Control method, heat pump unit and air conditioner

Abstract

The invention provides a control method, a heat pump unit and an air conditioner. And when the heat pump unit is in the heating mode, the evaporative cold condenser still participates in refrigerant circulation in the heating mode. When the heat pump unit is in a heating mode and the evaporation temperature of the heat pump unit is smaller than an evaporation cold starting threshold value, airflow outside the air duct firstly enters the second sub-air duct, then enters the first sub-air duct and finally is discharged out of the air duct. The evaporative cold condenser can increase the temperature of gas passing through the second sub-air duct, the gas with the increased temperature enters the first sub-air duct corresponding to the air-cooled condenser through the middle air valve, the temperature of the heat exchange environment of the air-cooled condenser can be increased through the gas with the increased temperature, heat absorption of refrigerants flowing through the air-cooled condenser is more sufficient, and the heat exchange efficiency of the air-cooled condenser is improved. Low-pressure protection triggering caused by too low evaporation temperature can be effectively avoided, new frost can be prevented from being generated, melting of an existing frost layer can be accelerated, and stability and reliability of heating of the heat pump unit are better guaranteed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to the technical field of air conditioners, and in particular to a control method, a heat pump unit, and an air conditioner. Background Art

[0002] In recent years, the combination of evaporative condensing technology and air source heat pump technology has become a new direction in heat pump product research, resulting in a series of new evaporative cooling and heat pump units.

[0003] In some heat pump units, the refrigerant flow paths for the evaporative cooling condenser and the air-cooled condenser are connected in series, but their respective air ducts are configured independently. When cooling is required, both the evaporative cooling condenser and the air-cooled condenser are utilized for heat exchange, improving the cooling effect. However, when heating is required, the evaporative cooling condenser is generally bypassed and no longer participates in the refrigerant circulation. In this case, the air-cooled condenser acts as the heat absorber. If the evaporating temperature of the heat pump unit is too low, the air-cooled condenser will frost, further deteriorating the heat exchange and easily triggering low-pressure protection, reducing reliability. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In view of this, in order to solve the technical problem in the prior art that when the evaporation temperature of the heat pump unit is too low in the heating mode, the air-cooled condenser is easily frosted, which further deteriorates the heat exchange and even causes low-pressure protection, the present disclosure provides a control method, a heat pump unit and an air conditioner.

[0005] According to a first aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a control method is provided, the control method being applied to a heat pump unit, the heat pump unit comprising an evaporative cooling condenser, an air-cooled condenser, an evaporator, a compressor, and a four-way valve, the refrigerant outlet of the compressor being in communication with a first refrigerant port of the evaporative cooling condenser, the second refrigerant port of the evaporative cooling condenser being in communication with a first valve port of the four-way valve, the second valve port of the four-way valve being in communication with the first refrigerant port of the air-cooled condenser, the second refrigerant port of the air-cooled condenser being in communication with the first refrigerant port of the evaporator, the second refrigerant port of the evaporator being in communication with a third valve port of the four-way valve, and the fourth valve port of the four-way valve being in communication with a refrigerant inlet of the compressor; The heat pump unit includes an air duct, the air duct includes a first sub-duct and a second sub-duct, the first sub-duct includes a first air inlet valve and a first air outlet valve, the second sub-duct includes a second air inlet valve, the first sub-duct is used to provide airflow for the air-cooled condenser, the second sub-duct is used to provide airflow for the evaporative cooling condenser, and the first sub-duct and the second sub-duct are connected through an intermediate air valve; The control method includes: When the heat pump unit is in heating mode, controlling the first valve port and the third valve port of the four-way valve to be in conduction, and controlling the second valve port and the fourth valve port of the four-way valve to be in conduction; When the heat pump unit is in heating mode and the evaporating temperature of the heat pump unit is lower than the evaporative cooling start threshold, the first air intake valve is controlled to be in a closed state, and the second air intake valve, the first air outlet valve and the intermediate air valve are controlled to be in an open state; wherein the evaporating temperature of the heat pump unit is the refrigerant saturation temperature corresponding to the refrigerant pressure at the refrigerant inlet of the compressor.

[0006] In an alternative embodiment, The control method includes: When the heat pump unit is in heating mode and the evaporation temperature of the heat pump unit is greater than or equal to the evaporative cooling start threshold, the second air intake valve and the intermediate air valve are controlled to be in a closed state, and the first air intake valve and the first air outlet valve are controlled to be in an open state.

[0007] In an alternative embodiment, The evaporative cooling condenser includes a spray device, and the control method includes: When the heat pump unit is in heating mode and the evaporation temperature of the heat pump unit is lower than the evaporation cooling start threshold, if the ambient temperature of the environment in which the heat pump unit is located is higher than the spray start threshold, the spray device is controlled to be in operation.

[0008] In an alternative embodiment, The control method includes: When the evaporation temperature of the heat pump unit is lower than the evaporative cooling start threshold, and the ambient temperature of the environment in which the heat pump unit is located is lower than or equal to the spray start threshold, the spray device is controlled to be in a closed state.

[0009] In an alternative embodiment, The control method includes: When the heat pump unit is in a heating mode, if the evaporation temperature of the heat pump unit is greater than a target evaporation temperature, the operating frequency of the fan of the heat pump unit is reduced.

[0010] In an alternative embodiment, The control method includes: When the heat pump unit is in a heating mode, if the evaporation temperature of the heat pump unit is lower than the target evaporation temperature, the operating frequency of the fan is increased.

[0011] In an alternative embodiment, The control method includes: When the heat pump unit is in a heating mode, if the evaporation temperature of the heat pump unit is equal to the target evaporation temperature, the operating frequency of the fan is controlled to remain unchanged.

[0012] In an alternative embodiment, The control method includes: When the heat pump unit is in a heating mode, if the outlet water temperature of the evaporator is greater than a target outlet water temperature, the operating frequency of the compressor is reduced.

[0013] In an alternative embodiment, The control method includes: When the heat pump unit is in a heating mode, if the outlet water temperature of the evaporator is lower than the target outlet water temperature, the operating frequency of the compressor is increased.

[0014] In an alternative embodiment, The control method includes: When the heat pump unit is in a heating mode, if the outlet water temperature of the evaporator is equal to the target outlet water temperature, the operating frequency of the compressor is controlled to remain unchanged.

[0015] In an alternative embodiment, The second sub-air duct includes a second air outlet valve, and the control method includes: When the heat pump unit is in cooling mode, the first valve port and the second valve port of the four-way valve are controlled to be connected, and the third valve port and the fourth valve port of the four-way valve are controlled to be connected, and the states of the first air intake valve, the second air intake valve, the first air outlet valve, the second air outlet valve and the intermediate air valve are controlled according to the relative humidity of the environment in which the heat pump unit is located; wherein the condensing temperature of the heat pump unit is the refrigerant saturation temperature corresponding to the refrigerant pressure at the refrigerant outlet of the compressor.

[0016] In an alternative embodiment, The control method includes: When the heat pump unit is in heating mode, the second air outlet valve is controlled to be in a closed state.

[0017] According to a second aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, a heat pump unit is provided, the heat pump unit being used to implement the control method according to any one of the first aspects, the heat pump unit comprising an evaporative cooling condenser, an air-cooled condenser, an evaporator, a compressor, and a four-way valve, the refrigerant outlet of the compressor being in communication with a first refrigerant port of the evaporative cooling condenser, the second refrigerant port of the evaporative cooling condenser being in communication with a first valve port of the four-way valve, the second valve port of the four-way valve being in communication with the first refrigerant port of the air-cooled condenser, the second refrigerant port of the air-cooled condenser being in communication with the first refrigerant port of the evaporator, the second refrigerant port of the evaporator being in communication with a third valve port of the four-way valve, and the fourth valve port of the four-way valve being in communication with a refrigerant inlet of the compressor; The heat pump unit includes an air duct, which includes a first sub-duct and a second sub-duct. The first sub-duct includes a first air inlet valve and a first air outlet valve, and the second sub-duct includes a second air inlet valve. The first sub-duct is used to provide airflow for the air-cooled condenser, and the second sub-duct is used to provide airflow for the evaporative cooling condenser. The first sub-duct and the second sub-duct are connected through an intermediate air valve.

[0018] In an alternative embodiment, The heat pump unit includes a compound condenser, which includes a shell, a fan, the evaporative cooling condenser and the air-cooled condenser. The air duct is formed in the shell, and the fan is used to drive the flow of gas in the air duct. A partition plate is provided in the shell to divide the air duct into the first sub-duct and the second sub-duct. The air-cooled condenser is located in the first sub-duct, and the evaporative cooling condenser is provided in the second sub-duct. The intermediate air valve is provided on the partition plate, and the first air inlet valve, the second air inlet valve, and the first air outlet valve are all provided on the shell.

[0019] In an alternative embodiment, The second sub-air duct includes a second air outlet valve, and the second air outlet valve is arranged on the shell.

[0020] According to a third aspect of an embodiment of the present disclosure, an air conditioner is provided, comprising a heat pump unit as described in any one of the second aspects.

[0021] The technical solution provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure may have the following beneficial effects: In the heat pump unit of the present disclosure, the refrigerant outlet of the compressor is connected to the first refrigerant port of the evaporative cooling condenser, the second refrigerant port of the evaporative cooling condenser is connected to the first valve port of the four-way valve, the second valve port of the four-way valve is connected to the first refrigerant port of the air-cooled condenser, the second refrigerant port of the air-cooled condenser is connected to the first refrigerant port of the evaporator, the second refrigerant port of the evaporator is connected to the third valve port of the four-way valve, and the fourth valve port of the four-way valve is connected to the refrigerant inlet of the compressor. Based on this, when the heat pump unit is in heating mode, the first valve port and the third valve port of the four-way valve can be controlled to be connected, and the second valve port and the fourth valve port of the four-way valve can be controlled to be connected, so that the refrigerant circulation path in the heating mode is the refrigerant outlet of the compressor-evaporative cooling condenser-the first and third valve ports of the four-way valve-evaporator-air-cooled condenser-the second and fourth valve ports of the four-way valve-the refrigerant inlet of the compressor, thereby ensuring that the evaporative cooling condenser still participates in the refrigerant circulation in the heating mode. In addition, the duct atmosphere of the heat pump unit has a first sub-duct and a second sub-duct, the first sub-duct is used to provide airflow for the air-cooled condenser, and the second sub-duct is used to provide airflow for the evaporative cooling condenser, and the first sub-duct is connected to the second sub-duct through an intermediate air valve. Based on this, when the heat pump unit is in heating mode, when the evaporating temperature of the heat pump unit is lower than the evaporative cooling start-up threshold, the first air inlet valve of the first sub-duct can be controlled to be in a closed state, and the intermediate air valve, the second air inlet valve of the second sub-duct and the first air outlet valve of the first sub-duct can be controlled to be in an open state, so that the airflow outside the duct first enters the second sub-duct, and then enters the first sub-duct, and is finally discharged to the outside of the duct. It should be noted that in heating mode, the evaporative condenser serves as the heat dissipation device. If ambient air first passes through the second sub-duct corresponding to the evaporative condenser, the evaporative condenser raises the temperature of the air passing through the second sub-duct. The heated air then enters the first sub-duct corresponding to the air-cooled condenser through the intermediate air valve. This elevated temperature raises the ambient temperature of the air-cooled condenser, enabling more efficient heat absorption by the refrigerant flowing through the air-cooled condenser, thereby increasing the refrigerant pressure at the compressor's refrigerant inlet. Because the evaporation temperature is directly related to this pressure (increasing pressure raises the saturation temperature, or evaporation temperature), this effectively prevents triggering low-pressure protection caused by excessively low evaporation temperatures, ensuring continuous and stable operation of the heat pump unit. Furthermore, the elevated temperature of the air entering the first sub-duct directly impacts the potentially frosted surface of the air-cooled condenser. Combined with the elevated evaporation temperature, this not only prevents new frost formation but also accelerates the melting of existing frost, ensuring the stability of the refrigerant's heat absorption capacity in heating mode, minimizing performance fluctuations caused by poor heat exchange, and further ensuring the heat pump unit's stable and reliable heating.

[0022] It is to be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

[0024] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, for ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative labor.

[0025] One or more embodiments are exemplarily illustrated by pictures in the corresponding drawings. These exemplifications do not constitute limitations on the embodiments. Elements with the same reference numerals in the drawings are represented as similar elements. Unless otherwise stated, the figures in the drawings do not constitute proportional limitations.

[0026] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a heat pump unit according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0027] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a compound condenser according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0028] Figure 3 is a flowchart of a control method according to an exemplary embodiment (heating mode).

[0029] Figure 4 FIG. 4 is another flowchart of a control method according to an exemplary embodiment (cooling mode).

[0030] in: 1. Compound condenser; 11. Evaporative cooling condenser; 111. Spraying device; 1111. Water pump; 12. Air-cooled condenser; 13. Housing; 14. Fan; 2. Compressor; 3. Evaporator; 4. Four-way valve; 5. Electronic expansion valve; 10. First air inlet valve; 20. First air outlet valve; 30. Second air inlet valve; 40. Second air outlet valve; 50. Intermediate air valve; 100, air duct; 101, first sub-air duct; 102, second sub-air duct. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] To make the purpose, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application more clear, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of this application. Obviously, the described embodiments are part of the embodiments of this application, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments in this application, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0032] The following disclosure provides many different embodiments or examples for implementing different solutions of the present invention. To simplify the disclosure of the present invention, the components and configurations of specific examples are described below. Of course, these are merely examples and are not intended to limit the present invention. In addition, the present invention may repeat reference numbers and / or letters in different examples. Such repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself indicate the relationship between the various embodiments and / or configurations discussed.

[0033] For ease of description, spatially relative terms may be used herein to describe the relative position or movement of one element or feature relative to another element or feature as shown in the figures, such as "inside," "outside," "inside," "outside," "below," "beneath," "above," "above," "front," "back," and the like. Such spatially relative terms are intended to include different orientations of the device in use or operation other than the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures undergoes a positional flip or a change in posture or a change in motion, then these directional indications will also change accordingly. For example, an element described as "below" or "below" another element or feature will subsequently be oriented as "above" or "above" another element or feature. Thus, the example term "below" can include both above and below orientations. The device may be oriented otherwise (rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein will be interpreted accordingly.

[0034] It should be noted that the illustrations provided in the following embodiments are only schematic illustrations of the basic concept of the present application. Therefore, the illustrations only show components related to the present application and are not drawn according to the number, shape and size of components in actual implementation. In actual implementation, the type, quantity and proportion of each component can be changed at will, and the component layout type may also be more complicated.

[0035] The following will describe the embodiments of the present application with reference to the accompanying drawings and preferred embodiments. Those skilled in the art can easily understand the other advantages and effects of the present application from the contents disclosed in this specification. The present application can also be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments, and the details in this specification can also be modified or changed in various ways based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the spirit of the present application. It should be understood that the preferred embodiments are only for the purpose of illustrating the present application and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present application.

[0036] In order to solve the technical problem in the prior art that when the evaporation temperature of a heat pump unit is too low in heating mode, the air-cooled condenser is easily frosted, which further deteriorates the heat exchange and even causes low-pressure protection, the present disclosure provides a control method, a heat pump unit and an air conditioner.

[0037] In the heat pump unit disclosed herein, the refrigerant outlet of the compressor is connected to the first refrigerant port of the evaporative cooling condenser, the second refrigerant port of the evaporative cooling condenser is connected to the first valve port of the four-way valve, the second valve port of the four-way valve is connected to the first refrigerant port of the air-cooled condenser, the second refrigerant port of the air-cooled condenser is connected to the first refrigerant port of the evaporator, the second refrigerant port of the evaporator is connected to the third valve port of the four-way valve, and the fourth valve port of the four-way valve is connected to the refrigerant inlet of the compressor. Based on this, when the heat pump unit is in heating mode, the first valve port and the third valve port of the four-way valve can be controlled to be connected, and the second valve port and the fourth valve port of the four-way valve can be controlled to be connected, so that the refrigerant circulation path in the heating mode is the refrigerant outlet of the compressor-evaporative cooling condenser-the first valve port and the third valve port of the four-way valve-evaporator-air-cooled condenser-the second valve port and the fourth valve port of the four-way valve-refrigerant inlet of the compressor, thereby realizing that the evaporative cooling condenser still participates in the refrigerant circulation in the heating mode. In addition, the duct atmosphere of the heat pump unit has a first sub-duct and a second sub-duct, the first sub-duct is used to provide airflow for the air-cooled condenser, and the second sub-duct is used to provide airflow for the evaporative cooling condenser, and the first sub-duct is connected to the second sub-duct through an intermediate air valve. Based on this, when the heat pump unit is in heating mode, when the evaporating temperature of the heat pump unit is lower than the evaporative cooling start-up threshold, the first air inlet valve of the first sub-duct can be controlled to be in a closed state, and the intermediate air valve, the second air inlet valve of the second sub-duct and the first air outlet valve of the first sub-duct can be controlled to be in an open state, so that the airflow outside the duct first enters the second sub-duct, and then enters the first sub-duct, and is finally discharged to the outside of the duct. It should be noted that in heating mode, the evaporative condenser serves as the heat dissipation device. If ambient air first passes through the second sub-duct corresponding to the evaporative condenser, the evaporative condenser raises the temperature of the air passing through the second sub-duct. The heated air then enters the first sub-duct corresponding to the air-cooled condenser through the intermediate air valve. This elevated temperature raises the ambient temperature of the air-cooled condenser, enabling more efficient heat absorption by the refrigerant flowing through the air-cooled condenser, thereby increasing the refrigerant pressure at the compressor's refrigerant inlet. Because the evaporation temperature is directly related to this pressure (increasing pressure raises the saturation temperature, or evaporation temperature), this effectively prevents triggering low-pressure protection caused by excessively low evaporation temperatures, ensuring continuous and stable operation of the heat pump unit. Furthermore, the elevated temperature of the air entering the first sub-duct directly impacts the potentially frosted surface of the air-cooled condenser. Combined with the elevated evaporation temperature, this not only prevents new frost formation but also accelerates the melting of existing frost, ensuring the stability of the refrigerant's heat absorption capacity in heating mode, minimizing performance fluctuations caused by poor heat exchange, and further ensuring the heat pump unit's stable and reliable heating.

[0038] In one exemplary embodiment, reference Figure 1 ,as well as Figure 3 and Figure 4As shown, a heat pump unit, an air conditioner including the heat pump unit, and a control method applied to the heat pump unit are provided, that is, the heat pump unit is used to implement the control method. In this embodiment, the heat pump unit can include an evaporative cooling condenser 11, an air-cooled condenser 12, an evaporator 3, a compressor 2, and a four-way valve 4. The refrigerant outlet of the compressor 2 is connected to the first refrigerant port of the evaporative cooling condenser 11, the second refrigerant port of the evaporative cooling condenser 11 is connected to the first valve port of the four-way valve 4, the second valve port of the four-way valve 4 is connected to the first refrigerant port of the air-cooled condenser 12, the second refrigerant port of the air-cooled condenser 12 is connected to the first refrigerant port of the evaporator 3, the second refrigerant port of the evaporator 3 is connected to the third valve port of the four-way valve 4, and the fourth valve port of the four-way valve 4 is connected to the refrigerant inlet of the compressor 2.

[0039] Among them, when the heat pump unit is in the cooling mode, the first valve port and the second valve port of the four-way valve 4 can be controlled to be connected, and the third valve port and the fourth valve port of the four-way valve 4 can be controlled to be connected. At this time, the refrigeration circulation flow path of the refrigerant is the refrigerant outlet of the compressor 2-evaporative cooling condenser 11-the first valve port and the second valve port of the four-way valve 4-the air-cooled condenser 12-the evaporator 3-the third valve port and the fourth valve port of the four-way valve 4-the refrigerant inlet of the compressor 2, so that the evaporative cooling condenser 11 and the air-cooled condenser 12 connected in series can participate in the refrigerant circulation in the cooling mode to ensure the cooling efficiency.

[0040] When the heat pump unit is in heating mode, the first valve port and the third valve port of the four-way valve 4 can be controlled to be connected, and the second valve port and the fourth valve port of the four-way valve 4 can be controlled to be connected, so that the refrigerant circulation flow path in the heating mode is the refrigerant outlet of the compressor 2-evaporative cooling condenser 11-the first valve port and the third valve port of the four-way valve 4-evaporator 3-air-cooled condenser 12-the second valve port and the fourth valve port of the four-way valve 4-the refrigerant inlet of the compressor 2, thereby realizing that the evaporative cooling condenser 11 is still involved in the refrigerant circulation in the heating mode.

[0041] In which, the heat pump unit includes an air duct 100, the air duct 100 includes a first sub-duct 101 and a second sub-duct 102, the first sub-duct 101 includes a first air inlet valve 10 and a first air outlet valve 20, the second sub-duct 102 includes a second air inlet valve 30, the first sub-duct 101 is used to provide airflow for the air-cooled condenser 12, and the second sub-duct 102 is used to provide airflow for the evaporative cooling condenser 11, and the first sub-duct 101 and the second sub-duct 102 are connected through an intermediate air valve 50.

[0042] When the heat pump unit is in heating mode, the states of the first air inlet valve 10, the second air inlet valve 30, the first air outlet valve 20, and the intermediate air valve 50 can be controlled based on the evaporation temperature of the heat pump unit. It should be noted that the evaporation temperature of the heat pump unit is the refrigerant saturation temperature corresponding to the refrigerant pressure at the refrigerant inlet of the compressor 2.

[0043] Among them, when the heat pump unit is in heating mode and the evaporation temperature of the heat pump unit is lower than the evaporative cooling start threshold, the first air intake valve 10 can be controlled to be in a closed state, and the second air intake valve 30, the first air outlet valve 20 and the intermediate air valve 50 can be controlled to be in an open state, so that the airflow outside the air duct 100 first enters the second sub-duct 102, then enters the first sub-duct 101, and is finally discharged to the outside of the air duct 100.

[0044] It should be noted that in heating mode, evaporative cooling condenser 11 serves as the heat dissipation device. If ambient air first passes through second sub-duct 102 corresponding to evaporative cooling condenser 11, evaporative cooling condenser 11 can raise the temperature of the air passing through second sub-duct 102. The heated air then passes through intermediate air valve 50 and enters first sub-duct 101 corresponding to air-cooled condenser 12. This heated air raises the heat exchange ambient temperature of air-cooled condenser 12, promoting more efficient heat absorption by the refrigerant flowing through air-cooled condenser 12, thereby increasing the refrigerant pressure at the refrigerant inlet of compressor 2. Because the evaporating temperature is directly related to this pressure (increasing pressure increases the saturation temperature, i.e., the evaporating temperature), triggering low-pressure protection due to excessively low evaporating temperature can be effectively avoided, ensuring the continued stable operation of the heat pump unit. Moreover, after the heated gas enters the first sub-air duct 101, it can directly act on the surface of the air-cooled condenser 12 which may be frosted. Combined with the increase in evaporation temperature, it can not only prevent the formation of new frost, but also accelerate the melting of the existing frost layer, ensuring the stability of the heat absorption capacity of the refrigerant in the heating mode, reducing the performance fluctuations of the heat pump unit caused by the deterioration of heat exchange, and better ensuring the stability and reliability of the heating of the heat pump unit.

[0045] In addition, in order to make the air duct 100 of this embodiment better adapt to the cooling mode, the second sub-air duct 102 may further include a second air outlet valve 40. When the heat pump unit is in the cooling mode, the first valve port and the second valve port of the four-way valve 4 are controlled to be connected, and the third valve port and the fourth valve port of the four-way valve 4 are controlled to be connected. The states of the first air inlet valve 10, the second air inlet valve 30, the first air outlet valve 20, the second air outlet valve 40 and the intermediate air valve 50 can be controlled according to the relative humidity of the environment in which the heat pump unit is located, so that the gas transmission path in the air duct 100 is better adapted to the relative humidity of the environment, and the cooling efficiency and power consumption of the entire heat pump unit are better balanced.

[0046] For example, when the heat pump unit is in cooling mode, when the relative humidity of the environment is very low, the heat exchange of the air-cooled condenser 12 is small, while the heat exchange of the evaporative cooling condenser 11 is large. At this time, the second air inlet valve 30 and the second air outlet valve 40 can be controlled to be in the open state, and the first air inlet valve 10, the first air outlet valve 20 and the intermediate air valve 50 can be controlled to be in the closed state. At this time, the external gas only passes through the second sub-air duct 102 to better improve the heat exchange effect of the evaporative cooling condenser 11, thereby improving the cooling efficiency of the entire heat pump unit.

[0047] For another example, when the relative humidity of the environment is very high, the heat exchange capacity of the air-cooled condenser 12 is large, while the heat exchange capacity of the evaporative cooling condenser 11 is small. At this time, the second air inlet valve 30, the second air outlet valve 40 and the intermediate air valve 50 can be controlled to be in a closed state, and the first air inlet valve 10 and the first air outlet valve 20 can be controlled to be in a closed state. At this time, the external gas only passes through the first sub-duct 101 to better improve the heat exchange effect of the air-cooled condenser 12, thereby improving the cooling efficiency of the entire heat pump unit.

[0048] For another example, when the relative humidity of the environment is moderate, the heat exchange rates of the air-cooled condenser 12 and the evaporative cooling condenser 11 are not much different. At this time, the intermediate air valve 50 can be controlled to be in a closed state, and the first air inlet air valve 10, the second air inlet air valve 30, the first air outlet air valve 20 and the second air outlet air valve 40 can all be controlled to be in an open state. At this time, the external gas can pass through the first sub-air duct 101 and the second sub-air duct 102 respectively, which is equivalent to configuring independent air ducts 100 for the air-cooled condenser 12 and the evaporative cooling condenser 11 respectively, so as to better ensure the cooling efficiency of the heat pump unit.

[0049] Of course, in addition to controlling the state of the air valves in the above manner, the state of each air valve may also be controlled in other manners, which are not limited thereto.

[0050] In addition, in this embodiment, when the heat pump unit is in heating mode and the evaporation temperature of the heat pump unit is lower than the evaporative cooling start-up threshold, the second outlet air valve 40 can be controlled to be in a closed state to better ensure that the gas entering the second sub-duct 102 can all pass through the intermediate air valve 50 and enter the first sub-duct 101, thereby better ensuring the reliability and stability of the heating of the heat pump unit.

[0051] Among them, when the heat pump unit is in heating mode and the evaporation temperature of the heat pump unit is greater than or equal to the evaporative cooling start threshold, the second air intake valve 30 and the intermediate air valve 50 can be controlled to be in a closed state, and the first air intake valve 10 and the first air outlet valve 20 can be controlled to be in an open state. At this time, the external air directly enters the first sub-duct 101 and is discharged after passing through the first sub-duct 101. This can avoid the increase in resistance and path extension that may be caused by the gas bypassing the second sub-duct 102, reduce the additional energy consumption of the fan 14, improve the ventilation efficiency of the air duct 100, and ensure that the air-cooled condenser 12 has efficient heat exchange under suitable airflow conditions.

[0052] It should be noted that when the heat pump unit is in heating mode and the evaporation temperature of the heat pump unit is greater than or equal to the evaporative cooling start threshold, since there is no airflow passing through the second sub-air duct 102, the second air outlet valve 40 can be in a closed state or in an open state, and there is no limitation on this.

[0053] In this embodiment, when the heat pump unit is in heating mode and the evaporation temperature of the heat pump unit is less than the evaporative cooling activation threshold, the evaporative cooling condenser 11 is incorporated into the refrigerant heating cycle, and the ambient gas first passes through the second sub-duct 102 corresponding to the evaporative cooling condenser 11. After the temperature rises, the gas then enters the first sub-duct 101 corresponding to the air-cooled condenser 12 through the intermediate air valve 50. This can better promote the refrigerant flowing through the air-cooled condenser 12 to absorb heat more fully, thereby preventing the evaporation temperature from being too low, effectively avoiding the triggering of low-pressure protection due to the low evaporation temperature, and effectively ensuring the continuous and stable operation of the heat pump unit. Moreover, it not only prevents the formation of new frost but also accelerates the melting of existing frost, ensuring the stability of the refrigerant's heat absorption capacity in the heating mode, reducing the performance fluctuation of the heat pump unit caused by deterioration of heat exchange, and better ensuring the stability and reliability of the heat pump unit's heating. When the heat pump unit is in heating mode and the evaporation temperature of the heat pump unit is greater than or equal to the evaporative cooling activation threshold, by directly directing the outside air into the first sub-duct 101 and then discharging it after passing through the first sub-duct 101, the increased resistance and extended path caused by the air detour through the second sub-duct 102 can be avoided. This can reduce the additional energy consumption of the fan 14, improve the ventilation efficiency of the air duct 100, and ensure efficient heat exchange in the air-cooled condenser 12 under appropriate airflow conditions. In other words, this embodiment can better ensure the heating stability and reliability of the heat pump unit while ensuring lower energy consumption.

[0054] In one exemplary embodiment, reference Figures 1 to 4As shown, a heat pump unit, an air conditioner including the heat pump unit, and a control method for the heat pump unit are provided, namely, the heat pump unit is used to implement the control method. In this embodiment, the heat pump unit may include a compound condenser 1, which includes a housing 13, a fan 14, and the evaporative cooling condenser 11 and the air-cooled condenser 12. That is, in this embodiment, the evaporative cooling condenser 11 and the air-cooled condenser 12 can share the same fan 14, thereby reducing the number of fans 14.

[0055] The heat pump unit's air duct 100 is formed within the housing 13, and a fan 14 is used to drive the flow of gas within the air duct 100. A partition is provided within the housing 13 to separate the air duct 100 into a first sub-duct 101 and a second sub-duct 102. The air-cooled condenser 12 is located within the first sub-duct 101, and the evaporative cooling condenser 11 is located within the second sub-duct 102 to enhance heat exchange.

[0056] The intermediate air valve 50 is disposed on the partition plate, and the first air inlet valve 10, the second air inlet valve 30, and the first air outlet valve 20 are all disposed on the housing 13. The first air inlet valve 10 and the first air outlet valve 20 are located in the portion of the housing 13 that constitutes the first sub-duct 101. The second air inlet valve 30 is located in the portion of the housing 13 that constitutes the second sub-duct 102. When the second sub-duct 102 includes a second air outlet valve 40, the second air outlet valve 40 may also be located in the portion of the housing 13 that constitutes the second sub-duct 102.

[0057] The composite condenser 1 of this embodiment can reduce the space occupied by the condenser, and can also reduce the layout of the air duct 100 and the number of fans 14, thereby improving the compactness of the entire heat pump unit and making it easier to install the heat pump unit. Moreover, since the first sub-air duct 101 and the second sub-air duct 102 are directly formed by the shell 13 and the partition plate, the flow path of the gas in the air duct 100 can also be reduced, thereby reducing the energy consumption of the fan 14. In addition, this embodiment can reduce the number of connecting components of the air duct 100 through the integrated shell 13 and integrated design, reducing the risk of leakage and assembly complexity, and the air valves are centrally arranged in the shell 13, which also facilitates unified control and maintenance, thereby improving the reliability and maintenance efficiency of the heat pump unit.

[0058] In one exemplary embodiment, reference Figures 1 to 4 As shown, a heat pump unit, an air conditioner including the heat pump unit, and a control method for the heat pump unit are provided, i.e., the heat pump unit is used to implement the control method. In this embodiment, the evaporative cooling condenser 11 may include a spray device 111, which may include a spray pipeline and a water pump 1111.

[0059] When the heat pump unit is in heating mode and the evaporation temperature of the heat pump unit is lower than the evaporative cooling activation threshold, the evaporative cooling condenser 11 is required to participate in the heat exchange of the heating cycle. However, considering that the ambient temperature corresponding to the heating mode is generally low, if the ambient temperature is too low, the spray water may freeze. Therefore, in this embodiment, the ambient temperature of the environment in which the heat pump unit is located can be detected by a temperature detection device, and then the difference between the ambient temperature and the spray activation threshold can be determined.

[0060] The spray activation threshold refers to the maximum temperature at which the spray device 111 is not allowed to activate. Specifically, when the ambient temperature is less than or equal to the spray activation threshold, the spray device 111 can be controlled to be in an off state. At this time, the water pump 1111 can be controlled to be in an off state to avoid risks such as frozen pipes and damage to the water pump 1111. When the ambient temperature is greater than the spray activation threshold, the spray device can be controlled to be in an on-time operation state. That is, the water pump 1111 can be controlled to be in an on-time operation state to enhance the heat exchange effect of the evaporative cooling condenser 11.

[0061] It should be noted that the spray opening threshold can be set according to actual conditions, and its specific value is not limited. For example, the spray opening threshold can be greater than or equal to 0°C.

[0062] In addition, in this embodiment, when the heat pump unit is in heating mode, the operating frequency of the fan 14 can be controlled according to the evaporation temperature of the heat pump unit, so that the airflow in the air duct 100 is more adapted to the heating demand.

[0063] If the evaporating temperature of the heat pump unit is greater than the target evaporating temperature, indicating that the heating capacity of the heat pump unit exceeds the demand, the operating frequency of the fan 14 can be reduced (frequency reduction) to avoid excessive heating and waste of resources. If the evaporating temperature of the heat pump unit is less than the target evaporating temperature, indicating that the heating capacity of the heat pump unit does not meet the demand, the operating frequency of the fan 14 can be increased (frequency increase) to better meet the demand. If the evaporating temperature of the heat pump unit is equal to the target evaporating temperature, indicating that the heating capacity of the heat pump unit is comparable to the demand, the operating frequency of the fan 14 can be controlled to remain unchanged to continue to maintain the current heating efficiency.

[0064] It should be noted that the target evaporating temperature can be a temperature value set by relevant personnel (e.g., the user or the manufacturer) based on specific needs. For example, the target evaporating temperature can be 15°C. Furthermore, due to errors caused by temperature detection or software control, the "heat pump unit's evaporating temperature equals the target evaporating temperature" in this embodiment can be roughly equal. For example, as long as the difference between the heat pump unit's evaporating temperature and the target evaporating temperature is within a certain range (e.g., 3°C), the two are considered equal.

[0065] For example, the target evaporating temperature could be 15°C. If the heat pump unit's evaporating temperature is between 12°C and 18°C, the two are considered equal. If it is lower than 12°C, the heat pump unit's evaporating temperature is considered lower than the target evaporating temperature; if it is higher than 18°C, the heat pump unit's evaporating temperature is considered higher than the target evaporating temperature.

[0066] It should be noted that the operating frequency of the compressor 2 also affects the overall heat exchange efficiency of the heat pump unit. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the heat pump unit is in heating mode, the operating frequency of the compressor 2 can be controlled according to the outlet water temperature of the evaporator 3.

[0067] If the outlet water temperature of evaporator 3 is greater than the target outlet water temperature, indicating that the heating capacity of the heat pump unit exceeds demand, the operating frequency of compressor 2 can be reduced (frequency reduction) to avoid resource waste and reduce energy consumption. If the outlet water temperature of evaporator 3 is less than the target outlet water temperature, indicating that the heating capacity of the heat pump unit is insufficient and cannot meet demand, the operating frequency of compressor 2 can be increased (frequency increase) to improve the heating efficiency of the heat pump unit and better meet user needs. If the outlet water temperature of evaporator 3 is equal to the target outlet water temperature, indicating that the heating capacity of the heat pump unit is consistent with demand, the operating frequency of compressor 2 can be controlled to remain unchanged.

[0068] It should be noted that the target outlet water temperature can be a user-defined temperature value. Furthermore, due to errors caused by temperature detection or software control, the "outlet water temperature of evaporator 3 equals the target outlet water temperature" in this embodiment may be approximately equal. For example, as long as the difference between the outlet water temperature of evaporator 3 and the target outlet water temperature is within a certain range (e.g., 3°C), the two temperatures are considered equal.

[0069] In this embodiment, the control logic of the spray device 111, the fan 14 and the compressor 2 are independent of each other and work together to better improve the performance of the heat pump unit. Among them, the start and stop of the spray device 111 is controlled according to the ambient temperature. The spray device 111 is turned off at low temperatures to prevent freezing and protect the safety of the equipment; the spray is turned on at high temperatures to enhance heat exchange. The frequency adjustment of the fan 14 is based on the dynamic adaptation of the evaporation temperature, and the wind speed is adjusted as needed to match the heating demand. The frequency optimization of the compressor 2 is precisely controlled according to the outlet water temperature of the evaporator 3 to balance the heating capacity and energy consumption. The three have their own responsibilities, and they work from the dimensions of equipment safety, airflow efficiency, and core power output respectively. They are independent of each other but form a combined force. In a complex environment, they not only ensure stable operation, but also improve heating efficiency and reduce energy consumption, thereby achieving coordinated optimization of multi-dimensional performance.

[0070] In one exemplary embodiment, reference Figures 1 to 4As shown, a heat pump unit, an air conditioner including the heat pump unit, and a control method for the heat pump unit are provided, wherein the heat pump unit is configured to implement the control method. In this embodiment, the heat pump unit includes a compound condenser 1, an evaporator 3, a compressor 2, a four-way valve 4, and an electronic expansion valve 5.

[0071] The compound condenser 1 includes a housing 13, a fan 14, an evaporative cooling condenser 11, and an air-cooled condenser 12. The evaporative cooling condenser 11 may include a spray device 111. The housing 13 forms the air duct 100 of the compound condenser 1, and the fan 14 is used to drive the flow of gas in the air duct 100. A partition is provided within the housing 13 to separate the air duct 100 into the first sub-duct 101 and the second sub-duct 102. The air-cooled condenser 12 is located within the first sub-duct 101, and the evaporative cooling condenser 11 is located within the second sub-duct 102.

[0072] The compound condenser 1 includes a first outlet air valve 20, a second outlet air valve 40, a first inlet air valve 10, a second inlet air valve 30, and an intermediate air valve 50. The first outlet air valve 20, the second outlet air valve 40, the first inlet air valve 10, and the second inlet air valve 30 are all disposed on the housing 13. The intermediate air valve 50 is disposed on the partition plate. The first inlet air valve 10 is the inlet air valve of the first sub-duct 101, the first outlet air valve 20 is the outlet air valve of the first sub-duct 101, the second inlet air valve 30 is the inlet air valve of the second sub-duct 102, the second outlet air valve 40 is the outlet air valve of the second sub-duct 102, and the intermediate air valve 50 is the connecting air valve between the first sub-duct 101 and the second sub-duct 102.

[0073] In this embodiment, the user can switch between cooling and heating modes of the heat pump unit as needed. When the target outlet water temperature set by the user is greater than the return water temperature of the evaporator 3, the heat pump unit's control device determines that the heat pump unit is in heating mode. Otherwise (i.e., when the target outlet water temperature is less than or equal to the return water temperature of the evaporator 3), the control device determines that the heat pump unit is in cooling mode.

[0074] When the heat pump unit is in cooling mode, the first valve port and the second valve port of the four-way valve 4 can be controlled to be connected, and the third valve port and the fourth valve port of the four-way valve 4 can be controlled to be connected. At this time, the refrigeration circulation flow path of the refrigerant is the refrigerant outlet of the compressor 2-evaporative cooling condenser 11-the first valve port and the second valve port of the four-way valve 4-the air-cooled condenser 12-the evaporator 3-the third valve port and the fourth valve port of the four-way valve 4-the refrigerant inlet of the compressor 2, so that the evaporative cooling condenser 11 and the air-cooled condenser 12 connected in series can participate in the refrigerant circulation in the cooling mode to ensure the cooling efficiency.

[0075] When the heat pump unit is in heating mode, the first valve port and the third valve port of the four-way valve 4 can be controlled to be connected, and the second valve port and the fourth valve port of the four-way valve 4 can be controlled to be connected, so that the refrigerant circulation flow path in the heating mode is the refrigerant outlet of the compressor 2-evaporative cooling condenser 11-the first valve port and the third valve port of the four-way valve 4-evaporator 3-air-cooled condenser 12-the second valve port and the fourth valve port of the four-way valve 4-the refrigerant inlet of the compressor 2, thereby realizing that the evaporative cooling condenser 11 is still involved in the refrigerant circulation in the heating mode.

[0076] Among them, when the heat pump unit is in cooling mode, the state of each air valve can be automatically adjusted to achieve automatic distribution of heat dissipation in the two condensers by utilizing the characteristic that the heat dissipation of the two condensers accounts for different proportions of the total heat dissipation when the relative humidity of the air in the environment where the heat pump unit is located is different.

[0077] When 0≤relative humidity<20%, ​​the heat exchange rate of the evaporative cooling condenser 11 accounts for a large proportion, and the heat exchange rate of the air-cooled condenser 12 accounts for a small proportion. At this time, the second air inlet valve 30 and the second air outlet valve 40 can be controlled to be in an open state, and the first air inlet valve 10, the first air outlet valve 20 and the intermediate air valve 50 can be controlled to be in a closed state, and the water pump 1111 of the spray device 111 is controlled to be in an operating state. The external gas enters the second sub-duct 102 through the second air inlet valve 30, and the gas in the duct 100 only passes through the evaporative cooling condenser 11, and then is discharged to the outside of the duct 100 through the second air outlet valve 40 to improve the cooling effect.

[0078] When the relative humidity is 20%≤<40%, the heat exchange of the evaporative cooling condenser 11 accounts for a large proportion, and the dry-bulb temperature of the gas after coming out of the second sub-duct 102 where the evaporative cooling condenser 11 is located is lower than the ambient temperature. If it is passed into the first sub-duct 101 where the air-cooled condenser 12 is located, the heat exchange effect can be further improved. Based on this, in this case, the second air inlet valve 30, the intermediate air valve 50 and the second air outlet valve 40 can be controlled to be in the open state, and the first air inlet valve 10 and the second air outlet valve 40 can be controlled to be in the closed state, and the water pump 1111 can be controlled to be in the running state. The external air enters the second sub-duct 102 through the second air inlet valve 30, first participates in the heat exchange of the evaporative cooling condenser 11, and then enters the first sub-duct 101 through the intermediate air valve 50, participates in the heat exchange of the air-cooled condenser 12, and then is discharged to the outside of the air duct 100 through the first air outlet valve 20 to ensure the heat exchange efficiency in this situation.

[0079] When the relative humidity is 40%≤<60%, the heat exchange rate of the evaporative cooling condenser 11 is equivalent to that of the air-cooled condenser 12. At this time, the first air inlet valve 10, the second air inlet valve 30, the first air outlet valve 20 and the second air outlet valve 40 can be controlled to be in the open state, and the intermediate air valve 50 can be controlled to be in the closed state, and the water pump 1111 can be controlled to be in the running state. In this case, the external air enters the air duct 100 through the first air inlet valve 10 and the second air inlet valve 30 respectively, wherein the gas passing through the first air inlet valve 10 enters the first sub-duct 101, and then is discharged to the outside of the air duct 100 through the first air outlet valve 20, and the gas passing through the second air inlet valve 30 enters the second sub-duct 102, and then is discharged to the outside of the air duct 100 through the second air outlet valve 40, so as to ensure the heat exchange efficiency in this case.

[0080] When the relative humidity is 60%≤<80%, the heat exchange rate of the air-cooled condenser 12 accounts for a large proportion, and after the gas comes out of the first sub-duct 101 where the air-cooled condenser 12 is located, its dry bulb temperature rises and the relative humidity is lower than the ambient humidity. If it is passed into the second sub-duct 102 where the evaporative cooling condenser 11 is located, its heat exchange effect can be improved. Based on this, in this case, the first air inlet valve 10, the intermediate air valve 50 and the second air outlet valve 40 can be controlled to be in the open state, and the second air inlet valve 30 and the first air outlet valve 20 can be controlled to be in the closed state, and the water pump 1111 can be controlled to be in the running state. The external gas first passes through the first sub-duct 101 where the air-cooled condenser 12 is located, then enters the second sub-duct 102 where the evaporative cooling condenser 11 through the intermediate air valve 50, and finally is discharged to the outside of the air duct 100 through the second air outlet valve 40 to improve the heat exchange efficiency at this time.

[0081] When the relative humidity is 80%≤, the heat exchange rate of the air-cooled condenser 12 accounts for a large proportion, and the heat exchange rate of the evaporative cooling condenser 11 accounts for a small proportion. At this time, the first air inlet valve 10 and the first air outlet valve 20 can be controlled to be in the open state, and the second air inlet valve 30, the second air outlet valve 40 and the intermediate air valve 50 can be controlled to be in the closed state, and the water pump 1111 can be controlled to be in the closed state. The external gas can be discharged to the outside of the air duct 100 after passing through the first sub-air duct 101 where the air-cooled condenser 12 is located, so as to ensure the heat exchange efficiency at this time.

[0082] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the heat pump unit is in cooling mode, after determining the status of each of the aforementioned air valves, the operating frequency of the fan 14 can be adjusted based on the condensing temperature of the heat pump unit to achieve optimal overall energy efficiency. The condenser temperature refers to the refrigerant saturation temperature corresponding to the refrigerant pressure at the refrigerant outlet of the compressor 2.

[0083] Among them, it is judged whether the condensation temperature is equal to the target condensation temperature, the target condensation temperature = wet bulb temperature + 15 The wet-bulb temperature refers to the ambient wet-bulb temperature at the air inlet position, and the unit load refers to the load of the heat pump unit.

[0084] If the condensing temperature of the heat pump unit is equal to the target condensing temperature, it indicates that the heat exchange efficiency of the compound condenser 1 meets the requirements, and the operating frequency of the fan 14 can be controlled to remain unchanged. If the condensing temperature of the heat pump unit is not equal to the target condenser temperature, it is determined whether the condensing temperature is greater than the target condensing temperature. If the condensing temperature of the heat pump unit is greater than the target condensing temperature, it indicates that the heat exchange of the compound condenser 1 is insufficient, and the operating frequency of the fan 14 can be increased (increased) to ensure that the heat exchange efficiency of the compound condenser 1 meets the requirements. If the condensing temperature of the heat pump unit is less than the target condensing temperature, it indicates that the heat exchange capacity of the compound condenser 1 is too high, and the operating frequency of the fan 14 can be reduced (decreased) to reduce energy consumption.

[0085] It should be noted that due to errors caused by temperature detection or software control, the "condensing temperature of the heat pump unit is equal to the target condensing temperature" in this embodiment may be roughly equal. For example, as long as the difference between the condensing temperature of the heat pump unit and the target condensing temperature is within a certain range (for example, 3°C), it means that the two are equal.

[0086] In this embodiment, the operating frequency of compressor 2 can also be adjusted based on the outlet water temperature deviation to achieve capacity matching. The outlet water temperature of evaporator 3 is determined to be equal to the target outlet water temperature (the target outlet water temperature is set by the user). If the outlet water temperature of evaporator 3 is equal to the target outlet water temperature, the operating frequency of compressor 2 is controlled to remain unchanged. If the outlet water temperature of evaporator 3 is not equal to the target outlet water temperature, the operating frequency of compressor 2 is determined to be greater than the target outlet water temperature. If the outlet water temperature of evaporator 3 is greater than the target outlet water temperature, the cooling capacity is insufficient, and the operating frequency of compressor 2 can be increased (increased). If the outlet water temperature of evaporator 3 is less than the target outlet water temperature, the cooling capacity is too high, and the operating frequency of compressor 2 can be reduced (decreased) to reduce energy consumption.

[0087] In addition, in this embodiment, when the heat pump unit is in heating mode, the states of the first air inlet valve 10, the second air inlet valve 30, the first air outlet valve 20, and the intermediate air valve 50 can be controlled based on the evaporation temperature of the heat pump unit. It should be noted that the evaporation temperature of the heat pump unit is the refrigerant saturation temperature corresponding to the refrigerant pressure at the refrigerant inlet of the compressor 2.

[0088] Among them, when the heat pump unit is in heating mode and the evaporation temperature of the heat pump unit is lower than the evaporative cooling start threshold, the first air inlet valve 10 and the second air outlet valve 40 can be controlled to be in a closed state, and the second air inlet valve 30, the first air outlet valve 20 and the intermediate air valve 50 can be controlled to be in an open state, so that the airflow outside the air duct 100 first enters the second sub-duct 102, and then enters the first sub-duct 101, and is finally discharged to the outside of the air duct 100.

[0089] In heating mode, evaporative cooling condenser 11 serves as the heat dissipation device. If ambient air first passes through second sub-duct 102 corresponding to evaporative cooling condenser 11, evaporative cooling condenser 11 raises the temperature of the air passing through second sub-duct 102. The heated air then passes through intermediate air valve 50 and enters first sub-duct 101 corresponding to air-cooled condenser 12. This heated air raises the heat exchange ambient temperature of air-cooled condenser 12, promoting more efficient heat absorption by the refrigerant flowing through air-cooled condenser 12, thereby increasing the refrigerant pressure at the refrigerant inlet of compressor 2. Because the evaporating temperature is directly related to this pressure (increasing pressure increases the saturation temperature, or evaporating temperature), triggering low-pressure protection due to excessively low evaporating temperature can be effectively avoided, ensuring the continued stable operation of the heat pump unit. Moreover, after the heated gas enters the first sub-air duct 101, it can directly act on the surface of the air-cooled condenser 12 which may be frosted. Combined with the increase in evaporation temperature, it can not only prevent the formation of new frost, but also accelerate the melting of the existing frost layer, ensuring the stability of the heat absorption capacity of the refrigerant in the heating mode, reducing the performance fluctuations of the heat pump unit caused by the deterioration of heat exchange, and better ensuring the stability and reliability of the heating of the heat pump unit.

[0090] When the heat pump unit is in heating mode and the evaporation temperature of the heat pump unit is greater than or equal to the evaporative cooling start threshold, the second air inlet valve 30, the second air outlet valve 40 and the intermediate air valve 50 can be controlled to be in a closed state, and the first air inlet valve 10 and the first air outlet valve 20 can be controlled to be in an open state. At this time, the external air directly enters the first sub-duct 101 and is discharged after passing through the first sub-duct 101. This can avoid the increase in resistance and path extension that may be caused by the gas bypassing the second sub-duct 102, reduce the additional energy consumption of the fan 14, improve the ventilation efficiency of the air duct 100, and ensure that the air-cooled condenser 12 has efficient heat exchange under suitable airflow conditions.

[0091] Among them, if it is determined that the evaporative cooling condenser 11 needs to be turned on in the heating mode, that is, if the evaporation temperature of the heat pump unit is lower than the evaporative cooling turn-on threshold, it is necessary to further determine whether the water pump 1111 is turned on. In this embodiment, the ambient temperature of the environment in which the heat pump unit is located can be detected by a temperature detection device, and then the size of the ambient temperature and the spray turn-on threshold can be determined. When the ambient temperature is less than or equal to the spray turn-on threshold, the spray device 111 can be controlled to be in a closed state. At this time, the water pump 1111 can be controlled to be in a closed state to avoid dangers such as frozen pipes and damage to the water pump 1111. When the ambient temperature is greater than the spray turn-on threshold, the spray can be controlled to be in an operating state, that is, the water pump 1111 can be controlled to be in an open state at this time to enhance the heat exchange effect of the evaporative cooling condenser 11.

[0092] After determining whether the evaporative cooling condenser 11 needs to be turned on, the operating frequency of the fan 14 can also be controlled according to the evaporation temperature of the heat pump unit to make the airflow in the air duct 100 more compatible with the heating demand.

[0093] If the evaporating temperature of the heat pump unit is greater than the target evaporating temperature (e.g., a user-set temperature), indicating that the heating capacity of the heat pump unit exceeds demand, the operating frequency of the fan 14 can be reduced (frequency reduction) to avoid excessive heating and waste of resources. If the evaporating temperature of the heat pump unit is less than the target evaporating temperature, indicating that the heating capacity of the heat pump unit does not meet demand, the operating frequency of the fan 14 can be increased (frequency increase) to better meet demand. If the evaporating temperature of the heat pump unit is equal to the target evaporating temperature, indicating that the heating capacity of the heat pump unit is comparable to demand, the operating frequency of the fan 14 can be controlled to remain unchanged to continue to maintain the current heating efficiency.

[0094] It should be noted that in this embodiment, "the evaporating temperature of the heat pump unit is equal to the target evaporating temperature" can be approximately equal. For example, as long as the difference between the evaporating temperature of the heat pump unit and the target evaporating temperature is within a certain range (for example, 3°C), it means that the two are equal.

[0095] After completing the control of the operating frequency of fan 14, the operating frequency of compressor 2 can also be controlled based on the outlet water temperature of evaporator 3. If the outlet water temperature of evaporator 3 is greater than the target outlet water temperature, indicating that the heating capacity of the heat pump unit has exceeded demand, the operating frequency of compressor 2 can be reduced (down-clocking) to avoid wasting resources and reduce energy consumption. If the outlet water temperature of evaporator 3 is less than the target outlet water temperature, indicating that the heating capacity of the heat pump unit is insufficient and cannot meet demand, the operating frequency of compressor 2 can be increased (up-clocking) to improve the heating efficiency of the heat pump unit and better meet user needs. If the outlet water temperature of evaporator 3 is equal to the target outlet water temperature, indicating that the heating capacity of the heat pump unit is comparable to demand, the operating frequency of compressor 2 can be controlled to remain unchanged.

[0096] It should be noted that the target water outlet temperature can be a user-defined temperature value. The target water outlet temperature in heating mode and the target water outlet temperature in cooling mode can be the same or different, without limitation. Furthermore, due to errors caused by temperature detection or software control, the phrase "the water outlet temperature of the evaporator 3 is equal to the target water outlet temperature" in this embodiment may be substantially equal.

[0097] In this embodiment, the evaporative cooling condenser 11 and the air-cooled condenser 12 are integrated into the same housing 13, sharing a fan 14 and forming independent sub-ducts 100 via a partition. This not only reduces equipment space and the number of fans 14, but also enables on-demand switching of airflow paths through precise damper control. In cooling mode, the heat exchange ratio between the two is automatically allocated based on the relative humidity of the environment (e.g., evaporative cooling is prioritized at low humidity, while air cooling is prioritized at high humidity), maximizing the air's heat exchange potential. In heating mode, the airflow is first heated by the evaporative cooling system before entering the air-cooled system, improving heat exchange efficiency in low-temperature environments and achieving a better balance between energy consumption and efficiency.

[0098] In addition, in this embodiment, the damper status is controlled based on humidity zones during cooling, and the airflow path is switched based on the evaporating temperature during heating. The spray device 111 is activated only when the ambient temperature is above a threshold to prevent freezing, thereby better ensuring stable operation of the unit under various operating conditions and enhancing the user experience. Furthermore, in the refrigerant flow path design, in heating mode, the refrigerant first passes through the evaporative cooling condenser 11 before entering the four-way valve 4, shortening the suction line length and reducing pressure drop losses, directly improving the suction efficiency and heating performance of the compressor 2. Simultaneously, the frequency of the fan 14 is adjusted by the condensing temperature, and the frequency of the compressor 2 is adjusted by the outlet water temperature, so that the output of the core equipment is precisely matched to the load demand (e.g., increasing the frequency to enhance heat exchange when the condensing temperature is too high, and reducing the frequency to save energy when there is excess cooling capacity), thereby reducing energy consumption while ensuring heating / cooling effects.

[0099] Professionals should also be further aware that the units and algorithm steps of each example described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination of the two. In order to clearly illustrate the interchangeability of hardware and software, the above description has generally described the components and steps of each example according to their functions. Whether these functions are performed in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Professionals and technicians can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0100] It should be noted that references in this specification to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," "an exemplary embodiment," "some embodiments," and the like indicate that the described embodiments may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but not necessarily every embodiment includes that particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Furthermore, such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in conjunction with an embodiment, it is within the knowledge of those skilled in the art to implement such feature, structure, or characteristic in conjunction with other embodiments, whether explicitly described or not.

[0101] It should be noted that, in this document, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another entity or operation, and do not necessarily require or imply any actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Moreover, the terms "include", "comprise" or any other variants thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, so that a process, method, article or air-conditioning equipment that includes a series of elements includes not only those elements, but also other elements not explicitly listed, or also includes elements inherent to such process, method, article or air-conditioning equipment. In the absence of further limitations, an element defined by the sentence "includes a..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article or air-conditioning equipment that includes the element.

[0102] The above embodiments are only preferred embodiments for fully illustrating the present application, and the protection scope of the present application is not limited thereto. Any equivalent substitutions or modifications made by those skilled in the art based on the present application are within the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A control method, characterized in that: The control method is applied to a heat pump unit, which includes an evaporative cooling condenser, an air-cooled condenser, an evaporator, a compressor, and a four-way valve, wherein the refrigerant outlet of the compressor is connected to the first refrigerant port of the evaporative cooling condenser, the second refrigerant port of the evaporative cooling condenser is connected to the first valve port of the four-way valve, the second valve port of the four-way valve is connected to the first refrigerant port of the air-cooled condenser, the second refrigerant port of the air-cooled condenser is connected to the first refrigerant port of the evaporator, the second refrigerant port of the evaporator is connected to the third valve port of the four-way valve, and the fourth valve port of the four-way valve is connected to the refrigerant inlet of the compressor; The heat pump unit includes an air duct, the air duct includes a first sub-duct and a second sub-duct, the first sub-duct includes a first air inlet valve and a first air outlet valve, the second sub-duct includes a second air inlet valve, the first sub-duct is used to provide airflow for the air-cooled condenser, the second sub-duct is used to provide airflow for the evaporative cooling condenser, and the first sub-duct and the second sub-duct are connected through an intermediate air valve; The control method includes: When the heat pump unit is in heating mode, controlling the first valve port and the third valve port of the four-way valve to be in conduction, and controlling the second valve port and the fourth valve port of the four-way valve to be in conduction; When the heat pump unit is in heating mode and the evaporating temperature of the heat pump unit is lower than the evaporative cooling start threshold, the first air intake valve is controlled to be in a closed state, and the second air intake valve, the first air outlet valve and the intermediate air valve are controlled to be in an open state; wherein the evaporating temperature of the heat pump unit is the refrigerant saturation temperature corresponding to the refrigerant pressure at the refrigerant inlet of the compressor.

2. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control method includes: When the heat pump unit is in heating mode and the evaporation temperature of the heat pump unit is greater than or equal to the evaporative cooling start threshold, the second air intake valve and the intermediate air valve are controlled to be in a closed state, and the first air intake valve and the first air outlet valve are controlled to be in an open state.

3. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The evaporative cooling condenser includes a spray device, and the control method includes: When the heat pump unit is in heating mode and the evaporation temperature of the heat pump unit is lower than the evaporation cooling start threshold, if the ambient temperature of the environment in which the heat pump unit is located is higher than the spray start threshold, the spray device is controlled to be in operation.

4. The control method according to claim 3, characterized in that: The control method includes: When the evaporation temperature of the heat pump unit is lower than the evaporative cooling start threshold, and the ambient temperature of the environment in which the heat pump unit is located is lower than or equal to the spray start threshold, the spray device is controlled to be in a closed state.

5. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control method includes: When the heat pump unit is in a heating mode, if the evaporation temperature of the heat pump unit is greater than a target evaporation temperature, the operating frequency of the fan of the heat pump unit is reduced.

6. The control method according to claim 5, characterized in that: The control method includes: When the heat pump unit is in a heating mode, if the evaporation temperature of the heat pump unit is lower than the target evaporation temperature, the operating frequency of the fan is increased.

7. The control method according to claim 5, characterized in that: The control method includes: When the heat pump unit is in a heating mode, if the evaporation temperature of the heat pump unit is equal to the target evaporation temperature, the operating frequency of the fan is controlled to remain unchanged.

8. The control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The control method includes: When the heat pump unit is in a heating mode, if the outlet water temperature of the evaporator is greater than a target outlet water temperature, the operating frequency of the compressor is reduced.

9. The control method according to claim 8, characterized in that: The control method includes: When the heat pump unit is in a heating mode, if the outlet water temperature of the evaporator is lower than the target outlet water temperature, the operating frequency of the compressor is increased.

10. The control method according to claim 8, characterized in that: The control method includes: When the heat pump unit is in a heating mode, if the outlet water temperature of the evaporator is equal to the target outlet water temperature, the operating frequency of the compressor is controlled to remain unchanged.

11. The control method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that: The second sub-air duct includes a second air outlet valve, and the control method includes: When the heat pump unit is in cooling mode, the first valve port and the second valve port of the four-way valve are controlled to be connected, and the third valve port and the fourth valve port of the four-way valve are controlled to be connected, and the states of the first air intake valve, the second air intake valve, the first air outlet valve, the second air outlet valve and the intermediate air valve are controlled according to the relative humidity of the environment in which the heat pump unit is located; wherein the condensing temperature of the heat pump unit is the refrigerant saturation temperature corresponding to the refrigerant pressure at the refrigerant outlet of the compressor.

12. The control method according to claim 11, characterized in that: The control method includes: When the heat pump unit is in heating mode, the second air outlet valve is controlled to be in a closed state.

13. A heat pump unit, characterized in that: The heat pump unit is used to implement the control method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, the heat pump unit comprising an evaporative cooling condenser, an air-cooled condenser, an evaporator, a compressor and a four-way valve, the refrigerant outlet of the compressor is connected to the first refrigerant port of the evaporative cooling condenser, the second refrigerant port of the evaporative cooling condenser is connected to the first valve port of the four-way valve, the second valve port of the four-way valve is connected to the first refrigerant port of the air-cooled condenser, the second refrigerant port of the air-cooled condenser is connected to the first refrigerant port of the evaporator, the second refrigerant port of the evaporator is connected to the third valve port of the four-way valve, and the fourth valve port of the four-way valve is connected to the refrigerant inlet of the compressor; The heat pump unit includes an air duct, which includes a first sub-duct and a second sub-duct. The first sub-duct includes a first air inlet valve and a first air outlet valve, and the second sub-duct includes a second air inlet valve. The first sub-duct is used to provide airflow for the air-cooled condenser, and the second sub-duct is used to provide airflow for the evaporative cooling condenser. The first sub-duct and the second sub-duct are connected through an intermediate air valve.

14. The heat pump unit according to claim 13, characterized in that: The heat pump unit includes a compound condenser, which includes a shell, a fan, the evaporative cooling condenser and the air-cooled condenser. The air duct is formed in the shell, and the fan is used to drive the flow of gas in the air duct. A partition plate is provided in the shell to divide the air duct into the first sub-duct and the second sub-duct. The air-cooled condenser is located in the first sub-duct, and the evaporative cooling condenser is provided in the second sub-duct. The intermediate air valve is provided on the partition plate, and the first air inlet valve, the second air inlet valve, and the first air outlet valve are all provided on the shell.

15. The heat pump unit according to claim 14, characterized in that: The second sub-air duct includes a second air outlet valve, and the second air outlet valve is arranged on the shell.

16. An air conditioner, characterized in that: The air conditioner includes the heat pump unit according to any one of claims 13 to 15.

Images