrigerant leakage provided in this disclosure can achieve the following technical effects: By acquiring the first compressor frequency and the first coil temperature of the air conditioner in a first operating mode, the air conditioner's operating mode is then switched to a preset second operating mode. When the second coil temperature after switching to the preset second operating mode equals a preset target coil temperature, the second compressor frequency is acquired. The center temperature between the target coil temperature and the first coil temperature is a preset third coil temperature, which is the coil temperature of the inner coil under stable air condition operation. Then, whether refrigerant leakage has occurred is determined based on the first compressor frequency and the second compressor frequency. This method, compared to directly judging refrigerant leakage by whether the coil temperature is within the normal range, obtains the first compressor frequency and the first coil temperature in the first operating mode of the air conditioner. Then, based on the corresponding first coil temperature in the first operating mode and the stable operating third coil temperature, a target coil temperature is determined. Furthermore, when the air conditioner is in a preset second operating mode and the second coil temperature equals the preset target coil temperature, the second compressor frequency is obtained, and refrigerant leakage is determined based on the first and second compressor frequencies. This reduces the influence of indoor ambient temperature and improves the accuracy of refrigerant leak detection.

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Abstract

This application relates to the field of air conditioner technology and discloses a method for detecting refrigerant leakage, comprising: acquiring the frequency of a first compressor and the temperature of a first coil in a first operating mode of the air conditioner; switching the operating mode of the air conditioner to a preset second operating mode to adjust the temperature of the inner coil; acquiring the second compressor frequency when the second coil temperature equals a preset target coil temperature; the second coil temperature being the temperature of the inner coil after the air conditioner's operating mode is switched to the preset second operating mode; the midpoint between the target coil temperature and the first coil temperature being the temperature of the inner coil under stable air condition operation; and determining whether refrigerant is leaking based on the first compressor frequency and the second compressor frequency. This improves the accuracy of refrigerant leakage detection. This application also discloses a device, electronic equipment, and storage medium for detecting refrigerant leakage.
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of air conditioner technology, such as a method and apparatus for detecting refrigerant leakage, electronic equipment, and storage medium. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, air conditioners have become necessities in people's daily lives. Air conditioners change indoor temperature by using refrigerant circulation for heat conduction. Therefore, if refrigerant leaks during use, it will cause a shortage of refrigerant, affecting the air conditioner's ability to regulate indoor temperature and potentially causing it to malfunction. Current technology directly judges refrigerant leakage by checking if the temperature of the indoor coil is within the normal range. However, if there is a significant difference between the indoor ambient temperature and the indoor coil temperature, even without a refrigerant leak, the indoor coil temperature will fluctuate drastically, causing it to deviate from the normal range. This can easily lead to a misjudgment of a refrigerant leak.

[0003] In the process of implementing the embodiments of this disclosure, it was found that at least the following problems exist in the related technology: directly determining whether there is a leak by the temperature of the inner coil is prone to misjudgment when the indoor ambient temperature and the temperature of the inner coil are significantly different, resulting in low accuracy.

[0004] It should be noted that the information disclosed in the background section above is only used to enhance the understanding of the background of this application, and therefore may include information that does not constitute prior art known to those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed embodiments, a brief summary is given below. This summary is not intended as a general commentary, nor is it intended to identify key / important components or describe the scope of protection of these embodiments, but rather as a prelude to the detailed description that follows.

[0006] This disclosure provides a method, apparatus, electronic device, and storage medium for detecting refrigerant leaks, thereby improving the accuracy of refrigerant leak detection.

[0007] In some embodiments, the method for detecting refrigerant leakage includes: acquiring a first compressor frequency and a first coil temperature in a first operating mode of the air conditioner; switching the air conditioner's operating mode to a preset second operating mode to adjust the coil temperature of the inner coil; acquiring a second compressor frequency when the second coil temperature equals a preset target coil temperature; the second coil temperature being the coil temperature of the inner coil after the air conditioner's operating mode is switched to the preset second operating mode; the midpoint between the target coil temperature and the first coil temperature being a preset third coil temperature; and the third coil temperature being the coil temperature of the inner coil under stable air conditioner operation. Whether refrigerant leakage has occurred is determined based on the first compressor frequency and the second compressor frequency.

[0008] In some embodiments, when the air conditioner is controlled in a preset first operating mode, the method further includes: controlling the indoor unit fan to be in a closed state.

[0009] In some embodiments, obtaining the first compressor frequency and the first coil temperature in the first operating mode includes: controlling the air conditioner to operate in a preset first operating mode; after a preset first interval, obtaining the third compressor frequency and the fourth coil temperature of the inner coil; determining the third compressor frequency as the first compressor frequency in the first operating mode; and determining the fourth coil temperature of the inner coil as the first coil temperature in the first operating mode.

[0010] In some embodiments, the step of switching the air conditioner's operating mode to a preset second operating mode includes: when the compressor is an inverter compressor, maintaining the compressor's input current unchanged, and controlling the air conditioner to switch from a preset first operating mode to a preset second operating mode.

[0011] In some embodiments, determining whether refrigerant is leaking based on the first compressor frequency and the second compressor frequency includes: determining that no refrigerant is leaking if the first compressor frequency is greater than or equal to the second compressor frequency; and / or determining that refrigerant is leaking if the second compressor frequency is less than the first compressor frequency.

[0012] In some embodiments, after determining whether refrigerant is leaking based on the first compressor frequency and the second compressor frequency, the method further includes: in the event of refrigerant leakage, controlling the air conditioner to enter an alarm mode.

[0013] In some embodiments, after the air conditioner is put into alarm mode, the method further includes: controlling the air conditioner to stop running.

[0014] In some embodiments, the apparatus for detecting refrigerant leakage includes a processor and a memory storing program instructions, the processor being configured to execute the method for detecting refrigerant leakage described above when the program instructions are executed.

[0015] In some embodiments, the electronic device includes the aforementioned apparatus for detecting refrigerant leaks.

[0016] In some embodiments, the storage medium stores program instructions that, when executed, perform the method described above for detecting refrigerant leakage.

[0017] The method, apparatus, electronic device, and storage medium for detecting refrigerant leakage provided in this disclosure can achieve the following technical effects: By acquiring the first compressor frequency and the first coil temperature of the air conditioner in a first operating mode, the air conditioner's operating mode is then switched to a preset second operating mode. When the second coil temperature after switching to the preset second operating mode equals a preset target coil temperature, the second compressor frequency is acquired. The center temperature between the target coil temperature and the first coil temperature is a preset third coil temperature, which is the coil temperature of the inner coil under stable air condition operation. Then, whether refrigerant leakage has occurred is determined based on the first compressor frequency and the second compressor frequency. This method, compared to directly judging refrigerant leakage by whether the coil temperature is within the normal range, obtains the first compressor frequency and the first coil temperature in the first operating mode of the air conditioner. Then, based on the corresponding first coil temperature in the first operating mode and the stable operating third coil temperature, a target coil temperature is determined. Furthermore, when the air conditioner is in a preset second operating mode and the second coil temperature equals the preset target coil temperature, the second compressor frequency is obtained, and refrigerant leakage is determined based on the first and second compressor frequencies. This reduces the influence of indoor ambient temperature and improves the accuracy of refrigerant leak detection.

[0018] The above general description and the description below are exemplary and illustrative only and are not intended to limit this application. Attached Figure Description

[0019] One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. These illustrations and drawings do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments. Elements having the same reference numerals in the drawings are shown as similar elements. The drawings are not to be scaled. And wherein:

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a method for detecting refrigerant leakage provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0021] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of another method for detecting refrigerant leakage provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0022] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a method for controlling an air conditioner provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0023] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of another method for controlling an air conditioner provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0024] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a device for detecting refrigerant leakage provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0025] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of an electronic device provided in an embodiment of this disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0026] To provide a more detailed understanding of the features and technical content of the embodiments of this disclosure, the implementation of the embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the embodiments of this disclosure. In the following technical description, for ease of explanation, several details are used to provide a full understanding of the disclosed embodiments. However, one or more embodiments may still be implemented without these details. In other cases, well-known structures and devices may be simplified in their depiction to simplify the drawings.

[0027] The terms "first," "second," etc., used in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this disclosure are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate for the embodiments of this disclosure described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion.

[0028] Unless otherwise stated, the term "multiple" means two or more.

[0029] In this embodiment of the disclosure, the character " / " indicates that the objects before and after it are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B means: A or B.

[0030] The term "and / or" describes an association between objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B means: A or B, or A and B.

[0031] The term "correspondence" can refer to an association or binding relationship. The correspondence between A and B means that there is an association or binding relationship between A and B.

[0032] The method for controlling an air conditioner provided in this disclosure is applied to an electronic device. The electronic device acquires the first compressor frequency and the first coil temperature of the air conditioner in a first operating mode. The air conditioner's operating mode is switched to a preset second operating mode to adjust the coil temperature of the inner coil. When the inner coil temperature equals a preset target coil temperature, the second compressor frequency is acquired. The center temperature between the preset target coil temperature and the first coil temperature is a preset third coil temperature. The preset third coil temperature is the inner coil temperature under stable air condition operation. Then, refrigerant leakage is determined based on the first compressor frequency and the second compressor frequency. Thus, compared to directly judging refrigerant leakage by whether the coil temperature is within the normal range, this method acquires the first compressor frequency and the first coil temperature in the first operating mode, then determines the target coil temperature based on the corresponding first coil temperature and the stable third coil temperature. This allows the acquisition of the second compressor frequency when the air conditioner is in the preset second operating mode and the second coil temperature equals the preset target coil temperature, and then determines whether refrigerant leakage is present based on the first compressor frequency and the second compressor frequency. It reduces the impact of indoor ambient temperature and improves the accuracy of refrigerant leak detection.

[0033] The internal coil of the air conditioner is installed in the indoor unit of the air conditioner.

[0034] The air conditioner is also equipped with a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, and a third temperature sensor. The first temperature sensor is used to detect the indoor temperature. The second temperature sensor is used to continuously detect the coil temperature of the indoor unit. The third temperature sensor is used to detect the outdoor temperature.

[0035] Combination Figure 1 As shown in the embodiments of this disclosure, a method for detecting refrigerant leakage is provided, comprising:

[0036] In step S101, the electronic device acquires the first compressor frequency and the first coil temperature of the air conditioner in the first operating mode.

[0037] In step S102, the electronic device switches the air conditioner's operating mode to a preset second operating mode to adjust the coil temperature of the inner coil.

[0038] In step S103, the electronic device acquires the second compressor frequency when the second coil temperature equals the preset target coil temperature. The second coil temperature is the coil temperature of the inner coil after the air conditioner's operating mode is switched to the preset second operating mode. The center temperature between the target coil temperature and the first coil temperature is the preset third coil temperature. The third coil temperature is the coil temperature of the inner coil when the air conditioner is operating stably.

[0039] In step S104, the electronic device determines whether there is a refrigerant leak based on the frequency of the first compressor and the frequency of the second compressor.

[0040] The method for detecting refrigerant leakage provided in this disclosure involves acquiring the first compressor frequency and the first coil temperature of the air conditioner in a first operating mode, and then switching the air conditioner's operating mode to a preset second operating mode. When the second coil temperature after switching to the preset second operating mode equals a preset target coil temperature, the second compressor frequency is acquired. The center temperature between the target coil temperature and the first coil temperature is a preset third coil temperature, which is the coil temperature of the inner coil under stable air condition operation. Refrigerant leakage is then determined based on the first and second compressor frequencies. This method, compared to directly judging refrigerant leakage by whether the coil temperature is within the normal range, acquires the first compressor frequency and the first coil temperature in the first operating mode, and then determines the target coil temperature based on the corresponding first coil temperature and the stable third coil temperature. This allows for the acquisition of the second compressor frequency when the air conditioner is in the preset second operating mode and the second coil temperature equals the preset target coil temperature, and then determines refrigerant leakage based on the first and second compressor frequencies. It reduces the impact of indoor ambient temperature and improves the accuracy of refrigerant leak detection.

[0041] Furthermore, the preset first operating mode is either heating or cooling mode. The preset second operating mode is either cooling or heating mode. The preset first operating mode and the preset second operating mode are different.

[0042] In some embodiments, when the preset first operating mode is the heating module, the preset second operating mode is the cooling mode. When the air conditioner switches from heating mode to cooling mode, the coil temperature of the indoor coil decreases. When the preset first operating mode is cooling mode, the preset second operating mode is heating mode. When the air conditioner switches from cooling mode to heating mode, the coil temperature of the indoor coil increases.

[0043] Furthermore, the second coil temperature is obtained by the following method: the electronic device continuously detects the coil temperature of the inner coil using a second temperature sensor to obtain the second coil temperature.

[0044] In some embodiments, the electronic device uses a second temperature sensor to detect the coil temperature of the inner coil at preset second intervals to obtain the second coil temperature. This achieves continuous detection of the coil temperature of the inner coil.

[0045] In some embodiments, the electronic device uses a second temperature sensor to detect the coil temperature of the inner coil at preset second intervals to obtain a second coil temperature. Then, if the latest obtained second coil temperature is equal to a preset target coil temperature, the second compressor frequency of the compressor is obtained.

[0046] Furthermore, the third coil temperature is obtained as follows: When the air conditioner is on, the electronic device acquires the indoor temperature detected by the first temperature sensor. The electronic device controls the compressor frequency based on the indoor temperature and the preset target temperature to regulate the indoor temperature. When the indoor temperature equals the target temperature, the electronic device determines that the air conditioner is operating stably. Once the air conditioner is determined to be operating stably, the electronic device acquires the third coil temperature. The third coil temperature is the coil temperature of the inner coil detected by the second temperature sensor when the air conditioner is determined to be operating stably. The target temperature is the temperature set by the user.

[0047] In this way, when the indoor temperature equals the user-set desired temperature, the air conditioner does not need to adjust the indoor temperature further, thus minimizing the energy required for refrigerant vapor-liquid conversion within the air conditioner. This facilitates the acquisition of the third coil temperature and the determination of the target coil temperature based on it. Furthermore, when the second coil temperature equals the preset target coil temperature, the compressor's second compressor frequency is acquired, and the presence of refrigerant leakage is determined based on the first and second compressor frequencies. This improves the accuracy of refrigerant leak detection.

[0048] Furthermore, the electronic device controls the compressor frequency based on the indoor temperature and a preset target temperature, including: the electronic device acquiring a first temperature difference between the indoor temperature and the preset target temperature; the electronic device determining the temperature range within which the first temperature difference falls; the electronic device performing a lookup operation on the temperature range using a preset compressor frequency database to obtain the target compressor frequency corresponding to the temperature range; the preset compressor frequency database storing the correspondence between temperature ranges and target compressor frequencies; and the electronic device setting the compressor frequency to the target compressor frequency.

[0049] Furthermore, the air conditioner is also equipped with a throttling valve. This throttling valve is used to control the flow rate of refrigerant in the indoor coil. After the electronic device sets the compressor frequency to the target compressor frequency, it also includes: the electronic device acquiring the outdoor temperature detected by the third temperature sensor. The electronic device uses a preset coil temperature database to perform a lookup operation on the outdoor temperature, target temperature, and indoor temperature to obtain the corresponding coil temperature ranges for the outdoor temperature, target temperature, and indoor temperature. The preset coil temperature database stores the correspondence between the outdoor temperature, target temperature, indoor temperature, and coil temperature ranges. The electronic device acquires a fifth coil temperature. The fifth coil temperature is the coil temperature of the indoor coil detected by the second temperature sensor after the compressor frequency is set to the target compressor frequency. If the fifth coil temperature is not within the coil temperature range, the electronic device adjusts the throttling valve to bring the sixth coil temperature within the coil temperature range. The sixth coil temperature is the coil temperature of the indoor coil detected by the second temperature sensor after the electronic device adjusts the throttling valve. In some embodiments, when the coil temperature of the indoor coil is within the coil temperature range, it indicates that the indoor coil is operating normally.

[0050] In some embodiments, the center temperature between the target coil temperature and the first coil temperature is a preset third coil temperature. That is, the absolute value of the first difference between the third coil temperature and the first coil temperature is equal to the absolute value of the second difference between the target coil temperature and the third coil temperature. For example, when the first operating mode is heating mode and the second operating mode is cooling mode, the absolute value of the first difference between the third coil temperature and the first coil temperature is the third difference between the first coil temperature and the third coil temperature. The absolute value of the second difference between the target coil temperature and the third coil temperature is the fourth difference between the third coil temperature and the target coil temperature. That is, the third difference between the first coil temperature and the third coil temperature is equal to the fourth difference between the third coil temperature and the target coil temperature. For another example, when the first operating mode is cooling mode and the second operating mode is heating mode, the absolute value of the first difference between the third coil temperature and the first coil temperature is the fifth difference between the third coil temperature and the first coil temperature. The absolute value of the second difference between the target coil temperature and the third coil temperature is the sixth difference between the target coil temperature and the third coil temperature. That is, the fifth difference between the third coil temperature and the first coil temperature is equal to the sixth difference between the third coil temperature and the target coil temperature and the third coil temperature.

[0051] Furthermore, when the electronic control unit operates the air conditioner in a preset first operating mode, it also includes controlling the indoor unit fan to be off. This is because when the fan is on, energy exchange occurs between the indoor coil and the air, causing the coil temperature to decrease. Improving the shut-off of the indoor unit fan reduces the impact of air on the indoor coil temperature, thereby enhancing the accuracy of refrigerant leak detection.

[0052] Furthermore, the electronic device acquires the first compressor frequency and the first coil temperature in the first operating mode, including: after a preset first interval, the electronic device acquires the third compressor frequency and the fourth coil temperature of the inner coil. The electronic device determines the third compressor frequency as the first compressor frequency in the first operating mode. The electronic device determines the fourth coil temperature of the inner coil as the first coil temperature in the first operating mode. For example, the first interval is 3 to 5 minutes. This allows the air conditioner to operate in the first operating mode for a certain period of time, thereby stabilizing the energy of the refrigerant's gas-liquid conversion in the first operating mode. This results in smaller fluctuations in both the first compressor frequency and the first coil temperature after the preset first interval, more accurately reflecting the energy of the refrigerant's gas-liquid conversion in the first operating mode. This facilitates the determination of the target coil temperature based on the first coil temperature. And when the second coil temperature equals the preset target coil temperature, the second compressor frequency is acquired, and refrigerant leakage is determined based on the first and second compressor frequencies. This improves the accuracy of refrigerant leakage detection.

[0053] Optionally, the electronic device switches the air conditioner's operating mode to a preset second operating mode, including: when the compressor is an inverter compressor, the electronic device controls the air conditioner to switch from a preset first operating mode to a preset second operating mode.

[0054] Optionally, the electronic device switches the air conditioner's operating mode to a preset second operating mode, including: when the compressor is an inverter compressor, the electronic device maintains the compressor's input current constant and controls the air conditioner to switch from a preset first operating mode to a preset second operating mode. In this way, since the input current remains constant, the energy input to the compressor does not change. This ensures that the energy of refrigerant gas-liquid conversion in the first operating mode is the same as the energy of refrigerant gas-liquid conversion in the second operating mode. This reduces the impact of refrigerant gas-liquid conversion energy on coil temperature and compressor frequency, thereby improving the accuracy of refrigerant leak detection.

[0055] In some embodiments, when the compressor is a fixed-frequency compressor, the compressor start-up and shutdown are achieved by controlling the power on and off of the fixed-frequency compressor; that is, when the fixed-frequency compressor is on, its input current is fixed. This can be considered as the input current of the fixed-frequency compressor being fixed in both cooling and heating modes. When the compressor is a variable-frequency compressor, the current of the variable-frequency compressor is controlled by instructions from the main control board. Therefore, when the compressor is a variable-frequency compressor, the instructions from the main control board controlling the compressor current cannot be changed to maintain a constant compressor input current and control the air conditioner to switch from a preset first operating mode to a preset second operating mode.

[0056] Furthermore, the electronic device determines whether refrigerant is leaking based on the frequencies of the first and second compressors, including: if the first compressor frequency is greater than or equal to the second compressor frequency, the electronic device determines that there is no refrigerant leak; and / or, if the second compressor frequency is less than the first compressor frequency, the electronic device determines that there is a refrigerant leak. Thus, when the first compressor frequency is greater than or equal to the second compressor frequency, no refrigerant leak is determined; when the second compressor frequency is less than the first compressor frequency, a refrigerant leak is determined. In this way, the relationship between the first and second compressor frequencies allows for accurate determination of whether refrigerant is leaking, improving the accuracy of refrigerant leak detection.

[0057] In some embodiments, since the center temperature of the target coil temperature and the first coil temperature is a preset third coil temperature, that is, the temperature difference between the third coil temperature under stable operation and the first coil temperature under the first operating mode is equal to the temperature difference between the third coil temperature under stable operation and the target coil temperature. Therefore, it is determined that the refrigerant inside the air conditioner does not exchange energy with the air outside the air conditioner. The refrigerant only exchanges energy through the compressor between the outdoor unit condenser and the indoor unit evaporator. At the same time, the compressor input current does not change, so the energy of the refrigerant gas-liquid conversion in the first operating mode is the same as the energy of the refrigerant gas-liquid conversion in the second operating mode. If the refrigerant leaks, that is, the weight of the refrigerant in the second operating mode is lower than the weight of the refrigerant in the first operating mode, according to the law of conservation of energy, the compressor needs to increase its frequency to do work so that the energy of the refrigerant gas-liquid conversion in the second operating mode is the same as the energy of the refrigerant gas-liquid conversion in the first operating mode. Therefore, if the refrigerant leaks, the compressor frequency will increase. By comparing the first compressor frequency and the second compressor frequency, it can be determined whether the refrigerant is leaking.

[0058] Combination Figure 2 As shown in the embodiments of this disclosure, another method for detecting refrigerant leakage is provided, including:

[0059] In step S201, the electronic device controls the air conditioner to be in a preset first operating mode and controls the indoor unit fan to be in a closed state.

[0060] In step S202, after a preset first interval, the electronic device acquires the third compressor frequency of the compressor and the fourth coil temperature of the inner coil.

[0061] In step S203, the electronic device determines the third compressor frequency of the compressor as the first compressor frequency in the first operating mode; and determines the fourth coil temperature of the inner coil as the second coil temperature in the first operating mode.

[0062] In step S204, when the compressor is an inverter compressor, the electronic device maintains the compressor input current unchanged and controls the air conditioner to switch from the preset first operating mode to the preset second operating mode.

[0063] In step S205, the electronic device obtains the second compressor frequency of the compressor when the second coil temperature is equal to the preset target coil temperature; the second coil temperature is the coil temperature of the inner coil after the air conditioner's operating mode is switched to the preset second operating mode; the center temperature of the target coil temperature and the first coil temperature is the preset third coil temperature; the third coil temperature is the coil temperature of the inner coil when the air conditioner is operating stably.

[0064] In step S206, the electronic device determines that there is no refrigerant leakage if the frequency of the first compressor is greater than or equal to the frequency of the second compressor; and / or determines that there is a refrigerant leak if the frequency of the second compressor is less than the frequency of the first compressor.

[0065] The method for detecting refrigerant leakage provided in this disclosure involves controlling the air conditioner to operate in a preset first mode and keeping the indoor unit fan off. After a first interval, the third compressor frequency and fourth coil temperature are acquired, representing the first compressor frequency and first coil temperature in the first operating mode. Then, while maintaining a constant compressor input current, the air conditioner is switched from the preset first operating mode to a preset second operating mode. The second compressor frequency is acquired when the indoor coil temperature equals a preset target coil temperature. The center temperature between the target coil temperature and the first coil temperature is the preset third coil temperature, which is the indoor coil temperature under stable air condition operation. If the first compressor frequency is greater than or equal to the second compressor frequency, no refrigerant leakage is determined; and / or, if the second compressor frequency is less than the first compressor frequency, a refrigerant leakage is determined. This method, compared to directly judging refrigerant leakage by whether the coil temperature is within the normal range, obtains the first compressor frequency and first coil temperature when the air conditioner is in its first operating mode and the indoor unit fan is off. Then, based on this first coil temperature and the stable operating third coil temperature, a target coil temperature is determined. Furthermore, when the air conditioner is in a preset second operating mode and the second coil temperature equals the preset target coil temperature, the second compressor frequency is obtained, and refrigerant leakage is determined based on both the first and second compressor frequencies. This reduces the impact of the outdoor air conditioning on the indoor coil and also reduces the influence of the indoor ambient temperature, thus improving the accuracy of refrigerant leak detection.

[0066] Furthermore, after determining whether there is a refrigerant leak based on the frequencies of the first and second compressors, the electronic device also includes: in the event of a refrigerant leak, the electronic device controls the air conditioner to enter an alarm mode. This allows for an alarm to sound in the event of a refrigerant leak, enabling the user to promptly request repairs for the air conditioner.

[0067] Furthermore, the air conditioner is equipped with a voice module. The electronic device controls the air conditioner to enter alarm mode, including: the electronic device controlling the air conditioner to emit a preset alarm voice message using the voice module to remind the user of a refrigerant leak. And / or, the air conditioner sends preset alarm information to a preset user terminal to trigger the user terminal to remind the user of a refrigerant leak. In some embodiments, the user terminal includes a mobile phone, tablet, smartwatch, computer, or other terminal capable of interacting with the user.

[0068] Furthermore, after the electronic device controls the air conditioner to enter alarm mode, it also includes: controlling the air conditioner to stop operating. This reduces the probability of compressor damage due to refrigerant leakage, thereby reducing maintenance costs for users.

[0069] Combination Figure 3 As shown in the embodiments of this disclosure, a method for controlling an air conditioner is provided, comprising:

[0070] In step S301, the electronic device controls the air conditioner to be in a preset first operating mode, and then obtains the first compressor frequency and the first coil temperature in the first operating mode.

[0071] In step S302, the electronic device switches the air conditioner's operating mode to a preset second operating mode to adjust the coil temperature of the inner coil.

[0072] In step S303, the electronic device obtains the second compressor frequency of the compressor when the second coil temperature is equal to the preset target coil temperature; the second coil temperature is the coil temperature of the inner coil after the air conditioner's operating mode is switched to the preset second operating mode; the center temperature of the target coil temperature and the first coil temperature is the preset third coil temperature; the third coil temperature is the coil temperature of the inner coil when the air conditioner is operating stably.

[0073] In step S304, the electronic device determines whether there is a refrigerant leak based on the frequency of the first compressor and the frequency of the second compressor.

[0074] In step S305, the electronic device controls the air conditioner to enter alarm mode in the event of refrigerant leakage.

[0075] In step S306, the electronic device controls the air conditioner to stop operating.

[0076] The method for detecting refrigerant leakage provided in this embodiment acquires the first compressor frequency and the first coil temperature of the air conditioner in a first operating mode, and then switches the air conditioner's operating mode to a preset second operating mode. When the second coil temperature after switching to the preset second operating mode equals a preset target coil temperature, the second compressor frequency is acquired. The center temperature between the target coil temperature and the first coil temperature is a preset third coil temperature, which is the coil temperature of the inner coil under stable air condition operation. Whether refrigerant leakage occurs is determined based on the first and second compressor frequencies. Then, in the event of refrigerant leakage, the air conditioner is controlled to enter an alarm mode and stop operating. This method, compared to directly judging refrigerant leakage by whether the coil temperature is within the normal range, obtains the first compressor frequency and the first coil temperature in the first operating mode of the air conditioner. Then, based on the corresponding first coil temperature in the first operating mode and the stable operating third coil temperature, a target coil temperature is determined. When the air conditioner is in a preset second operating mode and the second coil temperature equals the preset target coil temperature, the second compressor frequency is obtained, and refrigerant leakage is determined based on the first and second compressor frequencies. This reduces the influence of indoor ambient temperature and improves the accuracy of refrigerant leak detection. Simultaneously, it can promptly notify users and shut down the air conditioner in the event of a refrigerant leak, allowing users to repair the air conditioner in a timely manner and reducing the probability of continued operation under refrigerant leakage conditions, thereby reducing user maintenance costs.

[0077] Combination Figure 4 As shown in the embodiments of this disclosure, another method for controlling an air conditioner is provided, including:

[0078] In step S401, with the air conditioner turned on, the electronic device acquires the indoor temperature detected by the first temperature sensor. Then, step S402 is executed.

[0079] In step S402, the electronic device controls the compressor frequency based on the indoor temperature and the preset target temperature to regulate the indoor temperature. Then, step S403 is executed.

[0080] In step S403, the electronic device determines that the air conditioner is operating stably when the indoor temperature equals the target temperature. Then, step S404 is executed.

[0081] In step S404, the electronic device acquires the third coil temperature after confirming that the air conditioner is operating stably. The third coil temperature is the coil temperature of the inner coil detected by the second temperature sensor when the air conditioner is confirmed to be operating stably. Then, step S405 is executed.

[0082] In step S405, the electronic device controls the air conditioner to be in the preset heating mode and controls the indoor unit fan to be in the off state. Then, step S406 is executed.

[0083] In step S406, the electronic device acquires the first compressor frequency and the first coil temperature in the first operating mode. Then, step S407 is executed.

[0084] In step S407, when the compressor is an inverter compressor, the electronic device maintains the compressor's input current constant and controls the air conditioner to switch from heating mode to cooling mode. Then, step S408 is executed.

[0085] In step S408, the electronic device acquires the second compressor frequency of the compressor when the second coil temperature equals the preset target coil temperature. The second coil temperature is the coil temperature of the inner coil after the air conditioner's operating mode is switched to the preset second operating mode. Then, step S409 is executed.

[0086] In step S409, the electronic device determines whether the frequency of the first compressor is greater than or equal to the frequency of the second compressor. If yes, proceed to step S410; otherwise, proceed to step S411.

[0087] Step S410: The electronic device confirms that there is no refrigerant leak.

[0088] In step S411, the electronic device determines a refrigerant leak. Then, step S412 is executed.

[0089] In step S412, the electronic device controls the air conditioner to enter alarm mode in the event of refrigerant leakage. Then, step S413 is executed.

[0090] In step S413, the electronic device controls the air conditioner to stop operating.

[0091] The method for detecting refrigerant leakage provided in this embodiment of the invention involves controlling the air conditioner to acquire the indoor temperature detected by a first temperature sensor, and adjusting the compressor frequency according to the indoor temperature and a preset target temperature to regulate the indoor temperature. Then, when the indoor temperature equals the target temperature, the air conditioner is determined to be operating stably. While the air conditioner is operating stably, the third coil temperature of the indoor coil, detected by a second temperature sensor, is acquired. The air conditioner is turned on in a preset heating mode, and the indoor unit fan is turned off to acquire the first compressor frequency and the first coil temperature under the first operating mode. Then, if the compressor is an inverter compressor, the compressor input current is kept constant, and the air conditioner is controlled to switch from heating mode to cooling mode. After the air conditioner's operating mode is switched to a preset second operating mode, and the coil temperature of the indoor coil equals the preset target coil temperature, the second compressor frequency is acquired. The center temperature between the target coil temperature and the first coil temperature is the preset third coil temperature. Then, if the first compressor frequency is greater than or equal to the second compressor frequency, it is determined that there is no refrigerant leakage. Otherwise, a refrigerant leakage is determined, and the air conditioner is controlled to enter alarm mode and stop operating. This method, compared to directly judging refrigerant leakage by whether the coil temperature is within the normal range, first controls the air conditioner to operate stably, then controls it to heat, obtaining the first compressor frequency and the first coil temperature in the first operating mode. Then, it controls the air conditioner to cool, and when the air conditioner is in a preset second operating mode and the second coil temperature equals the preset target coil temperature, it obtains the second compressor frequency and accurately determines whether there is a refrigerant leak by comparing the magnitudes of the first and second compressor frequencies. This improves the accuracy of refrigerant leak detection. Furthermore, by promptly notifying the user and shutting down the air conditioner in the event of a refrigerant leak, the user can have their air conditioner repaired in a timely manner, reducing the probability of the air conditioner continuing to operate under refrigerant leakage conditions, thereby reducing the user's maintenance costs.

[0092] Combination Figure 5 As shown in the figure, this disclosure provides an apparatus 5 for detecting refrigerant leaks, including a processor 1 and a memory 2. Optionally, the apparatus may further include a communication interface 3 and a bus 4. The processor 1, communication interface 3, and memory 2 can communicate with each other via the bus 4. The communication interface 3 can be used for information transmission. The processor 1 can call logical instructions in the memory 2 to execute the method for detecting refrigerant leaks described in the above embodiment.

[0093] The apparatus for detecting refrigerant leakage provided in this embodiment acquires the first compressor frequency and the first coil temperature of the air conditioner in a first operating mode, and then switches the air conditioner's operating mode to a preset second operating mode. When the second coil temperature after switching to the preset second operating mode equals a preset target coil temperature, the second compressor frequency is acquired. The center temperature between the target coil temperature and the first coil temperature is a preset third coil temperature, which is the coil temperature of the inner coil under stable air condition operation. Refrigerant leakage is then determined based on the first and second compressor frequencies. This method, compared to directly judging refrigerant leakage by whether the coil temperature is within the normal range, acquires the first compressor frequency and the first coil temperature in the first operating mode, and then determines the target coil temperature based on the corresponding first coil temperature and the stable third coil temperature. This allows for the acquisition of the second compressor frequency when the air conditioner is in the preset second operating mode and the second coil temperature equals the preset target coil temperature, and then determines refrigerant leakage based on the first and second compressor frequencies. It reduces the impact of indoor ambient temperature and improves the accuracy of refrigerant leak detection.

[0094] Furthermore, the logical instructions in the aforementioned memory 2 can be implemented as software functional units and, when sold or used as independent products, can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium.

[0095] The memory 2, as a computer-readable storage medium, can be used to store software programs and computer-executable programs, such as program instructions / modules corresponding to the methods in the embodiments of this disclosure. The processor 1 executes functional applications and data processing by running the program instructions / modules stored in the memory 2, thereby implementing the method for detecting refrigerant leakage described in the above embodiments.

[0096] The memory 2 may include a program storage area and a data storage area. The program storage area may store the operating system and applications required for at least one function; the data storage area may store data created based on the use of the terminal device. Furthermore, the memory 2 may include high-speed random access memory and may also include non-volatile memory.

[0097] Combination Figure 6As shown, this disclosure provides an electronic device 6, including: an electronic device body, and the aforementioned device 5 for detecting refrigerant leakage. The device 5 for detecting refrigerant leakage is installed in the electronic device body. The installation relationship described herein is not limited to placement inside the electronic device, but also includes installation connections with other components of the electronic device, including but not limited to physical connections, electrical connections, or signal transmission connections. Those skilled in the art will understand that the device 5 for detecting refrigerant leakage can be adapted to suitable electronic device bodies to achieve other feasible embodiments.

[0098] Using the electronic device provided in this embodiment, the first compressor frequency and the first coil temperature of the air conditioner in a first operating mode are obtained, and then the operating mode of the air conditioner is switched to a preset second operating mode. When the second coil temperature after switching to the preset second operating mode is equal to a preset target coil temperature, the second compressor frequency is obtained. The center temperature between the target coil temperature and the first coil temperature is a preset third coil temperature, which is the coil temperature of the inner coil when the air conditioner is operating stably. Then, refrigerant leakage is determined based on the first compressor frequency and the second compressor frequency. Thus, compared to directly judging refrigerant leakage by whether the coil temperature is within the normal range, obtaining the first compressor frequency and the first coil temperature in the first operating mode, and then determining the target coil temperature based on the corresponding first coil temperature and the stable third coil temperature, allows for the acquisition of the second compressor frequency when the air conditioner is in the preset second operating mode and the second coil temperature is equal to the preset target coil temperature, and the determination of refrigerant leakage based on the first compressor frequency and the second compressor frequency. It reduces the impact of indoor ambient temperature and improves the accuracy of refrigerant leak detection.

[0099] In some embodiments, the electronic device is an air conditioner or a server. When the electronic device is a server, it acquires the compressor frequencies, outdoor temperature, indoor temperature, and the temperature of each coil from the air conditioner via a second temperature sensor.

[0100] This disclosure provides a computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions configured to perform the above-described method for detecting refrigerant leakage.

[0101] The aforementioned computer-readable storage medium may be a transient computer-readable storage medium or a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.

[0102] The technical solutions of this disclosure can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes one or more 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 method described in this disclosure. The aforementioned storage medium can be a non-transitory storage medium, including: a USB flash drive, a portable hard drive, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk, and other media capable of storing program code; it can also be a transient storage medium.

[0103] The foregoing description and accompanying drawings fully illustrate embodiments of this disclosure to enable those skilled in the art to practice them. Other embodiments may include structural, logical, electrical, procedural, and other changes. The embodiments represent only possible variations. Individual components and functions are optional unless explicitly required, and the order of operation may vary. Parts and features of some embodiments may be included in or replace parts and features of other embodiments. Moreover, the terminology used in this application is for describing embodiments only and is not intended to limit the claims. As used in the description of embodiments and claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to equally include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Similarly, the term “and / or” as used in this application means including one or more of the associated listed items and all possible combinations thereof. Additionally, when used in this application, the term "comprise" and its variations "comprises" and / or "comprising" refer to the presence of stated features, integrals, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integrals, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprises a..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, or apparatus that includes said element. In this document, each embodiment may focus on the differences from other embodiments, and similar or identical parts between embodiments can be referred to mutually. For methods, products, etc., disclosed in the embodiments, if they correspond to the method section disclosed in the embodiments, the relevant parts can be referred to the description of the method section.

[0104] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of the embodiments of this disclosure. Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and units described above can be referred to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0105] The methods and products (including but not limited to devices and equipment) disclosed in the embodiments herein can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For instance, the division of units may be merely a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. In addition, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection between the shown or discussed units may be through some interfaces, and the indirect coupling or communication connection between devices or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms. 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 network units. Some or all of the units may be selected to implement this embodiment according to actual needs. Furthermore, the functional units in the embodiments of this disclosure may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

[0106] The flowcharts and block diagrams in the accompanying drawings illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to embodiments of this disclosure. In this regard, each block in a flowchart or block diagram may represent a module, segment, or portion of code containing one or more executable instructions for implementing a specified logical function. In some alternative implementations, the functions marked in the blocks may occur in a different order than that shown in the drawings. For example, two consecutive blocks may actually be executed substantially in parallel, and they may sometimes be executed in reverse order, depending on the functions involved. In the descriptions corresponding to the flowcharts and block diagrams in the accompanying drawings, the operations or steps corresponding to different blocks may also occur in a different order than disclosed in the description, and sometimes there is no specific order between different operations or steps. For example, two consecutive operations or steps may actually be executed substantially in parallel, and they may sometimes be executed in reverse order, depending on the functions involved. Each block in a block diagram and / or flowchart, and combinations of blocks in a block diagram and / or flowchart, can be implemented using a dedicated hardware-based system that performs the specified function or action, or using a combination of dedicated hardware and computer instructions.

Claims

1. A method for detecting a refrigerant leak, the method comprising: include: Obtain the first compressor frequency and the first coil temperature of the air conditioner in the first operating mode; Switch the air conditioner's operating mode to the preset second operating mode to adjust the coil temperature of the indoor coil; When the second coil temperature is equal to the preset target coil temperature, the second compressor frequency of the compressor is obtained; The second coil temperature is the coil temperature of the inner coil after the air conditioner's operating mode is switched to the preset second operating mode; the average temperature of the target coil temperature and the first coil temperature is the preset third coil temperature; the third coil temperature is the coil temperature of the inner coil when the air conditioner is operating stably. Determine whether there is a refrigerant leak based on the frequency of the first compressor and the frequency of the second compressor. The method of switching the air conditioner's operating mode to a preset second operating mode includes: when the compressor is an inverter compressor, maintaining the compressor's input current unchanged, and controlling the air conditioner to switch from a preset first operating mode to a preset second operating mode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, When controlling the air conditioner to be in a preset first operating mode, it also includes: The indoor unit fan is kept off.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein, Obtain the first compressor frequency and the first coil temperature in the first operating mode, including: Control the air conditioner to be in the preset first operating mode; After a preset first interval, the third compressor frequency and the fourth coil temperature of the inner coil are obtained. The third compressor frequency of the compressor is determined to be the first compressor frequency in the first operating mode; the fourth coil temperature of the inner coil is determined to be the first coil temperature in the first operating mode.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, Determining whether there is a refrigerant leak based on the frequencies of the first and second compressors includes: If the frequency of the first compressor is greater than or equal to the frequency of the second compressor, it is determined that there is no refrigerant leak; and / or, A refrigerant leak was determined when the frequency of the second compressor was lower than that of the first compressor.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, After determining whether there is a refrigerant leak based on the frequencies of the first and second compressors, the following steps are also included: In the event of a refrigerant leak, the air conditioner will be put into alarm mode.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that, After controlling the air conditioner to enter alarm mode, it also includes: Control the air conditioner to stop running.

7. A device for detecting refrigerant leakage, comprising a processor and a memory storing program instructions, characterized in that, The processor is configured to, when executing the program instructions, perform the method for detecting refrigerant leakage as described in any one of claims 1 to 3.

8. An electronic device, characterized in that, Includes the apparatus for detecting refrigerant leaks as described in claim 7.

9. A storage medium storing program instructions, characterized in that, When the program instructions are executed, they perform the method for detecting refrigerant leakage as described in any one of claims 1 to 6.

Citation Information

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