Methods, apparatus, air conditioners, and storage media for refrigerant recovery

Abstract

This application relates to the field of smart home appliance technology and discloses a method for refrigerant recovery, applied to an air conditioner. The method includes: obtaining an outdoor ambient temperature in response to a refrigerant recovery command; determining a refrigerant recovery mode and an exit condition for the refrigerant recovery mode based on the outdoor ambient temperature; and controlling the air conditioner to operate in the refrigerant recovery mode until the exit condition is met. When refrigerant recovery is required, the refrigerant recovery mode is determined based on the outdoor ambient temperature, and an exit condition for the refrigerant recovery mode is set based on the outdoor ambient temperature. The air conditioner recovers refrigerant according to the refrigerant recovery mode until the exit condition is met, at which point it exits the refrigerant recovery mode. Thus, the operation and termination of the refrigerant recovery mode are related to the current actual outdoor ambient temperature, allowing for adjustments based on different actual conditions, which helps improve the accuracy of the refrigerant recovery process. This application also discloses a refrigerant recovery device, an air conditioner, and a storage medium.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] With the rapid increase in air conditioner usage, the sustainable reuse of refrigerant has become a key focus of industry research. In conventional refrigerant recovery operations, the air conditioner is first turned on and set to cooling mode. After the compressor has run for a preset time, the operator manually closes the shut-off valve. After a period of time, when frost forms on the surface of the low-pressure liquid line, the gas pipe shut-off valve is closed, and the air conditioner is turned off, thus ending the recovery operation. In actual operation, the duration of the refrigerant recovery process is difficult to control, which can easily lead to insufficient recovery time, resulting in incomplete refrigerant recovery, or damage to the air conditioning system due to excessive recovery time.

[0003] A method for refrigerant recovery is provided in the related technology, including: starting a compressor; when the compressor's running time reaches a preset running time, controlling a first control valve to close to disconnect the outdoor heat exchange device from the indoor heat exchange device; acquiring the outdoor fan outlet temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature in real time; calculating the difference between the outdoor fan outlet temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature when recovering refrigerant; and determining that refrigerant recovery has been completed when the absolute value of the difference between the outdoor fan outlet temperature and the outdoor ambient temperature is within a preset temperature range.

[0004] In the process of implementing the embodiments of this disclosure, at least the following problems were found in the related art:

[0005] The varying ambient temperatures in different real-world scenarios can affect the assessment of the refrigerant recovery process. Consequently, the control of the refrigerant recovery process in related technologies is not accurate enough.

[0006] It should be noted that the information disclosed in the background section above is only used to enhance the understanding of the background of this application, and therefore may include information that does not constitute prior art known to those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0007] To provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed embodiments, a brief summary is given below. This summary is not intended as a general commentary, nor is it intended to identify key / important components or describe the scope of protection of these embodiments, but rather as a prelude to the detailed description that follows.

[0008] This disclosure provides a method, apparatus, air conditioner, and storage medium for refrigerant recovery, thereby improving the accuracy of refrigerant recovery process control.

[0009] In some embodiments, the method is applied to an air conditioner and includes: obtaining an outdoor ambient temperature in response to a refrigerant recovery command; determining a refrigerant recovery mode and an exit condition for the refrigerant recovery mode based on the outdoor ambient temperature; and controlling the air conditioner to operate in the refrigerant recovery mode until the exit condition is met.

[0010] Optionally, the exit conditions for the refrigerant recovery mode are determined based on the outdoor ambient temperature, including: when the outdoor ambient temperature is less than or equal to a first temperature threshold, the exit condition for the refrigerant recovery mode is determined as the first exit condition; when the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than the first temperature threshold, the exit condition for the refrigerant recovery mode is determined as the second exit condition; wherein, the first exit condition includes the compressor's suction temperature being greater than or equal to the suction temperature threshold; and the second exit condition includes the compressor's vapor pressure being less than or equal to the pressure threshold.

[0011] Optionally, the first exit condition includes: the difference between the indoor ambient temperature and the indoor coil temperature is greater than or equal to a first difference threshold; and the compressor's suction temperature remains greater than or equal to a suction temperature threshold for a first duration.

[0012] Optionally, the second exit condition includes: the difference between the indoor ambient temperature and the indoor air outlet temperature is greater than or equal to a second difference threshold; and the vapor pressure of the compressor remains less than or equal to a pressure threshold for a second duration.

[0013] Optionally, the refrigerant recovery mode is determined based on the outdoor ambient temperature, including: determining the target operating frequency of the compressor based on the outdoor ambient temperature; and determining the target speed of the outdoor fan based on the outdoor ambient temperature.

[0014] Optionally, determining the target operating frequency of the compressor based on the outdoor ambient temperature includes: determining the target operating frequency of the compressor as a first frequency when the outdoor ambient temperature is less than or equal to a first outdoor ambient temperature threshold; determining the target operating frequency of the compressor as a second frequency when the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than the first ambient temperature threshold and less than a second ambient temperature threshold; and determining the target operating frequency of the compressor as a third operating frequency when the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the second outdoor ambient temperature threshold; wherein the first outdoor ambient temperature threshold is less than the second outdoor ambient temperature threshold, the first operating frequency is greater than the second operating frequency, and the second operating frequency is greater than the third operating frequency.

[0015] Optionally, determining the target speed of the outdoor fan based on the outdoor ambient temperature includes: determining the target speed of the outdoor fan as a first speed when the outdoor ambient temperature is less than or equal to a third outdoor ambient temperature threshold; determining the target speed of the outdoor fan as a second speed when the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than the third outdoor ambient temperature threshold and less than a fourth outdoor ambient temperature threshold; and determining the speed of the outdoor fan as a third speed when the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the fourth outdoor ambient temperature threshold; wherein the third outdoor ambient temperature threshold is less than or equal to the fourth outdoor ambient temperature threshold; the first speed is less than the third speed, and the second speed is greater than or equal to the first speed and less than or equal to the third speed.

[0016] Optionally, determining the refrigerant recovery mode based on the outdoor ambient temperature also includes controlling the indoor fan to maintain its maximum speed.

[0017] Optionally, the refrigerant recovery mode is determined based on the outdoor ambient temperature, and the exit conditions for the refrigerant recovery mode include: determining the refrigerant recovery mode based on the outdoor ambient temperature; and determining the exit conditions for the current refrigerant recovery mode based on the preset mapping relationship between the refrigerant recovery mode and the exit conditions.

[0018] Optionally, the air conditioner includes: a switching component disposed on the downstream side of the air conditioner's throttling device; controlling the air conditioner to operate in refrigerant recovery mode until the exit condition is met, including: controlling the switching component to close when the exit condition is met.

[0019] In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a processor and a memory storing program instructions, the processor being configured to perform the above-described method for refrigerant recovery when the program instructions are executed.

[0020] In some embodiments, the air conditioner includes: an air conditioner body; and the aforementioned refrigerant recovery device is installed on the air conditioner body.

[0021] In some embodiments, the storage medium stores program instructions that, when executed, perform the above-described method for refrigerant recovery.

[0022] The method, apparatus, air conditioner, and storage medium for refrigerant recovery provided in this disclosure can achieve the following technical effects:

[0023] When refrigerant recovery is required, the refrigerant recovery mode is determined based on the outdoor ambient temperature, and the exit conditions for this mode are set according to the outdoor ambient temperature. The air conditioner recovers refrigerant according to this mode until the exit condition is met, at which point it exits the refrigerant recovery mode. In this way, the operation and termination of the refrigerant recovery mode are related to the current actual outdoor ambient temperature, allowing for adjustments based on different actual conditions and improving the accuracy of the refrigerant recovery process.

[0024] The above general description and the description below are exemplary and illustrative only and are not intended to limit this application. Attached Figure Description

[0025] One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. These illustrations and drawings do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments. Elements having the same reference numerals in the drawings are shown as similar elements. The drawings are not to be scaled. And wherein:

[0026] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a method for refrigerant recovery provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0027] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of another method for refrigerant recovery provided in this disclosure embodiment;

[0028] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of another method for refrigerant recovery provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0029] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of another method for refrigerant recovery provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0030] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for refrigerant recovery provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0031] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of an air conditioner provided in an embodiment of this disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0032] To provide a more detailed understanding of the features and technical content of the embodiments of this disclosure, the implementation of the embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the embodiments of this disclosure. In the following technical description, for ease of explanation, several details are used to provide a full understanding of the disclosed embodiments. However, one or more embodiments may still be implemented without these details. In other cases, well-known structures and devices may be simplified in their depiction to simplify the drawings.

[0033] The terms "first," "second," etc., used in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this disclosure are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate for the embodiments of this disclosure described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion.

[0034] Unless otherwise stated, the term "multiple" means two or more.

[0035] In this embodiment of the disclosure, the character " / " indicates that the objects before and after it are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B means: A or B.

[0036] The term "and / or" describes an association between objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B means: A or B, or A and B.

[0037] The term "correspondence" can refer to an association or binding relationship. The correspondence between A and B means that there is an association or binding relationship between A and B.

[0038] With the rapid increase in air conditioner usage, the sustainable reuse of refrigerant has become a key focus of industry research. In conventional refrigerant recovery operations, the air conditioner is first turned on and set to cooling mode. After the compressor has run for a preset time, the operator manually closes the shut-off valve. After a period of time, when frost forms on the surface of the low-pressure liquid line, the gas pipe shut-off valve is closed, and the air conditioner is turned off, thus ending the recovery operation. In actual operation, the duration of the refrigerant recovery process is difficult to control, which can easily lead to insufficient recovery time, resulting in incomplete refrigerant recovery, or damage to the air conditioning system due to excessive recovery time.

[0039] A related technology provides a method for refrigerant recovery, including: starting a compressor; when the compressor's running time reaches a preset running time, controlling a first control valve to close to disconnect the outdoor heat exchanger from the indoor heat exchanger; acquiring the outdoor fan outlet temperature and the ambient temperature in real time; calculating the difference between the outdoor fan outlet temperature and the ambient temperature during refrigerant recovery; and determining that refrigerant recovery is complete when the absolute value of the difference between the outdoor fan outlet temperature and the ambient temperature is within a preset temperature range. However, the ambient temperature varies in different real-world scenarios, affecting the judgment process of refrigerant recovery. Therefore, the control of the refrigerant recovery process in the related technology is not accurate enough.

[0040] To address the aforementioned issues and improve the accuracy of refrigerant recovery process control, combined with Figure 1 As shown, this disclosure provides a method for refrigerant recovery, applied to an air conditioner, the method comprising:

[0041] S101, the processor responds to the refrigerant recovery command and obtains the outdoor ambient temperature.

[0042] The refrigerant recovery command can be manually entered by the user or relevant maintenance personnel.

[0043] Outdoor ambient temperature can be obtained directly by a temperature sensor installed outdoors, which provides the most accurate reflection of the current outdoor temperature. Alternatively, the air temperature of the area can be obtained from the cloud, thus providing a relatively accurate outdoor ambient temperature without the need for additional sensors.

[0044] S102, the processor determines the refrigerant recovery mode based on the outdoor ambient temperature, and the exit conditions for the refrigerant recovery mode.

[0045] S103, the processor controls the air conditioner to operate in refrigerant recovery mode until the exit condition is met.

[0046] The refrigerant recovery method provided in this embodiment determines the refrigerant recovery mode based on the outdoor ambient temperature when refrigerant recovery is required, and sets the exit conditions for this mode based on the outdoor ambient temperature. The air conditioner recovers refrigerant according to this mode until the exit condition is met, at which point it exits the refrigerant recovery mode. Thus, the operation and termination of the refrigerant recovery mode are related to the current actual outdoor ambient temperature, allowing for adjustments based on different actual conditions, which helps improve the accuracy of the refrigerant recovery process.

[0047] Optionally, the air conditioner also includes a switching component located on the downstream side of the air conditioner's throttling device. Here, the downstream side is based on the refrigerant flow direction under cooling conditions. The throttling device is an electronic expansion valve.

[0048] Optionally, the switching component includes a solenoid valve, which can be controlled by turning on and off the power.

[0049] Optionally, based on the switching component settings, the processor controls the air conditioner to operate in refrigerant recovery mode until exit conditions are met, including: when the exit conditions are met, the processor controls the switching component to close. If the switching component is a solenoid valve, the processor controls the switching component to close by de-energizing the solenoid valve. During normal operation, the switching component remains open, allowing refrigerant flow. After refrigerant recovery is complete, the switching component closes. Conventional refrigerant recovery processes rely solely on the switching operation of the throttling device, which may result in incomplete closure, hindering refrigerant preservation. It can also easily damage the throttling device, further affecting the recovery effect. The switching component setting helps ensure the reliability of the refrigerant recovery process.

[0050] Different refrigerant recovery modes differ in terms of compressor operating frequency and outdoor fan speed.

[0051] Combination Figure 2 As shown in the embodiments of this disclosure, another method for refrigerant recovery is provided, including:

[0052] S201, the processor responds to the refrigerant recovery command and obtains the outdoor ambient temperature.

[0053] S202, the processor determines the target operating frequency of the compressor based on the outdoor ambient temperature, and determines the target speed of the outdoor fan based on the outdoor ambient temperature.

[0054] S203, the processor determines the exit conditions for refrigerant recovery mode based on the outdoor ambient temperature.

[0055] S204, the processor controls the air conditioner to operate in refrigerant recovery mode until the exit condition is met.

[0056] Optionally, the processor determines the target operating frequency of the compressor based on the outdoor ambient temperature, including: when the outdoor ambient temperature is less than or equal to a first outdoor ambient temperature threshold, the processor determines the target operating frequency of the compressor as a first frequency; when the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than the first ambient temperature threshold but less than a second ambient temperature threshold, the processor determines the target operating frequency of the compressor as a second frequency; and when the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the second outdoor ambient temperature threshold, the processor determines the target operating frequency of the compressor as a third frequency. Wherein, the first outdoor ambient temperature threshold is less than the second outdoor ambient temperature threshold, the first operating frequency is greater than the second operating frequency, and the second operating frequency is greater than the third operating frequency. By determining the different loads of the air conditioner based on the outdoor ambient temperature, different compressor operating frequencies can be selected according to the different loads, which is beneficial for achieving rapid refrigerant recovery. At the same time, when the ambient temperature is different, a single compressor operating frequency cannot guarantee the balance of the air conditioning system, which may trigger pressure and discharge protection actions during the refrigerant recovery process, preventing the refrigerant recovery process from being completed.

[0057] The first outdoor ambient temperature threshold ranges from 15℃ to 20℃. It can be 15℃, 16℃, 17℃, 18℃, 19℃, or 20℃. Preferably, it is 16℃. The second ambient temperature threshold ranges from 30℃ to 40℃. It can be 30℃, 32℃, 35℃, 36℃, 38℃, or 40℃. Preferably, it is 35℃.

[0058] The compressor's first, second, and third operating frequencies can be represented by the product of the rated frequency and a set coefficient. For example, the first operating frequency is the product of the rated frequency and the first coefficient; the second operating frequency is the product of the rated power and the second coefficient; and the third operating frequency is the product of the rated power and the third coefficient. The first coefficient is greater than the second coefficient, and the second coefficient is greater than the third coefficient.

[0059] Optionally, the processor determines the target speed of the outdoor fan based on the outdoor ambient temperature, including: when the outdoor ambient temperature is less than or equal to a third outdoor ambient temperature threshold, the processor determines the target speed of the outdoor fan as a first speed; when the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than the third outdoor ambient temperature threshold but less than a fourth outdoor ambient temperature threshold, the processor determines the target speed of the outdoor fan as a second speed; and when the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the fourth outdoor ambient temperature threshold, the processor determines the speed of the outdoor fan as a third speed. Wherein, the third outdoor ambient temperature threshold is less than or equal to the fourth outdoor ambient temperature threshold; the first speed is less than the third speed; and the second speed is greater than or equal to the first speed and less than or equal to the third speed. When the outdoor ambient temperature is low, the demand for outdoor heat exchange air volume is small, and a lower outdoor fan speed is sufficient to meet the heat exchange demand; when the outdoor ambient temperature is high, the demand for outdoor heat exchange air volume is large, requiring a higher outdoor fan speed.

[0060] The third outdoor ambient temperature threshold ranges from 15℃ to 20℃. It can be 15℃, 16℃, 17℃, 18℃, 19℃, or 20℃. Preferably, it is 16℃. The fourth ambient temperature threshold ranges from 30℃ to 40℃. It can be 30℃, 32℃, 35℃, 36℃, 38℃, or 40℃. Preferably, it is 35℃.

[0061] Optionally, the processor determines the refrigerant recovery mode based on the outdoor ambient temperature, and also includes: the processor controlling the indoor fan to maintain its maximum speed. Maintaining the indoor fan at its maximum speed helps prevent the indoor unit from icing.

[0062] In some embodiments, the first outdoor ambient temperature threshold is equal to the third outdoor ambient temperature threshold, and the second outdoor ambient temperature threshold is equal to the fourth outdoor ambient temperature threshold. That is, the first and second outdoor ambient temperature thresholds divide the temperature range into three ranges: less than or equal to the first outdoor ambient temperature threshold, greater than the first outdoor ambient temperature threshold but less than the second outdoor ambient temperature threshold, and greater than or equal to the second outdoor ambient temperature threshold. These three temperature ranges correspond to three different refrigerant recovery modes, referred to here as the first, second, and third refrigerant recovery modes, respectively. The first refrigerant recovery mode includes: high compressor operating frequency, high indoor fan speed, and low outdoor fan speed. At this time, the outdoor ambient temperature is low, and the system is in a low-temperature cooling stage. To balance system pressure, the outdoor heat exchange air volume requirement is small, so a lower outdoor fan speed is selected. A higher compressor operating frequency is selected to accelerate refrigerant recovery efficiency. Simultaneously, the indoor fan maintains its maximum speed to ensure indoor unit icing. The second refrigerant recovery mode includes: medium compressor operating frequency, high indoor fan speed, and high outdoor fan speed. At this time, the outdoor ambient temperature is at normal, requiring a large airflow from the fans. Both the indoor and outdoor fans are set to high speed. The third refrigerant recovery mode includes: compressor operating frequency, high speed for both indoor and outdoor fans. Since this is a high-temperature phase, to prevent refrigerant system malfunctions, both indoor and outdoor fans are set to high speed. Simultaneously, to balance system pressure, the compressor operates at a low frequency.

[0063] Combination Figure 3 As shown in the embodiments of this disclosure, another method for refrigerant recovery is provided, including:

[0064] S301, the processor responds to the refrigerant recovery command and obtains the outdoor ambient temperature.

[0065] S302, the processor determines the refrigerant recovery mode based on the outdoor ambient temperature.

[0066] S303, the processor determines whether the outdoor ambient temperature is less than or equal to the first temperature threshold.

[0067] If yes, execute S304 and S305; otherwise, execute S306 and S307.

[0068] S304, the processor determines the exit condition for the refrigerant recovery mode as the first exit condition. The first exit condition includes a suction temperature greater than or equal to a suction temperature threshold.

[0069] S305, the processor controls the air conditioner to operate in refrigerant recovery mode until the first exit condition is met.

[0070] S306, the processor determines the exit condition for the refrigerant recovery mode as the second exit condition. The second exit condition includes the compressor vapor pressure being less than or equal to a pressure threshold.

[0071] S307, the processor controls the air conditioner to operate in refrigerant recovery mode until the second exit condition is met.

[0072] Optionally, the first temperature threshold ranges from 15°C to 20°C. It can be 15°C, 16°C, 17°C, 18°C, 19°C, or 20°C.

[0073] Optionally, the first temperature threshold is equal to the first outdoor ambient temperature threshold. This helps establish the correlation between the outdoor ambient temperature, the refrigerant recovery mode, and the exit conditions, and enhances the correlation between control steps.

[0074] Optionally, the first exit condition includes: the difference between the indoor ambient temperature and the indoor coil temperature is greater than or equal to a first difference threshold; the compressor's suction temperature remains greater than or equal to a suction temperature threshold for a first duration; and the compressor's maximum current reaches a set current threshold. Only when all the first exit conditions are met will the air conditioner exit the refrigerant recovery mode to ensure a more thorough recovery of the refrigerant.

[0075] For ease of calculation and judgment, the difference between the indoor ambient temperature and the indoor coil temperature is the absolute value of the difference.

[0076] For example, the first exit condition includes: the difference between the indoor ambient temperature and the indoor coil temperature is greater than or equal to 4°C, the compressor suction temperature is maintained at greater than or equal to 25°C for 1 minute, and the compressor maximum current reaches 8 amps.

[0077] The first exit condition is for low-temperature stages when the outdoor ambient temperature is low. During refrigerant recovery under low-temperature conditions, as the refrigerant gradually decreases, the system internally exhibits an increase in suction temperature, a decrease in internal coil temperature, and an increase in ambient temperature. When the compressor's maximum current reaches 8 amps, it indicates that refrigerant recovery has reached its limit, and refrigerant recovery is complete. Therefore, when the outdoor ambient temperature is low, using the first exit condition can more accurately determine when refrigerant recovery ends.

[0078] Optionally, the second exit condition includes: the difference between the indoor ambient temperature and the indoor air outlet temperature is greater than or equal to a second difference threshold; and the vapor pressure of the compressor remains less than or equal to a pressure threshold for a second duration.

[0079] For ease of calculation and judgment, the difference between the indoor ambient temperature and the indoor air outlet temperature is the absolute value of the difference between the two. For example, the second exit condition includes: the difference between the indoor ambient temperature and the indoor air outlet temperature is greater than or equal to 4°C, and the vapor pressure of the compressor is maintained below 0.1 MPa for 10 seconds.

[0080] The second exit condition addresses stages with higher outdoor environmental temperatures. During refrigerant recovery under high-temperature conditions, as the refrigerant gradually decreases, the compressor's vapor pressure drops, the internal coil temperature decreases, and the ambient temperature rises. When the compressor's vapor pressure drops below 0.1 MPa, it indicates that very little refrigerant has undergone the state transition process, and the amount of refrigerant inside the compressor is nearing its limit, making further recovery impossible. Therefore, the first exit condition allows for a more accurate determination of when refrigerant recovery should end under high-temperature conditions.

[0081] Combination Figure 4 As shown in the embodiments of this disclosure, another method for refrigerant recovery is provided, including:

[0082] S401, the processor responds to the refrigerant recovery command and obtains the outdoor ambient temperature.

[0083] S402, the processor determines the refrigerant recovery mode based on the outdoor ambient temperature.

[0084] S403, the processor determines the exit condition of the current refrigerant recovery mode based on the preset mapping relationship between refrigerant recovery modes and exit conditions.

[0085] S404, the processor controls the air conditioner to operate in refrigerant recovery mode until the exit condition is met.

[0086] In addition to directly determining the refrigerant recovery mode based on the outdoor ambient temperature, a correlation can be established between the outdoor ambient temperature, the refrigerant recovery mode, and the exit conditions. After controlling the air conditioner to operate in refrigerant recovery mode based on the outdoor ambient temperature, the exit conditions are then determined based on the currently operating refrigerant recovery mode.

[0087] For example, with Figure 2Correspondingly, in the relevant description of the embodiments, when the outdoor ambient temperature is less than or equal to a first outdoor ambient temperature threshold, the processor determines the refrigerant recovery mode as the first refrigerant recovery mode; when the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than the first outdoor ambient temperature threshold but less than a second outdoor ambient temperature threshold, the processor determines the refrigerant recovery mode as the second refrigerant recovery mode; when the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the second outdoor ambient temperature threshold, the processor determines the refrigerant recovery mode as the third refrigerant recovery mode. When the current refrigerant recovery mode is the first refrigerant recovery mode, a first exit condition is selected as the end condition for refrigerant recovery. When the current refrigerant recovery mode is the second or third refrigerant recovery mode, a second exit condition is selected as the end condition for refrigerant recovery.

[0088] Combination Figure 5 As shown, this disclosure provides an apparatus 200 for refrigerant recovery, including a processor 50 and a memory 51. Optionally, the apparatus may further include a communication interface 52 and a bus 53. The processor 50, communication interface 52, and memory 51 can communicate with each other via the bus 53. The communication interface 52 can be used for information transmission. The processor 50 can call logical instructions in the memory 51 to execute the refrigerant recovery method described in the above embodiment.

[0089] Furthermore, the logic instructions in the aforementioned memory 51 can be implemented as software functional units and, when sold or used as independent products, can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium.

[0090] The memory 51, as a computer-readable storage medium, can be used to store software programs and computer-executable programs, such as program instructions / modules corresponding to the methods in the embodiments of this disclosure. The processor 50 executes functional applications and data processing by running the program instructions / modules stored in the memory 51, thereby implementing the method for refrigerant recovery in the above embodiments.

[0091] The memory 51 may include a program storage area and a data storage area. The program storage area may store the operating system and applications required for at least one function; the data storage area may store data created based on the use of the terminal device. Furthermore, the memory 51 may include high-speed random access memory and may also include non-volatile memory.

[0092] Combination Figure 6As shown, this disclosure provides an air conditioner 100, including an air conditioner body and the aforementioned refrigerant recovery device 200. The refrigerant recovery device 200 is installed on the air conditioner body. The installation relationship described herein is not limited to placement inside the product, but also includes installation connections with other components of the product, including but not limited to physical connections, electrical connections, or signal transmission connections. Those skilled in the art will understand that the refrigerant recovery device 200 can be adapted to feasible product bodies to achieve other feasible embodiments.

[0093] This disclosure provides a computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions configured to perform the above-described method for refrigerant recovery.

[0094] The aforementioned computer-readable storage medium may be a transient computer-readable storage medium or a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium.

[0095] The technical solutions of this disclosure can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes one or more instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the method described in this disclosure. The aforementioned storage medium can be a non-transitory storage medium, including: a USB flash drive, a portable hard drive, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk, and other media capable of storing program code; it can also be a transient storage medium.

[0096] The foregoing description and accompanying drawings fully illustrate embodiments of this disclosure to enable those skilled in the art to practice them. Other embodiments may include structural, logical, electrical, procedural, and other changes. The embodiments represent only possible variations. Individual components and functions are optional unless explicitly required, and the order of operation may vary. Parts and features of some embodiments may be included in or replace parts and features of other embodiments. Moreover, the terminology used in this application is for describing embodiments only and is not intended to limit the claims. As used in the description of embodiments and claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to equally include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Similarly, the term “and / or” as used in this application means including one or more of the associated listed items and all possible combinations thereof. Additionally, when used in this application, the term "comprise" and its variations "comprises" and / or "comprising" refer to the presence of stated features, integrals, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integrals, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprises a..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, or apparatus that includes said element. In this document, each embodiment may focus on the differences from other embodiments, and similar or identical parts between embodiments can be referred to mutually. For methods, products, etc., disclosed in the embodiments, if they correspond to the method section disclosed in the embodiments, the relevant parts can be referred to the description of the method section.

[0097] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of the embodiments of this disclosure. Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and units described above can be referred to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0098] The methods and products (including but not limited to devices and equipment) disclosed in the embodiments herein can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For instance, the division of units may be merely a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. In addition, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection between the shown or discussed units may be through some interfaces, and the indirect coupling or communication connection between devices or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms. The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units may be selected to implement this embodiment according to actual needs. Furthermore, the functional units in the embodiments of this disclosure may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

[0099] The flowcharts and block diagrams in the accompanying drawings illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to embodiments of this disclosure. In this regard, each block in a flowchart or block diagram may represent a module, segment, or portion of code containing one or more executable instructions for implementing a specified logical function. In some alternative implementations, the functions marked in the blocks may occur in a different order than that shown in the drawings. For example, two consecutive blocks may actually be executed substantially in parallel, and they may sometimes be executed in reverse order, depending on the functions involved. In the descriptions corresponding to the flowcharts and block diagrams in the accompanying drawings, the operations or steps corresponding to different blocks may also occur in a different order than disclosed in the description, and sometimes there is no specific order between different operations or steps. For example, two consecutive operations or steps may actually be executed substantially in parallel, and they may sometimes be executed in reverse order, depending on the functions involved. Each block in a block diagram and / or flowchart, and combinations of blocks in a block diagram and / or flowchart, can be implemented using a dedicated hardware-based system that performs the specified function or action, or using a combination of dedicated hardware and computer instructions.

Claims

1. A method for refrigerant recovery, applied to an air conditioner, characterized in that, include: In response to the refrigerant recovery command, the outdoor ambient temperature is obtained; The refrigerant recovery mode is determined based on the outdoor ambient temperature, and the conditions for exiting the refrigerant recovery mode are as follows: Control the air conditioner to operate in refrigerant recovery mode until the exit conditions are met. The conditions for exiting the refrigerant recovery mode, determined based on the outdoor ambient temperature, include: When the outdoor ambient temperature is less than or equal to the first temperature threshold, the exit condition for the refrigerant recovery mode is determined as the first exit condition. When the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than the first temperature threshold, the exit condition for the refrigerant recovery mode is determined as the second exit condition. The first exit condition includes the compressor's suction temperature being greater than or equal to the suction temperature threshold; the second exit condition includes the compressor's evaporation pressure being less than or equal to the pressure threshold.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The refrigerant recovery mode is determined based on the outdoor ambient temperature, including: The target operating frequency of the compressor is determined based on the outdoor ambient temperature. The target speed of the outdoor fan is determined based on the outdoor ambient temperature.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The target operating frequency of the compressor is determined based on the outdoor ambient temperature, including: When the outdoor ambient temperature is less than or equal to the first outdoor ambient temperature threshold, the target operating frequency of the compressor is determined to be the first frequency; When the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than the first ambient temperature threshold and less than the second ambient temperature threshold, the target operating frequency of the compressor is determined to be the second frequency. When the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the second outdoor ambient temperature threshold, the target operating frequency of the compressor is determined to be the third operating frequency; Among them, the first outdoor ambient temperature threshold is less than the second outdoor ambient temperature threshold, the first operating frequency is greater than the second operating frequency, and the second operating frequency is greater than the third operating frequency.

4. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The target speed of the outdoor fan is determined based on the outdoor ambient temperature, including: When the outdoor ambient temperature is less than or equal to the third outdoor ambient temperature threshold, the target speed of the outdoor fan is determined to be the first speed. When the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than the third outdoor ambient temperature threshold and less than the fourth outdoor ambient temperature threshold, the target speed of the outdoor fan is determined to be the second speed. When the outdoor ambient temperature is greater than or equal to the fourth outdoor ambient temperature threshold, the speed of the outdoor fan is determined to be the third speed. Among them, the third outdoor ambient temperature threshold is less than or equal to the fourth outdoor ambient temperature threshold; the first rotational speed is less than the third rotational speed, and the second rotational speed is greater than or equal to the first rotational speed and less than or equal to the third rotational speed.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, The refrigerant recovery mode is determined based on the outdoor ambient temperature, and the conditions for exiting the refrigerant recovery mode also include: The refrigerant recovery mode is determined based on the outdoor ambient temperature. The exit conditions for the current refrigerant recovery mode are determined based on the mapping relationship between the preset refrigerant recovery mode and the exit conditions.

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, Air conditioners include: The switching component is located on the downstream side of the throttling device in the air conditioner. Control the air conditioner to operate in refrigerant recovery mode until the exit conditions are met, including: If the exit condition is met, the switch component is controlled to close.

7. An apparatus for refrigerant recovery, comprising a processor and a memory storing program instructions, characterized in that, The processor is configured to perform the method for refrigerant recovery as described in any one of claims 1 to 6 when executing the program instructions.

8. An air conditioner, characterized in that, include: Air conditioner body; The refrigerant recovery device as described in claim 7 is installed on the air conditioner body.

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

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