Control method of air conditioning unit and air conditioning unit

Abstract

The application provides a control method of an air conditioning unit and the air conditioning unit. The air conditioning unit has multiple air outlets. A cabin is divided into multiple areas from top to bottom. Each area is connected with at least one air outlet. The control method comprises the following steps: when the temperature or humidity of the cabin does not meet the use requirement, the target temperature or target humidity of the middle area of the cabin is adjusted, and the target temperature or target humidity of other areas is set by compensation based on the target temperature or target humidity of the middle area; and the air valve opening degree of each area is controlled so that the temperature detected by each area is close to or equal to the target temperature. The cabin is divided into multiple areas, and air supply control is performed on each area, so that the temperature control in the cabin is more accurate. The temperature on the air outlet side of the condenser and the humidity on the air outlet side of the evaporator are corrected, and the temperature and humidity control efficiency of the unit is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of air conditioning temperature and humidity control technology, specifically to a control method for an air conditioning unit and an air conditioning unit. Background Technology

[0002] Air conditioning systems for liquefied natural gas (LNG) vessel cargo tanks are gradually emerging in the domestic market. The market generally adopts a combination of rotary dehumidifiers and refrigeration units. The principle is that the rotary system provides dehumidification, the refrigeration system provides cooling in summer, and electric heating provides heating in winter. However, effectively solving the problem of temperature and humidity uniformity in the air supplied by the air conditioning system within the cargo tank has become a common challenge in the industry. To address this challenge, the developed heat pump dehumidification air conditioning system for LNG vessel cargo tanks must ensure that the air temperature inside the tank is maintained at 20–30°C and the relative humidity (RH) is below 70% during operation. More importantly, condensation must be avoided inside the tank to ensure the normal operation of the equipment.

[0003] Meeting the stringent indoor environmental requirements of GTT (Gaztransport & Technigaz) under different climate conditions is the core objective of this system design. However, existing heat pump dehumidification air conditioning systems for LNG ship cargo tanks have low levels of automation in cooling and heating, and cannot achieve precise constant temperature and humidity control inside the tank. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In order to solve the technical problem of poor temperature and humidity control effect of heat pump dehumidification air conditioning for liquid cargo tanks in the prior art, the present invention proposes a control method for an air conditioning unit and an air conditioning unit.

[0005] The technical solution adopted in this invention is:

[0006] This invention proposes a control method for an air conditioning unit, wherein the air conditioning unit has multiple air outlets, the compartment is divided into multiple zones from top to bottom, and each zone is connected to at least one of the air outlets. The control method includes the following steps:

[0007] If the temperature or humidity of the compartment does not meet the usage requirements, adjust the target temperature or humidity of the compartment located in the middle area, and use the target temperature or humidity of the middle area as a benchmark to compensate for setting the target temperature or humidity of other areas;

[0008] Control the opening of the air valves at the air outlets of each area to ensure that the detected temperature in each area is close to or equal to the target temperature.

[0009] Furthermore, the target humidity or target temperature in the area above the intermediate region is obtained by subtracting the corresponding compensation value, and the target humidity or target temperature in the area below the intermediate region is obtained by adding the corresponding compensation value.

[0010] Furthermore, when the unit is in cooling mode, controlling the opening of the air valves at the air outlets of each zone to ensure that the detected temperature in each zone is close to or equal to the target temperature specifically includes:

[0011] When the temperature in a region is greater than the target temperature for that region, and the temperature change over a preset time is less than the preset change, increase the opening of the damper in that region.

[0012] When the temperature in a region is lower than the target temperature for that region, and the temperature change over a preset time is less than the preset change, the opening of the damper in that region is reduced.

[0013] Specifically, when the opening of the damper in any area is increased to the maximum opening, and the temperature of that area is still greater than the target temperature of that area, and the temperatures of other areas are all greater than or equal to the corresponding target temperatures of other areas, the operating frequency of the compressor is increased to change the heat exchange capacity of the functional heat exchanger and reduce the outlet air temperature of the functional heat exchanger of the unit.

[0014] Furthermore, when the unit is in heating mode, controlling the opening of the air valves at the air outlets of each zone to ensure that the detected temperature in each zone is close to or equal to the target temperature specifically includes:

[0015] When the temperature in a region is greater than the target temperature for that region, and the temperature change over a preset time is less than the preset change, reduce the opening of the damper in that region.

[0016] When the temperature in a region is lower than the target temperature for that region, and the temperature change over a preset time is less than the preset change, the opening of the air valve in that region is increased.

[0017] Specifically, when the opening of the damper in any area is increased to the maximum opening, and the temperature of that area is still lower than the target temperature of that area, and the temperatures of other areas are all lower than or equal to the corresponding target temperatures of other areas, the operating frequency of the compressor is increased to change the heat exchange capacity of the functional heat exchanger and increase the outlet air temperature of the functional heat exchanger of the unit.

[0018] Preferably, before controlling the opening of the air valves at the air outlets of each area to make the temperature detected in each area approach or equal to the target temperature, the target air volume corresponding to the target temperature of each area is first obtained, and the opening of the air valves in each area is controlled to make the actual air volume of each area equal to or close to the target air volume.

[0019] Furthermore, since the temperature of the compartment does not meet the usage requirements, the target temperature of the compartment in the middle area is adjusted as follows:

[0020] If the temperature at any temperature measuring point inside the cabin exceeds the preset temperature range, it is determined that the temperature of the cabin does not meet the usage requirements.

[0021] When the temperature at any temperature measuring point inside the cabin exceeds the maximum value of the preset temperature range, the target temperature in the middle area of ​​the cabin will be reduced to the first preset temperature.

[0022] When the temperature at any temperature measurement point inside the cabin exceeds the minimum value of the preset temperature range, the target temperature in the middle area of ​​the cabin will be increased to a second preset temperature.

[0023] Furthermore, after adjusting the target temperature in the middle zone of the compartment,

[0024] Determine whether the outlet air temperature of the unit's functional heat exchanger is equal to the target temperature;

[0025] If so, the unit will continue operating in its current state;

[0026] If not, adjust the compressor frequency to change the heat exchange capacity of the functional heat exchanger until the air outlet temperature of the unit's functional heat exchanger is equal to the target temperature or within the deviation range of the target temperature.

[0027] Furthermore, after adjusting the target humidity in the middle area of ​​the cabin,

[0028] Determine whether the humidity on the outlet side of the unit's heat recovery heat exchanger is equal to the target humidity;

[0029] If so, the unit will continue operating in its current state;

[0030] If not, adjust the refrigerant flow rate of the heat recovery heat exchanger to change the heat exchange capacity until the humidity on the outlet side of the heat recovery heat exchanger of the unit is equal to the target humidity or within the deviation range of the target humidity. If the refrigerant flow rate of the heat recovery heat exchanger has been adjusted to the maximum preset flow rate, adjust the electric heating power of the rotary dehumidifier to make the humidity on the outlet side of the heat recovery heat exchanger of the unit equal to the target humidity or within the deviation range of the target humidity.

[0031] The present invention also proposes an air conditioning unit, comprising: an air supply duct, and a rotary dehumidifier adsorption zone, a functional heat exchanger, and a heat recovery heat exchanger installed in the air supply duct and arranged sequentially along the airflow direction. The functional heat exchanger and the heat recovery heat exchanger are both connected to a refrigerant circulation loop, and the above-described control method is used to control the temperature and humidity of the cabin.

[0032] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following advantages:

[0033] 1. Divide the cabin into zones and control the air supply to each zone to make the temperature control inside the cabin more precise.

[0034] 2. By using the central area as a benchmark, adjusting the target temperature of other areas, and independently controlling the air supply outlets of each area, the temperature and humidity control in the cabin becomes more targeted and reasonable, reducing temperature and humidity fluctuations in each area and ensuring the stability of temperature and humidity in the cabin.

[0035] 3. Improve the unit's temperature and humidity control efficiency by adjusting the condenser outlet temperature and evaporator outlet humidity. Attached Figure Description

[0036] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0037] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of an embodiment of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 2 This is a control flowchart in an embodiment of the present invention that does not meet the temperature and humidity requirements;

[0039] Figure 3 This is a flowchart of the target temperature control in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the air conditioning unit of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the air handling process of the air conditioning unit of the present invention;

[0042] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the cabin control of the marine air conditioning system of the present invention;

[0043] 1. Chassis; 2. Air supply duct; 21. Fresh air inlet; 22. Return air inlet; 3. Compressor; 4. Rotary dehumidifier; 5. Functional heat exchanger; 6. Heat recovery heat exchanger; 7. Air supply fan; 8. Outdoor unit heat exchange duct; 81. Condensate air outlet; 9. Outdoor unit heat exchange assembly; 10. Regeneration duct; 11. Regeneration fan; 12. Regeneration air outlet; 13. Fresh air filter; 14. Return air filter; 15. Electric heating device; 16. Air supply end; 17. Return air end; 18. Temperature and humidity sensor; 100. Air conditioning unit; 200. Cabin. Detailed Implementation

[0044] To make the technical problems to be solved, the technical solutions, and the beneficial effects of the present invention clearer, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0045] The principles and structure of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0046] Existing heat pump dehumidification air conditioning systems for LNG carrier cargo tanks have low levels of automation in cooling and heating, and cannot achieve precise and constant temperature and humidity control within the tank. Moreover, the overall tank area is too large, and adjusting the entire tank can easily lead to excessive temperature regulation, causing some areas to exceed the appropriate temperature range and affecting the required temperature and humidity levels within the tank.

[0047] like Figure 1 As shown, this invention proposes a control method for an air conditioning unit, specifically a heat pump dehumidifying air conditioner, mainly used for temperature and humidity control in a large area of ​​the cabin. The cabin is divided into multiple zones from top to bottom, and the air conditioning unit has multiple air supply ducts (i.e., multiple air outlets). Each zone of the cabin is connected to at least one air outlet. The control method specifically includes:

[0048] Preset start-up time for the generating unit;

[0049] If the temperature or humidity of the cabin does not meet the usage requirements, i.e. the temperature and humidity are out of range, adjust the target temperature or humidity of the cabin in the middle area, and use the target temperature or humidity of the middle area as a benchmark to compensate and set the target temperature or humidity of other areas; control the opening of the air valve of each area's air outlet so that the temperature detected in each area is close to or equal to the target temperature.

[0050] If the temperature or humidity of the cabin meets the usage requirements, that is, the humidity and temperature are within the corresponding range, then each area of ​​the cabin will maintain the original target temperature operation, and no adjustments will be made to the unit.

[0051] If the temperature and humidity of the cabin deviate from the preset temperature and humidity range, it means that the current target temperature or humidity may not be suitable for each area to adjust the temperature and humidity quickly. The target temperature needs to be adjusted. Since the cold air tends to sink, and the upper level of the cabin is generally a light-exposed area while the lower level is generally underwater, the external influence on the interior is different. Therefore, the target temperature of other areas is adjusted based on the middle area, and the air supply control of each area is carried out in zones to make the temperature and humidity in the cabin more balanced and meet the corresponding temperature and humidity requirements, while the temperature and humidity fluctuations are smaller.

[0052] By dividing the cabin into zones and controlling the air supply to each zone, temperature control within the cabin becomes more precise. By using the central zone as a baseline and adjusting the target temperature for other zones, and by independently controlling the air supply to each zone's air vents, temperature and humidity control within the cabin becomes more targeted and reasonable, reducing temperature and humidity fluctuations and ensuring stability of temperature and humidity within the cabin.

[0053] To avoid ambiguity, the above control is described in detail as follows: If the temperature of the cabin does not meet the usage requirements, i.e., the temperature is out of range, the target temperature of the cabin in the middle area is adjusted, and the target temperature of other areas is set as a compensation based on the target temperature of the middle area; If the humidity of the cabin does not meet the usage requirements, i.e., the humidity is out of range, the target humidity of the cabin in the middle area is adjusted, and the target humidity of other areas is set as a compensation based on the target humidity of the middle area.

[0054] Control the opening of the air valves at the air outlets of each area to ensure that the detected temperature in each area is close to or equal to the target temperature.

[0055] In a specific embodiment, when the unit is in cooling mode or heating mode, the target humidity of the area above the middle zone is obtained by subtracting the corresponding compensation humidity, and the target humidity of the area below the middle zone is obtained by adding the corresponding compensation humidity.

[0056] For example, if the target humidity in the middle area is 60%, then the target humidity in the upper area can be reduced by 2% to 58%; the target humidity in the lower area can be increased by 2% to 62%.

[0057] When the unit is in cooling or heating mode, the density of the humid air is low and it tends to rise, so humidity tends to accumulate in the upper area, resulting in higher humidity in the upper area. By setting the target humidity of the upper area to be relatively low and the target humidity of the lower area to be relatively high, the humidity of the upper and lower areas can be kept away from the extreme values ​​of the humidity range when humidity fluctuates.

[0058] In a specific embodiment,

[0059] When the unit is in cooling mode, the target temperature of the area above the middle zone is obtained by subtracting the corresponding compensation value, and the target temperature of the area below the middle zone is obtained by adding the corresponding compensation value.

[0060] When the unit is in heating mode, the target temperature of the area above the middle zone is obtained by adding the corresponding compensation value, and the target temperature of the area below the middle zone is obtained by subtracting the corresponding compensation value.

[0061] For example, the eight areas inside the cabin can be divided into three zones from top to bottom: the top three layers are the upper zone with a target temperature of T1; the middle two layers are the middle zone with a target temperature of T2; and the bottom three layers are the lower zone with a target temperature of T3.

[0062] In cooling mode, the target temperature T1 is preset to 22℃, the target temperature T2 is preset to 25℃, and the target temperature T3 is preset to 28℃. A 3℃ decrease is used as a compensation temperature, and the different target temperatures inside the cabin are used to control the temperature inside the three areas to be close to 25℃.

[0063] In cooling mode, the upper region is more difficult to cool than other regions (due to external environmental factors such as sunlight), and is more likely to reach its temperature limit. Therefore, its target temperature and humidity can be set lower than those of the middle region to increase the cooling capacity supplied. This way, even with large temperature fluctuations, the upper region can still remain within the preset temperature range. Conversely, due to the downward movement of cold air and the upward movement of humid air, the lower region is more likely to reach its lower temperature limit, so its target temperature and humidity can be set higher.

[0064] When the unit is in heating mode, it is necessary to heat the cabin. The upper part is relatively easy to heat up, so its target temperature is set lower than that of the middle area to reduce the heat supply. The lower part is relatively difficult to heat up, so its target temperature is set higher than that of the middle area to increase the heat supply.

[0065] In a specific embodiment, when the unit is in cooling mode, controlling the opening of the air valves at the air outlets of each area to ensure that the detected temperature in each area is close to or equal to the target temperature specifically includes:

[0066] When the temperature in a region is greater than the target temperature for that region, and the temperature change over a preset time is less than the preset change, increase the opening of the damper in that region.

[0067] When the temperature in a region is lower than the target temperature for that region, and the temperature change over a preset time is less than the preset change, reduce the opening of the air valve in that region.

[0068] In cooling mode, if the temperature in a zone is high and does not change significantly over a long period of time, and does not approach the target temperature, the air supply may be insufficient. It is necessary to increase the opening of the air valve in that zone to increase the cooling supply. Conversely, if the temperature in a zone is lower than the target temperature, it indicates that the cooling supply is too high. It is necessary to reduce the opening of the air valve to decrease the cooling supply and allow the temperature in the zone to rise automatically.

[0069] In a further embodiment, when the opening of the air valve in any region is increased to the maximum opening, and the temperature in that region is still greater than the target temperature of that region, and the temperatures in other regions are all greater than or equal to the target temperatures of other regions, that is, when there are no regions with excessive cooling supply, the operating frequency of the compressor is increased to change the heat exchange capacity of the functional heat exchanger and reduce the air outlet temperature of the unit's functional heat exchanger.

[0070] When the air valves in one or more areas are opened to the maximum, but the temperature cannot be reduced to the target temperature corresponding to the area, it indicates that the cooling capacity supply on the unit side is insufficient. By increasing the operating frequency of the compressor, the heat exchange capacity of the functional heat exchanger (i.e., the evaporator) is changed, thereby reducing the temperature of the air outlet side of the functional heat exchanger of the unit, increasing the cooling capacity of the unit, and bringing the areas with higher temperatures closer to their set target temperatures.

[0071] In a specific embodiment, when the unit is in heating mode, controlling the opening of the air valves at the air outlets of each area to ensure that the detected temperature in each area is close to or equal to the target temperature specifically includes:

[0072] When the temperature in a region is greater than the target temperature for that region, and the temperature change over a preset time is less than the preset change, reduce the opening of the damper in that region.

[0073] When the temperature in a region is lower than the target temperature for that region, and the temperature change over a preset time is less than the preset change, increase the opening of the air valve in that region.

[0074] In heating mode, since heat is supplied to various areas within the cabin, the larger the opening of the air damper, the greater the heat supply and the higher the temperature rise rate, which is the opposite of cooling mode. Therefore, when the temperature of an area is lower than the target temperature for that area, the air damper needs to be opened more. When the temperature of an area is higher than the target temperature for that area, the air damper needs to be opened less.

[0075] In a further embodiment, when the opening degree of the air valve in any region is increased to the maximum opening degree, and the temperature of that region is still lower than the target temperature of that region, and the temperatures of other regions are all lower than or equal to the target temperatures of other regions, the operating frequency of the compressor is increased to change the heating capacity of the functional heat exchanger, i.e., the condenser, and to increase the outlet air temperature of the unit's functional heat exchanger, i.e., the condenser.

[0076] When the air valves in one or more areas are opened to the maximum, but the temperature cannot be raised to the target temperature corresponding to the area, it indicates that the heat supply on the unit side is insufficient. By increasing the operating frequency of the compressor, the heating capacity of the functional heat exchanger (condenser) is changed, thereby increasing the temperature of the air outlet side of the functional heat exchanger of the unit and increasing the heating capacity of the unit, so that the areas with low temperatures are close to their set target temperatures.

[0077] In a specific embodiment, before the air valve opening of each area is controlled to make the temperature of each area close to or equal to the target temperature, the target air volume corresponding to the target temperature of each area is obtained, and the air valve opening of each area is controlled to make the actual air volume of each area equal to or close to the target air volume.

[0078] This involves setting up air volume sensors in each area to detect the air volume supplied by the air outlets, and simultaneously presetting a target air volume for each target temperature. This allows the air valve opening to be quickly adjusted to a suitable level, which is faster than adjusting by temperature and reduces the number of times the air valve needs to be adjusted.

[0079] For example, if the air volume supplied to a certain area is less than the target air volume, the opening of the air supply valve in the relevant area will be increased according to the valve adjustment step (5%). If the air volume supplied to a certain area is detected to be greater than the target air volume, the opening of the air supply valve in that area will be reduced. If the air volume supplied is close to the target air volume, the valve opening will be adjusted based on the target temperature condition.

[0080] like Figure 2 , 3 As shown, in a specific embodiment, the temperature of the compartment does not meet the usage requirements. Adjusting the target temperature of the compartment in the intermediate zone is specifically as follows:

[0081] If the temperature at any temperature measuring point inside the cabin exceeds the preset temperature range, it is determined that the temperature of the cabin does not meet the usage requirements.

[0082] When the temperature at any temperature measuring point inside the cabin exceeds the maximum value of the preset temperature range, the target temperature in the middle area of ​​the cabin will be reduced to the first preset temperature.

[0083] When the temperature at any temperature measurement point inside the cabin exceeds the minimum value of the preset temperature range, the target temperature in the middle area of ​​the cabin will be increased to a second preset temperature.

[0084] like Figure 3 As shown, both the first and second preset temperatures can be 0.5°C, with a preset temperature range between 21 and 29°C. This keeps the cabin temperature consistently below 27°C and at an altitude of 22°C, ensuring that the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is between 20 and 30°C.

[0085] The adjustment method for target humidity is the same as that for target temperature, that is:

[0086] If the humidity at any humidity measuring point inside the cabin exceeds the preset humidity range, the humidity of the cabin is determined to be unacceptable.

[0087] When the temperature at any humidity measuring point inside the cabin exceeds the maximum value of the preset humidity range, the target humidity in the middle area of ​​the cabin will be reduced to the first preset humidity.

[0088] When the temperature at any humidity measurement point inside the cabin exceeds the minimum value of the preset humidity range, the target humidity in the middle area of ​​the cabin is increased to the second preset humidity.

[0089] If the cabin temperature exceeds the preset temperature and humidity range, in order to reduce damage to the cabin equipment and stored items, the cooling or heating efficiency is changed by adjusting the target temperature, so that the cabin temperature can be quickly restored to the preset temperature and humidity range.

[0090] In a specific embodiment, after adjusting the target temperature of the compartment located in the middle region...

[0091] Determine whether the outlet air temperature of the unit's functional heat exchanger is equal to the target temperature;

[0092] If so, maintain the current operating status of the unit;

[0093] If not, adjust the compressor frequency to change the heat exchange capacity of the functional heat exchanger until the air outlet temperature of the unit's functional heat exchanger is equal to the target temperature or within the deviation range of the target temperature.

[0094] The heat exchanger functions as an evaporator in cooling mode and a condenser in heating mode. Its outlet air temperature directly affects the target temperature. First, adjust it to be close to the target temperature (within the target temperature deviation range, specifically ±0.5°C) or equal to the target temperature to quickly match the unit's cooling and heating capacity with the demand.

[0095] In a specific embodiment, under cooling mode, after adjusting the target humidity in the middle area of ​​the compartment...

[0096] Determine whether the humidity on the outlet side of the unit's heat recovery heat exchanger is equal to the target humidity;

[0097] If so, maintain the current operating status of the unit;

[0098] If not, adjust the refrigerant flow rate of the heat recovery heat exchanger to change the heat exchange capacity until the humidity on the outlet side of the heat recovery heat exchanger of the unit is equal to the target humidity or within the range of deviation from the target humidity. If the refrigerant flow rate of the heat recovery heat exchanger has been adjusted to the maximum flow rate, adjust the electric heating power of the rotary dehumidifier to make the humidity on the outlet side of the heat recovery heat exchanger of the unit equal to the target humidity or within the range of deviation from the target humidity.

[0099] In cooling mode, the humidity on the outlet side of the heat recovery heat exchanger directly affects the target temperature and has the highest priority. By prioritizing the adjustment of the humidity on the outlet side of the heat recovery heat exchanger to be close to or equal to the target humidity, it can match the dehumidification requirements of the cabin.

[0100] It should also be noted that in heating mode, the functional heat exchanger is a condenser, and the humidity on its outlet side has the highest priority. In order to avoid the adjustment of the compressor frequency affecting the air supply temperature, the electric heating power of the rotary dehumidifier is directly adjusted to make the humidity on the outlet side of the unit's functional heat exchanger (condenser) equal to the target humidity or within the range of deviation from the target humidity.

[0101] The present invention also proposes an air conditioning unit, including an air supply duct, and a rotary dehumidifier adsorption zone, a functional heat exchanger, and a heat recovery heat exchanger installed in the air supply duct and arranged sequentially along the airflow direction. The functional heat exchanger and the heat recovery heat exchanger are both connected to the refrigerant circulation loop, and the temperature and humidity in the cabin are adjusted using the above-mentioned control method.

[0102] It utilizes multi-stage refrigeration dehumidification and condensation heat recovery to replace the existing conversion dehumidification technology, and performs zoned temperature and humidity control in the cabin to achieve precise constant temperature and humidity regulation.

[0103] like Figure 4 As shown, the air conditioning unit 100 also includes multiple temperature and humidity sensors 18 distributed in eight small areas from top to bottom in the cabin 200 (the temperature and humidity of the upper area, middle area, and lower area are obtained by averaging the values ​​of the small areas), and the controller receives the detection data of each temperature and humidity sensor 18. The air conditioning unit 100 is controlled by the controller.

[0104] The compartment 200 is equipped with an air supply vent 16 and a return air vent 17 connected to the air conditioning unit 100. The return air vent 17 is located at the bottom of the compartment 200. Each small area is connected to a return air vent, and the return air vent is equipped with a proportional damper to control the opening size and can be controlled individually.

[0105] like Figure 5 , 6 As shown, the chassis 1 is divided to form an air supply channel 2. The air supply channel 2 is equipped with the adsorption zone of the rotary dehumidifier 4, at least two stages of functional heat exchangers 5, and a heat recovery heat exchanger 6, which are arranged sequentially along the airflow direction. The air supply channel 2 is equipped with a blower 7 that drives the airflow. The functional heat exchangers 5 and the heat recovery heat exchanger 6 are both connected in the refrigerant circulation loop, and the functional heat exchangers at each stage are set in parallel and can work independently to participate in the refrigerant circulation.

[0106] The refrigerant circulation loop includes a compressor 3, a throttling element, at least two parallel functional heat exchangers 5, and a heat recovery heat exchanger 6. The throttling element can be an electronic expansion valve. When the refrigerant circulation loop is in cooling mode, the functional heat exchanger 5 acts as an evaporator, and the heat recovery heat exchanger 6 acts as a condenser. The refrigerant flow direction is as follows: the high-temperature refrigerant discharged from the compressor 3 enters the heat recovery heat exchanger 6 for condensation and cooling, passes through the throttling element, and is sent to the functional heat exchanger 5 for heat absorption and evaporation, before returning to the compressor 3.

[0107] When the refrigerant circulation loop is in cooling mode, all functional heat exchangers 5 are turned on. The airflow direction is that after the airflow passes through each functional heat exchanger 5 for step-by-step cooling and dehumidification, the temperature will be significantly lower than the usage requirements. The low-temperature airflow is then sent to the single-stage heat recovery heat exchanger 6 for condensation heat recovery and heating treatment, so that the temperature of the airflow sent into the room meets the usage requirements, which can ensure comfort and prevent condensation in the room.

[0108] Although the air supply duct 2 is equipped with a rotary dehumidifier 4, the function of the rotary dehumidifier 4 is as a backup dehumidifier, that is, the rotary dehumidifier 4 is usually turned on according to the above control requirements.

[0109] Based on the aforementioned air supply duct 2, in some embodiments, the chassis 1 is further divided to form an outdoor unit heat exchange duct 8. The outdoor unit heat exchange duct 8 is equipped with an outdoor unit heat exchange component 9, which includes an outdoor unit heat exchanger and an outdoor fan that drives the airflow. The outdoor unit heat exchanger is also connected to the refrigerant circulation loop, and the outdoor unit heat exchanger and the heat recovery heat exchanger 6 are arranged in parallel. The outdoor unit heat exchanger and the heat recovery heat exchanger 6 can work independently and participate in the refrigerant circulation. The refrigerant flow rate of the outdoor unit heat exchanger and the heat recovery heat exchanger 6 can be adjusted by valves to change the refrigerant flow ratio, thereby changing the heat exchange capacity of the heat recovery heat exchanger 6 to adjust the humidity.

[0110] Specifically, the refrigerant circulation loop includes a compressor 3, a throttling element, at least two stages of functional heat exchangers 5 connected in parallel, and a heat recovery heat exchanger 6 and an outdoor unit heat exchange assembly 9 connected in parallel. When the refrigerant circulation loop is in heating mode, the functional heat exchanger 5 is selectively turned on, and the heat recovery heat exchanger 6 is turned off. The turned-on functional heat exchanger 5 acts as a condenser, and the outdoor unit heat exchange assembly 9 acts as an evaporator. The refrigerant flow direction is that the high-temperature refrigerant discharged from the compressor 3 enters the turned-on functional heat exchanger 5 for condensation and cooling, passes through the throttling element and is sent to the outdoor unit heat exchange assembly 9 for heat absorption and evaporation, and then returns to the compressor 3.

[0111] When the refrigerant circulation loop is in heating mode, select the number of functional heat exchangers 5 to be turned on according to the heating demand, and turn off the heat recovery heat exchanger 6. The airflow direction is that the airflow passes through the turned-on functional heat exchanger 5 for heating, and the hot airflow passes through the turned-off heat recovery heat exchanger 6 and is finally sent into the room.

[0112] This invention designs an outdoor unit heat exchange channel 8 and an outdoor unit heat exchange component 9. In heating mode, at least one functional heat exchanger 5 is activated as a condenser and the outdoor unit heat exchange component 9 is activated as an evaporator. The condenser is used to replace the existing electric heating device to provide heat, making the air conditioning unit more energy-efficient and reliable.

[0113] It should be understood that a good heating effect can be achieved by turning on the first-stage functional heat exchanger 5 as a condenser. In cases where the indoor heat demand is large or the outdoor ambient temperature is low, it is possible to turn on two or more functional heat exchangers 5 as condensers to increase the heat supply.

[0114] In addition, in some embodiments, the air supply duct 2 is also equipped with an electric heating device 15. When the electric heating device 15 is turned on, it heats the airflow. The electric heating device 15 can be installed on the air outlet side of the heat recovery heat exchanger 6. The present invention does not impose any special restrictions on this.

[0115] The electric heating device 15 serves as a backup heater; it is normally not turned on, but is activated under special conditions to ensure the indoor temperature meets usage requirements. These special conditions can be designed according to actual circumstances. For example, in heating mode, if adjusting the compressor 3 and the electronic expansion valve to the most unfavorable setting still fails to meet usage requirements, the electric heating device 15 will then be activated.

[0116] Based on the aforementioned air supply duct 2, in some embodiments, the chassis 1 is further divided to form a regeneration duct 10. This regeneration duct 10 contains a regeneration heater arranged sequentially along the airflow direction, and a regeneration zone of the rotary dehumidifier 4. A regeneration fan 11, which drives the airflow, is also installed within the regeneration duct 10. After the rotary dehumidifier 4 is turned on, the regeneration fan 11 drives the regeneration air through the regeneration heater into the regeneration zone of the rotary dehumidifier 4, and then discharges it from the regeneration duct 10.

[0117] The regeneration channel 10 and the air supply channel 2 of this invention are designed to be separated to avoid mutual interference of airflow and improve the air handling efficiency of the unit. Furthermore, in embodiments where the air supply channel 2, the outdoor unit heat exchange channel 8, and the regeneration channel 10 are designed simultaneously, these three channels are all separated. A fresh air filter 13 and a return air filter 14 are also installed within the air supply channel 2. The fresh air filter 13 is located on the air inlet side of the adsorption zone of the rotary dehumidifier 4, and the return air filter 14 is located on the air outlet side of the adsorption zone of the rotary dehumidifier 4. The air supply duct 2 is equipped with a fresh air inlet 21, a return air inlet 22, and an air supply outlet. The function of the fresh air inlet 21 and the return air inlet 22 is to introduce airflow into the air supply duct 2, and the function of the air supply outlet is to send the treated airflow in the air supply duct 2 out to the room. The fresh air inlet 21 is located on the air inlet side of the adsorption zone of the rotary dehumidifier 4, and the return air inlet 22 is located on the air outlet side of the adsorption zone of the rotary dehumidifier 4. Outdoor fresh air flows into the air supply duct from the air inlet side of the adsorption zone of the rotary dehumidifier 4, and indoor return air flows into the air supply duct 2 from the air outlet side of the adsorption zone of the rotary dehumidifier 4.

[0118] For applications such as ships or coastal areas, the fresh air filter 13 includes a pre-filter, a salt mist filter, and a chemical filter, and the return air filter 14 includes a pre-filter and a chemical filter. The pre-filter is mainly responsible for filtering coarse particles and dust in the air and protecting the components in the air supply duct from blockage. The salt mist filter effectively blocks the entry of humid air containing salt into the components in the air supply duct, preventing salt mist from corroding and damaging the components. The chemical filter uses chemical filter media and catalysts to effectively adsorb and decompose molecular pollutants (such as sulfides, nitrogen oxides, etc.) in the air, thereby removing harmful gases and purifying the air supplied to the room.

[0119] To illustrate with an application example of the present invention, the air supply duct 2, the outdoor unit heat exchange duct 8, and the regeneration duct 10 all receive air from the side. The air inlets for the air supply duct 2 are a fresh air inlet 21 and a return air inlet 22. The air inlet for the outdoor unit heat exchange duct 8 is a condenser air inlet 81. The air inlet for the regeneration duct 10 is a regeneration air inlet 12. Because... Figure 1 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the unit. The above-mentioned air outlets are located on the side not shown. Therefore, the fresh air outlet 21, return air outlet 22, condenser air outlet 81, and regeneration air outlet 12 are represented by dashed lines. The components installed in the air supply duct 2 are in the following order: fresh air filter 13, adsorption zone of rotary dehumidifier 4, return air filter 14, two-stage functional heat exchanger 5, single-stage heat recovery heat exchanger 6, electric heating device 15, and air supply fan 7. A water collection tray is provided below the functional heat exchanger 5 and the heat recovery heat exchanger 6.

[0120] In this application example, the air handling process of the air supply duct in summer cooling mode is as follows: Outdoor fresh air enters the air supply duct 2 from the fresh air inlet 21, passes through the fresh air filter 13, and then passes through the rotary dehumidifier 4 to mix with the return air supplied from the return air inlet 22. The mixed airflow is cooled and dehumidified by the two-stage functional heat exchanger 5, and then passes through the single-stage heat recovery heat exchanger 6 to absorb heat and raise the temperature. The treated air passes through the electric heating device 15 and is sent into the cabin by the blower 7.

[0121] In this application example, the air handling process of the air supply duct in winter heating mode is as follows: outdoor fresh air enters the air supply duct from the fresh air inlet 21, passes through the fresh air filter 13, and then passes through the rotary dehumidifier 4 to mix with the return air supplied from the return air inlet. The mixed airflow passes through the primary functional heat exchanger 5 to absorb heat and increase temperature. The treated air passes through the heat recovery heat exchanger 6 and the electric heating device 15, and is then sent into the cabin by the blower 7.

[0122] To improve the control accuracy of the unit, in some embodiments, temperature and humidity sensors are installed on the air outlet side of both the functional heat exchanger 5 and the heat recovery heat exchanger 6. The advantage of this design is that the temperature and humidity sensors on the air outlet side of each heat exchanger can provide real-time feedback on the air handling status. The data fed back by the temperature and humidity sensors can be used to achieve multi-stage segmented control and precise temperature and humidity control.

[0123] It should be noted that the terminology used above is for describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. As used herein, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular form is intended to include the plural form as well. Furthermore, it should be understood that when the terms "comprising" and / or "including" are used in this specification, they indicate the presence of features, steps, operations, devices, components, and / or combinations thereof.

[0124] Unless otherwise specifically stated, the relative arrangement, numerical expressions, and values ​​of the components and steps set forth in these embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention. It should also be understood that, for ease of description, the dimensions of the various parts shown in the drawings are not drawn to actual scale. Techniques, methods, and devices known to those skilled in the art may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, such techniques, methods, and devices should be considered part of the specification. In all examples shown and discussed herein, any specific values ​​should be interpreted as merely exemplary and not as limitations. Therefore, other examples of exemplary embodiments may have different values. It should be noted that similar reference numerals and letters in the following figures denote similar items; therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it need not be further discussed in subsequent figures.

[0125] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by directional terms such as "front, back, up, down, left, right", "horizontal, vertical, horizontal" and "top, bottom" is generally based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and is only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description. Unless otherwise stated, these directional terms do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation on the scope of protection of this invention; the directional terms "inner" and "outer" refer to the inner and outer contours relative to the outline of each component itself.

[0126] For ease of description, spatial relative terms such as "above," "on top of," "on the upper surface of," "above," etc., are used herein to describe the spatial positional relationship of a device or feature as shown in the figures to other devices or features. It should be understood that spatial relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations in use or operation beyond the orientation of the device as described in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures were inverted, a device described as "above" or "on top of" other devices or structures would subsequently be positioned as "below" or "under" other devices or structures. Thus, the exemplary term "above" can include both "above" and "below." The device may also be positioned in other different ways (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatial relative descriptions used herein will be interpreted accordingly.

[0127] Furthermore, it should be noted that the use of terms such as "first" and "second" to define components is merely for the purpose of distinguishing the corresponding components. Unless otherwise stated, the above terms have no special meaning and therefore should not be construed as limiting the scope of protection of this invention.

[0128] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention. Various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A control method of an air conditioning unit, characterized by, The air conditioning unit has multiple air outlets, and the ship's cabins are divided into multiple zones from top to bottom, with each zone connected to at least one of the air outlets. The control method includes the following steps: If the temperature or humidity of the compartment does not meet the usage requirements, adjust the target temperature or humidity of the compartment located in the middle area, and use the target temperature or humidity of the middle area as a benchmark to compensate for setting the target temperature or humidity of other areas; Control the opening degree of the air valves at the air outlets of each area to ensure that the detected temperature in each area is close to or equal to the target temperature; When the unit is in cooling mode, the target temperature of the area above the middle zone is obtained by subtracting the corresponding compensation value, and the target temperature of the area below the middle zone is obtained by adding the corresponding compensation value; when the unit is in heating mode, the target temperature of the area above the middle zone is obtained by adding the corresponding compensation value, and the target temperature of the area below the middle zone is obtained by subtracting the corresponding compensation value. When the unit is in cooling or heating mode, the target humidity for areas above the middle zone is obtained by subtracting the corresponding compensation humidity, and the target humidity for areas below the middle zone is obtained by adding the corresponding compensation humidity.

2. The control method of an air conditioning unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein, When the unit is in cooling mode, controlling the opening of the air valves at the air outlets of each zone to ensure that the detected temperature in each zone is close to or equal to the target temperature specifically includes: When the temperature in a region is greater than the target temperature for that region, and the temperature change over a preset time is less than the preset change, increase the opening of the damper in that region. When the temperature in a region is lower than the target temperature for that region, and the temperature change over a preset time is less than the preset change, the opening of the damper in that region is reduced.

3. The control method of an air conditioning unit as set forth in claim 2, wherein, When the opening of the damper in any area is increased to the maximum opening, and the temperature of that area is still greater than the target temperature of that area, and the temperatures of other areas are all greater than or equal to the target temperatures of other areas, the operating frequency of the compressor is increased to change the heat exchange capacity of the functional heat exchanger and reduce the outlet air temperature of the functional heat exchanger of the unit.

4. The control method of an air conditioning unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein, When the unit is in heating mode, controlling the opening of the air valves at the air outlets of each zone to ensure that the detected temperature in each zone is close to or equal to the target temperature specifically includes: When the temperature in a region is greater than the target temperature for that region, and the temperature change over a preset time is less than the preset change, reduce the opening of the damper in that region. When the temperature in a region is lower than the target temperature for that region, and the temperature change over a preset time is less than the preset change, the opening of the air valve in that region is increased.

5. The control method for an air conditioning unit as described in claim 4, characterized in that, When the opening of the damper in any area is increased to the maximum opening, and the temperature of that area is still lower than the target temperature of that area, and the temperatures of other areas are all lower than or equal to the target temperatures of other areas, the operating frequency of the compressor is increased to change the heat exchange capacity of the functional heat exchanger and increase the outlet air temperature of the functional heat exchanger of the unit.

6. The control method for an air conditioning unit as described in claim 1, characterized in that, Before the temperature detected in each area is close to or equal to the target temperature, the opening degree of the air valve at the air outlet of each area is controlled. Then, the target air volume corresponding to the target temperature of each area is obtained, and the opening degree of the air valve in each area is controlled so that the actual air volume in each area is equal to or close to the target air volume.

7. The control method for an air conditioning unit as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The temperature of the compartment does not meet the usage requirements. The target temperature of the compartment in the middle area is adjusted as follows: If the temperature at any temperature measuring point inside the cabin exceeds the preset temperature range, it is determined that the temperature of the cabin does not meet the usage requirements. When the temperature at any temperature measuring point inside the cabin is higher than the maximum value of the preset temperature range, the target temperature in the middle area of ​​the cabin will be reduced to the first preset temperature. When the temperature at any temperature measurement point inside the cabin is lower than the minimum value of the preset temperature range, the target temperature in the middle area of ​​the cabin will be increased to the second preset temperature.

8. The control method for an air conditioning unit as described in claim 1, characterized in that, After adjusting the target temperature of the compartment located in the middle area Determine whether the outlet air temperature of the unit's functional heat exchanger is equal to the target temperature; If so, the unit will continue operating in its current state; If not, adjust the compressor frequency to change the heat exchange capacity of the functional heat exchanger until the air outlet temperature of the unit's functional heat exchanger is equal to the target temperature or within the deviation range of the target temperature.

9. The control method for an air conditioning unit as described in claim 1, characterized in that, After adjusting the target humidity in the middle area of ​​the cabin... Determine whether the humidity on the outlet side of the unit's heat recovery heat exchanger is equal to the target humidity; If so, the unit will continue operating in its current state; If not, adjust the refrigerant flow rate of the heat recovery heat exchanger to change the heat exchange capacity until the humidity on the outlet side of the heat recovery heat exchanger of the unit is equal to the target humidity or within the deviation range of the target humidity. If the refrigerant flow rate of the heat recovery heat exchanger has been adjusted to the maximum preset flow rate, adjust the electric heating power of the rotary dehumidifier to make the humidity on the outlet side of the heat recovery heat exchanger of the unit equal to the target humidity or within the deviation range of the target humidity.

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