Air conditioner and control method

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention discloses an air conditioner and a control method, and belongs to the field of air treatment equipment. The air conditioner comprises a compressor, an expansion valve, indoor heat exchangers and an outdoor heat exchanger, and the indoor heat exchangers comprise the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger; in the drying mode, the refrigerant passes through the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger in sequence. When the air conditioner runs in a drying mode and a refrigerant output by the compressor firstly passes through the first heat exchanger, due to the fact that the temperature of the refrigerant is high, the first heat exchanger can increase the temperature in the air channel and improve the evaporation efficiency of condensation water in the air channel, and meanwhile the refrigerant passes through the outdoor heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger after passing through the first heat exchanger; the second heat exchanger can reduce the temperature in the air duct, the effect of integrating the temperature increased by the first heat exchanger is achieved, the temperature in a room is not prone to being changed by the temperature of airflow output by the air conditioner, condensation water can be rapidly treated, the temperature in the room is not affected, and the use experience of the air conditioner is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of air handling equipment, and more specifically, to an air conditioner and a control method thereof. Background Technology

[0002] During the cooling process, condensation can easily remain in the indoor heat exchanger and air duct. If the condensation is not drained in time, bacteria can easily grow inside the air conditioner, causing indoor air pollution during subsequent use.

[0003] The current solution is to control the air conditioning to dry the condensation, but this method takes a long time, increases the energy consumption of the air conditioning and unnecessary running time, and leads to a decline in the user experience of the air conditioning. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides an air conditioner and a control method to at least solve the technical problem of a decline in the user experience of air conditioning.

[0005] According to a first aspect of the embodiments of this application, an air conditioner is provided, including a compressor, an expansion valve, an indoor heat exchanger, and an outdoor heat exchanger;

[0006] The indoor heat exchanger includes a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger, and there is a sub-refrigerant flow path between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger that can be controlled to be switched on and off.

[0007] The air conditioner includes a cooling mode, a heating mode, and a drying mode;

[0008] In the cooling mode, the refrigerant output by the compressor flows back to the compressor after passing through the outdoor heat exchanger, the expansion valve, the first heat exchanger, the sub-refrigerant flow path, and the second heat exchanger in sequence.

[0009] In the heating mode, the refrigerant output by the compressor flows back to the compressor after passing through the second heat exchanger, the sub-refrigerant flow path, the first heat exchanger, the expansion valve, and the outdoor heat exchanger in sequence.

[0010] In the drying mode, the sub-refrigerant flow path is disconnected, and the refrigerant output by the compressor flows back to the compressor after passing through the first heat exchanger, the outdoor heat exchanger, the expansion valve, and the second heat exchanger in sequence. Alternatively, the refrigerant output by the compressor flows back to the compressor after passing through the second heat exchanger, the outdoor heat exchanger, the expansion valve, and the first heat exchanger in sequence. One of the first and second heat exchangers is used to increase the air duct temperature of the air conditioner, and the other is used to decrease the airflow temperature in the air duct.

[0011] In this embodiment, the indoor heat exchanger includes a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger. When the air conditioner is operating in dry mode, the refrigerant output by the compressor first passes through the first heat exchanger. Due to the higher temperature of the refrigerant, the first heat exchanger can increase the temperature inside the air duct, thereby improving the evaporation efficiency of condensate in the air duct. At the same time, after passing through the first heat exchanger, the refrigerant passes through the outdoor heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, which allows the second heat exchanger to lower the temperature inside the air duct. This achieves the combined effect of the increased temperature from the first heat exchanger, making it less likely for the air conditioner's output airflow temperature to change the room temperature. It can quickly handle condensate without affecting the room temperature, thus improving the user experience of the air conditioner.

[0012] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one optional implementation of the embodiments of this application, the first heat exchanger includes a first refrigerant interface, a second refrigerant interface, and a third refrigerant interface; the second heat exchanger includes a fourth refrigerant interface, a fifth refrigerant interface, and a sixth refrigerant interface;

[0013] The third refrigerant interface and the sixth refrigerant interface are connected through the sub-refrigerant flow path;

[0014] In the cooling mode, the refrigerant enters the first heat exchanger from the first refrigerant port and exits the first heat exchanger from the third refrigerant port; the refrigerant enters the second heat exchanger from the sixth refrigerant port and exits the second heat exchanger from the fifth refrigerant port.

[0015] In the heating mode, the refrigerant enters the second heat exchanger from the fifth refrigerant port and exits the second heat exchanger from the sixth refrigerant port; the refrigerant enters the first heat exchanger from the third refrigerant port and exits the first heat exchanger from the first refrigerant port.

[0016] In the drying mode, if the refrigerant passes through the first heat exchanger first, the refrigerant enters from the second refrigerant port and exits from the first refrigerant port of the first heat exchanger. After passing through the outdoor heat exchanger and the expansion valve, it enters from the fourth refrigerant port and exits from the fifth refrigerant port of the second heat exchanger. If the refrigerant passes through the second heat exchanger first, the refrigerant enters from the fifth refrigerant port and exits from the fourth refrigerant port of the second heat exchanger. After passing through the outdoor heat exchanger and the expansion valve, it enters from the first refrigerant port and exits from the second refrigerant port of the first heat exchanger.

[0017] In conjunction with the first aspect, in an optional implementation of the embodiments of this application, the air conditioner further includes a first four-way valve, a second four-way valve, a third four-way valve, a first shut-off valve, a second shut-off valve, a third shut-off valve, a fourth shut-off valve, a fifth shut-off valve, and a sixth shut-off valve.

[0018] The refrigerant outlet of the compressor is connected to port a of the first four-way valve, port b of the first four-way valve is connected to the first end of the second shut-off valve, the second end of the second shut-off valve is connected to the first end of the outdoor heat exchanger, the second end of the outdoor heat exchanger is connected to the first end of the expansion valve, the second end of the expansion valve is connected to port a of the second four-way valve, port b of the second four-way valve is connected to the first refrigerant interface, the second refrigerant interface is connected to port c of the third four-way valve, port a of the third four-way valve is connected to the first end of the sixth shut-off valve, the second end of the sixth shut-off valve is connected to port c of the first four-way valve, and port d of the first four-way valve is connected to the refrigerant inlet of the compressor.

[0019] The c port of the second four-way valve is connected to the fourth refrigerant interface, and the fifth refrigerant interface is connected to the b port of the third four-way valve;

[0020] The first end of the first shut-off valve and the first end of the fifth shut-off valve are both connected to port d of the third four-way valve; the second end of the first shut-off valve is connected to port b of the first four-way valve; and the second end of the fifth shut-off valve is connected to port c of the first four-way valve.

[0021] The first end of the fourth shut-off valve is connected to port d of the second four-way valve, and the second end of the fourth shut-off valve is connected to the first end of the outdoor heat exchanger.

[0022] The third shut-off valve is located in the sub-refrigerant flow path;

[0023] In the cooling mode and heating mode, the first shut-off valve, the fourth shut-off valve and the sixth shut-off valve are disconnected, while the second shut-off valve, the third shut-off valve and the fifth shut-off valve are connected.

[0024] In the drying mode, the first, fourth, and sixth shut-off valves are open, while the second, third, and fifth shut-off valves are closed.

[0025] In conjunction with the first aspect, in one optional implementation of the embodiments of this application, the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are located at different positions in the air duct of the air conditioner.

[0026] By adopting this implementation method, the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are located in different positions, which allows the drying mode to treat condensate at different locations when increasing the temperature inside the air duct by using the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, thereby improving the drying range.

[0027] In conjunction with the first aspect, in an optional implementation of the embodiments of this application, in the drying mode, if the refrigerant output by the compressor passes through the first heat exchanger first, the second heat exchanger is controlled to use sensible heat cooling; if the refrigerant output by the compressor passes through the second heat exchanger first, the first heat exchanger is controlled to use sensible heat cooling.

[0028] By adopting this implementation method, sensible heat cooling can avoid the formation of condensation during the drying process, and it is less likely to cause the situation where condensation is generated while evaporating. This helps to improve the efficiency of condensation treatment, thereby shortening the time that the air conditioner is in the drying mode, saving the energy consumption of the air conditioner, preventing users from mistakenly thinking that the air conditioner is malfunctioning, and improving the user experience of the air conditioner.

[0029] According to a second aspect of the embodiments of this application, a method for controlling an air conditioner is provided, the method comprising:

[0030] In dry mode, the degree of difference between the air conditioner's outlet temperature and the ambient temperature of the environment where the air conditioner is located is obtained; based on the degree of difference, at least one of the compressor frequency, expansion valve step, and air conditioner indoor fan speed is adjusted to reduce the degree of difference to a preset range;

[0031] And / or, in dry mode, obtain the pipe temperature of the target heat exchanger; if the pipe temperature is lower than the dew point temperature of the air, adjust at least one of the expansion valve step and the air conditioner indoor fan speed to make the pipe temperature higher than the dew point temperature, wherein the target heat exchanger is the heat exchanger through which the refrigerant output by the compressor passes when operating in dry mode, and the target heat exchanger includes a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger.

[0032] In this embodiment, during the drying mode, the compressor frequency, expansion valve step, and indoor fan speed can be adjusted based on the difference between the outlet air temperature and the ambient temperature. This reduces the difference, ensuring that the ambient temperature does not fluctuate significantly during the drying process, thus minimizing disruption to the user's indoor experience. Simultaneously, by monitoring the pipe temperature, it is maintained above the dew point temperature to prevent condensation during the drying process.

[0033] In conjunction with the second aspect, in an optional implementation of this application embodiment, adjusting at least one of the compressor frequency, expansion valve step, and indoor air conditioner fan speed according to the degree of difference, so as to reduce the degree of difference to a preset range, includes:

[0034] When the difference exceeds a preset range and the outlet air temperature is greater than the ambient temperature, the compressor frequency is increased according to a preset first rate of change and / or the expansion valve step is decreased according to a preset second rate of change. When the compressor frequency reaches its maximum value and the expansion valve step reaches its minimum value, the compressor is controlled to stop and the indoor fan runs at the highest wind speed.

[0035] When the difference exceeds a preset range and the outlet air temperature is lower than the ambient temperature, the compressor frequency is reduced at a preset third rate of change and / or the expansion valve step is increased at a preset fourth rate of change. When the compressor frequency reaches its minimum value and the expansion valve step reaches its maximum value, the compressor is stopped and the indoor fan operates at its highest speed.

[0036] In conjunction with the second aspect, in an optional implementation of the embodiments of this application, the method further includes:

[0037] When adjusting the compressor frequency and expansion valve step, the compressor frequency is adjusted first, and the expansion valve step is adjusted when the compressor frequency cannot be adjusted. The compressor frequency cannot be adjusted, including when the compressor frequency reaches its maximum or minimum value.

[0038] In conjunction with the second aspect, in an optional implementation of the embodiments of this application, adjusting at least one of the expansion valve step and the indoor fan speed of the air conditioner to make the pipe temperature higher than the dew point temperature includes:

[0039] The expansion valve step is controlled to increase at a preset fifth rate of change;

[0040] If the pipe temperature is detected to be higher than the dew point temperature before the expansion valve step reaches its maximum value, the adjustment of the expansion valve step is stopped; otherwise, after the expansion valve step reaches its maximum value, the compressor is stopped and the indoor fan runs at its highest speed.

[0041] In conjunction with the second aspect, in an optional implementation of the embodiments of this application, the refrigerant output by the compressor in the drying mode first passes through the first heat exchanger to form a first drying mode, and the refrigerant output by the compressor first passes through the second heat exchanger to form a second drying mode.

[0042] The method further includes:

[0043] When running the drying mode, the first drying mode and the second drying mode are alternately executed a preset number of times or for a preset duration, and then the drying mode is exited.

[0044] And / or, when running the drying mode, the position of the condensate in the air conditioning duct is obtained. If the position is closer to the first heat exchanger, the drying mode is exited after executing the first drying mode a preset number of times or a preset duration. If the position is closer to the second heat exchanger, the drying mode is exited after executing the second drying mode a preset number of times or a preset duration.

[0045] The technical effects achieved by the second aspect are similar to those achieved by the corresponding technical means in the first aspect, and will not be elaborated further here. Attached Figure Description

[0046] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an air conditioner provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0047] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant flow path in an air conditioning cooling mode according to an embodiment of this application;

[0048] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant flow path in an air conditioner heating mode provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0049] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant flow path in the first drying mode of an air conditioner, provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0050] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant flow path in a second drying mode of an air conditioner, provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0051] Figure 6 This is a flowchart of an air conditioning control method provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0052] Figure 7 This is a control flowchart of an air conditioning control method provided in this application embodiment in a specific application.

[0053] Labeling Explanation: 1. Compressor; 2. First four-way valve; 3. Second shut-off valve; 4. Outdoor heat exchanger; 5. Expansion valve; 6. Fourth shut-off valve; 7. Second four-way valve; 8. Indoor heat exchanger; 81. First heat exchanger; 82. Third shut-off valve; 83. Second heat exchanger; 9. Third four-way valve; 10. Sixth shut-off valve; 11. Fifth shut-off valve; 12. First shut-off valve. Detailed Implementation

[0054] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the present application, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments in the present application, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort should fall within the scope of protection of the present application.

[0055] It should be understood that "multiple" as mentioned herein refers to two or more. In the description of the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise stated, " / " means "or," for example, A / B can mean A or B; "and / or" in this document is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, and B existing alone. In addition, to facilitate a clear description of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used in the embodiments of this application to distinguish identical or similar items with substantially the same function and effect. Those skilled in the art will understand that the terms "first," "second," etc., do not limit the quantity or execution order, and the terms "first," "second," etc., do not necessarily imply that they are different.

[0056] Furthermore, the terms “comprising” and “having”, and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, system, product, or apparatus that includes a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units that are explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units that are not explicitly listed or that are inherent to such process, method, product, or apparatus.

[0057] First, the terminology used in the embodiments of this application will be introduced.

[0058] Sensible heat refrigeration: refers to the refrigeration process that only lowers the temperature of the air without changing its moisture content (i.e., without removing the moisture in the air). This can be achieved by the heat exchanger tube temperature being higher than the air dew point.

[0059] After a household air conditioner finishes cooling, a large amount of condensation will remain in the indoor heat exchanger or air duct. If this condensation is not removed in time, bacteria and mold will grow on the air duct and indoor heat exchanger. When the air conditioner is turned on again, the bacteria and mold will enter the indoor environment through the air conditioner's exhaust, thus polluting the indoor environment and greatly increasing the probability of people indoors contracting respiratory and skin diseases.

[0060] The common method for dealing with residual condensation is to turn on the air supply mode and blow air for about 2 minutes. This method is simple and easy to operate, but it is difficult to completely blow away the residual water in the air duct and indoor heat exchanger in about 2-5 minutes. If the blowing time is too long, it will cause misunderstanding or dissatisfaction among users.

[0061] Based on this, embodiments of this application provide an air conditioner and a control method, which at least solves the following problems:

[0062] The high-temperature drying process thoroughly and quickly removes residual water from the indoor heat exchanger and air duct.

[0063] It has at least the following effects:

[0064] Thoroughly removing residual moisture from the heat exchanger and air ducts of an indoor air conditioner can create a healthy and clean internal environment for the air conditioner, thereby reducing the probability of the indoor environment being contaminated by mold and other bacteria that grow in the air conditioner.

[0065] It should include at least the following characteristics:

[0066] 1. The indoor heat exchanger is divided into two parts. One part circulates high-temperature refrigerant, causing condensation remaining on this part to evaporate rapidly and simultaneously increasing the temperature of the air duct, thus accelerating the evaporation of residual water within the duct. The other part circulates low-temperature refrigerant to balance the heat dissipated by the first part, ensuring that the final outlet air temperature is close to the ambient temperature, preventing users from feeling cold or hot and guaranteeing indoor comfort. This part of the heat exchanger must use sensible heat cooling to prevent further condensation generation. The two parts of the heat exchanger can be switched between cooling and heating functions via valves.

[0067] 2. The flow path is controlled by switching the shut-off valve and the four-way valve, and the effective control of the refrigeration system ensures that the outlet air temperature is close to the indoor ambient temperature and that no more condensation is generated.

[0068] Next, the air conditioner provided in this embodiment will be further described, as follows: Figure 1-5 As shown, the air conditioner includes a compressor 1, an expansion valve 5, an indoor heat exchanger 8, and an outdoor heat exchanger 4.

[0069] The indoor heat exchanger 8 includes a first heat exchanger 81 and a second heat exchanger 83, and there is a sub-refrigerant flow path between the first heat exchanger 81 and the second heat exchanger 83 that can be controlled to be turned on and off.

[0070] The air conditioner includes a cooling mode, a heating mode, and a drying mode;

[0071] In the cooling mode, the refrigerant output by the compressor 1 flows back to the compressor 1 after passing through the outdoor heat exchanger 4, the expansion valve 5, the first heat exchanger 81, the sub-refrigerant flow path, and the second heat exchanger 83 in sequence.

[0072] In the heating mode, the refrigerant output by the compressor 1 flows back to the compressor 1 after passing through the second heat exchanger 83, the sub-refrigerant flow path, the first heat exchanger 81, the expansion valve 5, and the outdoor heat exchanger 4 in sequence.

[0073] In the drying mode, the sub-refrigerant flow path is disconnected. The refrigerant output from the compressor 1 flows back to the compressor 1 after passing through the first heat exchanger 81, the outdoor heat exchanger 4, the expansion valve 5, and the second heat exchanger 83 in sequence. Alternatively, the refrigerant output from the compressor 1 flows back to the compressor 1 after passing through the second heat exchanger 83, the outdoor heat exchanger 4, the expansion valve 5, and the first heat exchanger 81 in sequence. One of the first heat exchanger 81 and the second heat exchanger 83 is used to increase the air duct temperature of the air conditioner, and the other is used to decrease the airflow temperature in the air duct.

[0074] The compressor, expansion valve, indoor heat exchanger, and outdoor heat exchanger are connected by refrigerant piping. This embodiment does not limit the specific structure of the refrigerant piping, as long as the refrigerant flow sequence is satisfied when the air conditioner is operating in cooling, heating, and drying modes. In one embodiment, to reduce the number and length of refrigerant piping, valves and reversing valves can be installed in the air conditioner as needed.

[0075] In this embodiment, the indoor heat exchanger 8 includes a first heat exchanger 81 and a second heat exchanger 83. When the air conditioner is operating in the drying mode, the refrigerant output by the compressor 1 first passes through the first heat exchanger 81. Due to the high temperature of the refrigerant, the first heat exchanger 81 can increase the temperature inside the air duct, thereby improving the evaporation efficiency of the condensate inside the air duct. At the same time, after passing through the first heat exchanger 81, the refrigerant passes through the outdoor heat exchanger 4 and the second heat exchanger 83, which allows the second heat exchanger 83 to lower the temperature inside the air duct, achieving the effect of neutralizing the increased temperature of the first heat exchanger 81. This makes it less likely for the air conditioner's output airflow temperature to change the room temperature, thus quickly handling the condensate without affecting the room temperature and improving the user experience of the air conditioner.

[0076] In one possible embodiment of this application, the first heat exchanger 81 includes a first refrigerant interface, a second refrigerant interface, and a third refrigerant interface; the second heat exchanger 83 includes a fourth refrigerant interface, a fifth refrigerant interface, and a sixth refrigerant interface;

[0077] The third refrigerant interface and the sixth refrigerant interface are connected through the sub-refrigerant flow path;

[0078] In the cooling mode, the refrigerant enters the first heat exchanger 81 from the first refrigerant port and exits the first heat exchanger 81 from the third refrigerant port. The refrigerant enters the second heat exchanger 83 from the sixth refrigerant port and exits the second heat exchanger 83 from the fifth refrigerant port.

[0079] In the heating mode, the refrigerant enters the second heat exchanger 83 from the fifth refrigerant port and exits the second heat exchanger 83 from the sixth refrigerant port. The refrigerant enters the first heat exchanger 81 from the third refrigerant port and exits the first heat exchanger 81 from the first refrigerant port.

[0080] In the drying mode, if the refrigerant first passes through the first heat exchanger 81, the refrigerant enters from the second refrigerant port and exits from the first refrigerant port of the first heat exchanger 81. After passing through the outdoor heat exchanger 4 and the expansion valve 5, it enters from the fourth refrigerant port and exits from the fifth refrigerant port of the second heat exchanger 83. If the refrigerant first passes through the second heat exchanger 83, the refrigerant enters from the fifth refrigerant port and exits from the fourth refrigerant port of the second heat exchanger 83. After passing through the outdoor heat exchanger 4 and the expansion valve 5, it enters from the first refrigerant port and exits from the second refrigerant port of the first heat exchanger 81.

[0081] In this embodiment, both the first heat exchanger 81 and the second heat exchanger 83 have three refrigerant ports, which improves the flexibility of the refrigerant flow path within the first heat exchanger 81 and the second heat exchanger 83.

[0082] Optionally, in one implementation of this embodiment, the air conditioner further includes a first four-way valve 2, a second four-way valve 7, a third four-way valve 9, a first shut-off valve 12, a second shut-off valve 3, a third shut-off valve 82, a fourth shut-off valve 6, a fifth shut-off valve 11, and a sixth shut-off valve 10.

[0083] The refrigerant outlet of the compressor 1 is connected to port a of the first four-way valve 2, port b of the first four-way valve 2 is connected to the first end of the second shut-off valve 3, the second end of the second shut-off valve 3 is connected to the first end of the outdoor heat exchanger 4, the second end of the outdoor heat exchanger 4 is connected to the first end of the expansion valve 5, the second end of the expansion valve 5 is connected to port a of the second four-way valve 7, port b of the second four-way valve 7 is connected to the first refrigerant interface, the second refrigerant interface is connected to port c of the third four-way valve 9, port a of the third four-way valve 9 is connected to the first end of the sixth shut-off valve 10, the second end of the sixth shut-off valve 10 is connected to port c of the first four-way valve 2, and port d of the first four-way valve 2 is connected to the refrigerant inlet of the compressor 1.

[0084] The c port of the second four-way valve 7 is connected to the fourth refrigerant interface, and the fifth refrigerant interface is connected to the b port of the third four-way valve 9;

[0085] The first end of the first shut-off valve 12 and the first end of the fifth shut-off valve 11 are both connected to the d port of the third four-way valve 9; the second end of the first shut-off valve 12 is connected to the b port of the first four-way valve 2; and the second end of the fifth shut-off valve 11 is connected to the c port of the first four-way valve 2.

[0086] The first end of the fourth shut-off valve 6 is connected to port d of the second four-way valve 7, and the second end of the fourth shut-off valve 6 is connected to the first end of the outdoor heat exchanger 4.

[0087] The third shut-off valve 82 is located in the sub-refrigerant flow path;

[0088] In the cooling mode and heating mode, the first shut-off valve 12, the fourth shut-off valve 6 and the sixth shut-off valve 10 are disconnected, while the second shut-off valve 3, the third shut-off valve 82 and the fifth shut-off valve 11 are connected.

[0089] In the drying mode, the first shut-off valve 12, the fourth shut-off valve 6, and the sixth shut-off valve 10 are open, while the second shut-off valve 3, the third shut-off valve 82, and the fifth shut-off valve 11 are closed.

[0090] By using this embodiment, the complexity of the refrigerant flow path is reduced by setting a shut-off valve and a four-way valve, thereby simplifying the air conditioner structure and controlling costs.

[0091] Optionally, in one implementation of this embodiment, the first heat exchanger 81 and the second heat exchanger 83 are located at different positions in the air duct of the air conditioner.

[0092] By adopting this implementation method, the positions of the first heat exchanger 81 and the second heat exchanger 83 are different, so that when the drying mode increases the temperature inside the air duct by using the first heat exchanger 81 and the second heat exchanger 83, the condensate at different positions can be treated, thereby increasing the drying range.

[0093] Optionally, in one implementation of this embodiment, in the drying mode, if the refrigerant output by the compressor 1 passes through the first heat exchanger 81 first, the first heat exchanger 81 is controlled to use sensible heat cooling; if the refrigerant output by the compressor 1 passes through the second heat exchanger 83 first, the second heat exchanger 83 is controlled to use sensible heat cooling.

[0094] By adopting this implementation method, sensible heat cooling can avoid the formation of condensation during the drying process, and it is less likely to cause the situation where condensation is generated while evaporating. This helps to improve the efficiency of condensation treatment, thereby shortening the time that the air conditioner is in the drying mode, saving the energy consumption of the air conditioner, preventing users from mistakenly thinking that the air conditioner is malfunctioning, and improving the user experience of the air conditioner.

[0095] A second aspect of this application provides a method for controlling an air conditioner, the method comprising:

[0096] In dry mode, the degree of difference between the air outlet temperature of the air conditioner and the ambient temperature of the environment where the air conditioner is located is obtained; at least one of the compressor 1 frequency, expansion valve 5 valve step and air conditioner indoor fan speed is adjusted according to the degree of difference, so that the degree of difference is reduced to a preset range;

[0097] And / or, in dry mode, the pipe temperature of the target heat exchanger is obtained; if the pipe temperature is lower than the dew point temperature of the air, at least one of the expansion valve 5 valve step and the air conditioner indoor fan speed is adjusted so that the pipe temperature is higher than the dew point temperature, wherein the target heat exchanger is the heat exchanger through which the refrigerant output by the compressor 1 passes first when operating in dry mode, and the target heat exchanger includes a first heat exchanger 81 and a second heat exchanger 83.

[0098] In this embodiment, during the drying mode, the compressor 1 frequency, expansion valve 5 valve step, and indoor fan speed can be adjusted based on the difference between the outlet air temperature and the ambient temperature. This reduces the difference, ensuring that the ambient temperature does not fluctuate significantly during the drying process, thus minimizing impact on the user's indoor experience. Simultaneously, by monitoring the pipe temperature, it is ensured to remain above the dew point temperature, preventing condensation during the drying process.

[0099] Optionally, in one implementation of this embodiment, adjusting at least one of the compressor 1 frequency, expansion valve 5 valve step, and air conditioner indoor fan speed according to the degree of difference, so as to reduce the degree of difference to a preset range, includes:

[0100] When the difference exceeds a preset range and the outlet air temperature is greater than the ambient temperature, the compressor 1 frequency is increased according to a preset first rate of change and / or the expansion valve 5 valve step is decreased according to a preset second rate of change. When the compressor 1 frequency reaches its maximum value and the expansion valve 5 valve step reaches its minimum value, the compressor 1 is controlled to stop and the indoor fan runs at the highest wind speed.

[0101] When the difference exceeds a preset range and the outlet air temperature is lower than the ambient temperature, the compressor 1 frequency is reduced at a preset third rate of change and / or the expansion valve 5 valve step is increased at a preset fourth rate of change. When the compressor 1 frequency reaches its minimum value and the expansion valve 5 valve step reaches its maximum value, the compressor 1 is controlled to stop and the indoor fan runs at its highest wind speed.

[0102] Optionally, in one implementation of this embodiment, the method further includes:

[0103] When adjusting the frequency of compressor 1 and the valve step of expansion valve 5, the frequency of compressor 1 is adjusted first. When the frequency of compressor 1 cannot be adjusted, the valve step of expansion valve 5 is adjusted. The inability to adjust the frequency of compressor 1 includes when the frequency of compressor 1 reaches its maximum or minimum value.

[0104] Optionally, in one implementation of this embodiment, adjusting at least one of the expansion valve 5 valve step and the air conditioner indoor fan speed to make the pipe temperature higher than the dew point temperature includes:

[0105] The expansion valve 5 is controlled to increase at a preset fifth rate of change.

[0106] If the pipe temperature is detected to be higher than the dew point temperature before the expansion valve 5 reaches its maximum value, the adjustment of the expansion valve 5 is stopped; otherwise, after the expansion valve 5 reaches its maximum value, the compressor 1 is stopped and the indoor fan is operated at its highest speed.

[0107] Optionally, in one implementation of this embodiment, the refrigerant output by compressor 1 first passes through the first heat exchanger 81 in the drying mode, which is the first drying mode, and the refrigerant output by compressor 1 first passes through the second heat exchanger 83 in the second drying mode.

[0108] The method further includes:

[0109] When running the drying mode, the first drying mode and the second drying mode are alternately executed a preset number of times or for a preset duration, and then the drying mode is exited.

[0110] And / or, when running the drying mode, the position of the condensate in the air conditioning duct is obtained. If the position is closer to the first heat exchanger 81, the drying mode is exited after executing the first drying mode a preset number of times or a preset duration. If the position is closer to the second heat exchanger 83, the drying mode is exited after executing the second drying mode a preset number of times or a preset duration.

[0111] Optionally, in one implementation of this embodiment, the location of condensate within the air conditioning duct can be determined by installing sensors or camera equipment. For example, the location of condensate can be detected by installing an infrared thermal imager, resistivity sensor, or fiber optic moisture sensor near the first heat exchanger 81 and the second heat exchanger 83.

[0112] In the above embodiments of this application, the descriptions of each embodiment have their own emphasis. Parts not described in detail in a certain embodiment can be referred to in the relevant descriptions of other embodiments. The steps illustrated in the related flowcharts can be executed in a computer system such as a set of computer-executable instructions. Furthermore, although a logical order is shown in the flowcharts, in some cases, the steps shown or described may be performed in a different order than that shown here. In other words, the order of steps described in the foregoing embodiments is merely an example. Reasonable adjustments to the order of steps based on the content of the embodiments of this application are also within the protection scope of the embodiments of this application.

[0113] In one specific implementation of this application embodiment, the air conditioner and control method include the following processing steps:

[0114] like Figure 1-7 As shown,

[0115] Cooling (dehumidification) circulation mode:

[0116] F1, F4, and F6 are for closing; F2, F3, and F5 are for opening.

[0117] High-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant exits the compressor, passes through four-way valve S1, then through shut-off valve F2, and then enters outdoor heat exchanger 4 for heat exchange. It then enters electronic expansion valve 5 for throttling, passes through four-way valve S2, first enters first heat exchanger 81, then through shut-off valve F3, and enters second heat exchanger 83 for heat exchange, becoming low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant. Finally, it passes through four-way valve S3, shut-off valve F5, and four-way valve S1 back to the compressor, completing one refrigeration cycle.

[0118] Heating cycle mode:

[0119] F1, F4, and F6 are for closing; F2, F3, and F5 are for opening.

[0120] High-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant comes out of the compressor, passes through four-way valve S1, shut-off valve F5 and four-way valve S3, and then passes through the second heat exchanger 83, shut-off valve F3 and the first heat exchanger 81 for heat exchange. After that, it enters the electronic expansion valve through four-way valve S2 for throttling, and then enters the outdoor heat exchanger. It then flows back to the compressor through shut-off valve F2 and four-way valve S1, completing a heating cycle.

[0121] Drying mode 1 (also known as the first drying mode):

[0122] F2, F3, and F5 turn off; F1, F4, and F6 turn on.

[0123] High-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant exits the compressor, passes through four-way valve S1, shut-off valve F1, and four-way valve S3, and enters the second heat exchanger 83 for heat exchange. After flowing out of the second heat exchanger 83, it enters four-way valve S2 and shut-off valve F4, and then enters the outdoor heat exchanger, where the main heat exchange of the refrigerant is completed. Afterward, the refrigerant enters the electronic expansion valve for throttling, and then enters the first heat exchanger 81 through four-way valve S2. By adjusting the compressor frequency and the electronic expansion valve step, the evaporation temperature of the first heat exchanger 81 is made higher than the dew point temperature of the indoor environment, where sensible heat cooling is completed. Finally, it flows back to the compressor through four-way valve S3, shut-off valve F6, and four-way valve S1, completing the drying cycle 1.

[0124] Drying mode 2 (also known as the second drying mode):

[0125] F2, F3, and F5 turn off; F1, F4, and F6 turn on.

[0126] In the dry mode 1, the four-way valves S2 and S3 switch, and the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant comes out of the compressor, passes through the four-way valve S1, the shut-off valve F1, and the four-way valve S3, and enters the first heat exchanger 81 for heat exchange. After flowing out of the first heat exchanger 81, it enters the four-way valve S2 and the shut-off valve F4, and then enters the outdoor heat exchanger. The main heat exchange of the refrigerant is completed here. After that, the refrigerant enters the electronic expansion valve for throttling, and then enters the second heat exchanger 83 through the four-way valve S2. By adjusting the compressor frequency and the electronic expansion valve step, the evaporation temperature of the second heat exchanger 83 is made higher than the dew point temperature of the indoor environment. Sensible heat cooling is completed here. Finally, it flows back to the compressor through the four-way valve S3, the shut-off valve F6, and the four-way valve S1, completing the dry cycle 2.

[0127] When the unit is turned off in cooling or dehumidification mode, the compressor running time before being turned off in cooling or dehumidification mode will be checked first. If the compressor running time is short, it means that less condensate is generated and there is no need to start the drying mode. If the compressor running time is long (t≥t1), then the drying mode will be entered.

[0128] After entering the drying mode, it will sequentially enter drying mode 1 and drying mode 2 before shutting down. If necessary, it can repeatedly enter drying mode 1 and drying mode 2. This embodiment describes entering drying mode 1 and drying mode 2 only once. Drying mode 1 and drying mode 2 are basically similar, except that the switching directions of the four-way valves S2 and S3 are different. The following detailed description uses drying mode 1 as an example.

[0129] After entering drying mode 1, the system runs at a certain initial state for time t2. Then, the current outlet air temperature is checked. If it is ΔT℃ higher than the ambient temperature (T_outlet ≥ T_ambient + ΔT), it indicates a high outlet air temperature, and the compressor needs to increase its frequency. If the compressor has not reached its maximum frequency, it increases its frequency at speed F1, and the outlet air temperature is checked every t3. If the compressor has reached its maximum operating frequency, but the valve step has not reached its minimum, the compressor runs at its maximum frequency, while the valve step decreases at speed N1, and the outlet air temperature is checked every t3. If the compressor has reached its maximum operating frequency and the valve step has reached its minimum, the compressor stops, and the indoor fan runs at its maximum speed for time t4 before entering drying mode 2.

[0130] If the current outlet air temperature is ΔT℃ lower than the ambient temperature (T_outlet ≤ T_ambient - ΔT), it indicates that the outlet air temperature is low, and the compressor needs to operate at a reduced frequency. If the compressor has not reached the minimum operating frequency, it will operate at a reduced frequency at speed F1, and the outlet air temperature will be checked every t3. If the compressor has reached the minimum operating frequency, but the valve step has not reached the maximum valve step, the compressor will operate at the minimum frequency, while the valve step will increase at speed N1, and the outlet air temperature will be checked every t3. If the compressor has reached the minimum operating frequency and the valve step has reached the maximum valve step, the compressor will stop, and the indoor fan will run at the highest speed for t4 hours before entering drying mode 2.

[0131] The above operations ensure that the outlet air temperature is between T_ring + ΔT and T_ring - ΔT. Next, check the temperature of the first heat exchanger 81 tube. If the temperature of the first heat exchanger 81 tube is lower than the dew point temperature of the ambient temperature (T_tube1 ≤ T_dew, the dew point temperature is calculated from data collected by the temperature and humidity sensors), it indicates that the evaporation temperature is low. The evaporation temperature can be increased by increasing the opening of the electronic expansion valve. If the electronic expansion valve has not reached its maximum valve step, the expansion valve increases at a rate of N1, and the temperature of the inner heat exchanger 1 tube is checked every t3 time interval. If the expansion valve has reached its maximum valve step, the compressor stops, and the indoor fan runs at its highest speed for t4 hours before entering drying mode 2.

[0132] If the temperature of the first heat exchanger tube 81 is higher than the dew point temperature of the ambient temperature, the compressor frequency and the electronic expansion valve will no longer operate. The compressor will run for t4 hours in this state and then be shut down.

[0133] Among them, T 环 Indoor ambient temperature, T 出 T represents the outlet temperature. 露 Where N is the indoor dew point temperature, N is the compressor frequency, and V is the indoor fan speed.

[0134] t1 is the continuous running time of the compressor before the cooling (dehumidification) shutdown command is issued;

[0135] t2 is the compressor running time after entering drying mode;

[0136] t3 is the compressor's acceleration / deceleration time at F1; the electronic expansion valve's increase / decrease detection time at N1.

[0137] t4 is the running time under steady-state conditions (compressor not operating);

[0138] ΔT is the temperature margin, a preset value;

[0139] F1 represents the rate at which the compressor speed increases or decreases;

[0140] N1 is the rate at which the opening of the electronic expansion valve increases or decreases.

[0141] The sequence numbers or order of description of the embodiments in this application are for descriptive purposes only and do not represent the superiority or inferiority of the embodiments.

[0142] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of this application. It should be noted that for those skilled in the art, several improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the principle of this application, and these improvements and modifications should also be considered within the scope of protection of this application.

Claims

1. An air conditioner, characterized in that, This includes the compressor, expansion valve, indoor heat exchanger, and outdoor heat exchanger; The indoor heat exchanger includes a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger, and there is a sub-refrigerant flow path between the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger that can be controlled to be switched on and off. The air conditioner includes a cooling mode, a heating mode, and a drying mode; In the cooling mode, the refrigerant output by the compressor flows back to the compressor after passing through the outdoor heat exchanger, the expansion valve, the first heat exchanger, the sub-refrigerant flow path, and the second heat exchanger in sequence. In the heating mode, the refrigerant output by the compressor flows back to the compressor after passing through the second heat exchanger, the sub-refrigerant flow path, the first heat exchanger, the expansion valve, and the outdoor heat exchanger in sequence. In the drying mode, the sub-refrigerant flow path is disconnected, and the refrigerant output by the compressor flows back to the compressor after passing through the first heat exchanger, the outdoor heat exchanger, the expansion valve, and the second heat exchanger in sequence. Alternatively, the refrigerant output by the compressor flows back to the compressor after passing through the second heat exchanger, the outdoor heat exchanger, the expansion valve, and the first heat exchanger in sequence. One of the first and second heat exchangers is used to increase the air duct temperature of the air conditioner, and the other is used to decrease the airflow temperature in the air duct.

2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first heat exchanger includes a first refrigerant inlet, a second refrigerant inlet, and a third refrigerant inlet; the second heat exchanger includes a fourth refrigerant inlet, a fifth refrigerant inlet, and a sixth refrigerant inlet. The third refrigerant interface and the sixth refrigerant interface are connected through the sub-refrigerant flow path; In the cooling mode, the refrigerant enters the first heat exchanger from the first refrigerant port and exits the first heat exchanger from the third refrigerant port; the refrigerant enters the second heat exchanger from the sixth refrigerant port and exits the second heat exchanger from the fifth refrigerant port. In the heating mode, the refrigerant enters the second heat exchanger from the fifth refrigerant port and exits the second heat exchanger from the sixth refrigerant port; the refrigerant enters the first heat exchanger from the third refrigerant port and exits the first heat exchanger from the first refrigerant port. In the drying mode, if the refrigerant passes through the first heat exchanger first, the refrigerant enters from the second refrigerant port and exits from the first refrigerant port of the first heat exchanger. After passing through the outdoor heat exchanger and the expansion valve, it enters from the fourth refrigerant port and exits from the fifth refrigerant port of the second heat exchanger. If the refrigerant passes through the second heat exchanger first, the refrigerant enters from the fifth refrigerant port and exits from the fourth refrigerant port of the second heat exchanger. After passing through the outdoor heat exchanger and the expansion valve, it enters from the first refrigerant port and exits from the second refrigerant port of the first heat exchanger.

3. The air conditioner according to claim 2, characterized in that, The air conditioner also includes a first four-way valve, a second four-way valve, a third four-way valve, a first shut-off valve, a second shut-off valve, a third shut-off valve, a fourth shut-off valve, a fifth shut-off valve, and a sixth shut-off valve; The refrigerant outlet of the compressor is connected to port a of the first four-way valve, port b of the first four-way valve is connected to the first end of the second shut-off valve, the second end of the second shut-off valve is connected to the first end of the outdoor heat exchanger, the second end of the outdoor heat exchanger is connected to the first end of the expansion valve, the second end of the expansion valve is connected to port a of the second four-way valve, port b of the second four-way valve is connected to the first refrigerant interface, the second refrigerant interface is connected to port c of the third four-way valve, port a of the third four-way valve is connected to the first end of the sixth shut-off valve, the second end of the sixth shut-off valve is connected to port c of the first four-way valve, and port d of the first four-way valve is connected to the refrigerant inlet of the compressor. The c port of the second four-way valve is connected to the fourth refrigerant interface, and the fifth refrigerant interface is connected to the b port of the third four-way valve; The first end of the first shut-off valve and the first end of the fifth shut-off valve are both connected to port d of the third four-way valve; the second end of the first shut-off valve is connected to port b of the first four-way valve; and the second end of the fifth shut-off valve is connected to port c of the first four-way valve. The first end of the fourth shut-off valve is connected to port d of the second four-way valve, and the second end of the fourth shut-off valve is connected to the first end of the outdoor heat exchanger. The third shut-off valve is located in the sub-refrigerant flow path; In the cooling mode and heating mode, the first shut-off valve, the fourth shut-off valve and the sixth shut-off valve are disconnected, while the second shut-off valve, the third shut-off valve and the fifth shut-off valve are connected. In the drying mode, the first, fourth, and sixth shut-off valves are open, while the second, third, and fifth shut-off valves are closed.

4. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger are located at different positions in the air duct of the air conditioner.

5. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, In the drying mode, if the refrigerant output by the compressor passes through the first heat exchanger first, the first heat exchanger is controlled to use sensible heat cooling; if the refrigerant output by the compressor passes through the second heat exchanger first, the second heat exchanger is controlled to use sensible heat cooling.

6. A control method for an air conditioner according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The method includes: In dry mode, the degree of difference between the air conditioner's outlet temperature and the ambient temperature of the environment where the air conditioner is located is obtained; based on the degree of difference, at least one of the compressor frequency, expansion valve step, and air conditioner indoor fan speed is adjusted to reduce the degree of difference to a preset range; And / or, in dry mode, obtain the pipe temperature of the target heat exchanger; if the pipe temperature is lower than the dew point temperature of the air, adjust at least one of the expansion valve step and the air conditioner indoor fan speed to make the pipe temperature higher than the dew point temperature, wherein the target heat exchanger is the heat exchanger through which the refrigerant output by the compressor passes first when operating in dry mode, and the target heat exchanger includes a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger.

7. The control method according to claim 6, characterized in that, Adjusting at least one of the compressor frequency, expansion valve step, and indoor air conditioner fan speed according to the degree of difference, so as to reduce the degree of difference to a preset range, includes: When the difference exceeds a preset range and the outlet air temperature is greater than the ambient temperature, the compressor frequency is increased according to a preset first rate of change and / or the expansion valve step is decreased according to a preset second rate of change. When the compressor frequency reaches its maximum value and the expansion valve step reaches its minimum value, the compressor is controlled to stop and the indoor fan runs at the highest wind speed. When the difference exceeds a preset range and the outlet air temperature is lower than the ambient temperature, the compressor frequency is reduced at a preset third rate of change and / or the expansion valve step is increased at a preset fourth rate of change. When the compressor frequency reaches its minimum value and the expansion valve step reaches its maximum value, the compressor is stopped and the indoor fan operates at its highest speed.

8. The control method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The method further includes: When adjusting the compressor frequency and expansion valve step, the compressor frequency is adjusted first, and the expansion valve step is adjusted when the compressor frequency cannot be adjusted. The compressor frequency cannot be adjusted, including when the compressor frequency reaches its maximum or minimum value.

9. The control method according to claim 6, characterized in that, Adjusting at least one of the expansion valve step and the indoor fan speed of the air conditioner to make the pipe temperature higher than the dew point temperature includes: The expansion valve step is controlled to increase at a preset fifth rate of change; If the pipe temperature is detected to be higher than the dew point temperature before the expansion valve step reaches its maximum value, the adjustment of the expansion valve step is stopped; otherwise, after the expansion valve step reaches its maximum value, the compressor is stopped and the indoor fan runs at its highest speed.

10. The control method according to claim 6, characterized in that, In the drying mode, the refrigerant output by the compressor first passes through the first heat exchanger to form the first drying mode, and the refrigerant output by the compressor first passes through the second heat exchanger to form the second drying mode. The method further includes: When running the drying mode, the first drying mode and the second drying mode are alternately executed a preset number of times or for a preset duration, and then the drying mode is exited. And / or, when running the drying mode, the position of the condensate in the air conditioning duct is obtained. If the position is closer to the first heat exchanger, the drying mode is exited after executing the first drying mode a preset number of times or a preset duration. If the position is closer to the second heat exchanger, the drying mode is exited after executing the second drying mode a preset number of times or a preset duration.

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