Control method of air conditioning unit with drying function

Abstract

The application discloses a control method of an air conditioner unit with a drying function, wherein the air conditioner unit with the drying function comprises a heat pump unit, a first heat exchange water tank, and a drying device; the heat pump unit comprises a compressor, a four-way valve, an indoor heat exchanger and a throttling device which are sequentially connected; a refrigerant pipeline between the throttling device and the four-way valve passes through the first heat exchange water tank and exchanges heat with the first heat exchange water tank; the drying device comprises a drying bin, a second heat exchange water tank which is arranged in parallel with the indoor heat exchanger, a first condensation drying module and a second condensation drying module which are located in the drying bin; the first condensation drying module is communicated with the first heat exchange water tank through a first water channel, and the second condensation drying module is communicated with the second heat exchange water tank through a second water channel. The application solves the problem that condensation heat is not fully utilized in the daily operation of an air conditioner system in the prior art, leading to low energy utilization rate, and realizes efficient utilization of energy.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] As residential air conditioning becomes increasingly common, it not only enhances user comfort but also releases a significant amount of condensation heat during operation. This condensation heat not only raises the air temperature around residential buildings, creating a "heat island effect," but also leads to low energy efficiency because the heat is wasted.

[0003] Currently, the common method for recovering condensation heat involves using a heat recovery heat exchanger to transfer the condensation heat to a heat exchange medium, and then using the collected condensation heat for domestic water use or other purposes through heat exchange in the heat exchange medium. This entire process requires numerous heat exchanges, which significantly reduces energy efficiency.

[0004] The heat exchange medium commonly used is refrigerant with good thermal properties. However, refrigerant has high requirements for equipment sealing and pressure resistance. The refrigerant itself is relatively expensive, which will greatly increase the cost of heat recovery and is not conducive to its promotion.

[0005] There is currently no effective solution to the problem that air conditioning systems do not fully utilize condensation heat during daily operation, resulting in low energy efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This invention provides a control method for an air conditioning unit with a drying function, which at least solves the problem in the prior art that the condensation heat of the air conditioning system is not fully utilized during daily operation, resulting in low energy efficiency.

[0007] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, according to one aspect of the present invention, an air conditioning unit with a drying function is provided, comprising: a heat pump unit, including: a compressor, a four-way valve, an indoor heat exchanger, and a throttling device connected in sequence; a first hot water exchange tank, wherein a refrigerant pipeline between the throttling device and the four-way valve passes through the first hot water exchange tank and exchanges heat with the first hot water exchange tank; and a drying device, including: a drying chamber, a second hot water exchange tank arranged in parallel with the indoor heat exchanger, a first condensing drying module and a second condensing drying module located within the drying chamber, wherein the first condensing drying module is connected to the first hot water exchange tank through a first water circuit, and is used to dry the drying chamber using the heat from the first hot water exchange tank when the heat pump unit is cooling, and to perform condensation drainage of the drying chamber using the cooling capacity of the first hot water exchange tank when the heat pump unit is heating; the second condensing drying module is connected to the second hot water exchange tank through a second water circuit, and is used to perform condensation drainage of the drying chamber using the cooling capacity of the second hot water exchange tank when the heat pump unit is cooling, and to perform condensation drainage of the drying chamber using the heat from the second hot water exchange tank when the heat pump unit is heating.

[0008] Furthermore, the drying equipment also includes: a bypass refrigerant pipe, one end of which is connected to a first connection point on the pipeline between the four-way valve and the indoor heat exchanger, and the other end of which is connected to a second connection point on the pipeline between the throttling device and the first heat exchange tank. The bypass refrigerant pipe passes through the second heat exchange tank and exchanges heat with the second heat exchange tank.

[0009] Furthermore, the heat pump unit also includes: a solenoid valve located on the pipeline between the throttling device and the first hot water exchange tank; and a backup heat exchanger connected in parallel with the solenoid valve; wherein, when the first hot water exchange tank cannot meet the heat exchange demand on the outdoor side, the solenoid valve is closed, and the backup heat exchanger is used to perform heat exchange together with the first hot water exchange tank.

[0010] Furthermore, the drying equipment also includes: a water receiving tray located below the first condensation drying module and the second condensation drying module, for receiving condensate drainage; a first circulating water pump located on the first water line, for controlling the water flow rate of the first water line; a second circulating water pump located on the second water line, for adjusting the water flow rate of the second water line; and a bypass electronic expansion valve located on the bypass refrigerant pipe, for adjusting the refrigerant flow rate of the bypass refrigerant pipe.

[0011] Furthermore, it also includes: a first domestic water module connected to the first hot water exchange tank; and a second domestic water module connected to the second hot water exchange tank.

[0012] According to another aspect of the present invention, a control method for an air conditioning unit with a drying function is provided, applied to the air conditioning unit with a drying function as described above. The method includes: detecting the operating mode of the air conditioning unit with the drying function; wherein the operating mode includes at least: a cooling drying mode, a cooling mode, a heating drying mode, a heating mode, and a drying mode; and controlling the operation of a heat pump unit and a drying device according to the operating mode.

[0013] Furthermore, when the operating mode is the refrigeration-drying mode, controlling the operation of the heat pump unit and the drying equipment according to the operating mode includes: controlling the four-way valve of the heat pump unit to enter the refrigeration mode, and opening the solenoid valve of the heat pump unit; obtaining the refrigerant temperature of the refrigerant pipeline between the indoor heat exchanger of the heat pump unit and the solenoid valve, and controlling the opening degree of the throttling device of the heat pump unit and the opening degree of the bypass electronic expansion valve of the drying equipment according to the refrigerant temperature; and controlling the first circulating water pump and the second circulating water pump of the drying equipment to start.

[0014] Furthermore, when the operating mode is the cooling mode, controlling the operation of the heat pump unit and the drying equipment according to the operating mode includes: controlling the four-way valve of the heat pump unit to enter the cooling mode, opening the solenoid valve of the heat pump unit, and controlling the solenoid valve to close when the first domestic water module does not need to use hot water, using a backup heat exchanger and the first hot water tank for heat exchange; obtaining the refrigerant temperature of the refrigerant pipeline between the indoor heat exchanger of the heat pump unit and the solenoid valve, and controlling the opening degree of the throttling device of the heat pump unit according to the refrigerant temperature; and controlling the first circulating water pump, the second circulating water pump and the bypass electronic expansion valve of the drying equipment to close.

[0015] Furthermore, when the operating mode is the heating and drying mode, controlling the operation of the heat pump unit and the drying equipment according to the operating mode includes: controlling the four-way valve of the heat pump unit to enter the heating mode, closing the solenoid valve of the heat pump unit, and using a standby heat exchanger and the first heat exchange tank for heat exchange; obtaining the refrigerant temperature of the refrigerant pipeline between the indoor heat exchanger of the heat pump unit and the solenoid valve, and controlling the opening of the throttling device of the heat pump unit and the opening of the bypass electronic expansion valve of the drying equipment according to the refrigerant temperature; and controlling the first circulating water pump and the second circulating water pump of the drying equipment to start.

[0016] Furthermore, when the operating mode is the heating mode, controlling the operation of the heat pump unit and the drying equipment according to the operating mode includes: controlling the four-way valve of the heat pump unit to enter the heating mode, closing the solenoid valve of the heat pump unit, and using a standby heat exchanger and the first heat exchange tank for heat exchange; obtaining the refrigerant temperature of the refrigerant pipeline between the indoor heat exchanger of the heat pump unit and the solenoid valve, and controlling the opening of the throttling device of the heat pump unit according to the refrigerant temperature; and controlling the first circulating water pump, the second circulating water pump, and the bypass electronic expansion valve of the drying equipment to close.

[0017] Furthermore, when the operating mode is the drying mode, controlling the operation of the heat pump unit and the drying equipment according to the operating mode includes: controlling the four-way valve of the heat pump unit to enter the cooling mode, opening the solenoid valve of the heat pump unit, and closing the throttling device of the heat pump unit; controlling the first circulating water pump, the second circulating water pump, and the bypass electronic expansion valve of the drying equipment to open.

[0018] According to another aspect of the present invention, a storage medium containing computer-executable instructions is provided, which, when executed by a computer processor, are used to perform the control method of an air conditioning unit with a drying function as described above.

[0019] This invention provides a heat pump system integrated with a dryer, comprising: a heat pump unit, wherein the heat pump system uses a first hot water exchange tank as a condenser, allowing the condensation heat to be fully absorbed by the water in the tank, thereby further utilizing the condensation heat. For this purpose, the first condensing drying module in the drying equipment is connected to the first hot water exchange tank via a first water circuit, so that when the heat pump unit is cooling, the heat from the first hot water exchange tank is used to dry the drying chamber. This allows the heat pump system to meet daily cooling and heating functions while simultaneously utilizing the condensation heat from the air conditioning system for drying and the evaporation cooling energy for condensation drainage, achieving efficient energy utilization. Furthermore, to achieve the complete functionality of the dryer, a second condensing drying module is also provided. The first and second condensing drying modules are interchangeable, allowing the heat pump system to perform condensation drainage and drying of the drying chamber regardless of whether it is in cooling or heating mode. Therefore, the air conditioning unit with drying function in this invention effectively solves the problem of low energy utilization caused by the underutilization of condensation heat in the prior art, achieving high-efficiency energy utilization, and fully meeting the condensation drainage and drying functions of the dryer. Compared with the system of full-process flowing refrigerant heat exchange, the dryer uses water as the heat exchange medium, which is not only simpler in structure and easier to install, but also lower in cost. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1This is an optional structural schematic diagram of an air conditioning unit with a drying function according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] Figure 2 This is an optional flowchart of a control method for an air conditioning unit with a drying function according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the operation of an air conditioning unit in refrigeration and drying mode according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the operation of an air conditioning unit in cooling mode according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the operation of an air conditioning unit in heating and drying mode according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the operation of an air conditioning unit in heating mode according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the operation of an air conditioning unit in drying mode according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0028] 1. Compressor; 2. Four-way valve; 3. First heat exchanger tank; 4. Dryer; 5. Temperature sensor; 6. Backup heat exchanger; 7. First circulating water pump; 8. First electronic expansion valve; 9. Second electronic expansion valve; 10. Third electronic expansion valve; 11. Fourth electronic expansion valve; 12. Indoor side; 13. Indoor heat exchanger; 14. Second circulating water pump; 15. Solenoid valve; 16. Drying chamber; 17. Second condensate drain module; 18. First condensate drain module; 19. Water tray; 20. First domestic water module; 21. Second domestic water module; 22. Bypass electronic expansion valve; 23. Second heat exchanger tank. Detailed Implementation

[0029] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of this invention, and not all of them. Based on the embodiments of this invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0030] The terminology used in the embodiments of this invention is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the invention. The singular forms “a,” “the,” and “the” as used in the embodiments of this invention and the appended claims are also intended to include the plural forms, and “multiple” generally includes at least two unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0031] It should be understood that the term "and / or" used in this article is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, and B existing alone. Additionally, the character " / " in this article generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0032] It should be understood that although the terms first, second, third, etc., may be used to describe controllers in embodiments of the present invention, these controllers should not be limited to these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish controllers connected to different devices. For example, without departing from the scope of embodiments of the present invention, a first controller may also be referred to as a second controller, and similarly, a second controller may also be referred to as a first controller.

[0033] Depending on the context, the words “if” or “suppose” as used here can be interpreted as “when” or “in response to determination” or “in response to detection.” Similarly, depending on the context, the phrases “if determination” or “if detection (of the stated condition or event)” can be interpreted as “when determination” or “in response to determination” or “when detection (of the stated condition or event)” or “in response to detection (of the stated condition or event).”

[0034] It should also be noted that the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that an article or device that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such an article or device. Without further limitation, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the article or device that includes said element.

[0035] The optional embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Example 1

[0036] In a preferred embodiment 1 of the present invention, an air conditioning unit with a drying function is provided. Specifically... Figure 1 This diagram illustrates one possible structural design of the unit, such as... Figure 1 As shown, the unit includes:

[0037] The heat pump unit includes: a compressor 1, a four-way valve 2, an indoor heat exchanger 13, and a throttling device connected in sequence; a first heat exchange tank 3, and a refrigerant pipeline between the throttling device and the four-way valve 2 passing through the first heat exchange tank 3 to exchange heat with the first heat exchange tank 3.

[0038] The drying equipment includes: a drying chamber 16, a second hot water exchange tank 23 connected in parallel with the indoor heat exchanger 13, a first condensing drying module 18 and a second condensing drying module 17 located within the drying chamber 16. The first condensing drying module 18 is connected to the first hot water exchange tank 3 via a first water circuit, and is used to dry the drying chamber 16 using the heat from the first hot water exchange tank 3 when the heat pump unit is cooling, and to drain the condensate from the drying chamber 16 using the cold energy from the first hot water exchange tank 3 when the heat pump unit is heating. The second condensing drying module 17 is connected to the second hot water exchange tank 23 via a second water circuit, and is used to drain the condensate from the drying chamber 16 using the cold energy from the second hot water exchange tank 23 when the heat pump unit is cooling, and to dry the drying chamber 16 using the heat from the second hot water exchange tank 23 when the heat pump unit is heating. The dryer is equipped with interchangeable drying and condensing drainage modules, allowing the air conditioning system to perform drying operations using the condensing heat of the air conditioning system and condensing drainage operations using the evaporating cold energy while meeting daily cooling and heating functions, thus achieving efficient energy utilization. In this system, refrigerant flows through the heat pump unit, while the dryer exchanges heat with the pump system via a water tank, thus achieving the functions of drying and condensate drainage within the dryer. Compared to systems where refrigerant heat exchange is conducted entirely through a continuous flow of refrigerant, this system, which uses water as the medium for partial heat exchange, has a simpler structure, is easier to install, and is less expensive.

[0039] In the above embodiments, a heat pump system equipped with a dryer is provided, including: a heat pump unit. This heat pump system uses a first hot water exchange tank as a condenser, allowing the condensation heat to be fully absorbed by the water in the tank, thereby further utilizing the condensation heat. For this purpose, the first condensing drying module in the drying equipment is connected to the first hot water exchange tank via a first water circuit. Thus, when the heat pump unit is cooling, the heat from the first hot water exchange tank is used to dry the drying chamber. This allows the heat pump system to meet daily cooling and heating functions while simultaneously utilizing the condensation heat from the air conditioning system for drying and the evaporative cooling energy for condensation drainage, achieving efficient energy utilization. Furthermore, to achieve the complete functionality of the dryer, a second condensing drying module is also provided. The first and second condensing drying modules are interchangeable, allowing the heat pump system to perform condensation drainage and drying of the drying chamber regardless of whether it is in cooling or heating mode. Therefore, the air conditioning unit with drying function in this invention effectively solves the problem of low energy utilization caused by the underutilization of condensation heat in the prior art, achieving high-efficiency energy utilization, and fully meeting the condensation drainage and drying functions of the dryer. Compared with the system of full-process flowing refrigerant heat exchange, the dryer uses water as the heat exchange medium, which is not only simpler in structure and easier to install, but also lower in cost.

[0040] like Figure 1 As shown, the air conditioning unit should have at least one indoor unit, one compressor, one heat pump dryer equipped with a drying module and a condensate drain module, a throttling device to control the refrigerant flow in the heat exchanger, and a spare condenser and water tank to assist in heat exchange in the outdoor unit. The air conditioning system should have at least cooling and heating functions. The indoor side of the air conditioning unit may include multiple heat exchangers and throttling devices to meet the heat exchange needs of multiple rooms.

[0041] Meanwhile, to achieve a second heat exchange tank 23 connected in parallel with the indoor heat exchanger 13, the drying equipment also includes: a bypass refrigerant pipe, one end of which is connected to a first connection point on the pipeline between the four-way valve 2 and the indoor heat exchanger 13, and the other end of which is connected to a second connection point on the pipeline between the throttling device and the first heat exchange tank 3. The bypass refrigerant pipe passes through the second heat exchange tank 23 and exchanges heat with it. A bypass electronic expansion valve 22, located on the bypass refrigerant pipe, is used to regulate the refrigerant flow rate of the bypass refrigerant pipe. When refrigeration and drying are running simultaneously, a portion of the refrigerant enters the bypass refrigerant pipe, is throttled by the bypass electronic expansion valve 22, enters the second heat exchange tank 23 to absorb heat, and then flows back to the compressor 1 through the four-way valve 2. The water in the second heat exchange tank 23 releases heat and becomes cold water. The cold water is guided by a circulating water pump to the condensate drainage module in the dryer to absorb heat and perform condensate drainage, and then returns to the second heat exchange tank 23 for heat release circulation. During standalone drying operations, the heat pump unit operates in cooling mode. The refrigerant, via compressor 1 and four-way valve 2, enters the second heat exchange tank 23 to release heat, bypassing the indoor side. This allows the air conditioning unit to perform standalone drying operations, functioning as a dryer. The bypass refrigerant pipe enables the second heat exchange tank 23 to perform either condensate drainage or drying functions, allowing for drying not only during heat pump unit operation but also independently. This expands the application scenarios and functions of the air conditioning unit, enhancing its applicability.

[0042] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first hot water exchange tank 3 acts as a condenser, thereby achieving complete absorption of condensation heat. Since the air conditioning unit can perform multiple functions, such as cooling operation and prolonged periods without hot water use, the heat exchange in the first hot water exchange tank 3 may not meet the indoor heat exchange requirements. Therefore, the heat pump unit further includes: a solenoid valve 15 located on the pipeline between the throttling device and the first hot water exchange tank 3; and a standby heat exchanger 6 connected in parallel with the solenoid valve 15. When the first hot water exchange tank 3 cannot meet the outdoor heat exchange requirements, the solenoid valve 15 is closed, and the standby heat exchanger 6 works together with the first hot water exchange tank 3 for heat exchange. The refrigerant after heat exchange in the first hot water exchange tank 3 enters the standby heat exchanger 6 for further heat exchange, releasing a small amount of condensation heat, but ensuring the unit's cooling effect and improving operational stability.

[0043] like Figure 1As shown, the drying equipment also includes: a water receiving tray 19, located below the first condensing drying module 18 and the second condensing drying module 17, for receiving condensate drainage; a first circulating water pump 7, located on the first water path, for controlling the water flow rate of the first water path; and a second circulating water pump 14, located on the second water path, for regulating the water flow rate of the second water path. The water receiving tray can receive condensate drainage, avoiding the trouble caused by condensate drainage discharge. The circulating water pump can control the on / off of the water path. When heat exchange between the water tank and the condensing drying module is required, the circulating water pump is turned on to open the water path and accelerate water circulation, thereby improving heat exchange efficiency and thus improving the drying effect.

[0044] In addition, this air conditioning unit also includes: a first domestic water module 20, connected to a first hot water exchange tank 3; and a second domestic water module 21, connected to a second hot water exchange tank 23. The domestic water modules can directly provide hot water to users, making the air conditioning unit of this invention integrate cooling, heating, drying, and domestic heating into one unit, with multiple functions to meet the needs of different users, reduce user costs, and effectively improve energy utilization, achieving energy conservation and emission reduction. Example 2

[0045] In a preferred embodiment 2 of the present invention, a control method for an air conditioning unit with a drying function is provided, which is applied to the air conditioning unit with a drying function in embodiment 1 above. Specifically, Figure 2 An optional flowchart of the method is shown, such as Figure 2 As shown, the method includes the following steps S202-S204:

[0046] S202: Detect the operating mode of an air conditioning unit with drying function; wherein the operating mode includes at least: cooling drying mode, cooling mode, heating drying mode, heating mode, and drying mode;

[0047] S204: Control the operation of heat pump units and drying equipment according to the operating mode.

[0048] In the above embodiments, a heat pump system equipped with a dryer is provided, including: a heat pump unit. This heat pump system uses a first hot water exchange tank as a condenser, allowing the condensation heat to be fully absorbed by the water in the tank, thereby further utilizing the condensation heat. For this purpose, the first condensing drying module in the drying equipment is connected to the first hot water exchange tank via a first water circuit. Thus, when the heat pump unit is cooling, the heat from the first hot water exchange tank is used to dry the drying chamber. This allows the heat pump system to meet daily cooling and heating functions while simultaneously utilizing the condensation heat from the air conditioning system for drying and the evaporative cooling energy for condensation drainage, achieving efficient energy utilization. Furthermore, to achieve the complete functionality of the dryer, a second condensing drying module is also provided. The first and second condensing drying modules are interchangeable, allowing the heat pump system to perform condensation drainage and drying of the drying chamber regardless of whether it is in cooling or heating mode. Therefore, the air conditioning unit with drying function in this invention effectively solves the problem of low energy utilization caused by the underutilization of condensation heat in the prior art, achieving high-efficiency energy utilization, and fully meeting the condensation drainage and drying functions of the dryer. Compared with the system of full-process flowing refrigerant heat exchange, the dryer uses water as the heat exchange medium, which is not only simpler in structure and easier to install, but also lower in cost.

[0049] The following describes the operating modes of the air conditioning unit in conjunction with different operating conditions:

[0050] 1) When the operating mode is refrigeration and drying mode, control the operation of the heat pump unit and the drying equipment according to the operating mode, including: controlling the four-way valve 2 of the heat pump unit to enter the refrigeration mode and opening the solenoid valve 15 of the heat pump unit; obtaining the refrigerant temperature entering the indoor heat exchanger 13, and controlling the opening degree of the throttling device of the heat pump unit and the opening degree of the bypass electronic expansion valve 22 of the drying equipment according to the refrigerant temperature; controlling the first circulating water pump and the second circulating water pump of the drying equipment to start.

[0051] Figure 3 This diagram illustrates the operation of an air conditioning unit in cooling and drying mode. Figure 3As shown, when refrigeration and drying are running simultaneously, the refrigerant enters the first heat exchange tank 3 via compressor 1 and four-way valve 2, releasing heat. The water in the tank absorbs heat and becomes hot water. Part of the hot water flows through the first circulating water pump 7 into the drying module 18 of the dryer 4 to release heat for drying. The other part can be used as hot water for daily use through domestic water valve 20. The warm air in the drying chamber 16 blows counterclockwise. After passing through the first heat exchange tank 3, the refrigerant flows through the temperature sensing bulb 5, which detects the pipe temperature and determines the throttling intensity of electronic expansion valves 8, 9, 10, 11, and 22. During this period, solenoid valve 15 is open, and the refrigerant does not flow through the standby condenser 6. Part of the refrigerant passes through the bypass electronic expansion valve 22 and enters the second heat exchange tank 23 to absorb heat before flowing back to compressor 1 via four-way valve 2. The water in the second heat exchange tank 23 releases heat and becomes cold water. The cold water is guided by the second circulating water pump 14 to the condensate drain module in the dryer 4 to absorb heat for condensation and drainage, and then returns to the second heat exchange tank 23 for heat release and circulation. Another portion of the refrigerant enters the indoor side 12, and after being throttled by electronic expansion valves 8, 9, 10, and 11, it enters the indoor heat exchanger 13 to absorb heat and cool. After completing its work, it flows directly into the four-way valve 2 and returns to the compressor 1.

[0052] At this time, the first hot water tank 3 acts as a condenser to obtain hot water, the dryer operates, the drying module 18 releases condensation heat to the clothes to dry them, and the condensing module 17 releases cooling energy to condense the evaporated water vapor into water, which is discharged through the drip tray 19. The indoor side 12 operates in a cooling mode, and the opening of the electronic expansion valve can be adjusted as needed to control the outlet air temperature.

[0053] 2) When the operating mode is cooling mode, control the operation of the heat pump unit and the drying equipment according to the operating mode, including: controlling the four-way valve 2 of the heat pump unit to enter the cooling mode, opening the solenoid valve 15 of the heat pump unit, and controlling the solenoid valve 15 to close when the first domestic water module does not need to use hot water, and using the standby heat exchanger and the first hot water tank 3 to exchange heat together; obtaining the refrigerant temperature entering the indoor heat exchanger 13, and controlling the opening of the throttling device of the heat pump unit according to the refrigerant temperature; controlling the first circulating water pump, the second circulating water pump and the bypass electronic expansion valve 22 of the drying equipment to close.

[0054] Figure 4 This diagram illustrates the operation of an air conditioning unit in cooling mode. Figure 4As shown, when operating only in cooling mode, the process is the same as the cooling-drying mode above, but the first circulating water pump 7 is turned off, and the water in the first heat exchange tank 3 is only used for heat exchange and domestic water. At this time, the bypass electronic expansion valve 22 is closed, and the refrigerant no longer flows through the second heat exchange tank 23. The second circulating water pump 14 is turned off, and the water in the second heat exchange tank 23 no longer flows through the dryer 4. When operating only in cooling mode and hot water is not used for a long time, the solenoid valve 15 is disconnected, and the refrigerant after heat exchange in the first heat exchange tank 3 enters the standby heat exchanger 6 for heat exchange again. At this time, a small amount of condensation heat will be released, but the cooling effect of the unit is guaranteed.

[0055] At this time, the first heat exchanger tank 3 acts as a condenser to obtain hot water, and the dryer is not running. The condensation heat is consumed by the first heat exchanger tank 3 to produce domestic hot water. If hot water is not used for a long time, the backup heat exchanger 6 needs to be connected to assist in heat exchange. At this time, a small amount of condensation heat will be generated and will not be consumed by the system. The indoor side 12 is in cooling operation, and the opening of the electronic expansion valve can be adjusted as needed to control the outlet air temperature.

[0056] 3) When the operating mode is heating and drying mode, control the operation of the heat pump unit and the drying equipment according to the operating mode, including: controlling the four-way valve 2 of the heat pump unit to enter the heating mode, closing the solenoid valve 15 of the heat pump unit, and using the standby heat exchanger and the first heat exchange water tank 3 to perform heat exchange together; obtaining the refrigerant temperature entering the indoor heat exchanger 13, and controlling the opening of the throttling device of the heat pump unit and the opening of the bypass electronic expansion valve 22 of the drying equipment according to the refrigerant temperature; controlling the first circulating water pump and the second circulating water pump of the drying equipment to start.

[0057] Figure 5 This diagram illustrates the operation of an air conditioning unit in heating and drying mode. Figure 5As shown, when heating and drying are running simultaneously, the refrigerant flows through compressor 1 and four-way valve 2. At this time, the bypass electronic expansion valve 22 opens to throttle the flow. Part of the refrigerant flows through the second heat exchange tank 23 to release heat, and then flows out after being throttled by the bypass electronic expansion valve 22. The water in the second heat exchange tank 23 absorbs heat. The hot water can be guided by the second circulating water pump 14 to the drying module 17 of the dryer 4 for heat release and drying, and then flows back to the second heat exchange tank 23 for heat absorption and circulation. It can also be used through the domestic water valve 21. The warm air in the drying chamber 16 blows clockwise. Another part of the refrigerant flows directly into the indoor heat exchanger 13 to release heat, and then flows out of the indoor side after being throttled by electronic expansion valves 8, 9, 10, and 11. When the refrigerant merges and passes through the temperature sensing bulb 5, the pipe temperature is detected, which can further control the throttling intensity of the subsequent electronic expansion valves 8, 9, 10, 11, and 22. At this time, solenoid valve 15 is closed. The refrigerant exchanges heat through the standby heat exchanger 6, then enters the first heat exchange tank 3 to absorb heat, lowering the water temperature and increasing the superheat of the refrigerant. Afterward, it flows into the four-way valve 2 and returns to the compressor 1. The cold water in the first heat exchange tank 3 is guided by the first circulating water pump 7 into the condensate drain module 18 in the dryer 4 to absorb heat, condense, and drain. After completing the work, the water returns to the first heat exchange tank 3 to release heat and circulate.

[0058] At this time, the second hot water tank 23 acts as a condenser to obtain hot water, the dryer operates, the drying module 17 releases condensation heat to the clothes to dry them, and the condensation module 18 releases cold energy to condense the evaporated water vapor into water, which is discharged through the water collection tray 19. The indoor side 12 operates in heating mode, and the outlet air temperature can be adjusted according to the opening of the electronic expansion valve.

[0059] 4) When the operating mode is heating mode, control the operation of the heat pump unit and the drying equipment according to the operating mode, including: controlling the four-way valve 2 of the heat pump unit to enter the heating mode, closing the solenoid valve 15 of the heat pump unit, and using the standby heat exchanger and the first heat exchange water tank 3 to perform heat exchange together; obtaining the refrigerant temperature entering the indoor heat exchanger 13, and controlling the opening of the throttling device of the heat pump unit according to the refrigerant temperature; controlling the first circulating water pump, the second circulating water pump and the bypass electronic expansion valve 22 of the drying equipment to close.

[0060] Figure 6 This diagram illustrates the operation of an air conditioning unit in heating mode. Figure 6 As shown, when operating only for heating, the process is the same as the heating and drying mode above, but the bypass electronic expansion valve 22 is closed. At this time, the second circulating water pump 14 is closed, and the water in the second heat exchange tank 23 does not flow through the dryer 4. The high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant does not pass through the second heat exchange tank 23 and directly enters the indoor side to release heat. The first circulating water pump 7 is closed, and the water in the first heat exchange tank 3 does not flow through the dryer 4.

[0061] At this time, the second heat exchange tank 23 acts as a condenser to obtain hot water, and the dryer is not running. The condensation heat is consumed by the water tank 24 to produce domestic hot water and for indoor heating. The outlet air temperature can be adjusted according to the opening of the electronic expansion valve. At this time, the standby heat exchanger 6 and the first heat exchange tank 3 act as evaporators.

[0062] 5) When the operating mode is drying mode, control the operation of the heat pump unit and the drying equipment according to the operating mode, including: controlling the four-way valve 2 of the heat pump unit to enter the cooling mode, opening the solenoid valve 15 of the heat pump unit, and closing the throttling device of the heat pump unit; controlling the first circulating water pump, the second circulating water pump and the bypass electronic expansion valve 22 of the drying equipment to open.

[0063] Figure 7 The diagram shows the operation of the air conditioning unit in drying mode, such as... Figure 7 As shown, when only drying is running, the four-way valve 2 is connected in the same direction as in the cooling mode by default. The refrigerant passes through compressor 1 and four-way valve 2, entering the first heat exchange tank 3 to release heat. The water in the tank absorbs heat and becomes hot water. Part of this hot water flows through the first circulating water pump 7 into the drying module 18 of the dryer 4 to release heat for drying. The other part can be used as hot water for daily use through the domestic water valve 20. The warm air in the drying chamber 16 blows counter-clockwise. After passing through the first heat exchange tank 3, the refrigerant flows through the temperature sensor 5, which is not working at this time. During this period, the solenoid valve 15 is open, and the refrigerant does not flow through the standby condenser 6. At this time, the bypass electronic expansion valve 22 opens, and the refrigerant enters the second heat exchange tank 23 to absorb heat, then flows directly into the four-way valve 2 back to compressor 1. The water in the second heat exchange tank 23 releases heat and becomes cold water. The cold water is guided by the second circulating water pump 14 to the condensate drain module 17 in the dryer 4 to absorb heat for condensation and drainage, then returns to the second heat exchange tank 23 for heat release and circulation.

[0064] At this time, the first hot water tank 3 acts as a condenser to obtain hot water, the dryer runs, the drying module 18 releases condensation heat to dry the clothes, and the condensation module 17 releases cold energy to condense the evaporated water vapor into water, which is discharged through the water collection tray 19. The indoor side 12 does not operate.

[0065] This invention provides an air conditioning system incorporating a dryer. The dryer includes interchangeable drying and condensate drainage modules, allowing the air conditioning system to perform drying operations using condensation heat and condensate drainage using evaporation cooling energy, while simultaneously fulfilling its daily cooling and heating functions. The indoor unit of the air conditioner carries refrigerant, while the heat pump dryer exchanges heat with the air conditioning system through a water tank, achieving both drying and condensate drainage functions within the dryer. Compared to systems where refrigerant heat exchange is continuous, this system uses water as the medium for partial heat exchange, resulting in a simpler structure, easier installation, and lower cost. Example 3

[0066] Based on the control method for an air conditioning unit with drying function provided in Embodiment 2 above, a preferred embodiment 3 of the present invention further provides a storage medium containing computer-executable instructions, which, when executed by a computer processor, are used to execute the control method for an air conditioning unit with drying function as described above.

[0067] In the above embodiments, a heat pump system equipped with a dryer is provided, including: a heat pump unit. This heat pump system uses a first hot water exchange tank as a condenser, allowing the condensation heat to be fully absorbed by the water in the tank, thereby further utilizing the condensation heat. For this purpose, the first condensing drying module in the drying equipment is connected to the first hot water exchange tank via a first water circuit. Thus, when the heat pump unit is cooling, the heat from the first hot water exchange tank is used to dry the drying chamber. This allows the heat pump system to meet daily cooling and heating functions while simultaneously utilizing the condensation heat from the air conditioning system for drying and the evaporative cooling energy for condensation drainage, achieving efficient energy utilization. Furthermore, to achieve the complete functionality of the dryer, a second condensing drying module is also provided. The first and second condensing drying modules are interchangeable, allowing the heat pump system to perform condensation drainage and drying of the drying chamber regardless of whether it is in cooling or heating mode. Therefore, the air conditioning unit with drying function in this invention effectively solves the problem of low energy utilization caused by the underutilization of condensation heat in the prior art, achieving high-efficiency energy utilization, and fully meeting the condensation drainage and drying functions of the dryer. Compared with the system of full-process flowing refrigerant heat exchange, the dryer uses water as the heat exchange medium, which is not only simpler in structure and easier to install, but also lower in cost.

[0068] The sequence numbers of the above embodiments of the present invention are for descriptive purposes only and do not represent the superiority or inferiority of the embodiments.

[0069] In the above embodiments of the present invention, the descriptions of each embodiment have different focuses. For parts not described in detail in a certain embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions of other embodiments.

[0070] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed technical content can be implemented in other ways. The device embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for example, the division of units can be a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For instance, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the displayed or discussed mutual coupling, direct coupling, or communication connection may be through some interfaces; the indirect coupling or communication connection between units or modules may be electrical or other forms.

[0071] 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 units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0072] Furthermore, the functional units in the various embodiments of the present invention can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit. The integrated unit can be implemented in hardware or as a software functional unit.

[0073] If the integrated unit is implemented as a software functional unit and sold or used as an independent product, it can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present invention, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or all or part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several 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 methods described in the various embodiments of the present invention. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), portable hard drives, magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0074] Other embodiments of the invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention that follow the general principles of the invention and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not invented by the invention. The specification and examples are to be considered exemplary only, and the true scope and spirit of the invention are indicated by the following claims.

[0075] It should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the precise structure described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from its scope. The scope of the invention is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A control method for an air conditioning unit with a drying function, characterized in that, include: The operating mode of the air conditioning unit with drying function is detected; wherein, the operating mode includes at least: cooling drying mode, cooling mode, heating drying mode, heating mode, and drying mode; the operation of the heat pump unit and the drying equipment is controlled according to the operating mode; When the operating mode is the refrigeration and drying mode, the operation of the heat pump unit and the drying equipment is controlled according to the operating mode, including: controlling the four-way valve of the heat pump unit to enter the refrigeration mode, and opening the solenoid valve of the heat pump unit; obtaining the refrigerant temperature of the refrigerant pipeline between the indoor heat exchanger of the heat pump unit and the solenoid valve, and controlling the opening degree of the throttling device of the heat pump unit and the opening degree of the bypass electronic expansion valve of the drying equipment according to the refrigerant temperature; and controlling the first circulating water pump and the second circulating water pump of the drying equipment to start. The air conditioning unit with drying function includes: A heat pump unit includes: a compressor, a four-way valve, an indoor heat exchanger, and a throttling device connected in sequence; a first hot water exchange tank, wherein the refrigerant pipeline between the throttling device and the four-way valve passes through the first hot water exchange tank and exchanges heat with the first hot water exchange tank; The drying equipment includes: a drying chamber, a second hot water exchange tank connected in parallel with the indoor heat exchanger, a first condensing drying module and a second condensing drying module located within the drying chamber. The first condensing drying module is connected to the first hot water exchange tank via a first water path and is used to dry the drying chamber using the heat from the first hot water exchange tank when the heat pump unit is cooling, and to perform condensation drainage of the drying chamber using the cooling capacity of the first hot water exchange tank when the heat pump unit is heating. The second condensing drying module is connected to the second hot water exchange tank via a second water path and is used to perform condensation drainage of the drying chamber using the cooling capacity of the second hot water exchange tank when the heat pump unit is cooling, and to perform drying of the drying chamber using the heat from the second hot water exchange tank when the heat pump unit is heating.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The drying equipment also includes: A bypass refrigerant pipe is connected at one end to a first connection point on the pipe between the four-way valve and the indoor heat exchanger, and at the other end to a second connection point on the pipe between the throttling device and the first hot water exchange tank. The bypass refrigerant pipe passes through the second hot water exchange tank and exchanges heat with the second hot water exchange tank.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The heat pump unit also includes: The solenoid valve is located on the pipeline between the throttling device and the first hot water exchange tank; A backup heat exchanger is provided in parallel with the solenoid valve; When the first hot water exchange tank cannot meet the heat exchange demand on the outdoor side, the solenoid valve is closed, and the backup heat exchanger is used to exchange heat together with the first hot water exchange tank.

4. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The drying equipment also includes: A water collection tray, located below the first condensation drying module and the second condensation drying module, is used to collect condensate drainage; The first circulating water pump is located on the first water path and is used to control the water flow rate of the first water path; The second circulating water pump is located on the second water line and is used to regulate the water flow rate of the second water line; A bypass electronic expansion valve is located on the bypass refrigerant pipe and is used to regulate the refrigerant flow rate of the bypass refrigerant pipe.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, The air conditioning unit with drying function also includes: The first domestic water module is connected to the first hot water exchange tank; The second domestic water module is connected to the second hot water exchange tank.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the operating mode is the cooling mode, controlling the operation of the heat pump unit and the drying equipment according to the operating mode includes: The four-way valve of the heat pump unit is controlled to enter the cooling mode, the solenoid valve of the heat pump unit is opened, and when the first domestic water module does not need to use hot water, the solenoid valve is controlled to close, and the backup heat exchanger and the first hot water tank are used for heat exchange. The refrigerant temperature of the refrigerant pipeline between the indoor heat exchanger of the heat pump unit and the solenoid valve is obtained, and the opening degree of the throttling device of the heat pump unit is controlled according to the refrigerant temperature. The first circulating water pump, the second circulating water pump, and the bypass electronic expansion valve of the drying equipment are controlled to close.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the operating mode is the heating and drying mode, controlling the operation of the heat pump unit and the drying equipment according to the operating mode includes: The four-way valve of the heat pump unit is controlled to enter the heating mode, the solenoid valve of the heat pump unit is closed, and heat exchange is carried out together with the first heat exchange tank using the backup heat exchanger. The refrigerant temperature of the refrigerant pipeline between the indoor heat exchanger of the heat pump unit and the solenoid valve is obtained, and the opening degree of the throttling device of the heat pump unit and the opening degree of the bypass electronic expansion valve of the drying equipment are controlled according to the refrigerant temperature. The first and second circulating water pumps of the drying equipment are turned on.

8. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the operating mode is the heating mode, controlling the operation of the heat pump unit and the drying equipment according to the operating mode includes: The four-way valve of the heat pump unit is controlled to enter the heating mode, the solenoid valve of the heat pump unit is closed, and heat exchange is carried out together with the first heat exchange tank using the backup heat exchanger. The refrigerant temperature of the refrigerant pipeline between the indoor heat exchanger of the heat pump unit and the solenoid valve is obtained, and the opening degree of the throttling device of the heat pump unit is controlled according to the refrigerant temperature. The first circulating water pump, the second circulating water pump, and the bypass electronic expansion valve of the drying equipment are controlled to close.

9. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the operating mode is the drying mode, controlling the operation of the heat pump unit and the drying equipment according to the operating mode includes: The four-way valve of the heat pump unit is controlled to enter the cooling mode, the solenoid valve of the heat pump unit is opened, and the throttling device of the heat pump unit is closed. The first circulating water pump, the second circulating water pump, and the bypass electronic expansion valve of the drying equipment are controlled to open.

10. A storage medium containing computer-executable instructions, characterized in that, The computer-executable instructions, when executed by a computer processor, are used to perform the control method for an air conditioning unit with a drying function as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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