Air conditioner, mold prevention control method thereof, computer device and readable storage medium

Abstract

The application provides an air conditioner, a mildew-proof control method thereof, a computer device and a readable storage medium. The mildew-proof control method of the air conditioner comprises the following steps: acquiring the indoor environment relative humidity and the shutdown time; determining whether the current is in a short-term idle time or a long-term idle time according to the shutdown time; if the current is in the short-term idle time, running a first mildew-proof mode according to the indoor environment relative humidity; and if the current is in the long-term idle time, running a second mildew-proof mode according to the indoor environment relative humidity. The mildew-proof control method can adaptively adjust the execution time of the mildew-proof inhibition control function, so as to solve the problem of evaporator mildew propagation caused by the water droplets of the evaporator or high environmental humidity after refrigeration or dehumidification.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of air conditioning technology, and more specifically, to an air conditioner and its anti-mold control method, computer device, and readable storage medium. Background Technology

[0002] As living standards improve, people have increasingly higher demands for air conditioning functions. How to keep indoor air fresh and reduce the growth of mold is a problem that needs to be solved.

[0003] One existing control method for automatic anti-mold operation of air conditioners discloses that after the air conditioner is turned off, it controls the operation of the compressor and fan based on ambient temperature and humidity conditions to achieve the air conditioner's drying and anti-mold function. Another air conditioner anti-mold control method discloses that after the air conditioner recognizes the anti-mold control conditions, it controls the compressor to stop blowing cold air for a period of time before starting the compressor to perform a heating and drying logic to achieve the anti-mold function. Both of these solutions primarily operate the drying and anti-mold function when the user has turned off the air conditioner, requiring manual operation and placing high demands on the user. Users may not know when or how to activate the drying logic, or they may mistakenly believe that the shutdown was unsuccessful after activating the drying logic, leading to customer complaints. Furthermore, directly switching to the drying and anti-mold function after shutdown causes the air conditioner to operate in heating mode, raising the ambient temperature and reducing user comfort. Simultaneously, immediately executing the mold inhibition function after cooling or dehumidifying and then turning off the air conditioner results in a lower evaporator temperature, leading to a higher difference in the evaporator's drying temperature point and increased energy consumption. Moreover, the air conditioner switching between heating and cooling not only wastes a significant amount of electricity but also easily triggers system protection mechanisms.

[0004] In addition, there is another method for controlling mold growth in air conditioners, which only dries the air conditioner in historical on / off states. This method has significant limitations; if the air conditioner is not used for a long time, the drying function will not be achieved. Furthermore, in daily use, if the user does not turn on the air conditioner for an extended period, a strong musty smell will be present when it is turned on again, negatively impacting the user experience. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The first objective of this invention is to provide an anti-mold control method for air conditioners that can adaptively adjust the timing of the anti-mold suppression control function to solve the problem of evaporator mold growth caused by evaporator water droplets or high ambient humidity after cooling or dehumidification.

[0006] A second objective of this invention is to provide an air conditioner that implements the above-described anti-mold control method.

[0007] A third objective of this invention is to provide a computer device for implementing the above-described anti-mold control method.

[0008] A fourth objective of this invention is to provide a readable storage medium that implements the above-described anti-mold control method.

[0009] To achieve the aforementioned first objective, the present invention provides an anti-mold control method for an air conditioner, comprising: acquiring the relative humidity of the indoor environment and the shutdown time; determining whether the current period is a short-term idle period or a long-term idle period based on the shutdown time; if the current period is a short-term idle period, then operating a first anti-mold mode based on the relative humidity of the indoor environment; if the current period is a long-term idle period, then operating a second anti-mold mode based on the relative humidity of the indoor environment.

[0010] As can be seen from the above solution, determining whether the current time is a short-term or long-term idle period by the shutdown time, and executing different anti-mold modes based on the relative humidity of the indoor environment, improves the intelligence of the air conditioner. Users do not need to set the anti-mold function; the air conditioner adaptively operates the anti-mold drying mode when idle, effectively inhibiting mold growth on the evaporator, improving odor, and avoiding frequent starts to suppress mold, which leads to excessive power consumption. Furthermore, using different anti-mold modes for different idle periods further reduces energy consumption. The anti-mold control method of this invention can adaptively adjust the timing of the anti-mold suppression control function to solve the problem of evaporator mold growth caused by evaporator water droplets or high ambient humidity after cooling or dehumidification. In addition, the invention executes mold suppression logic during idle periods, reducing energy consumption and avoiding conflicts with user startup that cause sudden fluctuations in indoor temperature. Compared to existing technologies, this invention adds monitoring of long-term idle periods and periodic operation of the mold suppression function. The ambient temperature rise caused by periodic mold suppression has minimal impact on users, reducing energy efficiency and keeping the evaporator dry, preventing mold growth.

[0011] A preferred embodiment is that, prior to obtaining the indoor relative humidity and the shutdown time, the anti-mold control method further includes recording the operating duration and shutdown duration of the air conditioner.

[0012] Therefore, compared with the existing technology, the present invention does not need to identify the historical power-on mode. It only learns the user's power-on and power-off habits and combines them with the current humidity to adaptively adjust the timing of the anti-mold suppression control function, which has great practicality.

[0013] A further solution involves operating the air conditioner in the first anti-mold mode according to the relative humidity of the indoor environment. This includes the following steps: when the relative humidity of the indoor environment is greater than or equal to the first preset humidity value and less than or equal to the second preset humidity value, and the shutdown time is the first preset time value, the air conditioner operates in the first short-term heating mode. In the first short-term heating mode, the compressor operates, while the indoor fan and air guide plate do not operate. When the relative humidity of the indoor environment is greater than the second preset humidity value, and the shutdown time is the second preset time value, the air conditioner operates in the second short-term heating mode. In the second short-term heating mode, the compressor operates, while the indoor fan and air guide plate do not operate, and the ion generator operates.

[0014] Therefore, it can be seen that a corresponding and reasonable heating mode can be set according to the different relative humidity values ​​of the indoor environment. At the same time, when the relative humidity value of the indoor environment is high, the ion generator can be started to improve the sterilization efficiency.

[0015] A further solution is that at least one of the first preset time value and the second preset time value is calculated according to the following formula: n=Ton / (k1×RH); where n is the corresponding preset time value in hours; RH is the indoor relative humidity in %; k1 is the first preset proportional coefficient; and Ton is the duration of the last power-on in hours.

[0016] Therefore, it is evident that the time to start the short-term heating mode is positively correlated with the duration of the previous startup; that is, the longer the previous startup duration, the longer the time between shutdown and the start of the short-term heating mode. Furthermore, the time to start the short-term heating mode is negatively correlated with the relative humidity of the indoor environment; that is, the higher the relative humidity, the shorter the time between shutdown and the start of the short-term heating mode. In addition, by controlling the time from shutdown to the start of the short-term heating mode, this invention avoids the problem of existing systems directly switching to drying and anti-mold functions after shutdown, causing the air conditioner to run in heating mode and raising the ambient temperature, thus reducing user comfort. It also avoids the problem of the air conditioner immediately executing the mold inhibition function after cooling or dehumidifying, when the evaporator temperature is low, resulting in a higher difference in the evaporator's drying temperature and greater energy consumption. This invention effectively reduces the energy consumption of the air conditioner.

[0017] A further solution is that the operating time of the first short-term heating mode and the operating time of the second short-term heating mode are calculated according to the following formula: t1 = k2 × RH; where t1 is the operating time of the corresponding short-term heating mode in minutes; k2 is the second preset proportional coefficient; and RH is the relative humidity of the indoor environment in minutes.

[0018] It can be seen that the running time of the short-term heating mode is positively correlated with the relative humidity of the indoor environment. That is, the higher the relative humidity of the indoor environment, the more active the reproduction of mold and the faster the reproduction speed. Therefore, by extending the running time of the short-term heating mode, a better sterilization effect can be achieved.

[0019] A preferred embodiment is that the ion generator is driven by a pulse width modulation signal; and / or the first preset humidity value is 80%, the second preset humidity value is 95%; and / or the operating frequency of the ion generator is in the range of 100kHz to 200kHz.

[0020] Therefore, it can be seen that both positive and negative ions have the effects of air purification, deodorization, and sterilization. When air conditioning units add plasma sterilization function, positive and negative ions are generated by high-voltage discharge during operation. However, when the air is not circulating, ions are prone to accumulate at the discharge needle, which affects the air ionization effect. By using pulse width modulation signal to drive the ion generator, the generated ions diffuse with the air flow. During the period when the plasma generator is turned off, the ion concentration decreases. When ionization is turned on again, the air can be ionized again, rather than repeatedly ionizing the already ionized air, thus solving the problem of ion accumulation. At the same time, in this invention, the fan stops when the mold is inhibited, and the indoor environmental noise is relatively small. The noise generated by ion ionization can easily cause discomfort. By driving the plasma generator to work in a way that is higher than the human hearing frequency, people's auditory noise can be greatly reduced.

[0021] A preferred embodiment is that, based on the indoor relative humidity, the steps of operating in the second anti-mold mode include: when the indoor relative humidity is less than a third preset humidity value, the air conditioner operates in a first long-term heating mode with a first preset anti-mold cycle. In the first long-term heating mode, the compressor operates, while the indoor fan and air guide vane do not operate; when the indoor relative humidity is greater than or equal to the third preset humidity value and less than or equal to the fourth preset humidity value, the air conditioner operates in a second long-term heating mode with a second preset anti-mold cycle. In the second long-term heating mode, the compressor operates, while the indoor fan and air guide vane do not operate; when the indoor relative humidity is greater than the fourth preset humidity value, the air conditioner operates in a third long-term heating mode with a third preset anti-mold cycle. In the third long-term heating mode, the compressor operates, while the indoor fan and air guide vane do not operate, and the ion generator operates; both the second and third preset anti-mold cycles are shorter than the first preset anti-mold cycle.

[0022] Therefore, selecting the appropriate anti-mold cycle and corresponding anti-mold mode based on different relative humidity levels can achieve better anti-mold effects while also saving energy.

[0023] A further solution is to calculate the operating time of the first long-term heating mode according to the following formula: t2=(N / T1)×RH×k3; where t2 is the operating time of the first long-term heating mode in minutes; N is the current shutdown time in days; T1 is the first preset anti-mold cycle in days; k3 is the third preset proportional coefficient; and RH is the indoor relative humidity in minutes.

[0024] It can be seen that the running time of the first long-term heating mode is directly proportional to the number of times the mode is run and the relative humidity of the indoor environment, all in order to achieve a better anti-mold effect.

[0025] A further proposed solution is that the operating time of the second long-term heating mode is calculated according to the following formula: t3 = (N / T2) × RH × k4; the operating time of the third long-term heating mode is calculated according to the following formula: t4 = (N / T3) × RH × k5; where t3 is the operating time of the second long-term heating mode in minutes; T2 is the second preset anti-mold cycle in days; k4 is the fourth preset proportional coefficient; t4 is the operating time of the third long-term heating mode in minutes; T3 is the third preset anti-mold cycle in days; k5 is the fifth preset proportional coefficient; k4 and k5 are both greater than k3, and T2 and T3 are both less than T1.

[0026] A further option is that the ion generator is driven by a pulse width modulation signal; and / or k4 equals k5; and / or T2 equals T3; and / or at least one of T2 and T3 is half of T1; and / or the third preset humidity value is 70% and the fourth preset humidity value is 95%.

[0027] Therefore, it can be seen that the problem of ion accumulation can be solved by using pulse width modulation signals to drive the ion generator.

[0028] To achieve the second objective mentioned above, the present invention provides an air conditioner, which includes a processor that executes a program stored in a memory to implement the above-mentioned anti-mold control method.

[0029] To achieve the third objective mentioned above, the present invention provides a computer device including a processor, which executes a program stored in a memory to implement the above-mentioned anti-mold control method.

[0030] To achieve the fourth objective mentioned above, the present invention provides a readable storage medium on which a program is stored, which, when executed by a processor, implements the above-mentioned anti-mold control method. Attached Figure Description

[0031] Figure 1 This is a system block diagram of an embodiment of the air conditioner of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 2This is a flowchart of an embodiment of the anti-mold control method of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 3 This is a flowchart of step S4 in an embodiment of the anti-mildew control method of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 4 This is a flowchart of step S5 in an embodiment of the anti-mildew control method of the present invention.

[0035] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. Detailed Implementation

[0036] Various exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The descriptions of the exemplary embodiments are merely illustrative and are in no way intended to limit the invention or its application or use. The invention can be embodied in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. These embodiments are provided to make the invention thorough and complete, and to fully express the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specifically stated, the relative arrangement of components and steps, the composition of materials, numerical expressions, and values ​​set forth in these embodiments should be interpreted as merely exemplary and not as limiting.

[0037] The terms "first," "second," and similar words used in this invention do not indicate any order, quantity, or importance, but are merely used to distinguish different parts. Words such as "including" or "comprising" mean that the element preceding the word encompasses the element listed after it, without excluding the possibility of encompassing other elements. Terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," and "right" are used only to indicate relative positional relationships; when the absolute position of the described object changes, the relative positional relationship may also change accordingly.

[0038] In this invention, when a specific device is described as being located between a first device and a second device, an intermediary device may or may not be present between the specific device and the first or second device. When a specific device is described as being connected to other devices, the specific device may be directly connected to the other devices without an intermediary device, or it may be not directly connected to the other devices but have an intermediary device.

[0039] All terms used in this invention (including technical or scientific terms) have the same meaning as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, unless otherwise specifically defined. It should also be understood that terms defined in general dictionaries should be interpreted as having the meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art, and not as having an idealized or highly formalized meaning, unless expressly defined herein.

[0040] Techniques, methods, and equipment known to those skilled in the art may not be discussed in detail, but where appropriate, such techniques, methods, and equipment should be considered part of the specification.

[0041] Examples of air conditioners and their anti-mold control methods: See Figure 1 In this embodiment, the air conditioner includes an indoor unit 1 and an outdoor unit 2 connected to each other. The indoor unit 1 includes a compressor 11, an indoor heat exchanger 12, an indoor fan 14, and a processor. The outdoor unit 2 includes an outdoor heat exchanger 21 and an outdoor fan 22. The compressor 11, the indoor heat exchanger 12, and the outdoor heat exchanger 21 are connected sequentially by pipes. An electronic expansion valve 3 is also provided on the pipes connecting the indoor heat exchanger 12 and the outdoor heat exchanger 21. The indoor fan 14 is located near the indoor heat exchanger 12, and the outdoor fan is located near the outdoor heat exchanger 21. An air guide plate is also provided at the air outlet of the indoor unit 1. The air guide plate can swing at the air outlet to change the airflow direction. When the processor executes the program stored in the memory, it implements the following anti-mold control method. In other embodiments, the air conditioner can also be an integrated air conditioner, such as a window air conditioner.

[0042] The air conditioner in this embodiment is more suitable for people with relatively fixed work and rest schedules or places where the air conditioning is used during relatively fixed periods. By acquiring and storing the on / off, mode, and cycle information within the program, and using the period from on to the next on as a cycle, and matching it with time periods, a short-term idle period model and a long-term idle period model can be obtained. Combining the relationship between mold growth and humidity and time, the mold suppression logic and high-frequency plasma control logic are adaptively activated. Executing the mold suppression logic during idle periods can reduce energy efficiency and avoid conflicts with user on / off cycles that could cause sudden rises and falls in indoor temperature.

[0043] The short-term idle period of the air conditioner is the period during which the user actively turns it off. This may be when the outdoor ambient temperature is high and the user turns it off when they go out, or when the outdoor temperature is low and the user turns it off. After the air conditioner is turned off, the indoor ambient temperature rises with the outdoor ambient temperature. After a period of time, the mold inhibition function is activated according to the humidity. The mold inhibition function is achieved by executing the heating mode. The temperature difference of the indoor heat exchanger 12 is reduced. This avoids the mold inhibition function being activated immediately after the air conditioner is turned off from the cooling mode. At this time, the temperature of the indoor heat exchanger 12 is low, which results in a higher difference in the dry temperature point reached by the indoor heat exchanger 12 and greater energy consumption. This method can effectively reduce the energy efficiency of the air conditioner.

[0044] In addition, during daily use, if the user does not turn on the air conditioner for a long time, i.e. during long periods of idle time, a strong musty smell will be produced when the air conditioner is turned on. By increasing the monitoring of long periods of idle time and regularly running the mold inhibition function, the increase in ambient temperature caused by regular mold inhibition has minimal impact on the user, can reduce energy efficiency and keep the indoor heat exchanger 12 dry, and prevent mold growth.

[0045] Specifically, see Figure 2 The anti-mold control method for air conditioners in this embodiment includes the following steps: First, execute step S1 to record the air conditioner's operating history, including both on-time and off-time durations. Record the user's air conditioner usage patterns, for example: first on-time duration: 8 hours; first off-time duration: 16 hours; second on-time duration: 9 hours; second off-time duration: 15 hours; third on-time duration: 8 hours; third off-time duration: 16 hours, and so on. Based on usage patterns, it is inferred that the on-time and off-time are continuous within 24 hours, and the on / off durations are relatively stable. Additionally, if the off-time exceeds a preset time period, the specific value of the preset time period can be set as needed; optionally, the preset time period is 1 day.

[0046] Next, step S2 is executed to obtain the indoor relative humidity and shutdown time.

[0047] Next, step S3 is executed to determine whether the current idle time is short-term or long-term based on the shutdown time. For example, if the shutdown time is greater than 1 day, it is determined that the current idle time is long-term; if the shutdown time is less than 1 day, it is determined that the current idle time is short-term.

[0048] If there is a short period of downtime, proceed to step S4 and operate in the first anti-mold mode according to the relative humidity of the indoor environment.

[0049] If the system is idle for an extended period, proceed to step S5 and operate in the second anti-mold mode according to the relative humidity of the indoor environment.

[0050] As shown in the table below, based on empirical data on indoor relative humidity and mold growth, humidity is identified as the active factor for mold growth. Therefore, the mold prevention control method of this invention operates the corresponding mold prevention mode according to the indoor relative humidity value.

[0051] Table 1: Correspondence between Indoor Relative Humidity and Mold Growth Data

[0052] See Figure 3 The above step S4 specifically includes the following steps: First, step S41 is executed to determine whether the relative humidity of the indoor environment is less than a first preset humidity value. Preferably, the first preset humidity value is 80%.

[0053] If the relative humidity of the indoor environment is less than the first preset humidity value, i.e. RH<80%, it means that the indoor humidity is low and there is no need for anti-mold measures. Then, proceed to step S42, keep the machine off, and do not enter the anti-mold mode.

[0054] If the indoor relative humidity is greater than or equal to the first preset humidity value, then step S43 is executed to determine whether the indoor relative humidity is less than or equal to the second preset humidity value. Preferably, the second preset humidity value is 95%.

[0055] If the relative humidity of the indoor environment is less than or equal to the second preset humidity value, that is, if 80%≤RH≤95%, step S44 is executed. When the shutdown time reaches the first preset time value, the air conditioner runs the first short-term heating mode. In the first short-term heating mode, the compressor 11 works, and the indoor fan 14 and the air guide plate do not work.

[0056] If the relative humidity of the indoor environment is greater than the second preset humidity value, i.e., RH>95%, step S45 is executed. When the shutdown time reaches the second preset time value, the air conditioner operates in the second short-term heating mode. In the second short-term heating mode, the compressor 11 works, the indoor fan 14 and the air guide plate do not work, and the ion generator works simultaneously. Preferably, the ion generator is driven by a pulse width modulation signal (PWM). The frequency and duty cycle of the pulse width modulation signal can be set as needed. Preferably, the operating frequency is a high frequency in the range of 100kHz to 200kHz, which can avoid the audible frequency range and prevent noise from the plasma operation from causing customer complaints. According to different relative humidity values ​​of the indoor environment, a corresponding reasonable heating mode is set. At the same time, when the relative humidity value of the indoor environment is high, the ion generator can be started simultaneously to improve the sterilization efficiency.

[0057] Both positive and negative ions have air purification, deodorization, and sterilization effects. Air conditioning units with added plasma sterilization functions generate positive and negative ions through high-voltage discharge during operation. However, when the air is not circulating, ions tend to accumulate at the discharge needle, affecting the air ionization effect. By using pulse width modulation (PWM) signals to drive the ion generator, the generated ions diffuse with the airflow. During the period when the plasma generator is turned off, the ion concentration decreases. When ionization is turned on again, the air can be ionized again instead of repeatedly ionizing the already ionized air, thus solving the problem of ion accumulation. At the same time, in this invention, the fan stops when mold is inhibited, resulting in less indoor noise. The noise generated by ion ionization can easily cause discomfort. By driving the plasma generator at a frequency higher than the human hearing frequency, people's auditory noise can be greatly reduced.

[0058] At least one of the first preset time value and the second preset time value is calculated according to the following formula. In this embodiment, both are calculated according to the following formula: n = Ton / (k1 × RH); In the formula, n is the corresponding preset time value, in hours; RH is the relative humidity of indoor environment, expressed as a percentage (%). k1 is the first preset proportional coefficient, and k1 is 2; Ton represents the duration of the last power-on, in hours.

[0059] The start time of the short-term heating mode is positively correlated with the duration of the previous startup; that is, the longer the previous startup duration, the longer the time between shutdown and the start of the short-term heating mode. Furthermore, the start time of the short-term heating mode is negatively correlated with the relative humidity of the indoor environment; that is, the higher the relative humidity, the shorter the time between shutdown and the start of the short-term heating mode. In addition, this invention avoids the problem of existing systems directly switching to drying and anti-mold functions after shutdown, causing the air conditioner to run in heating mode and raising the ambient temperature, thus reducing user comfort. It also avoids the problem of the air conditioner immediately executing the mold inhibition function after cooling or dehumidifying, when the evaporator temperature is low, resulting in a higher difference in the evaporator's drying temperature and greater energy consumption. This invention effectively reduces the energy consumption of the air conditioner.

[0060] The operating time of the first short-term heating mode and the operating time of the second short-term heating mode are calculated according to at least one of the following formulas. In this embodiment, both are calculated according to the following formulas: t1 = k2 × RH; In the formula, t1 is the running time of the corresponding short-term heating mode, in minutes; k2 is the second preset proportional coefficient, and k2 is 15; RH is the relative humidity of indoor environment, expressed in percent.

[0061] The running time of the short-term heating mode is positively correlated with the relative humidity of the indoor environment. That is, the higher the relative humidity of the indoor environment, the more active the mold is in its reproduction state and the faster it reproduces. Therefore, by extending the running time of the short-term heating mode, a better sterilization effect can be achieved.

[0062] For example, if the shutdown time is less than one day, and the current period is a short-term idle time, and if the current indoor relative humidity is 85% (RH=85%), and the last shutdown duration was 8 hours, then when the shutdown time reaches the first preset time value n, n=8 / (2×85%) hours, that is, when the shutdown time reaches 4.7 hours, the air conditioner will run in the first short-term heating mode. The compressor 11 will work, while the indoor fan 14 and the air guide plate will not work. Sterilization will be achieved by increasing the temperature of the indoor heat exchanger 12. The duration of the first short-term heating mode is t1=15×85%=12.75 minutes.

[0063] See Figure 4 The above step S5 specifically includes the following steps: First, step S51 is executed to determine whether the relative humidity of the indoor environment is less than a third preset humidity value. Preferably, the third preset humidity value is 70%.

[0064] If the relative humidity of the indoor environment is less than the third preset humidity value, i.e. RH<70%, step S52 is executed, and the air conditioner runs in the first long-term heating mode with the first preset anti-mildew cycle. In the first long-term heating mode, the compressor 11 works, and the indoor fan 14 and the air guide plate do not work.

[0065] If the indoor relative humidity is greater than or equal to the third preset humidity value, then step S53 is executed to determine whether the indoor relative humidity is less than or equal to the fourth preset humidity value. Preferably, the fourth preset humidity value is 95%.

[0066] If the relative humidity of the indoor environment is less than or equal to the fourth preset humidity value, i.e. 70%≤RH≤95%, step S54 is executed, and the air conditioner runs in the second long-term heating mode with the second preset anti-mildew cycle. In the second long-term heating mode, the compressor 11 works, and the indoor fan 14 and the air guide plate do not work.

[0067] If the indoor relative humidity value is greater than the fourth preset humidity value (RH>95%), step S55 is executed, and the air conditioner operates in the third long-term heating mode with the third preset anti-mold cycle. In the third long-term heating mode, the compressor 11 operates, the indoor fan 14 and the air guide plate do not operate, and the ion generator operates. Preferably, the ion generator is driven by a pulse width modulation signal with a high frequency in the range of 100kHz to 200kHz. The second and third preset anti-mold cycles are both shorter than the first preset anti-mold cycle. By selecting an appropriate anti-mold cycle and corresponding anti-mold mode according to different ambient relative humidity, a better anti-mold effect can be achieved while saving energy. In addition, by using a pulse width modulation signal (PWM) to drive the ion generator, the problem of ion accumulation can be solved.

[0068] The operating time of the first long-term heating mode is calculated according to the following formula: t2 = (N / T1) × RH × k3; In the formula, t2 is the operating time of the first long-term heating mode, in minutes; N / T1 represents the number of times the first long-term heating mode is run; N represents the current shutdown time, in days; T1 is the first preset anti-mildew cycle, in days; k3 is the third preset proportional coefficient, and k3 is 10; RH is the relative humidity of indoor environment, expressed in percent.

[0069] The operating time of the second long-term heating mode is calculated according to the following formula: t3 = (N / T2) × RH × k4; The operating time of the third long-term heating mode is calculated according to the following formula: t4 = (N / T3) × RH × k5; In the formula, t3 is the operating time of the second long-term heating mode, in minutes; N / T2 represents the number of times the second long-term heating mode is run; T2 is the second preset anti-mildew cycle, in days; k4 is the fourth preset scaling factor, and k4 is 20; t4 is the operating time of the third long-term heating mode, in minutes; N / T3 represents the number of times the first long-term heating mode has been run; T3 is the third preset anti-mildew cycle, in days; k5 is the fifth preset proportional coefficient, and k5 is 20; Both k4 and k5 are greater than k3, and k4 is equal to k5. Both T2 and T3 are less than T1, and T2 is equal to T3. At least one of T2 and T3 is half of T1. In this embodiment, both T2 and T3 are half of T1. In other embodiments, k4 and k5 may not be equal, and T2 and T3 may not be equal.

[0070] For example, if the shutdown time is greater than or equal to 1 day, and the current period is a long-term idle time, and if the current indoor relative humidity is 65% (RH=65%), the anti-mold cycle T1 can be 2 days. When running the first long-term heating mode for the N / T1th time, the running time t2 = (N / T1) × 65% × 10 minutes, meaning the first run takes 6.5 minutes, the second run takes 13 minutes, and so on. If the current indoor relative humidity is 80% (RH=80%), the anti-mold cycle T2 can be 1 day. When running the first long-term heating mode for the N / T2th time, the running time t2 = (N / T2) × 80% × 20 minutes, meaning the first run takes 16 minutes, the second run takes 32 minutes, and so on.

[0071] As can be seen from the above, by determining whether the current time is a short-term or long-term idle period through the shutdown time, and based on the relative humidity of the indoor environment, different anti-mold modes are executed, improving the intelligence of the air conditioner. Users do not need to set the anti-mold function; the air conditioner adaptively operates the anti-mold drying mode when idle, effectively inhibiting mold growth on the evaporator, improving odor, and avoiding frequent start-ups to suppress mold, which leads to excessive power consumption. Furthermore, using different anti-mold modes for different idle periods further reduces energy consumption. The anti-mold control method of this invention can adaptively adjust the timing of the anti-mold suppression control function to solve the problem of evaporator mold growth caused by evaporator water droplets or high ambient humidity after cooling or dehumidification. In addition, the invention executes mold suppression logic during idle periods, reducing energy consumption and avoiding conflicts with user startup that cause sudden fluctuations in indoor temperature. Compared to existing technologies, this invention adds monitoring of long-term idle periods and periodic operation of the mold suppression function. The ambient temperature rise caused by periodic mold suppression has minimal impact on users, reducing energy efficiency and keeping the evaporator dry, preventing mold growth. In addition, compared with the existing technology, the present invention does not need to identify historical power-on modes. It only learns the user's power-on and power-off habits and combines them with the current humidity to adaptively adjust the timing of the anti-mold suppression control function, which has great practicality.

[0072] Computer device embodiment: The computer device of the present invention is a controller, including a processor and a memory, such as a microcontroller containing a central processing unit. Furthermore, the processor executes the computer program stored in the memory to implement the steps of the aforementioned anti-mold control method.

[0073] The processor can be a Central Processing Unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic devices, discrete hardware components, etc. A general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor.

[0074] The memory can primarily include a program storage area and a data storage area. The program storage area can store the operating system and at least one application program required for a function (such as sound playback, image playback, etc.); the data storage area can store data created based on the use of the phone (such as audio data, phonebook, etc.). Furthermore, the memory can include high-speed random access memory, and can also include non-volatile memory, such as hard disks, RAM, plug-in hard disks, smart media cards (SMC), secure digital cards (SD cards), flash cards, at least one disk storage device, flash memory device, or other volatile solid-state storage devices.

[0075] Examples of computer-readable storage media: The computer-readable storage medium of the present invention can be any form of storage medium that can be read by the processor of a computer device, including but not limited to non-volatile memory, volatile memory, ferroelectric memory, etc. The computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program. When the processor of the computer device reads and executes the computer program stored in the memory, the steps of the above-mentioned anti-mold control method can be implemented.

[0076] Computer programs include computer program code, which can be in the form of source code, object code, executable files, or certain intermediate forms. Computer-readable media can include: any entity or device capable of carrying computer program code, recording media, USB flash drives, portable hard drives, magnetic disks, optical disks, computer memory, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), electrical carrier signals, telecommunication signals, and software distribution media, etc. It should be noted that the content included in computer-readable media can be appropriately added to or subtracted according to the requirements of legislation and patent practice in a jurisdiction. For example, in some jurisdictions, according to legislation and patent practice, computer-readable media do not include electrical carrier signals and telecommunication signals.

[0077] Finally, it should be emphasized that the above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. For those skilled in the art, the present invention can have various changes and modifications. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for preventing mold growth in air conditioners, characterized in that, include: Obtain indoor relative humidity and shutdown time; Determine whether the current period is a short-term or long-term idle period based on the shutdown time; If the shutdown time is less than or equal to the preset time period, it is determined that the current period is a short-term idle time, and the first anti-mold mode is run according to the relative humidity of the indoor environment. If the shutdown time is longer than the preset time period, it is determined that the current period is a long-term idle time, and the second anti-mold mode is run according to the relative humidity of the indoor environment. The steps of the first anti-mildew mode include: When the relative humidity of the indoor environment is greater than or equal to the first preset humidity value and the relative humidity of the indoor environment is less than or equal to the second preset humidity value, and the shutdown time is the first preset time value, the air conditioner runs the first short-term heating mode. In the first short-term heating mode, the compressor works and the indoor fan and air guide plate do not work. When the relative humidity of the indoor environment is greater than the second preset humidity value, and the shutdown time is the second preset time value, the air conditioner runs the second short-term heating mode. In the second short-term heating mode, the compressor works, the indoor fan and air guide plate do not work, and the ion generator works. The steps of the second anti-mildew mode include: When the relative humidity of the indoor environment is less than the third preset humidity value, the air conditioner operates in the first long-term heating mode with the first preset anti-mildew cycle. In the first long-term heating mode, the compressor works, and the indoor fan and air guide plate do not work. When the relative humidity of the indoor environment is greater than or equal to the third preset humidity value and the relative humidity of the indoor environment is less than or equal to the fourth preset humidity value, the air conditioner operates in the second long-term heating mode with the second preset anti-mildew cycle. In the second long-term heating mode, the compressor works and the indoor fan and air guide plate do not work. When the relative humidity of the indoor environment is greater than the fourth preset humidity value, the air conditioner operates in the third long-term heating mode with the third preset anti-mildew cycle. In the third long-term heating mode, the compressor works, the indoor fan and air guide plate do not work, and the ion generator works. The second preset anti-mold cycle and the third preset anti-mold cycle are both shorter than the first preset anti-mold cycle.

2. The mildew control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: Prior to the steps of obtaining the indoor relative humidity and shutdown time, the anti-mold control method further includes: Record the duration of the air conditioner's operation during startup and shutdown.

3. The mildew control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: At least one of the first preset time value and the second preset time value is calculated according to the following formula: n = Ton / (k1 × RH); In the formula, n is the corresponding preset time value, in hours; RH is the relative humidity of indoor environment, expressed as a percentage (%). k1 is the first preset proportional coefficient; Ton represents the duration of the last power-on, in hours.

4. The mildew control method according to claim 1, characterized in that: The operating time of the first short-term heating mode and the operating time of the second short-term heating mode are calculated according to the following formula: t1 = k2 × RH; In the formula, t1 is the running time of the corresponding short-term heating mode, in minutes; k2 is the second preset proportional coefficient; RH is the relative humidity of indoor environment, expressed in percent.

5. The mildew control method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The ion generator is driven by a pulse width modulation signal; and / or The first preset humidity value is 80%, and the second preset humidity value is 95%; and / or The ion generator operates at frequencies ranging from 100 kHz to 200 kHz.

6. The mildew control method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The operating time of the first long-term heating mode is calculated according to the following formula: t2 = (N / T1) × RH × k3; In the formula, t2 is the operating time of the first long-term heating mode, in minutes; N represents the current shutdown time, in days; T1 is the first preset anti-mildew cycle, in days; k3 is the third preset proportional coefficient; RH is the relative humidity of indoor environment, expressed in percent.

7. The mildew control method according to claim 6, characterized in that: The operating time of the second long-term heating mode is calculated according to the following formula: t3 = (N / T2) × RH × k4; The operating time of the third long-term heating mode is calculated according to the following formula: t4 = (N / T3) × RH × k5; In the formula, t3 is the operating time of the second long-term heating mode, in minutes; T2 is the second preset anti-mildew cycle, in days; k4 is the fourth preset scaling factor; t4 is the operating time of the third long-term heating mode, in minutes; T3 is the third preset anti-mildew cycle, in days; k5 is the fifth preset scaling factor; Both k4 and k5 are greater than k3, and both T2 and T3 are less than T1.

8. The mildew control method according to claim 7, characterized in that: The ion generator is driven by a pulse width modulation signal; and / or k4 equals k5; and / or T2 equals T3; and / or At least one of T2 and T3 is half of T1; and / or The third preset humidity value is 70%, and the fourth preset humidity value is 95%.

9. An air conditioner, characterized in that: The air conditioner includes a processor that executes a program stored in a memory to implement the anti-mold control method as described in any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. A computer device, characterized in that: The computer device includes a processor that executes a program stored in a memory to implement the anti-mold control method as described in any one of claims 1 to 8.

11. A readable storage medium having a program stored thereon, characterized in that: When the program is executed by the processor, it implements the anti-mold control method as described in any one of claims 1 to 8.

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