Refrigerant leakage detection device, air conditioning system and control method and control device of air conditioning system

Abstract

The invention relates to the field of electric appliances, and provides a refrigerant leakage detection device, an air conditioning system and a control method and device of the air conditioning system. The refrigerant leakage detection device comprises a control main board which is provided with a plurality of valve driving interfaces and at least one refrigerant leakage detector interface and is used for being connected with a plurality of electromagnetic valves and a refrigerant leakage sensor; the electromagnetic valve is arranged on a connecting pipeline between the air conditioner outdoor unit and the air conditioner indoor unit; the main power supply input end is used for receiving main power supply of a main power supply; the external power supply module and the main power supply input end are connected in parallel to the control mainboard; the control mainboard is configured to control the external power supply module to provide emergency power for the control mainboard based on refrigerant leakage and / or main power supply abnormity so as to drive the multiple electromagnetic valves to act synchronously. On the premise that the compactness of the system is not sacrificed, the defects of an existing refrigerant leakage detection device in the aspects of multi-valve synchronous driving and power-off emergency response are overcome, and therefore a reliable and efficient safety protection scheme is provided for the air conditioner system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of electrical technology, and in particular to a refrigerant leak detection device, an air conditioning system, and a control method and device thereof. Background Technology

[0002] R32 and other A2L-class weakly flammable refrigerants are widely used in multi-split air conditioning systems due to their superior environmental performance. However, their lower explosive limit is low, and if a leak occurs and the refrigerant supply cannot be quickly cut off, it can easily accumulate to dangerous concentrations in a confined space, posing a safety risk.

[0003] Existing refrigerant leak detection devices typically isolate the leak source by controlling the mainboard to drive solenoid valves to close. However, due to space and cost limitations on the mainboard, the onboard energy storage capacitor has a small capacity, which can only support the sequential operation of one or a few solenoid valves. When multiple indoor units or valve box areas leak simultaneously, multiple solenoid valves cannot be closed synchronously, resulting in valve closing delays, continuous refrigerant leakage, and increased safety risks.

[0004] Furthermore, when the main power supply is cut off due to the protection mechanism, the control board loses power. Since most solenoid valves are normally open, they cannot automatically close after power failure, leading to uncontrolled leakage. Although some solutions attempt to increase the onboard capacitor, the limitations of structural compactness make it difficult to achieve reliable and efficient synchronous drive of multiple valves.

[0005] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a new type of refrigerant leakage detection device that can solve the power supply problem for the synchronous shutdown of multiple valves without increasing the size of the main board, and ensure that emergency valve shutdown can still be performed when the main power supply is abnormal. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This invention provides a refrigerant leak detection device, an air conditioning system, and a control method and device thereof, to address the deficiencies in the prior art and achieve the following technical effects: without sacrificing system compactness, it effectively solves the core shortcomings of existing refrigerant leak detection devices in terms of multi-valve synchronous drive and power failure emergency response, thereby providing a reliable and efficient safety protection solution for air conditioning systems.

[0007] In a first aspect, the present invention provides a refrigerant leakage detection device, comprising: The control motherboard is equipped with multiple valve drive interfaces and at least one refrigerant leak detector interface, which are used to connect multiple solenoid valves and refrigerant leak sensors respectively; wherein, the solenoid valves are located on the connecting pipe between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit of the air conditioner. Main power input terminal, used to receive the main power supply from the main power source; An external power supply module is connected in parallel to the main power input terminal to the control motherboard; The control motherboard is configured to: control an external power supply module to provide emergency power to the control motherboard in case of refrigerant leakage and / or main power failure, so as to drive multiple solenoid valves to operate synchronously.

[0008] Secondly, the present invention also protects an air conditioning system, comprising: An air conditioner outdoor unit and at least one air conditioner indoor unit, with a connecting pipe between each of the air conditioner indoor units and the air conditioner outdoor unit; The refrigerant leakage detection device as described in the first aspect of the present invention; At least one valve box and at least one refrigerant leak sensor are provided. The valve box is located on the connecting pipe and includes at least two solenoid valves. The refrigerant leak sensor is located inside the indoor unit of the air conditioner or inside the valve box and is used to detect the refrigerant concentration and transmit the leak signal to the control board.

[0009] Thirdly, the present invention also protects a control method based on the air conditioning system described in the second aspect, comprising: Obtain the power supply status of the main power supply to the control motherboard, as well as the detection results of the refrigerant leak sensor; The refrigerant leakage status of the air conditioning system is determined based on the detection results of the refrigerant leakage sensor. The operating status of the external power supply module is controlled and adjusted according to the power supply status and / or the refrigerant leakage situation.

[0010] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the step of controlling and adjusting the operating state of the external power supply module based on the power supply status and the refrigerant leakage status includes: Under the condition that the main power supply is normal in the power supply state; Determine the first number of solenoid valves that need to be closed simultaneously based on the refrigerant leakage situation; When the first shutdown quantity is equal to 1, the external power module is controlled to be in standby or charging state; or, when the first shutdown quantity is greater than 1, the external power module is controlled to supply power to the control motherboard.

[0011] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the step of determining the first number of solenoid valves that need to be closed simultaneously based on the refrigerant leakage situation includes: In the case where only one of the air conditioner indoor units experiences refrigerant leakage, the first shutdown quantity is determined to be 1; Alternatively, if refrigerant leakage occurs in at least two of the said air conditioning indoor units, it is determined that the first number of shutdowns is greater than 1; Alternatively, in the event of a refrigerant leak in at least one of the valve boxes, the first shut-off quantity is determined to be greater than 1.

[0012] According to some embodiments of the present invention, after the step of controlling and adjusting the operating state of the external power supply module, the method further includes: If only one of the indoor units of the air conditioner experiences a refrigerant leak, the external power module will be in standby or charging mode. Since the indoor unit of the air conditioner is in cooling operation, the liquid valve in the valve box corresponding to the indoor unit of the air conditioner is closed first, and the gas valve in the valve box is closed after a first set time is extended. Alternatively, based on the fact that the indoor unit of the air conditioner is in heating mode, the gas valve in the valve box corresponding to the indoor unit of the air conditioner is first closed, and the liquid valve in the valve box is closed after a second set time is extended. Alternatively, based on the fact that the indoor unit of the air conditioner is in standby or off state, the liquid valve in the valve box corresponding to the indoor unit of the air conditioner is closed first, and the gas valve in the valve box is closed after a third set time period.

[0013] According to some embodiments of the present invention, after the step of controlling and adjusting the operating state of the external power supply module, the method further includes: In the event that at least two of the indoor units of the air conditioner experience refrigerant leakage, the external power supply module supplies power to the control motherboard. Since all indoor air conditioners with refrigerant leaks are in cooling operation, the liquid valves in the valve boxes corresponding to each indoor air conditioner with refrigerant leaks are closed simultaneously, and the gas valves in the valve boxes are closed simultaneously after a first set time is extended. Alternatively, based on the fact that all the indoor air conditioners with refrigerant leaks are in heating mode, the gas valves in the valve boxes corresponding to each indoor air conditioner with refrigerant leaks are closed simultaneously, and the liquid valves in the valve boxes are closed simultaneously after a second set time is extended. Since all indoor air conditioners with refrigerant leaks are in standby or off state, the liquid valves in the valve boxes corresponding to each indoor air conditioner with refrigerant leaks are closed simultaneously, and the gas valves in the valve boxes are closed simultaneously after a third set time period.

[0014] According to some embodiments of the present invention, after the step of controlling and adjusting the operating state of the external power supply module, the method further includes: In the event of refrigerant leakage in at least one of the valve boxes, the external power supply module supplies power to the control motherboard. Simultaneously close all gas and liquid valves in the valve box where refrigerant leakage occurs.

[0015] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the step of controlling and adjusting the operating state of the external power supply module based on the power supply status and the refrigerant leakage status includes: In the event of a main power supply failure or power outage, the external power supply module is controlled to supply power to the control motherboard. The step of controlling the external power module to supply power to the control motherboard further includes: In the event of refrigerant leakage in at least one of the indoor air conditioning units, the gas valves and liquid valves in the valve boxes corresponding to all indoor air conditioning units that have experienced refrigerant leakage shall be closed simultaneously. In the event of a refrigerant leak in at least one of the valve boxes, the gas valves and liquid valves in all valve boxes experiencing refrigerant leaks shall be closed simultaneously.

[0016] Fourthly, the present invention also protects a control device based on the air conditioning system described in the second aspect, comprising: The first acquisition module is used to acquire the power supply status of the main power supply to the control motherboard and the detection results of the refrigerant leak sensor. The second acquisition module is used to determine the refrigerant leakage situation of the air conditioning system based on the detection results of the refrigerant leakage sensor. The control module is used to control and adjust the working state of the external power supply module according to the power supply status and / or the refrigerant leakage situation.

[0017] This invention effectively addresses the core shortcomings of existing refrigerant leak detection devices in terms of multi-valve synchronous operation and power failure emergency response without sacrificing system compactness, providing a reliable and efficient safety protection solution for air conditioning systems using flammable refrigerants such as A2L. Specifically, the advantages of this invention compared to related technologies include: First, it enables simultaneous operation of multiple solenoid valves, significantly shortening valve closing response time. For example, by setting an external power module independent of the control motherboard and connecting it in parallel with the main power supply, this invention can provide sufficient energy to drive multiple solenoid valves to close synchronously within the same control cycle when refrigerant leakage occurs. Compared to the sequential valve closing method forced by insufficient onboard capacitor capacity in existing technologies, this invention can significantly reduce the duration of refrigerant leakage, effectively suppress the accumulation of flammable gas concentration in confined spaces, and improve intrinsic safety.

[0018] Secondly, it ensures emergency valve shut-off capability in the event of a main power failure. Specifically, when the main power is cut off due to safety interlocks or malfunctions, the control board can still obtain emergency power through an external power module to continue executing valve shut-off commands. This overcomes the technical deficiency of traditional solutions that cannot drive normally open solenoid valves after a power outage, achieving a fail-safe function that ensures uninterrupted control even in the event of a power outage, and guaranteeing reliable isolation in high-risk scenarios.

[0019] Third, it balances miniaturization and high reliability while avoiding complex motherboard structures. For example, this invention externalizes the large-capacity energy storage unit, eliminating the need to integrate large capacitors on the control motherboard. This saves motherboard space, reduces manufacturing costs, and avoids the thermal management and safety risks associated with high-voltage energy storage. Furthermore, the external power module can be flexibly configured according to system requirements, improving design adaptability and maintenance convenience. Attached Figure Description

[0020] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in this invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of this invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the refrigerant leakage detection device provided by the present invention.

[0022] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the air conditioning system provided by the present invention.

[0023] Figure 3 This is one of the schematic diagrams of the control method of the air conditioning system provided by the present invention.

[0024] Figure 4 This is the second schematic diagram of the steps of the control method for the air conditioning system provided by the present invention.

[0025] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the control device for the air conditioning system provided by the present invention.

[0026] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the electronic device provided by the present invention.

[0027] Figure label: 1. Air conditioner outdoor unit; 2. Air conditioner indoor unit; 3. Control main board; 31. Valve drive interface; 32. Refrigerant leak detector interface; 33. Main power input terminal; 4. Refrigerant leak sensor; 5. External power supply module; 51. Charging management circuit; 61. Liquid valve; 62. Gas valve; 71. Connecting liquid pipe to outdoor unit; 72. Connecting gas pipe to outdoor unit; 73. Connecting liquid pipe to indoor unit; 74. Connecting gas pipe to indoor unit; 110. First acquisition module; 120. Second acquisition module; 130. Control module. Detailed Implementation

[0028] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this invention clearer, the technical solutions of this invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of this invention without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this invention.

[0029] The following is combined Figures 1 to 6 This invention describes a refrigerant leak detection device, an air conditioning system, and a control method and control device thereof.

[0030] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the refrigerant leakage detection device according to a first aspect embodiment of the present invention includes a control motherboard 3, a main power input terminal 33, and an external power module 5.

[0031] The control motherboard 3 is provided with multiple valve drive interfaces 31 and at least one refrigerant leak detector interface 32, which are used to connect multiple solenoid valves and refrigerant leak sensors 4 respectively; wherein, the solenoid valves are located on the connecting pipe between the outdoor unit 1 and the indoor unit 2 of the air conditioner; the main power input terminal 33 is used to receive the main power supply; the external power module 5 is connected to the control motherboard 3 in parallel with the main power input terminal 33.

[0032] The control board 3 is configured to control the external power module 5 to provide emergency power to the control board 3 in case of refrigerant leakage and / or main power failure, so as to drive multiple solenoid valves to operate synchronously.

[0033] According to an embodiment of the refrigerant leakage device, the control motherboard 3 serves as the control core, responsible for receiving sensor signals, determining system status, executing valve-closing logic, and managing the charging, discharging, and power supply switching of the external power module 5. The control motherboard 3 is equipped with multiple valve drive interfaces 31 and at least one refrigerant leakage detector interface 32. The valve drive interfaces 31 can provide output ports for solenoid valve drive circuits, supporting multi-channel independent or synchronous control; that is, multiple valve drive interfaces 31 are used to electrically connect multiple solenoid valves. The refrigerant leakage detector interface 32 is used to electrically connect at least one refrigerant leakage sensor 4; that is, the refrigerant leakage detector interface 32 is used to connect refrigerant leakage sensors 4, such as refrigerant concentration sensors, thereby acquiring leakage information in real time. The solenoid valve is installed on the connecting pipe between the outdoor unit 1 and the indoor unit 2 of the air conditioner, used to cut off or open the refrigerant passage.

[0034] The main power input terminal 33 is used to connect to the system's main power supply, providing the motherboard with the power required for normal operation, thereby ensuring a stable power supply during normal system operation. The external power module 5 is connected in parallel with the main power input terminal 33 and then connected to the power input terminal of the control motherboard 3, forming a dual-power supply structure. The external power module 5 can provide backup energy when the main power supply is unavailable or when a large instantaneous current is required to drive multiple valves, thus ensuring that critical safety actions are performed. This parallel connection structure allows the main power supply and the external power module 5 to supply power to the control motherboard 3 independently or collaboratively, achieving seamless power supply switching.

[0035] The control motherboard 3 has a built-in control logic unit, which is configured to trigger the external power module 5 to provide emergency power to itself when a refrigerant leak signal and / or main power abnormality is detected, and use the power to drive multiple solenoid valves to operate synchronously.

[0036] Based on the above basic structure, the working principle of the refrigerant leakage detection device of the present invention is that by introducing an external power module 5 independent of the control motherboard 3 and connecting it in parallel with the main power input terminal 33 to the control motherboard 3, a dual power supply collaborative power supply architecture is constructed. This solves the technical bottleneck in the prior art where the capacity of onboard energy storage components is limited, making it impossible to achieve synchronous shutdown of multiple solenoid valves, without increasing the size and cost of the motherboard.

[0037] In related technologies, in multi-split air conditioning systems using A2L-class weakly flammable refrigerants such as R32, once a refrigerant leak occurs, the refrigerant passage between the indoor and outdoor units must be cut off within a very short time to prevent flammable gas from accumulating to the lower explosive limit (e.g., 13.3% volume concentration) in a confined space. However, in traditional solutions, the energy storage capacitor used to drive the solenoid valve is integrated on the control mainboard 3. Due to limitations in mainboard area, heat dissipation, and cost, its capacity is usually only sufficient to support the sequential operation of one or a few solenoid valves, resulting in a significant delay in the valve closing process, which increases the leakage and raises safety risks.

[0038] To address the technical deficiencies in the aforementioned related technologies, this invention places a high-energy-density energy storage unit, i.e., an external power module 5, outside the control motherboard 3 and connects it to the motherboard's power input terminal in parallel. This parallel structure allows the main power supply and the external power module 5 to share the same power bus, but with a clear division of functions. The main power supply is responsible for daily operation power supply, while the external power module 5 is dedicated to emergency high-power output. For example, the external power module 5 can be a large-capacity capacitor bank, a supercapacitor, or a rechargeable battery.

[0039] Specifically, when the control motherboard 3 receives a refrigerant leak signal (from the refrigerant leak sensor 4) and / or detects an abnormality in the main power supply (such as a voltage drop or power failure), its built-in control logic immediately determines whether a multi-valve synchronous shutdown operation needs to be performed. If it is determined that a multi-point leak or a high-risk area leak is necessary, the motherboard then activates the discharge control circuit of the external power module 5, causing it to rapidly inject a high-current pulse into the power bus. Since the external power module 5 is independent of the motherboard layout, its capacity can be designed on demand, sufficient to provide the peak power required to drive multiple solenoid valves to operate simultaneously within hundreds of milliseconds.

[0040] With this emergency power support, the multi-channel valve drive circuit of the control motherboard 3 can output high-level or drive signals to multiple valve drive interfaces 31 within the same control cycle, so that the coils of the corresponding solenoid valves are energized almost simultaneously, overcoming the limitation of traditional solutions that are forced to use sequential triggering due to insufficient capacitor energy. Each solenoid valve completes the mechanical closing action under synchronous excitation, thereby achieving complete isolation of the leakage path in the shortest possible time. In addition, this parallel power supply architecture also has inherent redundancy characteristics. For example, when the main power supply is normal, the external power supply module 5 is in a floating charging or standby state, which does not affect the normal operation of the system; when the main power supply fails, there is no need to switch the power supply, and the power supply task can be seamlessly taken over by controlling the discharge path, with fast response speed and high reliability.

[0041] In summary, this invention fundamentally solves the energy supply problem for multi-valve synchronous drive through an external, high-capacity, parallel emergency power supply design. This enables the refrigerant leak detection device to maintain its miniaturization while possessing the ability to respond quickly to high-risk leak events, significantly improving the intrinsic safety level of multi-split air conditioning systems.

[0042] Furthermore, based on the above-mentioned basic working principle, the specific working process of the refrigerant leak detection device of the present invention is illustrated as follows: During normal operation of the device, the main power supply continuously supplies power to the control motherboard 3 through the main power input terminal 33; the external power module 5 is in a charging or standby state, and is replenished by the main power supply through the charging management circuit 51. When the refrigerant leak sensor 4 detects that the refrigerant concentration exceeds the threshold, or when the system detects an interruption / abnormality in the main power supply, the control motherboard 3 immediately determines whether a multi-valve synchronous shutdown operation needs to be performed.

[0043] If it is determined that multiple solenoid valves need to be driven simultaneously, such as in the event of leaks in multiple indoor units or valve box areas, the control motherboard 3 immediately activates the discharge circuit of the external power module 5, causing it to output emergency voltage to the motherboard power rail. With this emergency power support, the drive circuit of the control motherboard 3 simultaneously outputs valve-closing signals to multiple valve drive interfaces 31, energizing the corresponding solenoid valves within the same control cycle and enabling them to close, thus achieving rapid and synchronous cutoff of the refrigerant path. The entire emergency power supply and valve-closing process is completed before the external power module 5 runs out of energy, ensuring reliable execution of safety functions.

[0044] In summary, this invention effectively addresses the core shortcomings of existing refrigerant leak detection devices in terms of multi-valve synchronous drive and power failure emergency response without sacrificing system compactness, providing a reliable and efficient safety protection solution for air conditioning systems using flammable refrigerants such as A2L. Specifically, the advantages of this invention compared to related technologies include: First, it enables simultaneous operation of multiple solenoid valves, significantly shortening valve closing response time. For example, by setting an external power module 5 independent of the control motherboard 3 and connecting it in parallel with the main power supply, this invention can provide sufficient energy to drive multiple solenoid valves to close synchronously within the same control cycle when refrigerant leakage occurs. Compared to the sequential valve closing method forced by insufficient onboard capacitor capacity in existing technologies, this invention can significantly reduce the duration of refrigerant leakage, effectively suppress the accumulation of combustible gas concentration in confined spaces, and improve intrinsic safety.

[0045] Secondly, it ensures emergency valve shut-off capability in the event of a main power failure. Specifically, when the main power is cut off due to safety interlocks or malfunctions, the control motherboard 3 can still obtain emergency power through the external power module 5 to continue executing the valve shut-off command. This overcomes the technical defect of traditional solutions that cannot drive normally open solenoid valves after a power outage, achieving a fail-safe function that ensures uninterrupted control even when power is lost, and guaranteeing reliable isolation in high-risk scenarios.

[0046] Third, it balances miniaturization and high reliability while avoiding complex motherboard structures. For example, this invention externalizes the large-capacity energy storage unit, eliminating the need to integrate large capacitors on the control motherboard 3. This saves motherboard space, reduces manufacturing costs, and avoids the thermal management and safety risks associated with high-voltage energy storage. Furthermore, the external power module 5 can be flexibly configured according to system requirements, improving design adaptability and maintenance convenience.

[0047] like Figure 1 As shown, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the refrigerant leakage detection device further includes a charging management circuit 51, which is connected between the main power input terminal 33 and the external power module 5, and is used to charge the external power module 5 when the main power is normal.

[0048] It is understood that the charging management circuit 51 is used to safely and efficiently replenish the external power module 5 when the main power supply is normal. It can limit the charging current, prevent overcharging, achieve voltage matching, and automatically cut off the charging path when the main power supply is abnormal, thus avoiding reverse current loss or device damage. In this way, by setting up the charging management circuit 51, the external power module 5 can be maintained at full charge or a preset state of charge for a long time, thereby ensuring sufficient energy to perform valve shut-off operations in the event of an emergency.

[0049] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, an air conditioning system according to a second aspect embodiment of the present invention includes a refrigerant leak detection device as described in the first aspect of the present invention, an outdoor unit 1 and at least one indoor unit 2, and further includes at least one valve box and at least one refrigerant leak sensor 4.

[0050] Each indoor unit 2 is connected to the outdoor unit 1 via a connecting pipe, forming an independent refrigerant circulation branch. A valve box is installed on the connecting pipe, located within the pipe section between the outdoor unit 1 and the indoor unit 2. Each valve box integrates at least two solenoid valves: a liquid pipe solenoid valve (liquid valve 61) and a gas pipe solenoid valve (gas valve 62), connected in series in the liquid and gas pipes respectively, used to control the opening and closing of the corresponding pipes. There is at least one refrigerant leak sensor 4, installed either inside the cavity of the indoor unit 2 or inside the valve box housing. The refrigerant leak sensor 4 is electrically connected to the refrigerant leak detector interface 32 on the control board 3 of the refrigerant leak detection device via a signal cable, used to transmit the real-time detected refrigerant concentration information to the control board 3 in the form of an electrical signal. The control board 3 of the refrigerant leak detection device is electrically connected to the solenoid valves in each valve box via the valve drive interface 31, realizing the drive control of the solenoid valves.

[0051] It is understood that the working principle of the air conditioning system of the present invention is to deeply integrate refrigerant leakage detection with regional rapid isolation capability. By deploying refrigerant leakage sensor 4 at key locations and combining it with the dual valve structure integrated in the valve box, the system can accurately locate and efficiently cut off the leakage source.

[0052] This invention enables the system to clearly identify the source of leakage by deploying sensors in potentially high-risk areas. For example, when a leak occurs inside a valve box, it indicates that all branches controlled by that valve box are at risk of refrigerant leakage. In this case, all solenoid valves in the valve box must be shut off immediately to implement area-level isolation. When a leak occurs only inside a single indoor unit, it is only necessary to shut off the liquid valve 61 and gas valve 62 corresponding to that indoor unit to avoid affecting other indoor units that are operating normally.

[0053] It should be noted that the implementation of the aforementioned differentiated response strategy relies on the refrigerant leak detection device's ability to analyze sensor location information and its power supply mechanism for driving the synchronous operation of multiple valves. Therefore, the system significantly improves the accuracy and response speed of safety protection while ensuring operational efficiency.

[0054] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the refrigerant piping structure of the air conditioning system of the present invention includes multiple branch pipes connecting the outdoor unit 1 of the air conditioner and multiple indoor units 2 of the air conditioner. Each branch pipe is used to transport refrigerant and realize an independent cooling or heating cycle.

[0055] In this system, the outdoor unit 1 of the air conditioner outputs high-pressure liquid refrigerant and low-pressure gaseous refrigerant through two main pipelines. Specifically, the liquid pipe 71 connected to the outdoor unit is led out from the high-pressure liquid pipe outlet of the outdoor unit 1 and serves as the main supply pipe for liquid refrigerant; the gas pipe 72 connected to the outdoor unit is led out from the low-pressure gas pipe outlet of the outdoor unit 1 and serves as the main return pipe for gaseous refrigerant.

[0056] Each indoor air conditioner unit 2 is connected to the main pipeline via a corresponding branch pipe. Each branch includes two parallel branch pipes: the liquid pipe 73 connecting the indoor unit branches off from the liquid pipe 71 connecting the outdoor unit and leads to the evaporator or heat exchanger of the corresponding indoor unit; the gas pipe 74 connecting the indoor unit branches off from the gas pipe 72 connecting the outdoor unit and leads to the compressor or return gas port of the corresponding indoor unit.

[0057] At the entrance of each branch line, namely between the liquid refrigerant pipe 71 connecting the outdoor unit and the liquid refrigerant pipe 73 connecting the indoor unit, and between the gas refrigerant pipe 72 connecting the outdoor unit and the gas refrigerant pipe 74 connecting the indoor unit, a solenoid valve is installed, forming an independent control unit. Among them, multiple liquid valves 61 are sequentially installed at the beginning of each liquid refrigerant pipe 73 connecting the indoor unit to control the on / off state of high-pressure liquid refrigerant; multiple gas valves 62 are sequentially installed at the beginning of each gas refrigerant pipe 74 connecting the indoor unit to control the on / off state of low-pressure gaseous refrigerant.

[0058] Among them, the liquid valve 61 and gas valve 62 corresponding to a single air conditioner indoor unit 2 are integrated into a valve box, and each valve box corresponds to one air conditioner indoor unit 2, forming an independent refrigerant branch control system.

[0059] The control method and control device for an air conditioning system based on the second aspect embodiment of the present invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Before providing a detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention, the overall application scenario is first described. The control method, control device, electronic device, and computer-readable storage medium for the air conditioning system of the present invention can be applied locally to the air conditioning system, to cloud platforms in the Internet field, or to other types of cloud platforms in the Internet field, or to third-party devices. These third-party devices may include various types such as mobile phones, tablets, laptops, in-vehicle computers, and other smart terminals.

[0060] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the following description uses only the control method applicable to air conditioning systems as an example. It should be understood that the control method of this embodiment can also be applied to cloud platforms and third-party devices.

[0061] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, a control method for an air conditioning system according to a third aspect embodiment of the present invention includes: Step S1: Obtain the power supply status of the main power supply to the control motherboard 3 and the detection result of the refrigerant leakage sensor 4.

[0062] The power supply status indicates whether the main power supply is supplying power to the control board 3 normally, including normal power supply (voltage within the allowable range) and abnormal / power failure (voltage drop, interruption, or below the threshold). In step S1, the control board 3 samples the voltage at the main power input terminal 33 in real time through its power monitoring circuit to determine whether the power supply is normal; simultaneously, it periodically reads the output signals of one or more refrigerant leak sensors 4 through the refrigerant leak detector interface 32. This step provides two key input variables for subsequent decision-making: the system energy status and the safety risk status, thereby enabling intelligent emergency response.

[0063] Step S2: Determine the refrigerant leakage status of the air conditioning system based on the detection results of the refrigerant leakage sensor 4.

[0064] It is understood that the refrigerant leakage situation refers to the qualitative judgment result of the leakage event, such as no leakage, single-point leakage, multi-point leakage, or leakage in the valve box area. It should be noted that this is only a logical abstraction and does not specifically limit the type. In step S2, the control motherboard 3 analyzes the received sensor signals to determine whether there is a valid leakage alarm, and forms an overall understanding of the current refrigerant leakage status of the system, thereby providing a basis for whether to start the external power supply module 5.

[0065] Step S3: Control and adjust the working state of the external power supply module 5 according to the power supply status and / or refrigerant leakage.

[0066] The operating states include standby / charging and discharging / powering states. In this step, the control motherboard 3, based on the combined judgment results of steps S1 and S2, decides whether to activate the discharging function of the external power module 5. If a high-risk scenario requiring synchronized valve closure is determined, such as multi-point leakage or mains power failure, it controls the external power module 5 to supply power to the motherboard; otherwise, it maintains the external power module 5 in standby or charging state. This allows for on-demand use of the external power module 5, ensuring sufficient energy to drive the synchronized operation of multiple solenoid valves at critical moments, while avoiding unnecessary energy loss.

[0067] like Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the step of controlling and adjusting the operating state of the external power supply module 5 based on the power supply status and refrigerant leakage includes: Under normal power supply conditions (as long as the main power supply is functioning); Determine the initial number of solenoid valves that need to be closed simultaneously based on the refrigerant leakage situation; When the first shutdown quantity is equal to 1, the external power module 5 is controlled to be in standby or charging state; or, when the first shutdown quantity is greater than 1, the external power module 5 is controlled to supply power to the control motherboard 3.

[0068] It's important to clarify that not all leaks in air conditioning systems are equally dangerous. If only one indoor unit has a minor leak, the current required to close its corresponding valve is small, and the main power supply is sufficient, requiring no additional energy support. However, if multiple indoor units or valve boxes leak simultaneously, multiple solenoid valves must be closed quickly and synchronously. In this case, the instantaneous current demand increases significantly, potentially exceeding the instantaneous power supply capacity of the main power supply, leading to valve closure failure or delay.

[0069] To address this, the system quantifies the risk level by determining the number of solenoid valves that need to be closed simultaneously. When the number is 1, it is considered low risk, and the external power module 5 remains in sleep mode or charging. When the number is greater than 1, it is considered high risk, and even without power interruption, the external power module 5 is activated in advance to provide auxiliary power and ensure sufficient driving capability.

[0070] For example, when only the indoor unit in the living room reports a leak, the system only closes the valve on that branch, and the external power supply does not activate; when both the indoor units in the living room and bedroom report leaks at the same time, the system immediately activates the external power supply module 5, so that it shares power with the main power supply to close both valves simultaneously.

[0071] In this way, the above embodiments avoid the ineffective discharge of the external power module 5 and extend its service life; at the same time, they provide reliable power support when really needed, ensuring that multiple valves close quickly and synchronously, and improving the accuracy and effectiveness of safety response.

[0072] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the step of determining the first number of solenoid valves that need to be closed simultaneously based on refrigerant leakage includes: In the case where only one indoor air conditioner unit 2 experiences refrigerant leakage, the first shutdown quantity is determined to be 1; Alternatively, if refrigerant leakage occurs in at least two indoor air conditioning units 2, determine that the first shutdown quantity is greater than 1; Alternatively, in the event of refrigerant leakage in at least one valve box, determine that the first shut-off quantity is greater than 1.

[0073] It is understandable that when only one indoor unit 2 of the air conditioner leaks, the leak point is located inside the indoor unit, and the refrigerant flows from the outdoor unit into the indoor unit through the valve box and then escapes. At this time, simply closing one key valve in the valve box can cut off the refrigerant supply from the outdoor unit to that indoor unit, thereby preventing more refrigerant from entering the leak area. Another solenoid valve in the valve box can close after a delay to balance the pressure. Therefore, although the valve box contains two solenoid valves, effective isolation only requires the action of one main control valve, and the system treats it as a single shut-off unit, with the first shut-off quantity being 1.

[0074] When two or more indoor air conditioning units 2 leak simultaneously, each indoor air conditioning unit 2 belongs to a different branch and needs to be isolated separately. Even if the valves in each branch are closed sequentially, in order to respond quickly and reduce the total leakage, the system needs to start the valve closing action of multiple branches in parallel, resulting in the superposition of instantaneous drive current demand. Therefore, it is regarded as multi-unit synchronous operation, and the first number of closures is greater than 1.

[0075] When the valve box itself leaks, the leak point is located inside the valve box housing, meaning the refrigerant directly escapes into the environment from the valve box. Since both high-pressure liquid and low-pressure gas lines exist within the valve box, closing only one valve will allow the other line to continue supplying refrigerant to the leak point. Therefore, both liquid valve 61 and gas valve 62 within the valve box must be closed simultaneously to completely cut off all refrigerant pathways. Thus, even if only one valve box leaks, the valve actions required for synchronous actuation are still considered a multi-valve coordinated event in the control logic, resulting in the first closure count being greater than one.

[0076] For example, if only the living room indoor unit reports a leak, the first shutdown quantity is 1; if both the living room and bedroom indoor units report leaks, the first shutdown quantity is greater than 1, in which case a critical valve in the valve box corresponding to both indoor units needs to be shut down simultaneously; if a leak is detected inside the valve box, the first shutdown quantity is greater than 1.

[0077] Thus, by combining the leakage location and flow path characteristics, this embodiment can accurately identify high-risk scenarios that truly require synchronous multi-valve drive, avoiding accidental or unauthorized activation of external power supplies, and optimizing energy efficiency while ensuring safe response speed.

[0078] In some specific embodiments of the present invention, after the step of controlling and adjusting the working state of the external power supply module 5, the method further includes: If only one indoor unit 2 of the air conditioner experiences a refrigerant leak, the external power module 5 will be in standby or charging mode. Since the indoor unit 2 of the air conditioner is in cooling operation, the liquid valve 61 in the valve box corresponding to the indoor unit 2 is closed first, and the gas valve 62 in the valve box is closed after the first set time is extended. Alternatively, based on the fact that the indoor unit 2 of the air conditioner is in heating operation, the gas valve 62 in the valve box corresponding to the indoor unit 2 is controlled to close first, and the liquid valve 61 in the valve box is closed after the second set time is extended. Alternatively, if the indoor unit 2 of the air conditioner is in standby or off state, the liquid valve 61 in the valve box corresponding to the indoor unit 2 is closed first, and the gas valve 62 in the valve box is closed after a third set time.

[0079] In this embodiment, when only one indoor unit 2 of the air conditioner experiences a refrigerant leak, the system determines that the event is a low-risk, localized leak scenario. At this time, the external power module 5 does not need to provide emergency power; instead, it remains in standby mode or is charged by the main power supply to preserve its energy storage for higher-risk multi-point leaks or power outages. The entire valve-closing operation is completed independently by the main power supply, ensuring responsiveness while avoiding unnecessary energy consumption.

[0080] Because the phase state, pressure, and flow direction of the refrigerant in the pipeline vary significantly under different operating conditions, using a uniform valve-closing logic could lead to secondary risks such as sudden pressure changes, liquid slugging, pressure buildup, and even component damage. Therefore, for the valve-closing strategy of this single indoor unit, this invention does not simply close all valves simultaneously, but dynamically adjusts the closing sequence and delay time of the liquid valve 61 and the gas valve 62 according to its current operating mode. In other words, the system identifies the indoor unit's operating status and executes a matching safe valve-closing procedure.

[0081] Specifically, when the indoor unit is in cooling mode, high-pressure liquid refrigerant enters the evaporator through the liquid pipe, while the gas pipe is a low-pressure return gas pipe. If the gas valve 62 is closed first, the high-pressure liquid refrigerant will remain in the evaporator and rapidly vaporize due to ambient heat after the unit is shut down, causing an abnormal increase in internal pressure. To avoid this risk, the system first closes the liquid valve 61 to cut off the refrigerant supply, and then closes the gas valve 62 only after a first set time has elapsed to allow any residual gas in the pipes to be discharged.

[0082] Conversely, when the indoor unit is in heating mode, the gas pipe delivers high-temperature, high-pressure gaseous refrigerant, while the liquid pipe carries a throttled, low-temperature, low-pressure two-phase flow. If the liquid valve 61 is closed first, the high-temperature gas will continue to enter the indoor unit's heat exchanger, potentially leading to localized overheating or pressure buildup. Therefore, the system first closes the gas valve 62 to block the heat source input, and then closes the liquid valve 61 after a second set time to ensure smooth system depressurization.

[0083] For indoor units that are in standby or off state, although the compressor is not running, there is still residual refrigerant and pressure in the connecting pipes. At this time, according to the refrigeration logic, the liquid valve 61 is closed first to prevent external refrigerant from continuing to flow into the leakage area. After a third set time, the gas valve 62 is closed to balance the pressure on both sides of the valve box and avoid sealing failure or valve jamming due to excessive pressure difference.

[0084] Among them, the three set durations can be optimized according to factors such as refrigerant type, pipeline volume, and valve response characteristics, thereby achieving a balance between safety and efficiency.

[0085] In this way, through the step-by-step valve-closing mechanism deeply integrated with the operating mode, the system can effectively cut off the refrigerant path and curb the spread of leakage in single-point leakage scenarios, while also avoiding mechanical or thermal risks caused by improper valve-closing sequence. At the same time, since all actions are executed sequentially and driven by a single valve, the power demand is always within the range that the main power supply can bear, eliminating the need to activate the external power module 5, thereby achieving optimal energy utilization while ensuring safety.

[0086] In some other embodiments of the present invention, after the step of controlling and adjusting the operating state of the external power supply module 5, the method further includes: In the event that at least two indoor air conditioning units 2 experience refrigerant leakage, the external power supply module 5 supplies power to the control motherboard 3. Since all the indoor air conditioner units 2 that have experienced refrigerant leaks are in cooling operation, the liquid valves 61 in the valve boxes corresponding to each indoor air conditioner unit 2 that has experienced refrigerant leaks are closed simultaneously, and the gas valves 62 in the valve boxes are closed simultaneously after the first set time is extended. Alternatively, based on the fact that all the indoor air conditioning units 2 that have experienced refrigerant leaks are in heating operation, the gas valves 62 in the valve boxes corresponding to each indoor air conditioning unit 2 that has experienced refrigerant leaks are closed simultaneously, and the liquid valves 61 in the valve boxes are closed simultaneously after the second set time is extended. Since all the indoor air conditioner units 2 that have experienced refrigerant leaks are in standby or off state, the liquid valves 61 in the valve boxes corresponding to each indoor air conditioner unit 2 that has experienced refrigerant leaks are simultaneously closed, and the gas valves 62 in the valve boxes are simultaneously closed after a third set time period.

[0087] In this embodiment, when the system detects refrigerant leaks in at least two indoor air conditioning units 2 simultaneously, it is determined to be a high-risk multi-point leak event. At this time, regardless of whether the main power supply is normal, the control board 3 activates the external power module 5 to provide emergency power to the main board, ensuring sufficient instantaneous drive capability to support the synchronous operation of multiple solenoid valves, thereby minimizing the overall valve closing response time and preventing the rapid accumulation of flammable refrigerant in the environment due to the superposition of multiple leaks.

[0088] In scenarios involving multiple indoor unit leaks, if all leaking indoor units are operating in the same mode, the system will employ a unified coordinated valve-closing strategy. This means first, all valves of the same type in all relevant valve boxes will be closed synchronously. After a preset delay, another type of valve will then be closed synchronously. This operation satisfies the flow path safety requirements under various operating conditions while fully utilizing the high power output capability provided by the external power supply, thereby achieving efficient and orderly multi-branch isolation.

[0089] Specifically, if all leaking indoor units are in cooling operation, the system will simultaneously close the liquid valves 61 of the corresponding valve boxes to quickly cut off the supply of high-pressure liquid refrigerant to each leak point. Subsequently, after a first set time, once the residual gas in each branch has been discharged, all corresponding gas valves 62 will be closed synchronously to complete the complete isolation. This sequence effectively avoids abnormal pressure in other branches due to delayed valve closure in a single branch.

[0090] If all leaking indoor units are in heating mode, the system will prioritize closing the gas valves 62 in each valve box simultaneously to block the heat source input, as the gas pipes are delivering high-temperature, high-pressure gas. After a second set time, the liquid valves 61 will be closed simultaneously to prevent liquid pressure buildup or overheating of the heat exchanger. This sequence balances the thermodynamic balance of multiple branches with valve closure safety.

[0091] If all leaking indoor units are in standby or off state, the system refers to the refrigeration logic and synchronously closes the liquid valve 61 of each valve box to prevent the residual refrigerant from continuing to flow into the leak area; after the third set time, the gas valve 62 is synchronously closed to balance the pressure on both sides of each valve box and avoid sealing failure or mechanical stress concentration.

[0092] In this way, through the aforementioned multi-indoor unit coordinated valve closing mechanism, the system achieves a balance between the synchronization of valve closing actions, adaptability to operating conditions, and operational safety in high-risk scenarios. The intervention of the external power supply module 5 ensures the power requirements for the synchronous drive of multiple valves, while the phased synchronous shutdown strategy based on the operating mode effectively avoids fluid shock or pressure imbalance problems that may be caused by parallel operation of multiple branches, significantly improving the safety level of multi-split air conditioning systems using flammable refrigerants such as R32 under complex fault conditions.

[0093] In some other specific embodiments of the present invention, after the step of controlling and adjusting the working state of the external power supply module 5, the method further includes: In the event of refrigerant leakage in at least one valve box, the external power supply module 5 supplies power to the control motherboard 3. The gas valve 62 and liquid valve 61 in all valve boxes that control refrigerant leaks are closed simultaneously.

[0094] It is understandable that when the system detects refrigerant leakage in at least one valve box, it is considered a high-risk leakage event. As a critical piping node connecting the outdoor unit 1 and the indoor unit, the valve box contains both high-pressure liquid pipes and low-pressure gas pipes. If the casing seal fails, causing refrigerant to escape, flammable gas will be released directly into the environment, and the leakage rate is typically higher than that of internal leakage within the indoor unit. Therefore, the system immediately activates the external power module 5, which provides emergency power to the control board 3, ensuring sufficient instantaneous power to drive multiple solenoid valves to operate synchronously.

[0095] In such scenarios, since the leak point is located within the valve box body, closing only the liquid valve 61 or only the gas valve 62 will not effectively stop the leak, regardless of the indoor unit's operating state. This is because the other pipe, which remains open, will continue to supply refrigerant to the valve box cavity, causing the leak to persist or even worsen. To completely cut off all refrigerant pathways, both the liquid valve 61 and the gas valve 62 within the leaking valve box must be closed simultaneously to achieve complete physical isolation.

[0096] Therefore, after receiving external power support, the control board 3 will synchronously output valve-closing commands to the two solenoid valves corresponding to the valve box, enabling them to be energized and complete the closing action within the same control cycle. In this way, the above operation can achieve full-path cutoff at the valve box level as quickly as possible, avoiding intermediate leakage windows caused by sequential valve closing, thereby significantly improving the response efficiency and isolation reliability to high-risk leakage sources, and effectively curbing the risk of flammable refrigerant diffusion at critical pipeline nodes.

[0097] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the step of controlling and adjusting the operating state of the external power supply module 5 based on the power supply status and refrigerant leakage includes: In the event of a power supply failure or main power supply malfunction, the external power module 5 controls the power supply to the control motherboard 3.

[0098] The process includes, after the step of controlling the external power module 5 to supply power to the control motherboard 3, the following: In the event of refrigerant leakage in at least one indoor air conditioning unit 2, the gas valve 62 and liquid valve 61 in the valve box corresponding to all indoor air conditioning units 2 that have experienced refrigerant leakage are simultaneously closed. In the event of a refrigerant leak in at least one valve box, the gas valve 62 and liquid valve 61 in all valve boxes where refrigerant leaks occur will be closed simultaneously.

[0099] In the above embodiments, it can be understood that once the main power supply is lost, without backup energy, the control motherboard 3 will be unable to drive the solenoid valve, resulting in the inability to perform the valve closing action even in the event of a serious leak, and the system safety function will be completely disabled. Therefore, when the system detects an abnormality or complete power failure in the main power supply, the control motherboard 3 immediately determines that the conventional power supply is unreliable and then activates the emergency response mechanism, controlling the external power module 5 to provide emergency power to the control motherboard 3.

[0100] After the external power module 5 successfully supplies power to the control motherboard 3, the system further combines the real-time signal from the refrigerant leak sensor 4 to execute a targeted emergency valve shut-off operation. At this time, because the system has lost control of components such as the compressor and four-way valve under power failure, the pressure state in the pipeline is uncertain, and time is extremely tight, isolation must be completed as quickly as possible to prevent the continuous escape of flammable refrigerant. Therefore, regardless of the operating state of the indoor unit 2 of the air conditioner, and regardless of the valve shut-off sequence strategy that should be used under normal operating conditions, all valve shut-off actions are performed synchronously.

[0101] Specifically, if at least one indoor unit 2 of the air conditioner is detected to have a refrigerant leak, the system will no longer distinguish its operating mode, but will directly and synchronously close the liquid valve 61 and the gas valve 62 in the valve box corresponding to that indoor unit. Although such single-point leaks can be closed sequentially under normal power supply, in the event of a power outage, priority will be given to ensuring a complete and immediate cut-off of the passage to prevent refrigerant from continuing to flow into the leak area due to delayed valve closure.

[0102] Similarly, if a refrigerant leak is detected in at least one valve box, since the leak point is located in the valve box body, both valves must be closed simultaneously for effective isolation. Therefore, the system will also immediately and simultaneously close the liquid valve 61 and gas valve 62 in the valve box to completely block the refrigerant supply on both the high-pressure and low-pressure sides.

[0103] Understandably, in extreme conditions of main power failure, this invention sacrifices the adaptability of the valve closing sequence to achieve absolute speed and reliability of valve closing action. Thus, with the emergency power provided by the external power module 5, the system can still complete critical safety operations after a power outage, significantly improving the safety capability of R32 and other flammable refrigerant air conditioning systems under sudden power outages and leakage events.

[0104] The control device for the air conditioning system provided by the present invention is described below. The control device for the air conditioning system described below can be referred to in correspondence with the control method for the air conditioning system described above.

[0105] like Figure 5 As shown, a control device for an air conditioning system according to a fourth aspect embodiment of the present invention includes: The first acquisition module 110 is used to acquire the power supply status of the main power supply to the control motherboard 3 and the detection result of the refrigerant leakage sensor 4. The second acquisition module 120 is used to determine the refrigerant leakage situation of the air conditioning system based on the detection results of the refrigerant leakage sensor 4. The control module 130 is used to control and adjust the working state of the external power supply module 5 according to the power supply status and / or refrigerant leakage.

[0106] Figure 6 An example is a schematic diagram of the physical structure of an electronic device, such as... Figure 6 As shown, the electronic device may include a processor 810, a communication interface 820, a memory 830, and a communication bus 840. The processor 810, communication interface 820, and memory 830 communicate with each other via the communication bus 840. The processor 810 can call logical instructions from the memory 830 to execute control methods for the air conditioning system, including: acquiring the power supply status of the main power supply to the control motherboard 3 and the detection results of the refrigerant leak sensor 4; determining the refrigerant leak status of the air conditioning system based on the detection results of the refrigerant leak sensor 4; and controlling and adjusting the operating status of the external power module 5 based on the power supply status and / or the refrigerant leak status.

[0107] Furthermore, the logical instructions in the aforementioned memory 830 can be implemented as software functional units and, when sold or used as independent products, can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of the present invention, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or a part of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several 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 methods of the various embodiments of the present invention. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0108] On the other hand, the present invention also provides a computer program product, which includes a computer program stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The computer program includes program instructions. When the program instructions are executed by the computer, the computer can execute the control method of the air conditioning system provided by the above methods, including: acquiring the power supply status of the main power supply to the control motherboard 3 and the detection result of the refrigerant leakage sensor 4; determining the refrigerant leakage situation of the air conditioning system based on the detection result of the refrigerant leakage sensor 4; and controlling and adjusting the working state of the external power supply module 5 based on the power supply status and / or the refrigerant leakage situation.

[0109] In another aspect, the present invention also provides a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program thereon, which, when executed by a processor, implements the control methods of the air conditioning systems provided above, including: acquiring the power supply status of the main power supply to the control motherboard 3 and the detection result of the refrigerant leakage sensor 4; determining the refrigerant leakage situation of the air conditioning system based on the detection result of the refrigerant leakage sensor 4; and controlling and adjusting the working state of the external power supply module 5 based on the power supply status and / or the refrigerant leakage situation.

[0110] The device embodiments described above are merely illustrative. The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate, and 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 modules can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs. Those skilled in the art can understand and implement this without any creative effort.

[0111] Through the above description of the embodiments, those skilled in the art can clearly understand that each embodiment can be implemented by means of software plus necessary general-purpose hardware platforms, and of course, it can also be implemented by hardware. Based on this understanding, the above technical solutions, in essence or the part that contributes to the prior art, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, such as ROM / RAM, magnetic disk, optical disk, etc., including several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute the methods of various embodiments or some parts of embodiments.

[0112] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A refrigerant leak detection device, characterized in that, include: The control motherboard is equipped with multiple valve drive interfaces and at least one refrigerant leak detector interface, which are used to connect multiple solenoid valves and refrigerant leak sensors respectively; wherein, the solenoid valves are located on the connecting pipe between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit of the air conditioner. Main power input terminal, used to receive the main power supply from the main power source; An external power supply module is connected in parallel to the main power input terminal to the control motherboard; The control motherboard is configured to: control an external power supply module to provide emergency power to the control motherboard in case of refrigerant leakage and / or main power failure, so as to drive multiple solenoid valves to operate synchronously.

2. An air conditioning system, characterized in that, include: An air conditioner outdoor unit and at least one air conditioner indoor unit, with a connecting pipe between each of the air conditioner indoor units and the air conditioner outdoor unit; The refrigerant leakage detection device as described in claim 1; At least one valve box and at least one refrigerant leak sensor are provided. The valve box is located on the connecting pipe and includes at least two solenoid valves. The refrigerant leak sensor is located inside the indoor unit of the air conditioner or inside the valve box and is used to detect the refrigerant concentration and transmit the leak signal to the control board.

3. A control method for an air conditioning system based on claim 2, characterized in that, include: Obtain the power supply status of the main power supply to the control motherboard, as well as the detection results of the refrigerant leak sensor; The refrigerant leakage status of the air conditioning system is determined based on the detection results of the refrigerant leakage sensor. The operating status of the external power supply module is controlled and adjusted according to the power supply status and / or the refrigerant leakage situation.

4. The control method for the air conditioning system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The step of controlling and adjusting the operating state of the external power supply module based on the power supply status and the refrigerant leakage situation includes: Under the condition that the main power supply is normal in the power supply state; Determine the first number of solenoid valves that need to be closed simultaneously based on the refrigerant leakage situation; When the first shutdown quantity is equal to 1, the external power module is controlled to be in standby or charging state; or, when the first shutdown quantity is greater than 1, the external power module is controlled to supply power to the control motherboard.

5. The control method for the air conditioning system according to claim 4, characterized in that, The step of determining the first number of solenoid valves that need to be closed simultaneously based on the refrigerant leakage situation includes: In the case where only one of the air conditioner indoor units experiences refrigerant leakage, the first shutdown quantity is determined to be 1; Alternatively, if refrigerant leakage occurs in at least two of the said air conditioning indoor units, it is determined that the first number of shutdowns is greater than 1; Alternatively, in the event of a refrigerant leak in at least one of the valve boxes, the first shut-off quantity is determined to be greater than 1.

6. The control method for an air conditioning system according to claim 5, characterized in that, After the step of controlling and adjusting the operating state of the external power supply module, the method further includes: If only one of the indoor units of the air conditioner experiences a refrigerant leak, the external power module will be in standby or charging mode. Since the indoor unit of the air conditioner is in cooling operation, the liquid valve in the valve box corresponding to the indoor unit of the air conditioner is closed first, and the gas valve in the valve box is closed after a first set time is extended. Alternatively, based on the fact that the indoor unit of the air conditioner is in heating mode, the gas valve in the valve box corresponding to the indoor unit of the air conditioner is first closed, and the liquid valve in the valve box is closed after a second set time is extended. Alternatively, based on the fact that the indoor unit of the air conditioner is in standby or off state, the liquid valve in the valve box corresponding to the indoor unit of the air conditioner is closed first, and the gas valve in the valve box is closed after a third set time period.

7. The control method for an air conditioning system according to claim 5, characterized in that, After the step of controlling and adjusting the operating state of the external power supply module, the method further includes: In the event that at least two of the indoor units of the air conditioner experience refrigerant leakage, the external power supply module supplies power to the control motherboard. Since all indoor air conditioners with refrigerant leaks are in cooling operation, the liquid valves in the valve boxes corresponding to each indoor air conditioner with refrigerant leaks are closed simultaneously, and the gas valves in the valve boxes are closed simultaneously after a first set time is extended. Alternatively, based on the fact that all the indoor air conditioners with refrigerant leaks are in heating mode, the gas valves in the valve boxes corresponding to each indoor air conditioner with refrigerant leaks are closed simultaneously, and the liquid valves in the valve boxes are closed simultaneously after a second set time is extended. Since all indoor air conditioners with refrigerant leaks are in standby or off state, the liquid valves in the valve boxes corresponding to each indoor air conditioner with refrigerant leaks are closed simultaneously, and the gas valves in the valve boxes are closed simultaneously after a third set time period.

8. The control method for an air conditioning system according to claim 5, characterized in that, After the step of controlling and adjusting the operating state of the external power supply module, the method further includes: In the event of refrigerant leakage in at least one of the valve boxes, the external power supply module supplies power to the control motherboard. Simultaneously close all gas and liquid valves in the valve box where refrigerant leakage occurs.

9. The control method for an air conditioning system according to any one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that, The step of controlling and adjusting the operating state of the external power supply module based on the power supply status and the refrigerant leakage situation includes: In the event of a main power supply failure or power outage, the external power supply module is controlled to supply power to the control motherboard. The step of controlling the external power module to supply power to the control motherboard further includes: In the event of refrigerant leakage in at least one of the indoor air conditioning units, the gas valves and liquid valves in the valve boxes corresponding to all indoor air conditioning units that have experienced refrigerant leakage shall be closed simultaneously. In the event of a refrigerant leak in at least one of the valve boxes, the gas valves and liquid valves in all valve boxes experiencing refrigerant leaks shall be closed simultaneously.

10. A control device for an air conditioning system according to claim 2, characterized in that, include: The first acquisition module is used to acquire the power supply status of the main power supply to the control motherboard and the detection results of the refrigerant leak sensor. The second acquisition module is used to determine the refrigerant leakage situation of the air conditioning system based on the detection results of the refrigerant leakage sensor. The control module is used to control and adjust the working state of the external power supply module according to the power supply status and / or the refrigerant leakage situation.

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