Heat exchanger ash deposition detection method and device, air conditioner and computer readable storage medium

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of air conditioner control, and discloses a heat exchanger ash deposition detection method which comprises the steps that the current capacitance change value of a capacitive sensor is obtained; and determining the current ash deposition thickness corresponding to the current capacitance change value according to a preset corresponding relationship between the capacitance change value and the ash deposition thickness. The capacitive sensor measures the dielectric property of a substance, and the dielectric constant of dust is related to the thickness and the density and is irrelevant to the size and the shape of particles and light conditions. Moreover, the measurement of the ash deposition thickness by the capacitive sensor does not depend on the emission and reflection of light, is not influenced by the change of ambient light, and can work stably even in an environment with strong light or weak light. Therefore, the dust deposition thickness on the surface of the heat exchanger is detected through the capacitive sensor, the influence of ambient light, dust color, physical characteristics of dust and reflectivity is reduced, and the accuracy of dust deposition thickness detection of the heat exchanger is improved. The invention further discloses a heat exchanger ash deposition detection device, an air conditioner and a computer readable storage medium.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of air conditioning control technology, such as a method and apparatus for detecting ash accumulation in heat exchangers, air conditioners, and computer-readable storage media. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, heat exchangers are the core component of air conditioners, playing a crucial role in air conditioning cooling and heating systems. The heat exchanger structure consists of pipes and densely packed fins. The fins are interlaced and densely arranged in the pipes with minimal gaps between them. To ensure efficient heat exchange, the fin area is relatively large. Therefore, during air conditioning operation, dust and debris in the air easily adhere to the fins as airflow passes through, causing blockages. The impact of a blocked heat exchanger is much more severe than that of a blocked dust filter. It not only reduces the airflow of the air conditioner, affecting its performance, but also significantly reduces heat exchange efficiency because indoor and outdoor heat exchange relies on the fins, and dust accumulation on them further reduces heat exchange efficiency. Therefore, regular cleaning of the heat exchanger is necessary to ensure the energy efficiency of the air conditioner. Based on this, how to determine the amount of dust accumulation in the heat exchanger has become a pressing issue that needs to be addressed.

[0003] Related technologies disclose the use of an infrared ranging device (e.g., an infrared ranging sensor) to measure the distance from the emission point to the fin surface of a heat exchanger. The emission point can be the installation location of the infrared ranging device. A first preset distance is the distance from the emission point to the fin surface of the heat exchanger when there is no dust accumulation on the heat exchanger surface. The greater the difference between the measured distance from the emission point to the fin surface of the heat exchanger and the first preset distance, the thicker the dust layer.

[0004] In the process of implementing the embodiments of this disclosure, at least the following problems were found in the related art:

[0005] Using relevant technologies to detect the thickness of ash accumulation on heat exchangers via infrared ranging devices has improved the accuracy of ash accumulation detection to some extent. However, in practical applications, infrared ranging devices may be affected by ambient light, dust color, dust physical properties, and reflectivity, leading to errors in the measurement of ash accumulation thickness on heat exchangers.

[0006] It should be noted that the information disclosed in the background section above is only used to enhance the understanding of the background of this application, and therefore may include information that does not constitute prior art known to those skilled in the art. Summary of the Invention

[0007] To provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed embodiments, a brief summary is given below. This summary is not intended as a general commentary, nor is it intended to identify key / important components or describe the scope of protection of these embodiments, but rather as a prelude to the detailed description that follows.

[0008] This disclosure provides a method and apparatus for detecting ash accumulation in heat exchangers, an air conditioner, and a computer-readable storage medium to improve the accuracy of ash accumulation thickness detection in heat exchangers.

[0009] In some embodiments, a capacitive sensor is disposed between the heat exchanger fins; the method includes: acquiring the current capacitance change value of the capacitive sensor; and determining the current dust accumulation thickness corresponding to the current capacitance change value according to a preset correspondence between the capacitance change value and the dust accumulation thickness.

[0010] Optionally, obtaining the current capacitance change value of the capacitive sensor includes: obtaining the initial capacitance value and the current capacitance value of the capacitive sensor; wherein the initial capacitance value represents the capacitance value of the capacitive sensor when there is no dust accumulation; and determining the difference between the current capacitance value and the initial capacitance value as the current capacitance change value.

[0011] Optionally, before obtaining the current capacitance change value of the capacitive sensor, the method further includes: detecting whether the air conditioner is in working condition when the dust accumulation detection time is reached; and activating the capacitive sensor when the air conditioner is not in working condition.

[0012] Optionally, the dust accumulation detection time can be determined as follows: obtain the previous dust accumulation detection time and the influence parameters related to the dust accumulation rate; determine the interval of dust accumulation detection based on the influence parameters; and determine the current dust accumulation detection time based on the previous dust accumulation detection time and the interval of dust accumulation detection.

[0013] Optionally, the interval for dust accumulation detection is determined based on the influencing parameters, including: determining the interval corresponding to the influencing parameters based on a preset first relationship; wherein the dust accumulation rate is negatively correlated with the interval.

[0014] Optionally, the current dust accumulation detection time is determined based on the previous dust accumulation detection time and the interval between dust accumulation detections, including: obtaining the cumulative duration of air conditioner operation since the previous dust accumulation detection; and determining the first time when the cumulative duration reaches the interval between dust accumulation detections as the current dust accumulation detection time.

[0015] Optionally, after determining the current dust thickness corresponding to the current capacitance change value based on the preset correspondence between the capacitance change value and the dust thickness, the method further includes: activating the self-cleaning function when the current dust thickness is greater than the thickness threshold.

[0016] In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a processor and a memory storing program instructions, wherein the processor is configured to execute the heat exchanger ash accumulation detection method described above when executing the program instructions.

[0017] In some embodiments, the air conditioner includes: an air conditioner body, a capacitive sensor disposed between heat exchanger fins; and the aforementioned heat exchanger dust accumulation detection device, which is installed on the air conditioner body.

[0018] In some embodiments, a computer-readable storage medium stores program instructions that, when executed, perform the heat exchanger ash accumulation detection method described above.

[0019] The heat exchanger ash accumulation detection method and apparatus, air conditioner, and computer-readable storage medium provided in this disclosure can achieve the following technical effects:

[0020] The current capacitance change value of the capacitive sensor is obtained. Based on the preset correspondence between capacitance change value and dust accumulation thickness, the current dust accumulation thickness corresponding to the current capacitance change value is determined. The capacitive sensor measures the dielectric properties of a material. The dielectric constant of dust is related to its thickness and density, but not significantly to particle size and shape, and is independent of lighting conditions. Furthermore, the capacitive sensor's measurement of dust accumulation thickness does not depend on light emission and reflection, and is unaffected by changes in ambient light, operating stably even in strong or weak light environments. Therefore, using a capacitive sensor to detect dust accumulation thickness on the heat exchanger surface reduces the influence of ambient light, dust color, dust physical properties, and reflectivity, thus improving the accuracy of dust accumulation thickness detection in heat exchangers.

[0021] The above general description and the description below are exemplary and illustrative only and are not intended to limit this application. Attached Figure Description

[0022] One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. These illustrations and drawings do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments. Elements having the same reference numerals in the drawings are shown as similar elements. The drawings are not to be scaled. And wherein:

[0023] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the installation of a capacitive sensor provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0024] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a capacitive sensor provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0025] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a heat exchanger ash accumulation detection method provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0026] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of another heat exchanger ash accumulation detection method provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0027] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a heat exchanger ash accumulation detection device provided in an embodiment of this disclosure;

[0028] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of an air conditioner provided in an embodiment of this disclosure.

[0029] Figure label:

[0030] 1: Capacitive sensor; 2: Printed circuit board substrate; 3: Printed circuit board cover layer; 4: Transmitting electrode; 5: Receiving electrode; 6: Heat exchanger; 7: Heat exchanger fins; 8: Dust accumulation; 9: Dielectric space;

[0031] 800: Heat exchanger dust accumulation detection device; 801: Processor; 802: Memory; 803: Communication interface; 804: Bus; 900: Air conditioner. Detailed Implementation

[0032] To provide a more detailed understanding of the features and technical content of the embodiments of this disclosure, the implementation of the embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the embodiments of this disclosure. In the following technical description, for ease of explanation, several details are used to provide a full understanding of the disclosed embodiments. However, one or more embodiments may still be implemented without these details. In other cases, well-known structures and devices may be simplified in their depiction to simplify the drawings.

[0033] The terms "first," "second," etc., used in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this disclosure are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate for the embodiments of this disclosure described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion.

[0034] In this disclosure, the terms "upper," "lower," "inner," "middle," "outer," "front," and "rear," etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. These terms are primarily for better description of the embodiments of this disclosure and their implementations, and are not intended to limit the indicated devices, elements, or components to having a specific orientation, or to require them to be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Furthermore, some of the aforementioned terms may be used to indicate other meanings besides orientation or positional relationship; for example, the term "upper" may in some cases indicate a dependency or connection relationship. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of these terms in the embodiments of this disclosure according to the specific circumstances.

[0035] Furthermore, the terms "set up," "connect," and "fix" should be interpreted broadly. For example, "connection" can be a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral structure; it can be a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or it can be an internal connection between two devices, components, or parts. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of this disclosure according to the specific circumstances.

[0036] Unless otherwise stated, the term "multiple" means two or more.

[0037] In this embodiment of the disclosure, the character " / " indicates that the objects before and after it are in an "or" relationship. For example, A / B means: A or B.

[0038] The term "and / or" describes an association between objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B means: A or B, or A and B.

[0039] The term "correspondence" can refer to an association or binding relationship. The correspondence between A and B means that there is an association or binding relationship between A and B.

[0040] It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in the present disclosure can be combined with each other.

[0041] In this embodiment of the disclosure, smart home appliances refer to home appliances formed by introducing microprocessors, sensor technology and network communication technology into home appliances. They have the characteristics of intelligent control, intelligent sensing and intelligent application. The operation of smart home appliances often relies on the application and processing of modern technologies such as the Internet of Things, the Internet and electronic chips. For example, smart home appliances can be connected to electronic devices to enable users to remotely control and manage smart home appliances.

[0042] In the disclosed embodiments, the terminal device refers to an electronic device with wireless connectivity. The terminal device can communicate with the aforementioned smart home appliances via the internet, or directly via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or other methods. In some embodiments, the terminal device may be, for example, a mobile device, a computer, or an in-vehicle device built into a hovercraft, or any combination thereof. Mobile devices may include, for example, mobile phones, smart home devices, wearable devices, smart mobile devices, virtual reality devices, or any combination thereof. Wearable devices may include, for example, smartwatches, smart bracelets, pedometers, etc.

[0043] Combination Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, this disclosure presents an air conditioner including a heat exchanger dust accumulation detection device. The heat exchanger dust accumulation detection device includes a capacitive sensor 1 disposed between the heat exchanger fins 7. Specifically, the capacitive sensor 1 can be disposed between the heat exchanger fins 7 along the length direction of the fins or along the width direction of the fins; this is not limited here. The air conditioner also includes a processor, which is electrically connected to the aforementioned electrical components and used to control the operation of the aforementioned electrical components. The capacitive sensor 1 can be in the form of self-capacitance or mutual capacitance. As an example, the capacitive sensor 1 includes a printed circuit board substrate 2, a printed circuit board cover layer 3, a transmitting electrode 4, and a receiving electrode 5. The transmitting electrode 4 and the receiving electrode 5 are disposed between the printed circuit board substrate 2 and the printed circuit board cover layer 3, and separated by a dielectric space 9. The pin of the transmitting electrode 4 provides a digital voltage signal to excite the transmitting electrode 4 of the capacitive sensor 1. The pin of the receiving electrode 5 is responsible for measuring the received charge. The charge received on the receiving electrode 5 of the capacitive sensor 1 is proportional to the mutual capacitance between the two electrodes. Since the capacitive sensor 1 is located between the heat exchanger fins 7 (on the surface of the heat exchanger 6), the dust 8 will fall onto the printed circuit board cover layer 3 of the capacitive sensor 1. Therefore, the degree of dust accumulation on the surface of the capacitive sensor 1 reflects the degree of dust accumulation on the surface of the heat exchanger 6. Based on the mutual capacitance detection principle, the capacitance change between the two electrodes of the capacitive sensor 1 can be detected, thereby determining the degree of dust accumulation on the surface of the heat exchanger 6.

[0044] Figure 3 and Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a heat exchanger ash accumulation detection method provided in this embodiment. Any of the following methods can be executed in an air conditioner, or in a server or terminal device communicatively connected to the air conditioner. In this embodiment, the solution is described using an air conditioner as the executing entity.

[0045] Based on the above-mentioned air conditioner structure, such as Figure 3 As shown in the figure, this disclosure provides a method for detecting ash accumulation in a heat exchanger, including:

[0046] S31, the air conditioner acquires the current capacitance change value of the capacitive sensor.

[0047] S32, the air conditioner determines the current dust accumulation thickness corresponding to the current capacitance change value based on the preset correspondence between the capacitance change value and the dust accumulation thickness.

[0048] The capacitance change is positively correlated with the dust accumulation thickness. The preset correspondence between capacitance change and dust accumulation thickness can be stored locally or in the cloud. This preset correspondence can be obtained experimentally, determined empirically, or through a neural network model. As an example, the preset correspondence between capacitance change values ​​and dust accumulation thickness includes: when the capacitance change value is 10961, the dust accumulation thickness is 1.0 mm; when the capacitance change value is 12386, the dust accumulation thickness is 1.1 mm; when the capacitance change value is 13788, the dust accumulation thickness is 1.2 mm; when the capacitance change value is 15248, the dust accumulation thickness is 1.3 mm; when the capacitance change value is 13890, the dust accumulation thickness is 1.9 mm; when the capacitance change value is 25297, the dust accumulation thickness is 2.0 mm; when the capacitance change value is 29677, the dust accumulation thickness is 2.1 mm; when the capacitance change value is 64567, the dust accumulation thickness is 2.9 mm; and when the capacitance change value is 68911, the dust accumulation thickness is 3.0 mm.

[0049] The heat exchanger dust accumulation detection method provided in this embodiment obtains the current capacitance change value of a capacitive sensor. Based on a preset correspondence between the capacitance change value and dust accumulation thickness, the current dust accumulation thickness corresponding to the current capacitance change value is determined. The capacitive sensor measures the dielectric properties of a material. The dielectric constant of dust is related to its thickness and density, but not significantly to the size and shape of the particles, and is independent of lighting conditions. Furthermore, the capacitive sensor's measurement of dust accumulation thickness does not depend on light emission and reflection, and is unaffected by changes in ambient light, operating stably even in strong or weak light environments. Therefore, detecting the dust accumulation thickness on the heat exchanger surface using a capacitive sensor reduces the influence of ambient light, dust color, dust physical properties, and reflectivity, thus improving the accuracy of heat exchanger dust accumulation thickness detection.

[0050] Optionally, the air conditioner acquires the current capacitance change value of the capacitive sensor, including: the air conditioner acquires the initial capacitance value and the current capacitance value of the capacitive sensor; wherein, the initial capacitance value represents the capacitance value of the capacitive sensor when there is no dust accumulation; the air conditioner determines the difference between the current capacitance value and the initial capacitance value as the current capacitance change value.

[0051] Thus, the initial capacitance value is the capacitance reading of the capacitive sensor when it is unaffected by dust, providing a reference point for subsequent comparisons. Dust accumulation alters the dielectric constant between the two electrodes of the capacitive sensor, causing a change in capacitance. Since the dielectric properties of dust differ from those of air, dust accumulation leads to a decrease in capacitance. By comparing the change in capacitance, the thickness of the dust accumulation can be indirectly inferred. Therefore, the air conditioner acquires the initial and current capacitance values ​​of the capacitive sensor and determines the difference between the current and initial capacitance values ​​as the current capacitance change. This difference allows for the quantification of the dust accumulation thickness.

[0052] Optionally, before the air conditioner acquires the current capacitance change value of the capacitive sensor, it further includes: when the dust accumulation detection time is reached, the air conditioner detects whether the air conditioner is in working condition; when the air conditioner is not in working condition, the air conditioner activates the capacitive sensor.

[0053] In this way, when the dust accumulation detection time arrives, the air conditioner checks whether it is in operation. When the air conditioner is not in operation, it activates the capacitive sensor. By periodically detecting changes in capacitance when the air conditioner is not in operation, interference from external factors such as the air conditioner's operating status is reduced. Simultaneously, by utilizing the capacitive sensor's sensitivity to dielectric properties, accurate measurement of dust accumulation thickness is achieved, thus enabling accurate and effective monitoring of dust accumulation on the heat exchanger.

[0054] Optionally, the air conditioner determines the dust accumulation detection time using the following method: the air conditioner obtains the previous dust accumulation detection time and the influencing parameters related to the dust accumulation rate; the air conditioner determines the dust accumulation detection interval based on the influencing parameters; the air conditioner determines the current dust accumulation detection time based on the previous dust accumulation detection time and the dust accumulation detection interval.

[0055] Among them, the parameters that are associated with the rate of dust accumulation include the ambient dust level and / or the frequency and / or operating time of the air conditioner and / or the air conditioner operating mode and / or the air flow rate and / or the humidity level and / or seasonal changes and / or the air conditioner installation location, etc.

[0056] Thus, different usage environments and conditions affect the rate of dust accumulation. Therefore, the air conditioner obtains the previous dust accumulation detection time and related influencing parameters, such as the air conditioner's usage frequency and ambient dust levels. Next, based on these influencing parameters, the air conditioner determines the interval between dust accumulation detections, and based on the previous dust accumulation detection time and the interval between detections, determines the current dust accumulation detection time. Dynamically setting the time interval between two dust accumulation detections based on the dust accumulation rate and influencing parameters allows for more rational planning of the detection cycle, avoiding detections that are too frequent or too spaced out.

[0057] Optionally, the air conditioner determines the interval for dust accumulation detection based on the influencing parameters, including: the air conditioner determines the interval corresponding to the influencing parameters based on a preset first relationship; wherein the dust accumulation rate is negatively correlated with the interval.

[0058] The first relation can be pre-stored locally or in the cloud. The first relation can be obtained experimentally, determined empirically, or determined through a neural network model.

[0059] In this way, the air conditioner determines the interval duration corresponding to the influencing parameters based on the preset first relationship, which improves the accuracy of the interval duration and ensures that the dust accumulation problem can be detected and dealt with in time before it becomes serious. At the same time, it avoids unnecessary testing when the dust accumulation is not serious, thus improving the testing efficiency and the economic efficiency of air conditioner operation.

[0060] Optionally, the air conditioner determines the current dust accumulation detection time based on the previous dust accumulation detection time and the interval between dust accumulation detections, including: the cumulative operating time of the air conditioner since the previous dust accumulation detection; and the first time when the cumulative operating time reaches the interval between dust accumulation detections is the current dust accumulation detection time.

[0061] In this way, since dust accumulation is very slow when the air conditioner is not running, and mainly occurs during operation, the amount of dust accumulation is directly related to the air conditioner's usage time; the longer the operating time, the greater the likelihood and amount of dust accumulation. The system acquires the cumulative operating time of the air conditioner since the previous dust accumulation test and determines the first time when the cumulative time reaches the dust accumulation test interval as the current dust accumulation test time. By comparing the cumulative operating time of the air conditioner with the preset test interval, it can be determined whether a new dust accumulation test is needed, rather than simply performing tests according to a fixed time cycle. This ensures timely testing while avoiding unnecessary tests when the air conditioner is not frequently used, improving testing efficiency and economy.

[0062] Based on the above-mentioned air conditioner structure, such as Figure 4 As shown in the embodiments of this disclosure, another method for detecting ash accumulation in heat exchangers is provided, including:

[0063] S31, the air conditioner acquires the current capacitance change value of the capacitive sensor.

[0064] S32, the air conditioner determines the current dust accumulation thickness corresponding to the current capacitance change value based on the preset correspondence between the capacitance change value and the dust accumulation thickness.

[0065] S41, When the current dust accumulation thickness is greater than the thickness threshold, the air conditioner starts the self-cleaning function.

[0066] The heat exchanger dust accumulation detection method provided in this disclosure activates a self-cleaning function when the current dust accumulation thickness exceeds a thickness threshold. By monitoring dust accumulation through capacitance changes and automatically initiating a cleaning program based on the severity of dust accumulation, energy waste can be reduced, the lifespan of the air conditioner extended, and the user experience improved.

[0067] Combination Figure 5As shown, this embodiment of the disclosure provides a heat exchanger ash accumulation detection device 800, including a processor 801 and a memory 802. Optionally, the device may further include a communication interface 803 and a bus 804. The processor 801, communication interface 803, and memory 802 can communicate with each other via the bus 804. The communication interface 803 can be used for information transmission. The processor 801 can call logical instructions in the memory 802 to execute the heat exchanger ash accumulation detection method of the above embodiment.

[0068] Furthermore, the logic instructions in the aforementioned memory 802 can be implemented as software functional units and, when sold or used as independent products, can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium.

[0069] The memory 802, as a computer-readable storage medium, can be used to store software programs and computer-executable programs, such as the program instructions / modules corresponding to the methods in the embodiments of this disclosure. The processor 801 executes functional applications and data processing by running the program instructions / modules stored in the memory 802, thereby implementing the heat exchanger ash accumulation detection method in the above embodiments.

[0070] The memory 802 may include a program storage area and a data storage area. The program storage area may store the operating system and application programs required for at least one function; the data storage area may store data created based on the use of the terminal device. Furthermore, the memory 802 may include high-speed random access memory and may also include non-volatile memory.

[0071] Combination Figure 6 As shown, this disclosure provides an air conditioner 900, including: an air conditioner body and the aforementioned heat exchanger dust accumulation detection device 800. The heat exchanger dust accumulation detection device 800 is installed on the air conditioner body. The installation relationship described herein is not limited to placement inside the air conditioner, but also includes installation connections with other components of the air conditioner, including but not limited to physical connections, electrical connections, or signal transmission connections. Those skilled in the art will understand that the heat exchanger dust accumulation detection device 800 can be adapted to any feasible air conditioner body, thereby realizing other feasible embodiments.

[0072] This disclosure provides a computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions configured to perform the above-described heat exchanger ash accumulation detection method.

[0073] The technical solutions of this disclosure can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes one or more instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the method described in this disclosure. The aforementioned storage medium can be a non-transitory storage medium, including: a USB flash drive, a portable hard drive, a read-only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic disk, or an optical disk, and other media capable of storing program code.

[0074] The foregoing description and accompanying drawings fully illustrate embodiments of this disclosure to enable those skilled in the art to practice them. Other embodiments may include structural, logical, electrical, procedural, and other changes. The embodiments represent only possible variations. Individual components and functions are optional unless explicitly required, and the order of operation may vary. Parts and features of some embodiments may be included in or replace parts and features of other embodiments. Moreover, the terminology used in this application is for describing embodiments only and is not intended to limit the claims. As used in the description of embodiments and claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to equally include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Similarly, the term “and / or” as used in this application means including one or more of the associated listed items and all possible combinations thereof. Additionally, when used in this application, the term "comprise" and its variations "comprises" and / or "comprising" refer to the presence of stated features, integrals, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integrals, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprises a..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, or apparatus that includes said element. In this document, each embodiment may focus on the differences from other embodiments, and similar or identical parts between embodiments can be referred to mutually. For methods, products, etc., disclosed in the embodiments, if they correspond to the method section disclosed in the embodiments, the relevant parts can be referred to the description of the method section.

[0075] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of the embodiments of this disclosure. Those skilled in the art will clearly understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and units described above can be referred to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0076] The methods and products (including but not limited to devices and equipment) disclosed in the embodiments herein can be implemented in other ways. For example, the device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For instance, the division of units may be merely a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. In addition, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection between the shown or discussed units may be through some interfaces, and the indirect coupling or communication connection between devices or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms. The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units, that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units may be selected to implement this embodiment according to actual needs. Furthermore, the functional units in the embodiments of this disclosure may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit.

[0077] The flowcharts and block diagrams in the accompanying drawings illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to embodiments of this disclosure. In this regard, each block in a flowchart or block diagram may represent a module, segment, or portion of code containing one or more executable instructions for implementing a specified logical function. In some alternative implementations, the functions marked in the blocks may occur in a different order than that shown in the drawings. For example, two consecutive blocks may actually be executed substantially in parallel, and they may sometimes be executed in reverse order, depending on the functions involved. In the descriptions corresponding to the flowcharts and block diagrams in the accompanying drawings, the operations or steps corresponding to different blocks may also occur in a different order than disclosed in the description, and sometimes there is no specific order between different operations or steps. For example, two consecutive operations or steps may actually be executed substantially in parallel, and they may sometimes be executed in reverse order, depending on the functions involved. Each block in a block diagram and / or flowchart, and combinations of blocks in a block diagram and / or flowchart, can be implemented using a dedicated hardware-based system that performs the specified function or action, or using a combination of dedicated hardware and computer instructions.

Claims

1. A method for detecting ash accumulation in a heat exchanger, characterized in that, A capacitive sensor is installed between the heat exchanger fins; the method includes: Obtain the current capacitance change value of the capacitive sensor; Based on the preset correspondence between capacitance change value and dust accumulation thickness, the current dust accumulation thickness corresponding to the current capacitance change value is determined.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Obtain the current capacitance change value of the capacitive sensor, including: Obtain the initial capacitance value and the current capacitance value of the capacitive sensor; where the initial capacitance value represents the capacitance value of the capacitive sensor when there is no dust accumulation. The difference between the current capacitance value and the initial capacitance value is determined as the current capacitance change.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that, Before obtaining the current capacitance change value of the capacitive sensor, the following steps are also included: When the dust accumulation detection time arrives, check whether the air conditioner is in working condition; When the air conditioner is not in operation, the capacitive sensor is activated.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that, Determine the dust accumulation detection time using the following method: Obtain the previous dust accumulation detection time and the influencing parameters related to the dust accumulation rate; Determine the interval for dust accumulation detection based on the influencing parameters; The time for the next dust accumulation detection is determined based on the time of the previous dust accumulation detection and the interval between the previous dust accumulation detection.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, Based on the influencing parameters, determine the interval for dust accumulation detection, including: Based on the preset first relationship, the interval duration corresponding to the influencing parameters is determined; among them, the dust accumulation rate is negatively correlated with the interval duration.

6. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, The current dust accumulation detection time is determined based on the interval between the previous dust accumulation detection time and the previous dust accumulation detection time, including: Obtain the cumulative operating time of the air conditioner since the last dust accumulation test; The first time when the cumulative duration reaches the interval for dust accumulation detection is determined as the current dust accumulation detection time.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, Based on the preset correspondence between capacitance change value and dust accumulation thickness, after determining the current dust accumulation thickness corresponding to the current capacitance change value, the process also includes: When the current dust accumulation thickness exceeds the thickness threshold, the self-cleaning function is activated.

8. A heat exchanger ash accumulation detection device, comprising a processor and a memory storing program instructions, characterized in that, The processor is configured to execute the heat exchanger ash accumulation detection method as described in any one of claims 1 to 7 when running the program instructions.

9. An air conditioner, characterized in that, include: Capacitive sensors are installed between the heat exchanger fins of the air conditioner body; as well as, The heat exchanger dust accumulation detection device as described in claim 8 is installed on the air conditioner body.

10. A computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions, characterized in that, When the program instructions are executed, they cause the computer to perform the heat exchanger ash accumulation detection method as described in any one of claims 1 to 7.

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