Air conditioner and control method and device thereof, storage medium and computer program product

Abstract

The invention discloses an air conditioner and a control method and device thereof, a storage medium and a computer program product, the air conditioner is provided with an outdoor unit and an indoor unit, the outdoor unit is provided with a compressor, the indoor unit is provided with an indoor fan, and the indoor fan is provided with a motor; the compressor has a control switch; the control method of the air conditioner comprises the steps that after the air conditioner is started, a compressor is controlled to be started; the complete machine current of the air conditioner, the current of a motor and the indoor environment temperature of the air conditioner are obtained; whether a compressor is started or not is determined according to the whole-machine current of the air conditioner; if it is determined that the compressor is not started, the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor is adjusted according to the indoor environment temperature of the air conditioner and the current of the motor so as to protect a control switch; and if it is determined that the compressor is started, the air conditioner is controlled to operate normally according to the preset operation mode. According to the scheme, when the power supply voltage of the compressor is judged to be the low voltage, the overcurrent protection detection time is shortened, and a relay or an alternating current contactor for controlling the compressor is prevented from being damaged.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of air conditioning, and specifically relates to a control method, device, air conditioner, storage medium and computer program product for an air conditioner, and more particularly to a method, device, air conditioner, storage medium and computer program product for implementing a protection mode for an air conditioner compressor. Background Art

[0002] When the compressor of an air conditioner (such as a fixed-frequency air conditioner) operates in a low-voltage environment, the power and current of the entire machine will increase rapidly. Once the voltage drops to a critical point, the overcurrent protection mechanism will be triggered, causing the compressor to shut down. In an environment with unstable voltage, the compressor will start and stop frequently, which will greatly shorten the service life of the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor.

[0003] The above content is only used to assist in understanding the technical solution of the present invention and does not constitute an admission that the above content is prior art. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner control method, device, air conditioner, storage medium and computer program product to solve the problem that when the compressor of an air conditioner (such as a fixed-frequency air conditioner) is operating in a low-voltage environment, the unstable voltage will cause the air conditioner compressor to start and stop frequently, which will greatly shorten the service life of the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor. By judging that the power supply voltage is low voltage based on the current of the compressor (i.e., the current of the motor), the overcurrent protection detection time is shortened, thereby avoiding damage to the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor.

[0005] The present invention provides a control method for an air conditioner, wherein the air conditioner has an outdoor unit and an indoor unit, the outdoor unit has a compressor, the indoor unit has an indoor fan, and the indoor fan has a motor; the compressor has a control switch; the control method for the air conditioner comprises: after the air conditioner is turned on, controlling the compressor to start; obtaining the entire current of the air conditioner, obtaining the current of the motor, and obtaining the indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner; determining whether the compressor is started according to the entire current of the air conditioner; if it is determined that the compressor is not started, adjusting the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor according to the indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner and the current of the motor to protect the control switch; if it is determined that the compressor is started, controlling the air conditioner to operate normally according to a preset operating mode.

[0006] In some embodiments, determining whether the compressor is started based on the whole machine current of the air conditioner includes: determining whether the whole machine current of the air conditioner is greater than the whole machine operating current threshold of the air conditioner; if it is determined that the whole machine current of the air conditioner is greater than the whole machine operating current threshold of the air conditioner, determining that the compressor is started; if it is determined that the whole machine current of the air conditioner is not greater than the whole machine operating current threshold of the air conditioner, determining that the compressor is not started.

[0007] In some embodiments, the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor is adjusted according to the indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner and the current of the motor to protect the control switch, including: determining the target operating current threshold of the motor according to the indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner; determining whether the current of the motor is greater than or equal to the target operating current threshold of the motor; if it is determined that the current of the motor is greater than or equal to the target operating current threshold of the motor, reducing the target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor to obtain the adjusted value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor; combining the adjusted value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor and the target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor, performing overcurrent protection on the compressor to protect the control switch.

[0008] In some embodiments, in combination with the adjustment value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor and the target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor, overcurrent protection is performed on the compressor to protect the control switch, including: after the set time, re-controlling the compressor to start, and re-determining whether the compressor is started; if it is re-determined that the compressor has been started, controlling the air conditioner to operate normally according to the preset operating mode; restoring the adjustment value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor to the target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor; and controlling the compressor according to the target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor. Perform overcurrent protection; if it is re-determined that the compressor has not started, record the number of times the compressor has not started to obtain the first number of times the compressor has not started; and return to re-control the compressor to start after the set time, and re-determine whether the compressor is started; wherein, before the set time, the compressor is protected against overcurrent according to the adjustment value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor to protect the control switch; this cycle is repeated until the first number of times the compressor has not started reaches the set number of startup failures, and a fault message is issued indicating that the voltage of the air conditioner as a whole is too low to start the compressor to protect the control switch.

[0009] In some embodiments, the compressor overcurrent protection detection time is adjusted based on the indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner and the current of the motor to protect the control switch, and the method further includes: if it is determined that the current of the motor is less than the target operating current threshold of the motor, re-controlling the compressor to start after a set time and re-determining whether the compressor is started; if it is re-determined that the compressor is started, controlling the air conditioner to operate normally according to a preset operating mode; and performing overcurrent protection on the compressor based on a target value of the compressor overcurrent protection detection time; if it is re-determined that the compressor has not started, recording the number of times the compressor has not started to obtain a second number of times the compressor has not started; and returning to control the compressor to start after a set time and re-determine whether the compressor has started; wherein, before the set time, the compressor overcurrent protection is performed based on the target value of the compressor overcurrent protection detection time to protect the control switch; this cycle is repeated until the second number of times the compressor has not started reaches a set number of startup failures, and a fault message indicating that the air conditioner's entire system voltage is too low to start the compressor is generated to protect the control switch.

[0010] In some embodiments, it also includes: after determining that the compressor has been started and controlling the air conditioner to operate normally according to a preset operating mode, performing overcurrent protection on the compressor according to a target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor; if the compressor does not stop due to overcurrent protection, continuing to control the air conditioner to operate normally according to a preset operating mode; and continuing to perform overcurrent protection on the compressor according to the target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor; if the compressor stops due to overcurrent protection, determining the target operating current threshold of the motor according to the indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner; determining whether the current of the motor is greater than or equal to the target operating current threshold of the motor; if it is determined that the current of the motor is greater than or equal to the target operating current threshold of the motor, reducing the target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor, and obtaining an adjustment value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor; then, combining the adjustment value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor and the target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor, performing overcurrent protection on the compressor to protect the control switch; if it is determined that the current of the motor is less than the target operating current threshold of the motor, then after a set time, re-controlling the compressor to start, and re-determining whether the compressor is started; if it is re-determined that the compressor has been started, controlling the air conditioner to operate normally according to a preset operating mode; and performing overcurrent protection on the compressor according to the target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor; if it is re-determined that the compressor has not been started, issuing a fault message indicating that the air conditioner pipe is dirty or blocked or the indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner is too high and the compressor cannot be started, so as to protect the control switch;

[0011] And / or, after the air conditioner is turned on and the compressor is controlled to start, the speed of the motor is also obtained; it is determined whether the speed of the motor reaches the set speed of the motor; if it is determined that the speed of the motor does not reach the set speed of the motor, it is determined that the motor is faulty; if it is determined that the speed of the motor reaches the set speed of the motor, it is determined that the motor is not faulty; thereafter, it is determined whether the compressor is started based on the total current of the air conditioner.

[0012] Matching the above method, the present invention provides, on the other hand, a control device for an air conditioner, wherein the air conditioner has an outdoor unit and an indoor unit, the outdoor unit has a compressor, the indoor unit has an indoor fan, and the indoor fan has a motor; the compressor has a control switch; the control device for the air conditioner includes: a control unit, configured to control the start of the compressor after the air conditioner is turned on; an acquisition unit, configured to acquire the entire current of the air conditioner, the current of the motor, and the indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner; the control unit is further configured to determine whether the compressor is started based on the entire current of the air conditioner; the control unit is further configured to adjust the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor based on the indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner and the current of the motor to protect the control switch if it is determined that the compressor has not started; the control unit is further configured to control the air conditioner to operate normally according to a preset operating mode if it is determined that the compressor has started.

[0013] In some embodiments, the control unit determines whether the compressor is started based on the whole machine current of the air conditioner, including: determining whether the whole machine current of the air conditioner is greater than the whole machine operating current threshold of the air conditioner; if it is determined that the whole machine current of the air conditioner is greater than the whole machine operating current threshold of the air conditioner, determining that the compressor has been started; if it is determined that the whole machine current of the air conditioner is not greater than the whole machine operating current threshold of the air conditioner, determining that the compressor has not been started.

[0014] In some embodiments, the control unit adjusts the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor according to the indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner and the current of the motor to protect the control switch, including: determining the target operating current threshold of the motor according to the indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner; determining whether the current of the motor is greater than or equal to the target operating current threshold of the motor; if it is determined that the current of the motor is greater than or equal to the target operating current threshold of the motor, reducing the target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor to obtain the adjusted value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor; combining the adjusted value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor and the target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor, performing overcurrent protection on the compressor to protect the control switch.

[0015] In some embodiments, the control unit, in combination with the adjustment value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor and the target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor, performs overcurrent protection on the compressor to protect the control switch, including: after the set time, re-controlling the compressor to start, and re-determining whether the compressor is started; if it is re-determined that the compressor has been started, controlling the air conditioner to operate normally according to the preset operating mode; restoring the adjustment value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor to the target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor; and controlling the compressor according to the target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor. The compressor is overcurrent protected; if it is re-determined that the compressor has not started, the number of times the compressor has not started is recorded to obtain the first number of times the compressor has not started; and the process returns to re-control the compressor to start after the set time, and to re-determine whether the compressor is started; wherein, before the set time, the compressor is overcurrent protected according to the adjustment value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor to protect the control switch; this cycle is repeated until the first number of times the compressor has not started reaches the set number of startup failures, and a fault message is issued indicating that the voltage of the air conditioner as a whole is too low to start the compressor to protect the control switch.

[0016] In some embodiments, the control unit adjusts the compressor overcurrent protection detection time based on the indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner and the current of the motor to protect the control switch, further comprising: if it is determined that the motor current is less than the target operating current threshold of the motor, re-controlling the compressor to start after a set time and re-determining whether the compressor is started; if it is re-determined that the compressor is started, controlling the air conditioner to operate normally according to a preset operating mode; and performing overcurrent protection on the compressor based on a target value for the compressor overcurrent protection detection time; if it is re-determined that the compressor has not started, recording the number of times the compressor has not started to obtain a second number of times the compressor has not started; and returning to control the compressor to start after a set time and re-determine whether the compressor has started; wherein, before the set time, the compressor is overcurrent protected based on the target value for the compressor overcurrent protection detection time to protect the control switch; this cycle is repeated until the second number of times the compressor has not started reaches a set number of startup failures, at which point a fault message indicating that the air conditioner's entire system voltage is too low to start the compressor is issued to protect the control switch.

[0017] In some embodiments, it also includes: the control unit is also configured to, after determining that the compressor has been started and controlling the air conditioner to operate normally according to a preset operating mode, perform overcurrent protection on the compressor according to a target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor; if the compressor does not stop due to overcurrent protection, continue to control the air conditioner to operate normally according to a preset operating mode; and continue to perform overcurrent protection on the compressor according to the target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor; if the compressor stops due to overcurrent protection, determine the target operating current threshold of the motor according to the indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner; determine whether the current of the motor is greater than or equal to the target operating current threshold of the motor; if it is determined that the current of the motor is greater than or equal to the target operating current threshold of the motor, reduce the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor. the target value, and obtain the adjustment value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor; then, combining the adjustment value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor and the target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor, the compressor is protected against overcurrent to protect the control switch; if it is determined that the current of the motor is less than the target operating current threshold of the motor, the compressor is re-controlled to start after a set time, and it is re-determined whether the compressor is started; if it is re-determined that the compressor has been started, the air conditioner is controlled to operate normally according to a preset operating mode; and the compressor is protected against overcurrent according to the target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor; if it is re-determined that the compressor has not been started, a fault message is issued indicating that the air conditioner pipe is dirty or blocked or the indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner is too high and the compressor cannot be started, so as to protect the control switch;

[0018] And / or, the acquisition unit is further configured to acquire the speed of the motor after the air conditioner is turned on and the compressor is controlled to start; the control unit is further configured to determine whether the speed of the motor reaches the set speed of the motor; the control unit is further configured to determine that the motor is faulty if it is determined that the speed of the motor does not reach the set speed of the motor; the control unit is further configured to determine that the motor is not faulty if it is determined that the speed of the motor reaches the set speed of the motor; and then, determine whether the compressor is started based on the total current of the air conditioner.

[0019] Matching the above device, the present invention further provides an air conditioner, comprising: the control device of the air conditioner described above.

[0020] In accordance with the above method, the present invention further provides a storage medium, which includes a stored program, wherein when the program is running, the device where the storage medium is located is controlled to execute the steps of the above-mentioned air conditioning control method.

[0021] In accordance with the above method, the present invention further provides a computer program product, comprising a computer program, which implements the steps of the above air conditioner control method when executed by a processor.

[0022] Therefore, the solution of the present invention is to determine whether the compressor of an air conditioner (such as a fixed-frequency air conditioner) is started after the air conditioner is turned on, and control the air conditioner to operate normally when it is determined that the compressor is started; when it is determined that the compressor is not started, detect the current of the compressor to determine whether the power supply voltage of the compressor is lower than a preset voltage threshold (such as a low voltage threshold): if it is determined that the power supply voltage of the compressor is lower than the preset voltage threshold, the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor is reduced, and the compressor is continued to be started after the set time. If the startup is successful, the air conditioner is controlled to operate normally; if the startup fails N times, a power supply voltage too low fault is reported; if it is determined that the power supply voltage of the compressor is not lower than the preset voltage threshold, the compressor is continued to be started after the set time. If the startup is successful, the air conditioner is controlled to operate normally; if the startup fails N times, a compressor cylinder stuck fault is reported; thereby, by shortening the overcurrent protection detection time when the power supply voltage is judged to be low voltage based on the current of the compressor (i.e., the current of the motor), damage to the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor is avoided.

[0023] Other features and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the present invention.

[0024] The technical solution of the present invention is further described in detail below through the accompanying drawings and embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] Figure 1 A flow chart of an embodiment of a method for controlling an air conditioner according to the present invention;

[0026] Figure 2 1. A flow chart of an embodiment of the method for determining whether the compressor is started in the present invention;

[0027] Figure 3 This is a flow chart of an embodiment of protecting the control switch when the whole voltage of the air conditioner is too low in the method of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 4 1 is a flow chart of an embodiment of the method of the present invention for performing overcurrent protection on the compressor according to the adjustment value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor;

[0029] Figure 5 This is a flow chart of an embodiment of protecting the control switch when the whole voltage of the air conditioner is not too low in the method of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 6 This is a flow chart of an embodiment of protecting the control switch when the compressor is started in the method of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 7 1. A flow chart of an embodiment of the method for determining whether the motor is faulty in the present invention;

[0032] Figure 8 A schematic structural diagram of an embodiment of an air conditioner control device of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 9 This is a structural diagram of a current detection module in a method for implementing a protection mode of an air conditioner compressor;

[0034] Figure 10 The present invention is a flowchart of a method for implementing a protection mode of an air conditioner compressor.

[0035] In conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the reference numerals in the embodiments of the present invention are as follows:

[0036] 102 - acquisition unit; 104 - control unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention more clear, the technical solutions of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with specific embodiments of the present invention and corresponding drawings. Obviously, the embodiments described are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0038] Consider that when the compressor of an air conditioner (such as a fixed-frequency air conditioner) operates in a low-voltage environment (that is, the overall voltage of the air conditioner is low), the unstable overall voltage of the air conditioner will cause the compressor of the air conditioner to start and stop frequently, which will greatly shorten the service life of the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor.

[0039] For example: In some areas where electricity is underdeveloped, the power grid is unstable and undervoltage or power outages often occur. Therefore, these areas often have generator sets for users to use. When the city power grid is out of power, the generator sets are turned on. Although the use of generator sets has reduced the impact of power shortages on life to a certain extent, it also brings other problems.

[0040] The power voltage provided by the generator set is unstable, fluctuating between high and low. Especially when the air conditioner is operating at full load, the power line voltage may drop significantly. When the voltage falls below the minimum operating voltage range of the air conditioner, especially for fixed-frequency air conditioners, the compressor's power and current increase rapidly when operating in a low-voltage environment. Once the voltage drops to a critical point, the compressor's current becomes excessive, triggering the overcurrent protection mechanism and causing the compressor to shut down. Consequently, in an unstable voltage environment, the compressor will frequently start and stop, significantly shortening the service life of the relays or AC contactors used to control the compressor.

[0041] Therefore, the solution of the present invention proposes a control method for an air conditioner, specifically a method for implementing a protection mode of a compressor of an air conditioner. When the compressor is shut down due to high current protection, the current of the motor is first detected to determine whether it is low voltage, and then the detection time of the overcurrent protection value of the whole machine is shortened to avoid damage to the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor due to excessive current, too long power-on time, and excessive heating of the contacts. This is beneficial to extending the service life of the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor.

[0042] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method for controlling an air conditioner is provided. Figure 1 The flowchart of an embodiment of the method of the present invention is shown in FIG. The air conditioner comprises an outdoor unit and an indoor unit, wherein the outdoor unit comprises a compressor, the indoor unit comprises an indoor fan, and the indoor fan comprises a motor; the compressor comprises a control switch, such as a relay or an AC contactor for controlling the compressor. In the solution of the present invention, Figure 1 As shown, the air conditioner control method includes: steps S120 to S150.

[0043] In step S110 , after the air conditioner is turned on, the compressor is controlled to start.

[0044] At step S120, the entire air conditioner current, the motor current, and the indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner are obtained. The entire air conditioner current, i.e., the entire air conditioner voltage, is obtained, such as the current detected by the overcurrent transformer L101 connected in series on the live wire L of the air conditioner power supply (POWER). The motor current, i.e., the current of the indoor fan, is obtained, such as the output current of the motor controller of the indoor fan motor. The indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner is obtained.

[0045] In step S130 , it is determined whether the compressor is started according to the entire current of the air conditioner.

[0046] At step S140, if it is determined that the compressor is not started, the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor is adjusted based on the indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner and the current of the motor to protect the control switch. The overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor is the duration of detecting the overcurrent protection value when the overcurrent protection program of the compressor is activated.

[0047] In step S150 , if it is determined that the compressor has been started, the air conditioner is controlled to operate normally according to a preset operation mode.

[0048] The present invention proposes an implementation scheme for a protection mode of an air-conditioning compressor. When the compressor is shut down due to high current protection, the current of the motor is first detected to determine whether it is low voltage, and then the detection time of the overcurrent protection value of the whole machine (i.e., the overcurrent protection detection time) is shortened to avoid damage to the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor due to excessive current, too long power-on time, and excessive heating of the contacts. This is beneficial to extending the service life of the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor; and solves the problem that the compressor startup current time is too long under low voltage conditions (i.e., the detection time of the compressor overcurrent protection value is too long), which causes the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor to be damaged due to excessive heating of the contacts.

[0049] In some embodiments, the specific process of determining whether the compressor is started according to the entire current of the air conditioner in step S130 is described in the following exemplary embodiments.

[0050] The following combination Figure 2 The flowchart of an embodiment of the method for determining whether the compressor is started in the present invention is shown, which further illustrates the specific process of determining whether the compressor is started in step S130, including: steps S210 to S230.

[0051] Step S210, determining whether the whole current of the air conditioner is greater than the whole operating current threshold of the air conditioner; wherein the whole operating current threshold of the air conditioner is, for example, the normal operating current of the air conditioner is 3A.

[0052] In step S220 , if it is determined that the entire air conditioner current is greater than the entire air conditioner operating current threshold, it is determined that the compressor has been started.

[0053] In step S230 , if it is determined that the entire air conditioner current is not greater than the entire air conditioner operating current threshold, it is determined that the compressor is not started.

[0054] Figure 10 FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a method for implementing a protection mode of an air conditioner compressor. Figure 10As shown, the method for implementing the protection mode of the air conditioner compressor includes:

[0055] Step 1: The air conditioner is turned on normally. Is the compressor started? If not, go to step 2. If yes, go to step 4.

[0056] In step 1, it is possible to determine whether the compressor is started by detecting the current (a current transformer can be connected in series with the live wire of the power line). Generally, if the normal operating current of the air conditioner is greater than 3A, it means that the compressor is started and the air conditioner is operating normally.

[0057] Figure 9 FIG. 1 is a structural diagram of a current detection module in a method for implementing a protection mode of an air conditioner compressor. Figure 9 As shown, an overcurrent transformer L101 is connected in series to the live wire L of the power supply (POWER) of the air conditioner to detect the entire current of the air conditioner.

[0058] The solution of the present invention solves the problem that in a low-voltage environment, the compressor will frequently start and stop for a long time, causing the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor to stick due to excessive current, too long power-on time, and excessive heating of the contacts, thereby affecting the electrical life of the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor (that is, the problem of relay / AC contact sticking due to high current and too long power-on time).

[0059] In some embodiments, in step S150, the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor is adjusted according to the indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner and the current of the motor to protect the control switch, including: a process of protecting the control switch when the whole machine voltage of the air conditioner is too low.

[0060] The following combination Figure 3 The flowchart of an embodiment of protecting the control switch when the whole voltage of the air conditioner is too low in the method of the present invention is shown, further illustrating the specific process of protecting the control switch when the whole voltage of the air conditioner is too low in step S140, including: steps S310 to S340.

[0061] Step S310: Determine a target operating current threshold for the motor based on the indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner; wherein the target operating current threshold for the motor may be, for example, a motor stable operating current threshold I0. Determining the target operating current threshold for the motor based on the indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner may specifically include: based on a correspondence between a set ambient temperature and a set operating current threshold, determining the set operating current threshold corresponding to the indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner in the correspondence as the target operating current threshold for the motor corresponding to the indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner.

[0062] Step S320 , determining whether the current of the motor is greater than or equal to a target operating current threshold of the motor under the indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner.

[0063] Step S330: If it is determined that the current of the motor is greater than or equal to the target operating current threshold of the motor, the target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor is reduced to obtain an adjusted value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor.

[0064] Step S340 , performing overcurrent protection on the compressor based on the adjustment value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor and the target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor, so as to protect the control switch.

[0065] In the scheme of the present invention, the protection mode of the compressor is specifically as follows: based on the magnitude of the DC current, it is determined whether the voltage of the entire machine has reached the critical voltage of the fixed-frequency compressor; before starting the compressor, the magnitude of the motor current is detected to determine whether the power supply voltage is low voltage; when a similar low voltage is detected, the judgment time of the overcurrent protection value is shortened accordingly to avoid damage to the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor. That is, the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor is prevented from being damaged by excessive current, excessive power-on time, and excessive heating of the contacts, thereby extending the service life of the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor. The scheme of the present invention determines the voltage of the entire machine by detecting the current of the motor; while the related scheme determines the voltage of the entire machine by detecting the duty cycle of the motor, the scheme is more complex and difficult to implement.

[0066] In some embodiments, in step S340, the compressor is subjected to overcurrent protection in combination with the adjustment value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor and the target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor to protect the specific process of the control switch. Please refer to the following exemplary description.

[0067] The following combination Figure 4 The flowchart of an embodiment of the method of the present invention for performing overcurrent protection on the compressor according to the adjustment value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor is shown, further illustrating the specific process of performing overcurrent protection on the compressor according to the adjustment value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor in step S340, including: steps S410 to S440.

[0068] Step S410: After a set time, the compressor is controlled to start again, and whether the compressor is started is determined again.

[0069] In step S420, if it is determined again that the compressor has been started, the air conditioner is controlled to operate normally according to the preset operating mode; the adjustment value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor is restored to the target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor; and the compressor is overcurrent protected according to the target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor.

[0070] In step S430, if it is determined that the compressor has not started, the number of times the compressor has not started is recorded to obtain a first number of times the compressor has not started. The process then returns to control the compressor to start again after a set time and to determine again whether the compressor has started. Before the set time, overcurrent protection is performed on the compressor based on the adjustment value of the compressor's overcurrent protection detection time to protect the control switch. The set time may be, for example, time T.

[0071] Step S440 is repeated in this way until the first non-starting times of the compressor reaches the set start failure times, and a fault message is issued indicating that the whole voltage of the air conditioner is too low to start the compressor, so as to protect the control switch.

[0072] like Figure 10 As shown, the method for implementing the protection mode of the air conditioner compressor further includes:

[0073] Step 2: Detect the ambient temperature (one of the factors affecting motor current) and the motor's stable operating current to determine whether the motor's stable operating current is greater than or equal to the motor's stable operating current threshold, I0, at the ambient temperature. If so, proceed to step 21; otherwise, proceed to step 31. I0 is the current corresponding to stable motor operation (the set air conditioner speed) at the air conditioner compressor's minimum starting voltage. This value varies slightly with ambient temperature.

[0074] The air conditioner's indoor ambient temperature (the air conditioner itself has a built-in indoor temperature sensor to detect the temperature). For DC motors, ambient temperature has a slight effect under the same conditions. Motors generally use copper or aluminum wire, both of which have positive temperature coefficients; the lower the temperature, the lower the resistance. The DC motor's current I = voltage U / resistance R; the lower the resistance, the higher the current. Assuming the speed and load remain unchanged, the AC input current increases with lower ambient temperature. This is because at low temperatures, the motor winding resistance decreases, and to maintain the same power output, the AC input current must increase accordingly. Therefore, the ambient temperature detected here is the indoor ambient temperature to correct or compensate for the slight effect of ambient temperature on the motor.

[0075] For DC motors, under the same conditions, the ambient temperature has a slight effect on their operation. Motors typically use copper or aluminum wire, both of which have positive temperature coefficients. The lower the temperature, the lower the resistance. The current I of a DC motor is calculated as voltage U / resistance R; the lower the resistance, the higher the current. Assuming the speed and load remain constant, the AC input current increases as the ambient temperature drops. This is because the motor winding resistance decreases at low temperatures, and to maintain the same power output, the AC input current must increase accordingly. Therefore, ambient temperature monitoring is used to correct or compensate for the slight effect of ambient temperature on the motor. For example, at an ambient temperature of 30°C, the motor current is I; at an ambient temperature of 20°C, the motor current is I + 0.05; and at an ambient temperature of 10°C, the motor current is I + 0.1.

[0076] Step 21: The air conditioner indoor unit motor typically uses a DC motor. Under specific load and speed conditions, when the AC side voltage decreases, the rectifier draws more current in each half-cycle to maintain the DC side voltage. This causes an increase in AC side current because more current is needed to compensate for the voltage drop. Therefore, in step 2, if the stable operating motor current is detected to be ≥ I0, it indicates that the input voltage of the entire unit is low and is lower than the voltage required for normal compressor startup. The overcurrent protection detection time (i.e., the overcurrent protection detection time) is adjusted to T0, and then step 22 or step 23 is executed.

[0077] Step 22: The starting current of a fixed frequency compressor is usually very large (for example, 1.5P~2P compressor can reach 30A~55A). Figure 9 The impact on the relay K1 (shown) or AC contactor is significant. In low-voltage areas, frequent compressor overcurrent protection and repeated, prolonged compressor startups can reduce the life of the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor. If the air conditioner has low voltage (lower than the compressor startup voltage), the compressor cannot start, and the compressor inrush current will be very large until the overcurrent protection is activated (usually the detection time for the overcurrent protection value is T1 = 3 to 5 seconds). This has a significant impact on the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor, easily damaging it.

[0078] Therefore, in step 21, under normal circumstances, the detection time of the overcurrent protection value of the fixed-frequency compressor is T1 = 3 seconds to 5 seconds, and it is detected continuously N (3 < N < 10) times, and a fault code is reported. The normal starting time of the fixed-frequency compressor is 0.1 second to 0.3 second. In the case of slight cylinder jamming, the starting time of the compressor is generally between 0.3 second and 1.5 seconds. In the solution of the present invention, in order to minimize the impact on the normal use of users and to avoid damage to the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor, the detection time of the overcurrent protection value is adjusted to T0 (0.3 second < T0 < 1.5 second, which is less than the original detection time). After a time T (generally 2 minutes to 4 minutes), the compressor is tried to start again. If the start fails, the detection is cycled. After N attempts to start and identify, if the compressor still cannot operate, it is determined that the voltage is too low to start the compressor, and a fault code is reported. For example, after multiple failures (3 to 6 times), a fault code is reported.

[0079] Step 23: If the compressor starts normally. For example, after attempting to start for 10 seconds, if the detected current of the whole machine is greater than 3A, it is considered that the compressor starts normally; the detection time of the overcurrent protection value can be restored to T1 to facilitate the detection of overcurrent protection due to reasons such as dirty blockage, overload, and low voltage. Here, it can directly jump to step 3.

[0080] In the solution of the present invention, when the air conditioner is operating stably, in the same mode, under the conditions of the same temperature and constant speed of the DC motor, the lower the input voltage, the higher the input current. According to the magnitude of the current of the DC motor, it is judged whether the voltage of the whole machine reaches the critical voltage of the fixed-frequency compressor. If it reaches the critical voltage, the compressor stops working until the voltage is restored and then the compressor starts again. If the compressor is protected by overcurrent, before starting the compressor next time, first judge whether the power supply voltage belongs to low voltage by detecting the magnitude of the current of the motor. To prevent misjudgment, before initiating a low voltage reminder, the compressor can be tried to start; however, the judgment time of the overcurrent protection value is correspondingly shortened to avoid damage to the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor, that is, to avoid damage to the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor due to excessive current, too long power-on time, and excessive contact heating, which is beneficial to extending the service life of the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor.

[0081] In some embodiments, in step S140, according to the indoor environmental temperature of the air conditioner and the current of the motor, adjusting the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor to protect the control switch further includes: the process of protecting the control switch when the voltage of the whole machine of the air conditioner is not too low.

[0082] The following combines Figure 5The flowchart of an embodiment of protecting the control switch when the whole voltage of the air conditioner is not too low in the method of the present invention is shown, further illustrating the specific process of protecting the control switch when the whole voltage of the air conditioner is not too low in step S140, including: steps S510 to S540.

[0083] In step S510 , if it is determined that the current of the motor is less than the target operating current threshold of the motor, the compressor is controlled to start again after a set time, and it is determined again whether the compressor is started.

[0084] Step S520: If it is determined again that the compressor has been started, the air conditioner is controlled to operate normally according to a preset operation mode; and overcurrent protection is performed on the compressor according to a target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor.

[0085] In step S530, if it is determined that the compressor has not started, the number of times the compressor has not started is recorded to obtain a second number of times the compressor has not started. The process then returns to control the compressor to start again after a set time and to determine again whether the compressor has started. Before the set time, overcurrent protection is performed on the compressor based on a target value of the compressor's overcurrent protection detection time to protect the control switch. The set time may be, for example, time T.

[0086] Step S540 is repeated until the second non-starting times of the compressor reach the set start failure times, and a fault message is generated indicating that the voltage of the air conditioner is too low to start the compressor, so as to protect the control switch.

[0087] like Figure 10 As shown, the method for implementing the protection mode of the air conditioner compressor further includes:

[0088] In step 31 and step 2, if the motor's stable operating current is detected to be less than I0, it indicates that the compressor may have failed to start the first time due to a cylinder jam or other reasons. After a period of T (the detection time of the overcurrent protection value is consistent with the first detection time, generally T1 = 3 seconds to 5 seconds continuously exceeding the rated value, indicating overcurrent protection), try to run the compressor again. In this case, the compressor stops, and judging by the motor current, it is not caused by the input voltage of the entire machine being too low. The overcurrent protection time of T1 can be extended to avoid the user being unable to start the air conditioner due to a minor compressor cylinder jam.

[0089] The solution of the present invention indirectly determines whether the air conditioner is in a low voltage state by detecting the current of the air conditioner's DC motor. If the voltage is too low, and the user still needs air conditioning, the overcurrent protection value detection time is shortened, ensuring that the relay or AC contactor used to control the air conditioner compressor is not damaged, and then an attempt is made to start the air conditioner. If the air conditioner cannot be started, a fault code is reported, and the air conditioner can be tried again after the low voltage returns to normal. Because the overcurrent protection value judgment time is correspondingly shortened, damage to the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor can be avoided. In other words, damage to the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor due to excessive current, excessive power-on time, and excessive heating of the contacts can be avoided, which helps to extend the service life of the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor.

[0090] In some embodiments, the air conditioner control method according to the solution of the present invention further includes: a process of protecting the control switch when the compressor is started.

[0091] The following combination Figure 6 The flowchart of an embodiment of the method of the present invention for determining whether the motor is faulty further illustrates the specific process of protecting the control switch when the compressor is started, including: steps S610 to S680.

[0092] Step S610 , after determining that the compressor has been started and controlling the air conditioner to operate normally according to a preset operation mode, overcurrent protection is performed on the compressor according to a target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor.

[0093] Step S620: If the compressor is not shut down due to overcurrent protection, the air conditioner is continued to be controlled to operate normally according to the preset operation mode; and the compressor is continued to be protected from overcurrent according to the target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor.

[0094] Step S630: If the compressor is shut down due to overcurrent protection, a target operating current threshold of the motor is determined according to the indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner.

[0095] Step S640 , determining whether the current of the motor is greater than or equal to the target operating current threshold of the motor.

[0096] Step S650: If it is determined that the current of the motor is greater than or equal to the target operating current threshold of the motor, the target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor is reduced to obtain the adjustment value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor; then, the compressor is overcurrent protected in combination with the adjustment value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor and the target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor to protect the control switch.

[0097] In step S660 , if it is determined that the current of the motor is less than the target operating current threshold of the motor, the compressor is controlled to start again after a set time, and it is determined again whether the compressor is started.

[0098] Step S670: If it is determined again that the compressor has been started, the air conditioner is controlled to operate normally according to the preset operation mode; and the compressor is protected from overcurrent according to the target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor.

[0099] In step S680, if it is determined again that the compressor is not started, a fault message is generated indicating that the air conditioner pipe is dirty or blocked or the indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner is too high to start the compressor, so as to protect the control switch.

[0100] like Figure 10 As shown, the method for implementing the protection mode of the air conditioner compressor further includes: Step 3: If the compressor starts normally, that is, if the air conditioner is turned on normally (the detection time of the overcurrent protection value of the entire machine is T1 (generally, it exceeds the rated value for 3 to 5 seconds continuously), such as due to dirt blockage, overload, low voltage, etc., the overcurrent protection is activated; by continuing to detect the motor current (whether the current exceeds I0), it can be determined whether the air conditioner cannot operate normally due to low voltage, that is, repeating steps 21 or 31. Generally, the compressor cannot start normally at 0.8 times the rated voltage, causing the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor to be damaged. I0 is generally 1.2 to 1.3 times the normal operating current of the motor. According to the formula power P = voltage U * current I, if U is 0.8 under the condition of unchanged speed, load, etc., the current is approximately 1.25 times the original motor (under rated voltage). The solution of the present invention can prevent the air conditioner compressor from being frequently and long-term started due to low voltage, which may cause damage to the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor.

[0101] In some embodiments, the air conditioner control method according to the solution of the present invention further includes: a process of determining whether the motor is faulty.

[0102] The following combination Figure 7The flowchart of an embodiment of the method for determining whether the motor is faulty in the present invention is shown, further illustrating the specific process of determining whether the motor is faulty, including: step S710 to step S740.

[0103] In step S710, after the air conditioner is turned on and the compressor is controlled to start, the rotation speed of the motor is also obtained.

[0104] Step S720 : Before determining whether the compressor is started based on the entire current of the air conditioner, determining whether the rotational speed of the motor reaches the set rotational speed of the motor.

[0105] In step S730 , if it is determined that the rotational speed of the motor has not reached the set rotational speed of the motor, it is determined that the motor is faulty.

[0106] In step S740 , if it is determined that the rotational speed of the motor reaches the set rotational speed of the motor, it is determined that the motor is not faulty; thereafter, it is determined whether the compressor is started according to the entire current of the air conditioner.

[0107] In some embodiments, before step 2, the speed detection of the motor can be added to achieve a more accurate judgment of whether the voltage is low. The speed detection is to prevent the DC motor from being damaged due to a fault, resulting in a reduction in speed (failure to reach the set speed of the air conditioner), thereby affecting the current I of the motor (if the motor does not reach the set speed, the input current of the motor will be smaller than the actual current). This is only to rule out whether the motor has a fault. If the motor has a fault, it will affect the program's judgment of the low voltage of the power supply. Among them, mechanical faults such as motor bearing wear, or reasons such as motor drive, which cannot reach the predetermined speed, will affect the motor's failure to reach the predetermined speed; by comparing the set speed of the motor with the actual speed fed back by the motor Hall sensor, it is determined whether it has a fault. If they are consistent, there is no fault; if they are inconsistent, there is a fault.

[0108] By adopting the technical solution of this embodiment, it is determined whether the compressor of an air conditioner (such as a fixed-frequency air conditioner) is started after the air conditioner is turned on, and the air conditioner is controlled to operate normally when it is determined that the compressor is started; when it is determined that the compressor is not started, the current of the compressor is detected to determine whether the power supply voltage of the compressor is lower than a preset voltage threshold (such as a low voltage threshold): if it is determined that the power supply voltage of the compressor is lower than the preset voltage threshold, the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor is reduced, and the compressor is continued to be started after the set time. If the startup is successful, the air conditioner is controlled to operate normally. If the startup fails N times, a power supply voltage too low fault is reported; if it is determined that the power supply voltage of the compressor is not lower than the preset voltage threshold, the compressor is continued to be started after the set time. If the startup is successful, the air conditioner is controlled to operate normally. If the startup fails N times, a compressor cylinder stuck fault is reported; thereby, by shortening the overcurrent protection detection time when the power supply voltage is judged to be low voltage based on the current of the compressor (i.e., the current of the motor), damage to the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor is avoided.

[0109] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a control device for an air conditioner corresponding to the control method for an air conditioner is also provided. Figure 8 The structure diagram of an embodiment of the device of the present invention is shown. The air conditioner has an outdoor unit and an indoor unit, the outdoor unit has a compressor, the indoor unit has an indoor fan, and the indoor fan has a motor; the compressor has a control switch, such as a relay or an AC contactor for controlling the compressor; in the solution of the present invention, Figure 8 As shown, the air conditioner control device includes: an acquisition unit 102 and a control unit 104.

[0110] The control unit 104 is further configured to control the compressor to start after the air conditioner is turned on. The specific functions and processing of the control unit 104 are shown in step S110.

[0111] The acquisition unit 102 is configured to acquire the total current of the air conditioner, the current of the motor, and the indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner. The total current of the air conditioner is, for example, the current detected by the overcurrent transformer L101 connected in series on the live wire L of the air conditioner's power supply (POWER). The current of the motor is, for example, the output current of the motor controller. The indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner is, specifically, the indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner. The specific functions and processing of the acquisition unit 102 are described in step S120.

[0112] The control unit 104 is further configured to determine whether the compressor is started according to the entire current of the air conditioner. The specific functions and processing of the control unit 104 are also shown in step S130.

[0113] The control unit 104 is further configured to, if it determines that the compressor is not started, adjust the compressor overcurrent protection detection time based on the indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner and the current of the motor to protect the control switch. The specific functions and processing of the control unit 104 are also shown in step S140.

[0114] The control unit 104 is further configured to control the air conditioner to operate normally according to a preset operating mode if it is determined that the compressor has been started. The specific functions and processing of the control unit 104 are also shown in step S150.

[0115] The present invention proposes an implementation scheme for a protection mode of an air-conditioning compressor. When the compressor is shut down due to high current protection, the current of the motor is first detected to determine whether it is low voltage, and then the detection time of the overcurrent protection value of the whole machine (i.e., the overcurrent protection detection time) is shortened to avoid damage to the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor due to excessive current, too long power-on time, and excessive heating of the contacts. This is beneficial to extending the service life of the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor; and solves the problem that the compressor startup current time is too long under low voltage conditions (i.e., the detection time of the compressor overcurrent protection value is too long), which causes the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor to be damaged due to excessive heating of the contacts.

[0116] In some embodiments, the control unit 104 determines whether the compressor is started according to the entire current of the air conditioner, including:

[0117] The control unit 104 is further configured to determine whether the air conditioner's entire system current is greater than a threshold value for the air conditioner's entire system operating current; the threshold value for the air conditioner's entire system operating current is, for example, 3A. The specific functions and processing of the control unit 104 are further described in step S210.

[0118] The control unit 104 is further configured to determine that the compressor has started if it is determined that the entire air conditioner current is greater than the entire air conditioner operating current threshold. Specific functions and processing of the control unit 104 are further described in step S220.

[0119] The control unit 104 is further configured to determine that the compressor is not started if it is determined that the entire air conditioner current is not greater than the entire air conditioner operating current threshold. Specific functions and processing of the control unit 104 are also described in step S230.

[0120] Figure 10 FIG. 1 is a flow chart of a method for implementing a protection mode of an air conditioner compressor. Figure 10As shown, the method for implementing the protection mode of the air conditioner compressor includes:

[0121] Step 1: The air conditioner is turned on normally. Is the compressor started? If not, go to step 2. If yes, go to step 4.

[0122] In step 1, it is possible to determine whether the compressor is started by detecting the current (a current transformer can be connected in series with the live wire of the power line). Generally, if the normal operating current of the air conditioner is greater than 3A, it means that the compressor is started and the air conditioner is operating normally.

[0123] Figure 9 FIG. 1 is a structural diagram of a current detection module in a method for implementing a protection mode of an air conditioner compressor. Figure 9 As shown, an overcurrent transformer L101 is connected in series with the live wire L of the air conditioner's power supply (POWER) to detect the air conditioner's overall current. The current transformer detects the overall current. If the compressor is not turned on, the transformer detects the current flowing from the indoor unit (approximately equal to the motor current).

[0124] The solution of the present invention solves the problem that in a low-voltage environment, the compressor will frequently start and stop for a long time, causing the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor to stick due to excessive current, too long power-on time, and excessive heating of the contacts, thereby affecting the electrical life of the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor (that is, the problem of relay / AC contact sticking due to high current and too long power-on time).

[0125] In some embodiments, the control unit 104 adjusts the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor according to the indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner and the current of the motor to protect the control switch, including: a process of protecting the control switch when the entire voltage of the air conditioner is too low, specifically as follows:

[0126] The control unit 104 is further configured to determine a target operating current threshold for the motor based on the indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner; the target operating current threshold for the motor may be, for example, the motor stable operating current threshold I0. Specifically, based on a correspondence between a set ambient temperature and a set operating current threshold, the set operating current threshold corresponding to the indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner in this correspondence is determined as the target operating current threshold for the motor corresponding to the indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner. The specific functions and processing of the control unit 104 are further described in step S310.

[0127] The control unit 104 is further configured to determine whether the current of the motor is greater than or equal to the target operating current threshold of the motor under the indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner. The specific functions and processing of the control unit 104 are also shown in step S320.

[0128] The control unit 104 is further configured to, if it is determined that the motor current is greater than or equal to the motor's target operating current threshold, reduce the target value of the compressor's overcurrent protection detection time to obtain an adjusted value for the compressor's overcurrent protection detection time. The specific functions and processing of the control unit 104 are further described in step S330.

[0129] The control unit 104 is further configured to perform overcurrent protection on the compressor based on the adjustment value of the compressor's overcurrent protection detection time and the target value of the compressor's overcurrent protection detection time, thereby protecting the control switch. The specific functions and processing of the control unit 104 are further described in step S340.

[0130] In the scheme of the present invention, the protection mode of the compressor is specifically as follows: based on the magnitude of the DC current, it is determined whether the voltage of the entire machine has reached the critical voltage of the fixed-frequency compressor; before starting the compressor, the magnitude of the motor current is detected to determine whether the power supply voltage is low voltage; when a similar low voltage is detected, the judgment time of the overcurrent protection value is shortened accordingly to avoid damage to the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor. That is, the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor is prevented from being damaged by excessive current, excessive power-on time, and excessive heating of the contacts, thereby extending the service life of the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor. The scheme of the present invention determines the voltage of the entire machine by detecting the current of the motor; while the related scheme determines the voltage of the entire machine by detecting the duty cycle of the motor, the scheme is more complex and difficult to implement.

[0131] In some embodiments, the control unit 104 performs overcurrent protection on the compressor to protect the control switch based on the adjustment value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor and the target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor, including:

[0132] The control unit 104 is further configured to control the compressor to start again after a set time, and to re-determine whether the compressor is started. The specific functions and processing of the control unit 104 are also shown in step S410.

[0133] The control unit 104 is further configured to, upon re-determining that the compressor has been started, control the air conditioner to operate normally according to a preset operating mode; restore the adjusted value of the compressor's overcurrent protection detection time to the target value of the compressor's overcurrent protection detection time; and perform overcurrent protection on the compressor based on the target value of the compressor's overcurrent protection detection time. The specific functions and processing of the control unit 104 are further described in step S420.

[0134] The control unit 104 is further configured to, if it is re-determined that the compressor has not started, record the number of times the compressor has not started, obtaining a first number of times the compressor has not started; and return to control the compressor to start again after a set time and re-determine whether the compressor has started; wherein, before the set time, the compressor is overcurrent protected according to the adjustment value of the compressor's overcurrent protection detection time to protect the control switch. The set time is, for example, time T. The specific functions and processing of the control unit 104 are further described in step S430.

[0135] The control unit 104 is further configured to repeat this process until the first compressor failure count reaches a set number of failed startups, at which point a fault message is issued indicating that the air conditioner's system voltage is too low to start the compressor, thereby protecting the control switch. The specific functions and processing of the control unit 104 are further described in step S440.

[0136] like Figure 10 As shown, the method for implementing the protection mode of the air conditioner compressor further includes:

[0137] Step 2: Detect the ambient temperature (one of the factors affecting motor current) and the motor's stable operating current to determine whether the motor's stable operating current is greater than or equal to the motor's stable operating current threshold, I0, at the ambient temperature. If so, proceed to step 21; otherwise, proceed to step 31. I0 is the current corresponding to stable motor operation (the set air conditioner speed) at the air conditioner compressor's minimum starting voltage. This value varies slightly with ambient temperature.

[0138] Indoor ambient temperature (the air conditioner itself has its own indoor temperature sensor to detect the temperature); for DC motors, ambient temperature has a slight effect under the same conditions; motors generally use copper or aluminum wire, both of which have positive temperature coefficients; the lower the temperature, the lower the resistance; the DC motor current I = voltage U / resistance R; the lower the resistance, the higher the current. Assuming the speed and load remain unchanged, the AC input current will increase as the ambient temperature drops. This is because at low temperatures, the motor winding resistance decreases, and to maintain the same power output, the AC input current must increase accordingly. Therefore, the ambient temperature is monitored here to correct or compensate for the slight effect of ambient temperature on the motor.

[0139] Step 21: The motor of the air conditioner indoor unit usually uses a DC motor. Under specific load and speed conditions, when the voltage on the AC side becomes smaller, in order to keep the voltage on the DC side unchanged, the rectifier will draw more current in each half cycle, which will lead to an increase in the AC side current because more current is needed to compensate for the voltage drop. Therefore, in Step 2, if it is detected that the stable operating current of the motor ≥ I0, it indicates that the input voltage of the whole machine is relatively low and is also lower than the normal starting voltage of the compressor. The detection time of the overcurrent protection value (i.e., the overcurrent protection detection time) is adjusted to T0, and then Step 22 or Step 23 is executed.

[0140] Step 22: The starting current of a fixed-frequency compressor is generally very large (taking 1.5P - 2P machines as an example, it can reach 30A - 55A), which has a great impact on the relay (such as Figure 9 the relay K1 shown) or AC contactor used to control the compressor. In low-voltage areas, due to frequent overcurrent protection of the compressor and multiple long-time starts of the compressor, the service life of the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor will be reduced. If the air conditioner has a low voltage (lower than the starting voltage of the compressor), since the compressor cannot start, the impact current of the compressor will be very large until overcurrent protection (usually the detection time of the overcurrent protection value is T1 = 3 seconds - 5 seconds), which has a very large impact on the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor and is likely to damage the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor.

[0141] Therefore, in Step 21, usually, the detection time of the overcurrent protection value of the fixed-frequency compressor is T1 = 3 seconds - 5 seconds, and it is detected continuously N times (3 < N < 10), and a fault code is reported. The normal starting time of the fixed-frequency compressor is 0.1 seconds - 0.3 seconds. In the case of slight cylinder jamming, the starting time of the compressor is generally between 0.3 seconds - 1.5 seconds. In the solution of the present invention, in order to minimize the impact on the normal use of users and also to avoid damage to the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor, the detection time of the overcurrent protection value is adjusted to T0 (0.3 seconds < T0 < 1.5 seconds, which is less than the original detection time). After a time T (generally 2 minutes - 4 minutes), the compressor is tried to start again. If the start fails, it is detected cyclically. After N attempts to start and identify, if the compressor still cannot run, it is determined that the voltage is too low to start the compressor, and a fault code is reported. For example, after multiple failures (3 times - 6 times), a fault code is reported.

[0142] Step 23: If the compressor starts normally, for example, if the current of the entire machine is greater than 3A after 10 seconds of starting, the compressor is considered to have started normally. The detection time of the overcurrent protection value can be restored to T1 to facilitate the detection of overcurrent protection due to dirt blockage, overload, low voltage, etc. You can jump directly to step 3 here.

[0143] In the solution of the present invention, when the air conditioner is operating stably, under the same mode and with the DC motor at the same temperature and constant speed, the lower the input voltage, the higher the input current. Based on the DC motor current, it is determined whether the voltage of the entire unit has reached the critical voltage of the fixed-frequency compressor. If the critical voltage is reached, the compressor stops operating and is not restarted until the voltage returns. If the compressor is under overcurrent protection, the motor current is detected before the next startup to determine whether the power supply voltage is low. To prevent misjudgment, the compressor can be restarted before initiating a low-voltage reminder; however, the overcurrent protection value determination time is shortened accordingly to avoid damage to the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor. Specifically, damage to the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor due to excessive current, prolonged power-on time, and excessive heating of the contacts is avoided, thereby extending the service life of the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor.

[0144] In some embodiments, the control unit 104 adjusts the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor according to the indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner and the current of the motor to protect the control switch, and further includes: a process of protecting the control switch when the entire voltage of the air conditioner is not too low, specifically as follows:

[0145] The control unit 104 is further configured to, if it is determined that the motor current is less than the target operating current threshold of the motor, perform overcurrent protection on the compressor according to the target value of the compressor overcurrent protection detection time. The specific functions and processing of the control unit 104 are further described in step S510.

[0146] The control unit 104 is further configured to control the compressor to start after a set time if the compressor has been shut down due to overcurrent protection, and to determine whether the compressor is started; wherein the set time is, for example, time T. The specific functions and processing of the control unit 104 are further described in step S520.

[0147] The control unit 104 is further configured to, if it is determined that the compressor has been started, control the air conditioner to operate normally according to a preset operating mode; and, during normal operation of the air conditioner in the preset operating mode, perform overcurrent protection on the compressor based on the adjusted value of the compressor's overcurrent protection detection time. The specific functions and processing of the control unit 104 are further described in step S530.

[0148] The control unit 104 is further configured to, if it is determined that the compressor has not started, record the number of times the compressor has not started, obtaining a second number of times the compressor has not started; and return to control the compressor to start again and determine whether the compressor has started. The specific functions and processing of the control unit 104 are further described in step S540.

[0149] The control unit 104 is further configured to initiate a compressor failure message indicating that the compressor is faulty and cannot be started if the second number of compressor failures reaches a set number of failed startups, thereby protecting the control switch. The specific functions and processing of the control unit 104 are further described in step S550.

[0150] like Figure 10 As shown, the method for implementing the protection mode of the air conditioner compressor further includes:

[0151] In step 31 and step 2, if the motor's stable operating current is detected to be less than I0, it indicates that the compressor may have failed to start the first time due to a cylinder jam or other reasons. After a period of T (the detection time of the overcurrent protection value is consistent with the first detection time, generally T1 = 3 seconds to 5 seconds continuously exceeding the rated value, indicating overcurrent protection), try to run the compressor again. In this case, the compressor stops, and judging by the motor current, it is not caused by the input voltage of the entire machine being too low. The overcurrent protection time of T1 can be extended to avoid the user being unable to start the air conditioner due to a minor compressor cylinder jam.

[0152] The solution of the present invention indirectly determines whether the air conditioner is in a low voltage state by detecting the current of the air conditioner's DC motor. If the voltage is too low, and the user still needs air conditioning, the overcurrent protection value detection time is shortened, ensuring that the relay or AC contactor used to control the air conditioner compressor is not damaged, and then an attempt is made to start the air conditioner. If the air conditioner cannot be started, a fault code is reported, and the air conditioner can be tried again after the low voltage returns to normal. Because the overcurrent protection value judgment time is correspondingly shortened, damage to the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor can be avoided. In other words, damage to the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor due to excessive current, excessive power-on time, and excessive heating of the contacts can be avoided, which helps to extend the service life of the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor.

[0153] In some embodiments, the air conditioner control device according to the solution of the present invention further includes: executing a process of protecting the control switch when the compressor is started, specifically as follows:

[0154] The control unit 104 is further configured to, after determining that the compressor has started and controlling the air conditioner to operate normally according to a preset operating mode, perform overcurrent protection on the compressor based on a target value for the compressor's overcurrent protection detection time. The specific functions and processing of the control unit 104 are further described in step S610.

[0155] The control unit 104 is further configured to, if the compressor has not shut down due to overcurrent protection, continue to control the air conditioner to operate normally according to a preset operating mode, and continue to perform overcurrent protection on the compressor based on the target value of the compressor's overcurrent protection detection time. The specific functions and processing of the control unit 104 are further described in step S620.

[0156] The control unit 104 is further configured to determine a target operating current threshold of the motor according to the indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner if the compressor stops due to overcurrent protection. The specific functions and processing of the control unit 104 are also described in step S630.

[0157] The control unit 104 is further configured to determine whether the current of the motor is greater than or equal to the target operating current threshold of the motor. The specific functions and processing of the control unit 104 are also shown in step S640.

[0158] The control unit 104 is further configured to, if it is determined that the motor current is greater than or equal to the motor's target operating current threshold, reduce the target value of the compressor's overcurrent protection detection time to obtain an adjusted value for the compressor's overcurrent protection detection time; and then, based on the adjusted value of the compressor's overcurrent protection detection time and the target value of the compressor's overcurrent protection detection time, perform overcurrent protection on the compressor to protect the control switch. The specific functions and processing of the control unit 104 are further described in step S650.

[0159] The control unit 104 is further configured to, if it determines that the motor current is less than the motor's target operating current threshold, re-control the compressor to start after a set time and re-determine whether to start the compressor. The specific functions and processing of the control unit 104 are further described in step S660.

[0160] The control unit 104 is further configured to, upon re-determining that the compressor has been started, control the air conditioner to operate normally according to a preset operating mode, and to perform overcurrent protection on the compressor based on a target overcurrent protection detection time. The specific functions and processing of the control unit 104 are further described in step S670.

[0161] The control unit 104 is further configured to, if it is re-determined that the compressor has not started, initiate a fault message indicating that the air conditioner's pipes are clogged or the indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner is too high to start the compressor, thereby protecting the control switch. The specific functions and processing of the control unit 104 are further described in step S680.

[0162] After determining that the compressor has been started and controlling the air conditioner to operate normally according to the preset operating mode, during the normal operation of the air conditioner according to the preset operating mode, the compressor is protected against overcurrent according to the adjustment value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor.

[0163] like Figure 10 As shown, the method for implementing the protection mode of the air conditioner compressor further includes: Step 3: If the compressor starts normally, that is, if the air conditioner is turned on normally (the detection time of the overcurrent protection value of the entire machine is T1 (generally, it exceeds the rated value for 3 to 5 seconds continuously), such as due to dirt blockage, overload, low voltage, etc., the overcurrent protection is activated; by continuing to detect the motor current (whether the current exceeds I0), it can be determined whether the air conditioner cannot operate normally due to low voltage, that is, repeating steps 21 or 31. Generally, the compressor cannot start normally at 0.8 times the rated voltage, causing the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor to be damaged. I0 is generally 1.2 to 1.3 times the normal operating current of the motor. According to the formula power P = voltage U * current I, if U is 0.8 under the condition of unchanged speed, load, etc., the current is approximately 1.25 times the original motor (under rated voltage). The solution of the present invention can prevent the air conditioner compressor from being frequently and long-term started due to low voltage, which may cause damage to the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor.

[0164] In some embodiments, the air conditioner control device according to the solution of the present invention further includes: further including: executing a process of determining whether the motor is faulty, specifically as follows:

[0165] The acquisition unit 102 is further configured to acquire the rotation speed of the motor after the air conditioner is turned on and the compressor is started. The specific functions and processing of the acquisition unit 102 are also described in step S710.

[0166] The control unit 104 is further configured to determine whether the motor speed reaches the set motor speed before determining whether the compressor is started based on the entire current of the air conditioner. The specific functions and processing of the control unit 104 are also described in step S720.

[0167] The control unit 104 is further configured to determine that the motor is faulty if it is determined that the motor speed has not reached the set motor speed. Specific functions and processing of the control unit 104 are also described in step S730.

[0168] The control unit 104 is further configured to determine that the motor is not faulty if the motor speed reaches the set motor speed; and then determine whether the compressor is started based on the air conditioner's total current. The specific functions and processing of the control unit 104 are further described in step S740.

[0169] In some embodiments, before step 2, motor speed detection can be added to more accurately determine whether the power supply is low. Speed detection is intended to prevent the DC motor from being damaged due to a fault, resulting in a reduced speed (failure to reach the set speed of the air conditioner), thereby affecting the motor's current I (if the motor does not reach the set speed, the motor input current will be less than the actual current). This is only to rule out whether the motor is faulty. If the motor is faulty, it will affect the program's judgment of low power supply voltage.

[0170] In the scheme of the present invention, the protection mode of the compressor is specifically as follows: based on the magnitude of the DC current, it is determined whether the voltage of the entire machine has reached the critical voltage of the fixed-frequency compressor; before starting the compressor, the magnitude of the motor current is detected to determine whether the power supply voltage is low voltage; when a similar low voltage is detected, the judgment time of the overcurrent protection value is shortened accordingly to avoid damage to the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor. That is, the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor is prevented from being damaged by excessive current, excessive power-on time, and excessive heating of the contacts, thereby extending the service life of the relay or AC contactor used to control the compressor. The scheme of the present invention determines the voltage of the entire machine by detecting the current of the motor; while the related scheme determines the voltage of the entire machine by detecting the duty cycle of the motor, the scheme is more complex and difficult to implement.

[0171] Since the processing and functions implemented by the device of this embodiment basically correspond to the embodiments, principles and examples of the aforementioned method, for any details not fully described in this embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions in the aforementioned embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0172] According to an embodiment of the present invention, an air conditioner corresponding to the air conditioner control device is also provided. The air conditioner may include: the air conditioner control device described above.

[0173] Since the processing and functions implemented by the air conditioner of this embodiment basically correspond to the embodiments, principles and examples of the aforementioned devices, for any details not fully described in this embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions in the aforementioned embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0174] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a computer program product corresponding to the air conditioner control method is also provided, including a computer program. When the computer program is executed by a processor, the steps of the air conditioner control method described above are implemented.

[0175] Since the processing and functions implemented by the product of this embodiment basically correspond to the embodiments, principles and examples of the aforementioned method, for any details not fully described in this embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions in the aforementioned embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0176] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a storage medium corresponding to the air conditioner control method is also provided, wherein the storage medium includes a stored program, wherein when the program is running, the device where the storage medium is located is controlled to execute the steps of the air conditioner control method described above.

[0177] Since the processing and functions implemented by the storage medium of this embodiment basically correspond to the embodiments, principles and examples of the aforementioned method, for any details not fully described in this embodiment, please refer to the relevant descriptions in the aforementioned embodiments and will not be repeated here.

[0178] In summary, it is easy for those skilled in the art to understand that, under the premise of no conflict, the above-mentioned advantageous methods can be freely combined and superimposed.

[0179] The foregoing description is merely an embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that various modifications and variations of the present invention are possible. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, or improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention are intended to be within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an air conditioner, characterized in that: The air conditioner comprises an outdoor unit and an indoor unit, wherein the outdoor unit comprises a compressor, the indoor unit comprises an indoor fan, and the indoor fan comprises a motor; and the compressor comprises a control switch; The air conditioner control method includes: After the air conditioner is turned on, controlling the compressor to start; Obtaining the entire current of the air conditioner, obtaining the current of the motor, and obtaining the indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner; determining whether the compressor is started according to the entire current of the air conditioner; If it is determined that the compressor is not started, adjusting the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor according to the indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner and the current of the motor to protect the control switch; If it is determined that the compressor has been started, the air conditioner is controlled to operate normally according to a preset operation mode.

2. The air conditioner control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: Determining whether the compressor is started according to the entire current of the air conditioner includes: Determining whether the entire current of the air conditioner is greater than an entire operating current threshold of the air conditioner; If it is determined that the entire air conditioner current is greater than the entire air conditioner operating current threshold, then it is determined that the compressor has started; If it is determined that the entire air conditioner current is not greater than the entire air conditioner operating current threshold, it is determined that the compressor is not started.

3. The air conditioner control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: Adjusting the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor according to the indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner and the current of the motor to protect the control switch includes: determining a target operating current threshold of the motor according to an indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner; determining whether the current of the motor is greater than or equal to a target operating current threshold of the motor; If it is determined that the current of the motor is greater than or equal to the target operating current threshold of the motor, reducing the target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor to obtain an adjusted value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor; In combination with the adjustment value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor and the target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor, overcurrent protection is performed on the compressor to protect the control switch.

4. The air conditioner control method according to claim 3, characterized in that: Performing overcurrent protection on the compressor to protect the control switch based on the adjustment value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor and the target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor, including: After a set time, re-controlling the compressor to start, and re-determining whether the compressor is started; If it is determined again that the compressor has been started, the air conditioner is controlled to operate normally according to a preset operating mode; the adjustment value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor is restored to the target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor; and the compressor is overcurrent protected according to the target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor; If it is determined again that the compressor has not started, the number of times the compressor has not started is recorded to obtain a first number of times the compressor has not started; and the process returns to control the compressor to start again after a set time, and to re-determine whether the compressor is started; wherein, before the set time, the compressor is protected against overcurrent according to the adjustment value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor to protect the control switch; This cycle is repeated until the first number of times the compressor fails to start reaches the set number of startup failures, and a fault message is issued indicating that the voltage of the air conditioner is too low to start the compressor, so as to protect the control switch.

5. The air conditioner control method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that: According to the indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner and the current of the motor, the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor is adjusted to protect the control switch, and further comprising: If it is determined that the current of the motor is less than the target operating current threshold of the motor, then after a set time, the compressor is controlled to start again, and whether the compressor is started is re-determined; If it is determined again that the compressor has been started, the air conditioner is controlled to operate normally according to a preset operation mode; and the compressor is protected against overcurrent according to a target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor; If it is determined again that the compressor has not started, the number of times the compressor has not started is recorded to obtain a second number of times the compressor has not started; and the process returns to control the compressor to start again after a set time, and to re-determine whether the compressor is started; wherein, before the set time, overcurrent protection is performed on the compressor according to a target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor to protect the control switch; This cycle continues until the second number of times the compressor fails to start reaches the set number of startup failures, and a fault message indicating that the air conditioner's entire voltage is too low to start the compressor is generated to protect the control switch.

6. The air conditioner control method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: Also includes: After determining that the compressor has been started and controlling the air conditioner to operate normally according to a preset operation mode, performing overcurrent protection on the compressor according to a target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor; If the compressor is not shut down due to overcurrent protection, the air conditioner is continued to be controlled to operate normally according to the preset operation mode; and the compressor is continued to be protected against overcurrent according to the target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor; If the compressor stops due to overcurrent protection, determining a target operating current threshold of the motor according to the indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner; determining whether the current of the motor is greater than or equal to a target operating current threshold of the motor; If it is determined that the current of the motor is greater than or equal to the target operating current threshold of the motor, reducing the target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor to obtain an adjusted value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor; Then, combining the adjustment value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor and the target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor, overcurrent protection is performed on the compressor to protect the control switch; If it is determined that the current of the motor is less than the target operating current threshold of the motor, then after a set time, the compressor is controlled to start again, and whether the compressor is started is re-determined; If it is determined again that the compressor has been started, controlling the air conditioner to operate normally according to a preset operating mode; and performing overcurrent protection on the compressor according to a target value of the overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor; If it is determined again that the compressor is not started, a fault message is generated indicating that a pipeline of the air conditioner is dirty or blocked or the indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner is too high to start the compressor, so as to protect the control switch; and / or, After the air conditioner is turned on and the compressor is controlled to start, the speed of the motor is also obtained; Determining whether the rotational speed of the motor reaches a set rotational speed of the motor; If it is determined that the rotation speed of the motor does not reach the set rotation speed of the motor, it is determined that the motor is faulty; If it is determined that the rotation speed of the motor reaches the set rotation speed of the motor, it is determined that the motor is not faulty; thereafter, it is determined whether the compressor is started according to the entire current of the air conditioner.

7. A control device for an air conditioner, characterized in that: The air conditioner comprises an outdoor unit and an indoor unit, wherein the outdoor unit comprises a compressor, the indoor unit comprises an indoor fan, and the indoor fan comprises a motor; the compressor comprises a control switch; and the control device of the air conditioner comprises: an acquisition unit configured to control the compressor to start after the air conditioner is turned on; obtain the entire current of the air conditioner, obtain the current of the motor, and obtain the indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner; a control unit configured to determine whether the compressor is started according to the entire current of the air conditioner; The control unit is further configured to adjust an overcurrent protection detection time of the compressor according to an indoor ambient temperature of the air conditioner and a current of the motor to protect the control switch if it is determined that the compressor is not started; The control unit is further configured to control the air conditioner to operate normally according to a preset operating mode if it is determined that the compressor has been started.

8. An air conditioner, characterized in that: include: The air conditioner control device according to claim 7.

9. A storage medium, characterized in that: The storage medium includes a stored program, wherein when the program is executed, the device where the storage medium is located is controlled to execute the air conditioner control method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

10. A computer program product comprising a computer program, characterized in that When the computer program is executed by a processor, the steps of the air conditioner control method according to any one of claims 1 to 6 are implemented.

Images