Control method and controller of multi-split air conditioning system

Abstract

The invention discloses a control method of a multi-split system and a controller. The multi-split system comprises an outdoor unit, a plurality of branch boxes and a plurality of indoor units. The outdoor unit is connected with the branch box through a first communication line, and the branch box is connected with the indoor unit corresponding to the branch box through a second communication line. The control method is applied to the branch box and comprises the steps that operation state data of all indoor units corresponding to the branch box are obtained through a second communication line; the total energy demand of all indoor units corresponding to the branch boxes is determined according to the running state data, the total energy demand is sent to an outdoor unit through a first communication line, and the outdoor unit is used for determining the system load demand according to the total energy demand sent by all the branch boxes; the operation frequency of a compressor and the opening degree of a main expansion valve of an outdoor unit are determined according to the system load requirement; and the opening degree of the throttling valve corresponding to the indoor unit is adjusted according to the running state data of each indoor unit. According to the embodiment of the invention, the refrigerant flow of the outdoor unit and the indoor unit can be distributed by combining the energy demand of the equipment, and the system is coordinated to work stably.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of air conditioners, and particularly to a control method and a controller for a multi-connected air conditioner system. Background Art

[0002] Currently, all multi-split air conditioner systems are multi-group pipe models, that is, the number of high and low pressure pipes of the outdoor unit is the same as the number of indoor units. The refrigerant flow path between the outdoor unit and the indoor units is connected through a manifold, and the communication method between each indoor unit and the outdoor unit is current loop communication.

[0003] The current loop communication scheme is not suitable for long-distance communication scenarios, which limits the distance between the outdoor unit and the indoor units of the multi-group pipe model. If multiple indoor rooms are connected to the outdoor unit through the current loop communication method, the current loop communication lines between the indoor units and the outdoor unit in some rooms are relatively long, which is not conducive to the communication between the indoor units and the outdoor unit, and also easily affects the outdoor unit's judgment of the operating state of the indoor units. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Embodiments of the present invention provide a control method and a controller for a multi-connected air conditioner system, which can improve the communication between the outdoor unit and the indoor units.

[0005] In a first aspect, embodiments of the present invention provide a control method for a multi-connected air conditioner system. The multi-connected air conditioner system includes an outdoor unit, a plurality of manifold boxes, and a plurality of indoor units. The outdoor unit includes a set of refrigerant pipe groups, and the refrigerant pipe groups are connected to the plurality of manifold boxes through a manifold. Each manifold box is connected to at least one of the indoor units; the outdoor unit is connected to the manifold box through a first communication line, and the manifold box is connected to the corresponding indoor unit through a second communication line;

[0006] The control method is applied to the manifold box and includes:

[0007] Obtaining the operation state data of all the indoor units corresponding to the manifold box through the second communication line;

[0008] Determining the total energy demand of all the indoor units corresponding to the manifold box according to the operation state data, and sending the total energy demand to the outdoor unit through the first communication line. The outdoor unit is used to determine the system load demand according to the total energy demands sent by all the manifold boxes, and determine the operating frequency of the compressor and the opening degree of the main expansion valve of the outdoor unit according to the system load demand;

[0009] Adjusting the opening degree of the throttle valve corresponding to each indoor unit according to the operation state data of each indoor unit.

[0010] In some embodiments, the determining the total energy demand of all the indoor units corresponding to the manifold box according to the operation state data includes:

[0011] Determine the current energy demand of the indoor unit according to the operation status data of the indoor unit;

[0012] Summarize the current energy demands of all the indoor units to obtain the total energy demand.

[0013] In some embodiments, the operation status data includes the indoor environmental temperature, set temperature, fan speed, and model calibration parameters of the indoor unit; the determining the current energy demand of the indoor unit according to the operation status data of the indoor unit includes:

[0014] Determine a first coefficient according to the indoor environmental temperature and the set temperature, determine a second coefficient according to the fan speed, and determine a third coefficient according to the model calibration parameters;

[0015] Determine the current energy demand of the indoor unit according to the first coefficient, the second coefficient, and the third coefficient.

[0016] In some embodiments, the operation status data includes the evaporator outlet temperature of the indoor unit; the adjusting the opening degree of the throttle valve corresponding to the indoor unit according to the operation status data of each indoor unit includes:

[0017] Determine the average temperature value of the evaporator outlet temperatures of all the indoor units corresponding to the manifold box;

[0018] Adjust the opening degree of the throttle valve corresponding to the indoor unit according to the difference between the evaporator outlet temperature of the indoor unit and the average temperature value.

[0019] In a second aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a control method for a multi-connected air conditioner system. The multi-connected air conditioner system includes an outdoor unit, a plurality of manifold boxes, and a plurality of indoor units. The outdoor unit includes a set of refrigerant pipe groups. The refrigerant pipe groups are connected to the plurality of manifold boxes through a manifold. Each manifold box is connected to at least one indoor unit; the outdoor unit is connected to the manifold box through a first communication line, and the manifold box is connected to the indoor unit corresponding to the manifold box through a second communication line;

[0020] The control method is applied to the outdoor unit and includes:

[0021] Receive the total energy demand sent by each manifold box through the first communication cable, and determine the system load demand according to the total energy demand. The manifold box is used to obtain the operation status data of all the indoor units corresponding to the manifold box through the second communication cable, and determine the total energy demand of all the indoor units corresponding to the manifold box according to the operation status data;

[0022] Determine the operating frequency of the compressor and the opening degree of the main expansion valve of the outdoor unit according to the system load demand.

[0023] In some embodiments, determining the system load demand according to the total energy demand includes:

[0024] Determining a fourth coefficient and a fifth coefficient according to the operating mode of the outdoor unit and the outdoor ambient temperature;

[0025] Determining the operating frequency of the compressor according to the fourth coefficient, the fifth coefficient and the system load demand.

[0026] In some embodiments, determining the opening degree of the main expansion valve of the outdoor unit according to the system load demand includes:

[0027] Obtaining the evaporator temperatures of all the indoor units through the manifold box, and determining the average value of the evaporator temperatures according to the evaporator temperatures of all the indoor units;

[0028] Determining the target exhaust temperature according to the operating frequency of the compressor, the average value of the evaporator temperatures and the condenser temperature of the outdoor unit;

[0029] Determining the opening degree of the main expansion valve according to the difference between the target exhaust temperature and the current exhaust temperature of the compressor.

[0030] In some embodiments, the number of the manifold boxes is n, the number of the indoor units is n + 1. The main pipe of the first manifold connects the refrigerant pipe group. The first branch pipe of the i-th manifold connects the i-th manifold box. The second branch pipe of the i-th manifold connects the main pipe of the (i + 1)-th manifold. The first branch pipe and the second branch pipe of the n-th manifold connect the n-th manifold box and the (n + 1)-th manifold box respectively, where i is an integer and 2 ≤ i ≤ n.

[0031] In some embodiments, communication between the outdoor unit and the manifold box is performed through the RS485 communication protocol, and communication between the manifold box and the indoor unit is performed through the current loop method.

[0032] In some embodiments, the manifold boxes are connected in cascade and connected to the outdoor unit through RS485 communication cables.

[0033] In a third aspect, an embodiment of the present invention provides a controller, including at least one processor and a memory communicatively connected to the at least one processor; the memory stores instructions executable by the at least one processor, and the instructions are executed by the at least one processor so that the at least one processor can execute the control method as described in the first aspect and / or the second aspect.

[0034] The control method and controller of the multi-connected air conditioner system according to the embodiments of the present invention have at least the following beneficial effects: The multi-connected air conditioner system according to the embodiments of the present invention adopts an outdoor unit with a single refrigerant pipe group. The outdoor unit expands the number of connected outdoor units through a combination of a manifold and a manifold box, forming a multi-connected air conditioner architecture with expandable indoor units. During operation, each manifold box of the multi-connected air conditioner system collects the operation status data of each indoor unit below through a second communication line, obtains the total energy demand, and sends the total energy demand to the outdoor unit through a first communication line. After summarizing the total energy demands sent by all manifold boxes, the outdoor unit determines the system load demand, and thus adjusts the operation frequency of the compressor and the opening degree of the main expansion valve according to the system load demand. Subsequently, the manifold box also controls the opening degree of the expansion valve of the corresponding indoor unit according to the operation status data of each indoor unit. The above method provides a communication method for a multi-connected air conditioner architecture with expandable indoor units, that is, through the mediation of the manifold box, combines the energy demand of the equipment to allocate the refrigerant flow of the outdoor unit and the indoor unit, and coordinates the stable operation of the system.

[0035] Other features and advantages of the present invention will be described in the following specification, and in part will be obvious from the specification, or will be understood by implementing the present invention. The objectives and other advantages of the present invention can be realized and obtained by the structures specifically pointed out in the specification and the drawings. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0036] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the architecture of the multi-connected air conditioner system provided by the embodiments of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 2 is a communication schematic diagram of the multi-connected air conditioner system provided by the embodiments of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 3 is an overall flowchart of the control method provided by the embodiments of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 4 is Figure 3 a specific flowchart of step S102 therein;

[0040] Figure 5 is Figure 4 a specific flowchart of step S201 therein;

[0041] Figure 6 is Figure 3 a specific flowchart of step S103 therein;

[0042] Figure 7 is a flowchart of the control method provided by another embodiment of the present invention;

[0043] Figure 8 is Figure 7 a specific flowchart of step S501 therein;

[0044] Figure 9 Yes Figure 7 Another specific flowchart of step S501 in

[0045] Figure 10 It is a schematic diagram of a controller provided by an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed implementation manners

[0046] In order to make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention more comprehensible, 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 only used to explain the present invention and are not used to limit the present invention. Additionally, the features, operations or characteristics described in the specification can be combined in any appropriate manner to form various embodiments. Meanwhile, the steps or actions in the method description can also be reordered or adjusted in an obvious manner for those skilled in the art. Therefore, the various sequences in the specification and drawings are only for clearly describing a certain embodiment and do not mean an essential sequence unless it is stated that a certain sequence must be followed.

[0047] In the description of the present invention, "several" means one or more, "multiple" means more than two, and understandings such as "greater than", "less than", "exceeding", etc. do not include the present number, while understandings such as "above", "below", "within", etc. include the present number. If there is a description of "first", "second", etc., it is only for the purpose of distinguishing technical features and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the quantity of the indicated technical features or the sequence of the indicated technical features.

[0048] The serial numbers assigned to the components herein, such as "first", "second", etc., are only used to distinguish the described objects and do not have any sequential or technical meanings. The "connection" and "coupling" mentioned in the present invention, unless otherwise specified, both include direct and indirect connections (couplings).

[0049] Currently, all multi-split air-conditioning systems are multi-group pipe models, that is, the number of high and low pressure pipes of the outdoor unit is the same as the number of indoor units. The refrigerant flow path is connected between the outdoor unit and the indoor units through the way of a manifold, and the communication method between each indoor unit and the outdoor unit is current loop communication. That is to say, in the current solution, for each indoor unit, the outdoor unit needs to correspondingly increase the number of groups of high and low pressure pipes. This approach greatly limits the length of the connecting pipes between the indoor and outdoor units, the distance between the indoor and outdoor units, the number of indoor units that can be connected, and the overall cost.

[0050] In addition, the current loop communication solution is not suitable for long-distance communication scenarios, which limits the distance between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit of the multi-tube model. If multiple rooms are connected to the outdoor unit through current loop communication, the current loop communication line between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit in some rooms is long, which is not conducive to the communication between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, and it is also easy to affect the outdoor unit's judgment of the operating status of the indoor unit.

[0051] Based on this, an embodiment of the present invention provides a control method and controller for a multi-split system. The multi-split system of the embodiment of the present invention adopts an outdoor unit with a single group of refrigerant pipes. The outdoor unit expands the number of outdoor unit connections through a combination of a branch pipe and a branch box to form a multi-split architecture with expandable indoor units. During operation, each branch box of the multi-split system collects the operating status data of each indoor unit below through the second communication line, obtains the total energy demand and sends the total energy demand to the outdoor unit through the first communication line. After summarizing the total energy demand sent by all branch boxes, the outdoor unit determines the system load demand, thereby adjusting the operating frequency of the compressor and the opening of the main expansion valve according to the system load demand. After that, the branch box also controls the opening of the expansion valve of the corresponding indoor unit according to the operating status data of each indoor unit. The above method provides a communication method for a multi-split architecture of expandable indoor units, that is, through the branch box as an intermediary, the refrigerant flow of the outdoor unit and the indoor unit is allocated in combination with the energy demand of the equipment, and the system is coordinated to work stably.

[0052] The following is an explanation of the multi-connection system of this embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:

[0053] Reference Figure 1 As shown, Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the architecture of a multi-connection system provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] In some embodiments, the multi-split system includes an outdoor unit 100, a plurality of branch boxes 300 and a plurality of indoor units 400. The outdoor unit 100 includes a set of refrigerant pipes, which are connected to a plurality of branch boxes 300 through a branch pipe 200. Each branch box 300 is connected to at least one indoor unit 400. The outdoor unit 100 is connected to the branch box 300 through a first communication line to receive data sent by the branch box 300 through the first communication line. The branch box 300 is connected to the indoor unit 400 corresponding to the branch box 300 through a second communication line to summarize the operating status data of the indoor unit 400 connected to the branch box 300 through the second communication line.

[0055] In some embodiments, the number of the manifold boxes 300 is n, and the number of the indoor units 400 is n + 1. Among them, the main pipe of the first manifold 200 is connected to the refrigerant pipe group. The first branch pipe of the i-th manifold 200 is connected to the i-th manifold box 300, and the second branch pipe of the i-th manifold 200 is connected to the main pipe of the (i + 1)-th manifold 200. The first branch pipe and the second branch pipe of the n-th manifold 200 are respectively connected to the n-th manifold box 300 and the (n + 1)-th manifold box 300, where i is an integer and 2 ≤ i ≤ n.

[0056] The outdoor unit 100 expands the number of connected indoor units 400 through the combination of the manifold 200 and the manifold box 300. Among them, the manifold 200 is connected to the main pipe of the next manifold 200 and a corresponding manifold box 300 through the branch pipes. This manifold box 300 can be connected to multiple indoor units 400, and the next manifold 200 can also be connected to the main pipe of the next manifold 200 and a corresponding manifold box 300 through the branch pipes, and so on, forming a one-to-many architecture with an unlimited number of indoor units 400. Compared with the traditional multi-split air conditioning system, through the transfer of the manifold box 300, the installable distance between the outdoor unit 100 and the indoor units 400 can be extended, the number of connected indoor units 400 is increased, and more installation and usage scenarios are satisfied.

[0057] It can be understood that the refrigerant pipe group is mainly used to transport the refrigerant from the outdoor unit 100 to the indoor units 400 to further realize indoor cooling or heating. In this embodiment, multiple indoor units 400 are connected through the manifold 200, and the manifold 200 is used to receive the refrigerant from the outdoor unit 100 and distribute it to different indoor units 400. The manifold box 300 is a centralized device for distributing the refrigerant flow direction. The manifold box 300 is used to receive the refrigerant from the outdoor unit 100 and distribute it to multiple indoor units 400. In this embodiment, through the mutual cooperation of the manifold 200 and the manifold box 300, the cooling effect balance between the indoor units 400 is ensured, and the installation space and pipeline cost are saved.

[0058] It should be noted that the manifold 200 in this embodiment can be set by the user according to needs, and n is an integer greater than or equal to 2. For example, 3, 4, 5, etc. Figure 1 Taking the number of the manifolds 200 being 3, the number of the manifold boxes 300 being 4, and each manifold box 300 being connected to two indoor units 400 as an example for illustration.

[0059] It should be noted that for the current solution, for each indoor unit 400, the outdoor unit 100 needs to correspondingly increase the number of high and low pressure pipe sets by the same amount. However, for the outdoor unit 100 of the present invention, only one set of refrigerant pipe sets is required to come out, which is connected to different distribution boxes 300 through the manifold 200, and then the distribution box 300 is connected to the indoor unit 400, and so on, forming a multi-connected structure with an unlimited number of indoor units 400. Thus, on the premise of ensuring that the indoor units do not need to be changed, the distribution box 300 can be installed indoors, and only one set of manifold 200 is required from the outdoor unit 100 to the distribution box 300, greatly increasing the installable distance between the indoor unit 400 and the outdoor unit 100, while reducing the overall pipe length and saving costs.

[0060] It can be understood that in this embodiment, by arranging the manifold 200 between the distribution box 300 and the outdoor unit 100, the pressure loss of the refrigerant in the pipeline can be reduced, maintaining a high cooling effect, and the layout of the refrigerant pipeline can be simplified, reducing the pipeline length and the number of connection points. This can reduce the material and installation costs, and at the same time reduce the risk of refrigerant leakage. By arranging the distribution box 300, the refrigerant flow from the outdoor unit 100 can be distributed to multiple indoor units 400 to ensure that each indoor unit 400 can obtain an appropriate refrigerant supply.

[0061] Refer to Figure 2 As shown in Figure 2 is a communication schematic diagram of a multi-connected system provided in this embodiment.

[0062] In some embodiments, the outdoor unit 100 and the distribution box 300 communicate through the RS485 communication protocol, so as to effectively resist the influence of electromagnetic interference and noise, and ensure the reliability and stability of the communication process; the distribution box 300 and the indoor unit 400 communicate through the current loop method to achieve real-time communication between the indoor unit 400 and the distribution box 300.

[0063] It should be noted that RS485 communication uses differential signal transmission, which has the characteristics of strong anti-interference ability and long transmission distance. It can perform high-speed data transmission over a long distance and is suitable for applications that require long-distance data transmission. The current loop communication port is a communication method with relatively high real-time performance. Through current loop communication, the real-time current value can be quickly transmitted. Compared with digital signal communication, it has stronger anti-interference ability against electromagnetic interference and noise, further improving the reliability and stability of the multi-connected system.

[0064] In some embodiments, the distribution boxes 300 are cascaded and connected to the outdoor unit 100 through RS485 communication cables to achieve centralized management and control of multiple indoor units 400.

[0065] Those skilled in the art can understand that Figure 1The schematic diagrams shown do not limit the embodiments of the present invention. There may be more or fewer components than those shown, or some components may be combined, or different component arrangements. The control method in this embodiment will be specifically described below.

[0066] Based on the structural schematic diagram of the above multi-connected air conditioner system, various embodiments of the control method of the present invention are proposed.

[0067] Refer to Figure 3 , Figure 3 is a flowchart of the control method provided by an embodiment of the present invention, which is applied but not limited to the branch box 300 in Figure 1 The control method includes but is not limited to steps S101 to S103.

[0068] Step S101, obtain the operation status data of all indoor units 400 corresponding to the branch box 300 through the second communication line;

[0069] In some embodiments, obtaining the operation status data of all indoor units 400 corresponding to the branch box 300 through the second communication line can obtain the operation status of all indoor units 400, which is convenient for subsequent control of the refrigerant flow rate through the indoor units 400 to meet the cooling or heating requirements of different indoor units 400.

[0070] Step S102, determine the total energy demand of all indoor units 400 corresponding to the branch box 300 according to the operation status data, and send the total energy demand to the outdoor unit 100 through the first communication line;

[0071] It should be noted that the outdoor unit 100 is used to determine the system load demand according to the total energy demand sent by all branch boxes 300, and determine the operation frequency of the compressor and the opening degree of the main expansion valve of the outdoor unit 100 according to the system load demand;

[0072] In some embodiments, determining the total energy demand of all indoor units 400 corresponding to the branch box 300 according to the operation status data and sending the total energy demand to the outdoor unit 100 through the first communication line is convenient for subsequent refrigerant distribution to the indoor units 400 connected to the branch box 300, ensuring that each indoor unit 400 connected to the branch box 300 can obtain appropriate refrigerant supply to achieve the balanced operation of the entire air conditioning system and improve indoor comfort.

[0073] It can be understood that the outdoor unit 100 is used to determine the system load demand according to the total energy demand sent by all the branch boxes 300, so that the cooling capacity or heating capacity can be adjusted according to the actual demand of each indoor unit 400, enabling precise control of the indoor temperature. And according to the system load demand, the operating frequency of the compressor and the opening degree of the main expansion valve of the outdoor unit 100 are determined. By reasonably adjusting the operating frequency and opening degree, the energy consumption of the multi-connected air-conditioning system can be reduced, the adverse impact on the environment can be reduced, the efficiency of the multi-connected air-conditioning system can be further improved, and the waste of energy can be reduced, thereby reducing the operating cost.

[0074] Step S103: Adjust the opening degree of the throttle valve corresponding to the indoor unit 400 according to the operating state data of each indoor unit 400.

[0075] In some embodiments, adjusting the opening degree of the throttle valve corresponding to the indoor unit 400 according to the operating state data of each indoor unit 400 can ensure uniform distribution of the temperature in each indoor area, enabling the multi-connected air-conditioning system to operate in an optimal state under different load conditions. By reasonably controlling the refrigerant flow rate, the efficiency of the system is improved, the waste of energy is reduced, and thus the operating cost is reduced.

[0076] It should be noted that there may be differences in the operating states of different indoor units 400. Some may have a higher load, while some may have a lower load. By adjusting the opening degree of the throttle valve, the system load can be balanced, ensuring that each indoor unit 400 can obtain appropriate cooling or heating effects, reducing the overloading or underloading conditions of the system, and avoiding the situation where some indoor units 400 operate under overloaded conditions while other indoor units 400 are underloaded, further reducing the working load of the multi-connected air-conditioning system and reducing the maintenance and replacement costs.

[0077] As Figure 4 shown, Figure 4 is Figure 3 the specific flowchart of step S102 in

[0078] Step S201: Determine the current energy demand of the indoor unit 400 according to the operating state data of the indoor unit 400;

[0079] Step S202: Aggregate the current energy demands of all indoor units 400 to obtain the total energy demand.

[0080] In steps S201 to S202 of some embodiments, in the process of determining the total energy demand of all indoor units 400 corresponding to the manifold box 300 according to the operating status data, first, the current energy demand of the indoor unit 400 is determined according to the operating status data of the indoor unit 400, so that the current energy demand of each indoor unit 400 connected to the manifold box 300 can be obtained. Then, the current energy demands of all indoor units 400 are summarized to obtain the total energy demand, realizing the summarization of the energy demands of all indoor units 400 connected to the manifold box 300, facilitating the subsequent refrigerant distribution to the indoor units 400 connected to the manifold box 300, ensuring that each indoor unit 400 connected to the manifold box 300 can obtain an appropriate refrigerant supply, so as to achieve the balanced operation of the entire air conditioning system and improve the indoor comfort level.

[0081] As Figure 5 shown, Figure 5 is Figure 4 the specific flowchart of step S201 in [figure number]. Step S201 includes but is not limited to steps S301 to S302.

[0082] It should be noted that the operating status data includes the indoor environmental temperature, set temperature, fan speed, and model calibration parameters of the indoor unit 400.

[0083] Step S301, determine the first coefficient according to the indoor environmental temperature and the set temperature, determine the second coefficient according to the fan speed, and determine the third coefficient according to the model calibration parameters;

[0084] In some embodiments, in the process of determining the current energy demand of the indoor unit 400 according to the operating status data of the indoor unit 400, the first coefficient is determined according to the difference between the indoor environmental temperature and the set temperature to realize the real-time monitoring of the indoor environmental temperature and the set temperature, so as to timely understand the indoor comfort level and temperature change situation, facilitating subsequent adjustment according to the actual situation. Among them, the greater the difference between the indoor environmental temperature and the set temperature, the greater the first coefficient, and the smaller the difference between the indoor environmental temperature and the set temperature, the smaller the first coefficient.

[0085] Determine the second coefficient according to the fan speed. Through the fan speed, the operating status of the multi-connected system can be judged. At the same time, according to the change of the fan speed, the air flow speed can be adjusted to provide a more comfortable indoor environment. Among them, the higher the fan speed, the greater the second coefficient, and vice versa, the lower the fan speed, the smaller the second coefficient.

[0086] Determine the third coefficient according to the model calibration parameters, so as to determine the performance and operating status of the multi-connected system, facilitating the subsequent use and maintenance of the multi-connected system.

[0087] It should be noted that the model calibration parameters include, but are not limited to, power supply voltage parameters, rated current parameters, operating temperature range parameters, noise parameters, cooling capacity, heating capacity, energy efficiency ratio parameters, etc. Among them, the cooling capacity is the cooling capacity that the indoor unit 400 can provide, the heating capacity is the heating capacity that the indoor unit 400 can provide, and the energy efficiency ratio parameter refers to the cooling efficiency or heating efficiency of the indoor unit 400. The higher the energy efficiency ratio of the indoor unit 400, the more energy-efficient it is.

[0088] Step S302, determine the current energy demand of the indoor unit 400 according to the first coefficient, the second coefficient, and the third coefficient.

[0089] In some embodiments, multiply the first coefficient, the second coefficient, and the third coefficient to calculate the current energy demand of the indoor unit 400, so as to obtain the energy consumption situation of the indoor unit 400, which helps to optimize the operation of the multi-connected air-conditioning system, facilitates the subsequent reasonable supply of cooling capacity to the indoor unit 400, and thus controls the refrigerant flow rate of each indoor unit 400 to meet the cooling and heating requirements of different indoor units 400.

[0090] As Figure 6 shown, Figure 6 is Figure 3 the specific flowchart of step S103 in [description of the relevant context]. Step S103 includes, but is not limited to, steps S401 to S402.

[0091] It should be noted that the operating state data includes the evaporator outlet temperature of the indoor unit 400.

[0092] Step S401, determine the average temperature value of the evaporator outlet temperatures of all the indoor units 400 corresponding to the manifold box 300;

[0093] In some embodiments, during the process of adjusting the opening degree of the throttle valve corresponding to the indoor unit 400 according to the operating state data of each indoor unit 400, determine the average temperature value of the evaporator outlet temperatures of all the indoor units 400 corresponding to the manifold box 300, which is convenient for subsequent adjustment of the opening degree of the throttle valve corresponding to the indoor unit 400 and avoids the situation of some indoor units 400 being overcooled or overheated.

[0094] Step S402, adjust the opening degree of the throttle valve corresponding to the indoor unit 400 according to the difference between the evaporator outlet temperature of the indoor unit 400 and the average temperature value.

[0095] In some embodiments, according to the difference between the evaporator outlet temperature of the indoor unit 400 and the average temperature value, the opening degree of the throttle valve corresponding to the indoor unit 400 is adjusted. Adjusting the opening degree of the throttle valve according to the difference between the evaporator outlet temperature of the indoor unit 400 and the average temperature value can enable the multi-connected air-conditioning system to operate in an optimal state under different load conditions. By reasonably controlling the refrigerant flow rate, the efficiency of the system can be improved, energy waste can be reduced, and thus the operating cost can be lowered.

[0096] It can be understood that adjusting the opening degree of the throttle valve corresponding to the indoor unit 400 according to the difference can achieve the load balance of the multi-connected air-conditioning system. For example, when the evaporator outlet temperature of some indoor units 400 is relatively high, the opening degree of the corresponding throttle valve can be appropriately reduced to reduce the refrigerant flow rate, thereby balancing the system operation and avoiding the situation where some indoor units 400 are overcooled or overheated while other indoor units 400 cannot reach the required temperature. At the same time, it can ensure that the temperatures in each indoor area are more uniform, avoid the situation of overcooling or overheating in some areas, and provide a more comfortable indoor environment.

[0097] Refer to Figure 7 , Figure 7 which is a flowchart of the control method provided by another embodiment of the present invention, applied but not limited to the outdoor unit 100 in Figure 1 , and the control method includes but is not limited to steps S501 to S502.

[0098] Step S501: Receive the total energy demand sent by each manifold box 300 through the first communication cable, and determine the system load demand according to the total energy demand;

[0099] It should be noted that the manifold box 300 is used to obtain the operation status data of all the indoor units 400 corresponding to the manifold box 300 through the second communication cable, and determine the total energy demand of all the indoor units 400 corresponding to the manifold box 300 according to the operation status data;

[0100] In some embodiments, receiving the total energy demand sent by each manifold box 300 through the first communication cable and determining the system load demand can enable the cooling or heating capacity of the indoor unit 400 to be adjusted according to actual needs, thereby reducing the overloading or underloading of the multi-connected air-conditioning system, avoiding unnecessary energy waste, saving energy, improving the energy utilization efficiency, and providing a better indoor environment experience at the same time.

[0101] Step S502: Determine the operating frequency of the compressor and the opening degree of the main expansion valve of the outdoor unit 100 according to the system load demand.

[0102] In some embodiments, the operating frequency of the compressor and the opening degree of the main expansion valve of the outdoor unit 100 are determined according to the system load demand to achieve precise control of the multi-connected air-conditioning system, so that the multi-connected air-conditioning system can operate in the best state under different load conditions. By adjusting the operating frequency of the compressor and the opening degree of the main expansion valve of the outdoor unit 100, the stability and reliability of the multi-connected air-conditioning system can be improved, and the incidence of faults can be reduced.

[0103] It can be understood that by reasonably controlling the operating frequency of the compressor and the opening degree of the main expansion valve of the outdoor unit 100, the indoor temperature and humidity can be effectively adjusted, a more comfortable indoor environment can be provided, and the needs of users can be met.

[0104] As Figure 8 shown, Figure 8 is Figure 7 a specific flowchart of step S501, and step S501 includes but is not limited to steps S601 to S603.

[0105] Step S601, determining a fourth coefficient and a fifth coefficient according to the operating mode of the outdoor unit 100 and the outdoor ambient temperature;

[0106] Step S602, determining the operating frequency of the compressor according to the fourth coefficient, the fifth coefficient and the system load demand.

[0107] In steps S601 to S602 of some embodiments, the operating frequency of the compressor of the outdoor unit 100 is affected by the operating state of the indoor unit 400. The operating state of the indoor unit 400 is reflected in the total energy demand, and the system load demand is determined by the sum of the total energy demands of all the manifold boxes 300. Therefore, the system load demand represents the operating states of all the indoor units 400. The operating frequency of the compressor of the outdoor unit 100 is also affected by the outdoor ambient temperature and the current operating mode. Based on this, a fourth coefficient and a fifth coefficient are set, and the operating frequency of the compressor is determined by the fourth coefficient, the fifth coefficient and the system load demand. The fourth coefficient and the fifth coefficient can be set according to actual needs. For example, by fitting data, a relational expression of the operating frequency of the compressor with the system load demand, the outdoor ambient temperature, and the current operating mode is constructed, so as to determine the fourth coefficient and the fifth coefficient by using the fitted relational expression. It should be noted that the relational expression can use constants to represent the outdoor ambient temperature and the current operating mode, so as to simplify the relational expression into a relational expression of the operating frequency of the compressor with the system load demand.

[0108] It should be noted that the operating mode of the outdoor unit 100 includes but is not limited to a refrigeration mode, a heating mode, a defrosting mode, etc., and no specific limitation is made in this embodiment.

[0109] As Figure 9 shown, in some embodiments, Figure 9 isFigure 7 Specific flowchart of step S501, where step S501 includes but is not limited to steps S701 to S703.

[0110] Step S701, obtaining the evaporator temperatures of all indoor units 400 through the manifold box 300, and determining the average value of the evaporator temperatures based on the evaporator temperatures of all indoor units 400;

[0111] Step S702, determining the target discharge temperature based on the operating frequency of the compressor, the average value of the evaporator temperatures, and the condenser temperature of the outdoor unit 100;

[0112] Step S703, determining the opening degree of the main expansion valve based on the difference between the target discharge temperature and the current discharge temperature of the compressor.

[0113] The manifold box 300 also aggregates the evaporator temperatures of the indoor units 400 to the outdoor unit 100, and the outdoor unit 100 calculates an average value of the evaporator temperatures based on the evaporator temperatures of all indoor units 400 to represent a state of the system. This average value can be the direct sum average or a weighted average according to the corresponding weights, which is not limited here. Then, based on this average value, the current operating frequency of the compressor, and the condenser temperature of the outdoor unit 100, a target discharge temperature is calculated. Then, the target discharge temperature is compared with the current discharge temperature of the compressor, and the opening degree of the main expansion valve of the outdoor unit 100 is determined according to the difference between the two. It can be understood that in addition to referring to the three parameters of the operating frequency of the compressor, the average value of the evaporator temperatures, and the condenser temperature of the outdoor unit 100, other parameters can be added to determine the target discharge temperature, such as the outdoor ambient temperature, etc. The parameters to be used can be adjusted according to the working environment by oneself, and no further examples are given here.

[0114] To more clearly and understandably explain the above control method of the multi-connected air conditioner system, the following is illustrated with specific examples.

[0115] Example 1:

[0116] Example 1 takes Figure 1 the architecture diagram of the multi-connected air conditioner system as an example. The multi-connected air conditioner system includes an outdoor unit 100, multiple manifold boxes 300, and multiple indoor units 400. The outdoor unit 100 includes a set of refrigerant pipe groups, and the refrigerant pipe groups are connected to multiple manifold boxes 300 through the manifold pipes 200. Each manifold box 300 is connected to at least one indoor unit 400; the outdoor unit 100 is connected to the manifold box 300 through the first communication line, and the manifold box 300 is connected to the indoor unit 400 corresponding to it through the second communication line;

[0117] In some embodiments, the number of the manifold boxes 300 is n, and the number of the indoor units 400 is n + 1. Among them, the main pipe of the first manifold 200 is connected to the refrigerant pipe group. The first branch pipe of the i-th manifold 200 is connected to the i-th manifold box 300, and the second branch pipe of the i-th manifold 200 is connected to the main pipe of the (i + 1)-th manifold 200. The first branch pipe and the second branch pipe of the n-th manifold 200 are respectively connected to the n-th manifold box 300 and the (n + 1)-th manifold box 300, where i is an integer and 2 ≤ i ≤ n.

[0118] In some embodiments, each indoor unit 400 connected to each manifold box 300 sends data such as its own indoor environment temperature (T1) and set temperature (TS) to the manifold box 300. The manifold box 300 calculates the total capacity demand of all the indoor units 400 connected to it. Then, each manifold box 300 sends the total capacity demand calculated by itself to the outdoor unit 100. The outdoor unit 100 controls the operating frequency required for the compressor to run by aggregating and calculating the total capacity demands sent by all the manifold boxes 300.

[0119] The process of the manifold box 300 calculating the total capacity demand of all the indoor units 400 connected to it will be specifically described below.

[0120] Taking the example that the manifold box 300 is connected to three indoor units 400, the three indoor units 400 are numbered 1, 2, and 3 respectively. The process of calculating the capacity demand of the first indoor unit is as follows:

[0121] Step S1: Confirm the first coefficient A according to the difference between T1 (the indoor environment temperature of the first indoor unit 400) and TS (the set temperature of the first indoor unit 400) of the first indoor unit 400.

[0122] It can be understood that the greater the difference between the indoor environment temperature and the set temperature, the greater the first coefficient; the smaller the difference between the indoor environment temperature and the set temperature, the smaller the first coefficient.

[0123] Step S2: Confirm the second coefficient B according to the fan speed of the first indoor unit 400.

[0124] It can be understood that the higher the fan speed, the greater the second coefficient; on the contrary, the lower the fan speed, the smaller the second coefficient.

[0125] Step S3: Determine the third coefficient C according to the model calibration parameters of the first indoor unit 400.

[0126] Step S4: Calculate the capacity demand Q1 of the first indoor unit 400 = A * B * C; similarly, calculate the capacity demands Q2 of the second indoor unit 400 and Q3 of the third indoor unit 400.

[0127] Step S5: Calculate the total capacity requirement Qf1 = Q1 + Q2 + Q3 of all indoor units 400 connected to the manifold box 3001.

[0128] The outdoor unit 100 controls the opening degree of the main expansion valve of the outdoor unit through parameters such as the compressor discharge temperature (TP) and the compressor frequency, and further controls the total refrigerant flow of the multi-connected system; the manifold box 300 controls the opening degree of the expansion valve corresponding to each indoor unit 400 it connects through parameters such as the compressor discharge temperature (TP), the compressor frequency, and the evaporator outlet temperature (T2B) of each indoor unit, so as to control the refrigerant flow to each indoor unit 400 and realize cooling and heating for the requirements of different indoor units 400.

[0129] Step S6: The outdoor unit 100 summarizes the total energy requirements of all manifold boxes 300, and calculates the sum of the capacity requirements ∑Qn = Qf1 + Qf2 + … + Qfn calculated by all the manifold boxes 300 it connects;

[0130] Step S7: The manifold box 300 calculates the average temperature value of T2B (evaporator outlet temperature) of the indoor units 400 it connects;

[0131] Step S8: The manifold box 300 judges the difference between the T2B of the No. 1 indoor unit 400 and the average temperature of T2B of the indoor units 400 it connects, and adjusts the opening degree of the throttle valve corresponding to the indoor unit 400 according to the size of the difference.

[0132] The operating frequency of the compressor is determined through the following steps:

[0133] Step S8: Determine the fourth coefficient C and the fifth coefficient D according to the operating mode of the outdoor unit 100 and the outdoor ambient temperature;

[0134] Step S9: Determine the operating frequency of the compressor according to the fourth coefficient, the fifth coefficient and the system load demand.

[0135] It should be noted that the compressor operating frequency = coefficient C * ∑Qn + coefficient D.

[0136] The opening degree of the main expansion valve of the outdoor unit 100 is determined through the following steps:

[0137] Step S10, obtain the evaporator temperature of all indoor units 400 through the manifold box 300, and determine the average value of the evaporator temperature according to the evaporator temperature of all indoor units 400;

[0138] Step S11, determine the target discharge temperature according to the operating frequency of the compressor, the average value of the evaporator temperature and the condenser temperature of the outdoor unit 100;

[0139] Step S12, determine the opening degree of the main expansion valve according to the difference between the target discharge temperature and the current discharge temperature of the compressor.

[0140] In some embodiments, each manifold box 300 of the multi-connected air conditioner system collects the operation status data of each of the following indoor units 400 through a second communication line, obtains the total energy demand, and sends the total energy demand to the outdoor unit 100 through a first communication line. After summarizing the total energy demands sent by all the manifold boxes 300, the outdoor unit 100 determines the system load demand, and thus adjusts the operation frequency of the compressor and the opening degree of the main expansion valve according to the system load demand. After that, the manifold box 300 also controls the opening degree of the expansion valve of the corresponding indoor unit 400 according to the operation status data of each indoor unit 400. The above method provides a communication method for a multi-connected air conditioner architecture with expandable indoor units 400, that is, through the mediation of the manifold box 300, and combines the energy demand of the equipment to allocate the refrigerant flow of the outdoor unit 100 and the indoor units 400, and coordinates the stable operation of the system.

[0141] In addition, as Figure 10 shown, Figure 10 FIG. is a schematic diagram of a controller 1000 provided by an embodiment of the present invention.

[0142] An embodiment of the present invention also provides a controller 1000, including at least one processor and a memory communicatively connected to the at least one processor; the memory stores instructions executable by the at least one processor, and the instructions are executed by the at least one processor to enable the at least one processor to execute the control method as described in the above embodiments.

[0143] The controller 1000 of this embodiment includes one or more processors 1001 and a memory 1002. Figure 10 One processor 1001 and one memory 1002 are taken as examples.

[0144] The processor 1001 and the memory 1002 can be connected by a bus or other means. Figure 10 Taking the connection through a bus as an example.

[0145] The memory 1002, as a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, can be used to store non-transitory software programs and non-transitory computer-executable programs. In addition, the memory 1002 may include a high-speed random access memory, and may also include a non-transitory memory, such as at least one disk storage device, a flash memory device, or other non-transitory solid-state storage devices. In some embodiments, the memory 1002 may optionally include a memory 1002 remotely disposed relative to the processor 1001, and these remote memories may be connected to the controller 1000 through a network. Examples of the above network include but are not limited to the Internet, an enterprise intranet, a local area network, a mobile communication network, and combinations thereof.

[0146] The device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separated, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed to multiple network nodes. Some or all of the modules can be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution of this embodiment.

[0147] Those of ordinary skill in the art can understand that all or some of the steps and systems disclosed above can be implemented as software, firmware, hardware, and their appropriate combinations. Some physical components or all physical components can be implemented as software executed by a processor, such as a central processing unit, a digital signal processor, or a microprocessor, or as hardware, or as an integrated circuit, such as an application-specific integrated circuit. Such software can be distributed on a computer-readable medium, which can include a computer-readable storage medium (or non-transitory medium) and a communication medium (or transitory medium). As is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art, the term computer-readable storage medium includes volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storing information, such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. Computer-readable storage media include, but are not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory, or other memory technologies, CD-ROM, digital versatile disk (DVD), or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassette, tape, magnetic disk storage, or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to store the desired information and can be accessed by a computer. In addition, as is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art, a communication medium typically contains computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transmission mechanism, and can include any information delivery medium.

[0148] The above is a specific description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Those skilled in the art can make various equivalent deformations or substitutions without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and these equivalent deformations or substitutions are all included within the scope defined by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A control method for a multi-connection system, characterized in that: The multi-split system includes an outdoor unit, a plurality of branch boxes and a plurality of indoor units, wherein the outdoor unit includes a group of refrigerant pipes, the refrigerant pipes are connected to a plurality of branch boxes through branch pipes, and each branch box is connected to at least one indoor unit; the outdoor unit is connected to the branch box through a first communication line, and the branch box is connected to the indoor unit corresponding to the branch box through a second communication line; The control method is applied to the branch box, comprising: Acquire the operation status data of all the indoor units corresponding to the branch box through the second communication line; Determine the total energy demand of all the indoor units corresponding to the branch box according to the operating status data, and send the total energy demand to the outdoor unit through the first communication line, the outdoor unit is used to determine the system load demand according to the total energy demand sent by all the branch boxes, and determine the operating frequency of the compressor and the opening degree of the main expansion valve of the outdoor unit according to the system load demand; The opening degree of the throttle valve corresponding to the indoor unit is adjusted according to the operation status data of each indoor unit.

2. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The determining the total energy requirement of all the indoor units corresponding to the branch box according to the operating status data includes: determining the current energy demand of the indoor unit according to the operating status data of the indoor unit; The current energy demands of all the indoor units are summarized to obtain the total energy demand.

3. The control method according to claim 2, characterized in that: The operating status data includes the indoor ambient temperature, set temperature, fan speed and model calibration parameters of the indoor unit; and determining the current energy demand of the indoor unit according to the operating status data of the indoor unit includes: Determine a first coefficient according to the indoor ambient temperature and the set temperature, determine a second coefficient according to the fan speed, and determine a third coefficient according to the machine model calibration parameters; The current energy demand of the indoor unit is determined according to the first coefficient, the second coefficient and the third coefficient.

4. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The operating status data includes the evaporator outlet temperature of the indoor unit; The step of adjusting the opening of the throttle valve corresponding to each indoor unit according to the operation status data of each indoor unit comprises: Determine an average temperature value of the evaporator outlet temperatures of all the indoor units corresponding to the branch box; The opening degree of the throttle valve corresponding to the indoor unit is adjusted according to the difference between the evaporator outlet temperature of the indoor unit and the average temperature value.

5. A control method for a multi-connection system, characterized in that: The multi-split system includes an outdoor unit, a plurality of branch boxes and a plurality of indoor units, wherein the outdoor unit includes a group of refrigerant pipes, the refrigerant pipes are connected to a plurality of branch boxes through branch pipes, and each branch box is connected to at least one indoor unit; the outdoor unit is connected to the branch box through a first communication line, and the branch box is connected to the indoor unit corresponding to the branch box through a second communication line; The control method is applied to the outdoor unit, comprising: The total energy demand sent by each of the branch boxes is received through the first communication cable, and the system load demand is determined according to the total energy demand. The branch box is used to obtain the operating status data of all the indoor units corresponding to the branch box through the second communication cable, and determine the total energy demand of all the indoor units corresponding to the branch box according to the operating status data; The operating frequency of the compressor and the opening degree of the main expansion valve of the outdoor unit are determined according to the system load demand.

6. The control method according to claim 5, characterized in that: Determining the operating frequency of the compressor according to the system load requirement includes: determining a fourth coefficient and a fifth coefficient according to an operation mode of the outdoor unit and an outdoor ambient temperature; An operating frequency of the compressor is determined based on the fourth coefficient, the fifth coefficient, and the system load demand.

7. The control method according to claim 5, characterized in that: Determining the opening degree of the main expansion valve of the outdoor unit according to the system load demand includes: Acquiring the evaporator temperatures of all the indoor units through the branch box, and determining the average evaporator temperature according to the evaporator temperatures of all the indoor units; determining a target exhaust temperature according to the operating frequency of the compressor, the average temperature of the evaporator, and the condenser temperature of the outdoor unit; The opening degree of the main expansion valve is determined according to the difference between the target exhaust temperature and the current exhaust temperature of the compressor.

8. The control method according to claim 1 or 5, characterized in that: The number of branch boxes is n, the number of indoor units is n+1, the main pipe of the first branch pipe is connected to the refrigerant pipe group, the first branch pipe of the i-th branch pipe is connected to the i-th branch box, the second branch pipe of the i-th branch pipe is connected to the main pipe of the i+1-th branch pipe, the first branch pipe and the second branch pipe of the n-th branch pipe are connected to the n-th branch box and the n+1-th branch box respectively, i is an integer and 2≤i≤n.

9. The control method according to claim 1 or 5, characterized in that: The outdoor unit and the branch box communicate with each other via RS485 communication protocol, and the branch box and the indoor unit communicate with each other via current loop.

10. A controller, characterized in that comprising at least one processor and a memory for communicatively connecting to the at least one processor; The memory stores instructions that can be executed by the at least one processor, and the instructions are executed by the at least one processor so that the at least one processor can execute the control method according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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