Air conditioner and control method thereof

Abstract

The invention provides an air conditioner and a control method thereof, and the air conditioner comprises an outdoor unit which comprises a compressor, a four-way valve, an outdoor heat exchange assembly, a first middle heat exchange assembly and a second middle heat exchange assembly; the first branch and the second branch are connected in parallel and communicate with the refrigerant main path, a first middle heat exchange assembly and a second middle heat exchange assembly are arranged on the first branch and the second branch correspondingly, and an outdoor heat exchange assembly is arranged on the refrigerant main path. Each indoor unit comprises an indoor heat exchange assembly connected through a water pipeline, and the water pipeline of each indoor unit can selectively flow through the first middle heat exchange assembly or the second middle heat exchange assembly; a detection device; and the control device is used for controlling and adjusting the working states of the first intermediate heat exchange assembly and the second intermediate heat exchange assembly according to the target working mode, the indoor load condition and the outdoor load condition of each indoor unit. The system cost is reduced, the potential safety hazard of refrigerant leakage is avoided, and the operation efficiency is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of electrical appliances, and particularly to an air conditioner and its control method. Background Art

[0002] In related technologies, with the reduction of global GWP requirements, how to use different air conditioners and refrigerants has become a difficult choice for major enterprises. Traditional air conditioners achieve the purpose of refrigeration or heating by transporting media such as refrigerant circulation between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit or water-fluorine heat exchange, so as to meet the air conditioning needs of buildings. Currently, in the solutions for realizing the simultaneous refrigeration and heating requirements, a three-pipeline form is mainly adopted. The three-pipeline solution requires a long refrigerant pipeline, and the material of this pipeline is copper, resulting in high pipeline costs. At the same time, with the gradual popularization and application of new refrigerants R32 and R454B, there are subsequent safety hazards such as explosion caused by refrigerant leakage inside. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The present invention provides an air conditioner and its control method to solve the defects existing in the prior art and achieve the following technical effects: not only reducing the system cost, avoiding the safety hazard of refrigerant leakage, but also improving the operating efficiency. In addition, since the refrigerant only circulates on the outdoor side, the long-distance pipeline from the indoor to the outdoor does not need to use expensive copper pipes, further reducing the cost.

[0004] An air conditioner according to an embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention includes: An outdoor unit, including a compressor, a four-way valve, an outdoor heat exchange component, a first intermediate heat exchange component, and a second intermediate heat exchange component connected through a refrigerant pipeline; wherein, the refrigerant pipeline includes a refrigerant main path, a first branch, and a second branch, the first branch and the second branch are connected in parallel with each other and are both connected to the refrigerant main path, and the first intermediate heat exchange component and the second intermediate heat exchange component are respectively provided on the first branch and the second branch, and the outdoor heat exchange component is provided on the refrigerant main path; A plurality of indoor units, each indoor unit includes an indoor heat exchange component connected through a water pipeline, and the water pipeline of each indoor unit can selectively flow through the first intermediate heat exchange component or the second intermediate heat exchange component; A detection device for detecting the indoor load condition of the indoor unit and the outdoor load condition of the outdoor unit; A control device, connected to the detection device, includes an acquisition module and a control module. The acquisition module is used to acquire the target working mode, the indoor load condition, and the outdoor load condition of each indoor unit, and the control module is used to control and adjust the working states of the first intermediate heat exchange component and the second intermediate heat exchange component according to the target working mode, the indoor load condition, and the outdoor load condition of each indoor unit.

[0005] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the control module includes a first control module and a second control module. Among them, the first control module is configured to: control and adjust the outdoor unit to enter different outdoor working modes according to the target working modes of each indoor unit; the second control module is configured to: under different outdoor working modes, control and adjust the working states of the first intermediate heat exchange component and the second intermediate heat exchange component according to the indoor load condition and the outdoor load condition.

[0006] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a first valve is provided on the first branch, and a second valve is provided on the second branch; the refrigerant pipeline further includes a third branch, one end of the third branch is connected to a part of the refrigerant main pipeline located between the four-way valve and the outdoor heat exchange component, the other end of the third branch is connected to the second branch, and a third valve is further provided on the third branch; and a fourth valve is further provided on a part of the second branch between the refrigerant main pipeline and the third branch.

[0007] In this way, the first valve can control whether the refrigerant flows through the first intermediate heat exchange component, and the second valve can control whether the refrigerant flows through the second intermediate heat exchange component. Through the above design, the air-conditioning system of the present invention can intelligently adjust the working states of the heat exchange components according to different operating conditions, so as to maximize the utilization of energy and achieve the efficient operation of the system while meeting the indoor temperature adjustment requirements.

[0008] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first control module is specifically configured to: When the target working modes of all operating indoor units are cooling modes, control the outdoor unit to enter the full cooling mode, and in the full cooling mode, control the first valve and / or the second valve and the fourth valve to open, and control the third valve to close.

[0009] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the second control module is specifically configured to: In the full cooling mode, if the total indoor load of all operating indoor units is less than the first outdoor load of the first intermediate heat exchange component and less than the second outdoor load of the second intermediate heat exchange component, control the first intermediate heat exchange component or the second intermediate heat exchange component to operate in a cooling mode, and at this time, control any one of the first valve and the second valve to open; Or, in the full cooling mode, if the total indoor load of all operating indoor units is between the first outdoor load and the second outdoor load, control the one with the larger outdoor load among the first intermediate heat exchange component and the second intermediate heat exchange component to operate in a cooling mode, and control the corresponding one of the first valve and the second valve to open; Alternatively, in the full cooling mode, if the total indoor load of all operating indoor units is greater than the first outdoor load of the first intermediate heat exchange component and greater than the second outdoor load of the second intermediate heat exchange component, control the first intermediate heat exchange component and the second intermediate heat exchange component to operate in cooling simultaneously, and at this time, control the first valve and the second valve to open simultaneously.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first control module is specifically configured to: When the target operating modes of all operating indoor units are all in the heating mode, control the outdoor unit to enter the full heating mode, and in the full heating mode, control the first valve and / or the second valve and the fourth valve to open, and control the third valve to close.

[0011] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the second control module is specifically configured to: In the full heating mode, if the total indoor load of all operating indoor units is less than the first outdoor load of the first intermediate heat exchange component and less than the second outdoor load of the second intermediate heat exchange component, control the first intermediate heat exchange component or the second intermediate heat exchange component to operate in heating, and at this time, control any one of the first valve and the second valve to open; Alternatively, in the full heating mode, if the total indoor load of all operating indoor units is between the first outdoor load and the second outdoor load, control the one with the larger outdoor load among the first intermediate heat exchange component and the second intermediate heat exchange component to operate in heating, and control the corresponding one of the first valve and the second valve to open; Alternatively, in the full heating mode, if the total indoor load of all operating indoor units is greater than the first outdoor load of the first intermediate heat exchange component and greater than the second outdoor load of the second intermediate heat exchange component, control the first intermediate heat exchange component and the second intermediate heat exchange component to operate in heating simultaneously, and at this time, control the first valve and the second valve to open simultaneously.

[0012] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first control module is specifically configured to: When the target operating modes of all operating indoor units simultaneously include the cooling mode and the heating mode, control the outdoor unit to enter the hybrid working mode, and in the hybrid working mode, control the first valve, the second valve, and the third valve to open, and control the fourth valve to close.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the heat exchange capacity of the first intermediate heat exchange component is greater than the heat exchange capacity of the second intermediate heat exchange component; then the second control module is specifically configured to: In the hybrid working mode, obtain the total indoor cooling load and the total indoor heating load of all operating indoor units. If the total indoor cooling load is greater than the total indoor heating load, control the first intermediate heat exchange component to be in the cooling state and the second intermediate heat exchange component to be in the heating state; Alternatively, in the hybrid working mode, obtain the total indoor cooling load and the total indoor heating load of all operating indoor units. If the total indoor cooling load is less than the total indoor heating load, control the first intermediate heat exchange component to be in the heating state and the second intermediate heat exchange component to be in the cooling state.

[0014] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the heat exchange amount of the first intermediate heat exchange component is equal to the heat exchange amount of the second intermediate heat exchange component; then the second control module is specifically configured to: In the hybrid working mode, control one of the first intermediate heat exchange component and the second intermediate heat exchange component to be in the cooling state and the other to be in the heating state.

[0015] According to the control method of the air conditioner according to the second aspect embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioner includes an outdoor unit and a plurality of indoor units; The outdoor unit includes a compressor, a four-way valve, an outdoor heat exchange component, a first intermediate heat exchange component, and a second intermediate heat exchange component connected by a refrigerant pipeline; wherein, the refrigerant pipeline includes a refrigerant main path, a first branch, and a second branch. The first branch and the second branch are connected in parallel with each other and are both connected to the refrigerant main path, and the first intermediate heat exchange component and the second intermediate heat exchange component are respectively provided on the first branch and the second branch, and the outdoor heat exchange component is provided on the refrigerant main path; Each of the indoor units includes an indoor heat exchange component connected by a water pipeline, and the water pipeline of each indoor unit can selectively flow through the first intermediate heat exchange component or the second intermediate heat exchange component; The control method includes: Obtain the target working mode, the indoor load condition, and the outdoor load condition of each of the indoor units; According to the target working mode, the indoor load condition, and the outdoor load condition of each of the indoor units, control and adjust the working states of the first intermediate heat exchange component and the second intermediate heat exchange component.

[0016] The present invention provides an air conditioner and its control method, which has at least the following advantages compared with the related art.

[0017] (1) Enhanced safety: By restricting the refrigerant cycle outdoors, it avoids the potential indoor leakage and explosion risks caused by using A2L-level refrigerants such as R32 or R454B, significantly improving the safety of the indoor environment.

[0018] (2) Cost savings: The traditional three-pipe scheme adopted by multi-split air conditioning systems requires a large amount of copper refrigerant piping, resulting in relatively high costs. Through the water-air heat exchange technology of the present invention, long-distance piping from indoor to outdoor does not need to use expensive copper materials, effectively reducing installation and maintenance costs.

[0019] (3) Efficiency improvement: The multi-split air conditioning system of the present invention can simultaneously achieve cooling and heating for self-use, which means it can maintain high efficiency in both cooling and heating modes, avoiding the problem of function loss that may occur in traditional systems under simultaneous cooling and heating demands, and improving the overall efficiency of the unit.

[0020] (4) Flexibility and reliability: The indoor unit can independently switch between cooling and heating modes according to user needs, and is flexibly controlled through a three-way valve or a stop valve. At the same time, the design of the intermediate heat exchange component takes into account the possibility of different sizes and parallel use to adapt to various load demands, enhancing the flexibility and reliability of the system.

[0021] (5) Intelligent control: The system has intelligent mode control and can automatically adjust the operating state according to the operating mode and load of the indoor unit, such as full cooling, full heating, main cooling or main heating modes, as well as defrosting mode and anti-freezing mode, ensuring that the system can operate efficiently under various conditions.

[0022] (6) Convenient maintenance: Since the refrigerant only exists on the outdoor side, the maintenance work on the indoor side is reduced, and at the same time, the frequent repairs caused by refrigerant leakage are also reduced, making the system easier to install and set up.

[0023] In summary, the present invention not only solves the problems of traditional multi-split air conditioners in terms of cost, safety and efficiency, but also provides a more intelligent and flexible control solution, improving the user experience and the overall performance of the system. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0024] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the present invention or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments or the prior art. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are some embodiments of the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative efforts.

[0025] Figure 1 It is a schematic structural diagram of the air conditioner provided by the present invention in the full cooling mode.

[0026] Figure 2 It is a schematic structural diagram of the air conditioner provided by the present invention in the full heating mode.

[0027] Figure 3It is a schematic structural diagram of the air conditioner provided by the present invention in the main heating mode.

[0028] Figure 4 It is a schematic structural diagram of the air conditioner provided by the present invention in the main cooling mode.

[0029] Figure 5 It is a schematic structural diagram of the air conditioner provided by the present invention in the first defrosting mode.

[0030] Figure 6 It is one of the schematic structural diagrams of the air conditioner provided by the present invention in the second defrosting mode.

[0031] Figure 7 It is the second schematic structural diagram of the air conditioner provided by the present invention in the second defrosting mode.

[0032] Figure 8 It is a schematic structural diagram of the detection device and control device of the air conditioner provided by the present invention.

[0033] Figure 9 It is a schematic flow diagram of the control method of the air conditioner provided by the present invention. Description of the Drawings: 1. Compressor; 2. Four-way valve; 3. Outdoor heat exchange assembly; 31. First outdoor heat exchange device; 32. Second outdoor heat exchange device; 41. First intermediate heat exchange assembly; 42. Second intermediate heat exchange assembly; 5. Gas-liquid separator; 6. Oil separator; 7. Main refrigerant path; 71. First branch; 72. Second branch; 73. Third branch; 74. Fourth branch; 75. Fifth branch; 76. Sixth branch; 77. Seventh branch; 78. Eighth branch; 81. First valve; 82. Second valve; 83. Third valve; 84. Fourth valve; 85. Fifth valve; 86. First outdoor three-way valve; 87. Second outdoor three-way valve; 9. Indoor heat exchange assembly; 91. Water pipe; 92. First indoor three-way valve; 93. Second indoor three-way valve; 100. Control device; 110. Acquisition module; 120. First control module; 130. Second control module; 200. Detection device. Detailed Embodiments

[0035] To make the objectives, technical solutions and advantages of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings in the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are some, but not all, of the embodiments of the present invention. All other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments in the present invention without making creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0036] In the description of this specification, the descriptions referring to terms such as "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "example", "specific example", or "some examples" etc. mean that the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the embodiments of the present invention. In this specification, the schematic expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described can be combined in a suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples. In addition, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and combine the different embodiments or examples described in this specification and the features of different embodiments or examples.

[0037] As Figures 1 to 8 shown, the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the first aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of indoor units, an outdoor unit, a detection device 200, and a control device 100.

[0038] The outdoor unit includes a compressor 1, a four-way valve 2, an outdoor heat exchange assembly 3, a first intermediate heat exchange assembly 41, and a second intermediate heat exchange assembly 42 connected through a refrigerant pipeline; wherein, the refrigerant pipeline includes a refrigerant main path 7, a first branch 71, and a second branch 72. The first branch 71 and the second branch 72 are connected in parallel with each other and are both connected to the refrigerant main path 7, and the first intermediate heat exchange assembly 41 and the second intermediate heat exchange assembly 42 are respectively provided on the first branch 71 and the second branch 72, and the outdoor heat exchange assembly 3 is provided on the refrigerant main path 7.

[0039] Each indoor unit includes an indoor heat exchange assembly 9 connected through a water pipeline 91, and the water pipeline 91 of each indoor unit can selectively flow through the first intermediate heat exchange assembly 41 or the second intermediate heat exchange assembly 42.

[0040] The detection device 200 is used to detect the indoor load condition of the indoor unit and the outdoor load condition of the outdoor unit. The control device 100 is connected to the detection device 200 and includes an acquisition module 110 and a control module. The acquisition module 110 is used to acquire the target working mode, indoor load condition, and outdoor load condition of each indoor unit, and the control module is used to control and adjust the working states of the first intermediate heat exchange assembly 41 and the second intermediate heat exchange assembly 42 according to the target working mode, indoor load condition, and outdoor load condition of each indoor unit.

[0041] It can be understood that in the present invention, the indoor unit and the outdoor unit are respectively two sets of flow path systems that are independent of each other, not connected to each other, and only have a heat exchange coupling relationship.

[0042] Among them, the outdoor unit is a refrigerant flow path system, and the filler inside is refrigerant (such as R32 or R454B refrigerant). Specifically, inside the outdoor unit, the four interfaces of the four-way valve 2 are respectively connected to the outdoor heat exchange component 3, the confluence of the first branch 71 and the second branch 72, the exhaust port of the compressor 1, and the suction port of the compressor 1 through the refrigerant main path 7. The refrigerant circulates between the compressor 1, the outdoor heat exchange component 3, and the intermediate heat exchange components (including the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 and the second intermediate heat exchange component 42) through the refrigerant main path 7 for refrigeration cycle or heating cycle.

[0043] The indoor unit is a water flow path system, and the filler inside is water (it should be noted that the indoor unit can also be other medium flow path systems, and the filler inside can also be other media, which is not specifically limited in the present invention). Specifically, the number of indoor units is one, two, or more. Each indoor unit includes a water pipe 91 and an indoor heat exchange component 9. The water pipe 91 flows through the intermediate heat exchange components (including the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 and the second intermediate heat exchange component 42) and forms a water circulation loop with the indoor heat exchange component 9. At this time, the water circulation loop can take away the cold or heat in the intermediate heat exchange components (including the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 and the second intermediate heat exchange component 42) and supply cold or heat to the indoor heat exchange component 9, so as to realize the refrigeration or heating of the indoor unit.

[0044] Thus, in the present invention, since the refrigerant (such as R32 or R454B) only circulates in the closed system of the outdoor unit, and the indoor unit uses water as the medium, this eliminates the possibility of the refrigerant directly entering the indoor environment, effectively prevents the potential explosion risk caused by refrigerant leakage, and improves the safety of the living or working environment.

[0045] Furthermore, in the present invention, the outdoor unit partially integrates the compressor 1, the four-way valve 2, the outdoor heat exchange component 3, and two key components (the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 and the second intermediate heat exchange component 42), which are connected by a carefully designed refrigerant pipe system. The refrigerant pipes are cleverly divided into a main path and two parallel branches, which are respectively connected to the first and second intermediate heat exchange components 42. Such a design endows the system with the ability to flexibly distribute the refrigerant according to different requirements of the operating mode, so as to achieve the optimal performance between the heating and refrigeration modes.

[0046] For example, in the heating mode, the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged by the compressor 1 is guided by the four-way valve 2 and first enters the outdoor heat exchange assembly 3 to release heat, and then flows through the refrigerant pipeline to the first intermediate heat exchange assembly 41 and / or the second intermediate heat exchange assembly 42. The intermediate heat exchange assembly transfers the heat of the refrigerant to the water in the water pipeline 91, and then the water pipeline 91 sends the heat to the indoor heat exchange assembly 9 of the indoor unit, finally providing warmth for the room. In the cooling mode, the process is reversed. The refrigerant absorbs heat and then releases it in the outdoor heat exchange assembly 3 to achieve a cooling effect.

[0047] Each indoor unit has its own indoor heat exchange assembly 9, and these assemblies are connected through a water pipeline 91 network. The special feature of the water pipeline 91 is that it allows each indoor unit to selectively flow through the first intermediate heat exchange assembly 41 or the second intermediate heat exchange assembly 42. This means that the system can independently control the supply of cold and heat sources according to the actual needs of each indoor unit. Whether it is heating or cooling, the system can accurately match the changes in the indoor environment and provide personalized temperature adjustment.

[0048] Most importantly, the detection device 200 and the control device 100 provided in the air conditioner of the present invention can implement an intelligent control strategy based on this air conditioner. The detection device 200 is responsible for collecting data on the internal and external environments of the air conditioning system. These data include but are not limited to: (1) Indoor load conditions: This refers to the actual heat load or cold load of the room where the indoor unit is located, which can be evaluated by detecting indoor temperature, humidity, and other environmental parameters. The indoor load conditions reflect the cooling or heating capacity required by the indoor unit. (2) Outdoor load conditions: This involves the working environment of the outdoor unit, including outdoor temperature, humidity, etc., as well as the heat exchange performance of the outdoor unit itself. The outdoor load conditions affect the heat exchange efficiency and required power of the outdoor unit.

[0049] The detection device 200 may include various sensors, such as temperature sensors, humidity sensors, pressure sensors, etc. They are distributed at different positions in the air conditioning system to monitor and collect data in real time. These data will then be transmitted to the control device 100 for further processing and decision-making.

[0050] The control device 100 receives information from the detection device 200 and decides the best operation that the system should take according to the preset algorithms or rules. The main responsibilities of the control device 100 include target working mode recognition, load analysis, adjustment of the working state of the heat exchanger, and coordination of the operation of the indoor unit and the outdoor unit.

[0051] Specifically, the control device 100 needs to identify the target operating modes of each indoor unit, namely, the cooling mode, the heating mode, the dehumidification mode, etc. Based on the indoor and outdoor load data provided by the detection device 200, the control device 100 analyzes the current load demand and determines whether to increase or decrease the supply of cooling or heating. According to the result of the load analysis, the control device 100 will decide whether the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 and the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 should be in the cooling mode, the heating mode or other modes. It may be necessary to adjust the operating parameters of the heat exchanger, such as the water flow rate, the valve opening degree, etc., to achieve the best heat exchange effect.

[0052] In addition, the control device 100 also needs to ensure the coordination between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit. For example, it dynamically adjusts the output of the outdoor unit according to the demand of the indoor unit to ensure the efficient and stable operation of the overall system.

[0053] As described above, on the one hand, through the design of the main and branch paths of the refrigerant pipeline, the system can flexibly adjust the working states of the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 and the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 according to the actual load demand, realize the optimal distribution of the refrigerant, and improve the overall efficiency. In addition, since each indoor unit can independently select the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 or the second intermediate heat exchange component 42, this means that even when there are simultaneous heating and cooling demands, the system can meet the specific needs of each room through reasonable resource allocation. On the other hand, through the collaborative work of the detection device 200 and the control device 100, it is ensured that the air conditioning system can automatically adjust according to the real-time environmental changes and user needs, providing an efficient and comfortable indoor environment.

[0054] In the related art, with the reduction of the global GWP requirements, how to use different air conditioners and refrigerants has become a difficult choice for major enterprises. Traditional air conditioners achieve the purpose of cooling or heating through the refrigerant cycle between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit or the transportation of media such as water-fluorine heat exchange to meet the air conditioning needs of buildings. Currently, the three-pipe form is mainly adopted in the solutions for realizing simultaneous heating and cooling demands. The three-pipe scheme requires a long refrigerant pipe, and the material of this pipe is copper, resulting in a high pipeline cost. At the same time, with the gradual popularization and application of new refrigerants such as R32 and R454B, there are safety hazards such as explosion caused by the leakage of the inner refrigerant.

[0055] Therefore, in order to solve the technical defects existing in the above-mentioned related art, the present invention provides an air conditioner, which has at least the following advantages compared with the related art.

[0056] (1) Enhanced safety: By restricting the refrigerant cycle outdoors, the risk of indoor leakage and potential explosion caused by using A2L-level refrigerants such as R32 or R454B is avoided, significantly improving the safety of the indoor environment.

[0057] (2) Cost savings: The traditional multi-connected air-conditioning system using a three-pipe solution requires a large amount of copper refrigerant piping, resulting in high costs. Through the water-air heat exchange technology of the present invention, long-distance piping from indoors to outdoors does not require the use of expensive copper materials, effectively reducing installation and maintenance costs.

[0058] (3) Efficiency improvement: The multi-connected air-conditioning system of the present invention can simultaneously achieve cooling and heating for self-use, which means it can maintain high efficiency in both cooling and heating modes, avoiding the problem of loss of function that may occur in traditional systems under simultaneous cooling and heating demands, and improving the overall efficiency of the unit.

[0059] (4) Flexibility and reliability: The indoor unit can independently switch between the cooling or heating mode according to user needs, and is flexibly controlled by a three-way valve or a stop valve. At the same time, the design of the intermediate heat exchange component takes into account the possibility of different sizes and parallel use to adapt to various load demands, enhancing the flexibility and reliability of the system.

[0060] (5) Intelligent control: The system has intelligent mode control and can automatically adjust the operating state according to the operating mode and load of the indoor unit, such as full cooling, full heating, main cooling or main heating mode, as well as defrosting mode and anti-freezing mode, ensuring that the system can operate efficiently under various conditions.

[0061] (6) Easy maintenance: Since the refrigerant only exists on the outdoor side, the maintenance work on the indoor side is reduced, and at the same time, the frequent repairs caused by refrigerant leakage are also reduced, making the system easier to install and set up.

[0062] In summary, the present invention not only solves the problems of the traditional multi-connected air-conditioning in terms of cost, safety and efficiency, but also provides a more intelligent and flexible control solution, improving the user experience and the overall performance of the system.

[0063] As Figure 1 shown, according to some embodiments of the present invention, a first valve 81 is provided on the first branch 71, and a second valve 82 is provided on the second branch 72.

[0064] In this embodiment, the first valve 81 can control the on-off of the refrigerant in the first branch 71, that is, the first valve 81 can control whether the refrigerant flows through the first intermediate heat exchange component 41, and the second valve 82 can control the on-off of the refrigerant in the second branch 72, that is, the second valve 82 can control whether the refrigerant flows through the second intermediate heat exchange component 42.

[0065] Specifically, on the one hand, the valve can be opened or closed to control whether the refrigerant flows through a specific intermediate heat exchange component. When the valve is closed, the refrigerant cannot pass through, thus preventing the heat exchange process on that branch; when the valve is opened, the refrigerant can flow through and participate in the heat exchange, enabling heat to be transferred from the outdoor unit to the indoor unit or vice versa.

[0066] On the other hand, when the system needs to switch from the cooling mode to the heating mode, or adjust the operating mode according to the different requirements (cooling or heating) of the indoor unit, by controlling the opening and closing states of the first valve 81 and the second valve 82, flexible switching between the intermediate heat exchange components can be achieved, ensuring that the system operates in the most efficient mode according to the requirements.

[0067] In addition, according to the system load, the first valve 81 and the second valve 82 can help adjust the distribution of the refrigerant, so that the refrigerant flow rate matches the cooling or heating requirements of the indoor unit. For example, in the case of light load, only one valve may need to be opened to allow the refrigerant to flow through one intermediate heat exchange component; while in the case of high load, both valves may need to be opened so that the two intermediate heat exchange components work simultaneously to improve the system efficiency.

[0068] It should also be noted that during maintenance or when a heat exchange component fails, the corresponding valve can be closed to isolate the problem component without affecting the operation of the entire system, thereby reducing the downtime and maintenance costs.

[0069] In some specific embodiments, the first valve 81 is a first expansion valve and a cut-off valve or a check valve is connected in parallel at both ends thereof, and the second valve 82 is a second expansion valve and a cut-off valve or a check valve is connected in parallel at both ends thereof.

[0070] In this way, when throttling by the first expansion valve and the second expansion valve is not required, the cut-off valve or the check valve can be opened to reduce the resistance of the refrigerant flow and ensure the smooth flow of the refrigerant.

[0071] As Figure 1 shown, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the refrigerant pipeline further includes a third branch 73. One end of the third branch 73 is connected to a part of the refrigerant main pipeline 7 located between the four-way valve 2 and the outdoor heat exchange component 3, the other end of the third branch 73 is connected to the second branch 72, and a third valve 83 is also provided on the third branch 73; and a fourth valve 84 is also provided on a part of the second branch 72 between the refrigerant main pipeline 7 and the third branch 73.

[0072] Wherein, the third valve 83 and the fourth valve 84 are used to realize the conversion between the parallel state and the series state of the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 and the second intermediate heat exchange component 42.

[0073] In the air-conditioning system of the present invention, by adding the third branch 73 and the corresponding third and fourth valves 84, the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 and the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 can not only work independently, but also be converted between the parallel state and the series state, thereby increasing the flexibility and efficiency of the system. The parallel state and the series state will be explained separately below, and the working modes will be classified based on this.

[0074] For example, in the parallel state, the third valve 83 is closed and the fourth valve 84 is open. This means that after the refrigerant passes through the outdoor heat exchange assembly 3, it can directly be shunted to the first branch 71 and the second branch 72 through the fourth valve 84 and enter the first intermediate heat exchange assembly 41 and the second intermediate heat exchange assembly 42 respectively. In this mode, the two heat exchange assemblies work independently at the same time, which is suitable for situations where a large amount of refrigerant needs to be refrigerated or heated simultaneously.

[0075] Again, for example, in the series state, the third valve 83 is open and the fourth valve 84 is closed. At this time, after the refrigerant passes through the outdoor heat exchange assembly 3, it will first pass through the third branch 73 and enter the second intermediate heat exchange assembly 42, and then reach the first intermediate heat exchange assembly 41 through the second branch 72. In this mode, the refrigerant first passes through one heat exchange assembly and then flows into another, which is suitable for occasions where it is necessary to enhance the heat exchange effect or control the refrigerant flow rate.

[0076] As Figure 8 shown, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the control device 100 includes a first control module 120 and a second control module 130. Among them, the first control module 120 is used to: control and adjust the outdoor unit to enter different outdoor working modes according to the target working modes of each indoor unit; the second control module 130 is used to: in different outdoor working modes, control and adjust the working states of the first intermediate heat exchange assembly 41 and the second intermediate heat exchange assembly 42 according to the indoor load conditions and outdoor load conditions.

[0077] Specifically, the different working modes of the outdoor unit include: full refrigeration mode, full heating mode, main refrigeration mode, and main heating mode.

[0078] For example, in the full refrigeration mode, all indoor units are in the refrigeration state. The system will detect the total load demand and select the parallel or series mode according to the load size. If the load is small, only one heat exchange assembly may need to be turned on; if the load is large, the parallel mode may be adopted to allow the two heat exchange assemblies to work simultaneously.

[0079] Again, for example, the full heating mode is similar to the full refrigeration mode, except that the heat exchange direction is opposite. The system selects the most effective heat exchange assembly operation mode according to the total heating demand to achieve the best heating effect.

[0080] Once again, for example, when there are both refrigeration and heating demands in the indoor unit and the refrigeration demand is dominant, the system enters the main refrigeration mode. At this time, the first intermediate heat exchange assembly 41 may be used for refrigeration, while the second intermediate heat exchange assembly 42 may be used for heating, specifically depending on the ratio of the cooling and heating demands and the system settings.

[0081] For another example, conversely, when the heating demand dominates, the system enters the main heating mode. In this mode, the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 may be used for heating, while the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 is used for cooling to meet the mixed demand of the indoor unit.

[0082] In summary, through the above design, the air conditioning system of the present invention can intelligently adjust the working state of the heat exchange components according to different operating conditions, so as to maximize the utilization of energy and achieve the efficient operation of the system while meeting the indoor temperature adjustment requirements.

[0083] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the heat exchange capacity of the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 is greater than or equal to the heat exchange capacity of the second intermediate heat exchange component 42.

[0084] The design of the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 and the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 takes into account the heat exchange requirements of the system in different operating modes. The heat exchange capacity of the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 is designed to be greater than or equal to that of the second intermediate heat exchange component 42, mainly to meet the higher heat exchange requirements during main heating or main cooling. This is because, in the main heating mode, the outdoor unit needs more heat to cope with the heating demand of the indoor unit, while in the main cooling mode, the outdoor unit needs stronger cooling capacity to cope with the cooling demand of the indoor unit. The larger heat exchange capacity of the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 can ensure that the system can effectively handle the higher load in these modes.

[0085] This design takes into account the heat exchange efficiency of the system in different operating modes, namely full cooling, full heating, main cooling, and main heating modes. In the full cooling or full heating mode, if the load is less than or equal to 50% of the total load, the system can choose to operate either intermediate heat exchange component to save energy; when the load exceeds 50%, both intermediate heat exchange components will operate simultaneously to meet the higher heat exchange demand. In the main cooling or main heating mode, the system will select to operate the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 or the second intermediate heat exchange component 42, or both simultaneously, according to the size of the cooling and heating loads, to achieve the optimal heat exchange efficiency and energy utilization.

[0086] In addition, the size difference between the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 and the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 also takes into account the low probability that both loads reach 50% when cooling and heating operate simultaneously. By adjusting the sizes of the two heat exchange components, the operating efficiency of the system can be improved under most operating conditions, avoiding waste of resources.

[0087] The technical solution of the present invention optimizes the heat exchange capacity and operation strategy of the intermediate heat exchange component, enabling the system to achieve high efficiency and energy conservation in various operation modes. Especially in the scenario of simultaneous cooling and heating demands, the system can intelligently select the appropriate heat exchange component according to the actual load conditions, ensuring the flexibility and economy of the system operation. This design not only improves the overall performance of the air conditioner, but also reduces the operation cost to a certain extent and enhances the user experience.

[0088] As Figure 1 shown, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the refrigerant pipeline further includes a fourth branch 74, which is connected in parallel with the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 and the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 at the same time, and a fifth valve 85 is provided on the fourth branch 74, wherein the fifth valve 85 is used to control whether to defrost the outdoor heat exchange component 3.

[0089] In the air conditioning system of the present invention, the addition of the fourth branch 74 and the setting of the fifth valve 85 are to enhance the flexibility and functionality of the system. Specifically, the fourth branch 74 is connected in parallel with the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 and the second intermediate heat exchange component 42, which means it provides an additional path for the refrigerant to bypass these two heat exchange components and directly flow through the fifth valve 85. The purpose of this design is to achieve the defrost function of the system.

[0090] The defrost mode is one of the very important functions when the air conditioning system operates in cold weather. When the surface of the outdoor heat exchange component 3 is frosted, it will affect the heat exchange efficiency and thus reduce the performance of the air conditioner. By opening the fifth valve 85 on the fourth branch 74, the refrigerant can bypass the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 and the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 and directly enter the outdoor heat exchange component 3 for heating, thereby melting the frost layer on the surface. When the system detects that the surface temperature of the outdoor heat exchange component 3 is too low and reaches the preset defrost threshold, the controller will automatically open the fifth valve 85 to guide the refrigerant to flow through the outdoor heat exchange component 3 for heating and defrosting.

[0091] Specifically, the operation logic of the defrost mode is as follows: when the system detects that the defrost condition is met, it will close the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 and the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 and stop the cooling or heating operation. The controller opens the fifth valve 85, and the refrigerant directly flows to the outdoor heat exchange component 3 through the fourth branch 74. When the frost layer on the outdoor heat exchange component 3 melts and the temperature returns to the normal range, the system will close the fifth valve 85 again and open the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 and the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 to resume the cooling or heating function.

[0092] This design ensures that the system can still maintain good operating efficiency and comfort in winter or low-temperature environments, avoiding the decline in heat exchange efficiency caused by frost. At the same time, it also reduces the need for manual intervention, improves the automation level of the system and the convenience of maintenance.

[0093] As Figure 1 shown, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the water pipe 91 can selectively flow through the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 or the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 through the first indoor three-way valve 92 and the second indoor three-way valve 93.

[0094] Specifically, the first indoor three-way valve 92 and the second indoor three-way valve 93 are respectively arranged at both ends of the indoor heat exchange component 9. Among them, the three interfaces of the first indoor three-way valve 92 are respectively connected to the first intermediate heat exchange component 41, the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 and the indoor heat exchange component 9, and the three interfaces of the second indoor three-way valve 93 are respectively connected to the first intermediate heat exchange component 41, the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 and the indoor heat exchange component 9. In this way, by adjusting the connection status of the interfaces of the first indoor three-way valve 92 and the second indoor three-way valve 93, the water pipe 91 can be selectively flowed through the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 or the second intermediate heat exchange component 42, so as to realize the cooling or heating of the indoor heat exchange component 9 by the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 or the second intermediate heat exchange component 42.

[0095] In other embodiments, the above three-way valve (that is, the first indoor three-way valve 92 or the second indoor three-way valve 93) can also be replaced by two groups of stop valves to achieve the above-mentioned selective flow relationship of the water pipe 91; in addition, the structure of the three-way valve or the cut-off valve for switching the indoor cooling or heating can be arranged in the outdoor unit, can also be arranged in the indoor unit, or can be centrally arranged in one or more boxes, which is mainly selected according to the installation convenience and installation cost, and the present invention does not make special limitations here.

[0096] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the first control module 120 is specifically used for: when the target working modes of all operating indoor units are cooling modes, controlling the outdoor unit to enter the full cooling mode, and in the full cooling mode, controlling the first valve 81 and / or the second valve 82 and the fourth valve 84 to open, and controlling the third valve 83 to close.

[0097] For example Figure 1 shown, in the full cooling mode, when the target working modes of all operating indoor units are cooling modes, the outdoor unit enters the full cooling mode. In the full cooling mode, the first valve 81 and / or the second valve 82 and the fourth valve 84 are opened, and the third valve 83 and the fifth valve 85 are closed.

[0098] In the full refrigeration mode, the outdoor heat exchange assembly 3 acts as a condenser, and the first intermediate heat exchange assembly 41 and the second intermediate heat exchange assembly 42 are connected in parallel and both act as evaporators.

[0099] At this time, the circulation path of the refrigerant in the outdoor unit is as follows: The refrigerant flows out from the exhaust port of the compressor 1, enters the outdoor heat exchange assembly 3 (including the first outdoor heat exchange device 31 and the second outdoor heat exchange device 32 connected in parallel) through the four-way valve 2, and becomes a low-temperature refrigerant after condensing and releasing heat in the outdoor heat exchange assembly 3. After flowing out of the outdoor heat exchange assembly 3, if both the first valve 81 and the second valve 82 are opened, the low-temperature refrigerant is divided into two parts and enters the first branch 71 and the second branch 72 respectively, and evaporates and absorbs heat in the first intermediate heat exchange assembly 41 and the second intermediate heat exchange assembly 42 respectively, so as to refrigerate the indoor unit; if one of the first valve 81 and the second valve 82 is opened, the low-temperature refrigerant all enters the first branch 71 or the second branch 72, and all flows through the first intermediate heat exchange assembly 41 or the second intermediate heat exchange assembly 42 to evaporate and absorb heat, so as to refrigerate the indoor unit.

[0100] Finally, after the refrigerant flows out from the first intermediate heat exchange assembly 41 and / or the second intermediate heat exchange assembly 42, it returns to the suction port of the compressor 1 through the four-way valve 2 again to complete a refrigeration cycle.

[0101] It should be noted that the opening and closing conditions of the above first valve 81 and second valve 82 can be controlled according to the load intervals of the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, which will be introduced in detail below, so it will not be elaborated here.

[0102] Further, the second control module 130 is specifically used for: In the full refrigeration mode, if the total indoor load of all operating indoor units is less than the first outdoor load of the first intermediate heat exchange assembly 41 and less than the second outdoor load of the second intermediate heat exchange assembly 42, then control the first intermediate heat exchange assembly 41 or the second intermediate heat exchange assembly 42 to operate refrigeration, and at this time control any one of the first valve 81 and the second valve 82 to open; Or, in the full refrigeration mode, if the total indoor load of all operating indoor units is between the first outdoor load and the second outdoor load, then control the one with the larger outdoor load in the first intermediate heat exchange assembly 41 and the second intermediate heat exchange assembly 42 to operate refrigeration, and control the corresponding one of the first valve 81 and the second valve 82 to open; Or, in the full refrigeration mode, if the total indoor load of all operating indoor units is greater than the first outdoor load of the first intermediate heat exchange assembly 41 and greater than the second outdoor load of the second intermediate heat exchange assembly 42, then control the first intermediate heat exchange assembly 41 and the second intermediate heat exchange assembly 42 to operate refrigeration simultaneously, and at this time control the first valve 81 and the second valve 82 to open simultaneously.

[0103] In the above embodiments, for the full refrigeration mode: when the total indoor load of all operating indoor units does not exceed the heat exchange capacity of the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 and does not exceed the heat exchange capacity of the second intermediate heat exchange component 42, only one of the heat exchange components is turned on and its refrigeration operation is controlled. At this time, the first valve 81 or the second valve 82 connected to this component is opened, while the other valve is closed.

[0104] If the total indoor load exceeds the individual heat exchange capacity of one of the heat exchange components but does not exceed the individual heat exchange capacity of the other heat exchange component, the system can start the heat exchange component with the larger heat exchange capacity and control its refrigeration operation. For example, if the heat exchange capacity of the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 is greater than that of the second intermediate heat exchange component 42, when the total indoor load is greater than the second outdoor load and less than the first outdoor load, the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 is controlled to operate in refrigeration and the first valve 81 is controlled to open.

[0105] If the total indoor load exceeds the individual heat exchange capacity of any heat exchange component at the same time, the system will start both the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 and the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 simultaneously and control both of them to operate in refrigeration. At this time, the first valve 81 and the second valve 82 are opened simultaneously to jointly bear the refrigeration load.

[0106] According to some other embodiments of the present invention, the first control module 120 is specifically configured to: When the target operating modes of all operating indoor units are in the heating mode, control the outdoor unit to enter the full heating mode, and in the full heating mode, control the first valve 81 and / or the second valve 82 and the fourth valve 84 to open, and control the third valve 83 to close.

[0107] For example Figure 2 As shown, when the target operating modes of all operating indoor units are in the heating mode, the outdoor unit enters the full heating mode, and in the full heating mode, the first valve 81 and / or the second valve 82 and the fourth valve 84 are opened, and the third valve 83 and the fifth valve 85 are closed.

[0108] In the full heating mode, the outdoor heat exchange component 3 serves as an evaporator, and the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 and the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 are connected in parallel and both serve as condensers.

[0109] At this time, the refrigerant flow path in the outdoor unit is as follows: The high-temperature refrigerant flows out from the exhaust port of the compressor 1, passes through the four-way valve 2 and enters the intermediate heat exchange assembly for condensation heat release. Among them, if both the first valve 81 and the second valve 82 are opened, the high-temperature refrigerant is split into two parts and enters the first branch 71 and the second branch 72 respectively, and condenses and releases heat in the first intermediate heat exchange assembly 41 and the second intermediate heat exchange assembly 42 respectively, so as to heat the indoor unit; if one of the first valve 81 and the second valve 82 is opened, the high-temperature refrigerant all enters the first branch 71 or the second branch 72, and all flows through the first intermediate heat exchange assembly 41 or the second intermediate heat exchange assembly 42 for condensation heat release, so as to heat the indoor unit. After flowing out of the intermediate heat exchange assembly, the high-temperature refrigerant becomes low-temperature refrigerant, and the low-temperature refrigerant flows through the outdoor heat exchange assembly 3 and evaporates and absorbs heat.

[0110] Finally, after the refrigerant flows out of the outdoor heat exchange assembly 3, it returns to the suction port of the compressor 1 through the four-way valve 2 again to complete a heating cycle.

[0111] It should be noted that the opening and closing conditions of the above-mentioned first valve 81 and second valve 82 can be controlled according to the load ranges of the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, which will be introduced in detail below, so it will not be elaborated here.

[0112] Furthermore, the second control module 130 is specifically used for: In the full heating mode, if the total indoor load of all operating indoor units is less than the first outdoor load of the first intermediate heat exchange assembly 41 and less than the second outdoor load of the second intermediate heat exchange assembly 42, then control the first intermediate heat exchange assembly 41 or the second intermediate heat exchange assembly 42 to operate for heating, and at this time control any one of the first valve 81 and the second valve 82 to be opened; Or, in the full heating mode, if the total indoor load of all operating indoor units is between the first outdoor load and the second outdoor load, then control the one with the larger outdoor load among the first intermediate heat exchange assembly 41 and the second intermediate heat exchange assembly 42 to operate for heating, and control the corresponding one of the first valve 81 and the second valve 82 to be opened; Or, in the full heating mode, if the total indoor load of all operating indoor units is greater than the first outdoor load of the first intermediate heat exchange assembly 41 and greater than the second outdoor load of the second intermediate heat exchange assembly 42, then control the first intermediate heat exchange assembly 41 and the second intermediate heat exchange assembly 42 to operate for heating simultaneously, and at this time control the first valve 81 and the second valve 82 to be opened simultaneously.

[0113] In the above embodiments, for the full heating mode: when the total indoor load of all operating indoor units does not exceed the heat exchange capacity of the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 and does not exceed the heat exchange capacity of the second intermediate heat exchange component 42, only one of the heat exchange components is turned on and controlled to operate in heating mode. At this time, the first valve 81 or the second valve 82 connected to this component is opened, while the other valve is closed.

[0114] If the total indoor load exceeds the individual heat exchange capacity of one of the heat exchange components but does not exceed the individual heat exchange capacity of the other heat exchange component, the system can start the heat exchange component with the larger heat exchange capacity and control it to operate in heating mode. For example, if the heat exchange capacity of the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 is greater than that of the second intermediate heat exchange component 42, when the total indoor load is greater than the second outdoor load and less than the first outdoor load, the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 is controlled to operate in heating mode and the first valve 81 is controlled to open.

[0115] If the total indoor load exceeds the individual heat exchange capacity of any heat exchange component at the same time, the system will start both the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 and the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 simultaneously and control both to operate in heating mode. At this time, the first valve 81 and the second valve 82 are opened simultaneously to jointly bear the heating load.

[0116] According to some other embodiments of the present invention, the first control module 120 is specifically configured to: When the target operating modes of all operating indoor units simultaneously include the cooling mode and the heating mode, control the outdoor unit to enter the hybrid operating mode, and in the hybrid operating mode, control the first valve 81, the second valve 82, and the third valve 83 to open, and control the fourth valve 84 to close.

[0117] For example Figure 3 As shown, when the target operating modes of all operating indoor units simultaneously include the cooling mode and the heating mode, if the heating load of the air conditioner is greater than its cooling load, the outdoor unit enters the main heating mode in the hybrid operating mode, and in the main heating mode, the first valve 81, the second valve 82, and the third valve 83 are opened, and the fourth valve 84 and the fifth valve 85 are closed.

[0118] In the main heating mode, the heat exchange amount of the first intermediate heat exchange is greater than the heat exchange amount of the second intermediate heat exchange component 42. At this time, the outdoor heat exchange component 3 and the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 are connected in parallel and both act as evaporators, and the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 acts as a condenser. It can be understood that in the above main heating mode, the heat exchange amount of the outdoor heat exchange component 3 plus the cooling load of the air conditioner is equal to the heating load of the air conditioner.

[0119] At this time, the refrigerant flow path in the outdoor unit is as follows: The high-temperature refrigerant flows out from the exhaust port of the compressor 1. After passing through the four-way valve 2, the high-temperature refrigerant sequentially flows through the main refrigerant path 7 and the first branch 71 and enters the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 to release heat by condensation, thereby heating a part of the indoor unit corresponding to the first intermediate heat exchange component 41.

[0120] After flowing out of the first intermediate heat exchange component 41, the high-temperature refrigerant becomes low-temperature refrigerant. Among them, a part of the low-temperature refrigerant flows into the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 through the second branch 72 to absorb heat by evaporation, thereby cooling a part of the indoor unit corresponding to the second intermediate heat exchange component 42. This part of the refrigerant flows into the main refrigerant path 7 through the third branch 73 after flowing out of the second intermediate heat exchange component 42; Another part of the low-temperature refrigerant flows into the outdoor heat exchange component 3 through the main refrigerant path 7 to absorb heat by evaporation. After this part of the refrigerant flows out of the outdoor heat exchange component 3, it converges with the refrigerant in the third branch 73 into the main refrigerant path 7. Finally, the refrigerant flows back to the suction port of the compressor 1 through the four-way valve 2 again to complete a refrigerant cycle.

[0121] For another example Figure 4 As shown, when the target operating modes of all operating indoor units simultaneously include the cooling mode and the heating mode, if the cooling load of the air conditioner is greater than its heating load, the outdoor unit enters the main cooling mode in the mixed operating mode. And in the main cooling mode, the first valve 81, the second valve 82, and the third valve 83 are opened, and the fourth valve 84 and the fifth valve 85 are closed.

[0122] In the main cooling mode, the heat exchange amount of the first intermediate heat exchange is greater than the heat exchange amount of the second intermediate heat exchange component 42. At this time, the outdoor heat exchange component 3 and the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 are in parallel and both act as condensers, and the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 acts as an evaporator. It can be understood that in the above-mentioned main cooling mode, the heat exchange amount of the outdoor heat exchange component 3 plus the heating load of the air conditioner is equal to the cooling load of the air conditioner.

[0123] At this time, the refrigerant flow path in the outdoor unit is as follows: The high-temperature refrigerant flows out from the exhaust port of the compressor 1. After passing through the four-way valve 2, the high-temperature refrigerant is divided into two paths. One path of the high-temperature refrigerant flows through the outdoor heat exchange component 3 to release heat by condensation, and the other path of the high-temperature refrigerant flows through the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 through the third branch 73 to release heat by condensation, thereby heating a part of the indoor unit corresponding to the second intermediate heat exchange component 42. The two paths of high-temperature refrigerant become low-temperature refrigerant after releasing heat by condensation and converge into the first branch 71. The low-temperature refrigerant flows through the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 to absorb heat by evaporation, thereby cooling a part of the indoor unit corresponding to the first intermediate heat exchange component 41.

[0124] Finally, after flowing out of the first intermediate heat exchange component 41, the refrigerant flows back to the suction port of the compressor 1 through the four-way valve 2 again to complete a refrigerant cycle.

[0125] Further, in some specific embodiments, the heat exchange capacity of the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 is greater than that of the second intermediate heat exchange component 42; then the second control module 130 is specifically configured to: In the mixed operation mode, obtain the total indoor cooling load and the total indoor heating load of all operating indoor units. If the total indoor cooling load is greater than the total indoor heating load, control the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 to be in the cooling state and the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 to be in the heating state; Alternatively, in the mixed operation mode, obtain the total indoor cooling load and the total indoor heating load of all operating indoor units. If the total indoor cooling load is less than the total indoor heating load, control the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 to be in the heating state and the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 to be in the cooling state.

[0126] For the mixed operation mode: when the cooling demand of the indoor unit is higher than the heating demand, the system sets the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 to the cooling mode and the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 to the heating mode to adapt to the cooling and heating demands of different indoor units.

[0127] On the contrary, if the heating demand of the indoor unit is higher than the cooling demand, the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 will be set to the heating mode, while the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 is set to the cooling mode, also meeting the efficient operation under the mixed demand.

[0128] In this way, through the above control strategy, the system can intelligently allocate and adjust the working states of the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 and the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 in different operation modes to meet the cooling or heating demands of the indoor unit, while optimizing energy utilization and improving the operation efficiency and energy-saving effect of the overall system. This control strategy makes full use of the larger heat exchange capacity of the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 and the auxiliary capacity of the second intermediate heat exchange component 42, ensuring the flexibility and adaptability of the system in the face of complex load conditions.

[0129] Further, in some other specific embodiments, the heat exchange capacity of the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 is equal to that of the second intermediate heat exchange component 42; then the second control module 130 is specifically configured to: In the mixed operation mode, control one of the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 and the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 to be in the cooling state and the other to be in the heating state.

[0130] In some embodiments, when the heat exchange amounts of the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 and the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 are equal, the design of the system allows for more flexible heat recovery and energy distribution. In the hybrid operation mode, that is, when the system needs both refrigeration and heating simultaneously, the second control module 130 will control one of the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 and the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 to enter the refrigeration state, and at the same time control the other of the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 and the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 to enter the heating state. In this mode, the system can achieve internal balance of the cooling and heating loads, that is, convert the cooling demand of a part of the indoor units into the heating demand of another part of the indoor units, thereby effectively utilizing energy and reducing the dependence on external energy sources.

[0131] Furthermore, in the hybrid operation mode, during the process where the second control module 130 controls the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 and the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 to alternately enter the refrigeration state and the heating state, that is, in actual operation, the second control module 130 can first control the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 to enter the refrigeration state and the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 to enter the heating state. After a certain duration, then control the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 to switch to the heating state and the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 to switch to the refrigeration state. In this way, on the one hand, it can not only meet the indoor refrigeration and heating requirements, but also alternately perform anti-freezing treatment on the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 and the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 during the switching process, thereby avoiding freezing of the intermediate heat exchange components.

[0132] As Figures 5 to 7 shown, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the outdoor heat exchange component 3 includes a first outdoor heat exchange device 31 and a second outdoor heat exchange device 32. The refrigerant pipeline further includes a fifth branch 75 and a sixth branch 76 connected in parallel with each other. Both ends of the fifth branch 75 and the sixth branch 76 are connected to the refrigerant main pipeline 7, and the first outdoor heat exchange device 31 and the second outdoor heat exchange device 32 are respectively arranged on the fifth branch 75 and the sixth branch 76.

[0133] In the present invention, the outdoor heat exchange component 3 is designed to include a first outdoor heat exchange device 31 and a second outdoor heat exchange device 32, which are connected in parallel with each other through the fifth branch 75 and the sixth branch 76 in the refrigerant pipeline. Both ends of the fifth branch 75 and the sixth branch 76 are connected to the refrigerant main pipeline 7, enabling the first outdoor heat exchange device 31 and the second outdoor heat exchange device 32 to operate independently or simultaneously, providing higher flexibility and efficiency for the system.

[0134] This design allows the system to selectively activate the first outdoor heat exchange device 31 or the second outdoor heat exchange device 32, or operate both simultaneously, according to different operating requirements and load conditions, in order to optimize energy utilization and system performance. Under low load conditions, the system may use only one outdoor heat exchange device to meet the demand, saving energy; while under high load conditions, the two outdoor heat exchange devices can operate simultaneously to provide additional cooling or heating capacity, ensuring the efficient operation of the system.

[0135] In addition, this parallel configuration of outdoor heat exchange devices also improves the redundancy and reliability of the system. If one of the heat exchange devices fails or requires maintenance, the system can still continue to operate through the other heat exchange device, avoiding the possibility of the entire system shutting down and ensuring continuous service and user satisfaction.

[0136] As Figure 6 and Figure 7 shown, in some specific embodiments of the present invention, the outdoor unit further includes a first outdoor three-way valve 86 and a second outdoor three-way valve 87. The first interface of the first outdoor three-way valve 86 is sequentially connected to the exhaust port of the compressor 1 through a fifth branch 75 and the refrigerant main path 7. The second interface is connected to the first outdoor heat exchange device 31 through the fifth branch 75. The third interface is connected to the suction port of the compressor 1 through a seventh branch 77.

[0137] The first interface of the second outdoor three-way valve 87 is sequentially connected to the exhaust port of the compressor 1 through a sixth branch 76 and the refrigerant main path 7. The second interface is connected to the second outdoor heat exchange device 32 through the sixth branch 76. The third interface is connected to the suction port of the compressor 1 through an eighth branch 78.

[0138] Among them, the first outdoor three-way valve 86 and the second outdoor three-way valve 87 are used to select the first outdoor heat exchange device 31 or the second outdoor heat exchange device 32 for defrosting.

[0139] In this embodiment, the first outdoor three-way valve 86 and the second outdoor three-way valve 87 are respectively connected to the exhaust port and the suction port of the compressor 1, and are connected to the first outdoor heat exchange device 31 and the second outdoor heat exchange device 32 through different branches, forming a flexible refrigerant circulation path, thereby realizing defrosting of the first outdoor heat exchange device 31 or the second outdoor heat exchange device 32.

[0140] In the defrosting mode, the system selectively allows the high-temperature refrigerant to first flow through the first outdoor heat exchange device 31 or the second outdoor heat exchange device 32 by controlling the switching states of the first outdoor three-way valve 86 and the second outdoor three-way valve 87, so as to achieve defrosting of a specific heat exchange device. When the second interfaces of the first outdoor three-way valve 86 and the second outdoor three-way valve 87 are activated, the refrigerant will flow through the corresponding outdoor heat exchange device, and use the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant generated by the compressor 1 to melt the frost layer on the surface of the heat exchange component, thereby restoring the heat exchange efficiency.

[0141] For example Figure 6 As shown, when the first interface of the first outdoor three-way valve 86 is connected to the second interface, and the second interface of the second outdoor three-way valve 87 is connected to the third interface, the high-temperature refrigerant first flows from the exhaust port of the compressor 1 to the first outdoor heat exchange device 31, thereby defrosting the first outdoor heat exchange device 31. The low-temperature refrigerant after defrosting sequentially passes through the second outdoor heat exchange device 32 and the four-way valve 2, and then returns to the suction port of the compressor 1 again to complete a defrosting cycle.

[0142] Another example Figure 7 As shown, when the first interface of the second outdoor three-way valve 87 is connected to the second interface, and the second interface of the first outdoor three-way valve 86 is connected to the third interface, the high-temperature refrigerant first flows from the exhaust port of the compressor 1 to the second outdoor heat exchange device 32, thereby defrosting the second outdoor heat exchange device 32. The low-temperature refrigerant after defrosting sequentially passes through the first outdoor heat exchange device 31 and the four-way valve 2, and then returns to the suction port of the compressor 1 again to complete a defrosting cycle.

[0143] The advantage of this design is that it allows the system to flexibly select the heat exchange components that need to be defrosted during the defrosting process, without affecting the normal operation of other heat exchange components, improving the overall operation efficiency and stability of the system. In addition, through the intelligent control of the three-way valve, rapid and accurate defrosting can be achieved, reducing the defrosting time, lowering the energy consumption, and enhancing the user experience.

[0144] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the air conditioner further includes a third control module. When the air conditioner receives a working instruction to control the entry into the defrosting mode or the anti-freezing mode, and determines the defrosting component or the anti-freezing component in the air conditioner, the third control module is used to control and adjust the working state of the outdoor unit according to the defrosting component or the anti-freezing component.

[0145] Among them, the defrosting component includes the outdoor heat exchange component 3, and the anti-freezing component includes the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 and the second intermediate heat exchange component 42.

[0146] In some specific embodiments, the third control module is specifically used for: In the defrosting mode; When the component to be defrosted is the outdoor heat exchange component 3, control the fifth valve 85 to open, and control the first valve 81, the second valve 82, the third valve 83, and the fourth valve 84 to close. At this time, the outdoor unit is in the first defrosting mode.

[0147] For example Figure 5 As shown, when it is detected that the outdoor heat exchange component 3 is frosted due to low temperature, the outdoor unit enters the first defrosting mode for defrosting the outdoor heat exchange component 3. In the first defrosting mode, the fourth valve 84 and the fifth valve 85 are opened, and the first valve 81, the second valve 82, and the third valve 83 are closed.

[0148] The refrigerant flow path is as follows: The high-temperature refrigerant flows from the exhaust port of the compressor 1 to the four-way valve 2, enters the outdoor heat exchange component 3 through the four-way valve 2, so as to heat and defrost the outdoor heat exchange component 3. The defrosted low-temperature refrigerant sequentially passes through the fourth branch 74 and the four-way valve 2 and returns to the suction port of the compressor 1 to complete a defrosting cycle.

[0149] In some other specific embodiments, the third control module is specifically configured to: In the defrosting mode; When the component to be defrosted is the outdoor heat exchange component 3, control the first valve 81, the second valve 82, and the fourth valve 84 to open, and control the four-way valve 2 to reverse and the third valve 83 to close to achieve four-way valve reverse defrosting.

[0150] It can be understood that the above defrosting method is the most basic four-way valve reverse defrosting method, and this method can also achieve defrosting of the outdoor heat exchange component 3.

[0151] In still some other specific embodiments, when the outdoor heat exchange component 3 includes a first outdoor heat exchange device 31 and a second outdoor heat exchange device 32, and the outdoor unit further includes a first outdoor three-way valve 86 and a second outdoor three-way valve 87, the third control module is specifically configured to: In the defrosting mode; When the component to be defrosted is the first outdoor heat exchange device 31, control the first valve 81, the second valve 82, the third valve 83, the fourth valve 84, and the fifth valve 85 to close, and control the first interface and the second interface of the first outdoor three-way valve 86 to communicate, and the second interface and the third interface of the second outdoor three-way valve 87 to communicate. At this time, the outdoor unit is in the second defrosting mode.

[0152] Or, when the component to be defrosted is the second outdoor heat exchange device 32, control the first valve 81, the second valve 82, the third valve 83, the fourth valve 84, and the fifth valve 85 to close, and control the first interface and the second interface of the second outdoor three-way valve 87 to communicate, and the second interface and the third interface of the first outdoor three-way valve 86 to communicate. At this time, the outdoor unit is in the second defrosting mode.

[0153] Specifically, as Figure 6 and Figure 7 shown, when the outdoor unit includes the first outdoor three-way valve 86 and the second outdoor three-way valve 87, the outdoor unit further has a second defrosting mode. At this time, the first valve 81, the second valve 82, the third valve 83, the fourth valve 84, and the fifth valve 85 are all closed. In the second defrosting mode, the system can achieve targeted defrosting of the first outdoor heat exchange device 31 or the second outdoor heat exchange device 32 by controlling the interface connection relationship of the first outdoor three-way valve 86 and the second outdoor three-way valve 87.

[0154] For example Figure 6 shown, when the first interface of the first outdoor three-way valve 86 is connected to the second interface, and the second interface of the second outdoor three-way valve 87 is connected to the third interface, the system performs targeted defrosting on the first outdoor heat exchange device 31.

[0155] Another example Figure 7 shown, when the first interface of the second outdoor three-way valve 87 is connected to the second interface, and the second interface of the first outdoor three-way valve 86 is connected to the third interface, the system performs targeted defrosting on the second outdoor heat exchange device 32.

[0156] In some other specific embodiments, the third control module is further specifically configured to: In the anti-freezing mode; When the anti-freezing component is the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 or the second intermediate heat exchange component 42, control the outdoor unit to enter the first anti-freezing mode. Specifically, the first anti-freezing mode is a mode in which one of the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 and the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 is in heating and the other is in cooling. The connection relationship and the refrigerant flow path of the first anti-freezing mode are similar to those of the above-mentioned main heating mode or main cooling mode, and the present invention will not elaborate herein.

[0157] For example, when the anti-freezing component is the first intermediate heat exchange component 41, control the first valve 81, the second valve 82, and the third valve 83 to be opened and the fourth valve 84 to be closed, and control the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 to operate in heating and the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 to operate in cooling.

[0158] Another example, when the anti-freezing component is the second intermediate heat exchange component 42, control the first valve 81, the second valve 82, and the third valve 83 to be opened and the fourth valve 84 to be closed, and control the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 to operate in cooling and the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 to operate in heating.

[0159] It should be noted that the application scenario of the first anti-freezing mode is as follows: when it is detected that the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 or the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 is frosted due to too low temperature, the outdoor unit performs anti-freezing treatment on the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 or the second intermediate heat exchange component 42.

[0160] In some further specific embodiments, the third control module is further specifically configured to: In the anti-freezing mode; When the anti-freezing component is the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 and / or the second intermediate heat exchange component 42, control the first valve 81 and / or the second valve 82 and the fourth valve 84 to open, control the third valve 83 and the fifth valve 85 to close, and control the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 and / or the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 to operate in heating mode.

[0161] The above anti-freezing method for the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 and / or the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 is the basic anti-freezing method of four-way valve commutation defrosting, that is, when the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 and / or the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 may be frozen due to running in the refrigeration mode for too long, at this time, the four-way valve can be controlled to commutate so that the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 and / or the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 operates in heating mode, thereby realizing the anti-freezing treatment of the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 and / or the second intermediate heat exchange component 42.

[0162] As Figures 1 to 9 shown, according to the control method of the air conditioner according to the second aspect embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioner includes a plurality of indoor units and an outdoor unit.

[0163] The outdoor unit includes a compressor 1, a four-way valve 2, an outdoor heat exchange component 3, a first intermediate heat exchange component 41 and a second intermediate heat exchange component 42 connected by a refrigerant pipeline; wherein, the refrigerant pipeline includes a refrigerant main path 7, a first branch 71 and a second branch 72. The first branch 71 and the second branch 72 are connected in parallel with each other and both communicate with the refrigerant main path 7, and the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 and the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 are respectively provided on the first branch 71 and the second branch 72, and the outdoor heat exchange component 3 is provided on the refrigerant main path 7.

[0164] Each indoor unit includes an indoor heat exchange component 9 connected by a water pipeline 91, and the water pipeline 91 of each indoor unit can selectively flow through the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 or the second intermediate heat exchange component 42.

[0165] The control method includes: Step S1, obtaining the target working mode, indoor load condition and outdoor load condition of each indoor unit; Step S2: Control and adjust the operating states of the first intermediate heat exchange component 41 and the second intermediate heat exchange component 42 according to the target operating modes of the indoor units, the indoor load conditions, and the outdoor load conditions.

[0166] The control method of the air conditioner according to the second aspect embodiment of the present invention is similar to the technical effects and technical principles of the air conditioner introduced in the first aspect of the present invention, and will not be elaborated here.

[0167] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, rather than to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions recorded in the foregoing embodiments, or perform equivalent replacements on some of the technical features; and these modifications or replacements do not make the essence of the corresponding technical solutions deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. An air conditioner, characterized in that, Including: An outdoor unit, including a compressor, a four-way valve, an outdoor heat exchange component, a first intermediate heat exchange component, and a second intermediate heat exchange component connected by refrigerant pipes; wherein, the refrigerant pipes include a main refrigerant path, a first branch, and a second branch, the first branch and the second branch are connected in parallel to each other and are both connected to the main refrigerant path, and the first intermediate heat exchange component and the second intermediate heat exchange component are respectively provided on the first branch and the second branch, and the outdoor heat exchange component is provided on the main refrigerant path; A plurality of indoor units, each indoor unit includes an indoor heat exchange component connected by a water pipe, and the water pipe of each indoor unit can selectively flow through the first intermediate heat exchange component or the second intermediate heat exchange component; A detection device for detecting the indoor load condition of the indoor unit and the outdoor load condition of the outdoor unit; A control device, connected to the detection device, including an acquisition module and a control module, the acquisition module is used to acquire the target working mode, the indoor load condition, and the outdoor load condition of each indoor unit, and the control module is used to control and adjust the working states of the first intermediate heat exchange component and the second intermediate heat exchange component according to the target working mode, the indoor load condition, and the outdoor load condition of each indoor unit.

2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that A first valve is provided on the first branch, and a second valve is provided on the second branch; the refrigerant pipe further includes a third branch, one end of the third branch is connected to a part of the main refrigerant path located between the four-way valve and the outdoor heat exchange component, the other end of the third branch is connected to the second branch, and a third valve is further provided on the third branch; and a fourth valve is further provided on a part of the second branch between the main refrigerant path and the third branch; The control module includes a first control module and a second control module, wherein, the first control module is used to: control and adjust the outdoor unit to enter different outdoor working modes according to the target working mode of each indoor unit; the second control module is used to: under different outdoor working modes, control and adjust the working states of the first intermediate heat exchange component and the second intermediate heat exchange component according to the indoor load condition and the outdoor load condition.

3. The air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein, The first control module is specifically used to: When the target working modes of all operating indoor units are cooling modes, control the outdoor unit to enter the full cooling mode, and in the full cooling mode, control the first valve and / or the second valve and the fourth valve to open, and control the third valve to close.

4. The air conditioner according to claim 3, characterized in that, The second control module is specifically used to: In the full cooling mode, if the total indoor load of all operating indoor units is less than the first outdoor load of the first intermediate heat exchange component and less than the second outdoor load of the second intermediate heat exchange component, then control the first intermediate heat exchange component or the second intermediate heat exchange component to operate in refrigeration, and at this time, control any one of the first valve and the second valve to open; Alternatively, in the full cooling mode, if the total indoor load of all operating indoor units is between the first outdoor load and the second outdoor load, control the one with the larger outdoor load among the first intermediate heat exchange component and the second intermediate heat exchange component to operate in cooling, and control the corresponding one of the first valve and the second valve to open; Alternatively, in the full cooling mode, if the total indoor load of all operating indoor units is greater than the first outdoor load of the first intermediate heat exchange component and greater than the second outdoor load of the second intermediate heat exchange component, control the first intermediate heat exchange component and the second intermediate heat exchange component to operate in cooling simultaneously, and at this time control the first valve and the second valve to open simultaneously.

5. The air conditioner according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first control module is specifically configured to: When the target operating modes of all operating indoor units are heating modes, control the outdoor unit to enter the full heating mode, and in the full heating mode, control the first valve and / or the second valve and the fourth valve to open, and control the third valve to close.

6. The air conditioner according to claim 5, characterized in that, The second control module is specifically configured to: In the full heating mode, if the total indoor load of all operating indoor units is less than the first outdoor load of the first intermediate heat exchange component and less than the second outdoor load of the second intermediate heat exchange component, control the first intermediate heat exchange component or the second intermediate heat exchange component to operate in heating, and at this time control any one of the first valve and the second valve to open; Alternatively, in the full heating mode, if the total indoor load of all operating indoor units is between the first outdoor load and the second outdoor load, control the one with the larger outdoor load among the first intermediate heat exchange component and the second intermediate heat exchange component to operate in heating, and control the corresponding one of the first valve and the second valve to open; Alternatively, in the full heating mode, if the total indoor load of all operating indoor units is greater than the first outdoor load of the first intermediate heat exchange component and greater than the second outdoor load of the second intermediate heat exchange component, control the first intermediate heat exchange component and the second intermediate heat exchange component to operate in heating simultaneously, and at this time control the first valve and the second valve to open simultaneously.

7. The air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein, The first control module is specifically configured to: When the target operating modes of all operating indoor units simultaneously include a cooling mode and a heating mode, control the outdoor unit to enter the mixed operating mode, and in the mixed operating mode, control the first valve, the second valve, and the third valve to open, and control the fourth valve to close.

8. The air conditioner according to claim 7, characterized in that, The heat exchange capacity of the first intermediate heat exchange component is greater than that of the second intermediate heat exchange component; then the second control module is specifically configured to: In the mixed operating mode, obtain the total indoor cooling load and the total indoor heating load of all operating indoor units. If the total indoor cooling load is greater than the total indoor heating load, control the first intermediate heat exchange component to be in a cooling state and the second intermediate heat exchange component to be in a heating state; Alternatively, in the hybrid working mode, obtain the total indoor cooling load and the total indoor heating load of all the operating indoor units. If the total indoor cooling load is less than the total indoor heating load, control the first intermediate heat exchange component to be in the heating state and the second intermediate heat exchange component to be in the cooling state.

9. The air conditioner according to claim 7, characterized in that, The heat exchange amount of the first intermediate heat exchange component is equal to the heat exchange amount of the second intermediate heat exchange component; then the second control module is specifically configured to: In the hybrid working mode, control one of the first intermediate heat exchange component and the second intermediate heat exchange component to be in the cooling state and the other to be in the heating state.

10. A control method for an air conditioner, characterized in that, The air conditioner includes an outdoor unit and a plurality of indoor units; The outdoor unit includes a compressor, a four-way valve, an outdoor heat exchange component, a first intermediate heat exchange component, and a second intermediate heat exchange component connected by refrigerant pipes; wherein, the refrigerant pipes include a refrigerant main path, a first branch, and a second branch. The first branch and the second branch are connected in parallel with each other and are both connected to the refrigerant main path. The first intermediate heat exchange component and the second intermediate heat exchange component are respectively provided on the first branch and the second branch, and the outdoor heat exchange component is provided on the refrigerant main path; Each of the indoor units includes an indoor heat exchange component connected by a water pipe, and the water pipe of each indoor unit can selectively flow through the first intermediate heat exchange component or the second intermediate heat exchange component; The control method includes: Obtain the target working mode, the indoor load condition, and the outdoor load condition of each of the indoor units; According to the target working mode, the indoor load condition, and the outdoor load condition of each of the indoor units, control and adjust the working states of the first intermediate heat exchange component and the second intermediate heat exchange component.

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