Air conditioning system, control device, and control method

Abstract

An air conditioning system (100) is provided with: a refrigerant circuit (10, 120, 20) through which a refrigerant flows; a plurality of on-off valves (V1, V2) that regulate the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant circuit; a main power supply (40) that supplies main electric power to the plurality of on-off valves (V1, V2); at least one backup power supply (55) that supplies backup electric power to the plurality of on-off valves (V1, V2) in the case where the supply of the main electric power is stopped; and at least one control device (C10) that controls the supply of electric power to the plurality of on-off valves (V1, V2). The at least one control device (C10) controls the supply of the backup electric power to the plurality of on-off valves (V1, V2) in the case where the supply of the main electric power is stopped, in accordance with the power supply capacity of the at least one backup power supply.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to air conditioning systems, control devices, and control methods. Background Technology

[0002] Conventionally, in air conditioning systems that circulate refrigerant, there exists a system in which, when the main power supply from the main power source is interrupted due to a power outage, backup power supplied from a backup power source is used to switch the on / off valve from an open state to a closed state. For example, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2021-191980) discloses a heat pump device that uses a double-layer capacitor as a backup power source to close the on / off valve during a power outage.

[0003] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2021-191980

[0004] Air conditioning systems sometimes have multiple on / off valves that regulate the flow of refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit. Additionally, the capacity of the backup power supply in case of a power outage is also limited. Therefore, if the main power supply to the air conditioning system is interrupted, and the backup power source is used to close all the on / off valves at once, the backup power source may be insufficient to close all the valves.

[0005] Here, we consider providing a backup power source for each of the on / off valves during a power outage. For example, we could also consider providing a large-capacity backup power source, using the backup power supplied from this large-capacity backup power source to keep all the on / off valves in the closed state. However, in this case, the cost of providing a large-capacity backup power source would increase. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This disclosure is made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide a technique for suppressing the increase in the cost of constructing an air conditioning system and for properly closing multiple on / off valves in the event of a failure of the main power supply.

[0007] The air conditioning system of this disclosure includes: a refrigerant circuit for refrigerant flow; a plurality of on / off valves for regulating the flow rate of refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit; a main power supply for supplying main power to the plurality of on / off valves; at least one backup power supply for supplying backup power to the plurality of on / off valves in the event that the main power supply is interrupted; and at least one control device for controlling the power supply to the plurality of on / off valves. In the event that the main power supply is interrupted, the at least one control device controls the backup power supply to the plurality of on / off valves based on the power capacity of the at least one backup power supply.

[0008] The control device disclosed herein controls the power supply to a plurality of on / off valves that regulate the flow rate of refrigerant in a refrigerant circuit. The control device includes: a storage unit storing a control program for controlling the power supply to the plurality of on / off valves; and a control unit that controls the power supply to the plurality of on / off valves according to the control program. The control unit determines whether the main power supply from the main power source to the plurality of on / off valves has stopped. If the main power supply has stopped, it controls the supply of backup power from at least one backup power source to the plurality of on / off valves based on the power capacity of at least one backup power source.

[0009] The control method disclosed herein is a method for controlling the power supply to multiple on / off valves that regulate the flow rate of refrigerant in a refrigerant circuit by means of a computer. In the control method, the processing executed by the computer includes: a step of determining whether the supply of main power from a main power source to the multiple on / off valves has stopped; and a step of, if the supply of main power has stopped, controlling the supply of backup power from at least one backup power source to the multiple on / off valves based on the power capacity of at least one backup power source.

[0010] According to this disclosure, it is possible to suppress the increase in the cost of constructing an air conditioning system and to properly close multiple on / off valves included in the air conditioning system during a power outage. Attached Figure Description

[0011] Figure 1 This is a diagram showing the structure of an air conditioning system according to an implementation method.

[0012] Figure 2 This diagram illustrates the configuration relationship between the indoor unit, the cut-off unit, and the remote control.

[0013] Figure 3 This is a block diagram showing the structure of the outdoor unit, indoor unit, and cut-off unit in Embodiment 1.

[0014] Figure 4 This is a diagram used to explain the power capacity of the backup power supply in Embodiment 1.

[0015] Figure 5 This is a timing diagram illustrating the processing flow when a power outage is detected in Implementation 1.

[0016] Figure 6 This is a block diagram showing the structure of the outdoor unit, indoor unit, and cut-off unit in the comparative example.

[0017] Figure 7 This is a timing diagram illustrating the processing flow when a power outage is detected in the comparative example.

[0018] Figure 8This is a diagram used to explain the power capacity of the backup power supply in Embodiment 2.

[0019] Figure 9 This is a timing diagram illustrating the processing flow when a power outage is detected in Implementation 2.

[0020] Figure 10 This is a block diagram showing the structure of the outdoor unit, indoor unit, and cut-off unit in Embodiment 3.

[0021] Figure 11 This is a timing diagram illustrating the processing flow when a power outage is detected in Implementation 3.

[0022] Figure 12 This is a block diagram showing the structure of the outdoor unit, indoor unit, and cut-off unit in Embodiment 4.

[0023] Figure 13 This is a timing diagram illustrating the processing flow when a power outage is detected in Implementation 4.

[0024] Figure 14 This is a block diagram showing the structure of the outdoor unit, indoor unit, and cut-off unit in Embodiment 5. Detailed Implementation

[0025] Hereinafter, embodiments of the technical concept of this disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, the same reference numerals will be used to denote the same components. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed descriptions of them will not be repeated.

[0026] Implementation method 1.

[0027] Overall structure of air conditioning system

[0028] Figure 1 This is a diagram showing the structure of the air conditioning system 100 according to Embodiment 1. The air conditioning system 100 includes an outdoor unit 10, an indoor unit 20, a cut-off unit 30, and remote controllers 50 and 60. In the description of Embodiment 1, examples of applying the air conditioning system 100 to rooms A and B and an administrator's room, which are spaces to be air-conditioned, will be described.

[0029] like Figure 1As shown, the air conditioning system 100 includes multiple indoor units 20, a shut-off unit 30, and a remote controller 50. In the embodiments described below, in order to distinguish each of these multiple components, the indoor units 20, shut-off units 30, and remote controllers 50 are sometimes referred to as indoor units 20a, 20b..., shut-off units 30a, 30b..., and remote controllers 50a, 50b..., etc. That is, indoor unit 20 is a general term for indoor units 20a, 20b..., shut-off unit 30 is a general term for shut-off units 30a, 30b..., and remote controller 50 is a general term for remote controllers 50a, 50b....

[0030] Indoor unit 20 and remote control 50 are installed in rooms A and B respectively. Indoor unit 20a is equipped with an on / off valve V2 for adjusting the flow rate of the circulating refrigerant. Indoor unit 20b is equipped with an on / off valve V4 for adjusting the flow rate of the circulating refrigerant. The remote control 50 is installed, for example, on the wall of the room. The remote control 50 has the function of sending setting information such as air conditioning temperature to the indoor unit 20.

[0031] A remote control 60 is installed in the administrator's room. For example, the administrator who manages the air-conditioned space is stationed in the administrator's room. The administrator's room may be a night guard room, etc. The remote control 60 has the function of sending setting information such as the air conditioning temperature of room A and room B to the indoor units 20a and 20b, respectively.

[0032] The outdoor unit 10, the indoor unit 20, and the shut-off unit 30 are connected by a refrigerant pipe 120 for refrigerant flow. The refrigerant pipe 120 includes a pair of refrigerant pipes 121 connecting the indoor unit 20a and the shut-off unit 30a, and a pair of refrigerant pipes 122 connecting the indoor unit 20b and the shut-off unit 30b.

[0033] The refrigerant circulates between the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20a via the refrigerant pipe 120 passing through the cut-off unit 30a. The outdoor unit 10, indoor unit 20a, cut-off unit 30a, and refrigerant pipe 120 constitute a refrigerant circulation path for refrigerant circulation. Similarly, the refrigerant circulates between the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20b via the refrigerant pipe 120 passing through the cut-off unit 30b. The outdoor unit 10, indoor unit 20b, cut-off unit 30b, and refrigerant pipe 120 constitute a refrigerant circulation path for refrigerant circulation. Indoor units 20a and 20b exchange heat with the outdoor unit 10 through the refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant circulation path, thereby conditioning the air in rooms A and B respectively.

[0034] The shut-off unit 30a has the function of cutting off the flow of refrigerant to the indoor unit 20a by closing the refrigerant pipe 121 in the event of a refrigerant leak in room A. Specifically, the shut-off unit 30a has an on / off valve V1. Similarly, the shut-off unit 30b has the function of cutting off the flow of refrigerant to the indoor unit 20b by closing the refrigerant pipe 122 in the event of a refrigerant leak in room B. Specifically, the shut-off unit 30b has an on / off valve V3.

[0035] Outdoor unit 10, cutoff unit 30a, and cutoff unit 30b communicate via a communication path. Similarly, cutoff units 30a and 30b communicate with indoor units 20a and 20b via communication paths, respectively. In addition, indoor unit 20a communicates with remote controller 50a via a communication path. Furthermore, indoor unit 20b communicates with remote controllers 50b and 60 via communication paths. The communication paths connecting the various structures included in the air conditioning system 100 can be either wired or wireless.

[0036] In the air conditioning system 100 of Embodiment 1, the outdoor unit 10, the shut-off unit 30, and the indoor unit 20 each have a refrigerant leak detection mechanism (not shown). If a refrigerant leak is detected in any of the outdoor unit 10, the shut-off unit 30, or the indoor unit 20, the occurrence of the refrigerant leak is notified via a communication path to all structures included in the air conditioning system 100 other than the structure that detected the refrigerant leak.

[0037] Based on the refrigerant leak notification, indoor units 20a and 20b control the on-off valves V2 and V4 to the closed state, respectively. Based on the refrigerant leak notification, shut-off units 30a and 30b control the on-off valves V1 and V3 to the closed state, respectively. Furthermore, in the event of a detected refrigerant leak, indoor units 20a and 20b notify remote controllers 50a, 50b, and 60 of the occurrence of the refrigerant leak. Remote controllers 50a, 50b, and 60 are configured to issue an alarm based on the refrigerant leak notification. Thus, in the air conditioning system 100 of Embodiment 1, in the event of a detected refrigerant leak, by controlling the on-off valves V1 to V4 to the closed state, all refrigerant leakage in the refrigerant pipes 120, 121, and 122 can be prevented.

[0038] The on / off valves V1 to V4 are, for example, electronic linear expansion valves (LEV). A linear expansion valve is an expansion valve whose opening degree can be variably controlled by an electrical supply. In the air conditioning system 100, in the absence of power outages or other abnormalities, the on / off valves V1 to V4 use the main power supplied from the commercial power supply 40 to adjust their respective opening degrees.

[0039] like Figure 1As shown, in Embodiment 1, the outdoor unit 10, the shut-off unit 30, and the indoor unit 20 are each supplied with main power from the commercial power supply 40. The commercial power supply 40 may correspond to the "main power supply" in this disclosure. In the air conditioning system 100 of Embodiment 1, in addition to detecting a refrigerant leak, each of the on / off valves V1 to V4 is controlled to be closed in the event of a power outage.

[0040] In this disclosure, a power outage refers to the complete or partial cessation of the main power supply from the commercial power source 40. Following a complete power outage from the commercial power source 40, the structures included in the air conditioning system 100 are not supplied with main power from the commercial power source 40. Therefore, in the air conditioning system 100, sometimes even if a refrigerant leak occurs, it may not be detected.

[0041] Therefore, in the event of a power outage, the air conditioning system 100 of Embodiment 1 controls each of the on / off valves V1 to V4 to be in the closed state. For example... Figure 1 As shown, the outdoor unit 10 includes a backup power supply 55, a shutdown indicator 15, and a power outage detection unit 16. The power outage detection unit 16 monitors whether the main power is properly supplied from the commercial power supply 40, and detects the occurrence of a power outage in the event that all or part of the power supply is interrupted.

[0042] Based on the detection of a power outage, the outdoor unit 10 begins supplying backup power from the backup power supply 55 to the various structures included in the air conditioning system 100. The shutdown indicator 15, based on the backup power supplied from the backup power supply 55, instructs the on / off valves V1 to V4 to be controlled in the closed state. Thus, in the air conditioning system 100 of Embodiment 1, in order to cope with refrigerant leakage after a power outage, the on / off valves V1 to V4 can be closed in advance at the time of the power outage.

[0043] Indoor unit appearance

[0044] Figure 2 This diagram illustrates the configuration of the indoor unit 20, the cutoff unit 30, and the remote control 50. Here, using room A as an example, the configuration of the indoor unit 20 (20a), etc., is explained.

[0045] Indoor unit 20a is, for example, embedded in the ceiling of room A, which is the space to be conditioned. Cut-off unit 30a is, for example, disposed inside the ceiling of room A. For user convenience, remote control 50a is, for example, disposed on the wall of room A. Remote control 50a is communicatively connected to cut-off unit 30a via a communication path. Remote control 50a has a display 51 and an operation unit 52. The user operates the operation unit 52 to input setting information, including the indoor temperature setting, into the remote control 50a. The room temperature and other various information are displayed on the display 51.

[0046] The cut-off unit 30a is connected to the indoor unit 20a via a pair of refrigerant pipes 121 through which refrigerant flows. A refrigerant sensor (not shown) is positioned near the refrigerant pipe 121 passing through the indoor unit 20a. If a refrigerant leak is detected by this sensor, a notification of the leak is sent to the remote control 50a via a communication path. Based on the notification of the refrigerant leak, the remote control 50a sounds an alarm and displays alarm information on the display 51. The remote control 50a may also have an LED for displaying the alarm. When the remote control 50a displays the alarm information on the display 51, the backlight of the display 51 may also be illuminated.

[0047] Here, the configuration relationship of indoor unit 20 (20a) and others is illustrated using room A as an example. In room B, indoor unit 20b, cut-off unit 30b, and remote control 50b are configured in the same manner as in room A.

[0048] Structure of functional modules

[0049] Figure 3 This is a block diagram showing the structure of the outdoor unit 10, indoor unit 20, and cutoff unit 30 in Embodiment 1. Figure 3 The image shows an outdoor unit 10, indoor units 20a and 20b, and cutting-off units 30a and 30b. Indoor units 20a and 20b share a common structure, as do cutting-off units 30a and 30b. Figure 3 The details of the structure of the indoor unit 20a and the cut-off unit 30a are shown, while the details of the structure of the indoor unit 20b and the cut-off unit 30b are omitted.

[0050] The outdoor unit 10 includes a control device C10 and an air conditioning unit 14. The control device C10 has a processor 11, a memory 12, and a communication interface (I / F) 13. The air conditioning unit 14 includes a compressor 141, a heat exchanger 142, a fan 144, and a four-way valve 145. Furthermore, the processor 11 may correspond to the "control unit" in this disclosure. The memory 12 may correspond to the "storage unit" in this disclosure.

[0051] In embodiment 1, the processor 11 is typically composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MPU (Multi-Processing Unit). The processor 11 is a computational entity that performs various processes by executing various programs. The processor 11 can be, for example, composed of a microcontroller, a CPU, or an MPU. Furthermore, while the processor 11 has the function of executing various processes by executing programs, it can also use dedicated hardware circuits such as ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits), GPUs (Graphics Processing Units), or FPGAs (Field-Programmable Gate Arrays) to implement some or all of these functions. The term "processor" is not limited to a narrow definition of a processor that executes processes in a stored-program manner, such as a CPU or MPU; it can also include hard-wired circuits such as ASICs, GPUs, or FPGAs. Therefore, the processor 11 can also be replaced with processing circuitry that processes computer-readable code and / or hard-wired circuitry predefined by the processor.

[0052] Furthermore, the processor 11 can be composed of a single chip or multiple chips. Moreover, the processor 11 and its associated processing circuitry can also be composed of multiple computers interconnected via wired or wireless means, such as a local area network or wireless network. The processor 11 and its associated processing circuitry can also be composed of a cloud computer, which performs calculations remotely based on input data and outputs the results to other devices located at a distance.

[0053] Memory 12 is a memory that provides a storage area for temporarily storing program code or working memory while the processor 11 executes various programs. Furthermore, memory 12 includes one or more non-transitory computer-readable media. Examples of memory 12 include volatile memories such as DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) and SRAM (Static Random Access Memory), or non-volatile memories such as ROM (Read Only Memory) and flash memory. Moreover, memory 12 can also be a storage device such as SSD (Solid State Drive) or HDD (Hard Disk Drive).

[0054] The processor 11 has communication capabilities. The processor 11 communicates with the interception units 30 (30a, 30b) via the communication interface (I / F) 13. Furthermore, the processor 11 can communicate with the indoor units 20 (20a, 20b) via the communication interface 13 and the interception units 30. Additionally, the processor 11 can communicate with the remote controls 50a, 50b, and 60 located in the administrator's room via the communication interface 13, the interception units 30a and 30b, and the indoor unit 20b. Thus, the processor 11, the memory 12, and the communication interface 13 constitute the control device C10 installed on the outdoor unit 10.

[0055] Control device C10 works in conjunction with a sensor (not shown) that performs power outage detection, as... Figure 1 The power outage detection unit 16 shown functions as such. Additionally, the control device C10 functions as the shutdown indicator 15. That is, when the processor 11 detects a power outage in the commercial power supply 40, it controls the closure of the on / off valves V1 to V4.

[0056] The outdoor unit 10 includes a backup power supply 55 for supplying backup power to the shut-off unit 30 and the indoor unit 20. The backup power supply 55 is, for example, a power circuit with a power capacity of 100W. That is, the rated output of the backup power supply 55 is 100W. In the event of a power outage, the backup power supply 55 supplies power not only to the on / off valves V1 to V4, but also to other structures to maintain the operation of the various structures included in the air conditioning system 100. In other words, in the event of a power outage, the outdoor unit 10, the indoor unit 20, and the shut-off unit 30 each operate using the power supplied from the backup power supply 55.

[0057] The backup power supply 55 can be connected to the cutoff unit 30 and the indoor unit 20, for example, via PLC (Power Line Communications). In this case, the backup power supply 55 begins supplying power when a portion of the power supply to the air conditioning system 100 is cut off. Alternatively, the backup power supply 55 can also be composed of a capacitor or a battery. In this case, even if all power to the air conditioning system 100 is cut off, the power stored in the backup power supply 55 can still be supplied to the cutoff unit 30 and the indoor unit 20.

[0058] Indoor unit 20 (20a, 20b) includes a control device C2 and an air conditioning mechanism 24. The control device C2 includes a processor 21, a memory 22, and a communication interface (I / F) 23. The air conditioning mechanism 24 includes a heat exchanger 242, an on / off valve V2, and a fan 244. The air conditioning mechanism 14 of outdoor unit 10, the air conditioning mechanism 24 of indoor unit 20, and the refrigerant pipe 120 ( Figure 1 This constitutes the refrigerant circulation path and refrigerant circuit for refrigerant circulation. The on / off valve V2 is configured to adjust the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing within the refrigerant pipe 121. The heat exchanger 242 is a heat exchanger that exchanges heat with the heat source machine.

[0059] The detailed structure of processor 21 and memory 22 is the same as that of processor 11 and memory 12, which have already been described, and therefore will not be repeated here. Processor 21 has communication capabilities. Processor 21 communicates with cutoff unit 30 and remote controller 50 through communication interface 23. Control device C2 controls the opening and closing state of on / off valve V2.

[0060] The shut-off unit 30 (30a, 30b) includes a control device C1 and an on / off valve V1. The control device C1 has a processor 31, a memory 32, and a communication interface (I / F) 33. The detailed structure of the processor 31 and the memory 32 is the same as that of the processor 11 and the memory 12 already described, so their description will not be repeated here.

[0061] The processor 31 has communication capabilities. The processor 31 communicates with the outdoor unit 10 and the indoor unit 20 via the communication interface 33. The control device C2 controls the opening and closing state of the on / off valve V1. The on / off valve V1 in Embodiment 1 can correspond to the "first on / off valve" in this disclosure. The on / off valve V2 in Embodiment 1 can correspond to the "second on / off valve" in this disclosure. The on / off valve V3 in Embodiment 1 can correspond to the "third on / off valve" in this disclosure. The control device C10 in Embodiment 1 can correspond to "at least one control device" in this disclosure.

[0062] Power capacity

[0063] Figure 4This is a diagram used to illustrate the power capacity of the backup power supply 55 in Embodiment 1. Figure 4 The upper part shows the power consumption required to close the on / off valves V1~V4, which are electronic linear expansion valves. Figure 4 The example shown illustrates how 9W of power is required to control the states of valves V1 and V3 from open to closed, with the valves closed during the closing phase. Figure 4 The example shown illustrates that 7W of power is required when closing valves V2 and V4 to control their state from open to closed.

[0064] That is, a total of 32W of power is required to switch all on / off valves V1~V4 from the open state to the closed state at once. In addition, the on / off valves V1~V4 require power when switching from the open state to the closed state, but no power is required once they are controlled to be in the closed state.

[0065] exist Figure 4 The lower part shows an example of the power capacity of the backup power supply 55 when it supplies power. In the event of a power outage, the backup power supply 55 supplies power, for example, to control devices C1, C2, and C10 to maintain the operation of the air conditioning system 100. Figure 4 In the example, the backup power supply 55 uses 85W of its 100W power capacity to power control devices C1, C2, and C10. More specifically, control devices C1, C2, and C10 use the backup power for standby power of the substrates included in control devices C1, C2, and C10, sensor operation, microcomputer operation, etc. Therefore, in Figure 4 In the example, the air conditioning system 100 must use the remaining 15W to perform the closing process of the on / off valves V1 to V4. Furthermore, the available power capacity in the backup power supply 55 during a power outage varies depending on factors such as the scale, location, and extent of the power outage. The backup power supply 55 in Embodiment 1 is pre-configured so that even if a power outage occurs in any area within the air conditioning system 100, there will be residual power sufficient to close each of the on / off valves V1 to V4 one by one.

[0066] Power outage handling procedures

[0067] Figure 5 This is a timing diagram illustrating the processing flow when a power outage is detected in Implementation 1. The following is based on... Figure 5 Explain the processing procedure.

[0068] As described above, of the power capacity of the backup power supply 55, 15W is available for closing the on / off valves V1 to V4. When power is supplied to all on / off valves V1 to V4 simultaneously, 32W is required. Therefore, in such an example, it is impossible to simultaneously supply power to all on / off valves V1 to V4 using the backup power supply 55 to simultaneously control them to the closed state. Therefore, in the air conditioning system 100 of Embodiment 1, even with a relatively small backup power supply 55, the on / off valves V1 to V4 can be appropriately controlled to the closed state by executing the processing flow shown below. The control device C10 executes the control program stored in the memory 12. Figure 5 The order shown.

[0069] The outdoor unit 10 detects a power outage of the commercial power supply 40 (step S1). For example, the outdoor unit 10 performs power outage detection by detecting a power outage using the power outage detection unit 16. Alternatively, the outdoor unit 10 can also receive a power outage signal indicating a power outage from other structures included in the air conditioning system 100 to detect the power outage. Upon detecting a power outage, the control device C10 of the outdoor unit 10 sends a shutdown signal to the shut-off unit 30a (step S2). The shutdown signal is a signal that commands the on / off valve of the structure at the destination to be controlled to a closed state. Based on receiving the shutdown signal from the control device C10 of the outdoor unit 10, the shut-off unit 30a performs a shutdown process (step S3). The shut-off unit 30a changes the state of the on / off valve V1 from open to closed within a period D1. The period D1 is, for example, 60 seconds. The period D1 can also be a period other than 60 seconds, such as 40 seconds, 80 seconds, 100 seconds, 120 seconds, 140 seconds, etc. The shut-off unit 30a sends a completion signal to the outdoor unit 10 (step S4) based on the fact that the on / off valve V1 is controlled to be in the closed state. The completion signal is a signal indicating that the shut-off process has been completed.

[0070] The control device C10 of the outdoor unit 10 sends a shutdown signal to the shutdown unit 30b based on the completion signal received from the shutdown unit 30a (step S5). The shutdown unit 30b executes the shutdown process based on the shutdown signal received from the control device C10 of the outdoor unit 10 (step S6). During period D3, the shutdown unit 30b changes the state of the on / off valve V3 from the open state to the closed state. Based on the fact that the on / off valve V3 is controlled to be in the closed state, the shutdown unit 30b sends a completion signal to the outdoor unit 10 (step S7).

[0071] The outdoor unit 10's control device C10, upon receiving a completion signal from the cutoff unit 30b, sends a shutdown signal to the indoor unit 20a (step S8). The indoor unit 20a, upon receiving the shutdown signal from the outdoor unit 10's control device C10, performs a shutdown process (step S9). During period D2, the indoor unit 20a changes the state of the on / off valve V2 from open to closed. Based on the on / off valve V2 being controlled to be closed, the indoor unit 20a sends a completion signal to the outdoor unit 10 (step S10).

[0072] The control device C10 of the outdoor unit 10 sends a shutdown signal to the indoor unit 20b based on the completion signal received from the indoor unit 20a (step S11). The indoor unit 20b executes a shutdown process based on the shutdown signal received from the control device C10 of the outdoor unit 10 (step S12). During period D4, the indoor unit 20b changes the state of the on / off valve V4 from open to closed. Based on the fact that the on / off valve V4 is controlled to be closed, the indoor unit 20b sends a completion signal to the outdoor unit 10 (step S13). Each period D2~D4 is the same as period D1, and can be any period from 40 seconds to 140 seconds.

[0073] Thus, in the air conditioning system 100 of Embodiment 1, the on / off valves V1 to V4 are closed sequentially one by one, so as not to exceed the power capacity available in the backup power supply 55. That is, in the air conditioning system 100 of Embodiment 1, it is not necessary to have a backup power supply 55 large enough to close the on / off valves V1 to V4 simultaneously. As a result, the cost of constructing the air conditioning system 100 can be reduced.

[0074] In such an air conditioning system 100, during a power outage, since refrigerant leakage has not yet occurred, there is little need to quickly close the on-off valves V1 to V4. Therefore, it is sufficient to keep all on-off valves V1 to V4 closed from the time of the power outage until refrigerant leakage occurs. In Embodiment 1, as... Figure 5 As shown, the on / off valves V1 to V4 are closed sequentially. Therefore, in the air conditioning system 100 of Embodiment 1, the increase in cost for constructing the air conditioning system 100 can be suppressed, and the plurality of on / off valves V1 to V4 included in the air conditioning system 100 can be appropriately closed during a power outage.

[0075] More specifically, when the control device C10 detects a power outage, it obtains the power capacity from the backup power supply 55 that can be used to close the on / off valves V1 to V4. Figure 4In this example, control device C10 obtains 15W of power as a power capacity capable of closing the on-off valves V1 to V4. Control device C10 obtains the power required to perform the predetermined closing process for each on-off valve V1 to V4. If the remaining power capacity in the backup power supply 55 is less than the power required to close the on-off valve, control device C10 closes the on-off valve.

[0076] In Embodiment 1, the control device C10 prioritizes closing the on / off valves included in the shut-off unit 30. That is, in Embodiment 1, the on / off valves V1 and V3 included in the shut-off units 30a and 30b are closed prior to the on / off valves V2 and V4 included in the indoor units 20a and 20b. In other words, the on / off valves V1 and V3 are controlled to be closed earlier than the on / off valves V2 and V4. In other words, the start time of the period D1 for closing the on / off valve V1 is earlier than the start time of the period D2 for closing the on / off valve V2.

[0077] like Figure 1 As shown, when the shut-off unit 30a is in the closed state, the refrigerant is isolated by refrigerant pipes 120 and 121. That is, in the event of a refrigerant leak, when the shut-off unit 30a is in the closed state, the risk of total refrigerant leakage can be effectively reduced. Furthermore, the order in which the on / off valves V1 to V4 are closed is not limited to... Figure 5 As shown in the example, one could also start by closing the valves that require the most power to perform the closing process, one by one.

[0078] Comparative example

[0079] In Embodiment 1 described above, it was explained that by providing a backup power supply 55 with a smaller power capacity than a backup power supply with a power capacity that can simultaneously close the opening and closing valves V1 to V4 even during a power outage, the construction cost of the air conditioning system 100 can be reduced. Hereinafter, a comparative example using backup power supplies provided in the indoor units 20a, 20b, and the shut-off units 30a, 30b will be used for comparison with Embodiment 1.

[0080] Figure 6 This is a block diagram showing the structure of the outdoor unit 10, indoor unit 20, and cutoff unit 30 in the comparative example. For example... Figure 6 As shown, the comparative example air conditioning system 100Z includes backup power supplies 51Z to 54Z. These backup power supplies 51Z to 54Z are configured as external structures independent of the outdoor unit 10, indoor unit 20, and shut-off unit 30. Backup power supplies 51Z and 52Z supply power to the shut-off unit 30a and indoor unit 20a, respectively. Backup power supplies 53Z and 54Z supply power to the shut-off unit 30b and indoor unit 20b, respectively. The outdoor unit 10 in the comparative example differs from that in Embodiment 1 in that it does not have a backup power supply.

[0081] Figure 7 This is a timing diagram illustrating the processing flow when a power outage is detected in the comparative example. Outdoor unit 10 detects a power outage of commercial power supply 40 (step S1). Upon detecting the power outage, the control device C10 of the outdoor unit 10 in the comparative example simultaneously sends shutdown signals to the cutoff units 30a and 30b and the indoor units 20a and 20b (step S2Z).

[0082] Cut-off units 30a and 30b, and indoor units 20a and 20b, respectively, begin shutdown processes at the same time based on receiving shutdown signals from the control device C10 of the outdoor unit 10. Specifically, indoor unit 20a begins shutdown processing (step S3Z). Cut-off unit 30a begins shutdown processing (step S4Z). Indoor unit 20b begins shutdown processing (step S5Z). Cut-off unit 30b begins shutdown processing (step S6Z).

[0083] Thus, in the comparative example air conditioning system 100Z, upon detection of a power outage, backup power supplies 51Z~54Z are used to simultaneously control each of the on / off valves V1~V4 to the closed state. In the comparative example, since four backup power supplies 51Z~54Z are required, the cost of constructing the air conditioning system 100Z increases.

[0084] Implementation method 2.

[0085] In Embodiment 1, a structure in which all on / off valves V1 to V4 are closed sequentially is described. In Embodiment 2, a structure in which a portion of the on / off valves V1 to V4 are closed simultaneously based on the available power capacity of the backup power supply 55 is described. Furthermore, in Embodiment 2, structures that are identical to those in the air conditioning system 100 of Embodiment 1 are not repeated.

[0086] Figure 8 This diagram illustrates the power capacity of the backup power supply 55 in Embodiment 2. In Embodiment 2, the power consumption required to control the state of the on / off valves V1 to V4 from the open state to the closed state is the same as in Embodiment 1. However, unlike Embodiment 1, in Embodiment 2, the power available for closing the on / off valves V1 to V4 in the backup power supply 55 is 16W.

[0087] Figure 9This is a timing diagram illustrating the processing flow when a power outage is detected in Embodiment 2. In Embodiment 2, the control device C10 of the outdoor unit 10, based on receiving a completion signal from the cutoff unit 30a, sends a shutdown signal to the indoor unit 20a in addition to sending a shutdown signal to the cutoff unit 30b (steps S5A and S8A). That is, steps S5A and S8A are executed simultaneously, and the shutdown signals sent to the cutoff unit 30b and the indoor unit 20a are sent at the same time.

[0088] In the example of Embodiment 2, since the power available to close the on-off valves V1 to V4 is 16W, it is possible to simultaneously close on-off valves V2 and V3. That is, in the control device C10 of Embodiment 2, the usable power in the power supply capacity of the backup power supply 55 is greater than or equal to the total power consumption for closing the two on-off valves V1 to V4. In this case, the control device C10 simultaneously closes both on-off valves.

[0089] That is, the control device C10 determines the closing sequence of each opening and closing valve V1~V4 and the opening and closing valves that close simultaneously based on the power capacity of the backup power supply 55. Figure 9 In the example, both the on-off valve V2 and the on-off valve V3 are closed at the same time. However, in another respect, the control device C10 can also close both the on-off valve V2 and the on-off valve V4 at the same time.

[0090] Therefore, in Embodiment 2, the time required for all on / off valves V1 to V4 to be closed can be shortened. Furthermore, in Embodiment 2, similar to Embodiment 1, the increase in the construction cost of the air conditioning system 100 can be suppressed, and the multiple on / off valves V1 to V4 included in the air conditioning system 100 can be appropriately closed during a power outage.

[0091] The outdoor unit 10 can also appropriately change the order in which the shut-off valves V1 to V4 are closed based on the power capacity of the backup power supply 55 and the types of the open / closed valves V1 to V4. More specifically, after detecting a power outage, the outdoor unit 10 can change the order in which the shut-off valves are closed based on the available power capacity in the backup power supply 55, the type and number of devices experiencing power outages, and the number and type of open / closed valves. Furthermore, the outdoor unit 10 can also change the determined shut-off order of the open / closed valves during the valve shut-off process based on changes in the above conditions. Moreover, in the event of a power outage and refrigerant leakage from a specified location, the outdoor unit 10 selects and closes the open / closed valve that minimizes the amount of refrigerant leakage. Therefore, even in the event of both a power outage and refrigerant leakage, the amount of refrigerant leakage can be suppressed.

[0092] Implementation method 3.

[0093] In Embodiment 1, a structure using a backup power source 55 to supply power during a power outage was described. In Embodiment 3, a structure having two backup power sources, 55A and 55B, was described. Furthermore, in Embodiment 3, structures identical to those in the air conditioning system 100 of Embodiment 1 will not be repeated.

[0094] Figure 10 This is a block diagram illustrating the structure of the outdoor unit 10, indoor unit 20, and cutoff unit 30 in embodiment 3. (Example) Figure 10 As shown, the air conditioning system 100B of Embodiment 3 includes backup power supplies 55A and 55B. Backup power supply 55A supplies power to the outdoor unit 10, indoor unit 20a, and shut-off unit 30a. Backup power supply 55B supplies power to the indoor unit 20b and shut-off unit 30b. Backup power supply 55A in Embodiment 3 can correspond to the "first backup power supply" in this disclosure. Backup power supply 55B in Embodiment 3 can correspond to the "second backup power supply" in this disclosure. The outdoor unit 10 in Embodiment 3 differs from that in Embodiment 1 in that it does not have a backup power supply.

[0095] Figure 11 This is a timing diagram illustrating the processing flow when a power outage is detected in Implementation Method 3. The outdoor unit 10 detects a power outage in the commercial power supply 40 (step S1). Upon detecting the power outage, a shutdown signal is sent to the cutoff units 30a and 30b (steps S2B and S5B). That is, steps S2B and S5B are executed simultaneously; the shutdown signals sent to the cutoff units 30a and 30b are each sent simultaneously by the control device C10.

[0096] Then, based on the completion signal received from the cutoff unit 30a, the control device C10 sends a shutdown signal to the indoor unit 20a (step S8B). Additionally, based on the completion signal received from the cutoff unit 30b, the control device C10 sends a shutdown signal to the indoor unit 20b (step S11B).

[0097] Thus, in the air conditioning system 100B of Embodiment 3, the closing periods of the on / off valves are made different for each backup power supply 55A, 55B, and the on / off valves are closed sequentially. Therefore, in Embodiment 3, the closing time of all on / off valves V1 to V4 can be shortened. Furthermore, in Embodiment 3, compared with... Figure 6 Compared to the comparative example shown, the increase in construction cost of the air conditioning system 100B can also be suppressed, and the multiple on / off valves V1 to V4 included in the air conditioning system 100B can be appropriately closed during a power outage. Furthermore, in embodiment 3, the outdoor unit 10 can also be connected to... Figure 5 Similarly, each on / off valve V1 to V4 is closed in a manner that does not overlap during each period D1 to D4.

[0098] Implementation method 4.

[0099] In Embodiment 1, an example was described where the control device C10 of the outdoor unit 10 determines the order and timing of sending the shutdown signal based on the power capacity of the backup power supply 55. In Embodiment 4, a structure in which the control devices C1 and C2 have synchronized timers was described. Furthermore, in the air conditioning system 100C of Embodiment 4, structures that are identical to those in the air conditioning system 100 of Embodiment 1 will not be described again.

[0100] Figure 12 This is a block diagram illustrating the structure of the outdoor unit 10, indoor unit 20, and cutoff unit 30 in embodiment 4. (Example) Figure 14 As shown, the control device C1 of the cutoff unit 30a has a timer T1. Furthermore, the control device C2 of the indoor unit 20a has a timer T2. Also, the control device C1 of the cutoff unit 30b has a timer T3 (not shown). Additionally, the control device C2 of the indoor unit 20b has a timer T4 (not shown). Timers T1 to T4 are synchronized. Furthermore, in embodiment 4, both the indoor unit 20 and the cutoff unit 30 have a power outage detection unit (not shown).

[0101] Figure 13 This is a timing diagram illustrating the processing flow when a power outage is detected in Embodiment 4. In Embodiment 4, control devices C1 and C2 predetermine the exact moment when the valve will close during a power outage, ensuring that periods D1 to D4 do not overlap. For example, timers T1 to T4 are synchronized with a 10-minute cycle.

[0102] Control device C1 of shut-off unit 30a closes the on / off valve V1 at the beginning of the 10-minute cycle. Control device C2 of indoor unit 20a closes the on / off valve V2 after 2 minutes and 30 seconds of the 10-minute cycle. Control device C1 of shut-off unit 30b closes the on / off valve V3 after 5 minutes of the 10-minute cycle. Control device C2 of indoor unit 20b closes the on / off valve V4 after 7 minutes and 30 seconds of the 10-minute cycle.

[0103] Thus, in Embodiment 4, since the shut-off unit 30 and the indoor unit 20 each perform shutdown processing independently, even if the communication path between the outdoor unit 10, the shut-off unit 30, and the indoor unit 20 is cut off due to a power outage, each of the on / off valves V1 to V4 can be appropriately closed. Furthermore, Embodiment 4 also suppresses the increase in construction costs of the air conditioning system 100C, and allows for the appropriate closure of the multiple on / off valves V1 to V4 included in the air conditioning system 100C during a power outage.

[0104] Implementation method 5.

[0105] In Embodiment 5, an example is described where the number of the cutting-off unit 30 and the indoor unit 20 differs from that in Embodiment 1. Furthermore, in the air conditioning system 100D of Embodiment 5, structures that are identical to those in the air conditioning system 100 of Embodiment 1 will not be described again.

[0106] Figure 14 This is a block diagram showing the structure of the outdoor unit 10, indoor unit 20, and cut-off unit 30 in Embodiment 5. In addition to indoor units 20a and 20b, the air conditioning system 100D in Embodiment 5 also includes indoor units 20c, 20d, and 20e. Remote controllers 50c and 50d are connected to indoor units 20c and 20d, respectively. Remote controller 50e is connected to indoor unit 20e. Indoor units 20c and 20d, and remote controllers 50c and 50d are located in room C. Indoor unit 20e and remote controller 50e are located in room D. Indoor units 20c, 20d, and 20e each have on / off valves V5, V6, and V7, respectively.

[0107] Furthermore, the air conditioning system 100D in Embodiment 5 includes a flow divider controller 90. The flow divider controller 90 is a mechanism for diverting the refrigerant flowing out of the outdoor unit 10. The flow divider controller 90 has multiple on / off valves V8 to VN. In Embodiment 5, the control device C1 also performs the closing process of the multiple on / off valves V1 to VN in different ways at different times.

[0108] In this way, the technology disclosed herein can also be applied to the structure shown in Embodiment 5. Thus, in Embodiment 5, it is also possible to suppress the increase in the construction cost of the air conditioning system 100D, and to properly close the multiple on / off valves V1 to V4 included in the air conditioning system 100C during a power outage.

[0109] <Variation Example>

[0110] In the example of Implementation Method 1, two indoor units 20a and 20b are described as an example of indoor unit 20, but the number of indoor units 20 can also be one or more. Similarly, the number of cut-off units 30 and the number of remote controllers 50 are not limited to two.

[0111] In addition, in embodiments 1 to 5, examples were described in which the on-off valve is included in the indoor unit 20 or the shut-off unit 30. However, the on-off valve can be provided on the refrigerant circuit. For example, it can also be included in other structures such as the outdoor unit 10, or it can be provided as a new structure outside the outdoor unit 10, the indoor unit 20 and the shut-off unit 30.

[0112] Furthermore, in the example of Embodiment 1, an example was described in which the power outage detection unit 16 is installed inside the outdoor unit 10. However, the power outage detection unit 16 may also be installed inside the indoor unit 20 or the cutoff unit 30, or it may be installed as a new structure outside the outdoor unit 10, the indoor unit 20, and the cutoff unit 30.

[0113] Furthermore, while the above example illustrates a structure including one on / off valve in an indoor unit 20, multiple on / off valves can also be included in an indoor unit 20. Similarly, multiple on / off valves can also be included in a shut-off unit 30.

[0114] Furthermore, in Embodiment 1, a structure was described in which the control device C10, which determines the shutdown sequence based on the power capacity of the backup power supply 55, is disposed within the outdoor unit 10. However, the control device C10 may also be included in a structure other than the outdoor unit 10, or may be provided as a separate structure. Alternatively, the control device C2 included in the indoor unit 20 or the control device C1 included in the cutoff unit 30 may also function as a control device that determines the shutdown sequence based on the power capacity of the backup power supply 55.

[0115] Furthermore, in the above example, it was explained that the cutoff unit 30 and the indoor unit 20 send a completion signal to the outdoor unit 10. However, the cutoff unit 30 and the indoor unit 20 may also not send a completion signal. In this case, the outdoor unit 10 may send the next shutdown signal based on the time elapsed since sending the shutdown signal. More specifically, the outdoor unit 10 may also send the shutdown signal shown in step S5 based on a predetermined period elapsed since sending the shutdown signal shown in step S2.

[0116] In Embodiment 3, an example is described where backup power supply 55A supplies power to cutoff unit 30a and indoor unit 20a, and backup power supply 55B supplies power to cutoff unit 30b and indoor unit 20b. However, backup power supply 55A can also be configured to supply power to all of the cutoff units 30a, 30b and indoor units 20a, 20b. Furthermore, in this case, backup power supply 55B can also be configured similarly to backup power supply 55A to supply power to all of the cutoff units 30a, 30b and indoor units 20a, 20b. Therefore, in the event of a power outage, if either backup power supply 55A or 55B fails to operate, the operation of the other backup power supply 55A or 55B improves redundancy. Of course, the number of backup power supplies 55 is not limited to two, and the models of backup power supplies 55A and 55B can also be different.

[0117] The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and should not be construed as limiting the invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims rather than by the foregoing description, and is intended to include all modifications equivalent to and within the scope of the claims.

[0118] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0119] 10…Outdoor unit; 11, 21, 31…Processor; 12, 22, 32…Memory; 13, 23, 33…Communication interface; 14, 24…Air conditioning mechanism; 15…Off indicator; 16…Power outage detection unit; 20, 20a~20e…Indoor unit; 30, 30a, 30b…Shutdown unit; 40…Commercial power supply; 50, 50a~50e, 60…Remote control; 51Z~54Z, 55, 55A, 55B…Backup power supply; 5 1… Display; 52… Operation unit; 90… Flow controller; 100, 100B~100D, 100Z… Air conditioning system; 120, 121, 122… Refrigerant pipe; 141… Compressor; 142, 242… Heat exchanger; 144, 244… Fan; 145… Four-way valve; A, B, C, D… Room; C1, C2, C10… Control device; D1~D4… Period; T1~T4… Timer; V1~VN… On / off valve.

Claims

1. An air conditioning system, characterized in that, have: The refrigerant circuit, which supplies the flow of refrigerant; Multiple on / off valves that regulate the flow rate of refrigerant flowing in the refrigerant circuit; The main power supply provides main power to the plurality of on / off valves; At least one backup power source supplies backup power to the plurality of on / off valves in the event that the main power supply is interrupted; as well as At least one control device controls the power supply to the plurality of on / off valves. In the event that the main power supply is interrupted, the at least one control device controls the supply of the backup power to the plurality of on / off valves according to the power capacity of the at least one backup power source.

2. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The plurality of on / off valves include: a first on / off valve and a second on / off valve. When the main power supply stops, the at least one control device supplies the reserve power to the first on / off valve during a first period, causing the first on / off valve to change from an open state to a closed state, and supplies the reserve power to the second on / off valve during a second period different from the first period, causing the second on / off valve to change from an open state to a closed state.

3. The air conditioning system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The plurality of on / off valves also includes a third on / off valve. When the main power supply stops, the at least one control device supplies the reserve power to the third opening / closing valve during a third period different from the first or second period, so that the third opening / closing valve changes from an open state to a closed state.

4. The air conditioning system according to claim 3, characterized in that, If the available backup power in the at least one backup power source is above a threshold, the third period is the same as the second period.

5. The air conditioning system according to claim 3, characterized in that, The at least one backup power source includes: a first backup power source supplying a first backup power source, and a second backup power source supplying a second backup power source. The at least one control device is configured as follows: In the event of a power outage, the first reserve power is supplied to the first and second on / off valves, causing them to change from an open state to a closed state. In the event that the main power supply is stopped, the second reserve power is supplied to the third on / off valve, causing the state of the third on / off valve to change from the open state to the closed state.

6. The air conditioning system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The at least one control device includes: a first control device for controlling the power supply to the first on / off valve, and a second control device for controlling the power supply to the second on / off valve. In the event that the main power supply is interrupted, the first control device supplies the backup power to the first on / off valve during a first period determined based on a first timer. In the event that the main power supply is stopped, the second control device supplies the reserve power to the second on / off valve during a second period determined by a second timer synchronized with the first timer.

7. The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that, The first period begins earlier than the second period.

8. The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The refrigerant circuit includes: an outdoor unit, at least one indoor unit, and at least one disconnection unit connected to the outdoor unit and the at least one indoor unit. The plurality of on / off valves are disposed in any one of the at least one indoor unit and the at least one shut-off unit.

9. The air conditioning system according to claim 8, characterized in that, It also includes a flow divider controller that divides the refrigerant flow path between the outdoor unit and the at least one cut-off unit.

10. A control device for controlling the power supply to a plurality of on / off valves, said plurality of on / off valves adjusting the flow rate of refrigerant flowing in a refrigerant circuit, characterized in that, have: A storage unit that stores control programs for controlling the power supply to the plurality of on / off valves; and The control unit, according to the control program, controls the power supply to the plurality of on / off valves. The control unit is configured as follows: Determine whether the main power supply from the main power source to the multiple on / off valves has stopped. In the event of a shutdown of the main power supply, the supply of backup power from at least one backup power source to the plurality of on / off valves is controlled according to the power capacity of at least one backup power source.

11. A control method comprising controlling the power supply to a plurality of on / off valves via computer, wherein the plurality of on / off valves adjust the flow rate of refrigerant flowing in a refrigerant circuit, characterized in that, The process performed by the computer includes the following steps: The step of determining whether the main power supply from the main power source to the plurality of on / off valves has stopped; and In the event that the main power supply is interrupted, the step of controlling the supply of backup power from at least one backup power source to the plurality of on / off valves according to the power capacity of at least one backup power source.

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