Air conditioner and power-off control method thereof

Abstract

This application relates to an air conditioner and its power-off control method. The air conditioner includes multiple indoor units, an outdoor unit, and a power-off detection module. A first controller of any first indoor unit is configured to: upon detecting that the first indoor unit is currently powered by the power-off detection module, control the throttling device in the first indoor unit to close, and send a power-off command to the outdoor unit via a second communication module in the first indoor unit. A second controller of the outdoor unit is configured to: receive the power-off command sent by the first indoor unit via the first communication module; mark the first indoor unit as being in a power-off state according to the power-off command, and maintain the logical address assigned to the first indoor unit. The above-described air conditioner and its power-off control method enable the outdoor unit to accurately identify the indoor unit experiencing a power outage, thereby ensuring the reliable operation and stability of the air conditioner.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of home appliance technology, specifically to an air conditioner and its power-off control method. Background Technology

[0002] With the widespread application of multi-split air conditioning systems in commercial and residential settings, operational stability and system reliability have become core indicators for evaluating product performance. In actual operation, various factors such as independent user control or power grid fluctuations often lead to unexpected power outages for individual or partial indoor units. Under these conditions, not only will the local air conditioning function be directly interrupted, but it can also easily trigger a series of chain reactions of disturbances in the multi-split air conditioning system, compromising its operational stability. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This application discloses an air conditioner and its power failure control method. The power failure detection module maintains the power supply to the indoor unit and sends a power failure command from the indoor unit, so that the outdoor unit can accurately identify the indoor unit with interrupted power supply, thereby ensuring the reliable operation and stability of the air conditioner.

[0004] This application discloses an air conditioner, including: The outdoor unit includes a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, and a first communication module; Multiple indoor units, each of the indoor units including an indoor heat exchanger, a throttling device and a second communication module, wherein the indoor heat exchanger and the throttling device in each of the indoor units form a refrigerant circulation loop with the compressor and the outdoor heat exchanger, the refrigerant circulation loop is configured to circulate the refrigerant, and the second communication module is configured to establish a communication connection with the first communication module; A power failure detection module is connected to the plurality of indoor units. The power failure detection module is configured to supply power to the first indoor unit when it detects that the first power supply has stopped supplying power to the first indoor unit. The first indoor unit is any one of the plurality of indoor units. The first indoor unit further includes a first controller, which is connected to the throttling device and the second communication module in the first indoor unit. The first controller is configured to: When it is detected that the first indoor unit is currently powered by the power failure detection module, the throttling device in the first indoor unit is controlled to close, and a power failure command is sent to the outdoor unit through the second communication module in the first indoor unit. The outdoor unit further includes a second controller, which is connected to the first communication module, and the second controller is configured to: The first communication module receives the power-off command sent by the first indoor unit; According to the power-off command, the first indoor unit is marked as power-off, and the logical address assigned to the first indoor unit is maintained.

[0005] In this embodiment, the power failure detection module supplies power to the first indoor unit when the first power supply stops supplying power to it. This allows the first indoor unit to maintain basic operational capabilities even after a power outage, and to promptly close the throttling device in the refrigerant circulation loop of the first indoor unit. This prevents refrigerant from flowing back to the outdoor unit in a disorderly manner, avoiding the risk of liquid slugging in the compressor of the outdoor unit and internal condensation in the first indoor unit. Simultaneously, the power failure detection module's supply to the first indoor unit ensures its communication function. The first indoor unit can send a power failure command to the outdoor unit through the second communication module, allowing the outdoor unit to determine that the first indoor unit is in a power failure state, rather than a communication interruption caused by equipment failure or offline status. This maintains the logical address assigned to the first indoor unit, thereby avoiding problems such as address reallocation errors and refrigerant allocation errors caused by misjudgment, ensuring the reliable operation and stability of the air conditioning system.

[0006] As an optional implementation, each of the indoor units further includes a power module, the input terminal of which is connected to the first power source; The power module of the first indoor unit is configured to receive a first power supply voltage provided by the first power supply, and to supply power to the first indoor unit based on the first power supply voltage; The power failure detection module includes a detection module and a power supply module. The detection module is connected to the input terminal of the power supply module of each indoor unit, and the power supply module is connected to the output terminal of the power supply module of each indoor unit. The detection module is configured to detect whether the first power supply provides the first power supply voltage to the input terminal of the power module of each indoor unit; The power supply module is configured to provide a second power supply voltage to the first indoor unit when the detection module detects that the first power supply has stopped supplying the first power supply voltage to the input terminal of the power supply module of the first indoor unit, so as to supply power to the first indoor unit based on the second power supply voltage; the second power supply voltage is different from the first power supply voltage.

[0007] In this embodiment, the power supply status of the first indoor unit is monitored in real time by the detection module of the power failure detection module. This allows for accurate identification of situations where the first indoor unit is interrupted by the first power supply. Furthermore, when the power supply interruption of the first power supply is detected, the power supply module of the power failure detection module provides a second power supply voltage to the first indoor unit. This ensures the operational capability of the control circuit and the second communication module within the first indoor unit after the power failure, enabling the first indoor unit to perform subsequent operations such as closing the throttling device and sending a power failure command to the outdoor unit.

[0008] As an optional implementation, the power supply module includes a delay unit, which is connected to the output terminals of the detection module and the power supply modules of each indoor unit. The delay unit is configured to provide a second power supply voltage to the first indoor unit after a first time delay when the detection module detects that the first power supply has stopped supplying the first power supply voltage to the input terminal of the power module of the first indoor unit.

[0009] In this embodiment, by using a delay unit in the power supply module, when the detection module detects that the first power supply has stopped supplying power to the first indoor unit, it will not immediately trigger the power failure detection module to supply power to the first indoor unit. Instead, it will wait for a first time period before supplying power again. This can filter out brief power outages caused by factors such as instantaneous fluctuations in the power grid, poor contact, or lightning interference, thereby improving the air conditioner's anti-interference capability when the power grid environment is unstable. This avoids frequent switching of the power supply to the first indoor unit, preventing impact on the control circuit of the first indoor unit, and thus enhancing the reliability of the entire air conditioner.

[0010] As an optional implementation, the delay unit includes a delay controller and a relay; the relay is connected to the output terminals of the second power supply and the power modules of each indoor unit, and the delay controller is connected to the relay and the detection module. The relay is configured to connect or disconnect the path between the second power supply and the output terminal of the power module of each indoor unit; The delay controller is configured as follows: When the detection module detects that the first power supply has stopped supplying the first power supply voltage to the input terminal of the power module of the first indoor unit, after a first time delay, it controls the relay to open the path between the second power supply and the output terminal of the power module of the first indoor unit, so as to provide a second power supply voltage to the first indoor unit based on the second power supply.

[0011] In this embodiment, a delay controller starts timing after the detection module detects that the first power supply has stopped supplying power to the first indoor unit. This ensures that the relay is driven to connect the second power supply and the output terminal of the power module of the first indoor unit only after the power outage duration exceeds the first time period. By triggering the condition for the power outage detection module to supply power to the first indoor unit, the power supply of the power outage detection module can be accurately controlled, thereby improving the reliability of the air conditioner.

[0012] As an optional implementation, the second power supply voltage is a DC voltage; the first power supply voltage is an AC voltage of 220V~240V.

[0013] As an optional implementation, the first indoor unit further includes a voltage detection module, which is connected to the output terminal of the power module of the first indoor unit and the first controller respectively. The voltage detection module is configured to detect the voltage signal at the output terminal of the power module; The first controller is further configured to acquire the voltage signal detected by the voltage detection module, and determine, based on the voltage signal, whether the first power supply is supplying power to the first indoor unit or the power failure detection module is supplying power to the first indoor unit.

[0014] In this embodiment, the voltage signal at the output of the power module is monitored by the voltage detection module on the indoor unit, so that the first controller of the indoor unit can accurately distinguish whether the current power supply is the first power supply or the power failure detection module, thereby enabling accurate differentiated control based on the actual power supply.

[0015] As an optional implementation, the voltage detection module includes a voltage divider circuit, the input terminal of which is connected to the output terminal of the power supply module, and the output terminal of which is connected to the first controller of the first indoor unit. The voltage divider circuit is configured to divide the voltage at the output terminal of the power module to obtain a voltage signal, and output the voltage signal to the first controller.

[0016] In this embodiment, a voltage divider circuit is used to divide the voltage at the output terminal of the power module of the first indoor unit, which can obtain a voltage signal that is proportional to the supply voltage and within a safe range. This allows the first controller to reliably and accurately distinguish whether the current power supply of the first indoor unit is the first power supply or the power failure detection module based on the voltage signal after voltage division. The voltage divider circuit has strong anti-interference capability and fast response speed, and can accurately reflect the supply voltage while hardly increasing the overall energy consumption of the air conditioner.

[0017] As an optional implementation, the second controller is further configured to: After marking the first indoor unit as powered off, the refrigerant requirement corresponding to the first indoor unit is set to zero or a preset minimum value, and the refrigerant is redistributed to other indoor units, which are indoor units other than the first indoor unit and are in an online state; the refrigerant circulation loop formed by the online indoor units and the outdoor unit is in a conductive state.

[0018] In this embodiment of the application, after the first indoor unit is marked as power off, the second controller of the outdoor unit forces the refrigerant demand corresponding to the first indoor unit to zero or a preset minimum value, which can exclude the power-off first indoor unit from the effective cooling / heating load calculation, so that the outdoor unit can redistribute refrigerant to other indoor units and avoid the decrease in air conditioner energy efficiency caused by the mismatch between refrigerant distribution and actual demand.

[0019] As an optional implementation, the second controller is further configured to: The first communication module receives operating data sent by each of the other indoor units; Based on the operating data of each of the other indoor units, determine the load information of each of the other indoor units; Based on the load information corresponding to each of the other indoor units, the refrigerant requirements of each of the other indoor units are calculated proportionally. Based on the refrigerant requirements of each of the other indoor units, refrigerant is allocated to each of the other indoor units.

[0020] In this embodiment, the outdoor unit continuously receives operating data reported by all indoor units through the first communication module, analyzes the load information corresponding to the indoor units that are online, calculates the amount of refrigerant required by each other indoor unit according to the load information ratio, so as to ensure that the refrigerant distribution of the outdoor unit matches the real-time load of each other indoor unit, and refocuses the refrigerant distribution to other indoor units so that the other indoor units can achieve cooling or heating more efficiently.

[0021] This application discloses a power failure control method for an air conditioner, applied to an air conditioner including multiple indoor units, outdoor units, and a power failure detection module. The method includes: When the first indoor unit detects that it is currently powered by the power failure detection module, it controls the throttling device in the first indoor unit to shut down and sends a power failure command to the outdoor unit through the second communication module in the first indoor unit; the first indoor unit is any one of the plurality of indoor units; when the first power supply stops supplying power to the first indoor unit, the power failure detection module supplies power to the first indoor unit; The outdoor unit receives the power-off command sent by the first indoor unit through the first communication module, marks the first indoor unit as being in a power-off state, and maintains the logical address assigned to the first indoor unit.

[0022] In this embodiment, the air conditioner uses a power failure detection module to supply power to the indoor unit when the first power supply stops supplying power to the first indoor unit. This allows the first indoor unit to maintain basic operational capabilities even after a power failure, and to promptly close the throttling device in the refrigerant circulation loop of the first indoor unit. This prevents refrigerant from flowing back to the outdoor unit in a disorderly manner, avoiding the risk of liquid slugging in the compressor of the outdoor unit and internal condensation in the first indoor unit. Simultaneously, the first indoor unit can send a power failure command to the outdoor unit through a second communication module, enabling the outdoor unit to determine that the first indoor unit is in a power failure state, rather than a communication interruption caused by equipment failure or offline status. This maintains the logical address assigned to the first indoor unit, thereby avoiding problems such as address reallocation errors and refrigerant allocation errors caused by misjudgment, ensuring the reliable operation and stability of the air conditioning system. Attached Figure Description

[0023] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0024] Figure 1 This is a structural block diagram of an air conditioner in one embodiment; Figure 2 This is a structural block diagram of an air conditioner in one embodiment; Figure 3 This is a structural block diagram of the air conditioner in another embodiment; Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating the interaction between the first indoor unit and the outdoor unit in one embodiment; Figure 5 This is a structural block diagram of an air conditioner in one embodiment; Figure 6 This is a structural block diagram of the air conditioner in another embodiment; Figure 7 This is a structural block diagram of an air conditioner in one embodiment; Figure 8 This is a structural block diagram of the air conditioner in another embodiment; Figure 9 This is a flowchart of a power-off control method for an air conditioner in one embodiment. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0026] It should be noted that the terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, in the embodiments and accompanying drawings of this application are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, system, product, or device that includes a series of steps or units is not limited to the steps or units listed, but may optionally include steps or units not listed, or may optionally include other steps or units inherent to these processes, methods, products, or devices.

[0027] It is understood that the terms "first," "second," etc., used in this application may be used to describe various elements herein, but these elements are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, without departing from the scope of this application, the first communication module may be referred to as the second communication module, and similarly, the second communication module may be referred to as the first communication module. However, the first communication module and the second communication module belong to different devices; the first communication module belongs to the outdoor unit, and the second communication module belongs to the indoor unit, and the outdoor unit and the indoor unit can exchange information through the communication connection between the first communication module and the second communication module.

[0028] Figure 1 This is a structural block diagram of an air conditioner in one embodiment. Figure 1 As shown, the air conditioner 100 may include an indoor unit 110 and an outdoor unit 120. The outdoor unit 120 is usually installed outdoors for heat exchange with the outdoor environment. The indoor unit 110 is usually installed indoors and may be in the form of an indoor wall-mounted unit or an indoor floor-standing unit. The indoor unit 110 and the outdoor unit 120 are connected by gas pipes and liquid pipes.

[0029] Optionally, the air conditioner 100 may be a multi-split air conditioning system, including but not limited to residential multi-split units, commercial central air conditioning systems, and other air conditioning products with a multi-split structure.

[0030] Optionally, the outdoor unit 120 can be implemented in various forms, such as the outdoor unit of a wall-mounted air conditioner or the outdoor unit of a cabinet air conditioner.

[0031] It should be noted that an air conditioner 100 may contain multiple indoor units 110, and the number of indoor units 110 is not limited here and can be as follows: Figure 1The three indoor units 110 shown can also be two indoor units, ten indoor units, etc.; each indoor unit 110 needs to be connected to the outdoor unit 120. Furthermore, multiple indoor units 110 can be set up in the same indoor environment or in different indoor environments, without any restrictions.

[0032] like Figure 2 As shown, the indoor unit 110 may include an indoor heat exchanger 111, a throttling device 112, an indoor fan, and multiple indoor temperature sensors. Figure 2 (Not specified in the text). The indoor heat exchanger 111 is used for heat exchange with indoor air; the throttling device 112 is used to regulate the flow rate of refrigerant in the refrigerant circulation loop corresponding to the indoor unit 110; the indoor fan is used to drive indoor air to flow across the surface of the indoor heat exchanger; multiple indoor temperature sensors may include an indoor ambient temperature sensor and an indoor coil temperature sensor, the indoor ambient temperature sensor being used to detect the indoor ambient temperature, and the indoor coil temperature sensor being used to detect the coil temperature of the indoor heat exchanger.

[0033] For example, Figure 2 This is a structural block diagram of an air conditioner in one embodiment. Figure 2 As shown, the outdoor unit 120 includes an outdoor heat exchanger 122, a compressor 121, and an electronic expansion valve (…). Figure 2 (Not marked), outdoor fan and multiple outdoor temperature sensors ( Figure 2 (Not specified in the text). The outdoor heat exchanger 122 is used for heat exchange with outdoor air; the compressor 121 is used to compress the refrigerant from a low-pressure state to a high-pressure state and drive the refrigerant to circulate in the refrigerant circulation loop; the electronic expansion valve is used to regulate the flow rate of the refrigerant in the refrigerant circulation loop; the outdoor fan is used to drive the outdoor air flow and enhance the heat exchange effect of the outdoor heat exchanger 122; multiple outdoor temperature sensors may include an outdoor ambient temperature sensor and an outdoor coil temperature sensor. The outdoor ambient temperature sensor is used to detect the outdoor ambient temperature, and the outdoor coil temperature sensor is used to detect the coil temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger.

[0034] It should be noted that each indoor unit 110 includes at least one throttling device 112; while the number of electronic expansion valves in the outdoor unit 120 is not limited here.

[0035] Alternatively, the outdoor unit 120 may contain only one electronic expansion valve, which acts as the main throttling component and can regulate the total amount of refrigerant flowing to all indoor units 110.

[0036] Optionally, the number of electronic expansion valves in the outdoor unit 120 can be equal to the number of indoor units 110, that is, each indoor unit 110 corresponds to an independent electronic expansion valve on the outdoor unit 120 side, thereby realizing independent and precise control of the refrigerant quantity of each indoor unit 110.

[0037] Optionally, the number of electronic expansion valves in the outdoor unit 120 may be less than the number in the indoor units 110. For example, one electronic expansion valve can simultaneously control the refrigerant branches flowing to multiple indoor units 110, which is suitable for group or zone control.

[0038] Specifically, such as Figure 2 As shown, when the air conditioner 100 cools the indoor environment, the outdoor heat exchanger 122 acts as a condenser, releasing heat; the indoor heat exchanger 111 acts as an evaporator, absorbing heat. The refrigerant is compressed by the compressor 121 into a high-temperature, high-pressure gas; it flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 122 to release heat and condense into a liquid (or gas, or a gas-liquid mixture); then it is diverted, flowing through the electronic expansion valve of the outdoor unit 120 and / or the throttling device 112 of each indoor heat exchanger 111, where it absorbs heat and evaporates into a gas; finally, it flows back to the compressor 121 through the corresponding electronic expansion valve and / or throttling device, completing a complete refrigerant circulation loop, thereby achieving indoor cooling.

[0039] Specifically, such as Figure 2 As shown, when the air conditioner 100 heats the indoor environment, the outdoor heat exchanger 122 acts as an evaporator, absorbing heat; the indoor heat exchanger 111 acts as a condenser, releasing heat. The refrigerant is compressed by the compressor 121, becoming a high-temperature, high-pressure gas; the refrigerant is then diverted, flowing into the corresponding indoor heat exchanger 111 to release heat and condense into a liquid (or gas, or a gas-liquid mixture); then, through the electronic expansion valve of the outdoor unit 120 and / or the throttling devices of each indoor heat exchanger 111, it flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 122 to absorb heat and evaporate into a gas; finally, it flows back from the outdoor heat exchanger 122 to the compressor 121, completing a full refrigerant circulation loop, thereby achieving indoor heating.

[0040] During the actual operation of a multi-split air conditioner, some indoor units may experience unexpected power outages due to user-initiated shutdown, circuit failure, or power grid fluctuations. The throttling device of the power-out indoor unit becomes unpredictable due to the loss of power. If left open, this can cause refrigerant from the refrigerant circulation loop to flow back to the outdoor unit in a disordered gas-liquid mixture state, potentially leading to liquid slugging damage to the outdoor unit's compressor. Furthermore, a power outage can disrupt communication between the power-out indoor unit and the outdoor unit. The outdoor unit's secondary controller may misjudge the power-out indoor unit as offline or faulty, triggering the outdoor unit's automatic addressing and reconfiguration mechanism. This can incorrectly release the power-out indoor unit's logical address and reallocate refrigerant flow, causing fluctuations in the cooling / heating performance of the remaining indoor units and ultimately reducing the overall energy efficiency of the air conditioner.

[0041] In related technologies, multi-split air conditioning systems typically employ partial backup power supplies or delayed valve shut-off strategies to cope with power outages. However, most existing solutions only focus on physically shutting down the throttling device of the indoor unit after a power outage, neglecting the disruption to the overall control logic caused by communication interruptions due to power outages. This allows the outdoor unit to still trigger its automatic addressing and reconfiguration mechanism due to misjudgment, resulting in addressing chaos and refrigerant distribution imbalance within the multi-split air conditioner.

[0042] This application discloses an air conditioner and its power-off control method. By adjusting the opening degree of the throttling device corresponding to each indoor unit, the refrigerant flow of each indoor unit can be controlled, thereby enabling the air conditioner's operating capacity and power to meet the performance standard requirements and ensuring the air conditioner's operating stability and energy efficiency consistency.

[0043] like Figure 3 As shown, in one embodiment, an air conditioner 100 is provided, which includes one or more of the following components: a plurality of indoor units 110, an outdoor unit 120, and a power failure detection module 130.

[0044] The outdoor unit 120 includes a compressor 121, an outdoor heat exchanger 122, and a first communication module 123.

[0045] The compressor 121 is used to compress the refrigerant from a low-pressure state to a high-pressure state and provide power to drive the refrigerant to continuously circulate in the refrigerant circulation loop.

[0046] The outdoor heat exchanger 122 is used to realize heat exchange between the refrigerant and the outdoor air. In the cooling mode, it acts as a condenser to release heat to the environment, and in the heating mode, it acts as an evaporator to absorb heat from the environment.

[0047] The first communication module 123 is used to realize data communication between the outdoor unit 120 and each indoor unit 110.

[0048] Optionally, the first communication module 123 may adopt a wired communication protocol (such as RS-485, CAN bus, etc.) or a wireless communication method (such as Wi-Fi), and may receive the operating data of the indoor unit 120, send control commands, and coordinate multiple indoor units 110.

[0049] Each indoor unit 110 includes an indoor heat exchanger 111, a throttling device 112, and a second communication module 113.

[0050] The indoor heat exchanger 111 is used to exchange heat between the refrigerant and indoor air (or other heat transfer medium), absorbing heat during cooling and releasing heat during heating, so as to regulate the indoor ambient temperature.

[0051] The throttling device 112 can correspond one-to-one with each indoor unit 110; each throttling device 112 is connected to the outdoor heat exchanger 122 and the indoor heat exchanger 111 of the corresponding indoor unit 120.

[0052] The throttling device 112 is used to regulate the refrigerant flow through the refrigerant circulation loop of the corresponding indoor unit 110. The throttling device 112 may include, but is not limited to, controllable throttling elements such as pulse-type electronic expansion valves and step-type electronic expansion valves, so as to achieve precise control of refrigerant flow.

[0053] The second communication module 113 is configured to establish a communication connection with the first communication module 123, report the operating parameters of the indoor unit 110 and receive control commands from the outdoor unit 120.

[0054] It should be noted that, in order to ensure stable and reliable data interaction between each indoor unit 110 and the outdoor unit 120, the physical layer and data link layer parameters such as communication protocol, transmission rate, and signal level used by the second communication module 113 in each indoor unit need to be consistent with those of the first communication module 123 in the outdoor unit.

[0055] For example, if the first communication module 123 adopts the MODBUS protocol based on the RS-485 bus, then all the second communication modules 113 must also be configured with the same communication mode and protocol stack to ensure that instructions and running data can be correctly encoded, decoded and transmitted, so as to achieve coordinated control and state synchronization of the system.

[0056] In some embodiments, the indoor heat exchanger 111, the throttling device 112 in each indoor unit 110, together with the compressor 121 and the outdoor heat exchanger 122, form a refrigerant circulation loop 140, which is configured to circulate the refrigerant.

[0057] That is, each indoor unit 110 has a refrigerant circulation loop 140 between it and the outdoor unit 120.

[0058] The power failure detection module 130 is connected to multiple indoor units 110.

[0059] The power failure detection module 130 is configured to supply power to the first indoor unit 110 when it detects that the first power supply has stopped supplying power to the first indoor unit 110; the first indoor unit 110 is any one of a plurality of indoor units 110.

[0060] In some embodiments, the power failure detection module 130 can monitor the power supply status of the first power source of each indoor unit 110 in real time. When an indoor unit (such as the first indoor unit) loses power supply due to power grid interruption, user shutdown, or line fault, the power failure detection module 130 can automatically identify the power failure event and supply power to the power-off indoor unit to maintain the short-term operation of the key control circuits and communication functions in the power-off indoor unit.

[0061] It should be noted that the power supply provided by the power failure detection module 130 to the indoor unit is only sufficient to maintain the basic operating voltage of the key control circuits (such as the first controller, the second communication module, and the throttling device drive circuit) in the indoor unit when the power fails, and cannot support the normal operation of high-power loads such as the fan unit and auxiliary heating elements in the indoor unit.

[0062] In some embodiments, such as Figure 3 As shown, the first indoor unit 110 also includes a first controller 114, which is connected to the throttling device 112 and the second communication module 113 in the first indoor unit 110. The outdoor unit 120 also includes a second controller 124, which is connected to the first communication module 123.

[0063] The first controller 114 can control the opening degree of the throttling device 112 in the first indoor unit 110 to control the refrigerant flow to the indoor heat exchanger 111 of the first indoor unit 110, so that the first indoor unit 110 can independently adjust its own operating capacity according to the actual cooling / heating demand. At the same time, through the second communication module 113 in conjunction with the first communication module 123, it keeps the status synchronized with the outdoor unit 120 and interacts with the command, reports the operating data of the first indoor unit 110, receives the coordination control signal of the outdoor unit 120, and then cooperates with other indoor units to achieve coordinated optimization control of the overall operating status of the air conditioner.

[0064] The second controller 124, acting as the control unit of the outdoor unit 120, coordinates the operation of each indoor unit in the air conditioning system, manages the working status of the compressor 121 and the outdoor heat exchanger 122, and receives operating data from each indoor unit and issues control strategies through the first communication module 123. When abnormal conditions such as power failure of an indoor unit are detected, the second controller 124 can adjust the control logic of the air conditioning system in a timely manner based on the received information (such as a power failure command from the power-off indoor unit), maintain the stable operation of the air conditioning system, and execute corresponding protection or redistribution strategies.

[0065] In some embodiments, such as Figure 4 As shown, the interaction between the outdoor unit 120 and the first indoor unit 110 of the air conditioner 100 may include steps 401 to 403.

[0066] Step 401: When the first controller of the first indoor unit detects that the first indoor unit is currently powered by the power failure detection module, it controls the throttling device in the first indoor unit to shut down.

[0067] During normal operation of the air conditioner 100, the first indoor unit 110 is powered by the first power source. However, due to reasons such as unexpected power grid interruption, user-initiated shutdown, power distribution line fault, or circuit breaker tripping, the first power source may stop supplying power to the first indoor unit 110. At this time, the power failure detection module 130 monitors in real time that the power supply input terminal of the first indoor unit 110 has lost the first power supply voltage of the first power source, triggering the power failure detection module 130 to supply power to the first indoor unit 110.

[0068] The primary power source can be AC ​​mains power, providing the indoor unit with the electrical energy required for normal operation.

[0069] In other words, if the first controller 114 of the first indoor unit 110 detects that the current power supply originates from the power failure detection module 130, it means that the current power supply to the first indoor unit 110 has stopped. At this time, if the throttling device 112 remains open, the liquid refrigerant on the high-pressure side will continue to flow into the indoor heat exchanger 111 of the first indoor unit 110, which has stopped operating and lost its heat exchange capacity. The refrigerant that has not undergone heat exchange will flow back to the compressor 121 of the outdoor unit 120 in a disorderly gas-liquid mixture, causing a risk of liquid slugging and severely damaging the internal structure of the compressor 121. At the same time, if the first indoor unit 110 is in cooling mode, the accumulation of low-temperature refrigerant will cause condensation on the surface of the evaporator (first indoor unit), which may cause water leakage from the first indoor unit 110 and result in property damage. Therefore, the first controller 114 of the first indoor unit 110 controls the throttling device 112 of the first indoor unit 110 to close, which can physically cut off the refrigerant circulation loop between the first indoor unit 110 and the outdoor unit 120, thereby protecting the first indoor unit 110 and the compressor 121.

[0070] Step 402: The first controller of the first indoor unit sends a power-off command to the outdoor unit through the second communication module in the first indoor unit.

[0071] The power-off command is used to indicate that the first indoor unit 110 has entered standby mode due to the interruption of the first power supply.

[0072] In some embodiments, while controlling the throttling device 112 to shut down, the first controller 114 of the first indoor unit 110 can send a power-off command to the first communication module 123 of the outdoor unit 120 via the second communication module 113 in the first indoor unit 110. The first communication module 123 of the outdoor unit 120 continuously monitors the communication line between the first communication module and the second communication module. After capturing the power-off command sent by the second communication module 113, the first communication module 123 can upload the power-off command to the second controller 124 of the outdoor unit 120 for processing.

[0073] Because the first power supply stops supplying power to the first indoor unit 110, the communication between the second communication module 113 of the first indoor unit 110 and the first communication module 123 of the outdoor unit 120 is interrupted. This causes the outdoor unit to mistakenly believe that the first indoor unit 110 has problems such as device offline, communication failure, or device damage. This may trigger the system reconfiguration process. For example, the outdoor unit will delete the first indoor unit from the device list stored in the outdoor unit 120, release its logical address, and recalculate and allocate refrigerant flow based on the new (incorrect) device list.

[0074] Therefore, the first controller 114 of the first indoor unit 110 sends a power-off command to the outdoor unit 120 through the second communication module 113 in the first indoor unit 110. The second controller of the outdoor unit can receive the power-off command sent by the first indoor unit through the first communication module, which is equivalent to the first indoor unit 110 actively informing the outdoor unit of the reason for the current communication interruption.

[0075] Step 403: The second controller of the outdoor unit marks the first indoor unit as being in a power-off state according to the power-off command, and maintains the logical address assigned to the first indoor unit.

[0076] In some embodiments, after the second controller 124 of the outdoor unit 120 receives a power-off command from the first indoor unit 110 through the first communication module 123, the second controller 124 can determine the logical address of the indoor unit that is powered off by parsing the power-off command, and update the status of the indoor unit corresponding to the logical address to a power-off status or a similar specific mark in the device list stored in the outdoor unit 120. At the same time, the logical address of the indoor unit is retained and it is not deleted or released from the device list.

[0077] The device list stored in outdoor unit 120 provides a logical basis for outdoor units to address, monitor status, summarize loads, and allocate resources to all indoor units.

[0078] Optionally, the device list stored in the outdoor unit 120 may include a logical address (as a primary key), indoor unit device model / capability information, and operating status flags (such as online, offline, fault, cooling / heating mode, etc.).

[0079] By marking the power outage state and maintaining the logical address of the first indoor unit that is powered off, it is possible to prevent the outdoor unit from mistakenly triggering device re-addressing, address conflicts, and refrigerant calculations and allocations based on errors due to communication interruption. Even if one indoor unit loses its first power supply, the entire air conditioning system can still operate efficiently based on the correct device topology and other indoor units that are not powered off.

[0080] In some embodiments, the second controller 124 of the outdoor unit 120 is further configured to, after marking the first indoor unit 110 as a power-off state, set the refrigerant demand corresponding to the first indoor unit 110 to zero or a preset minimum value, and redistribute the refrigerant to other indoor units, wherein the other indoor units are indoor units other than the first indoor unit that are in an online state; the refrigerant circulation loop formed by the online indoor units and the outdoor unit is in a conductive state.

[0081] Optionally, after the first indoor unit 110 is marked as power off, the second controller 124 of the outdoor unit 120 forces the refrigerant demand corresponding to the first indoor unit 110 to zero or a preset minimum value. This can exclude the power-off first indoor unit 110 from the effective cooling / heating load calculation, avoid affecting the accuracy of the total refrigerant calculation due to the uncertainty of the demand of the power-off first indoor unit 110, and release the refrigerant capacity originally pre-allocated to the power-off first indoor unit 110, providing resource space for reallocation.

[0082] In some embodiments, the second controller 124 of the outdoor unit 120 is further configured to receive operating data sent by each other indoor unit through the first communication module; determine the load information corresponding to each other indoor unit based on the operating data corresponding to each other indoor unit; calculate the refrigerant demand of each other indoor unit proportionally based on the load information corresponding to each other indoor unit; and allocate refrigerant to each other indoor unit based on the refrigerant demand of each other indoor unit.

[0083] Optionally, the operating data of the indoor unit may include, but is not limited to, real-time status information such as the indoor set temperature, current indoor temperature, fan operating level, throttling device opening, coil temperature, and operating mode (cooling / heating).

[0084] In some embodiments, the second controller 124 determines the indoor units that are online based on the received operating data and the device list stored in the outdoor unit (where indoor units marked as power-off). The refrigerant circulation loop formed between the online indoor unit and the outdoor unit is in a conductive state, meaning that the throttling device of the online indoor unit is controlled and communication is normal.

[0085] Load information can be characterized as the cooling / heating capacity required by the indoor unit under current operating conditions.

[0086] For example, indoor units with higher loads will receive a greater proportion of refrigerant flow to ensure their temperature control performance; indoor units with lower loads will receive a correspondingly smaller amount of refrigerant.

[0087] In some embodiments, the second controller 124 redistributes refrigerant to each indoor unit that is online by adjusting the compressor frequency and the opening of the outdoor electronic expansion valve based on the refrigerant demand of each of the multiple indoor units.

[0088] In some embodiments, the second controller 124 can allocate refrigerant to each online indoor unit based on the refrigerant demand corresponding to each of the multiple indoor units, generate control commands corresponding to each online indoor unit, and send the control commands to the corresponding indoor units so that each online indoor unit adjusts the opening of the throttling device according to the control commands, thereby increasing the refrigerant flow in the refrigerant circulation loop corresponding to each online indoor unit.

[0089] In some embodiments, the second controller 124 can allocate the refrigerant flow originally planned for the power-off indoor unit to the online indoor unit according to the load information ratio, thereby improving the cooling / heating capacity and response speed of the remaining indoor units without increasing the total refrigerant flow, and optimizing the overall energy efficiency and user experience.

[0090] In this embodiment, the power failure detection module 130 supplies power to the first indoor unit 110 when the first power supply stops, enabling the first indoor unit 110 to maintain basic operating capabilities after a power outage. This allows the throttling device 112 in the refrigerant circulation loop of the first indoor unit 110 to be closed in a timely manner, preventing the refrigerant from flowing back to the outdoor unit 120 and avoiding the risk of compressor liquid slugging in the outdoor unit 120 and internal condensation in the first indoor unit 110. Simultaneously, the power failure detection module 130 supplies power to the first indoor unit 110. This ensures the communication function of the first indoor unit 110, enabling the first indoor unit 110 to send a power-off command to the outdoor unit 120 through the second communication module 113. This allows the outdoor unit 120 to determine that the first indoor unit 110 is in a power-off state, rather than a communication interruption caused by equipment failure or offline status. This maintains the logical address assigned to the first indoor unit 110, thereby avoiding problems such as address reallocation errors and refrigerant allocation errors caused by misjudgment, and ensuring the reliable operation and stability of the entire air conditioner 100.

[0091] In some embodiments, such as Figure 5 As shown, the indoor unit 110 also includes a power module 115, the input terminal of which is connected to the first power supply 150.

[0092] The power module 115 of the first indoor unit 110 is configured to receive a first power supply voltage provided by the first power supply 150 and to supply power to the first indoor unit 110 based on the first power supply voltage.

[0093] Optionally, the first power supply voltage can be an AC voltage, such as the standard AC voltage of 220V to 240V. This first power supply voltage can support the normal operation of various functional units in the indoor unit 110, including but not limited to the first controller, the second communication module, the drive of the throttling device, the fan system, and various sensors.

[0094] In some embodiments, the power module 115 may include a rectifier unit, a filter unit, a voltage regulator unit, and isolation and protection circuits, used to convert the input first supply voltage into various DC operating voltages (such as +5V, +12V, +24V, etc.) required by the various functional units of the indoor unit (such as the first controller 114, the second communication module 113, the drive circuit of the throttling device 112, the fan motor, etc.). The power module 115 is the basic power source for the normal operation of the indoor unit.

[0095] In some embodiments, the power module 115 may further include an AC-DC conversion module for converting a first supply voltage in AC form into an intermediate voltage or final output voltage in DC form to adapt to the electrical characteristics requirements of different loads.

[0096] In some embodiments, such as Figure 5 As shown, the power failure detection module 130 includes a detection module 131 and a power supply module 132. The detection module 131 is connected to the input terminal of the power supply module 115 of each indoor unit 110; the power supply module 132 is connected to the output terminal of the power supply module 115 of each indoor unit 110.

[0097] Optionally, the detection module 131 of the power failure detection module 130 is connected in parallel with the input terminal of the power module 115 of each indoor unit 110 to directly monitor whether the first power supply 150 is supplying power to each indoor unit 110 normally. This allows the detection module 131 to collect the voltage signal at the input terminal of the power module of each indoor unit in real time, thereby accurately determining whether any indoor unit 110 has experienced a power outage (power outage of the first power supply 150).

[0098] Optionally, the power supply module 132 of the power failure detection module 130 is connected to the output terminal of the power supply module 115 of each indoor unit, and can directly supply power to the indoor unit when the detection module 131 detects that the first power supply has stopped, so as to maintain the basic operating voltage of the key control circuits of the indoor unit (such as the first controller, the second communication module and the throttling device drive circuit).

[0099] For example, when only a single indoor unit 110 experiences a power outage (the first power supply 150 stops supplying power), the detection module 131 can detect the disappearance or abnormality of the voltage at the power module input terminal of that indoor unit, thereby triggering the power supply module 132 to supply power only to that indoor unit without affecting other normally operating indoor units.

[0100] For example, when multiple indoor units 110 in the system experience a power outage simultaneously (the first power supply 150 stops supplying power), the detection module 131 can monitor the voltage status of the power module input terminals of all power-out indoor units in parallel, and coordinate the power supply module 132 to provide corresponding power support to multiple power-out indoor units in sequence or simultaneously according to the preset priority, sequential start logic or simultaneous distribution mode, so as to ensure the shutdown of the throttling device of the power-out indoor unit and the transmission of the power outage status.

[0101] The detection module 131 is configured to detect whether the first power supply 150 provides a first power supply voltage to the input terminal of the power module 115 of each indoor unit.

[0102] In some embodiments, the power failure detection module 130 may include a third power supply, which is different from the first power supply. The third power supply can independently power the detection module 131 to ensure that the detection module 131 can continue to work and accurately monitor the power supply status of each indoor unit even if the first power supply 150 fails to supply power or there is a partial power failure.

[0103] In some embodiments, the detection module 131 can be directly connected to the live wire (L) and neutral wire (N) of the first power supply 150, and acquire the power status signal in real time through a voltage sampling circuit, optocoupler isolation detection or other voltage sensing methods, so as to determine whether the first power supply 150 supplies power to the first indoor unit 110 based on the power status signal.

[0104] The power supply module 132 is configured to provide a second power supply voltage to the first indoor unit 110 when the detection module 131 detects that the first power supply 150 has stopped inputting a first power supply voltage to the input terminal of the power supply module 115 of the first indoor unit, so as to supply power to the first indoor unit 110 based on the second power supply voltage.

[0105] The second supply voltage differs from the first supply voltage. The second supply voltage is a DC voltage. For example, the second supply voltage could be a 12V DC voltage or a 24V DC voltage.

[0106] Optionally, the power supply module 132 can be connected to a second power source, which can be a battery pack, a capacitor energy storage module, or a dedicated DC regulated power supply. Based on the detection results from the detection module 131, the power supply module 132 controls the power supply from the second power source to the indoor unit.

[0107] In some embodiments, such as Figure 6As shown, the power supply module 132 includes a delay unit 133, which is connected to the output terminals of the power supply modules 115 of the detection module 131 and each indoor unit 110.

[0108] The delay unit 133 is configured to provide a second power supply voltage to the first indoor unit 110 after a first time delay when the detection module 131 detects that the first power supply 150 has stopped supplying the first power supply voltage to the input terminal of the power module 115 of the first indoor unit 110.

[0109] The first time period can be set according to the actual power grid environment and the reliability requirements of the air conditioner. For example, the first time period can be set to 5 seconds or 10 seconds.

[0110] By using the delay unit 133 in the power supply module 132, when the detection module 131 detects that the first power supply 150 has stopped supplying power to the first indoor unit 110, it will not immediately trigger the power failure detection module 130 to supply power to the first indoor unit. Instead, it will wait for the first time period before supplying power again. This can filter out the short-term voltage drop caused by instantaneous fluctuations in the power grid, brief tripping of the contactor, or lightning interference, thereby improving the anti-interference capability of the air conditioner 100 when the power grid environment is unstable. This avoids frequent switching of the power supply to the first indoor unit, preventing the impact on the control circuit of the first indoor unit, and thus enhancing the reliability of the entire air conditioner.

[0111] In some embodiments, such as Figure 6 As shown, the delay unit 133 includes a delay controller 134 and a relay 135.

[0112] Relay 135 is connected to the output terminals of the second power supply 160 and the power modules 115 of each indoor unit, respectively, and the delay controller is connected to the relay and the detection module, respectively.

[0113] Relay 135 is configured to connect or disconnect the path between the second power supply 160 and the output terminals of the power modules 115 of each indoor unit.

[0114] Optionally, relay 135 may be a switching device such as an electromagnetic relay, a solid-state relay, or a transistor, possessing the necessary current carrying capacity and electrical isolation characteristics.

[0115] The delay controller 134 is configured to: when the detection module 131 detects that the first power supply 150 stops inputting the first power supply voltage to the input terminal of the power module 115 of the first indoor unit, after a first time delay, control the relay 135 to open the path between the second power supply 160 and the output terminal of the power module 115 of the first indoor unit, so as to provide a second power supply voltage to the first indoor unit 110 based on the second power supply 160.

[0116] Optionally, the delay controller 134 may be a programmable delay circuit based on an RC circuit (a basic circuit consisting of resistors and capacitors), a timer, or a microcontroller unit.

[0117] The delay controller 134 starts timing after the detection module 131 detects that the first power supply 150 has stopped supplying power to the first indoor unit 110. This ensures that the relay 135 is driven to open the path between the second power supply 160 and the output terminal of the power module 115 of the first indoor unit that has been de-energized, only after the power outage duration exceeds the first time period. By triggering the condition for the power outage detection module 130 to supply power to the first indoor unit 110, the power supply of the power outage detection module 130 can be accurately controlled, thereby improving the reliability of the air conditioner 100.

[0118] In some embodiments, such as Figure 7 As shown, the first indoor unit 110 also includes a voltage detection module 116.

[0119] The voltage detection module 116 is connected to the output terminal of the power module 115 of the first indoor unit 110 and the first controller 114 of the first indoor unit 110.

[0120] The voltage detection module 116 is configured to detect the voltage signal at the output terminal of the power supply module 115.

[0121] The first controller 114 is also configured to acquire the voltage signal detected by the voltage detection module 116, and determine, based on the voltage signal, whether the first power supply 150 supplies power to the first indoor unit 110, or the power failure detection module 130 supplies power to the first indoor unit 110.

[0122] The voltage detection module 116 includes a voltage divider circuit. The input terminal of the voltage divider circuit is connected to the output terminal of the power supply module 115, and the output terminal of the voltage divider circuit is connected to the first controller 114 of the first indoor unit 110.

[0123] The voltage divider circuit is configured to divide the voltage at the output terminal of the power module 115 to obtain a voltage signal, and output the voltage signal to the first controller 114.

[0124] A voltage divider circuit is used to divide the voltage at the output terminal of the power module of the first indoor unit, which can obtain a voltage signal that is proportional to the supply voltage and within a safe range. This allows the first controller to reliably and accurately distinguish whether the current power supply of the first indoor unit is the first power supply or the power failure detection module based on the voltage signal after voltage division. The voltage divider circuit has strong anti-interference ability and fast response speed, and can accurately reflect the supply voltage while hardly increasing the overall energy consumption of the air conditioner.

[0125] In some embodiments, during the process of the power supply module 132 supplying power to the first indoor unit 110 based on the second supply voltage, if the detection module 131 detects that the first power supply 150 has resumed supplying power to the first indoor unit, the power supply module 132 controls the relay to disconnect, stopping the supply of power to the first indoor unit through the second supply voltage. At this time, the first controller 114 of the first indoor unit recognizes through the voltage detection module 116 that the power supply status has switched from power supply by the power failure detection module 130 back to power supply by the first power supply 150.

[0126] Subsequently, the first controller 114 of the first indoor unit controls the throttling device 112 of the first indoor unit to open, thus reconnecting the refrigerant circulation loop between the first indoor unit and the outdoor unit, restoring its heat exchange capacity. Simultaneously, the first controller 114 of the first indoor unit sends an online command to the indoor unit via the second communication module 113; after receiving the online command from the first indoor unit via the first communication module 123, the outdoor unit 120 updates the first indoor unit from a power-off state to an online state according to the online command, and reallocates refrigerant to the first indoor unit, thereby restoring the complete cooling / heating function of the first indoor unit.

[0127] In some specific embodiments, the connection relationships of the various components within the air conditioner 100 can be as follows: Figure 8 As shown. Specifically, the air conditioner 100 includes an indoor unit 110, an outdoor unit 120, and a power failure detection module 130; the indoor unit 110 includes an indoor heat exchanger 111, a throttling device 112, a second communication module 113, a first controller 114, a power module 115, and a voltage detection module 116; the outdoor unit 120 includes a compressor 121, an outdoor heat exchanger 122, a first communication module 123, and a second controller 124; the power failure detection module 130 includes a detection module 131, a delay controller 134, and a relay 135; wherein, the power module 115 is connected to a first power supply 150; the detection module 131 is connected to a third power supply 170; and the relay 135 is connected to a second power supply 160.

[0128] like Figure 8 As shown, during the normal operation of the indoor unit 110, the first power supply 150 supplies power to the indoor unit 110. At this time, the detection module 131 detects that the first power supply 150 is supplying power to the indoor unit 110 normally, so the relay 135 is in the open state, and the second power supply 160 does not supply power to the indoor unit 110.

[0129] At this time, the first power supply 150 is de-energized, stopping power supply to the indoor unit 110, and the indoor unit 110 stops operating. The detection module 131 detects that the first power supply 150 has stopped inputting the first power supply voltage to the power module 115. Then, after a first time delay, the delay controller 134 controls the relay 135 to open the path between the second power supply 160 and the output terminal of the power module 115 of the indoor unit, so that the second power supply 160 provides the second power supply voltage to the first indoor unit 110, thereby enabling the power failure detection module 130 to supply power to the indoor unit 110.

[0130] Then, the first controller 114 of the indoor unit 110 detects through the voltage detection module 116 that the indoor unit 110 is currently powered by the power failure detection module 130, then controls the throttling device 112 to close, and sends a power failure command to the outdoor unit 120 through the second communication module 113.

[0131] When the outdoor unit 120 receives a power-off command from the indoor unit 110 via the first communication module 123, it marks the indoor unit 110 as being in a power-off state and maintains the logical address assigned to the indoor unit 110. After marking the indoor unit 110 as being in a power-off state, the refrigerant demand corresponding to the indoor unit 110 is set to zero or a preset minimum value, and the refrigerant is reallocated to other indoor units. The other indoor units are those other than the first indoor unit that are in an online state. The refrigerant circulation loop formed by the online indoor units and the outdoor unit is in a conductive state.

[0132] like Figure 9 As shown, in one embodiment, a power-off control method for an air conditioner is provided, which can be applied to the air conditioner 100 described above. The method may include the following steps 910 to 920.

[0133] Step 910: When the first indoor unit detects that it is currently powered by the power failure detection module, it controls the throttling device in the first indoor unit to shut down and sends a power failure command to the outdoor unit through the second communication module in the first indoor unit; the first indoor unit is any one of multiple indoor units.

[0134] Step 920: The outdoor unit receives the power-off command sent by the first indoor unit through the first communication module, marks the first indoor unit as a power-off state, and maintains the logical address assigned to the first indoor unit.

[0135] In some embodiments, the first indoor unit receives a first power supply voltage from a first power source via a power module, and supplies power to the first indoor unit based on the first power supply voltage.

[0136] In some embodiments, the power failure detection module detects whether the first power supply provides a first power supply voltage to the input terminal of the power module of each indoor unit.

[0137] Optionally, the power failure detection module, through the power supply module, provides a second power supply voltage to the first indoor unit when the detection module detects that the first power supply has stopped supplying the first power supply voltage to the input terminal of the power supply module of the first indoor unit, so as to supply power to the first indoor unit based on the second power supply voltage; the second power supply voltage is different from the first power supply voltage.

[0138] Optionally, the power failure detection module can provide a second power supply voltage to the first indoor unit after a first time delay, in the event that the detection module detects that the first power supply has stopped supplying the first power supply voltage to the input terminal of the power module of the first indoor unit.

[0139] In some embodiments, the power failure detection module can connect or disconnect the path between the second power supply and the output terminal of the power module of each indoor unit via a relay.

[0140] Optionally, the power failure detection module can use a delay controller to control a relay to open the path between the second power supply and the output of the power module of the first indoor unit after a delay of a first time period when the detection module detects that the first power supply has stopped supplying the first power supply voltage to the input terminal of the power module of the first indoor unit, so as to provide a second power supply voltage to the first indoor unit based on the second power supply.

[0141] In some embodiments, the voltage detection module of the first indoor unit detects the voltage signal at the output terminal of the power supply module.

[0142] Optionally, the first indoor unit acquires the voltage signal detected by the voltage detection module, and determines the first power supply to power the first indoor unit based on the voltage signal, or the power failure detection module to power the first indoor unit.

[0143] In some embodiments, after the outdoor unit marks the first indoor unit as being in a power-off state, it sets the refrigerant demand corresponding to the first indoor unit to zero or a preset minimum value, and redistributes the refrigerant to the other indoor units. The other indoor units are indoor units other than the first indoor unit that are in an online state; the refrigerant circulation loop formed by the online indoor units and the outdoor unit is in a conductive state.

[0144] In some embodiments, the outdoor unit receives operating data sent by each other indoor unit through the first communication module; determines the load information corresponding to each other indoor unit based on the operating data corresponding to each other indoor unit; calculates the refrigerant demand of each other indoor unit proportionally based on the load information corresponding to each other indoor unit; and allocates refrigerant to each other indoor unit based on the refrigerant demand of each other indoor unit.

[0145] It should be understood that the phrase "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" throughout the specification means that a specific feature, structure, or characteristic related to the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of this application. Therefore, "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" appearing throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, these specific features, structures, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. Those skilled in the art should also recognize that the embodiments described in the specification are optional embodiments, and the actions and modules involved are not necessarily essential to this application.

[0146] In the various embodiments of this application, it should be understood that the sequence number of each process does not necessarily imply the order of execution. The execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of this application.

[0147] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0148] The foregoing has provided a detailed description of an air conditioner and its power-off control method disclosed in the embodiments of this application. Specific examples have been used to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of this application. The descriptions of the embodiments above are merely for the purpose of helping to understand the method and core ideas of this application. Furthermore, those skilled in the art will recognize that, based on the ideas of this application, there will be changes in the specific implementation methods and application scope. Therefore, the content of this specification should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

Claims

1. An air conditioner, characterized in that, include: The outdoor unit includes a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, and a first communication module; Multiple indoor units, each of the indoor units including an indoor heat exchanger, a throttling device and a second communication module, wherein the indoor heat exchanger and the throttling device in each of the indoor units form a refrigerant circulation loop with the compressor and the outdoor heat exchanger, the refrigerant circulation loop is configured to circulate the refrigerant, and the second communication module is configured to establish a communication connection with the first communication module; A power failure detection module is connected to the plurality of indoor units. The power failure detection module is configured to supply power to the first indoor unit when it detects that the first power supply has stopped supplying power to the first indoor unit. The first indoor unit is any one of the plurality of indoor units. The first indoor unit further includes a first controller, which is connected to the throttling device and the second communication module in the first indoor unit. The first controller is configured to: When it is detected that the first indoor unit is currently powered by the power failure detection module, the throttling device in the first indoor unit is controlled to close, and a power failure command is sent to the outdoor unit through the second communication module in the first indoor unit. The outdoor unit further includes a second controller, which is connected to the first communication module, and the second controller is configured to: The first communication module receives the power-off command sent by the first indoor unit; According to the power-off command, the first indoor unit is marked as power-off, and the logical address assigned to the first indoor unit is maintained.

2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that, Each of the indoor units also includes a power module, the input terminal of which is connected to the first power source; The power module of the first indoor unit is configured to receive a first power supply voltage provided by the first power supply, and to supply power to the first indoor unit based on the first power supply voltage; The power failure detection module includes a detection module and a power supply module. The detection module is connected to the input terminal of the power supply module of each indoor unit, and the power supply module is connected to the output terminal of the power supply module of each indoor unit. The detection module is configured to detect whether the first power supply provides the first power supply voltage to the input terminal of the power module of each indoor unit; The power supply module is configured to provide a second power supply voltage to the first indoor unit when the detection module detects that the first power supply has stopped supplying the first power supply voltage to the input terminal of the power supply module of the first indoor unit, so as to supply power to the first indoor unit based on the second power supply voltage; the second power supply voltage is different from the first power supply voltage.

3. The air conditioner according to claim 2, characterized in that, The power supply module includes a delay unit, which is connected to the output terminals of the detection module and the power supply modules of each indoor unit. The delay unit is configured to provide a second power supply voltage to the first indoor unit after a first time delay when the detection module detects that the first power supply has stopped supplying the first power supply voltage to the input terminal of the power module of the first indoor unit.

4. The air conditioner according to claim 3, characterized in that, The delay unit includes a delay controller and a relay; the relay is connected to the output terminals of the second power supply and the power modules of each indoor unit, and the delay controller is connected to the relay and the detection module. The relay is configured to connect or disconnect the path between the second power supply and the output terminal of the power module of each indoor unit; The delay controller is configured as follows: When the detection module detects that the first power supply has stopped supplying the first power supply voltage to the input terminal of the power module of the first indoor unit, after a first time delay, it controls the relay to open the path between the second power supply and the output terminal of the power module of the first indoor unit, so as to provide a second power supply voltage to the first indoor unit based on the second power supply.

5. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that, The second power supply voltage is a DC voltage; the first power supply voltage is an AC voltage of 220V~240V.

6. The air conditioner according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first indoor unit also includes a voltage detection module, which is connected to the output terminal of the power module of the first indoor unit and the first controller respectively. The voltage detection module is configured to detect the voltage signal at the output terminal of the power module; The first controller is further configured to acquire the voltage signal detected by the voltage detection module, and determine, based on the voltage signal, whether the first power supply is supplying power to the first indoor unit or the power failure detection module is supplying power to the first indoor unit.

7. The air conditioner according to claim 6, characterized in that, The voltage detection module includes a voltage divider circuit, the input terminal of which is connected to the output terminal of the power supply module, and the output terminal of which is connected to the first controller of the first indoor unit. The voltage divider circuit is configured to divide the voltage at the output terminal of the power module to obtain a voltage signal, and output the voltage signal to the first controller.

8. The air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second controller is also configured to: After marking the first indoor unit as powered off, the refrigerant requirement corresponding to the first indoor unit is set to zero or a preset minimum value, and the refrigerant is redistributed to other indoor units, which are indoor units other than the first indoor unit and are in an online state; the refrigerant circulation loop formed by the online indoor units and the outdoor unit is in a conductive state.

9. The air conditioner according to claim 8, characterized in that, The second controller is also configured to: The first communication module receives operating data sent by each of the other indoor units; Based on the operating data of each of the other indoor units, determine the load information of each of the other indoor units; Based on the load information corresponding to each of the other indoor units, the refrigerant requirements of each of the other indoor units are calculated proportionally. Based on the refrigerant requirements of each of the other indoor units, refrigerant is allocated to each of the other indoor units.

10. A power-off control method for an air conditioner, characterized in that, Applied to an air conditioner, the air conditioner including multiple indoor units, outdoor units, and a power failure detection module, the method includes: When the first indoor unit detects that it is currently powered by the power failure detection module, it controls the throttling device in the first indoor unit to shut down and sends a power failure command to the outdoor unit through the second communication module in the first indoor unit; the first indoor unit is any one of the plurality of indoor units. The outdoor unit receives the power-off command sent by the first indoor unit through the first communication module, marks the first indoor unit as being in a power-off state, and maintains the logical address assigned to the first indoor unit.

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