Air conditioner and drainage control method, device and computer readable storage medium thereof

Abstract

The application discloses an air conditioner and a drainage control method and device thereof and a computer readable storage medium, wherein the method comprises the following steps: determining that the air conditioner meets a drainage condition, obtaining a draining duration, a stopping duration, a working life and a start-stop life of a drainage pump, and a whole machine life of the air conditioner; determining a delay duration of the drainage pump according to the draining duration, the stopping duration, the working life, the start-stop life and the whole machine life; determining a working duration of the drainage pump according to the draining duration and the delay duration; and controlling the drainage pump to drain water stored in a water pan according to the working duration and the stopping duration. Thus, the drainage pump can be in an intermittent working state, and can be matched with the working life of the whole machine under the premise of meeting the working life of the drainage pump, so that the working requirement of the whole machine is met, and better materials and processes are not needed to improve the working life of the drainage pump, thereby reducing the verification period and use cost of the drainage pump.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of air conditioner control technology, and in particular to an air conditioner and its drainage control method, device and computer-readable storage medium. Background Technology

[0002] During the cooling process of the indoor unit of the air conditioner, water vapor in the air is liquefied into condensate under the action of the low-temperature evaporator. The generated condensate flows into the water collection pan of the air conditioner, and then the condensate is discharged from the water collection pan to the outside by the drain pump.

[0003] Drain pumps need to be used in conjunction with the entire air conditioner unit. However, the service life of drain pumps is currently far shorter than that of the entire unit. In order to match the service life of drain pumps with that of the entire unit, better materials and processes are usually used to improve the service life of drain pumps. Although this method improves the service life of drain pumps, it also increases the verification cycle and operating costs of drain pumps. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention aims to at least partially solve one of the technical problems in related technologies. Therefore, the first objective of this invention is to provide a drainage control method for an air conditioner. This method controls the operation of a drainage pump based on a determined operating duration and controls the drainage pump to stop operating based on a determined stopping duration. This allows the drainage pump to operate intermittently, matching its lifespan with that of the entire air conditioner while meeting the overall system's operational requirements. Furthermore, it eliminates the need for improved materials and processes to extend the drainage pump's lifespan, thus reducing the pump's verification cycle and operating costs.

[0005] The second objective of this invention is to provide a drainage control device for an air conditioner.

[0006] A third objective of this invention is to provide a computer-readable storage medium.

[0007] The fourth objective of this invention is to provide an air conditioner.

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, a first aspect of the present invention provides a drainage control method for an air conditioner. The air conditioner includes an evaporator, a drain pump, and a drip tray. The method includes: determining that the air conditioner meets drainage conditions; obtaining the drain pump's pumping time, stopping time, operating life, start-stop life, and overall life of the air conditioner; determining the drain pump's delay time based on the pumping time, stopping time, operating life, start-stop life, and overall life; determining the drain pump's operating time based on the pumping time and delay time; and controlling the drain pump to discharge the water stored in the drip tray based on the operating time and stopping time.

[0009] According to the air conditioner drainage control method of the present invention, when it is determined that the air conditioner meets the drainage conditions, the method acquires the pumping time, stopping time, working life, start-stop life, and overall life of the air conditioner, as well as the pumping duration, stopping time, working life, start-stop life, and overall life of the air conditioner. The method then determines the delay time of the pump based on these parameters, determines the working time of the pump based on the pumping duration and the delay time, and controls the pump to drain the water from the drip tray based on the working time and stopping time. Therefore, by controlling the pump to operate based on the determined working time and stopping the pump based on the determined stopping time, the pump can operate intermittently. This allows the pump's working life to be matched with the overall life of the air conditioner, meeting the overall operating requirements without requiring better materials or processes to extend the pump's lifespan, thus reducing the pump's verification cycle and operating costs.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the present invention, obtaining the pumping time and stopping time of the drainage pump includes: obtaining the water storage volume of the receiving pan, the water flow rate of the drainage pump, and the water production of the evaporator; obtaining the pumping time based on the water storage volume and the water flow rate; and obtaining the stopping time based on the water storage volume and the water production.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the present invention, obtaining the water production of an evaporator includes: obtaining the air volume of the evaporator and the absolute humidity of the air flowing into and out of the evaporator; and obtaining the water production based on the air volume and the absolute humidity of the air.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the present invention, determining the delay time of a drainage pump based on the pumping duration, stopping duration, working life, start-stop life, and overall machine life includes: determining a minimum delay time based on the pumping duration, stopping duration, start-stop life, and overall machine life; determining a maximum delay time based on the pumping duration, stopping duration, working life, and overall machine life; if the minimum delay time is greater than or equal to zero, then the delay time is determined to be the average of the minimum delay time and the maximum delay time; if the minimum delay time is less than zero, then the delay time is determined to be half of the maximum delay time.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the minimum delay duration is calculated using the following formula:

[0014] t2min=T0 / N0-t1-t3

[0015] Where t2min is the minimum delay duration, T0 is the overall machine lifespan, N0 is the start-stop lifespan, t1 is the drying duration, and t3 is the stop duration.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the maximum delay duration is calculated using the following formula:

[0017] t2max=[(T1-T0)*t1+T1*t3] / (T0-T1)

[0018] Where t2max is the maximum delay duration, T1 is the working lifespan, T0 is the overall machine lifespan, t1 is the drying time, and t3 is the stopping time.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the present invention, determining that an air conditioner meets the drainage conditions includes: obtaining the water production of the evaporator; determining that the water level in the water collection pan reaches a preset water level based on the water production, and determining that the air conditioner meets the drainage conditions.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the present invention, determining that an air conditioner meets the drainage conditions includes: determining that the water level in the water receiving pan has reached a preset water level based on a water level switch, and obtaining the water production of the evaporator; if the water production is greater than zero, determining that the air conditioner meets the drainage conditions; if the water production is less than or equal to zero, determining that the water level switch is abnormal.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the present invention, controlling the drainage pump to discharge the water stored in the water receiving pan based on the working time and the stopping time includes: first controlling the working time of the drainage pump, and then controlling the stopping time of the drainage pump.

[0022] To achieve the above objectives, a second aspect of the present invention provides a drainage control device for an air conditioner. The air conditioner includes an evaporator, a drain pump, and a drip tray. The device includes: a first acquisition module, used to acquire, upon determining that the air conditioner meets drainage conditions, the drain pump's pumping time, stopping time, operating life, start-stop life, and the overall life of the air conditioner; a second acquisition module, used to determine the drain pump's delay time based on the pumping time, stopping time, operating life, start-stop life, and overall life; and a control module, used to determine the drain pump's operating time based on the pumping time and delay time, and to control the drain pump to discharge the water stored in the drip tray based on the operating time and stopping time.

[0023] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioner drainage control device, when determining that the air conditioner meets the drainage conditions, acquires the drain pump's pumping time, stopping time, working life, start-stop life, and overall life of the air conditioner through a first acquisition module; determines the drain pump's delay time based on the pumping time, stopping time, working life, start-stop life, and overall life of the air conditioner through a second acquisition module; and determines the drain pump's working time based on the pumping time and delay time through a control module. The device then controls the drain pump to drain the water stored in the drip tray based on the working time and stopping time. Thus, by controlling the drain pump to work based on the determined working time and controlling it to stop working based on the determined stopping time, the drain pump can operate intermittently. This allows the drain pump's working life to be matched with the overall life of the air conditioner, meeting the overall operating requirements of the air conditioner. Furthermore, it eliminates the need for better materials and processes to extend the drain pump's working life, reducing the drain pump's verification cycle and operating costs.

[0024] To achieve the above objectives, a third aspect of the present invention provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a drain control program for an air conditioner, which, when executed by a processor, implements the drain control method for an air conditioner as described in the first aspect embodiment.

[0025] According to the computer-readable storage medium of the present invention, the drain control method of the air conditioner described above controls the operation of the drain pump according to a determined working duration and controls the drain pump to stop working according to a determined stopping duration. This allows the drain pump to operate intermittently, matching the working life of the drain pump with that of the entire unit while meeting the working life requirements of the unit. This satisfies the working requirements of the entire unit and eliminates the need to use better materials and processes to improve the working life of the drain pump, thereby reducing the verification cycle and operating costs of the drain pump.

[0026] To achieve the above objectives, a fourth aspect of the present invention provides an air conditioner, comprising: a memory, a processor, and a drain control program for the air conditioner stored in the memory and executable on the processor. When the processor executes the program, it implements the drain control method for the air conditioner as described in the first aspect of the embodiment.

[0027] According to the air conditioner of the present invention, by using the above-described air conditioner drainage control method, the drain pump is controlled to work according to a determined working duration and the drain pump is controlled to stop working according to a determined stopping duration. This allows the drain pump to operate intermittently, matching the working life of the entire unit while meeting the working life requirements of the drain pump. This satisfies the working requirements of the entire unit and eliminates the need to use better materials and processes to improve the working life of the drain pump, thereby reducing the verification cycle and operating costs of the drain pump.

[0028] Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0029] Figure 1 A flowchart of a drainage control method for an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 2 A flowchart of a drainage control method for an air conditioner according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 3 A flowchart of a drainage control method for an air conditioner according to yet another embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a drainage control device for an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 5 This is a schematic block diagram of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0034] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and intended to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0035] It should be noted that during the cooling process of the indoor unit of an air conditioner, water vapor in the air condenses into condensate under the action of the evaporator. The condensate flows into the drain pan of the air conditioner, and is then discharged to the outside by a drain pump. The drain pump needs to be used in conjunction with the entire air conditioner unit. However, currently, the service life of the drain pump is far shorter than that of the entire unit. To match the service life of the drain pump with that of the unit, better materials and processes are usually used to extend its service life. While this method increases the service life of the drain pump, it also correspondingly increases the verification cycle and operating costs.

[0036] To address the problem of unsatisfactory matching between the service life of the drain pump and the service life of the entire unit in the prior art, the drain control method for air conditioners proposed in this application controls the operation of the drain pump according to a determined working duration and controls the drain pump to stop working according to a determined stopping duration. This allows the drain pump to operate intermittently, matching its service life with that of the entire unit while meeting the service life requirements of the drain pump. This satisfies the operational needs of the entire unit and eliminates the need for better materials and processes to improve the service life of the drain pump, thus reducing the verification cycle and operating costs of the drain pump.

[0037] The drainage control method for an air conditioner proposed in the embodiments of the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0038] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of a drainage control method for an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1 As shown, the drainage control method of this air conditioner includes the following steps:

[0039] Step S101: Determine that the air conditioner meets the drainage conditions, and obtain the drainage pump's pumping time, stopping time, working life and start-stop life, as well as the overall life of the air conditioner.

[0040] Specifically, when the indoor unit of the air conditioner is in cooling mode, water vapor in the air condenses into condensate under the action of the evaporator. The condensate flows into the air conditioner's drain pan. When the air conditioner meets the drainage conditions, that is, when the water level in the drain pan reaches a certain level, the pumping time t1, stopping time t3, working life T1, start-stop life N0, and the overall life of the air conditioner T0 are obtained. Here, the pumping time t1 is the time required for the pump to drain the condensate from the drain pan; the stopping time t3 is the time the pump stops operating; the working life T1 is the designed operating time of the pump; the start-stop life N0 is the number of times the pump can start and stop normally; and the overall life of the air conditioner T0 is the designed operating time of the entire air conditioner.

[0041] It should be noted that the working life of the drain pump is based on the maximum service life and the operating safety factor of the drain pump. The start-stop life of the drain pump is based on the maximum start-stop life and the start-stop safety factor of the drain pump. The maximum service life, operating safety factor, maximum start-stop life, start-stop safety factor, and the overall life of the air conditioner are preset values ​​during the design phase. These values ​​can be directly obtained when it is determined that the air conditioner meets the drainage conditions, and will not be explained in detail here.

[0042] In some embodiments, obtaining the pumping time and stopping time of the drain pump includes: obtaining the water volume of the receiving pan, the pump flow rate of the drain pump, and the water production of the evaporator; obtaining the pumping time based on the water volume and the pump flow rate; and obtaining the stopping time based on the water volume and the water production.

[0043] Specifically, when it is determined that the air conditioner meets the drainage conditions, the drain pump's emptying time t1 is obtained based on the water volume V of the drip tray and the drain pump's flow rate Q. That is, the drain pump's emptying time t1 is determined by calculating the ratio of the water volume V of the drip tray to the drain pump's flow rate Q. The drain pump's stopping time t3 is obtained based on the water volume V of the drip tray and the water production W of the evaporator. That is, the stopping time t3 is determined by calculating the ratio of the water volume V of the drip tray to the water production W of the evaporator. In other words, the time it takes for the estimated water production to reach the preset water volume of the drip tray is used as the drain pump's stopping time. Here, the water volume V of the drip tray is the maximum water volume of the drip tray when the air conditioner meets the drainage conditions. The drain pump's flow rate Q can be adjusted through the control unit in the air conditioner. The water volume V of the drip tray and the drain pump's flow rate Q can be directly obtained and will not be explained in detail here.

[0044] Furthermore, the water production of the evaporator is obtained by: obtaining the air volume of the evaporator and the absolute humidity of the air flowing into and out of the evaporator; and obtaining the water production based on the air volume and the absolute humidity of the air.

[0045] Specifically, the temperature K1 and humidity RH1 flowing into the evaporator are obtained by the temperature and humidity sensors at the evaporator inlet, respectively, and the temperature K2 and humidity RH2 flowing out of the evaporator are obtained by the temperature and humidity sensors at the evaporator outlet, respectively. The air volume G of the evaporator is obtained by the air volume sensor.

[0046] When the temperature K = -100℃ to 0℃, calculate the natural logarithm of the saturated water vapor pressure ln(Pq,b) using the following formula:

[0047] ln(Pq,b)=C1 / K+C2+C3×K+C4×K 2 +C5×K 3 +C6×K 4 +C7×ln(K) (1)

[0048] Where K is temperature, C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6 and C7 are constants, and Pq,b is saturated water vapor pressure.

[0049] When the temperature K = 0℃ - 200℃, calculate the natural logarithm of the saturated water vapor pressure ln(Pq,b) using the following formula:

[0050] ln(Pq,b)=C8 / K+C9+C10×K+C11×K 2 +C12×K 3 +C13×ln(K) (2)

[0051] Where K is temperature, C8, C9, C10, C11, C12 and C13 are constants, and Pq,b is saturated water vapor pressure.

[0052] Substituting the values ​​of the inflow temperature K1 and the outflow temperature K2 into the above formulas (1) or (2), the natural logarithm of the saturated vapor pressure in the evaporator, ln(Pq,b1), and the natural logarithm of the outflow saturated vapor pressure, ln(Pq,b2), can be calculated respectively.

[0053] Furthermore, the saturated steam pressure Pq,b1 flowing into the evaporator and the saturated steam pressure Pq,b2 flowing out of the evaporator can be obtained.

[0054] The formula for calculating the water vapor pressure Pq is as follows:

[0055] Pq=Pq,b×RH (3)

[0056] Where Pq,b is the saturated water vapor pressure, and RH is the humidity.

[0057] Substituting the saturated water vapor pressure Pq,b1 and humidity RH1 flowing into the evaporator, and the saturated water vapor pressure Pq,b2 and humidity RH2 flowing out of the evaporator into the above formula (3), we can obtain the water vapor pressure Pq1 flowing into the evaporator and the water vapor pressure Pq2 flowing out of the evaporator respectively.

[0058] The formula for calculating the absolute humidity d of the air is as follows:

[0059] d=662×Pq / (B-Pq) (4)

[0060] Where Pq is the water vapor pressure and B is the atmospheric pressure.

[0061] Substituting the water vapor pressure Pq1 flowing into the evaporator and the water vapor pressure Pq2 flowing out of the evaporator into the above formula (4), we can obtain the absolute humidity d1 of the air flowing into the evaporator and the absolute humidity d2 of the air flowing out of the evaporator, respectively.

[0062] After determining the airflow rate G of the evaporator, the absolute humidity d1 of the air flowing into the evaporator, and the absolute humidity d2 of the air flowing out of the evaporator, the water production rate W is obtained based on the airflow rate G and the absolute humidity d1 and d2. The formula for calculating the water production rate W is as follows:

[0063] W = 1.2 × G × (d2 - d1) × 10 -3 (5)

[0064] Where G is the air volume of the evaporator, d1 is the absolute humidity of the air flowing into the evaporator, and d2 is the absolute humidity of the air flowing out of the evaporator.

[0065] In this way, the water production of the evaporator can be accurately obtained, and the stopping time of the drain pump can be flexibly adjusted according to the water storage capacity of the water tray and the water production of the evaporator. When the water production is too large, the stopping time of the drain pump is reduced, and when the water production is too small, the stopping time of the drain pump is increased. This allows the drain pump to extend its stop time when the water production is small, thus avoiding increasing the working life of the drain pump.

[0066] Step S102: Determine the delay time of the drainage pump based on the pumping time, stopping time, working life, start-stop life and overall machine life.

[0067] Specifically, by obtaining the drain pump's pumping time t1, stopping time t3, operating life T1, start-stop life N0, and the air conditioner's overall life T0, the drain pump's delay time can be determined based on these parameters. This allows the drain pump to continue operating for a further delay of t2 after operating for time t1, ensuring that the drain pump can completely drain the water from the drip tray and preventing over-drainage.

[0068] In some embodiments, determining the delay time of the drainage pump based on the pumping duration, stopping duration, operating life, start-stop life, and overall machine life includes: determining a minimum delay time based on the pumping duration, stopping duration, start-stop life, and overall machine life; determining a maximum delay time based on the pumping duration, stopping duration, operating life, and overall machine life; if the minimum delay time is greater than or equal to zero, then the delay time is determined to be the average of the minimum delay time and the maximum delay time; if the minimum delay time is less than zero, then the delay time is determined to be half of the maximum delay time.

[0069] Specifically, the drain pumping time t1 is determined by calculating the ratio of the water storage volume V of the receiving pan to the water flow rate Q of the drain pump, and the drain pump stopping time t3 is determined by calculating the ratio of the water storage volume V of the receiving pan to the water production rate W of the evaporator. When determining the drain pump delay time t2, it is necessary to ensure that the delay time t2 satisfies the following formula:

[0070]

[0071] The number of start-stop cycles obtained by the ratio of the overall machine life T0 to the total start-stop time of each drainage pump cycle (i.e., t1+t2+t3) is less than or equal to the start-stop life N0 of the drainage pump.

[0072] The minimum delay time t2min of the drainage pump can be calculated according to the above formula (6). The specific formula for calculating the minimum delay time is as follows:

[0073] t2min=T0 / N0-t1-t3 (7)

[0074] Where t2min is the minimum delay duration, T0 is the overall machine lifespan, N0 is the start-stop lifespan, t1 is the drying duration, and t3 is the stop duration.

[0075] Furthermore, when determining the delay time t2 of the drainage pump, it is also necessary to ensure that the delay time t2 satisfies the following formula:

[0076]

[0077] That is, the proportion of the pumping time t1 and the delay time t2 of the drainage pump in the total start-stop time of each drainage pump (i.e., t1+t2+t3) is less than or equal to the proportion of the working life T1 of the drainage pump in the overall life T0 of the machine.

[0078] The maximum delay time t2max of the drainage pump can be calculated according to the above formula (8). The specific formula for calculating the maximum delay time is as follows:

[0079] t2max=[(T1-T0)*t1+T1*t3] / (T0-T1) (9)

[0080] Where t2max is the maximum delay duration, T1 is the working lifespan, T0 is the overall machine lifespan, t1 is the drying time, and t3 is the stopping time.

[0081] When the minimum delay duration is greater than or equal to zero, i.e., t2min≥0, ​​the delay duration is determined as t2=(t2min+t2max) / 2. In other words, the delay duration is taken as the average of the minimum delay duration t2min and the maximum delay duration t2max.

[0082] When the minimum delay duration is less than zero, i.e., t2min < 0, then the delay duration is determined to be t2 = t2max / 2.

[0083] This ensures that the determined delay time t2 can simultaneously satisfy the above formulas (6) and (8), that is, it ensures that the working requirements of the drainage pump are met, and that it can be matched with the working life of the whole machine, so as to meet the working requirements of the whole machine.

[0084] Step S103: Determine the working time of the drainage pump based on the pumping time and the delay time.

[0085] Specifically, the sum of the pumping time t1 and the delay time t2 obtained from the drainage pump is the working time of the drainage pump.

[0086] Step S104: Control the drain pump to drain the water stored in the water receiving pan according to the working time and the stop time.

[0087] In some embodiments, controlling the drain pump to drain the water stored in the water tray according to the working duration and the stopping duration includes: first controlling the working duration of the drain pump, and then controlling the stopping duration of the drain pump.

[0088] Specifically, after obtaining the working time (t1+t2) and stopping time t3 of the drain pump, the drain pump is controlled to run according to the working time. When the working time is reached, the drain pump is controlled to stop running. When the stopping time of the drain pump is reached, if the air conditioner meets the drainage conditions, the drain pump is restarted. This cycle is repeated to achieve intermittent operation of the drain pump.

[0089] Therefore, by controlling the operation of the drainage pump according to the determined working duration and controlling its shutdown according to the determined stopping duration, the drainage pump can be kept in an intermittent working state. Under the premise of meeting the working life of the drainage pump, it can be matched with the working life of the whole machine, thus meeting the working requirements of the whole machine. Moreover, there is no need to use better materials and processes to improve the working life of the drainage pump, thereby reducing the verification cycle and operating cost of the drainage pump.

[0090] In some embodiments, determining that the air conditioner meets the drainage conditions includes: obtaining the water production of the evaporator; determining that the water level in the water collection pan reaches a preset water level based on the water production, and determining that the air conditioner meets the drainage conditions.

[0091] Specifically, before obtaining the drain pump's pumping time, shutdown time, working life, start-stop life, and overall life of the air conditioner, it is necessary to determine whether the air conditioner meets the drainage conditions. Specifically, the water level in the receiving pan is determined to reach the preset water level based on the water production. That is, it is determined whether the amount of water produced by the evaporator flowing into the receiving pan after a period of time can reach the preset water level of the receiving pan. If the amount of water produced by the evaporator flowing into the receiving pan after a period of time is greater than or equal to the amount of water stored when the water level in the receiving pan reaches the preset water level, then the air conditioner is determined to meet the drainage conditions.

[0092] In other words, by calculating the amount of water accumulated in the water tray over a period of time by the evaporator's water production, it can be determined whether the water level in the water tray has reached the preset level. There is no need to install water level switches or other sensors to determine whether the air conditioner meets the drainage conditions, which improves the accuracy of the judgment and reduces the cost of the drain pump.

[0093] It should be noted that the method for obtaining the evaporator's water production has been described in detail above and will not be repeated here.

[0094] In some embodiments, determining that the air conditioner meets the drainage conditions includes: determining that the water level in the water tray has reached a preset water level based on the water level switch, and obtaining the water production of the evaporator; if the water production is greater than zero, determining that the air conditioner meets the drainage conditions; if the water production is less than or equal to zero, determining that the water level switch is abnormal.

[0095] Specifically, the air conditioner's drainage condition can be determined by a water level switch installed in the drip tray. The switch checks if the water level in the drip tray has reached a preset level. If it has, the switch is activated and outputs a signal, indicating the evaporator's water production. If the production is greater than zero, it means the water level in the drip tray is about to exceed the preset limit, requiring drainage. In this case, the air conditioner meets the drainage condition. If the production is less than or equal to zero, the water level switch is malfunctioning. Therefore, installing a water level switch can also determine if the air conditioner meets the drainage condition.

[0096] Furthermore, to enable those skilled in the art to more clearly understand the flow of the air conditioner drainage control method of this application, the following is an explanation... Figure 2 The flowchart shown below will be used as an example for explanation. Figure 2 As shown, the drainage control method of this air conditioner includes the following steps:

[0097] Step S201: Obtain the water production W of the evaporator.

[0098] Specifically, the air volume G of the evaporator, the absolute humidity d1 of the air flowing into the evaporator, and the absolute humidity d2 of the air flowing out of the evaporator are obtained. The water production W is then obtained based on the air volume G and the absolute humidity d1 and d2. The formula for calculating the water production W is as follows:

[0099] W = 1.2 × G × (d2 - d1) × 10 -3

[0100] Where G is the air volume of the evaporator, d1 is the absolute humidity of the air flowing into the evaporator, and d2 is the absolute humidity of the air flowing out of the evaporator.

[0101] Step S202: Determine whether the air conditioner meets the drainage requirements.

[0102] Specifically, it is determined whether the amount of water produced by the evaporator flowing into the receiving pan after a period of time can reach the preset water level of the receiving pan. If the amount of water produced by the evaporator flowing into the receiving pan after a period of time is greater than or equal to the amount of water stored when the water level of the receiving pan reaches the preset water level, then the air conditioner is determined to meet the drainage conditions. If the air conditioner meets the drainage conditions, step S204 is executed; otherwise, step S203 is executed.

[0103] Step S203: The drain pump stops operating. In other words, when the air conditioner does not meet the drainage requirements, the drain pump is stopped.

[0104] Step S204: Obtain the pumping time t1, minimum delay time t2min, maximum delay time t2max, and stop time t3 of the drainage pump.

[0105] Specifically, when the air conditioner meets the drainage conditions, the water storage volume V of the water receiving pan and the water flow rate Q of the drain pump are obtained. The drain pumping time t1 is determined by calculating the ratio of the water storage volume V of the water receiving pan to the water flow rate Q of the drain pump. The drain pump stopping time t3 is obtained based on the water storage volume V of the water receiving pan and the water production W of the evaporator.

[0106] Simultaneously, the working life T1 and start-stop life N0 of the drain pump, as well as the overall life T0 of the air conditioner, are obtained. Based on the draining time t1, stopping time t2, start-stop life N0, and overall life T0, the minimum delay time t2min is determined, as shown in the following formula:

[0107] t2min=T0 / N0-t1-t3

[0108] Where t2min is the minimum delay duration, T0 is the overall machine lifespan, N0 is the start-stop lifespan, t1 is the drying duration, and t3 is the stop duration.

[0109] The maximum delay time t2max is determined based on the pumping time t1, the stopping time t3, the working life T1, and the overall machine life T0, using the following formula:

[0110] t2max=[(T1-T0)*t1+T1*t3] / (T0-T1)

[0111] Where t2max is the maximum delay duration, T1 is the working lifespan, T0 is the overall machine lifespan, t1 is the drying time, and t3 is the stopping time.

[0112] Step S205: Determine whether the minimum delay duration t2min is greater than or equal to 0.

[0113] Specifically, determine whether the calculated minimum delay duration t2min is greater than or equal to 0. If the minimum delay duration t2min is greater than or equal to 0, then execute step S206; otherwise, execute step S207.

[0114] Step S206: Determine the delay duration t2 = (t2min + t2max) / 2. That is, when the minimum delay duration t2min is greater than or equal to 0, the delay duration is taken as the average of the minimum delay duration t2min and the maximum delay duration t2max.

[0115] Step S207: Determine the delay duration t2 = t2max / 2. That is, when the minimum delay duration t2min is less than 0, the delay duration is set to half of the maximum delay duration t2max.

[0116] Step S208: The drainage pump runs for t1+t2. That is, after the delay time t2 is determined, the drainage pump is controlled to run for the first time according to the working time t1+t2.

[0117] Step S209, the drain pump stops running t3. That is, when the running time reaches the working duration, the drain pump is controlled to stop running. When the drain pump stops running for the required duration, the process returns to step S201 to re-acquire the evaporator's water production W to determine whether the air conditioner meets the drainage conditions.

[0118] This allows the drain pump to operate intermittently, matching its lifespan with that of the entire machine while still meeting the pump's service life requirements. Furthermore, it eliminates the need for improved materials and processes to extend the pump's lifespan, reducing verification cycles and operating costs. The accuracy of the determination is improved by calculating the water level in the evaporator's production over a period of time, thus further reducing the pump's cost.

[0119] Furthermore, to enable those skilled in the art to more clearly understand the flow of the air conditioner drainage control method of this application, the following is an explanation... Figure 3 The flowchart shown below will be used as an example for explanation. Figure 3 As shown, the drainage control method of this air conditioner also includes the following steps:

[0120] Step S301: Detect the water level switch signal K.

[0121] Specifically, a water level switch is installed in the water receiving tray, and the water level switch signal K indicates whether the water level in the water receiving tray has reached the preset water level.

[0122] Step S302: Determine whether the water level switch signal K is 0.

[0123] Specifically, determine whether the water level switch signal K is 0. If the water level switch signal K is 0, it means that the water level in the water receiving tray has not reached the preset water level, and proceed to step S303. Otherwise, it means that the water level in the water receiving tray has reached the preset water level, and proceed to step S304.

[0124] Step S303: The drain pump stops operating. That is, the drain pump stops operating when the water level in the receiving pan does not reach the preset water level.

[0125] Step S304: Obtain the water production W of the evaporator.

[0126] Specifically, the air volume G of the evaporator, the absolute humidity d1 of the air flowing into the evaporator, and the absolute humidity d2 of the air flowing out of the evaporator are obtained. The water production W is then obtained based on the air volume G and the absolute humidity d1 and d2. The formula for calculating the water production W is as follows:

[0127] W = 1.2 × G × (d2 - d1) × 10 -3

[0128] Where G is the air volume of the evaporator, d1 is the absolute humidity of the air flowing into the evaporator, and d2 is the absolute humidity of the air flowing out of the evaporator.

[0129] Step S305: Determine whether the water production W of the evaporator is greater than 0. That is, if the water production W of the evaporator is greater than 0, it means that the air conditioner meets the drainage conditions, and proceed to step S307; otherwise, proceed to step S306.

[0130] Step S306: Water level switch malfunction. That is, when the evaporator's water production W is less than or equal to 0, the water level switch is determined to be malfunctioning.

[0131] Step S307: Obtain the pumping time t1, minimum delay time t2min, maximum delay time t2max, and stop time t3 of the drainage pump.

[0132] Specifically, when the air conditioner meets the drainage conditions, the water storage volume V of the water receiving pan and the water flow rate Q of the drain pump are obtained. The drain pumping time t1 is determined by calculating the ratio of the water storage volume V of the water receiving pan to the water flow rate Q of the drain pump. The drain pump stopping time t3 is obtained based on the water storage volume V of the water receiving pan and the water production W of the evaporator.

[0133] Simultaneously, the working life T1 and start-stop life N0 of the drain pump, as well as the overall life T0 of the air conditioner, are obtained. Based on the draining time t1, stopping time t2, start-stop life N0, and overall life T0, the minimum delay time t2min is determined, as shown in the following formula:

[0134] t2min=T0 / N0-t1-t3

[0135] Where t2min is the minimum delay duration, T0 is the overall machine lifespan, N0 is the start-stop lifespan, t1 is the drying duration, and t3 is the stop duration.

[0136] The maximum delay time t2max is determined based on the pumping time t1, the stopping time t3, the working life T1, and the overall machine life T0, using the following formula:

[0137] t2max=[(T1-T0)*t1+T1*t3] / (T0-T1)

[0138] Where t2max is the maximum delay duration, T1 is the working lifespan, T0 is the overall machine lifespan, t1 is the drying time, and t3 is the stopping time.

[0139] Step S308: Determine whether the minimum delay duration t2min is greater than or equal to 0.

[0140] Specifically, determine whether the calculated minimum delay duration t2min is greater than or equal to 0. If the minimum delay duration t2min is greater than or equal to 0, then execute step S206; otherwise, execute step S207.

[0141] Step S309: Determine the delay duration t2 = (t2min + t2max) / 2. That is, when the minimum delay duration t2min is greater than or equal to 0, the delay duration is taken as the average of the minimum delay duration t2min and the maximum delay duration t2max.

[0142] Step S310: Determine the delay duration t2 = t2max / 2. That is, when the minimum delay duration t2min is less than 0, the delay duration is set to half of the maximum delay duration t2max.

[0143] Step S311, the drainage pump runs for t1+t2. That is, after the delay time t2 is determined, the drainage pump is controlled to run for the first time according to the working time t1+t2.

[0144] Step S312, the drain pump stops running t3. That is, when the running time reaches the working duration, the drain pump is controlled to stop running. When the drain pump stops running for the required duration, the process returns to step S201 to re-obtain the water level switch signal K to determine whether the air conditioner meets the drainage conditions.

[0145] This allows the drainage pump to operate intermittently, matching its lifespan with that of the entire machine while still meeting the pump's service life requirements. Furthermore, it eliminates the need for improved materials and processes to extend the pump's lifespan, thus reducing the pump's validation cycle and operating costs.

[0146] In summary, the air conditioner drainage control method according to embodiments of the present invention, when determining that the air conditioner meets the drainage conditions, acquires the drain pump's pumping time, stopping time, working life, start-stop life, and overall life of the air conditioner. Based on the pumping time, stopping time, working life, start-stop life, and overall life, a delay time for the drain pump is determined. The working time of the drain pump is determined based on the pumping time and delay time. Finally, the drain pump is controlled to drain the water stored in the drip tray based on the working time and stopping time. Therefore, by controlling the drain pump to work based on the determined working time and controlling it to stop working based on the determined stopping time, the drain pump can be in an intermittent working state. While meeting the working life of the drain pump, it can be matched with the working life of the entire unit, satisfying the overall operating requirements of the unit. Furthermore, it eliminates the need to use better materials and processes to improve the working life of the drain pump, reducing the verification cycle and operating costs of the drain pump.

[0147] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the drainage control device of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 As shown, the drain control device 100 of the air conditioner includes: a first acquisition module 110, a second acquisition module 120 and a control module 130.

[0148] The first acquisition module 110 is used to acquire the drain pump's pumping time, stopping time, working life, start-stop life, and overall life of the air conditioner after determining that the air conditioner meets the drainage conditions; the second acquisition module 120 is used to determine the drain pump's delay time based on the pumping time, stopping time, working life, start-stop life, and overall life; and the control module 130 is used to determine the drain pump's working time based on the pumping time and delay time, and to control the drain pump to discharge the water stored in the drip tray based on the working time and stopping time.

[0149] In some embodiments, the first acquisition module 110 is specifically used to: acquire the water storage volume of the water receiving pan, the water flow rate of the drain pump, and the water production of the evaporator; acquire the pumping time based on the water storage volume and the water flow rate; and acquire the stop time based on the water storage volume and the water production.

[0150] In some embodiments, the first acquisition module 110 is further specifically used to: acquire the air volume of the evaporator and the absolute humidity of the air flowing into and out of the evaporator; and acquire the water production based on the air volume and the absolute humidity of the air.

[0151] In some embodiments, the second acquisition module 120 is specifically configured to: determine the minimum delay duration based on the pumping duration, stop duration, start-stop lifespan, and overall machine lifespan; determine the maximum delay duration based on the pumping duration, stop duration, working lifespan, and overall machine lifespan; if the minimum delay duration is greater than or equal to zero, then determine the delay duration as the average of the minimum delay duration and the maximum delay duration; if the minimum delay duration is less than zero, then determine the delay duration as half of the maximum delay duration.

[0152] In some embodiments, the minimum delay duration is calculated using the following formula:

[0153] t2min=T0 / N0-t1-t3

[0154] Where t2min is the minimum delay duration, T0 is the overall machine lifespan, N0 is the start-stop lifespan, t1 is the drying duration, and t3 is the stop duration.

[0155] In some embodiments, the maximum delay duration is calculated using the following formula:

[0156] t2max=[(T1-T0)*t1+T1*t3] / (T0-T1)

[0157] Where t2max is the maximum delay duration, T1 is the working lifespan, T0 is the overall machine lifespan, t1 is the drying time, and t3 is the stopping time.

[0158] In some embodiments, the drainage control device of the air conditioner described above further includes a determining module (not shown in the figure), which is specifically used to: obtain the water production of the evaporator; determine that the water level of the water receiving pan reaches a preset water level based on the water production, and determine that the air conditioner meets the drainage conditions.

[0159] In some embodiments, the determining module is further specifically used to: determine that the water level in the water receiving pan has reached a preset water level based on the water level switch, and obtain the water production of the evaporator; if the water production is greater than zero, determine that the air conditioner meets the drainage conditions; if the water production is less than or equal to zero, determine that the water level switch is abnormal.

[0160] In some embodiments, the control module 130 is specifically used to: first control the working duration of the drainage pump, and then control the stopping duration of the drainage pump.

[0161] It should be noted that the description of the drainage control device for air conditioners in this application is similar to the description of the drainage control method for air conditioners in this application, and will not be repeated here.

[0162] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioner drainage control device, when determining that the air conditioner meets the drainage conditions, acquires the drain pump's pumping time, stopping time, working life, start-stop life, and overall life of the air conditioner through a first acquisition module; determines the drain pump's delay time based on the pumping time, stopping time, working life, start-stop life, and overall life of the air conditioner through a second acquisition module; and determines the drain pump's working time based on the pumping time and delay time through a control module. The device then controls the drain pump to drain the water stored in the drip tray based on the working time and stopping time. Thus, by controlling the drain pump to work based on the determined working time and controlling it to stop working based on the determined stopping time, the drain pump can operate intermittently. This allows the drain pump's working life to be matched with the overall life of the air conditioner, meeting the overall operating requirements of the air conditioner. Furthermore, it eliminates the need for better materials and processes to extend the drain pump's working life, reducing the drain pump's verification cycle and operating costs.

[0163] Embodiments of the present invention also provide a computer-readable storage medium storing a drain control program for an air conditioner, which, when executed by a processor, implements the aforementioned drain control method for an air conditioner.

[0164] According to the computer-readable storage medium of the present invention, the drain control method of the air conditioner described above controls the operation of the drain pump according to a determined working duration and controls the drain pump to stop working according to a determined stopping duration. This allows the drain pump to operate intermittently, matching the working life of the drain pump with that of the entire unit while meeting the working life requirements of the unit. This satisfies the working requirements of the entire unit and eliminates the need to use better materials and processes to improve the working life of the drain pump, thereby reducing the verification cycle and operating costs of the drain pump.

[0165] Figure 5 This is a schematic block diagram of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 As shown, the air conditioner 200 includes a memory 210 and a processor 220. The air conditioner's drainage control program is stored in the memory 210 and can run on the processor 220. When the processor 220 executes the program, it implements the above-mentioned air conditioner drainage control method.

[0166] According to the air conditioner of the present invention, by using the above-described air conditioner drainage control method, the drain pump is controlled to work according to a determined working duration and the drain pump is controlled to stop working according to a determined stopping duration. This allows the drain pump to operate intermittently, matching the working life of the entire unit while meeting the working life requirements of the drain pump. This satisfies the working requirements of the entire unit and eliminates the need to use better materials and processes to improve the working life of the drain pump, thereby reducing the verification cycle and operating costs of the drain pump.

[0167] It should be noted that the logic and / or steps represented in the flowchart or otherwise described herein, for example, can be considered as a sequenced list of executable instructions for implementing logical functions, and can be embodied in any computer-readable medium for use by, or in conjunction with, an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device (such as a computer-based system, a processor-included system, or other system that can fetch and execute instructions from, an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device). For the purposes of this specification, "computer-readable medium" can be any means that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transmit programs for use by, or in conjunction with, an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of computer-readable media include: an electrical connection having one or more wires (electronic device), a portable computer disk drive (magnetic device), random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable and editable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), fiber optic devices, and portable optical disc read-only memory (CDROM). Alternatively, the computer-readable medium may be paper or other suitable media on which the program can be printed, since the program can be obtained electronically, for example, by optically scanning the paper or other medium, followed by editing, interpreting, or otherwise processing as necessary, and then stored in a computer memory.

[0168] It should be understood that various parts of the present invention can be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. In the above embodiments, multiple steps or methods can be implemented in software or firmware stored in memory and executed by a suitable instruction execution system. For example, if implemented in hardware, as in another embodiment, it can be implemented using any one or a combination of the following techniques known in the art: discrete logic circuits having logic gates for implementing logical functions on data signals, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) having suitable combinational logic gates, programmable gate arrays (PGAs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), etc.

[0169] In the description of this specification, references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0170] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0171] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," and "fixing," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise explicitly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0172] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, it is understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make changes, modifications, substitutions and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A drainage control method for an air conditioner, characterized in that, The air conditioner includes an evaporator, a drain pump, and a drip tray; the method includes: Determine that the air conditioner meets the drainage conditions, and obtain the drainage pump's pumping time, stopping time, working life and start-stop life, as well as the overall life of the air conditioner; The delay time of the drainage pump is determined based on the pumping time, the stop time, the working life, the start-stop life, and the overall life. The operating time of the drainage pump is determined based on the pumping time and the delay time. The drainage pump is controlled to discharge the water stored in the water receiving tray according to the working time and the stopping time. The start-stop lifespan refers to the number of times the drainage pump can be started and stopped normally during its design. The delay time of the drainage pump is determined based on the pumping time, the stop time, the working life, the start-stop life, and the overall machine life, including: The minimum delay time is determined based on the pumping time, the stop time, the start-stop life, and the overall machine life. t2min=T0 / N0-t1-t3 Wherein, t2min is the minimum delay duration, T0 is the overall machine lifespan, N0 is the start-stop lifespan, t1 is the drying duration, and t3 is the stop duration; The maximum delay time is determined based on the drying time, the stop time, the working life, and the overall machine life. t2max=[(T1-T0) t1+T1 t3] / (T0-T1) Wherein, t2max is the maximum delay duration, T1 is the working lifespan, T0 is the overall machine lifespan, t1 is the drying duration, and t3 is the stopping duration; If the minimum delay duration is greater than or equal to zero, then the delay duration is determined to be the average of the minimum delay duration and the maximum delay duration; If the minimum delay duration is less than zero, then the delay duration is determined to be half of the maximum delay duration.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The time taken for the drainage pump to drain and the time taken to stop are obtained, including: Obtain the water storage volume of the water receiving tray, the water flow rate of the drainage pump, and the water production of the evaporator; The pumping time is obtained based on the water storage volume and the water pump flow rate. The duration of cessation is determined based on the water storage volume and the water production.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, Obtaining the water production rate of the evaporator includes: The airflow rate of the evaporator and the absolute humidity of the air flowing into and out of the evaporator are obtained. The water production is obtained based on the air volume and the absolute humidity of the air.

4. The method according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, Determining that the air conditioner meets the drainage conditions includes: Obtain the water production rate of the evaporator; Based on the water production, the water level in the water receiving pan is determined to reach the preset water level, thus confirming that the air conditioner meets the drainage conditions.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, Determining that the air conditioner meets the drainage conditions includes: Based on the water level switch, the water level in the water receiving tray is determined to reach the preset water level, and the water production of the evaporator is obtained. If the water production is greater than zero, then the air conditioner is determined to meet the drainage conditions. If the water production is less than or equal to zero, then the water level switch is determined to be faulty.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, Controlling the drainage pump to discharge the water stored in the water receiving tray according to the working time and the stopping time includes: First, control the working time of the drainage pump, then control the stopping time of the drainage pump.

7. A drainage control device for an air conditioner, characterized in that, The air conditioner's drainage control device is used to instruct the air conditioner to perform the drainage control method of any one of claims 1-6, the air conditioner including an evaporator, a drain pump, and a drip tray, the device comprising: The first acquisition module is used to acquire the pumping time, stopping time, working life and start-stop life of the drain pump, and the overall life of the air conditioner after determining that the air conditioner meets the drainage conditions. The second acquisition module is used to determine the delay time of the drainage pump based on the pumping time, the stop time, the working life, the start-stop life and the overall life. The control module is used to determine the working time of the drainage pump based on the pumping time and the delay time, and to control the drainage pump to discharge the water stored in the water receiving pan based on the working time and the stop time.

8. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, It stores a drain control program for an air conditioner, which, when executed by a processor, implements the drain control method for an air conditioner according to any one of claims 1-6.

9. An air conditioner, characterized in that, include: A memory, a processor, and a drain control program for an air conditioner stored in the memory and executable on the processor, wherein when the processor executes the program, it implements the drain control method for an air conditioner according to any one of claims 1-6.

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