Control method of air conditioner and air conditioner

Abstract

This application discloses a control method for an air conditioner and an air conditioner. The air conditioner includes an outdoor unit and a fan assembly. The method includes: when the air conditioner is operating in heating mode, controlling the fan assembly to operate so as to deliver at least a portion of indoor air to the heat exchanger of the outdoor unit. In the heating mode of a direct expansion air conditioner, indoor air, which has been heated to a temperature higher than the outdoor environment, is delivered by the fan assembly to the heat exchanger of the outdoor unit, which has a lower surface temperature. This increases the surface temperature of the heat exchanger, prevents frost formation, and avoids increased thermal resistance due to frost, which would affect the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger and thus the operating efficiency of the direct expansion air conditioner. It also avoids the energy consumption problem caused by large indoor temperature fluctuations due to defrosting, which would necessitate the use of multiple electric heaters to raise the indoor temperature.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] Direct expansion units refer to various types of air conditioning products, such as unitary air conditioners, ceiling air conditioners, ceiling-mounted ducted air conditioners, multi-split systems, rooftop air conditioners, as well as dehumidifiers, precision air conditioners, etc.

[0003] However, after a period of heating operation, direct expansion compressors need to be defrosted. During defrosting, the temperature fluctuates greatly and it is impossible to maintain temperature and humidity. A large amount of electric heating is required to offset the cooling capacity released by the indoor unit during defrosting, resulting in high energy consumption. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides an air conditioner control method, control device, air conditioner, and non-volatile computer-readable storage medium. By delivering at least a portion of the indoor hot air to the heat exchanger of the outdoor unit when the air conditioner is in heating mode, the heat exchanger of the outdoor unit is heated to prevent frost formation on the heat exchanger of the outdoor unit.

[0005] The present application discloses an air conditioning control method, wherein the air conditioner includes an outdoor unit and a fan assembly, and the method includes: when the air conditioner is operating in heating mode, controlling the fan assembly to operate so as to deliver at least a portion of indoor air to the heat exchanger of the outdoor unit.

[0006] In some embodiments, the outdoor unit further includes a fan for dissipating heat from the heat exchanger; the method includes: acquiring the current operating power of the fan; determining the required airflow of the fan based on the current operating power; and controlling the operation of the fan assembly includes: controlling the operation of the fan assembly based on the required airflow.

[0007] In some embodiments, the fan assembly includes a first air supply duct, a second air supply duct, and a fan. The two ends of the first air supply duct are respectively connected to a heat exchanger and an indoor unit, and the two ends of the second air supply duct are respectively connected to the heat exchanger and an outdoor unit. The fan is located in the second air supply duct. Controlling the operation of the fan assembly according to the required air volume includes: when the required air volume is less than the indoor exhaust volume, controlling the first air supply duct to open, the second air supply duct to close, and the fan to stop operating; when the required air volume is greater than the indoor exhaust volume, controlling the first air supply duct to open, the second air supply duct to open, and the fan to operate at a first target speed, the first target speed being determined based on the difference between the required air volume and the indoor exhaust volume.

[0008] In some embodiments, the fan assembly further includes an exhaust duct and an outdoor exhaust fan. The two ends of the exhaust duct are respectively connected to the first supply air duct and the outside. The outdoor exhaust fan is located in the exhaust duct. When the required air volume is less than the indoor exhaust volume, controlling the first supply air duct to open, the second supply air duct to close, and the supply fan to stop operating includes: when the required air volume is less than the indoor exhaust volume, controlling the first supply air duct and the exhaust duct to open, the second supply air duct to close, the supply fan to stop operating, and the exhaust fan to operate at a second target speed, wherein the second target speed is determined based on the difference between the required air volume and the indoor exhaust volume.

[0009] In some embodiments, the fan assembly further includes a damper assembly, which includes multiple dampers respectively disposed in the first air supply duct, the second air supply duct, and the exhaust duct. The opening and closing of the first air supply duct, the second air supply duct, and the exhaust duct are controlled by the corresponding dampers. When a damper is open, the opening degree of the damper is determined based on the difference between the required air volume, the indoor air volume, and the exhaust volume of the fan assembly.

[0010] In some embodiments, the fan assembly further includes an indoor exhaust fan located at an indoor exhaust vent, the indoor exhaust volume being determined according to the speed setting of the indoor exhaust fan.

[0011] In some embodiments, the outdoor unit further includes a pressure sensor for detecting the pipe pressure of the outdoor unit, including: detecting the pressure; determining a gear adjustment value based on the pressure and a corresponding target pressure; adjusting the fan gear to the target gear, the target gear being determined based on the current fan gear and the gear adjustment value.

[0012] In some implementations, when the ambient temperature is greater than a preset temperature threshold, the target pressure is positively correlated with the ambient temperature; when the ambient temperature is less than or equal to the preset temperature threshold, the target pressure is a preset pressure threshold; and when the current pressure is less than the preset pressure threshold, the heat exchanger frosts.

[0013] In some implementations, determining the gear adjustment value based on the pressure and the corresponding target pressure includes: calculating the current difference between the current pressure and the target pressure; and determining the gear adjustment value based on the current difference.

[0014] In some implementations, determining the gear adjustment value based on the current difference includes:

[0015] When the current difference is less than 0, a first gear adjustment value is calculated based on a first preset function, the current difference, and historical differences. The historical difference is determined based on the previously detected pressure and the corresponding target pressure. The first gear adjustment value is less than 0. When the current difference is greater than 0, a second gear adjustment value is calculated based on a second preset function, the current difference, and historical differences. The second gear adjustment value is greater than 0.

[0016] The air conditioner control device of this application includes an outdoor unit and a fan assembly, comprising: a delivery module for controlling the fan assembly to operate when the air conditioner is in heating mode, so as to deliver at least a portion of indoor air to the heat exchanger of the outdoor unit.

[0017] The air conditioner of this application includes an outdoor unit; a fan assembly; and a controller, the controller being used to control the fan assembly to operate when the air conditioner is operating in heating mode, so as to deliver at least a portion of indoor air to the heat exchanger of the outdoor unit.

[0018] The non-volatile computer-readable storage medium of this application includes a computer program that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform the air conditioning control method of any of the above embodiments.

[0019] The present application provides an air conditioning control method, control device, air conditioner, and non-volatile computer-readable storage medium. When the air conditioner is operating in heating mode, the fan assembly is controlled to operate, thereby delivering at least a portion of the indoor air to the heat exchanger of the outdoor unit. Specifically, indoor air heated to a temperature higher than the outdoor environment in the heating mode of a direct expansion air conditioner is delivered by the fan assembly to the outdoor unit's heat exchanger, which has a lower surface temperature. This increases the surface temperature of the heat exchanger, prevents frost buildup, and avoids increased thermal resistance due to frost, which could affect the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger and thus the overall efficiency of the direct expansion air conditioner.

[0020] In contrast to the current method, when defrosting the heat exchanger, the indoor unit is stopped and the outdoor heat exchanger is defrosted using hot air. This avoids the energy consumption problem caused by large fluctuations in indoor temperature due to defrosting, which necessitates the use of multiple electric heaters to raise the indoor temperature.

[0021] Additional aspects and advantages of embodiments of this application 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 embodiments of this application. Attached Figure Description

[0022] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of this application will become apparent and readily understood from the description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein:

[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a scenario illustrating an air conditioning control method according to certain embodiments of this application;

[0024] Figure 2 This is a schematic flowchart of an air conditioning control method according to certain embodiments of this application;

[0025] Figure 3 This is a flowchart illustrating the air conditioning control method according to certain embodiments of this application;

[0026] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating the air conditioning control method according to certain embodiments of this application;

[0027] Figure 5 This is a schematic flowchart of an air conditioning control method according to certain embodiments of this application;

[0028] Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating the air conditioning control method according to certain embodiments of this application;

[0029] Figure 7 This is a schematic flowchart of an air conditioning control method according to certain embodiments of this application;

[0030] Figure 8 This is a schematic flowchart of an air conditioning control method according to certain embodiments of this application;

[0031] Figure 9 This is a schematic flowchart of an air conditioning control method according to certain embodiments of this application;

[0032] Figure 10 This is a flowchart illustrating the air conditioning control method according to certain embodiments of this application;

[0033] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the control device according to certain embodiments of this application;

[0034] Figure 12 This is a structural schematic diagram of an air conditioner according to certain embodiments of this application;

[0035] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the connection state of a non-volatile computer-readable storage medium and a processor in certain embodiments of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0036] The embodiments of this application are described in detail below. Examples of the embodiments are shown 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 are only used to explain the embodiments of this application, and should not be construed as limiting the embodiments of this application.

[0037] To facilitate understanding of this application, the following explanations are provided for the terms used in this application:

[0038] An air conditioner, or air conditioner, is a device that uses artificial means to regulate and control parameters such as temperature, humidity, and airflow of the air inside a building or structure, and provides a suitable indoor environment through cooling or heating.

[0039] A direct expansion air conditioner is a type of air conditioner that controls and regulates the flow and pressure of the refrigerant to achieve heating or cooling cycles, meeting the cooling and heating needs of the air conditioning system in different seasons. The air conditioner described in this application can be a direct expansion air conditioner, a ceiling-mounted air conditioner, a wall-mounted air conditioner, etc. For simplicity, this application uses a direct expansion air conditioner as an example for explanation. The principle of a direct expansion air conditioner is similar to other air conditioners, and will not be elaborated further here.

[0040] When the ambient temperature is low and a direct expansion air conditioner is used for heating to raise the indoor temperature, the outdoor heat exchanger of the direct expansion air conditioner evaporates the refrigerant through heat exchange, transferring heat from the outside to the indoor space, thus providing heat energy to the indoor space. After heat exchange, the surface temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger decreases. When the surface temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger is lower than the dew point temperature of the air, water vapor in the air will condense or even turn into frost when passing over the surface of the outdoor heat exchanger, adhering to the surface and reducing heat exchange efficiency. Furthermore, as the operating time increases, the frost layer on the surface of the outdoor heat exchanger will become thicker and thicker, affecting the direct expansion air conditioner's ability to absorb heat from the environment, leading to a decrease in operating efficiency.

[0041] Therefore, the outdoor heat exchanger needs to be defrosted to ensure the operating efficiency of the direct expansion air conditioner.

[0042] Currently, some systems use a four-way valve added to the refrigeration system. When defrosting is detected, the valve switches, stopping the supply of hot air to the indoor unit and retaining the hot air at the outdoor unit to defrost the heat exchanger. However, this process causes significant fluctuations in indoor temperature, making it difficult to reach the required heating temperature. Therefore, the heater needs to release more heat into the room during defrosting to balance the heat loss. To counteract these temperature fluctuations and ensure stable indoor temperature, the heater needs to provide a large amount of heat (e.g., increasing heater power or adding multiple heaters) during defrosting. These heaters are typically electric, and both increasing the heater power and adding multiple heaters increase the air conditioner's energy consumption, requiring more electricity.

[0043] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this application provides a method for controlling an air conditioner.

[0044] The following section will first introduce one application scenario of the technical solution of this application, such as... Figure 1 As shown, the air conditioning control method provided in this application can be applied to, for example... Figure 1 In the application scenario shown, this air conditioner control method is applied to air conditioner 1000.

[0045] Air conditioner 1000 is any air conditioning device used to provide a suitable indoor environment by cooling or heating. This application uses a direct expansion air conditioner 1000 as an example for illustration.

[0046] The direct expansion air conditioner 1000 of this application includes an indoor unit 100, an outdoor unit 200 and a fan assembly 300. The outdoor unit 200 includes a heat exchanger 14 for exchanging heat with the external environment.

[0047] Optionally, the indoor unit 100 includes a pre-filter 1, a direct expansion coil 3, a throttle valve 8, a medium-efficiency filter 4, a humidifier 6, and an indoor fan 7. The pre-filter 1 and the medium-efficiency filter 4 are used to filter the air to ensure the cleanliness of the air entering the room. The pre-filter 1 and the medium-efficiency filter 4 are each equipped with a differential pressure switch. The pre-filter 1 is equipped with a first differential pressure switch 2, which is used to determine the degree of clogging of the pre-filter 1 and whether it needs to be replaced, etc. The medium-efficiency filter 2 is equipped with a second differential pressure switch 5, which is used to determine the degree of clogging of the medium-efficiency filter 2 and whether it needs to be replaced, etc.

[0048] Optionally, the direct expansion coil 3 is used to heat the air, and the direct expansion coil 3 can also be an electric heater or other device that can heat the air; the humidifier 6 is used to humidify the air; the indoor fan 7 is used to deliver heated or cooled air to the constant temperature and humidity room; the throttle valve 8 can be used to control the flow and pressure of the refrigerant, and can be a thermostatic expansion valve or an electronic expansion valve.

[0049] Optionally, the outdoor unit 200 includes a compressor 13, a four-way valve 10, an outdoor throttling valve 16, a gas-liquid separator 9, and an ambient temperature sensor 26. The compressor 13 is used to compress the refrigerant; the compressor 13 can be an organic refrigerant compressor, a inorganic refrigerant compressor, etc. The gas-liquid separator 9 is used to condense the refrigerant. The four-way valve 10 is used to control the flow and pressure of the refrigerant, ensuring the normal operation of the direct expansion air conditioner in different modes (such as cooling mode and heating mode). The ambient temperature sensor 26 is used to monitor the outdoor ambient temperature when the direct expansion air conditioner is operating.

[0050] Optionally, the fan assembly 300 includes an exhaust temperature and humidity sensor 23 for real-time monitoring of the temperature and humidity of the air exhausted from the room, thereby controlling the output of the direct expansion coil 3, the compressor 13 and the humidifier 6.

[0051] In one embodiment, the outdoor unit 200 further includes a fan 15 for dissipating heat from the heat exchanger 14. The fan 15 may be an axial fan, a centrifugal fan, a mixed-flow fan, etc.

[0052] In one embodiment, the fan assembly 300 includes a first air supply duct 19, a second air supply duct 27, and a blower 18. The two ends of the first air supply duct 19 are respectively connected to a heat exchanger and an indoor space. The two ends of the second air supply duct 27 are respectively connected to a heat exchanger 14 and an outdoor space. The blower 18 is disposed inside the second air supply duct 27 and is used to deliver air from the external environment into the second air supply duct 27 to the heat exchanger 14 connected to the second air supply duct 27.

[0053] In one embodiment, the fan assembly 300 further includes an exhaust duct 28 and an outdoor exhaust fan 25. The two ends of the exhaust duct 28 are respectively connected to the first air supply duct 19 and the outside. The outdoor exhaust fan 25 is disposed in the exhaust duct 28 and is used to exhaust indoor air to the outside environment.

[0054] In one embodiment, the fan assembly 300 further includes a valve assembly, which includes multiple valves, including a first valve 21, a second valve 17, and a third valve 24. The first valve 21 is located in the first air supply duct 19 and is used to control the opening and closing of the first air supply duct 19. The second valve 17 is located in the second air supply duct 27 and is used to control the opening and closing of the second air supply duct 27. The third valve 24 is located in the exhaust duct 28 and is used to control the opening and closing of the exhaust duct 28. When the valve is open, the opening degree of the valve is determined based on the difference between the required air volume, the indoor air volume, and the exhaust volume of the fan assembly 300.

[0055] In one embodiment, the fan assembly 300 further includes an indoor exhaust fan 22, which is located at an indoor exhaust vent and is used to exhaust indoor air.

[0056] In one embodiment, the outdoor unit also includes a pressure sensor 12, which is used to detect the pipe pressure of the outdoor unit. The pressure sensor includes a low-pressure sensor and a high-pressure sensor, etc.

[0057] The air conditioning control method of this application will be described in detail below:

[0058] Please see Figure 1 and Figure 2 This application provides a method for controlling an air conditioner, the air conditioner including an outdoor unit and a fan assembly, the method including:

[0059] Step 011: When the air conditioner is in heating mode, control the fan assembly to deliver at least a portion of the indoor air to the heat exchanger of the outdoor unit.

[0060] The fan assembly is used as a heat exchanger to deliver indoor air to the outdoor unit.

[0061] Specifically, users set the direct expansion air conditioner to heating mode according to their actual application scenario. This heats the air and delivers it indoors to raise the indoor temperature. During this process, the refrigerant evaporates and absorbs heat, causing the outdoor unit's heat exchanger to cool. As the heat exchanger temperature continues to drop below the dew point temperature of the ambient air, water vapor in the air will precipitate and condense on the surface of the heat exchanger, forming frost. To prevent frost formation on the heat exchanger, the surface temperature needs to be raised above the air's dew point temperature.

[0062] It is understandable that when a direct expansion air conditioner is in heating mode, the indoor air temperature is higher than the outdoor ambient temperature after heating the air. Therefore, the surface of the heat exchanger can be heated by sending the warmer indoor air to the heat exchanger, thereby preventing the heat exchanger from frosting.

[0063] In this way, the indoor air, which is heated to a temperature higher than the outdoor environment in the heating mode of the direct expansion air conditioner, is delivered to the heat exchanger of the outdoor unit with a lower surface temperature through the fan assembly. This increases the surface temperature of the heat exchanger, prevents frost from forming, and avoids the increase in thermal resistance caused by frost, which would affect the heat exchange efficiency of the heat exchanger and thus affect the working efficiency of the direct expansion air conditioner.

[0064] In contrast to the current method, when defrosting the heat exchanger, the indoor unit is stopped and the outdoor heat exchanger is defrosted using hot air. This avoids the energy consumption problem caused by large fluctuations in indoor temperature due to defrosting, which necessitates the use of multiple electric heaters to raise the indoor temperature.

[0065] Please see Figure 3 In some embodiments, the outdoor unit further includes a fan for dissipating heat from the heat exchanger; the air conditioning control method includes:

[0066] Step 012: Obtain the current operating power of the fan;

[0067] Step 013: Determine the required airflow for the fan based on the current operating power;

[0068] In step 011: controlling the operation of the fan assembly includes:

[0069] Step 0111: Control the operation of the fan assembly according to the required air volume.

[0070] Specifically, the outdoor unit also includes a fan, which is used to dissipate heat from the heat exchanger. The required airflow of the fan is the amount of air that needs to be delivered through the fan. By obtaining the current operating power of the fan, the required airflow of the fan can be determined. Based on the required airflow of the fan, the fan assembly is controlled to deliver indoor air or to control the amount of indoor air delivered by the fan assembly to the heat exchanger of the outdoor unit.

[0071] The method for determining the required air volume q based on the current operating power is as follows:

[0072]

[0073] Where P is the current operating efficiency of the fan, 1 is the fan drive efficiency, 0.6 is the total pressure efficiency of the fan, 1.1 is the fan design margin, 101.2 kPa is one standard atmosphere, and X is the static pressure of the fan. The static pressure of the fan refers to the static pressure generated by the fan when it is working, which is used to overcome the resistance during transportation. The specific value is affected by various factors such as the type of fan and design parameters, and can include, for example, 25Pa, 50Pa, 100Pa, 200Pa, 300Pa, etc.

[0074] Please see Figure 4 and Figure 5 In some embodiments, the fan assembly includes a first air supply duct, a second air supply duct, and a blower. The two ends of the first air supply duct are respectively connected to a heat exchanger and an indoor unit, and the two ends of the second air supply duct are respectively connected to a heat exchanger and an outdoor unit. The blower is located in the second air supply duct. Step 0111: Controlling the fan assembly to operate according to the required air volume includes:

[0075] Step 01111: When the required air volume is less than the indoor exhaust air volume, control the first air supply duct to open, the second air supply duct to close, and the air supply fan to stop running;

[0076] Step 01112: When the required air volume is greater than the indoor exhaust air volume, control the first air supply duct to open, the second air supply duct to open, and the air supply fan to operate at the first target speed. The first target speed is determined based on the difference between the required air volume and the indoor exhaust air volume.

[0077] The first target setting of the supply fan (i.e., the supply air volume of the supply fan) is determined based on the difference between the demand air volume and the indoor exhaust air volume, that is, the supply air volume of the supply fan = demand air volume - indoor exhaust air volume.

[0078] Specifically, the fan assembly includes a first air supply duct, a second air supply duct, and a blower. The two ends of the first air supply duct are connected to the heat exchanger and the room, respectively, so that indoor air can be transported from the room to the heat exchanger through the first air supply duct. The two ends of the second air supply duct are connected to the heat exchanger and the outside, respectively. The blower is located in the second air supply duct and delivers outdoor air into the second air supply duct. Through the second air supply duct, outdoor air can be transported to the heat exchanger.

[0079] It should be noted that the two ends of the second air supply duct can be connected to the heat exchanger at one end and to the outside at the other end; or, the two ends of the second air supply duct can be connected to the first air supply duct at one end, and since the first air supply duct is connected to the heat exchanger, the second air supply duct is indirectly connected to the heat exchanger at the other end, and to the outside. That is, after the blower sends the outdoor air into the second air supply duct, the outdoor air flows from the second air supply duct to the first air supply duct and is transported to the heat exchanger.

[0080] Optionally, the fan assembly also includes an indoor exhaust fan, which is located at the indoor exhaust vent, and the indoor exhaust volume is determined according to the speed setting of the indoor exhaust fan.

[0081] Specifically, the fan assembly also includes an indoor exhaust fan, which is located at the indoor exhaust vent and is used to exhaust indoor air. The amount of air exhausted indoors is controlled by the setting of the indoor exhaust fan.

[0082] When the required air volume is less than the indoor exhaust volume, the indoor exhaust volume is sufficient to meet the air volume requirements of the outdoor unit's fan. Therefore, it is sufficient to ensure the fan's normal operation without needing to supplement air through a supply fan and a second supply duct. Thus, controlling the first supply duct to open allows the warmer indoor exhaust air to be delivered to the heat exchanger, preventing frost buildup. Conversely, controlling the second supply duct to close and stopping the supply fan saves energy.

[0083] When the required airflow exceeds the indoor exhaust airflow, the indoor exhaust airflow is insufficient to meet the airflow requirements of the outdoor unit's fan. Therefore, supplementary airflow is needed through a supply fan and a second supply duct to ensure the fan's normal operation. Thus, by controlling the opening of the first supply duct to deliver the warmer indoor air to the heat exchanger, and controlling the opening of the second supply duct and the supply fan to operate at the first target speed, supplementary airflow is provided to the fan to prevent frost buildup on the heat exchanger.

[0084] It should be noted that, generally speaking, the lower the temperature of the external environment, the less air volume the outdoor unit fan of a direct expansion air conditioner needs. This is because the fan is used to dissipate heat from the heat exchanger, and the heat dissipation effect is better when the temperature of the external environment is lower. Therefore, the air volume required by the fan is generally less than the indoor exhaust volume.

[0085] In other words, when the demand airflow is less than the indoor exhaust airflow, the outdoor air temperature can be considered very low. In this case, if the second supply air duct is activated and the supply fan is turned on, the outdoor air supplied to the heat exchanger is very likely to be lower than the air dew point temperature or even lower than the heat exchanger's temperature. This not only fails to prevent frost formation on the heat exchanger but may also accelerate and worsen the frost formation process. Conversely, when the demand airflow is greater than the indoor exhaust airflow, the outdoor air temperature is relatively higher than when the demand airflow is less than the indoor exhaust airflow. In this case, the outdoor air temperature can be considered similar to or even higher than the heat exchanger's temperature. In this situation, while supplying warmer indoor air to the heat exchanger, the supply fan can be turned on, and the second supply air duct can be activated to provide supplemental air and prevent frost formation on the heat exchanger.

[0086] Please see Figure 6 In some embodiments, the fan assembly further includes an exhaust duct and an outdoor exhaust fan, with the two ends of the exhaust duct connected to a first supply air duct and the outside, respectively, and the outdoor exhaust fan disposed inside the exhaust duct.

[0087] Step 01111: When the required air volume is less than the indoor exhaust air volume, control the first air supply duct to open, the second air supply duct to close, and the air supply fan to stop running, including:

[0088] Step 011111: When the required air volume is less than the indoor exhaust air volume, control the first supply air duct and the exhaust air duct to be connected, the second supply air duct to be shut off, the supply air fan to stop running, and the exhaust air fan to run at the second target speed. The second target speed is determined based on the difference between the required air volume and the indoor exhaust air volume.

[0089] The second target setting (corresponding to the exhaust volume of the exhaust fan) is determined based on the difference between the required air volume and the indoor exhaust volume, that is, the exhaust volume of the exhaust fan = indoor exhaust volume - required air volume.

[0090] Specifically, to prevent excessive supply of warm indoor air to the heat exchanger when the required air volume is less than the indoor exhaust volume, which could lead to overheating and damage to components such as the heat exchanger, the fan assembly includes an exhaust duct and an outdoor exhaust fan. The exhaust duct connects to a first supply duct and the outdoor unit, respectively, and the outdoor exhaust fan is located within the exhaust duct. By controlling the connection of the first supply and exhaust ducts, the shutdown of the second supply duct, the shutdown of the supply fan, and the operation of the exhaust fan at a second target speed, warm indoor air is supplied to the heat exchanger and the outdoor unit, rather than all warm indoor air being supplied to the heat exchanger, thus preventing excessive warm indoor air from damaging components such as the heat exchanger.

[0091] Optionally, the fan assembly also includes a damper assembly, which includes multiple dampers respectively located in the first air supply duct, the second air supply duct, and the exhaust duct. The opening and closing of the first air supply duct, the second air supply duct, and the exhaust duct are controlled by the corresponding dampers. When the damper is open, the opening degree of the damper is determined based on the difference between the required air volume, the indoor air volume, and the exhaust volume of the fan assembly.

[0092] Specifically, the fan assembly also includes a valve assembly, which comprises multiple valves used to regulate airflow in the first supply air duct, the second supply air duct, and the exhaust air duct. These multiple valves are respectively located in the first supply air duct, the second supply air duct, and the exhaust air duct. The opening and closing of the first supply air duct, the second supply air duct, and the exhaust air duct are controlled by their respective valves. When a valve controls the duct to be open, the opening degree of the valve is determined based on the difference between the required airflow, the indoor airflow, and the exhaust airflow of the fan assembly. For example, the multiple valves may include a first valve, a second valve, and a third valve. The first valve is located in the first supply air duct and controls its opening and closing; the second valve is located in the first supply air duct and controls its opening and closing; and the third valve is located in the exhaust air duct and controls its opening and closing. The opening degrees of the first, second, and third valves are determined based on the difference between the required airflow, the indoor airflow, and the exhaust airflow of the fan assembly.

[0093] Please see Figure 7 In some embodiments, the outdoor unit further includes a pressure sensor for detecting the pipe pressure of the outdoor unit, and the air conditioning control method further includes:

[0094] Step 014: Detect pressure;

[0095] Step 015: Determine the gear adjustment value based on the pressure and the corresponding target pressure;

[0096] Step 016: Adjust the fan speed to the target speed. The target speed is determined based on the fan's current speed and the speed adjustment value.

[0097] Specifically, the outdoor unit also includes a pressure sensor used to detect the pipe pressure. The direct-expansion air conditioner achieves its highest heating efficiency at the target pressure. By detecting the pipe pressure and determining the corresponding target pressure, the system identifies the appropriate fan speed adjustment for the current pressure and adjusts it to the target speed. The target speed is determined based on the current fan speed and the adjustment value. Therefore, when the current pressure is lower than the target pressure, adjusting the fan speed to the target speed increases the pressure to reach the target pressure; conversely, when the current pressure is higher than the target pressure, adjusting the fan speed to the target speed decreases the pressure to reach the target pressure. By adjusting the fan speed to achieve the target pressure, the heating efficiency of the direct-expansion air conditioner is improved.

[0098] Optionally, when the ambient temperature is greater than the preset temperature threshold, the target pressure is positively correlated with the ambient temperature; when the ambient temperature is less than or equal to the preset temperature threshold, the target pressure is the preset pressure threshold; and when the current pressure is less than the preset pressure threshold, the heat exchanger frosts.

[0099] The preset pressure threshold refers to the preset pressure threshold for frost formation on the heat exchanger. That is, when the pressure of the heat exchanger is greater than the preset pressure threshold, the surface of the heat exchanger will not frost, and when the temperature of the surface of the heat exchanger is less than the preset pressure threshold, the surface of the heat exchanger will frost. The preset pressure threshold is 8 kPa.

[0100] Specifically, when the ambient temperature is above the preset temperature threshold, the target pressure and ambient temperature are positively correlated. Direct expansion air conditioners heat the room by compressing a low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant to absorb heat from the air and release it into the room. Therefore, when the ambient temperature is above the preset temperature threshold, the direct expansion air conditioner requires more energy to dissipate heat as the ambient temperature rises. To maintain maximum efficiency, it needs to increase its workload, thus increasing the target pressure. When the ambient temperature is below or equal to the preset temperature threshold, problems such as reduced refrigerant flow may occur. In this case, to ensure the stability and efficiency of the direct expansion air conditioning system, the target pressure can be set to the preset pressure threshold.

[0101] Please see Figure 8 In some embodiments, step 015: determining the gear adjustment value based on the pressure and the corresponding target pressure includes:

[0102] Step 0151: Calculate the current difference between the current pressure and the target pressure;

[0103] Step 0152: Determine the gear adjustment value based on the current difference.

[0104] Specifically, by calculating the current difference between the current pressure and the target pressure, it is determined whether, in order to reach the target pressure, the fan speed should be increased to increase the exhaust volume of the outdoor unit's fan, thereby improving heat exchange efficiency and increasing the pressure to reach the target pressure; or the fan speed should be decreased to reduce the exhaust volume of the outdoor unit's fan, thereby reducing the pressure to reach the target pressure; or the fan speed should not be adjusted, as the current state is considered to be stable and no fan speed adjustment is required.

[0105] Please see Figure 9 and Figure 10 In some embodiments, step 0152: determining the gear adjustment value based on the current difference includes:

[0106] Step 01521: When the current difference is less than 0, calculate the first gear adjustment value based on the first preset function, the current difference and the historical difference. The historical difference is determined based on the pressure detected last time and the corresponding target pressure. The first gear adjustment value is less than 0.

[0107] Step 01522: When the current difference is greater than 0, calculate the second gear adjustment value based on the second preset function, the current difference and the historical difference. The second gear adjustment value is greater than 0.

[0108] Among them, if the absolute value of the current difference is less than 0.3 kPa and the historical difference is less than 0.5 kPa, it is considered that the pressure of the direct expansion air conditioner is in a stable state and there is no need to change the indoor pressure by adjusting the fan. Therefore, based on the difference between the pressure value and 0.3 kPa in the stable state, the first preset function and the second preset function can be set to calculate the fan speed adjustment value.

[0109] When the current difference is less than 0, the first preset function includes: y = (x + 0.3) * E + k * D;

[0110] When the current difference is greater than 0, the second preset function includes: y = (x - 0.3) * E + k * D;

[0111] Where y is the gear adjustment value, y∈[-1,2], and y is an integer. The calculated value is rounded to get y=-1, or y=0, or y=1, or y=2; x is the current difference in kPa; k is the historical difference in kPa; E is the first deviation coefficient, E=-5; and D is the second deviation coefficient, D=-1.

[0112] Specifically, when the current difference between the current pressure and the target pressure is less than 0, it indicates that the current pressure is less than the target pressure. By increasing the fan speed, the airflow rate is accelerated, and the heat exchange efficiency is improved, thus boosting the direct expansion air conditioner to reach the target pressure. When the current difference between the current pressure and the target pressure is greater than 0, it indicates that the current pressure is less than the target pressure. By decreasing the fan speed, the airflow rate is slowed down, causing the pressure in the heating cycle to decrease, thus depressurizing the direct expansion air conditioner to reach the target pressure. In this way, while ensuring that the direct expansion air conditioner can achieve its maximum operating efficiency, the air conditioning system can be guaranteed to operate normally, and equipment damage or performance degradation caused by excessive pressure can be avoided.

[0113] Historical differences can be used to determine the trend of environmental pressure changes. When the historical difference is less than 0.5 kPa, it indicates that the environmental pressure changes are relatively gentle, and the current fan speed can be maintained. When the historical difference is greater than 0.5 kPa, it indicates that the environmental pressure changes significantly. The historical difference should be taken into account in the calculation, and the corresponding speed should be adjusted to adapt to the new environmental conditions, thereby better controlling the heating effect of the air conditioner.

[0114] It should be noted that when the current difference is equal to 0.3 or -0.3, that is, when the current pressure is equal to the target pressure, the gear adjustment value is 0 (y=0) regardless of whether it is the first preset function or the second preset function. This is because when the current pressure is equal to the target pressure, in order to save energy and ensure the working efficiency of the air conditioner, there is no need to adjust the fan gear. Therefore, this application embodiment does not limit the preset function calculation when the current difference is equal to 0.3 or -0.3.

[0115] For example, taking a historical difference of 0.5 kPa as an example, when the current difference x < 0 and |x| > 0.3, y = (x + 0.3) * (-5) - 0.05; when the current difference x > 0 and |x| > 0.3, y = (x - 0.3) * (-5) - 0.05.

[0116] If the current difference x = -0.35 is obtained at this time, the calculated value is y = (-0.35 + 0.3) * (-5) - 0.05 = 0.2. Rounding to the nearest integer, the fan speed adjustment value is y = 0. At this time, it is considered that the target pressure can be achieved by relying on the fan of the direct expansion air conditioner to maintain the current working state for a certain period of time. In order to reduce energy consumption, no adjustment is required.

[0117] If the current difference x = 0.5 is obtained at this time, the calculated value is y = (x - 0.3) * (-5) - 0.05 = 0.95. Rounding to the nearest integer, the fan speed adjustment value is y = 1. That is, by increasing the fan speed by 1 level, the direct expansion air conditioner can be pressurized.

[0118] Please see Figure 11 To facilitate better implementation of the air conditioner control method of this application, this application also provides an air conditioner control device 10. The air conditioner control device 10 may include a delivery module 11. The air conditioner includes an outdoor unit and a fan assembly. The delivery module 11 is used to control the fan assembly to operate in heating mode, so as to deliver at least a portion of the indoor air to the heat exchanger of the outdoor unit.

[0119] In one embodiment, the outdoor unit further includes a fan for dissipating heat from the heat exchanger. The control device 10 further includes an acquisition module 12 and a determination module 13. The acquisition module 12 is used to acquire the current operating power of the fan. The determination module 13 is used to determine the required air volume of the fan based on the current operating power. The delivery module 11 is specifically used to control the operation of the fan assembly based on the required air volume.

[0120] In one embodiment, the fan assembly includes a first air supply duct, a second air supply duct, and a blower. The two ends of the first air supply duct are respectively connected to a heat exchanger and the indoor unit, and the two ends of the second air supply duct are respectively connected to a heat exchanger and the outdoor unit. The blower is located in the second air supply duct. The delivery module 11 is further configured to control the first air supply duct to open, the second air supply duct to close, and the blower to stop running when the required air volume is less than the indoor exhaust volume, and to control the first air supply duct to open, the second air supply duct to open, and the blower to run at a first target speed when the required air volume is greater than the indoor exhaust volume. The first target speed is determined based on the difference between the required air volume and the indoor exhaust volume.

[0121] In one embodiment, the fan assembly further includes an exhaust duct and an outdoor exhaust fan. The two ends of the exhaust duct are respectively connected to the first supply air duct and the outside. The outdoor exhaust fan is located inside the exhaust duct. The delivery module 11 is further used to control the first supply air duct and the exhaust duct to be connected, the second supply air duct to be shut off, the supply fan to stop running, and the exhaust fan to run at a second target level when the required air volume is less than the indoor exhaust volume. The second target level is determined based on the difference between the required air volume and the indoor exhaust volume.

[0122] In one embodiment, the outdoor unit further includes a pressure sensor, and the determining module 13 is specifically used to detect pressure, determine the gear adjustment value based on the pressure and the corresponding target pressure, and adjust the fan gear to the target gear, wherein the target gear is determined based on the current fan gear and the gear adjustment value.

[0123] In one embodiment, the determining module 13 is further configured to calculate the current difference between the current pressure and the target pressure, and determine the gear adjustment value based on the current difference.

[0124] In one embodiment, the determining module 13 is further configured to calculate a first gear adjustment value based on a first preset function, the current difference, and historical differences when the current difference is less than 0, wherein the historical difference is determined based on the previously detected pressure and the corresponding target pressure, and the first gear adjustment value is less than 0, and the second gear adjustment value is greater than 0 when the current difference is greater than 0, based on a second preset function, the current difference, and historical differences.

[0125] The air conditioner control device 10 has been described above from the perspective of functional modules, with reference to the accompanying drawings. These functional modules can be implemented in hardware, in software instructions, or in a combination of hardware and software modules. Specifically, the steps of the method embodiments in this application can be completed by integrated logic circuits in the processor's hardware and / or by software instructions. The steps of the method disclosed in this application can be directly manifested as execution by a hardware encoding processor, or by a combination of hardware and software modules in the encoding processor. Optionally, the software module can reside in a mature storage medium in the art, such as random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable memory, or registers. This storage medium is located in memory, and the processor reads information from the memory and, in conjunction with its hardware, completes the steps in the above method embodiments.

[0126] Please see Figure 12 And see again Figure 1 The air conditioner 1000 of this application includes an outdoor unit 200, a fan assembly 300 and a controller 400. The controller 400 is used to control the fan assembly 300 to operate when the air conditioner is in heating mode, so as to deliver at least a portion of the indoor air to the heat exchanger 14 of the outdoor unit 200.

[0127] Please see Figure 13 This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium 600 storing a computer program 610. When the computer program 610 is executed by the processor 620, it implements the steps of the air conditioner control method of any of the above embodiments. For the sake of brevity, these steps will not be described in detail here.

[0128] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "some embodiments," "in one example," "exemplarily," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this application. 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. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.

[0129] Any process or method described in the flowchart or otherwise herein can be understood as representing a module, segment, or portion of code comprising one or more executable instructions for implementing a particular logical function or process, and the scope of the preferred embodiments of this application includes additional implementations in which functions may be performed not in the order shown or discussed, including substantially simultaneously or in reverse order depending on the function involved, as will be understood by those skilled in the art to which embodiments of this application pertain.

[0130] Although embodiments of this application have been shown and described above, it is understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting this application. Those skilled in the art can make changes, modifications, substitutions and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of this application.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an air conditioner, characterized in that, The air conditioner includes an outdoor unit and a fan assembly, and the method includes: When the air conditioner is operating in heating mode, the fan assembly is controlled to operate so as to deliver at least a portion of the indoor air to the heat exchanger of the outdoor unit. The outdoor unit further includes a fan for dissipating heat from the heat exchanger; the method includes: Obtain the current operating power of the fan; Determine the required airflow of the fan based on the current operating power; The control of the wind turbine assembly includes: Control the operation of the fan assembly according to the required air volume; The fan assembly includes a first air supply duct, a second air supply duct, and a blower. The two ends of the first air supply duct are respectively connected to a heat exchanger and an indoor unit, and the two ends of the second air supply duct are respectively connected to the heat exchanger and an outdoor unit. The blower is located in the second air supply duct. The step of controlling the operation of the fan assembly according to the required air volume includes: When the required air volume is less than the indoor exhaust air volume, the first air supply duct is opened, the second air supply duct is closed, and the air supply fan stops running. When the required air volume is greater than the indoor exhaust air volume, the first air supply duct is opened, the second air supply duct is opened, and the air supply fan is operated at a first target speed. The first target speed is determined based on the difference between the required air volume and the indoor exhaust air volume.

2. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fan assembly also includes an exhaust duct and an outdoor exhaust fan. The two ends of the exhaust duct are respectively connected to the first air supply duct and the outside, and the outdoor exhaust fan is installed inside the exhaust duct. When the required air volume is less than the indoor exhaust air volume, controlling the first air supply duct to open, the second air supply duct to close, and the air supply fan to stop operating includes: When the required air volume is less than the indoor exhaust air volume, the system controls the first air supply duct and the exhaust duct to be connected, the second air supply duct to be shut off, the air supply fan to stop running, and the exhaust fan to run at a second target speed. The second target speed is determined based on the difference between the required air volume and the indoor exhaust air volume.

3. The control method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The fan assembly also includes a valve assembly, which includes multiple valves. The multiple valves are respectively located in the first air supply duct, the second air supply duct, and the exhaust duct. The opening and closing of the first air supply duct, the second air supply duct, and the exhaust duct are controlled by the corresponding valves. When a valve is open, the opening degree of the valve is determined based on the difference between the required air volume, the indoor air volume, and the exhaust volume of the fan assembly.

4. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fan assembly also includes an indoor exhaust fan, which is located at the indoor exhaust vent, and the indoor exhaust volume is determined according to the speed setting of the indoor exhaust fan.

5. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outdoor unit also includes a pressure sensor for detecting the pipe pressure between the compressor outlet and the four-way valve of the outdoor unit, including: Detect pressure; Determine the gear adjustment value based on the pressure and the corresponding target pressure; The fan speed is adjusted to the target speed, which is determined based on the fan's current speed and the speed adjustment value.

6. The control method according to claim 5, characterized in that, When the ambient temperature is greater than a preset temperature threshold, the target pressure and the ambient temperature are positively correlated. When the ambient temperature is less than or equal to a preset temperature threshold, the target pressure is a preset pressure threshold. When the current pressure is less than the preset pressure threshold, the heat exchanger frosts.

7. The control method according to claim 5, characterized in that, The process of determining the gear adjustment value based on the pressure and the corresponding target pressure includes: Calculate the current difference between the current pressure and the target pressure; The gear adjustment value is determined based on the current difference.

8. The control method according to claim 7, characterized in that, Determining the gear adjustment value based on the current difference includes: When the current difference is less than 0, a first gear adjustment value is calculated based on a first preset function, the current difference, and historical differences. The historical difference is determined based on the previously detected pressure and the corresponding target pressure. The first gear adjustment value is less than 0. When the current difference is greater than 0, a second gear adjustment value is calculated based on the second preset function, the current difference, and the historical difference, and the second gear adjustment value is greater than 0.

9. An air conditioner, characterized in that, include: Outdoor unit; Wind turbine components; A controller for executing any one of the control methods described in 1-8.

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