Air conditioner, control method and control device therefor, and storage medium

Abstract

This disclosure relates to an air conditioner and its control method, control device, and storage medium. The air conditioner includes a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, a throttling element, a first indoor heat exchanger, and a second indoor heat exchanger. The method includes: in response to the air conditioner receiving a control command, determining a target operating mode for the air conditioner; and in response to the target operating mode being a dehumidification mode, controlling the refrigerant discharged from the compressor to sequentially pass through the outdoor heat exchanger, the first indoor heat exchanger, the throttling element, and the second indoor heat exchanger before returning to the compressor. This method, without adding a heating module, designs the indoor unit to include two indoor heat exchangers, one for dehumidification and the other for heating or maintaining the original temperature, to achieve constant temperature dehumidification.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of air conditioner control technology, and in particular to an air conditioner and its control method, control device and storage medium. Background Technology

[0002] The comfortable relative humidity level on the human body is typically maintained within the range of 45% to 65%. However, due to seasonal changes or regional characteristics, the air humidity may exceed this comfortable range at certain times, thus creating a need for dehumidification. Currently, most air conditioners rely on their cooling mode for dehumidification. This mode uses the circulation of refrigerant to lower the temperature of the indoor heat exchanger below the dew point. When humid air flows through this cooled indoor heat exchanger driven by a cross-flow fan, the water vapor in the air condenses into water, thus achieving a dehumidification effect. However, this process also causes the indoor ambient temperature to drop.

[0003] Therefore, how to achieve constant temperature and dehumidification in air conditioners is an urgent problem to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This disclosure provides an air conditioner and its control method, control device, and storage medium. Without adding a heating module, the indoor unit is designed to include two indoor heat exchangers, one for dehumidification and the other for heating, to achieve constant temperature dehumidification. The technical solution of this disclosure is as follows:

[0005] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a control method for an air conditioner is provided, the air conditioner including a first indoor heat exchanger, a second indoor heat exchanger, a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, and a throttling element, the method comprising:

[0006] In response to the air conditioner receiving a control command, the target operating mode of the air conditioner is determined;

[0007] In response to the target operating mode being dehumidification mode, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor is controlled to pass sequentially through the outdoor heat exchanger, the first indoor heat exchanger, the throttling element, and the second indoor heat exchanger before returning to the compressor.

[0008] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, an air conditioner control device is provided, the air conditioner including a first indoor heat exchanger, a second indoor heat exchanger, a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, and a throttling element, the device comprising:

[0009] The determination module is used to determine the target operating mode of the air conditioner in response to the air conditioner receiving a control command;

[0010] The control module is configured to, in response to the target operating mode being dehumidification mode, control the refrigerant discharged from the compressor to flow sequentially through the outdoor heat exchanger, the first indoor heat exchanger, the throttling element, and the second indoor heat exchanger before returning to the compressor.

[0011] According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, an air conditioner is provided, comprising: a processor; a memory for storing processor-executable instructions; wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to implement the control method of the air conditioner as described above.

[0012] According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, which, when the instructions in the storage medium are executed by a processor, enables the processor to perform the above-described control method for an air conditioner.

[0013] According to a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, a computer program product is provided, comprising a computer program that, when executed by a processor, implements the above-described air conditioner control method.

[0014] The technical solutions provided by the embodiments of this disclosure have at least the following beneficial effects:

[0015] The air conditioner disclosed herein includes a first indoor heat exchanger and a second indoor heat exchanger. Upon receiving a control command, the air conditioner determines its target operating mode. When the target operating mode is dehumidification mode, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor is controlled to sequentially pass through the outdoor heat exchanger, the first indoor heat exchanger, a throttling element, and the second indoor heat exchanger before returning to the compressor, thereby achieving dehumidification of the indoor air. Thus, this disclosure, without adding a heating module, designs the indoor unit to include two indoor heat exchangers, with one heat exchanger used for dehumidification and the other for heating or maintaining the original temperature, achieving constant temperature dehumidification.

[0016] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not intended to limit this disclosure. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this disclosure, and are not intended to unduly limit this disclosure.

[0018] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of an air conditioner control method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0019] Figure 2 This is a refrigerant flow diagram of an air conditioner operating in dehumidification mode according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0020] Figure 3 This is a refrigerant flow diagram of an air conditioner operating in dehumidification mode according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0021] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0022] Figure 5 It is based on this disclosure and a Figure 4 The diagram shows the refrigerant flow direction of the air conditioner when it is running in dehumidification mode.

[0023] Figure 6 It is based on this disclosure and a Figure 4 The diagram shows the refrigerant flow direction of the air conditioner when it is running in cooling mode.

[0024] Figure 7 It is based on this disclosure and a Figure 4 The diagram shows the refrigerant flow direction of the air conditioner when it is running in heating mode.

[0025] Figure 8 This is a flowchart of a control method for an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0026] Figure 9 This is a block diagram of the control device for an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0027] To enable those skilled in the art to better understand the technical solutions of this disclosure, the technical solutions in the embodiments of this disclosure will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0028] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., used in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this disclosure are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate so that the embodiments of this disclosure described herein can be implemented in orders other than those illustrated or described herein. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with this disclosure. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with some aspects of this disclosure as detailed in the appended claims.

[0029] The following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, describes an air conditioner and its control method, control device, and storage medium according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0030] Before introducing the control method of the air conditioner according to the embodiments of this disclosure, let's first introduce how the related technology performs constant temperature dehumidification in dehumidification mode.

[0031] During dehumidification, since the indoor ambient temperature usually drops, a heating module is typically added to raise the temperature of the air after passing through the indoor heat exchanger. This ensures that the air supplied to the room is at the same temperature as the indoor environment, thus achieving a constant temperature dehumidification effect. However, this approach has the disadvantage of high energy consumption of the heating module, leading to a decrease in the overall energy efficiency of the air conditioner and increasing the user's electricity bill.

[0032] Therefore, this disclosure proposes a new control method for air conditioners. By designing the indoor unit to include two indoor heat exchangers, one for dehumidification and the other for heating, the purpose of constant temperature dehumidification can be achieved. This can improve the overall energy efficiency of the air conditioner and reduce the user's electricity bill.

[0033] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of a control method for an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0034] It should be noted that, as Figure 2 As shown, the first indoor heat exchanger 1-1 and the second indoor heat exchanger 1-2 of the air conditioner in this embodiment of the present disclosure include a compressor 2, an outdoor heat exchanger 4 and a throttling element 5.

[0035] like Figure 1 As shown, the control method for an air conditioner according to an embodiment of this disclosure includes the following steps:

[0036] S1, in response to the air conditioner receiving a control command, determines the target operating mode of the air conditioner.

[0037] The control commands can be power-on commands or adjustment commands, etc.

[0038] The methods for determining the target operating mode of the air conditioner in step S1 include the following Example 1 and Example 2.

[0039] Example 1:

[0040] After receiving the power-on command, the air conditioner checks whether it has received an operating mode adjustment command. If no operating mode adjustment command is received, the default target operating mode is the mode it was in when it was last turned off. If an operating mode adjustment command is received, the target operating mode is determined based on the received command. Specifically, if the received command is cooling, the target operating mode is set to cooling mode; if the received command is heating, the target operating mode is set to heating mode; and if the received command is dehumidification, the target operating mode is set to dehumidification mode.

[0041] Example 2:

[0042] After receiving a power-on command, if the air conditioner does not receive a command to adjust the operating mode, it will determine the target operating mode based on the user's preset needs. These preset needs can be communicated to the air conditioner via a remote control, mobile app, smart home system, or other smart devices.

[0043] In this example, the user's preset requirements may include: desired indoor temperature and humidity requirements.

[0044] The desired indoor ambient temperature refers to a specific value that the user hopes the indoor environment will reach. For example, in the hot summer, the user hopes the indoor ambient temperature will drop to around 24℃ to 26℃; in the cold winter, the user hopes the indoor ambient temperature will be around 20℃ to 22℃. When the indoor ambient temperature is higher than the upper limit of the user's desired indoor ambient temperature, such as 26℃, the air conditioner sets the target operating mode to cooling mode to lower the indoor temperature; when the indoor ambient temperature is lower than the lower limit of the user's desired indoor ambient temperature, such as 20℃, the air conditioner sets the target operating mode to heating mode to raise the indoor ambient temperature.

[0045] Humidity requirements refer to specific requirements set by users for indoor air humidity. For example, in humid weather, users may want to reduce indoor humidity to improve comfort. When indoor air humidity exceeds a preset humidity threshold, the air conditioner will select dehumidification mode as its target operating mode to lower the indoor air humidity.

[0046] S2, in response to the target operating mode being dehumidification mode, controls the refrigerant discharged from the compressor to pass sequentially through the outdoor heat exchanger, the first indoor heat exchanger, the throttling element, and the second indoor heat exchanger before returning to the compressor.

[0047] In step S2, when the target operating mode of the air conditioner is dehumidification mode, the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the exhaust port of compressor 2 is controlled according to... Figure 2 The path flow shown:

[0048] The high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant condenses and releases heat in the outdoor heat exchanger 4, becoming a medium-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant liquid. This liquid does not directly enter the throttling element 5 but instead flows into the first indoor heat exchanger 1-1. There, it continues to condense and release heat, becoming a low-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant liquid, providing heat to the room. After condensing and releasing heat from the first indoor heat exchanger 1-1, the low-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant liquid enters the second indoor heat exchanger 1-2. In this second heat exchanger, it evaporates and absorbs heat, becoming a low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant gas. This gas then returns to the compressor 2 through its return port, thus achieving condensation and dehumidification of the indoor air. The dehumidified air is then mixed with the heated air from the first indoor heat exchanger 1-1 and returned to the room to maintain a suitable indoor temperature and humidity.

[0049] Therefore, this disclosure achieves constant temperature dehumidification by designing the indoor unit to include two indoor heat exchangers, one for dehumidification and the other for heating, which can improve the overall energy efficiency of the air conditioner and reduce the user's electricity bill.

[0050] like Figure 3 As shown, the air conditioner in this embodiment further includes a first control valve 6. The first end of the compressor 2 is connected to the first end of the outdoor heat exchanger 4. The first control valve 6 is disposed in the refrigerant flow path between the second end of the outdoor heat exchanger 4 and the first end of the first indoor heat exchanger 1-1. The second end of the first indoor heat exchanger 1-1 is connected to the first end of the throttling element 5. The second end of the throttling element 5 is connected to the first end of the second indoor heat exchanger 1-2. The second end of the second indoor heat exchanger 1-2 is connected to the second end of the compressor 2.

[0051] Based on such Figure 3 The air conditioner shown above, the execution process of step S2 includes:

[0052] During the operation of the air conditioner in dehumidification mode, the first control valve 6 is kept open so that the refrigerant flowing out from the outdoor heat exchanger 4 passes sequentially through the outdoor heat exchanger 4, the first indoor heat exchanger 1-1, the throttling element 5, and the second indoor heat exchanger 1-2 before flowing back to the compressor 2.

[0053] When the target operating mode of the air conditioner is dehumidification mode, the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the exhaust port of compressor 2 is controlled according to... Figure 3 The path flow shown:

[0054] The high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant condenses and releases heat in the outdoor heat exchanger 4, becoming a medium-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant liquid. This liquid does not directly enter the throttling element 5 but instead passes through the first control valve 6 and enters the first indoor heat exchanger 1-1. In the first indoor heat exchanger 1-1, the medium-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant liquid continues to condense and release heat, becoming a low-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant liquid, providing heat to the room in the process. After condensing and releasing heat, the low-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant liquid exiting the first indoor heat exchanger 1-1 enters the second indoor heat exchanger 1-2. In the second indoor heat exchanger 1-2, the low-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant liquid evaporates and absorbs heat, becoming a low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant gas. This gas then returns to the compressor 2 through the return port, thus achieving condensation and dehumidification of the indoor air. The dehumidified air mixes with the heated air from the first indoor heat exchanger 1-1 and is then returned to the room to maintain a suitable indoor temperature and humidity. Finally, the dehumidified cold air mixes with the hot air before being sent into the room.

[0055] Therefore, this disclosure achieves constant temperature dehumidification by designing the indoor unit to include two indoor heat exchangers, one of which is used for dehumidification and the other for heating or maintaining the original temperature. This improves the overall energy efficiency of the air conditioner and reduces the user's electricity bill.

[0056] The air conditioner control method of this disclosure embodiment further includes:

[0057] In response to the target operating mode being cooling mode, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 2 is split into two streams after passing through the outdoor heat exchanger 4 and the throttling element 5. The two streams of refrigerant then pass through the first indoor heat exchanger 1-1 and the second indoor heat exchanger 1-2 respectively before converging and flowing back to the compressor 2.

[0058] In this step, the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the exhaust port of compressor 2 is controlled to flow along the following path:

[0059] The high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas flowing out from compressor 2 is condensed and released by outdoor heat exchanger 4, becoming a normal-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant liquid. After condensation and heat release, the normal-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant liquid is throttled and depressurized by throttling element 5 and then enters the first indoor heat exchanger 1-1 and the second indoor heat exchanger 1-2 for evaporation and heat absorption. The low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant gas obtained after evaporation and heat absorption flows back to compressor 2 for compression, so that the air conditioner operates in cooling mode and achieves the function of reducing the indoor ambient temperature.

[0060] The air conditioner control method of this disclosure embodiment further includes:

[0061] In response to the target operating mode being heating mode, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 2 is diverted into the first indoor heat exchanger 1-1 and the second indoor heat exchanger 1-2. The refrigerant flowing out from the first indoor heat exchanger 1-1 and the second indoor heat exchanger 1-2 merges and then flows back to the compressor 2 through the throttling element 5 and the outdoor heat exchanger 4 in sequence.

[0062] In this step, the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the exhaust port of compressor 2 is controlled to flow along the following path:

[0063] The high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant flowing out from compressor 2 is diverted to the second indoor heat exchanger 1-2 and the first indoor heat exchanger 1-1 for condensation and heat release. After condensation and heat release, the refrigerant evaporates and absorbs heat through outdoor heat exchanger 4 and then flows back to compressor 2 for compression, so that the air conditioner can operate in heating mode and achieve the function of raising the indoor ambient temperature.

[0064] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0065] like Figure 4 As shown, the air conditioner in this embodiment further includes: a second control valve 7, a third control valve 8, a fourth control valve 9, a fifth control valve 10, and a four-way valve 3. The first end of the second control valve 7 is connected to the second end of the outdoor heat exchanger 4 and the first end of the first control valve 6; the first end of the third control valve 8 is connected to the second end of the throttling element 5 and the first end of the second indoor heat exchanger 1-2, and the second end of the third control valve 8 is connected to the first end of the first indoor heat exchanger 1-1 and the second end of the first control valve 6; the first end of the fourth control valve 9 is connected to the second end of the first indoor heat exchanger 1-1 and the first end of the fifth control valve 10, and the second end of the fourth control valve 9 is connected to the second end of the compressor 2 and the second end of the second indoor heat exchanger 1-2; the second end of the fifth control valve 10 is connected to the second end of the second control valve 7 and the first end of the throttling element 5.

[0066] The four-way valve 3 is used to switch the refrigerant flow path between cooling mode, dehumidification mode, and heating mode. By changing the direction of refrigerant flow, the air conditioner can perform different functions in different operating modes. For example, when the target operating mode is cooling mode and dehumidification mode, the first end of compressor 2 is the exhaust port of compressor 2, and the second end of compressor 2 is the return port of compressor 2; when the target operating mode is heating mode, the first end of compressor 2 is the return port of compressor 2, and the second end of compressor 2 is the exhaust port of compressor 2.

[0067] based on Figure 4 The air conditioner shown in this embodiment requires corresponding control of the first control valve 6 to the fifth control valve 10 under different operating modes, including:

[0068] When the target operating mode is dehumidification mode, the refrigerant flow direction is as follows: Figure 5 As shown. During dehumidification mode operation, the first control valve 7 is closed and the first control valve 6 is open. This prevents the room-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant liquid flowing from the outdoor heat exchanger 4 from directly entering the throttling element 5. Instead, it enters the first indoor heat exchanger 1-1, condenses and releases heat, becoming room-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant liquid to provide heat to the room. Simultaneously, the third control valve 8 and the fourth control valve 9 are closed, and the fifth control valve 10 is open. This allows the condensed refrigerant flowing from the first indoor heat exchanger 1-1 to enter the second indoor heat exchanger 1-2, evaporating and absorbing heat to become low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant gas. This enables the air conditioner to operate in dehumidification mode, achieving condensation and dehumidification of the indoor air. The dehumidified cold air is then mixed with hot air and delivered into the room.

[0069] When the target operating mode is cooling mode, the refrigerant flow direction is as follows: Figure 6 As shown. During the operation of the air conditioner in cooling mode, the first control valve 7, the third control valve 8, and the fourth control valve 9 are kept open, while the first control valve 6 and the fifth control valve 10 are kept closed. This allows the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant gas flowing from the compressor 2 to condense and release heat in the outdoor heat exchanger 4, becoming a normal-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant liquid. The normal-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant liquid obtained after condensation and heat release enters the first control valve 7, and then, after being throttled and depressurized by the throttling element 5, it enters the second indoor heat exchanger 1-2 and the first indoor heat exchanger 1-1 for evaporation and heat absorption. The constant-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant gas obtained after evaporation and heat absorption flows back to the compressor 2 for compression, so that the air conditioner operates in cooling mode and achieves the function of lowering the indoor ambient temperature.

[0070] When the target operating mode is heating mode, the refrigerant flow direction is as follows: Figure 7 As shown. During the operation of the air conditioner in heating mode, the first control valve 7, the third control valve 8, and the fourth control valve 9 are kept in the open state, while the first control valve 6 and the fifth control valve 10 are kept in the closed state. This allows the refrigerant flowing from the compressor 2 to be diverted to the second indoor heat exchanger 1-2 and the first indoor heat exchanger 1-1 for condensation and heat release. After condensation and heat release, the refrigerant evaporates and absorbs heat through the outdoor heat exchanger 4 before returning to the compressor 2. This allows the air conditioner to operate in heating mode, thereby raising the indoor ambient temperature.

[0071] Therefore, this disclosure, without adding a heating module to the air conditioner, designs the indoor unit to include two indoor heat exchangers. The two indoor heat exchangers are connected to the outdoor heat exchanger and the compressor through a second to a fifth control valve. By controlling the on / off state of the second to fifth control valves, when the indoor air humidity is high, the refrigerant flow direction of the system is adjusted through multiple regulating valves. This allows the high-pressure refrigerant to directly enter the first indoor heat exchanger and then return to the throttling element for throttling. The throttled low-pressure refrigerant then enters the second indoor heat exchanger. That is, the second indoor heat exchanger is used for heating, and the first indoor heat exchanger is used for dehumidification. In this way, without adding an additional heating module, the indoor heat exchangers can simultaneously dehumidify and heat, achieving constant temperature dehumidification. This can improve the overall energy efficiency of the air conditioner and reduce the user's electricity bill.

[0072] To ensure that the temperature of the air entering the room during dehumidification is consistent with the indoor ambient temperature, this disclosure also performs the following steps during the dehumidification operation of the air conditioner: Figure 8 The steps shown include:

[0073] S81, during the dehumidification process of indoor air, obtains the outlet temperature of the indoor fan in the air conditioner and the indoor ambient temperature.

[0074] The outlet air temperature can be collected by a temperature sensor installed at the air outlet of the indoor fan; the indoor ambient temperature can be collected by a temperature sensor installed in a suitable location indoors. It should be noted that the temperature sensor for collecting the indoor ambient temperature should be placed away from direct sunlight, heat sources, or direct cold air, as these factors may affect the accuracy of the temperature readings.

[0075] S82 adjusts the speed of the outdoor fan and / or the indoor fan in the air conditioner according to the outlet temperature and the indoor ambient temperature.

[0076] Step S82 can be implemented in the following three ways:

[0077] First scenario:

[0078] The speed of the outdoor fan in the air conditioner is adjusted according to the outlet temperature and the indoor ambient temperature, including:

[0079] When the outlet temperature is lower than the indoor ambient temperature, reduce the speed of the outdoor fan, increase the temperature of the refrigerant after condensation in the outdoor heat exchanger 4, increase the temperature of the first indoor heat exchanger 1-1, and increase the temperature of the mixed air so that the temperature of the mixed air is consistent with the indoor ambient temperature.

[0080] When the outlet temperature is higher than the indoor ambient temperature, increase the speed of the outdoor fan, reduce the temperature of the refrigerant after condensation in the outdoor heat exchanger 4, reduce the temperature of the first indoor heat exchanger 1-1, and reduce the temperature of the mixed air so that the temperature of the mixed air is consistent with the indoor ambient temperature.

[0081] The second scenario:

[0082] The indoor fan is positioned relative to the first indoor heat exchanger 1-1. The fan speed is adjusted based on the outlet temperature and the indoor ambient temperature, including:

[0083] When the outlet air temperature is lower than the indoor ambient temperature, increase the speed of the indoor fan to raise the temperature of the refrigerant after evaporation in the first indoor heat exchanger 1-1, thereby raising the temperature of the mixed air and making the temperature of the mixed air the same as the indoor ambient temperature.

[0084] When the outlet temperature is higher than the indoor ambient temperature, reduce the speed of the indoor fan, lower the temperature of the first indoor heat exchanger 1-1, and lower the temperature of the mixed air so that the temperature of the mixed air is the same as the indoor ambient temperature.

[0085] The third scenario:

[0086] The indoor fan is positioned relative to the first indoor heat exchanger 1-1. Based on the outlet temperature and the indoor ambient temperature, the speed of the outdoor fan and the indoor fan in the air conditioner are adjusted, including:

[0087] When the outlet air temperature is lower than the indoor ambient temperature, reduce the speed of the outdoor fan and increase the speed of the indoor fan to raise the temperature of the refrigerant after evaporation in the first indoor heat exchanger 1-1, thereby raising the temperature of the mixed air and making the temperature of the mixed air the same as the indoor ambient temperature.

[0088] When the outlet temperature is higher than the indoor ambient temperature, increase the speed of the outdoor fan and decrease the speed of the indoor fan to lower the temperature of the first indoor heat exchanger 1-1, thereby lowering the temperature of the mixed air and making the temperature of the mixed air the same as the indoor ambient temperature.

[0089] In summary, the air conditioner disclosed herein includes a second indoor heat exchanger and a first indoor heat exchanger. Upon receiving a control command, the air conditioner determines its target operating mode. When the target operating mode is dehumidification mode, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor is controlled to sequentially pass through the outdoor heat exchanger, the first indoor heat exchanger, the throttling element, and the second indoor heat exchanger before returning to the compressor, thereby achieving dehumidification of the indoor air. Thus, without adding a heating module, this disclosure designs the indoor unit to include two indoor heat exchangers, with one heat exchanger used for dehumidification and the other for heating or maintaining the original temperature, achieving constant temperature dehumidification.

[0090] Figure 9 This is a block diagram of the control device for an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0091] It should be noted that the control device of the air conditioner in this embodiment is used to execute the above-described control method of the air conditioner.

[0092] like Figure 9 As shown, the control device 900 of the air conditioner in this embodiment includes: a determination module 910 and a control module 920.

[0093] The determination module 910 is used to determine the target operating mode of the air conditioner in response to the air conditioner receiving a control command;

[0094] The control module 920 is used to control the refrigerant discharged from the compressor to flow back to the compressor in sequence through the outdoor heat exchanger, the first indoor heat exchanger, the throttling element, and the second indoor heat exchanger in response to the target operating mode being dehumidification mode.

[0095] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the first end of the compressor is connected to the first end of the outdoor heat exchanger, a first control valve is provided in the refrigerant flow path between the second end of the outdoor heat exchanger and the first end of the first indoor heat exchanger, the second end of the first indoor heat exchanger is connected to the first end of the throttling element, the second end of the throttling element is connected to the first end of the second indoor heat exchanger, and the second end of the second indoor heat exchanger is connected to the second end of the compressor.

[0096] The control module 920, in response to the target operating mode being dehumidification mode, controls the refrigerant discharged from the compressor to flow back to the compressor after passing sequentially through the outdoor heat exchanger, the first indoor heat exchanger, the throttling element, and the second indoor heat exchanger. This includes:

[0097] When the air conditioner is operating in dehumidification mode, the first control valve is kept open so that the refrigerant discharged from the compressor passes through the outdoor heat exchanger, the first indoor heat exchanger, the throttling element, and the second indoor heat exchanger in sequence before flowing back to the compressor.

[0098] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the control module 920 is further configured to:

[0099] In response to the target operating mode being cooling mode, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor is split into two streams after passing through the outdoor heat exchanger and the throttling element. The two streams of refrigerant then pass through the first indoor heat exchanger and the second indoor heat exchanger respectively before merging back to the compressor.

[0100] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the air conditioner further includes a second control valve, a third control valve, a fourth control valve, and a fifth control valve; wherein,

[0101] The first end of the second control valve is connected to the second end of the outdoor heat exchanger and the first end of the first control valve in the air conditioner.

[0102] The first end of the third control valve is connected to the second end of the throttling element and the first end of the second indoor heat exchanger, respectively; the second end of the third control valve is connected to the first end of the first indoor heat exchanger and the second end of the first control valve, respectively.

[0103] The first end of the fourth control valve is connected to the second end of the first indoor heat exchanger and the first end of the fifth control valve, respectively. The second end of the fourth control valve is connected to the second end of the compressor and the second end of the second indoor heat exchanger, respectively.

[0104] The second end of the fifth control valve is connected to the second end of the second control valve and the first end of the throttling element, respectively;

[0105] The control module 920, in response to the target operating mode being cooling mode, controls the refrigerant discharged from the compressor to pass sequentially through the outdoor heat exchanger and the throttling element, then split into two paths. These two paths of refrigerant then evaporate and absorb heat through the first and second indoor heat exchangers respectively before converging and returning to the compressor. This includes:

[0106] When the air conditioner is operating in cooling mode, the second, third, and fourth control valves are kept open, while the first and fifth control valves are kept closed, so that the refrigerant flowing from the compressor passes through the outdoor heat exchanger and then flows back to the compressor.

[0107] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the control module 920 is further configured to:

[0108] In response to the target operating mode being heating mode, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor is diverted into the first indoor heat exchanger and the second indoor heat exchanger. After the two refrigerants merge, they pass through the throttling element and the outdoor heat exchanger in sequence to evaporate and absorb heat before returning to the compressor.

[0109] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the control module 920 is configured to, in response to a target operating mode being heating mode, control the refrigerant discharged from the compressor to be diverted into the first indoor heat exchanger and the second indoor heat exchanger. When the two refrigerant streams merge and then sequentially pass through a throttling element and the outdoor heat exchanger for evaporation and heat absorption before returning to the compressor, the following steps are included:

[0110] When the air conditioner is operating in heating mode, the second, third, and fourth control valves in the air conditioner are kept open, while the first and fifth control valves are kept closed, so that the refrigerant flowing out of the compressor is diverted to the first indoor heat exchanger and the second indoor heat exchanger. The two refrigerant streams merge and then flow back to the compressor after passing through the outdoor heat exchanger.

[0111] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the control module is further configured to:

[0112] During the dehumidification process of indoor air, the outlet temperature of the indoor fan in the air conditioner and the indoor ambient temperature are obtained, and the speed of the outdoor fan and / or the speed of the indoor fan in the air conditioner are adjusted according to the outlet temperature and the indoor ambient temperature.

[0113] In one embodiment of this disclosure, when the control module adjusts the speed of the outdoor fan in the air conditioner based on the outlet temperature and the indoor ambient temperature, it includes:

[0114] In response to the air outlet temperature being lower than the indoor ambient temperature, the outdoor fan speed is reduced;

[0115] In response to the air outlet temperature being higher than the indoor ambient temperature, the outdoor fan speed is increased.

[0116] In one embodiment of this disclosure, an indoor fan is positioned relative to a first indoor heat exchanger. When the control module adjusts the speed of the indoor fan based on the outlet temperature and the indoor ambient temperature, it includes:

[0117] In response to the air outlet temperature being lower than the indoor ambient temperature, the indoor fan speed is increased;

[0118] In response to the air outlet temperature being higher than the indoor ambient temperature, the indoor fan speed is reduced.

[0119] It should be noted that for details not disclosed in the control device of the air conditioner in the embodiments of this disclosure, please refer to the details disclosed in the control method of the air conditioner in the embodiments of this disclosure, which will not be repeated here.

[0120] The air conditioner disclosed herein includes a first indoor heat exchanger and a second indoor heat exchanger. Upon receiving a control command, the air conditioner determines its target operating mode via a determining module. When the target operating mode is dehumidification mode, the control module controls the refrigerant discharged from the compressor to sequentially pass through the outdoor heat exchanger, the first indoor heat exchanger, the throttling element, and the second indoor heat exchanger before returning to the compressor, thereby achieving dehumidification of the indoor air. Thus, this disclosure, without adding a heating module, designs the indoor unit to include two indoor heat exchangers, with one heat exchanger used for dehumidification and the other for heating or maintaining the original temperature, achieving constant temperature dehumidification.

[0121] To implement the above embodiments, this disclosure also proposes an air conditioner, including: a processor; a memory for storing processor-executable instructions; wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to implement the above-described air conditioner control method.

[0122] To implement the above embodiments, this disclosure also proposes a computer-readable storage medium.

[0123] When the instructions in the storage medium are executed by the processor of the electronic device, the electronic device is able to perform the control method of the air conditioner as described above.

[0124] To implement the above embodiments, this disclosure also provides a computer program product.

[0125] When the computer program is executed by the processor of the electronic device, it enables the electronic device to perform the control method of the air conditioner described above.

[0126] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of this disclosure. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples. Moreover, without contradiction, those skilled in the art can combine and integrate the different embodiments or examples described in this specification, as well as the features of different embodiments or examples.

[0127] Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this disclosure, "a plurality of" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0128] Any process or method description in the flowchart or otherwise herein can be understood as representing a module, segment, or portion of code comprising one or more executable instructions for implementing custom logic functions or processes, and the scope of preferred embodiments of this disclosure includes additional implementations in which functions may be performed not in the order shown or discussed, including substantially simultaneously or in reverse order depending on the functions involved, as will be understood by those skilled in the art to which embodiments of this disclosure pertain.

[0129] The logic and / or steps represented in the flowchart or otherwise described herein, for example, can be considered as a sequenced list of executable instructions for implementing logical functions, and can be embodied in any computer-readable medium for use by, or in conjunction with, an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device (such as a computer-based system, a processor-included system, or other system that can fetch and execute instructions from, an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device). For the purposes of this specification, "computer-readable medium" can be any means that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transmit programs for use by, or in conjunction with, an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of computer-readable media include: an electrical connection having one or more wires (electronic device), a portable computer disk drive (magnetic device), random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), erasable and editable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), fiber optic devices, and portable optical disc read-only memory (CDROM). Alternatively, the computer-readable medium may be paper or other suitable media on which the program can be printed, since the program can be obtained electronically, for example, by optically scanning the paper or other medium, followed by editing, interpreting, or otherwise processing as necessary, and then stored in a computer memory.

[0130] It should be understood that various parts of this disclosure can be implemented using hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof. In the above embodiments, multiple steps or methods can be implemented using software or firmware stored in memory and executed by a suitable instruction execution system. For example, if implemented in hardware as in another embodiment, it can be implemented using any one or a combination of the following techniques known in the art: discrete logic circuits having logic gates for implementing logical functions on data signals, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) having suitable combinational logic gates, programmable gate arrays (PGAs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), etc.

[0131] Those skilled in the art will understand that all or part of the steps of the methods in the above embodiments can be implemented by a program instructing related hardware. The program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, and when executed, the program includes one or a combination of the steps of the method embodiments.

[0132] Furthermore, the functional units in the various embodiments of this disclosure can be integrated into a processing module, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into a module. The integrated module can be implemented in hardware or as a software functional module. If the integrated module is implemented as a software functional module and sold or used as an independent product, it can also be stored in a computer-readable storage medium.

[0133] The storage medium mentioned above can be a read-only memory, a disk, or an optical disk, etc. Although embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described above, it is to be understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art can make changes, modifications, substitutions, and variations to the above embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A control method of an air conditioner, characterized by, The air conditioner includes a first indoor heat exchanger (1-1), a second indoor heat exchanger (1-2), a compressor (2), an outdoor heat exchanger (4), and a throttling element (5), and the method includes: In response to the air conditioner receiving a control command, the target operating mode of the air conditioner is determined; In response to the target operating mode being dehumidification mode, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor (2) is controlled to pass sequentially through the outdoor heat exchanger (4), the first indoor heat exchanger (1-1), the throttling element (5), and the second indoor heat exchanger (1-2) before flowing back to the compressor (2).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, The first end of the compressor (2) is connected to the first end of the outdoor heat exchanger (4), and a first control valve (6) is provided on the refrigerant flow path between the second end of the outdoor heat exchanger (4) and the first end of the first indoor heat exchanger (1-1). The second end of the first indoor heat exchanger (1-1) is connected to the first end of the throttling element (5), and the second end of the throttling element (5) is connected to the first end of the second indoor heat exchanger (1-2). The second end of the second indoor heat exchanger (1-2) is connected to the second end of the compressor (2). Wherein, in response to the target operating mode being dehumidification mode, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor (2) is controlled to sequentially pass through the outdoor heat exchanger (4), the first indoor heat exchanger (1-1), the throttling element (5), and the second indoor heat exchanger (1-2) before returning to the compressor (2), including: During the operation of the air conditioner in dehumidification mode, the first control valve (6) is controlled to be in the open state so that the refrigerant flowing out from the outdoor heat exchanger (4) passes through the outdoor heat exchanger (4), the first indoor heat exchanger (1-1), the throttling element (5) and the second indoor heat exchanger (1-2) in sequence before flowing back to the compressor (2).

3. The method according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that, The method further includes: In response to the target operating mode being the cooling mode, the refrigerant discharged by the compressor (2) is controlled to pass through the outdoor heat exchanger (4) and the throttling element (5) in sequence and then be split into two paths. The two paths of refrigerant pass through the first indoor heat exchanger (1-1) and the second indoor heat exchanger (1-2) respectively and then merge back to the compressor (2).

4. The method of claim 3, wherein, The air conditioner also includes a second control valve (7), a third control valve (8), a fourth control valve (9), and a fifth control valve (10); wherein, The first end of the second control valve (7) is connected to the second end of the outdoor heat exchanger (4) and the first end of the first control valve (6); The first end of the third control valve (8) is connected to the second end of the throttling element (5) and the first end of the second indoor heat exchanger (1-2), respectively. The second end of the third control valve (8) is connected to the first end of the first indoor heat exchanger (1-1) and the second end of the first control valve (6), respectively. The first end of the fourth control valve (9) is connected to the second end of the first indoor heat exchanger (1-1) and the first end of the fifth control valve (10), respectively. The second end of the fourth control valve (9) is connected to the second end of the compressor (2) and the second end of the second indoor heat exchanger (1-2), respectively. The second end of the fifth control valve (10) is connected to the second end of the second control valve (7) and the first end of the throttling element (5); In response to the target operating mode being a cooling mode, the refrigerant discharged by the compressor (2) is controlled to pass sequentially through the outdoor heat exchanger (4) and the throttling element (5) before being split into two paths. The two paths of refrigerant pass through the first indoor heat exchanger (1-1) and the second indoor heat exchanger (1-2) respectively before converging and flowing back to the compressor (2), including: During the operation of the air conditioner in cooling mode, the second control valve (7), the third control valve (8) and the fourth control valve (9) are controlled to be in the open state, and the first control valve (6) and the fifth control valve (10) are controlled to be in the closed state, so that the refrigerant flowing out of the compressor (2) is diverted through the outdoor heat exchanger (4) and then diverted into the second indoor heat exchanger (1-2) and the first indoor heat exchanger (1-1), and then converged and flowed back to the compressor (2).

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that, The method further includes: In response to the target operating mode being heating mode, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor (2) is diverted into the first indoor heat exchanger (1-1) and the second indoor heat exchanger (1-2). The two refrigerants merge and then flow back to the compressor (2) after passing through the throttling element (5) and the outdoor heat exchanger (4).

6. The method of claim 5, wherein, In response to the target operating mode being heating mode, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor (2) is diverted into the first indoor heat exchanger (1-1) and the second indoor heat exchanger (1-2). After the two refrigerant streams merge, they pass through the throttling element (5) and the outdoor heat exchanger (4) in sequence to evaporate and absorb heat before returning to the compressor (2). This includes: During the operation of the air conditioner in heating mode, the second control valve (7), the third control valve (8) and the fourth control valve (9) in the air conditioner are in the open state, and the first control valve (6) and the fifth control valve (10) are in the closed state, so that the refrigerant flowing out of the compressor (2) is diverted to the first indoor heat exchanger (1-1) and the second indoor heat exchanger (1-2). The two refrigerants merge and then flow back to the compressor (2) through the outdoor heat exchanger (4).

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that, The method further includes: During the dehumidification process of indoor air, the outlet temperature of the indoor fan in the air conditioner and the indoor ambient temperature are obtained. The speed of the outdoor fan and / or the speed of the indoor fan in the air conditioner are adjusted according to the air outlet temperature and the indoor ambient temperature.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, Adjusting the speed of the outdoor fan in the air conditioner based on the outlet temperature and the indoor ambient temperature includes: In response to the air outlet temperature being lower than the indoor ambient temperature, the speed of the outdoor fan is reduced; In response to the air outlet temperature being higher than the indoor ambient temperature, the speed of the outdoor fan is increased.

9. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that, The indoor fan is positioned relative to the first indoor heat exchanger (1-1), and the speed of the indoor fan is adjusted according to the outlet temperature and the indoor ambient temperature, including: In response to the air outlet temperature being lower than the indoor ambient temperature, the speed of the indoor fan is increased; In response to the air outlet temperature being higher than the indoor ambient temperature, the speed of the indoor fan is reduced.

10. A control device for an air conditioner, characterized in that, The air conditioner includes a first indoor heat exchanger (1-1), a second indoor heat exchanger (1-2), a compressor (2), an outdoor heat exchanger (4), and a throttling element (5). The device includes: The determination module is used to determine the target operating mode of the air conditioner in response to the air conditioner receiving a control command; The control module is used to control the refrigerant discharged from the compressor (2) to flow back to the compressor (2) in sequence through the outdoor heat exchanger (4), the first indoor heat exchanger (1-1), the throttling element (5) and the second indoor heat exchanger (1-2) in response to the target operating mode being dehumidification mode.

11. An air conditioner, characterized in that, include: processor; Memory used to store the processor's executable instructions; The processor is configured to execute the instructions to implement the control method for the air conditioner as described in any one of claims 1-9.

12. A computer-readable storage medium, wherein instructions in the storage medium, when executed by a processor, enable the processor to perform a control method for an air conditioner as described in any one of claims 1-9.

13. A computer program product, characterized in that, It includes a computer program, which, when executed by a processor, implements the control method for an air conditioner as described in any one of claims 1-9.

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