Air conditioner and control method thereof

Abstract

The application provides an air conditioner and a control method thereof. The air conditioner comprises a refrigerant circulation loop, a refrigeration system, an outdoor heat exchanger, an indoor heat exchanger, an input voltage detection unit and a controller. The input voltage detection unit is used for detecting an input voltage provided by an external power supply to the air conditioner. The controller is configured to acquire the input voltage and a running frequency of a compressor, determine the type of the external power supply according to the input voltage, or determine the type of the external power supply according to the input voltage and the running frequency of the compressor, and control the running state of the compressor according to the type of the external power supply. The application can determine the type of the external power supply according to the input voltage and the running frequency of the compressor, does not need to install an external detection device, and thus solves the problems of high cost, complex installation and poor appearance caused by the external detection device, and improves the experience of users.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of air conditioning technology, and in particular to an air conditioner and its control method. Background Technology

[0002] Air conditioners are widely used electrical appliances in people's lives, playing a vital role in regulating indoor temperature and providing users with a healthy and comfortable indoor environment to meet normal work, life, and study needs. Currently, in war-torn, remote, or economically underdeveloped areas, power outages are common due to unstable power supply from the national grid. In such situations, diesel generators have become an important alternative energy source. However, the power supply capacity of diesel generators is limited. Air conditioners, being high electricity consumers, require capacity limitations, restricting their maximum operating current to ensure the normal operation of other electrical appliances in the household.

[0003] In existing technologies, the common practice for detecting whether an air conditioner needs to enter current-limiting mode is to install a voltage detection device in the power grid socket. When the power grid is supplying power normally, the voltage detection device detects the voltage and sends a signal to the air conditioning unit, causing it to operate in normal mode. When the power is supplied by a diesel generator, since the socket is only connected to the power grid, the voltage detection device does not work. If the air conditioning unit does not receive a signal within a certain period of time, it is determined that it is powered by diesel, and the air conditioning unit operates in current-limiting mode. However, this detection device needs to be placed externally on the air conditioning unit, which is costly, complicated to install, and affects the aesthetics of the user's home. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention aims to solve at least one of the technical problems existing in the prior art.

[0005] Therefore, one objective of this invention is to provide an air conditioner that can determine the type of external power supply based on the input voltage and the operating frequency of the compressor, without the need for external detection equipment. This solves the problems of high cost, complex installation, and poor aesthetics associated with external detection equipment, and improves the user experience.

[0006] Therefore, a second objective of this invention is to provide a control method for an air conditioner.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, a first aspect of the present invention provides an air conditioner comprising: a refrigerant circulation loop, wherein the refrigerant circulates in a loop consisting of a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, an evaporator, and a four-way valve; a refrigeration system, wherein heat exchange between the refrigerant and air is performed in a compression refrigeration cycle of the refrigerant circulation loop, the refrigeration system including the compressor, the compressor being used to compress low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant gas into high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas and discharge it to the condenser; an outdoor heat exchanger and an indoor heat exchanger, wherein one functions as the condenser and the other as the evaporator; an input voltage detection unit, used to detect the input voltage supplied to the air conditioner by an external power source; and a controller connected to the input voltage detection unit and the compressor, the controller being configured to: acquire the input voltage and the operating frequency of the compressor, and determine the type of the external power source based on the input voltage, or determine the type of the external power source based on the input voltage and the operating frequency of the compressor, and control the operating state of the compressor based on the type of the external power source.

[0008] According to the air conditioner of the present invention, after the air conditioner is turned on, the current input voltage and the operating frequency of the compressor can be obtained, and the type of external power supply can be determined so as to control the operating state of the compressor according to the type of external power supply. There is no need to install external detection equipment, thereby solving the problems of high cost, complicated installation and poor aesthetics caused by external detection equipment, and improving the user experience.

[0009] In some embodiments, when controlling the operating state of the air conditioner according to the type of the external power source, the controller is configured to: control the compressor to operate at a calibrated rated current when the external power source is the power grid; and control the compressor to reduce its frequency to limit current when the external power source is a generator, so that the compressor operates at a current lower than the rated current.

[0010] In some embodiments, when determining the type of the external power source based on the input voltage, the controller is configured to determine that the external power source is a generator when the input voltage does not reach a first preset voltage.

[0011] In some embodiments, when determining the type of the external power supply based on the input voltage and the operating frequency of the compressor, the controller is configured to: when the input voltage is between a first preset voltage and a second preset voltage, and the duration exceeds a set time threshold, control the compressor to perform a first frequency adjustment action or a second frequency adjustment action, and determine the type of the external power supply based on the change in the input voltage during the execution of the first frequency adjustment action or the second frequency adjustment action; wherein, the first frequency adjustment action includes: controlling the operating frequency of the compressor to rise to a first operating frequency, and then reducing the frequency from the first operating frequency to a second operating frequency at a preset frequency adjustment rate, wherein the first operating frequency is greater than the current operating frequency, the current operating frequency is greater than the second operating frequency, and the first preset voltage is less than the second preset voltage; the second frequency adjustment action includes: controlling the operating frequency of the compressor to drop to the second operating frequency, and then increasing the frequency from the second operating frequency to the first operating frequency at the preset frequency adjustment rate.

[0012] In some embodiments, when determining the type of the external power source based on the change in the input voltage during the execution of the first frequency adjustment action or the execution of the second frequency adjustment action, the controller is configured to: when executing the first frequency adjustment action, if the increase in the input voltage reaches a first preset value during the process of downscaling from the first operating frequency to the second operating frequency at a preset frequency modulation rate, then determine that the external power source is a generator; or, when executing the second frequency adjustment action, if the decrease in the input voltage reaches a second preset value during the process of upscaling from the second operating frequency to the first operating frequency at a preset frequency modulation rate, then determine that the external power source is a generator, wherein the second preset value is greater than the first preset value.

[0013] In some embodiments, a zero-crossing detection circuit is used to detect the zero-crossing pulse signal of the external power supply and obtain the interval time between adjacent zero-crossing pulse signals; the controller is connected to the zero-crossing detection circuit, and when determining the type of the external power supply based on the input voltage and the operating frequency of the compressor, the controller is configured to: when the input voltage reaches a third preset voltage, obtain the time interval and determine the type of the external power supply based on the time interval.

[0014] In some embodiments, when the controller determines the type of the external power source based on the time interval, it is configured to: determine that the external power source is a power grid when the time interval is between a first preset time and a second preset time, wherein the first preset time is less than the second preset time; and determine that the external power source is a generator when the time interval is less than a third preset time or greater than a fourth preset time, wherein the third preset time is less than the first preset time and the fourth preset time is greater than the second preset time.

[0015] In some embodiments, when the controller determines the type of the external power source based on the time interval, it is further configured to: determine whether the frequency of the time interval anomaly occurring within a time period reaches a preset frequency; if so, determine that the external power source is a generator; otherwise, control the compressor to perform a first frequency adjustment action or a second frequency adjustment action. The first frequency adjustment action includes: controlling the compressor's operating frequency to rise to a first operating frequency, and then reducing the frequency from the first operating frequency to a second operating frequency at a preset frequency adjustment rate, wherein the first operating frequency is greater than the current operating frequency, and the current operating frequency is greater than the second operating frequency; the second frequency adjustment action includes: controlling... After the compressor's operating frequency is reduced to the second operating frequency, it is then increased back to the first operating frequency at the preset frequency adjustment rate. During the first frequency adjustment operation, if the increase in the input voltage reaches a first preset value during the process of reducing the frequency from the first operating frequency to the second operating frequency at the preset frequency adjustment rate, the external power source is determined to be a generator. Alternatively, during the second frequency adjustment operation, if the decrease in the input voltage reaches a second preset value during the process of increasing the frequency from the second operating frequency to the first operating frequency at the preset frequency adjustment rate, the external power source is determined to be a generator, wherein the second preset value is greater than the first preset value.

[0016] In some embodiments, the controller is configured to determine that the time interval is abnormal when it is detected that the time interval is between the third preset time and the first preset time, or between the second preset time and the fourth preset time.

[0017] To achieve the above objectives, a second aspect of the present invention provides a control method for an air conditioner, the method comprising the following steps: acquiring the input voltage provided to the air conditioner by an external power source and the operating frequency of the compressor; determining the type of the external power source based on the input voltage, or determining the type of the external power source based on the input voltage and the operating frequency of the compressor; and controlling the operating state of the compressor based on the type of the external power source.

[0018] According to the air conditioner control method of the present invention, after the air conditioner is turned on, the current input voltage and the operating frequency of the compressor can be obtained, and then the type of external power supply can be determined so as to control the operating state of the compressor according to the type of external power supply. There is no need to install external detection equipment, thereby solving the problems of high cost, complicated installation and poor aesthetics caused by external detection equipment, and improving the user experience.

[0019] Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0020] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and readily understood from the description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the refrigeration cycle system of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the controller according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating the process of controlling the operating state of an air conditioner according to the type of external power supply, based on an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating the determination of the type of external power supply based on the input voltage and the operating frequency of the compressor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating the determination of the type of external power source based on a time interval according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the overall control flow of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 8 This is a flowchart of a control method for an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0029] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0030] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this invention.

[0031] The terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this invention, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0032] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0033] As shown in Figure 1, in this invention, the air conditioner 1 performs a refrigeration cycle by using a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, an evaporator, and a four-way valve. The refrigeration cycle includes a series of processes involving compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation, and supplies refrigerant to the conditioned and heat-exchanged air.

[0034] The compressor compresses the refrigerant gas, which is in a high-temperature, high-pressure state and enters through the return pipe, and then discharges the compressed refrigerant gas through the exhaust pipe. The discharged refrigerant gas flows into the condenser through the condenser inlet pipe. The condenser condenses the compressed refrigerant into a liquid phase, and the heat is released to the surrounding environment through the condensation process.

[0035] The expansion valve expands the high-temperature, high-pressure liquid refrigerant, which condenses in the condenser and is discharged through the condenser outlet pipe, into a low-pressure liquid refrigerant. The evaporator evaporates the refrigerant that has expanded in the expansion valve, returning the low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant gas to the compressor. The evaporator achieves a cooling effect by utilizing the latent heat of refrigerant evaporation to exchange heat with the material being cooled. Throughout the cycle, air conditioner 1 regulates the temperature of the indoor space.

[0036] In the embodiments shown in this application, the air conditioner 1 may include a controller 71. The controller 71 is a device that can generate operation control signals according to instruction operation codes and timing signals to instruct the air conditioner 1 to execute control commands. For example, in response to a power-on or power-off command issued by a user, the controller 71 can perform an operation related to the object selected by the power-on or power-off command.

[0037] This application embodiment also provides a hardware structure diagram of the controller 71, such as... Figure 2 As shown, the controller 71 includes a processor 83, and optionally, a memory 82 and a communication interface 84 connected to the processor 83. The processor 83, memory 82, and communication interface 84 are connected via a bus 81.

[0038] Processor 83 can be a central processing unit (CPU), a general-purpose processor (NP), a network processor (NP), a digital signal processor (DSP), a microprocessor (Microcontroller), a programmable logic device (PLD), or any combination thereof. Processor 83 can also be any other device with processing capabilities, such as a circuit, device, or software module. Processor 83 can also include multiple CPUs, and processor 83 can be a single-core processor 83 or a multi-core processor 83. Here, processor 83 can refer to one or more devices, circuits, or processing cores used to process data (e.g., computer program instructions).

[0039] The memory 82 can be a read-only memory (ROM) or other type of static storage device capable of storing static information and instructions, a random access memory (RAM) or other type of dynamic storage device capable of storing information and instructions, or an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD ROM) or other optical disc storage, optical disc storage (including compressed optical discs, laser discs, optical discs, digital universal optical discs, Blu-ray discs, etc.), a magnetic disk storage medium or other magnetic storage device, or any other medium capable of carrying or storing desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and accessible by a computer. This application embodiment does not impose any limitations on this. The memory 82 can exist independently or be integrated with the processor 83. The memory 82 may contain computer program code. The processor 83 is used to execute the computer program code stored in the memory 82, thereby implementing the control method of the air conditioner 1 provided in this application embodiment.

[0040] The communication interface 84 can be used to communicate with other devices or communication networks (such as Ethernet, radio access network (RAN), wireless local area networks (WLAN), etc.). The communication interface 84 can be a module, circuit, transceiver, or any device capable of communication.

[0041] Bus 81 can be a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus 81 or an extended industry standard architecture (EISA) bus 81, etc. Bus 81 can be divided into address bus 81, data bus 81, control bus 81, etc.

[0042] The following is combined Figures 3-8 An air conditioner 1 and its control method according to an embodiment of the present invention are described.

[0043] In some embodiments, such as Figure 3 As shown, the air conditioner 1 includes a refrigerant circulation loop 10, which allows the refrigerant to circulate in a loop consisting of a compressor, condenser, expansion valve, evaporator and four-way valve.

[0044] In some embodiments, such as Figure 3As shown, the air conditioner 1 may include: a refrigeration system 20, which performs heat exchange between refrigerant and air in a compression refrigeration cycle of the refrigerant circulation loop 10. The refrigeration system 20 includes a compressor, which is used to compress low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant gas into high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas and discharge it to the condenser.

[0045] In some embodiments, such as Figure 3 As shown, the air conditioner 1 may include an outdoor heat exchanger 30 and an indoor heat exchanger 40, wherein one functions as a condenser and the other functions as an evaporator.

[0046] In some embodiments, such as Figure 3 As shown, the air conditioner 1 may include an input voltage detection unit 50, used to detect the input voltage supplied to the air conditioner 1 by an external power source.

[0047] In some embodiments, such as Figure 3 As shown, the air conditioner 1 may include: a controller 71 connected to the input voltage detection unit 50 and the compressor. The controller 71 is configured to: acquire the input voltage and the operating frequency of the compressor, and determine the type of external power supply based on the input voltage; or, determine the type of external power supply based on the input voltage and the operating frequency of the compressor, and control the operating state of the compressor based on the type of external power supply.

[0048] Specifically, the controller 71 is connected to the input voltage detection unit 50 and the compressor. During the operation of the air conditioner 1, it can acquire the current input voltage of the external power supply and the operating frequency of the compressor in real time through corresponding sensors. Furthermore, the controller 71 can determine the type of external power supply based solely on the acquired input voltage information. For example, it can combine a preset threshold to determine the type of external power supply when the input voltage is greater than or less than the preset threshold. Alternatively, it can combine the input voltage and the operating frequency of the compressor to determine the type of external power supply. For example, when the input voltage fluctuates within a certain range, it can determine the type based on the change in the current operating frequency of the compressor and the range it falls within. After determining the type of external power supply, it can take corresponding strategies to adjust the operating state of the compressor, including but not limited to limiting the maximum current or operating frequency of the compressor, to adapt to different power supply environments and needs, thereby ensuring that the air conditioner 1 operates stably without affecting the operation of other electrical appliances.

[0049] According to the embodiment of the present invention, after the air conditioner 1 is turned on, the current input voltage and the operating frequency of the compressor can be obtained, and the type of external power supply can be determined so as to control the operating state of the compressor according to the type of external power supply. There is no need to install external detection equipment, thereby solving the problems of high cost, complicated installation and poor aesthetics caused by external detection equipment, and improving the user experience.

[0050] In one embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 4 As shown, when controlling the operating state of the air conditioner 1 according to the type of external power supply, the controller 71 is configured to: control the compressor to operate at the rated current when the external power supply is the grid; and control the compressor to reduce the frequency to limit the current when the external power supply is the generator, so that the compressor operates at a current lower than the rated current.

[0051] Specifically, when controlling the operating status of air conditioner 1 according to the type of external power source, if the external power source is the power grid, that is, the current external power source can provide continuous and stable power support for air conditioner 1 to ensure the normal operation of air conditioner 1, then controller 71 can control the compressor to operate at the rated current, that is, according to the design specifications of the compressor, make it operate at the rated current and frequency to achieve the best cooling or heating effect.

[0052] If the external power source is a generator, and the current external power source has problems such as large voltage fluctuations and limited capacity, the controller 71 can control the compressor to reduce its operating frequency to limit the current, that is, reduce the power output of the compressor and reduce its current consumption, so that the compressor operates at a current lower than the rated current, avoiding excessive burden on the generator, which could lead to generator overload or even damage.

[0053] In one embodiment of the present invention, when determining the type of external power source based on the input voltage, the controller 71 is configured to determine that the external power source is a generator when the input voltage does not reach a first preset voltage.

[0054] Specifically, when determining the type of external power source based on the input voltage, if the input voltage does not reach the first preset voltage, it indicates that the input voltage provided by the current external power source is low and below the normal input voltage standard, and thus the external power source can be identified as a generator. It is understandable that because generators have limited power supply capacity and are greatly affected by load changes, when air conditioner 1 is connected, the generator's output voltage will decrease, preventing it from reaching the first preset voltage, thereby confirming that the external power source is a generator.

[0055] In one embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 5As shown, when determining the type of external power supply based on the input voltage and the compressor's operating frequency, the controller 71 is configured to: control the compressor to perform a first frequency adjustment action or a second frequency adjustment action when the input voltage is between a first preset voltage and a second preset voltage and the duration exceeds a set time threshold, and determine the type of external power supply based on the change in input voltage during the execution of the first frequency adjustment action or the execution of the second frequency adjustment action.

[0056] The first frequency adjustment action includes: controlling the compressor's operating frequency to rise to a first operating frequency, and then reducing the frequency from the first operating frequency to a second operating frequency at a preset frequency adjustment rate, wherein the first operating frequency is greater than the current operating frequency, the current operating frequency is greater than the second operating frequency, and the first preset voltage is less than the second preset voltage.

[0057] The second frequency adjustment action includes: controlling the compressor's operating frequency to drop to the second operating frequency, and then increasing the frequency from the second operating frequency to the first operating frequency at a preset frequency adjustment rate.

[0058] Specifically, when determining the type of external power source based on the input voltage and the compressor's operating frequency, if the input voltage is within the normal voltage fluctuation range that may occur when powered by the grid or generator, i.e., when the input voltage is between the first preset voltage and the second preset voltage, and the duration exceeds a preset time threshold, the compressor's operating frequency can be further adjusted to observe the response of the input voltage, thereby determining the type of external power source.

[0059] Specifically, the compressor can be controlled to perform a first frequency adjustment action or a second frequency adjustment action, and the type of external power supply can be determined based on the changes in the input voltage during the execution of the first or second frequency adjustment action. The first frequency adjustment action involves raising the compressor's operating frequency to a higher frequency, i.e., a first operating frequency, and then gradually decreasing it to a second operating frequency at a preset frequency adjustment rate. The second frequency adjustment action involves first lowering the compressor's operating frequency to the second operating frequency, and then gradually raising it back to the first operating frequency at a preset frequency adjustment rate.

[0060] In a specific embodiment, the first preset voltage, the second preset voltage, the time threshold, the first operating frequency, the second frequency, and the frequency modulation rate can all be preset according to the actual situation and experimental data. The first preset voltage can be 200V, the second preset voltage can be 215V, the time threshold can be 100ms, the first operating frequency can be the highest frequency that the compressor can reach, the second operating frequency can be the lowest frequency that the compressor can reach, and the frequency modulation rate can be 2Hz / s.

[0061] In one embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 5 As shown, when determining the type of external power source based on the change in input voltage during the execution of the first frequency adjustment action or the second frequency adjustment action, the controller 71 is configured to: when executing the first frequency adjustment action, if the increase in input voltage exceeds a first preset value during the process of reducing the frequency from the first operating frequency to the second operating frequency at a preset frequency adjustment rate, then determine that the external power source is a generator.

[0062] Alternatively, when performing the second frequency adjustment action, if the input voltage drop exceeds the second preset value during the process of increasing the frequency from the second operating frequency to the first operating frequency at a preset frequency adjustment rate, the external power source is determined to be a generator, wherein the second preset value is greater than the first preset value.

[0063] Specifically, when determining the type of external power source based on the changes in input voltage during the execution of the first or second frequency adjustment action, the determination can be made based on the stability of the grid power supply and the instability of the generator power supply. That is, when the external power source is the grid, the input voltage should be able to change stably with the adjustment of the compressor frequency without significant fluctuations. However, when the external power source is the generator, the input voltage may change significantly with the adjustment of the compressor frequency.

[0064] Specifically, when performing the first frequency adjustment action, if the compressor reduces its frequency from the first operating frequency to the second operating frequency at a preset frequency adjustment rate, and the controller 71 detects that the increase in input voltage exceeds the first preset value, it indicates that the external power supply has a relatively weak ability to regulate output voltage when the compressor's operating frequency decreases, resulting in abnormal fluctuations in output voltage. It can be determined that the external power supply is a generator.

[0065] Similarly, during the second frequency adjustment, if the compressor increases its frequency from the second operating frequency to the first operating frequency at a preset adjustment rate, and the controller 71 detects that the increase in input voltage exceeds the second preset value, it indicates that the external power supply's ability to regulate output voltage is relatively weak as the compressor's operating frequency increases, leading to abnormal fluctuations in output voltage. This suggests that the external power supply is a generator. The second preset value is greater than the first preset value, meaning that the increase in output voltage from the external power supply is more significant as the compressor's operating frequency increases.

[0066] In a specific embodiment, both the first preset value and the second preset value can be preset according to the actual situation and experimental data. The first preset value can be 3V and the second preset value can be 5V.

[0067] In one embodiment of the present invention, the air conditioner 1 may include a zero-crossing detection circuit. The zero-crossing detection circuit is used to detect the zero-crossing pulse signal of the external power supply and obtain the time interval between adjacent zero-crossing pulse signals. The controller 71 is connected to the zero-crossing detection circuit and, when determining the type of external power supply based on the input voltage and the compressor's operating frequency, such as... Figure 6 As shown, the controller 71 is configured to: when the input voltage reaches a third preset voltage, acquire a time interval and determine the type of external power supply based on the time interval.

[0068] Specifically, the air conditioner 1 includes a zero-crossing detection circuit. When the AC waveform generated by the external power supply changes from the positive half-cycle to the negative half-cycle or from the negative half-cycle to the positive half-cycle and passes through the zero position, the zero-crossing detection circuit can detect and generate the corresponding zero-crossing pulse signal, and obtain the time interval between two adjacent zero-crossing pulse signals.

[0069] Furthermore, the controller 71 is connected to the zero-crossing detection circuit and can receive the time interval data acquired by the zero-crossing detection circuit in real time. Therefore, when determining the type of external power supply based on the input voltage and the compressor's operating frequency, if the input voltage reaches the third preset voltage, the type of external power supply can be determined based on the time interval.

[0070] In one embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 6 As shown, when the controller 71 determines the type of external power source based on the time interval, it is configured to: determine that the external power source is the power grid when the time interval is between a first preset time and a second preset time, wherein the first preset time is less than the second preset time; and determine that the external power source is a generator when the time interval is less than a third preset time or greater than a fourth preset time, wherein the third preset time is less than the first preset time and the fourth preset time is greater than the second preset time.

[0071] Specifically, when the controller 71 determines the type of external power source based on the time interval, if the time interval is between the first preset time and the second preset time, it means that within the current time range, the fluctuation of the external power source frequency does not exceed the standard power grid frequency fluctuation range, such as ±1Hz. That is, the external power source frequency corresponds to the standard power grid frequency, such as 49HZ~51HZ. At this time, the external power source can be determined to be the power grid.

[0072] If the time interval is less than the third preset time or greater than the fourth preset time, it means that within the current time range, the fluctuation of the external power supply frequency exceeds the standard grid frequency fluctuation range, such as ±5Hz. That is, the external power supply frequency does not conform to the standard grid frequency, such as the external power supply frequency being less than 45Hz or greater than 55Hz. In this case, the external power supply can be determined to be a generator.

[0073] In a specific embodiment, the first preset time, the second preset time, the third preset time, and the fourth preset time can all be preset according to the actual situation and experimental data. The first preset time can be 9.8ms, the second preset time can be 10.2ms, the third preset time can be 9.1ms, and the fourth preset time can be 11.1ms.

[0074] In one embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 6 As shown, when the controller 71 determines the type of external power source based on the time interval, it is also configured to: determine whether the frequency of time interval anomalies within a time period exceeds a preset frequency; if so, determine that the external power source is a generator; otherwise, control the compressor to perform a first frequency adjustment action or a second frequency adjustment action.

[0075] The first frequency adjustment action includes: controlling the compressor's operating frequency to rise to a first operating frequency, and then reducing the frequency from the first operating frequency to a second operating frequency at a preset frequency adjustment rate, wherein the first operating frequency is greater than the current operating frequency, and the current operating frequency is greater than the second operating frequency.

[0076] The second frequency adjustment action includes: controlling the compressor's operating frequency to drop to a second operating frequency, and then increasing the frequency from the second operating frequency to the first operating frequency at a preset frequency adjustment rate; when performing the first frequency adjustment action, if the increase in input voltage exceeds a first preset value during the process of reducing the frequency from the first operating frequency to the second operating frequency at a preset frequency adjustment rate, then the external power source is determined to be a generator.

[0077] Alternatively, when performing the second frequency adjustment action, if the input voltage drop exceeds the second preset value during the process of increasing the frequency from the second operating frequency to the first operating frequency at a preset frequency adjustment rate, the external power source is determined to be a generator, wherein the second preset value is greater than the first preset value.

[0078] Specifically, when the controller 71 determines the type of external power source based on the time interval, it can determine the type of external power source by comparing the frequency of time interval anomalies within a time period with the preset frequency. If the frequency of time interval anomalies within a time period exceeds the preset frequency, it indicates that the frequency of the external power source is not stable within the current period, and the external power source is determined to be a generator.

[0079] If the frequency of abnormal time intervals within a time period does not exceed the preset frequency, the controller 71 further observes the changes in input voltage by controlling the operating frequency of the compressor to make a more precise judgment. Specifically, it can control the compressor to perform a first frequency adjustment action or a second frequency adjustment action. When performing the first frequency adjustment action, if the controller 71 detects that the increase in input voltage exceeds the first preset value during the process of the compressor reducing its frequency from the first operating frequency to the second operating frequency at a preset frequency adjustment rate, it indicates that the external power supply has a relatively weak ability to regulate the output voltage when the operating frequency of the compressor decreases, resulting in abnormal fluctuations in the output voltage. It can be determined that the external power supply is a generator.

[0080] Similarly, during the second frequency adjustment, if the compressor increases its frequency from the second operating frequency to the first operating frequency at a preset adjustment rate, and the controller 71 detects that the increase in input voltage exceeds the second preset value, it indicates that the external power supply's ability to regulate output voltage is relatively weak as the compressor's operating frequency increases, leading to abnormal fluctuations in output voltage. This suggests that the external power supply is a generator. The second preset value is greater than the first preset value, meaning that the increase in output voltage from the external power supply is more significant as the compressor's operating frequency increases.

[0081] In one embodiment of the present invention, such as Figure 6 As shown, when the time interval is detected to be between the third preset time and the first preset time, or between the second preset time and the fourth preset time, the time interval is determined to be abnormal.

[0082] Specifically, when a time interval is detected to be between the third preset time and the first preset time, meaning that the time interval occurring within the current time period does not conform to the time range of power grid frequency fluctuations, or when a time interval is detected to be between the second preset time and the fourth preset time, meaning that the time interval occurring within the current time period does not conform to the time range of engine frequency fluctuations, it is determined to be an abnormal time interval.

[0083] As a specific embodiment, the following is combined with Figure 7 The overall control flow of the air conditioner 1 in this embodiment of the invention will be illustrated by an example.

[0084] In this embodiment, as Figure 7 As shown, the overall control process of air conditioner 1 includes the following steps:

[0085] After the air conditioner is turned on, check the input voltage of the air conditioner.

[0086] Determine whether the input voltage has not reached the first preset voltage. If so, determine that the external power source is a generator; otherwise, determine whether the input voltage is between the first preset voltage and the second preset voltage.

[0087] If it is determined that the input voltage is between the first preset voltage and the second preset voltage, and the duration exceeds the set time threshold, then the compressor's operating frequency is controlled to rise to the first operating frequency, and then reduced from the first operating frequency to the second operating frequency at a preset frequency adjustment rate, or the compressor's operating frequency is controlled to drop to the second operating frequency, and then increased from the second operating frequency to the first operating frequency at a preset frequency adjustment rate.

[0088] During the process of reducing the frequency from the first operating frequency to the second operating frequency at a preset frequency modulation rate, when the increase in input voltage reaches the first preset value, or during the process of increasing the frequency from the second operating frequency to the first operating frequency at a preset frequency modulation rate, when the decrease in input voltage reaches the second preset value, the external power source is determined to be a generator.

[0089] If it is determined that the input voltage is not between the first preset voltage and the second preset voltage, or if it is determined that the input voltage is between the first preset voltage and the second preset voltage, but the duration does not exceed the set time threshold, then when the input voltage reaches the third preset voltage, the time interval between adjacent zero-crossing pulse signals is obtained.

[0090] When the time interval is between the third preset time and the first preset time, or between the second preset time and the fourth preset time, the time interval is determined to be abnormal.

[0091] Determine whether the frequency of abnormal time intervals within a time period reaches a preset frequency. If so, determine that the external power source is a generator. If not, control the compressor's operating frequency to rise to the first operating frequency and then reduce it to the second operating frequency at a preset frequency adjustment rate. Alternatively, control the compressor's operating frequency to drop to the second operating frequency and then increase it to the first operating frequency at a preset frequency adjustment rate.

[0092] During the process of reducing the frequency from the first operating frequency to the second operating frequency at a preset frequency modulation rate, when the increase in input voltage reaches the first preset value, or during the process of increasing the frequency from the second operating frequency to the first operating frequency at a preset frequency modulation rate, when the decrease in input voltage reaches the second preset value, the external power source is determined to be a generator.

[0093] When the time interval is between the first preset time and the second preset time, the external power source is determined to be the power grid.

[0094] When the time interval is less than the third preset time or greater than the fourth preset time, the external power source is determined to be a generator.

[0095] According to the embodiment of the present invention, after the air conditioner 1 is turned on, the current input voltage and the operating frequency of the compressor can be obtained, and the type of external power supply can be determined so as to control the operating state of the compressor according to the type of external power supply. There is no need to install external detection equipment, thereby solving the problems of high cost, complicated installation and poor aesthetics caused by external detection equipment, and improving the user experience.

[0096] Furthermore, the air conditioner 1 is also equipped with a zero-crossing detection circuit, which can detect the zero-crossing pulse signal of the external power supply and obtain the time interval between adjacent zero-crossing pulse signals. Based on the time interval, the type of external power supply can be determined, thereby facilitating the control of the compressor's operating status according to the type of external power supply. This ensures that the air conditioner 1 can operate stably when powered by a generator, without causing excessive impact on the operation of other electrical appliances, further improving the reliability of the air conditioner 1.

[0097] The following is for reference. Figure 8 This invention describes a control method for an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0098] like Figure 8 As shown, the air conditioner control method of this embodiment includes at least steps S1-S3.

[0099] Step S1: Obtain the input voltage provided to the air conditioner by the external power supply and the operating frequency of the compressor.

[0100] Step S2: Determine the type of external power supply based on the input voltage, or determine the type of external power supply based on the input voltage and the compressor's operating frequency.

[0101] Step S3: Control the compressor's operating status according to the type of external power supply.

[0102] In some embodiments, determining the type of external power source based on the input voltage specifically includes: when the input voltage does not reach a first preset voltage, determining that the external power source is the power grid.

[0103] In some embodiments, determining the type of external power supply based on the input voltage and the compressor's operating frequency specifically includes: when the input voltage is between a first preset voltage and a second preset voltage, and the duration reaches a set time threshold, controlling the compressor to perform a first frequency adjustment action or a second frequency adjustment action, and determining the type of external power supply based on the change in the input voltage during the execution of the first frequency adjustment action or the second frequency adjustment action; wherein, the first frequency adjustment action includes: controlling the compressor's operating frequency to rise to a first operating frequency, and then reducing the frequency from the first operating frequency to a second operating frequency at a preset frequency adjustment rate, wherein the first operating frequency is greater than the current operating frequency, the current operating frequency is greater than the second operating frequency, and the first preset voltage is less than the second preset voltage; the second frequency adjustment action includes: controlling the compressor's operating frequency to drop to the second operating frequency, and then increasing the frequency from the second operating frequency to the first operating frequency at a preset frequency adjustment rate.

[0104] In some embodiments, determining the type of external power source based on changes in input voltage during the execution of a first frequency adjustment action or a second frequency adjustment action specifically includes: during the execution of the first frequency adjustment action, if an increase in input voltage exceeding a first preset value is detected during the process of downscaling from a first operating frequency to a second operating frequency at a preset frequency modulation rate, then the external power source is determined to be a generator; or, during the execution of the second frequency adjustment action, if a decrease in input voltage exceeding a second preset value is detected during the process of upscaling from a second operating frequency to a first operating frequency at a preset frequency modulation rate, then the external power source is determined to be a generator, wherein the second preset value is greater than the first preset value.

[0105] In some embodiments, determining the type of external power supply based on the input voltage and the compressor's operating frequency specifically includes: acquiring a time interval and determining the type of external power supply based on the time interval.

[0106] In some embodiments, determining the type of external power source based on a time interval specifically includes: when the time interval is between a first preset time and a second preset time, determining the external power source as a power grid, wherein the first preset time is less than the second preset time; when the time interval is less than a third preset time or greater than a fourth preset time, determining the external power source as a generator, wherein the third preset time is less than the first preset time and the fourth preset time is greater than the second preset time.

[0107] In some embodiments, when determining the type of external power source based on time intervals, the method further includes: determining whether the frequency of time interval anomalies within a time period exceeds a preset frequency; if so, determining that the external power source is a generator; otherwise, controlling the compressor to perform a first frequency adjustment action or a second frequency adjustment action. The first frequency adjustment action includes: controlling the compressor's operating frequency to rise to a first operating frequency, and then reducing the frequency from the first operating frequency to a second operating frequency at a preset frequency adjustment rate, wherein the first operating frequency is greater than the current operating frequency, the current operating frequency is greater than the second operating frequency, and the first preset voltage is less than the second preset voltage; the second frequency adjustment... The entire operation includes: controlling the compressor's operating frequency to drop to a second operating frequency, and then increasing the frequency from the second operating frequency to the first operating frequency at a preset frequency adjustment rate; when performing the first frequency adjustment operation, if the increase in input voltage exceeds a first preset value during the process of decreasing the frequency from the first operating frequency to the second operating frequency at a preset frequency adjustment rate, then the external power source is determined to be a generator; or, when performing the second frequency adjustment operation, if the decrease in input voltage exceeds a second preset value during the process of increasing the frequency from the second operating frequency to the first operating frequency at a preset frequency adjustment rate, then the external power source is determined to be a generator, wherein the second preset value is greater than the first preset value.

[0108] In some embodiments, the control method for the air conditioner further includes: determining that the time interval is abnormal when it is detected that the time interval is between a third preset time and a first preset time, or between a second preset time and a fourth preset time.

[0109] It should be noted that the specific implementation method of controlling the air conditioner is similar to that of the air conditioner in any of the above embodiments of the present invention. Therefore, for a detailed exemplary description of the control process of the air conditioner, please refer to the relevant description of the air conditioner mentioned above. To reduce redundancy, it will not be repeated here.

[0110] According to the air conditioner control method of the present invention, after the air conditioner is turned on, the current input voltage and the operating frequency of the compressor can be obtained, and then the type of external power supply can be determined so as to control the operating state of the compressor according to the type of external power supply. There is no need to install external detection equipment, thereby solving the problems of high cost, complicated installation and poor aesthetics caused by external detection equipment, and improving the user experience.

[0111] Furthermore, the zero-crossing pulse signal of the external power supply can be detected by the zero-crossing detection circuit, the time interval between adjacent zero-crossing pulse signals can be obtained, and the type of external power supply can be determined based on the time interval. This makes it easier to control the operating status of the compressor according to the type of external power supply, so as to ensure that the air conditioner can operate stably when powered by the generator, and at the same time, it will not have an excessive impact on the operation of other electrical appliances, thus further improving the reliability of the air conditioner.

[0112] In the description of this specification, references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., refer to specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described in connection with that embodiment or example, which are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example.

[0113] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An air conditioner, characterized in that, include: The refrigerant circulation loop allows the refrigerant to circulate within a circuit consisting of the compressor, condenser, expansion valve, evaporator, and four-way valve. A refrigeration system that performs heat exchange between refrigerant and air in a compression refrigeration cycle of the refrigerant circulation loop, the refrigeration system including the compressor, the compressor being used to compress low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant gas into high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas and discharge it to the condenser; An outdoor heat exchanger and an indoor heat exchanger, wherein one functions as the condenser and the other functions as the evaporator; An input voltage detection unit is used to detect the input voltage supplied to the air conditioner by an external power source; A controller, connected to the input voltage detection unit and the compressor, is configured to: The input voltage and the operating frequency of the compressor are obtained, the type of the external power supply is determined based on the input voltage and the operating frequency of the compressor, and the operating state of the compressor is controlled based on the type of the external power supply. When determining the type of the external power supply based on the input voltage and the compressor's operating frequency, the controller is configured to: When the input voltage is between a first preset voltage and a second preset voltage, and the duration exceeds a set time threshold, the compressor is controlled to perform a first frequency adjustment action or a second frequency adjustment action, and the type of the external power supply is determined based on the change of the input voltage during the execution of the first frequency adjustment action or the execution of the second frequency adjustment action. The first frequency adjustment action includes: controlling the compressor's operating frequency to rise to a first operating frequency, and then reducing the frequency from the first operating frequency to a second operating frequency at a preset frequency adjustment rate, wherein the first operating frequency is greater than the current operating frequency, the current operating frequency is greater than the second operating frequency, and the first preset voltage is less than the second preset voltage; the second frequency adjustment action includes: controlling the compressor's operating frequency to drop to the second operating frequency, and then increasing the frequency from the second operating frequency to the first operating frequency at the preset frequency adjustment rate.

2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that, When controlling the operating state of the air conditioner according to the type of external power supply, the controller is configured to: When the external power source is the power grid, the compressor is controlled to operate at the calibrated rated current; When the external power source is a generator, the compressor is controlled to reduce its frequency to limit the current, so that the compressor operates at a current lower than the rated current.

3. The air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that, When determining the type of the external power supply based on the input voltage, the controller is configured to: When the input voltage does not reach the first preset voltage, the external power source is determined to be a generator.

4. The air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that, When determining the type of the external power supply based on the change in the input voltage during the execution of the first frequency adjustment action or the second frequency adjustment action, the controller is configured to: When performing the first frequency adjustment action, if the increase in the input voltage reaches a first preset value during the process of reducing the frequency from the first operating frequency to the second operating frequency at a preset frequency adjustment rate, then the external power source is determined to be a generator. or, When performing the second frequency adjustment action, if the input voltage drop reaches a second preset value during the process of increasing the frequency from the second operating frequency to the first operating frequency at a preset frequency adjustment rate, then the external power source is determined to be a generator, wherein the second preset value is greater than the first preset value.

5. The air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: A zero-crossing detection circuit is used to detect the zero-crossing pulse signal of the external power supply and obtain the time interval between adjacent zero-crossing pulse signals. The controller is connected to the zero-crossing detection circuit. When determining the type of the external power supply based on the input voltage and the compressor's operating frequency, the controller is configured to: When the input voltage reaches a third preset voltage, the time interval is obtained, and the type of the external power supply is determined based on the time interval.

6. The air conditioner according to claim 5, characterized in that, When the controller determines the type of the external power supply based on the time interval, it is configured to: When the time interval is between a first preset time and a second preset time, it is determined that the external power source is the power grid, and the first preset time is less than the second preset time; When the time interval is less than a third preset time or greater than a fourth preset time, the external power source is determined to be a generator, wherein the third preset time is less than the first preset time and the fourth preset time is greater than the second preset time.

7. The air conditioner according to claim 6, characterized in that, When determining the type of the external power supply based on the time interval, the controller is further configured to: Determine whether the frequency of the time interval anomaly occurring within a time period reaches a preset frequency; If so, then the external power source is determined to be a generator; Otherwise, the compressor is controlled to perform a first frequency adjustment action or a second frequency adjustment action. The first frequency adjustment action includes: controlling the compressor's operating frequency to rise to a first operating frequency, and then reducing the frequency from the first operating frequency to a second operating frequency at a preset frequency adjustment rate, wherein the first operating frequency is greater than the current operating frequency, and the current operating frequency is greater than the second operating frequency; the second frequency adjustment action includes: controlling the compressor's operating frequency to drop to the second operating frequency, and then increasing the frequency from the second operating frequency to the first operating frequency at the preset frequency adjustment rate. When performing the first frequency adjustment action, if during the process of reducing the frequency from the first operating frequency to the second operating frequency at a preset frequency adjustment rate, the increase in the input voltage is detected to reach a first preset value, then the external power source is determined to be a generator; or, When performing the second frequency adjustment action, if the input voltage drop reaches a second preset value during the process of increasing the frequency from the second operating frequency to the first operating frequency at a preset frequency adjustment rate, then the external power source is determined to be a generator, wherein the second preset value is greater than the first preset value.

8. The air conditioner according to claim 7, characterized in that, The controller is configured to: When the time interval is detected to be between the third preset time and the first preset time, or between the second preset time and the fourth preset time, the time interval is determined to be abnormal.

9. A control method for an air conditioner, characterized in that, For use in an air conditioner as described in any one of claims 1-8, the method comprises the following steps: The input voltage supplied to the air conditioner by the external power source and the operating frequency of the compressor are obtained, and the type of the external power source is determined based on the input voltage and the operating frequency of the compressor. The operating status of the compressor is controlled according to the type of external power supply; When determining the type of the external power supply based on the input voltage and the compressor's operating frequency, the controller is configured to: When the input voltage is between a first preset voltage and a second preset voltage, and the duration exceeds a set time threshold, the compressor is controlled to perform a first frequency adjustment action or a second frequency adjustment action, and the type of the external power supply is determined based on the change of the input voltage during the execution of the first frequency adjustment action or the execution of the second frequency adjustment action. The first frequency adjustment action includes: controlling the compressor's operating frequency to rise to a first operating frequency, and then reducing the frequency from the first operating frequency to a second operating frequency at a preset frequency adjustment rate, wherein the first operating frequency is greater than the current operating frequency, the current operating frequency is greater than the second operating frequency, and the first preset voltage is less than the second preset voltage; the second frequency adjustment action includes: controlling the compressor's operating frequency to drop to the second operating frequency, and then increasing the frequency from the second operating frequency to the first operating frequency at the preset frequency adjustment rate.

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