Air conditioner

Abstract

Embodiments of the present application provide an air conditioner, comprising: a refrigerant circulation loop, which circulates refrigerant in a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, an evaporator and a four-way valve connected in sequence to form a loop; an indoor fan; a first temperature sensor; a controller configured to: when receiving an energy-saving control instruction sent by a power grid, control the air conditioner to run a corresponding demand response mode, and obtain a power limit value of the air conditioner according to the energy-saving control instruction; during the process that the air conditioner runs the demand response mode, calculate a temperature set value of an indoor heat exchanger according to the power limit value of the air conditioner and a rated power value; and adjust the speed of the indoor fan and / or the opening degree of the expansion valve, so that the difference between the temperature value of the indoor heat exchanger and the temperature set value of the indoor heat exchanger is less than a preset value. Embodiments of the present application can make the air conditioner take into account the energy-saving demand of the power grid while guaranteeing the user experience.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of air conditioning technology, specifically to an air conditioner. Background Technology

[0002] An air conditioner is a local air conditioning system consisting of an air handling unit, a fan, a refrigeration unit, and automatic control instruments, providing both cooling and heating functions. With increasingly stringent global energy regulations and the widespread adoption of electricity demand response policies, energy-saving control of air conditioners, as a major electrical appliance in homes and buildings, has become an important development direction for the industry.

[0003] Currently, when implementing energy-saving controls for air conditioners, a significant reduction in cooling and heating capacity often occurs, inevitably impacting the user experience. Therefore, how to ensure a good user experience while simultaneously meeting the energy-saving requirements of the power grid is a pressing technical problem that needs to be solved in this field. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and other issues.

[0005] The purpose of this invention is also to enable air conditioners to meet the energy-saving requirements of the power grid while ensuring the user's experience.

[0006] The purpose of this invention is not limited to the purposes mentioned above, and those skilled in the art will clearly understand other purposes not mentioned from the following description.

[0007] In some embodiments of this application, an air conditioner is provided, comprising:

[0008] The refrigerant circulation loop allows the refrigerant to circulate in a loop formed by the compressor, condenser, expansion valve, evaporator, and four-way valve connected in sequence. One of the evaporator and the condenser is an indoor heat exchanger, and the other is an outdoor heat exchanger. An indoor fan is used to drive indoor air to flow through the indoor heat exchanger for heat exchange. The first temperature sensor is used to detect the temperature value of the indoor heat exchanger; The controller is electrically connected to the indoor fan, the expansion valve, and the first temperature sensor; The controller is characterized in that it is configured to perform the following steps: When an energy-saving control command is received from the power grid, the air conditioner is controlled to operate in the corresponding demand response mode, and the power limit of the air conditioner is obtained according to the energy-saving control command. During the operation of the demand response mode of the air conditioner, the temperature setpoint of the indoor heat exchanger is calculated based on the power limit and rated power of the air conditioner. Adjust the speed of the indoor fan and / or the opening of the expansion valve so that the difference between the temperature value of the indoor heat exchanger and the temperature set value of the indoor heat exchanger is less than a preset value.

[0009] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: Upon receiving an energy-saving control command from the power grid, the air conditioner is controlled to operate in the corresponding demand response mode to meet the stringent requirements of power grid energy-saving management. Furthermore, based on the energy-saving control command, the power limit of the air conditioner is obtained. Combining the matching relationship between the air conditioner's power limit and rated power, the temperature setpoint of the indoor heat exchanger adapted to the current energy-saving operating condition is dynamically calculated. Subsequently, the speed of the indoor fan and / or the opening of the expansion valve are adjusted to precisely control the air heat exchange intensity and refrigerant supply flow, ensuring that the difference between the indoor heat exchanger temperature and the temperature setpoint is less than the preset value. This means the indoor heat exchanger temperature stably matches the temperature setpoint, effectively suppressing the problem of significant temperature deviation and attenuation in the demand response mode, maintaining stable heat exchange efficiency of the indoor heat exchanger, and thus effectively balancing the power grid's energy-saving requirements with indoor comfort, ensuring a superior user experience.

[0010] In some embodiments of this application, an air conditioner is provided, further comprising: The second temperature sensor is used to detect the indoor ambient temperature. The controller is also configured to perform the following steps: The default temperature value of the indoor heat exchanger is obtained based on the indoor ambient temperature value and the indoor heat exchanger temperature value. A compensation coefficient is determined based on the current operating mode of the air conditioner, wherein the operating mode includes heating mode and cooling mode; Calculate the ratio of the power limit of the air conditioner to the rated power value; The temperature setpoint of the indoor heat exchanger is calculated based on the compensation coefficient, the ratio, and the default temperature value of the indoor heat exchanger.

[0011] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: When calculating the temperature setpoint of the indoor heat exchanger, the default temperature value of the indoor heat exchanger is first obtained based on the indoor ambient temperature value and the indoor heat exchanger temperature value. The corresponding compensation coefficient is determined according to the current operating mode of the air conditioner (cooling mode and heating mode). At the same time, the ratio of the power limit value to the rated power value of the air conditioner is calculated. Then, combined with the compensation coefficient, the ratio, and the default temperature value of the indoor heat exchanger, the temperature setpoint of the indoor heat exchanger adapted to the current energy-saving operating conditions and operating mode is accurately calculated. This makes the temperature setpoint of the indoor heat exchanger more closely match the heat exchange requirements of different operating conditions of cooling and heating, further improving the accuracy of the temperature control of the indoor heat exchanger. Thus, while meeting the energy-saving requirements of the power grid, the stable heat exchange efficiency of the indoor heat exchanger is maintained more accurately, further ensuring user comfort and achieving a dual balance between power grid energy saving and user experience.

[0012] In some embodiments of this application, an air conditioner is provided, wherein the controller is further configured to perform the following steps: When the air conditioner is running in cooling mode, if the temperature value of the indoor heat exchanger is detected to be above the set temperature value of the indoor heat exchanger, the speed of the indoor fan is reduced and / or the opening of the expansion valve is reduced so that the difference between the temperature value of the indoor heat exchanger and the set temperature value of the indoor heat exchanger is less than a preset value. When the air conditioner is running in heating mode, if the temperature value of the indoor heat exchanger is detected to be below the set temperature value of the indoor heat exchanger, the speed of the indoor fan is reduced and / or the opening of the expansion valve is reduced so that the difference between the temperature value of the indoor heat exchanger and the set temperature value of the indoor heat exchanger is less than a preset value.

[0013] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: When the air conditioner is running in cooling mode, if the indoor heat exchanger temperature value is detected to be above the indoor heat exchanger temperature set value, the indoor fan speed is reduced and / or the expansion valve opening is reduced; when the air conditioner is running in heating mode, if the indoor heat exchanger temperature value is detected to be below the indoor heat exchanger temperature set value, the indoor fan speed is reduced and / or the expansion valve opening is reduced, thereby achieving precise control based on different modes and in a targeted manner.

[0014] In some embodiments of this application, an air conditioner is provided, wherein the controller further includes an outdoor electrical control module, the outdoor electrical control module being used to control the expansion valve and the compressor; The energy-saving control command includes a power limiting command; the controller is also configured to perform the following steps: The power limit of the air conditioner is determined according to the power limit instruction; Based on the power limit of the air conditioner, the maximum operating current of the outdoor electrical control module is determined so that the outdoor electrical control module operates with current limiting according to the maximum operating current.

[0015] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: When receiving the power limiting command sent by the power grid, the power limit of the air conditioner is first determined according to the power limiting command, and then the maximum operating current of the outdoor power control module is further determined according to the power limit, so that the outdoor power control module strictly operates according to the maximum operating current, thereby achieving precise constraint on the power of the air conditioner, ensuring that the power consumption of the air conditioner strictly meets the power grid energy-saving management requirements, and avoiding the problem of energy saving failure caused by uncontrolled power limiting.

[0016] In some embodiments of this application, an air conditioner is provided, wherein the controller further includes an indoor electrical control module, the indoor electrical control module being used to classify the power limits of the air conditioner; The controller is also configured to perform the following steps: Based on the power limit of the air conditioner, determine the corresponding limit level; Based on the corresponding limit level, the maximum operating current of the outdoor electrical control module is determined so that the outdoor electrical control module operates with current limiting according to the maximum operating current.

[0017] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: First, the corresponding limiting level is determined according to the power limit of the air conditioner, and then the maximum operating current of the outdoor electrical control module is determined according to the limiting level, so that the outdoor electrical control module can operate with current limiting according to the maximum operating current, realize the hierarchical control of power limit, adapt to different levels of energy saving requirements issued by the power grid, avoid the drawbacks of a single power limiting method being unable to adapt to diverse energy saving scenarios, and improve the adaptability of the air conditioner to the power grid energy saving instructions.

[0018] In some embodiments of this application, an air conditioner is provided, wherein there are multiple indoor electronic control modules and one outdoor electronic control module; The controller is also configured to perform the following steps: The plurality of indoor electronic control modules obtain the power limit values ​​of the plurality of air conditioners according to the energy-saving control command; The controller selects the minimum power limit from the power limits of the plurality of air conditioners as the final power limit of the air conditioner; The maximum operating current of the outdoor electrical control module is determined based on the final power limit, so that the outdoor electrical control module operates with current limiting according to the maximum operating current.

[0019] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: If there are multiple indoor electrical control modules and one outdoor electrical control module, the multiple indoor electrical control modules obtain the power limits of multiple air conditioners according to the energy-saving control instructions. Then, the controller selects the minimum power limit from the multiple power limits of the air conditioners as the final power limit of the air conditioner. Then, the maximum operating current of the outdoor electrical control module is determined according to the final power limit, so that the outdoor electrical control module performs current-limited operation according to the maximum operating current. This realizes the priority control of power limits in the multi-split scenario, ensuring that the operating power of the air conditioner strictly meets the grid energy-saving requirements of all indoor units, and avoiding energy-saving runaway or power over-limit problems caused by command conflicts of multiple indoor units.

[0020] In some embodiments of this application, an air conditioner is provided, wherein the energy-saving control command includes a temperature compensation command; the controller is further configured to perform the following steps: Obtain the current set temperature of the air conditioner; Determine the temperature compensation value according to the temperature compensation command; The actual set temperature of the air conditioner is calculated based on the current set temperature and the temperature compensation value. The air conditioner is controlled to adjust the operating parameters of the compressor and / or the expansion valve according to the actual set temperature.

[0021] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: When receiving the temperature compensation command sent by the power grid, the current set temperature of the air conditioner is first obtained, and the temperature compensation value is determined according to the temperature compensation command. Then, the actual set temperature of the air conditioner is calculated by combining the current set temperature of the air conditioner with the temperature compensation value. Finally, the air conditioner is controlled to adjust the operating parameters of the compressor and / or expansion valve according to the actual set temperature. The temperature compensation effectively alleviates the problem of indoor temperature fluctuation caused by the demand response mode, which can further stabilize the heat exchange condition of the indoor heat exchanger and improve the comfort of the indoor environment.

[0022] In some embodiments of this application, an air conditioner is provided, further comprising: A wireless communication module, through which the controller receives the energy-saving control command; The controller is also electrically connected to the wireless communication module, and the controller is further configured to perform the following steps: Detect the communication connection status of the wireless communication module; If the wireless communication module is continuously offline for a preset duration, the air conditioner is controlled to exit the demand response mode.

[0023] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: it detects the communication connection status of the wireless communication module. If the wireless communication module is detected to be continuously offline for a preset time, it controls the air conditioner to exit the demand response mode, thus avoiding the air conditioner from continuously operating in a power-limited state after the wireless communication is offline, which would lead to a long-term decrease in cooling and heating capacity and affect the user experience.

[0024] In some embodiments of this application, an air conditioner is provided, further comprising: User terminal; Wireless communication module; The indoor electrical control module can be configured to enable or disable the demand response function via memory. The controller is also electrically connected to the wireless communication module and the indoor electrical control module, and the controller is further configured to perform the following steps: When the air conditioner completes network distribution through the wireless communication module, the control menu of the demand response function is pushed to the user terminal through the wireless communication module so that the user terminal can display the control menu.

[0025] The above technical solution has the following advantages or beneficial effects: For regions or product models that do not support or do not require demand response functionality, the function can be disabled simply by configuring the memory, thus shielding the related menu push and control logic without the need to develop an independent software version; For regions that support demand response functionality, when the air conditioner completes network distribution through the wireless communication module, the control menu of the demand response function is actively pushed to the user terminal through the wireless communication module so that the user terminal can display the control menu, thereby achieving flexible adaptation of a single software version to multiple regions and multiple product lines.

[0026] In some embodiments of this application, an air conditioner is provided, wherein the controller is further configured to perform the following steps: If a shutdown command is received from the power grid during the operation of the air conditioner, the air conditioner will be shut down. If a start-up command is received from the power grid during the shutdown process of the air conditioner, the air conditioner will be turned on.

[0027] The effects of the above-mentioned technical solutions are not limited to those mentioned above. Those skilled in the art can clearly understand other effects not mentioned from the description in the claims. Attached Figure Description

[0028] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application. It is obvious that the drawings described below are merely some embodiments of this application, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on these drawings without any inventive effort. In the drawings: Figure 1 This is a system block diagram of an air conditioner provided in one embodiment of this application.

[0029] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the steps that a controller can execute according to an embodiment of this application.

[0030] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the steps that the controller can execute according to another embodiment of this application.

[0031] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the steps that the controller can execute according to another embodiment of this application.

[0032] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the compensation process in the power limiting process under cooling mode provided in one embodiment of this application.

[0033] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the compensation process during power limiting in heating mode provided in one embodiment of this application.

[0034] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the steps that the controller can execute according to another embodiment of this application.

[0035] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the steps that the controller can execute according to another embodiment of this application.

[0036] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the steps of power limiting execution provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0037] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the steps that the controller can execute according to another embodiment of this application.

[0038] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the steps that the controller can execute according to another embodiment of this application.

[0039] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the steps of temperature compensation execution according to an embodiment of this application.

[0040] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the steps that the controller can execute according to another embodiment of this application.

[0041] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the offline processing steps of a wireless communication module according to an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0042] Exemplary embodiments will now be described in detail, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description relates to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings denote the same or similar elements. The embodiments described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all embodiments consistent with this application. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with some aspects of this application as detailed in the appended claims.

[0043] The flowcharts shown in the accompanying drawings are merely illustrative and do not necessarily include all content and operations / steps, nor do they necessarily need to be executed in the described order. For example, some operations / steps can be broken down, while others can be combined or partially combined; therefore, the actual execution order may change depending on the actual situation. It should also be noted that "multiple" as mentioned in this application refers to two or more. "And / or" describes the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, and B existing alone. The character " / " generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0044] The terms "first," "second," "third," and "fourth," etc., in the specification, claims, and drawings of this application are used to distinguish different objects, not to describe a particular order. The terms "comprising" and "having," and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion.

[0045] When a structural element is mentioned as being "connected" or "in contact" with another structural element, it may mean that it is directly connected to or in contact with the other structural element, but it can also be understood as meaning that there are other structural elements between them. Conversely, when a structural element is mentioned as being "directly connected" or "directly in contact" with another structural element, it should be understood as meaning that there are no other structural elements between them.

[0046] Unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning, the singular form includes the plural form.

[0047] An air conditioner is a local air conditioning system consisting of an air handling unit, a fan, a refrigeration unit, and automatic control instruments, providing both cooling and heating functions. With increasingly stringent global energy regulations and the widespread adoption of electricity demand response policies, energy-saving control of air conditioners, as a major electrical appliance in homes and buildings, has become an important development direction for the industry.

[0048] Currently, when implementing energy-saving controls for air conditioners, a significant reduction in cooling and heating capacity often occurs, inevitably impacting the user experience. Therefore, how to ensure a good user experience while simultaneously meeting the energy-saving requirements of the power grid is a pressing technical problem that needs to be solved in this field.

[0049] To address the aforementioned technical issues, this application proposes an air conditioner that can simultaneously meet the energy-saving needs of the power grid and ensure a superior user experience.

[0050] Figure 1 This is a system block diagram of an air conditioner provided in one embodiment of this application.

[0051] See Figure 1 As shown below, each part of the air conditioner will be described in detail.

[0052] In some embodiments of this application, the air conditioner may include a refrigerant circulation loop, in which the refrigerant circulates in a loop consisting of a compressor, condenser, expansion valve, evaporator, and four-way valve connected in sequence. One of the evaporator and condenser is an indoor heat exchanger, and the other is an outdoor heat exchanger.

[0053] Air conditioners regulate indoor temperature by constructing a complete refrigerant circulation loop. This loop uses refrigerant as the heat transfer medium and consists of a compressor, condenser, expansion valve, evaporator, and four-way valve, sequentially connected by refrigerant piping in a sealed manner, forming a closed-loop structure. This ensures stable refrigerant circulation within the loop, facilitating heat absorption and release. The evaporator and condenser, as the core heat exchange components in the loop, do not have fixed roles but dynamically switch according to the air conditioner's operating mode (cooling or heating).

[0054] In some embodiments of this application, the four-way valve serves as a flow direction switching component in the circuit. It is connected to the compressor, indoor heat exchanger, and outdoor heat exchanger via refrigerant pipelines. Its core function is to switch the working roles of the condenser and evaporator by changing the flow direction of the refrigerant in the circuit, thereby realizing the switching of the air conditioner's cooling and heating modes.

[0055] In some embodiments of this application, the compressor serves as the power core of the refrigerant circulation, driving the refrigerant to continuously circulate throughout the circuit.

[0056] In some embodiments of this application, the expansion valve is the core regulating component for refrigerant flow. By adjusting the opening of its own valve core, it throttles and reduces the pressure of the refrigerant, while precisely controlling the refrigerant flow into the indoor heat exchanger. The expansion valve can be an electronic expansion valve.

[0057] In some embodiments of this application, the indoor and outdoor heat exchangers serve as carriers for heat exchange between the refrigerant and the air, respectively functioning as condensers or evaporators depending on the operating mode. Specifically, when the air conditioner is operating in cooling mode, the indoor heat exchanger functions as an evaporator, and the outdoor heat exchanger functions as a condenser. When the air conditioner is operating in heating mode, the indoor heat exchanger functions as a condenser, and the outdoor heat exchanger functions as an evaporator.

[0058] In some embodiments of this application, the air conditioner may include indoor and outdoor units, i.e., an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. For a one-to-one system, one outdoor unit and one indoor unit are connected via refrigerant piping and a communication line. For a multiple-to-one system, one outdoor unit and multiple indoor units are connected in parallel via independent refrigerant piping and a communication line. Each outdoor unit contains one outdoor electrical control module, and each indoor unit contains one indoor electrical control module. Therefore, in a multiple-to-one system, there are multiple indoor electrical control modules and one outdoor electrical control module.

[0059] In some embodiments of this application, the indoor unit can be installed in an indoor environment, connected to the outdoor unit via refrigerant piping, and establish bidirectional data interaction with the outdoor unit via a communication line. The outdoor unit can be installed in an outdoor environment, connected to the indoor unit via refrigerant piping, and establish bidirectional data interaction with the indoor unit via a communication line.

[0060] In some embodiments of this application, the air conditioner may include a controller.

[0061] In some embodiments of this application, the controller may include an outdoor electrical control module. The outdoor electrical control module is the main control unit of the outdoor unit and can be used to control the expansion valve and the compressor.

[0062] Specifically, the outdoor electrical control module can receive power limits and corresponding limit levels from the indoor electrical control module, determine its maximum permissible operating current, and use this maximum operating current as a hard upper limit to constrain the compressor's operating current, thereby meeting the grid's energy-saving control requirements. The outdoor electrical control module can also receive energy-saving control commands from the indoor electrical control module, adjust the opening of the expansion valve, regulate the refrigerant flow into the indoor heat exchanger, and coordinate with the indoor fan speed adjustment to achieve stable temperature control of the indoor heat exchanger. Furthermore, the outdoor electrical control module can receive power limits from multiple indoor units, select the minimum power limit as the final power limit for the air conditioner, and execute current-limiting control to avoid power overruns caused by conflicting commands from multiple indoor units.

[0063] In some embodiments of this application, when the outdoor electrical control module receives a power limit value of 0%, it can control the compressor to stop, thereby shutting down the entire air conditioner. When the outdoor electrical control module receives a power limit value restored to 100%, it controls the compressor to restart, restoring the air conditioner to normal operation.

[0064] In some embodiments of this application, the controller may include an indoor electrical control module. The indoor electrical control module is the main control unit of the indoor unit. The indoor electrical control module can be used to classify the power limits of the air conditioner. Specifically, the indoor electrical control module can be used to receive energy-saving control commands sent by the power grid, parse the power limit parameters, classify the power limits of the air conditioner, and match the corresponding limit levels.

[0065] In some embodiments of this application, the indoor electrical control module may include a power grid energy-saving control command parsing module, which is specifically used to parse the energy-saving control commands sent by the power grid.

[0066] In some embodiments of this application, the indoor electrical control module can be used to adjust the speed of the indoor fan according to the received energy-saving control command, and in conjunction with the opening adjustment of the expansion valve, to achieve stable control of the indoor heat exchanger temperature.

[0067] In some embodiments of this application, the air conditioner may include a memory. The memory may be electrically connected to the indoor electronic control module and is located on the main control board of the indoor electronic control module. The memory may be used to configure the configuration parameters of the demand response function. The indoor electronic control module can enable or disable the demand response function through the memory configuration. Specifically, the indoor electronic control module can enable or disable the air conditioner's demand response function by reading the configuration parameters. For regions or product models that do not support or do not require the demand response function, it is only necessary to disable the function through the memory configuration to shield the related menu push and control logic, without the need to develop a separate software version. For regions that support the demand response function, when the air conditioner completes network distribution through the wireless communication module, it actively pushes the control menu of the demand response function to the user terminal through the wireless communication module so that the user terminal can display the control menu, thereby realizing flexible adaptation of a single software version to multiple regions and multiple product lines.

[0068] In some embodiments of this application, the memory may be an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory.

[0069] In some embodiments of this application, the air conditioner may include an indoor fan. The indoor fan may be disposed in an indoor unit and used to drive indoor air to flow through an indoor heat exchanger for heat exchange. Specifically, the indoor fan may drive indoor air to flow across the surface of the indoor heat exchanger, blowing the cooling or heating energy generated by the indoor heat exchanger into the indoor environment to achieve uniform regulation of the indoor ambient temperature.

[0070] In some embodiments of this application, the air conditioner may include a first temperature sensor. The first temperature sensor may be used to detect the temperature value of the indoor heat exchanger.

[0071] In some embodiments of this application, the air conditioner may include a second temperature sensor. The second temperature sensor can be used to detect the indoor ambient temperature value.

[0072] In some embodiments of this application, the controller may be electrically connected to an indoor fan, an expansion valve, a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, and a wireless communication module, respectively.

[0073] In some embodiments of this application, the air conditioner may include a user terminal. The user terminal is a user-side interactive device, specifically a smart terminal device such as a smartphone, tablet, or smart control panel. The user terminal has a control application built-in to match the air conditioner, thereby enabling visual interaction and functional control with the air conditioner.

[0074] In some embodiments of this application, the air conditioner may include a cloud server. The cloud server is a core service platform for remote data interaction and command relay, and can be used to receive various energy-saving control commands issued by the power grid management platform in real time, including power limiting commands, temperature compensation commands, and demand response start / stop commands. The cloud server can maintain communication connections with the power grid management platform, user terminals, and wireless communication modules.

[0075] In some embodiments of this application, the air conditioner may include a wireless communication module. The wireless communication module may be fixedly installed inside the indoor unit and electrically connected to the indoor electrical control module. The wireless communication module can receive energy-saving control commands forwarded by a cloud server in real time and forward them to the indoor electrical control module; it can also push data such as the air conditioner's device status, function configuration menu, and operating parameters to the user terminal. The wireless communication module may be a Wi-Fi module.

[0076] In some embodiments of this application, when the air conditioner completes network distribution via a wireless communication module, the control menu for the demand response function is pushed to the user terminal via the wireless communication module so that the user terminal can display the control menu. The control menu may include at least one of the following: power limit percentage, set temperature compensation value, and demand response function.

[0077] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the steps that a controller can execute according to an embodiment of this application. See also... Figure 2 As shown, in some embodiments of this application, the controller can be configured to perform the following S110-S130: S110: When receiving an energy-saving control command from the power grid, control the air conditioner to operate in the corresponding demand response mode and obtain the power limit of the air conditioner according to the energy-saving control command.

[0078] S120 calculates the temperature setpoint of the indoor heat exchanger based on the power limit and rated power of the air conditioner during the demand response mode of the air conditioner operation.

[0079] S130, adjust the speed of the indoor fan and / or the opening of the expansion valve so that the difference between the indoor heat exchanger temperature value and the indoor heat exchanger temperature set value is less than the preset value.

[0080] S110-S130 will be described in detail below.

[0081] In S110, in some embodiments of this application, the energy-saving control command can be a remote dispatch command issued by the power grid management platform, relayed through a cloud server, and finally transmitted to the indoor electrical control module via a wireless communication module. The command content can include at least key information such as power limit parameters and function start / stop indicators, for unified management of the air conditioner's operating load.

[0082] In some embodiments of this application, the demand response mode can be an exclusive energy-saving operation mode for air conditioners that differs from conventional cooling and heating modes. In this mode, the air conditioner no longer operates under conventional full-load logic, but instead prioritizes the energy-saving control requirements of the power grid, and coordinates control strategies such as current limiting, flow regulation, and temperature compensation to achieve a balance between load reduction and comfort.

[0083] In some embodiments of this application, the power limit may refer to the maximum allowable operating power of the air conditioner set by the power grid based on the regional power load. The power limit can be divided into multiple levels, specifically including four levels: 0%, 40%, 70%, and 100%, where each level represents the proportion of the air conditioner's current operable power to its rated power. The power limit may also be divided into other different levels; this embodiment does not limit this.

[0084] In some embodiments of this application, when the air conditioner is in normal standby or normal operation, the wireless communication module maintains an online communication state and listens to the power grid instructions forwarded by the cloud server in real time. When the power grid side issues energy-saving requirements and issues energy-saving control instructions, the instructions are transmitted to the indoor power control module via the cloud server and the wireless communication module. The indoor power control module parses the energy-saving control instructions and extracts the corresponding load constraint parameters to determine and obtain the power limit of the air conditioner at present.

[0085] In S120, in some embodiments of this application, the rated power value of the air conditioner can be the rated operating power under standard operating conditions specified by the air conditioner at the factory. It is the reference power parameter for the air conditioner to work normally at full load. It is pre-stored in the electrically erasable programmable read-only memory of the indoor electrical control module and can be directly called and read.

[0086] In some embodiments of this application, the temperature setpoint of the indoor heat exchanger can be a corrected target control temperature value adapted to the current power-limited energy-saving operating condition, which is different from the default temperature value of the air conditioner. This value is the benchmark target for the temperature regulation of the indoor heat exchanger, used to offset the problem of heat exchange capacity reduction caused by the power reduction of the air conditioner.

[0087] When an air conditioner is operating stably in demand response mode, the compressor operates at a reduced frequency and load due to power limits, resulting in a decrease in the overall refrigerant circulation flow. If the fixed temperature default value is continued to be used for control, problems such as heat exchange mismatch and poor airflow experience will occur.

[0088] Therefore, the controller can retrieve the locally stored rated power value of the air conditioner, combine it with the currently acquired power limit, calculate the ratio of the power limit to the rated power value, and quantitatively characterize the degree of reduction in the current air conditioning load. Simultaneously, it combines the air conditioner's real-time cooling or heating mode with the corresponding compensation coefficient, and performs coupled calculations with the default temperature value of the indoor heat exchanger to adaptively calculate and generate an indoor heat exchanger temperature setpoint adapted to the current energy-saving level. This temperature setpoint dynamically and adaptively adjusts as the power limit level changes, ensuring that the temperature control target matches the current air conditioner's heat exchange capacity, avoiding the control imbalance that can occur under different power limit conditions with a single fixed parameter.

[0089] In S130, in some embodiments of this application, the rotational speed of the indoor fan can be adjusted so that the difference between the indoor heat exchanger temperature and the setpoint temperature of the indoor heat exchanger is less than a preset value. The opening degree of the expansion valve can be adjusted so that the difference between the indoor heat exchanger temperature and the setpoint temperature of the indoor heat exchanger is less than a preset value. The rotational speed of the indoor fan and the opening degree of the expansion valve can be adjusted so that the difference between the indoor heat exchanger temperature and the setpoint temperature of the indoor heat exchanger is less than a preset value.

[0090] In some embodiments of this application, the indoor heat exchanger temperature value can be collected in real time by a first temperature sensor arranged at the indoor heat exchanger coil and uploaded to the indoor electrical control module, which can provide real-time feedback on the actual heat exchange working temperature of the indoor heat exchanger and reflect the current actual heat exchange status of the air conditioner.

[0091] In some embodiments of this application, the preset value can be a pre-calibrated and stored temperature tolerance threshold, used to determine whether the temperature of the indoor heat exchanger has reached a stable and acceptable state. It is understood that the smaller the difference between the indoor heat exchanger temperature value and the set temperature value, the closer the indoor heat exchanger temperature is to the set temperature value, resulting in a better user experience. Therefore, the indoor heat exchanger temperature value can be made as close as possible to the set temperature value by adjusting the indoor fan speed and / or the opening of the expansion valve.

[0092] In some embodiments of this application, the air volume and speed of indoor air flowing through the indoor heat exchanger can be changed by adjusting the speed of the indoor fan, thereby controlling the heat exchange contact intensity on the air side; when the fan speed is reduced, the air circulation speed slows down, the heat exchange efficiency is moderately weakened, and the refrigerant supply capacity under low power is adapted.

[0093] In some embodiments of this application, the refrigerant supply flow into the indoor heat exchanger can be precisely controlled by adjusting the opening of the expansion valve, matching the refrigerant circulation capacity after the compressor power is reduced, and ensuring the stable operation of the phase change heat exchange process.

[0094] As shown in S110-S130 above, upon receiving an energy-saving control command from the power grid, the air conditioner is controlled to operate in the corresponding demand response mode to meet the stringent requirements of power grid energy-saving management. Furthermore, based on the energy-saving control command, the power limit of the air conditioner is obtained. Combining the matching relationship between the air conditioner's power limit and rated power, the temperature setpoint of the indoor heat exchanger adapted to the current energy-saving operating condition is dynamically calculated. Subsequently, the speed of the indoor fan and / or the opening of the expansion valve are adjusted to precisely control the air heat exchange intensity and refrigerant supply flow, ensuring that the difference between the indoor heat exchanger temperature and the temperature setpoint is less than the preset value. This means the indoor heat exchanger temperature stably matches the temperature setpoint, effectively suppressing the problem of significant temperature deviation and attenuation in the demand response mode, maintaining stable heat exchange efficiency of the indoor heat exchanger, and thus effectively balancing the power grid's energy-saving requirements with indoor comfort, ensuring a superior user experience.

[0095] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the steps that a controller can execute according to another embodiment of this application. See also... Figure 3 As shown, in some embodiments of this application, the air conditioner further includes a second temperature sensor for detecting the indoor ambient temperature value; the controller can be configured to perform the following steps S210-S240: S210: Obtain the default temperature value of the indoor heat exchanger based on the indoor ambient temperature value and the indoor heat exchanger temperature value; S220 determines the compensation coefficient based on the current operating mode of the air conditioner, where the operating mode includes heating mode and cooling mode.

[0096] S230, calculate the ratio of the power limit to the rated power of the air conditioner.

[0097] S240 calculates the temperature setpoint of the indoor heat exchanger based on the compensation coefficient, ratio, and default temperature value of the indoor heat exchanger.

[0098] S210-S240 will be described in detail below.

[0099] In S210, in some embodiments of this application, the control unit has a pre-stored mapping table of correspondence between indoor ambient temperature, indoor heat exchanger temperature and default temperature. This mapping table is factory-calibrated and stored according to the air conditioner model and heat exchange characteristics.

[0100] In S220, in some embodiments of this application, the compensation coefficient can be a fixed correction parameter that is pre-calibrated and stored in an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory, and is configured with a cooling compensation coefficient and a heating compensation coefficient respectively.

[0101] In some embodiments of this application, the compensation coefficients corresponding to different operating modes may be different, that is, the cooling compensation coefficient and the heating compensation coefficient are not equal.

[0102] In some embodiments of this application, the cooling compensation coefficient can be 3°C. The heating compensation coefficient can be 2°C. This embodiment does not limit the specific value of the compensation coefficient.

[0103] In S230, in some embodiments of this application, the rated power can be the calibrated power parameter of the air conditioner when it is running at full load under standard rated conditions. It is an inherent parameter of the equipment at the factory and is permanently stored in the storage unit of the indoor electrical control module. It can be directly read and called by the controller as a reference for power calculation.

[0104] In some embodiments of this application, the power limit can be a real-time load constraint parameter issued by the power grid through energy-saving control commands, representing the maximum actual power that the air conditioner is allowed to operate under demand response mode.

[0105] In some embodiments of this application, the ratio can be the ratio of the currently allowed operating power to the standard full-load power.

[0106] In S240, in some embodiments of this application, the default temperature of the indoor heat exchanger can be a preset reference control temperature of the indoor heat exchanger under normal full-load operation of the air conditioner without power limitations. The default temperature of the indoor heat exchanger can also be determined according to the cooling and heating capacity of the air conditioner and the operating mode of the air conditioner.

[0107] In some embodiments of this application, the temperature setpoint of the indoor heat exchanger can be calculated using the following formula: T1 = T0 + K (1-P) lim / P0) Where T1 represents the temperature setpoint of the indoor heat exchanger; T0 represents the default temperature of the indoor heat exchanger; K represents the compensation coefficient; and P represents the temperature setpoint of the indoor heat exchanger. lim P is the power limit of the air conditioner; P0 is the rated power of the air conditioner; P lim / P0 represents the ratio of the power limit to the rated power of the air conditioner.

[0108] As shown in S210-S240 above, when calculating the temperature setpoint of the indoor heat exchanger, the default temperature value of the indoor heat exchanger is first obtained based on the indoor ambient temperature value and the indoor heat exchanger temperature value. Then, the corresponding compensation coefficient is determined according to the current operating mode of the air conditioner (cooling mode and heating mode). At the same time, the ratio of the power limit value to the rated power value of the air conditioner is calculated. Then, combined with the compensation coefficient, the ratio, and the default temperature value of the indoor heat exchanger, the temperature setpoint of the indoor heat exchanger that is suitable for the current energy-saving operating conditions and operating mode is accurately calculated. This makes the temperature setpoint of the indoor heat exchanger more in line with the heat exchange requirements of different operating conditions of cooling and heating, further improving the accuracy of the temperature control of the indoor heat exchanger. Thus, while meeting the energy-saving requirements of the power grid, the stable heat exchange efficiency of the indoor heat exchanger is maintained more accurately, further ensuring user comfort and achieving a dual balance between power grid energy saving and user experience.

[0109] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the steps that a controller can execute according to another embodiment of this application. See also... Figure 4 As shown, in some embodiments of this application, the controller can be configured to perform the following S310-S330: S310: When the air conditioner is running in cooling mode, if the indoor heat exchanger temperature value is detected to be above the indoor heat exchanger temperature setting value, the indoor fan speed is reduced and / or the opening of the expansion valve is reduced so that the difference between the indoor heat exchanger temperature value and the indoor heat exchanger temperature setting value is less than the preset value.

[0110] S320: When the air conditioner is running in heating mode, if the indoor heat exchanger temperature is detected to be below the indoor heat exchanger temperature setting value, the indoor fan speed is reduced and / or the expansion valve opening is reduced so that the difference between the indoor heat exchanger temperature and the indoor heat exchanger temperature setting value is less than the preset value.

[0111] S310-S320 will be described in detail below.

[0112] In S310, in some embodiments of this application, when the air conditioner is running in cooling mode, if the indoor heat exchanger temperature value is detected to be above the indoor heat exchanger temperature set value, the indoor fan speed can be reduced, which can slow down the flow speed of indoor air through the indoor heat exchanger, reduce the intensity of convective heat transfer between the air and the indoor heat exchanger, reduce the heat transferred from the air to the indoor heat exchanger per unit time, and suppress the continuous rise of the indoor heat exchanger temperature from the air side.

[0113] In some embodiments of this application, when the air conditioner is running in cooling mode, if the temperature value of the indoor heat exchanger is detected to be above the set temperature value of the indoor heat exchanger, the opening of the expansion valve can be reduced. This can reduce the amount of refrigerant supplied into the indoor heat exchanger after throttling, match the refrigerant output capacity under low power operation of the compressor, adapt the refrigerant circulation volume to the current heat exchange load, and optimize the phase change heat transfer state inside the indoor heat exchanger.

[0114] In some embodiments of this application, the two adjustment methods described above can be executed individually or simultaneously. By continuously and dynamically correcting the temperature of the indoor heat exchanger through at least one of the above adjustment methods, the temperature is gradually reduced until the difference between the indoor heat exchanger temperature value and the indoor heat exchanger temperature setpoint is less than a preset value. This maintains the indoor heat exchanger temperature within a reasonable range under cooling conditions, stabilizing the cooling outlet air temperature while meeting the power grid's power limitation and energy-saving requirements, thus ensuring user comfort in cooling mode.

[0115] In S320, in some embodiments of this application, when the air conditioner is running in heating mode, if the indoor heat exchanger temperature is detected to be below the indoor heat exchanger temperature setpoint, the indoor fan speed can be reduced, the indoor air circulation volume can be reduced, the rate at which cold air flows quickly through the indoor heat exchanger can be slowed down, the rate at which air carries away heat from the indoor heat exchanger can be reduced, heat loss can be reduced, and the downward trend of the indoor heat exchanger temperature can be slowed down.

[0116] In some embodiments of this application, when the air conditioner is running in heating mode, if the indoor heat exchanger temperature is detected to be below the indoor heat exchanger temperature setpoint, the opening of the expansion valve can be reduced to precisely adjust the refrigerant throttling and pressure reduction magnitude and circulation flow rate, adapt to the compressor's refrigerant delivery capacity under low power conditions, optimize the refrigerant ratio of the heating cycle loop, and improve the working efficiency of the indoor heat exchanger's condensation and heat release.

[0117] In some embodiments of this application, the two adjustment methods described above can be executed individually or simultaneously. By continuously and dynamically correcting the temperature using at least one of the above adjustment methods, the indoor heat exchanger temperature is gradually increased and stabilized, and the deviation between the indoor heat exchanger temperature and the setpoint temperature is continuously reduced, ultimately making the difference between the two less than a preset value.

[0118] As can be seen from S310-S320 above, when the air conditioner is running in cooling mode, if the detected indoor heat exchanger temperature value reaches or exceeds the indoor heat exchanger temperature set value, the indoor fan speed is reduced and / or the expansion valve opening is reduced; when the air conditioner is running in heating mode, if the detected indoor heat exchanger temperature value is below the indoor heat exchanger temperature set value, the indoor fan speed is reduced and / or the expansion valve opening is reduced, thereby achieving precise control based on different modes and specific needs.

[0119] Figure 5This is a schematic diagram of the compensation process during power limiting in cooling mode, provided in one embodiment of this application. (See attached diagram) Figure 5 As shown, when the outdoor electrical control module is working normally, if it receives an energy-saving control command, it determines whether the command contains a limit setting. If it does not contain a limit setting, it does not adjust the opening of the expansion valve or the speed of the indoor fan. If it does contain a limit setting, it calculates the temperature setpoint of the indoor heat exchanger using the following formula: T1 = T0 + K (1-P) lim / P0) After calculating the temperature setpoint of the indoor heat exchanger, it is determined whether the actual temperature of the indoor heat exchanger is greater than the setpoint. If not, the opening of the expansion valve and the speed of the indoor fan are not adjusted. If so, the outdoor electrical control module reduces the opening of the expansion valve, and the indoor electrical control module reduces the speed of the indoor fan. When the current expansion valve opening is detected to be less than or equal to the rated opening value, the outdoor electrical control module terminates the expansion valve opening adjustment. When the current fan speed is detected to be less than or equal to the minimum speed, the indoor electrical control module terminates the indoor fan speed adjustment.

[0120] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the compensation process during power limiting in heating mode, provided in one embodiment of this application. Similarly, see also... Figure 6 As shown, when the outdoor electrical control module is working normally, if it receives an energy-saving control command, it determines whether the command contains a limit setting. If it does not contain a limit setting, it does not adjust the opening of the expansion valve or the speed of the indoor fan. If it does contain a limit setting, it calculates the temperature setpoint of the indoor heat exchanger using the following formula: T1 = T0 + K (1-P) lim / P0) After calculating the temperature setpoint of the indoor heat exchanger, it is determined whether the actual temperature of the indoor heat exchanger is lower than the setpoint. If not, no additional adjustment is made to the expansion valve opening or the indoor fan speed. If yes, the expansion valve opening is reduced via the outdoor electrical control module, and the indoor fan speed is reduced via the indoor electrical control module. When the current expansion valve opening is detected to be less than or equal to the rated opening value, the expansion valve opening adjustment is terminated via the outdoor electrical control module. When the current fan speed is detected to be less than or equal to the minimum speed, the indoor fan speed adjustment is terminated via the indoor electrical control module.

[0121] In some other embodiments of this application, the speed of the indoor fan can be reduced by a maximum of one level to avoid excessive speed reduction that could affect the user experience. For example, if the current speed of the indoor fan is at level three, then by reducing the speed of the indoor fan, it can only be reduced to level two.

[0122] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the steps that a controller can execute according to another embodiment of this application. See also... Figure 7 As shown, in some embodiments of this application, the controller further includes an outdoor electrical control module for controlling the expansion valve and the compressor; the energy-saving control command includes a power limiting command; the controller can be configured to execute the following S410-S420: S410 determines the power limit of the air conditioner according to the power limitation instruction.

[0123] S420 determines the maximum operating current of the outdoor electrical control module based on the power limit of the air conditioner, so that the outdoor electrical control module operates with current limiting according to the maximum operating current.

[0124] S410-S420 will be described in detail below.

[0125] In S410, in some embodiments of this application, the power limiting instruction can be an important component of the power grid energy-saving control instruction. It is compiled and issued by the power grid management platform and transmitted to the air conditioner via a cloud server and a wireless communication module. The instruction carries the level information of the power grid load regulation and is used to specifically limit the power load of the air conditioner. It is the direct basis for power control under the demand response mode.

[0126] In some embodiments of this application, the power limit of the air conditioner may be the maximum actual power that the air conditioner is allowed to operate under demand response conditions.

[0127] In S420, in some embodiments of this application, after determining the power limit of the air conditioner, the controller retrieves a locally stored mapping table between the power limit and the maximum operating current, thereby determining the maximum operating current of the outdoor electrical control module based on the current power limit of the air conditioner, so that the outdoor electrical control module operates with current limiting according to the maximum operating current.

[0128] In some embodiments of this application, if the power limit of the air conditioner is determined to be 40% according to the power limit instruction, then the maximum operating current of the outdoor electrical control module can be determined to be 40% of the rated operating current of the outdoor electrical control module.

[0129] In some embodiments of this application, if the power limit of the air conditioner is determined to be 70% according to the power limit instruction, then the maximum operating current of the outdoor electrical control module can be determined to be 70% of the rated operating current of the outdoor electrical control module.

[0130] As shown in S410-S420 above, when a power limiting command is received from the power grid, the power limit of the air conditioner is first determined according to the power limiting command, and then the maximum operating current of the outdoor electrical control module is further determined according to the power limit. This ensures that the outdoor electrical control module operates under current limiting strictly according to the maximum operating current, thereby achieving precise constraint on the power of the air conditioner. This ensures that the power consumption of the air conditioner strictly complies with the power grid's energy-saving management requirements and avoids energy-saving failures caused by uncontrolled power limiting.

[0131] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the steps that a controller can execute according to another embodiment of this application. See also... Figure 8 As shown, in some embodiments of this application, the controller further includes an indoor electrical control module, which is used to classify the power limits of the air conditioner; the controller can be configured to execute the following S510-S520: S510 determines the corresponding limit level based on the power limit of the air conditioner.

[0132] S520 determines the maximum operating current of the outdoor electrical control module based on the corresponding limit level, so that the outdoor electrical control module operates with current limiting according to the maximum operating current.

[0133] S510-S520 will be described in detail below.

[0134] In S510, in some embodiments of this application, the limiting level can be a multi-level energy-saving control level that is pre-divided and fixed in this application, corresponding to different levels of demand response scheduling requirements of the power grid, and each limiting level corresponds one-to-one with a fixed power reduction ratio.

[0135] In some embodiments of this application, if the power limit of the air conditioner is 70%, it can be determined as energy saving at level P1. If the power limit of the air conditioner is 40%, it can be determined as energy saving at level P2.

[0136] In some embodiments of this application, after the indoor electrical control module classifies the power limit of the air conditioner, it can delay for 5 seconds and send the limit information to the outdoor electrical control module via UART communication.

[0137] In S520, in some embodiments of this application, after the controller determines the limiting level corresponding to the power limit of the air conditioner, it can retrieve a pre-stored level-current lookup table and match the maximum operating current of the outdoor electrical control module according to the current limiting level, so that the outdoor electrical control module can operate with current limiting according to the maximum operating current.

[0138] As shown in S510-S520 above, the corresponding limit level is first determined according to the power limit of the air conditioner, and then the maximum operating current of the outdoor electrical control module is determined according to the limit level. The outdoor electrical control module is then current-limited to operate according to the maximum operating current, thereby realizing the hierarchical control of the power limit. This adapts to different levels of energy-saving requirements issued by the power grid, avoids the drawbacks of a single power limit method being unable to adapt to diverse energy-saving scenarios, and improves the adaptability of the air conditioner to the power grid's energy-saving commands.

[0139] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the steps of power limiting execution according to an embodiment of this application. (See attached diagram.) Figure 9 As shown, when the indoor electrical control module is working normally, if it receives an energy-saving control command, it checks whether the power limit it carries is non-zero. If the check is negative, the indoor electrical control module sends a shutdown command to the outdoor unit after a 5-second delay. If the check is positive, it determines the corresponding limit level based on the power limit. Specifically, if the power limit is 70%, it is level 1 energy saving; if the power limit is 40%, it is level 2 energy saving; and if the power limit is 100%, it is unrestricted. Similarly, the indoor electrical control module sends the limit level to the outdoor unit after a 5-second delay.

[0140] When the outdoor electrical control module is working normally, if the outdoor electrical control module receives a shutdown command or limit setting sent by the indoor electrical control module, it will determine whether it has received the limit setting and the shutdown command. If the limit setting is received, it will control the outdoor electrical control module to operate according to the maximum operating current limit; if the shutdown command is received, it will control the air conditioner to shut down.

[0141] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the steps that a controller can execute according to another embodiment of this application. See also... Figure 10 As shown, in some embodiments of this application, there are multiple indoor electrical control modules and one outdoor electrical control module. The controller can be configured to execute the following steps S610-S630: S610: Multiple indoor electrical control modules obtain the power limit values ​​of multiple air conditioners according to energy-saving control commands.

[0142] S620: The controller selects the minimum power limit from multiple power limits for air conditioners as the final power limit for the air conditioner.

[0143] S630 determines the maximum operating current of the outdoor electrical control module based on the final power limit, so that the outdoor electrical control module operates with current limiting according to the maximum operating current.

[0144] The following sections will elaborate on S610-S630 respectively.

[0145] In the S610, each indoor control module maintains a communication listening state and can independently receive energy-saving control commands forwarded by the wireless communication module. Each indoor control module decodes, verifies, and parses the received energy-saving control commands, independently extracting power limit parameters adapted to its own area and operating conditions. Based on the parsing results, each indoor control module determines and obtains the power limit value for its corresponding individual air conditioner.

[0146] In S620, in some embodiments of this application, the controller collects and summarizes the power limits of multiple air conditioners, compares and filters all the power limits, selects the one with the smallest value, and uses the smallest power limit as the final power limit uniformly executed by the entire air conditioner.

[0147] In some embodiments of this application, the air conditioner includes an outdoor unit, an indoor unit 1, an indoor unit 2, and an indoor unit 3. If the controller receives power limits of 0%, 40%, and 70% respectively, then the power limit of 0% can be used as the final power limit of the entire air conditioner.

[0148] In S630, in some embodiments of this application, after determining the final power limit of the air conditioner, the controller retrieves a locally stored mapping table between the power limit and the maximum operating current, thereby determining the maximum operating current of the outdoor electrical control module based on the current final power limit of the air conditioner, so that the outdoor electrical control module operates with current limiting according to the maximum operating current.

[0149] As shown in S610-S630 above, if there are multiple indoor electrical control modules and one outdoor electrical control module, the multiple indoor electrical control modules obtain the power limits of multiple air conditioners according to the energy-saving control instructions. Then, the controller selects the minimum power limit from the multiple power limits of the air conditioners as the final power limit of the air conditioner. Based on the final power limit, the maximum operating current of the outdoor electrical control module is determined, so that the outdoor electrical control module operates with current limiting according to the maximum operating current. This realizes the priority control of power limits in the multi-split scenario, ensuring that the operating power of the air conditioner strictly meets the grid energy-saving requirements of all indoor units, and avoiding energy-saving runaway or power over-limit problems caused by conflicting instructions from multiple indoor units.

[0150] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the steps that a controller can execute according to another embodiment of this application. See also... Figure 11 As shown, in some embodiments of this application, the energy-saving control command includes a temperature compensation command, and the controller can be configured to execute the following S710-S740: S710, obtain the current set temperature of the air conditioner; S720 determines the temperature compensation value according to the temperature compensation command.

[0151] S730 calculates the actual set temperature of the air conditioner based on the current set temperature and the temperature compensation value.

[0152] S740 controls the air conditioner to adjust the operating parameters of the compressor and / or expansion valve according to the actual set temperature.

[0153] The following sections will elaborate on S710-S740 respectively.

[0154] In S710, in some embodiments of this application, the current set temperature can be a target indoor temperature manually set by the user according to their own comfort needs via the air conditioner's local remote control, wired controller, or bound user terminal. This set temperature serves as the basic temperature control reference for the air conditioner's normal cooling and heating operation. Once set, it is stored in real-time in the storage unit of the indoor electronic control module, and is not lost when power is off, allowing for long-term storage.

[0155] In S720, in some embodiments of this application, the temperature compensation command can be an important component of the energy-saving control command issued by the power grid, transmitted to the air conditioner via a cloud server and a wireless communication module. The magnitude of the temperature compensation value can be adapted to the power limitation level of the air conditioner; the greater the power reduction, the higher the corresponding temperature compensation value, thereby matching the attenuation of heat exchange capacity.

[0156] In some embodiments of this application, the temperature compensation value can be from 0 to 31℉ (Fahrenheit). This embodiment does not limit the specific value of the temperature compensation value.

[0157] In S730, in some embodiments of this application, if the air conditioner is running in cooling mode, the actual set temperature of the air conditioner can be obtained by calculating the sum of the current set temperature and the temperature compensation value.

[0158] In some embodiments of this application, if the air conditioner is running in heating mode, the actual set temperature of the air conditioner can be obtained by calculating the difference between the current set temperature and the temperature compensation value.

[0159] In S740, in some embodiments of this application, after calculating the actual set temperature of the air conditioner, the operating parameters of the compressor and / or expansion valve can be adjusted according to the actual set temperature.

[0160] As shown in S710-S740 above, when a temperature compensation command is received from the power grid, the current set temperature of the air conditioner is first obtained, and the temperature compensation value is determined according to the temperature compensation command. Then, the actual set temperature of the air conditioner is calculated by combining the current set temperature of the air conditioner with the temperature compensation value. Finally, the air conditioner is controlled to adjust the operating parameters of the compressor and / or expansion valve according to the actual set temperature. The temperature compensation effectively alleviates the problem of indoor temperature fluctuation caused by the demand response mode, which can further stabilize the heat exchange condition of the indoor heat exchanger and improve the comfort of the indoor environment.

[0161] In some other embodiments of this application, considering that the temperature compensation value issued by the power grid is in Fahrenheit, if the current set temperature of the air conditioner is in Celsius, the current Celsius needs to be converted to Fahrenheit before temperature compensation calculation is performed, and then converted back to Celsius for display; if the current set temperature of the air conditioner is in Fahrenheit, the current Fahrenheit is directly used for temperature compensation calculation, and the result is also displayed in Fahrenheit.

[0162] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the steps of temperature compensation execution according to an embodiment of this application. (See attached diagram.) Figure 12 As shown, when the indoor electronic control module is working normally, if it receives an energy-saving control command, it determines whether it contains a temperature compensation command. If the determination is no, it sends the current set temperature to the outdoor unit; if the determination is yes, it calculates the actual set temperature according to the current operating mode and sends the actual set temperature to the outdoor unit. Specifically, if the current operating mode is cooling mode, the actual set temperature is calculated based on the sum of the current set temperature and the temperature compensation value; if the current operating mode is heating mode, the actual set temperature is calculated based on the difference between the current set temperature and the temperature compensation value.

[0163] When the outdoor electrical control module is working normally, it receives the temperature sent by the indoor electrical control module and controls the air conditioner to adjust the operating parameters of the compressor and / or expansion valve according to the temperature.

[0164] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the steps that a controller can execute according to another embodiment of this application. See also... Figure 13 As shown, in some embodiments of this application, the air conditioner further includes a wireless communication module. The controller receives energy-saving control commands through the wireless communication module. The controller is also electrically connected to the wireless communication module. The controller can be configured to execute the following S810-S820: S810 detects the communication connection status of the wireless communication module.

[0165] S820: If the wireless communication module is continuously offline for a preset duration, the air conditioner will be controlled to exit the demand response mode.

[0166] The following sections will elaborate on S810-S820 respectively.

[0167] In S810, in some embodiments of this application, during the entire cycle of the air conditioner's operation and the activation of the demand response mode, the controller sends a status detection command to the wireless communication module according to a preset detection cycle to detect the communication connection status of the wireless communication module.

[0168] In some embodiments of this application, the communication connection status of the wireless communication module may include continuous offline status, normal online status, and momentary disconnection status.

[0169] In S820, in some embodiments of this application, continuous offline state can refer to the wireless communication module stably losing its ability to communicate and interact with the cloud server.

[0170] In some embodiments of this application, the preset duration can be a pre-defined and stored time threshold used to filter out false triggers caused by short-term network fluctuations, and the mode exit action is only executed after the offline time exceeds the limit. The preset duration can be 15 minutes, but this embodiment does not impose a specific value on the preset duration.

[0171] In some embodiments of this application, the air conditioner exiting demand response mode may refer to restoring the power limit of the air conditioner to 100% and the temperature compensation value to 0 degrees Fahrenheit.

[0172] In some embodiments of this application, if a router offline fault is detected, including the wireless communication module being unable to connect to the router, or the wireless communication module being able to connect to the router but unable to communicate with the cloud server, it can be determined that the wireless communication module is in a continuous offline state for a preset duration.

[0173] In some embodiments of this application, if a communication failure is detected that the wireless communication module cannot receive communication, it can be determined that the wireless communication module is in a continuous offline state for a preset duration.

[0174] In some embodiments of this application, if a fault is detected in the indoor electrical control module that it cannot receive communication signals, it can be determined that the wireless communication module is in a continuous offline state for a preset duration.

[0175] As can be seen from S810-S820 above, the communication connection status of the wireless communication module is detected in real time. If the wireless communication module is detected to be in a continuous offline state for a preset time, the air conditioner is controlled to exit the demand response mode. This is to prevent the air conditioner from being in a power-limited operation state after the wireless communication is offline, which would lead to a long-term decrease in cooling and heating capacity and affect the user experience.

[0176] Figure 14This is a schematic diagram illustrating the offline processing steps of a wireless communication module according to an embodiment of this application. (See attached diagram.) Figure 14 As shown, when the indoor electrical control module is working normally, it is determined whether the wireless communication module has been offline for 15 consecutive minutes. If the determination is yes, the power limit is restored to 100% and the temperature compensation value is restored to 0℉.

[0177] In some embodiments of this application, the controller may be configured to perform the following S910-S920: S910: If a shutdown command is received from the power grid during the operation of the air conditioner, the air conditioner will be shut down.

[0178] S920, if it receives a start-up command from the power grid while the air conditioner is not running, it controls the air conditioner to start.

[0179] The S910-S920 will be described in detail below.

[0180] In S910, in some embodiments of this application, the shutdown command can be a remote dispatch command issued by the power grid, which is forwarded by the cloud server and received by the air conditioner's wireless communication module. This command has the highest execution priority and can take precedence over local user-set commands to force the air conditioner to shut down.

[0181] In some embodiments of this application, when a power limit command with a power limit of 0% is received during the operation of the air conditioner, the air conditioner can also be controlled to be forcibly shut down.

[0182] In S920, in some embodiments of this application, the power-on command can be a recovery dispatch command issued after the grid load pressure is relieved, used to uniformly lift the remote shutdown restriction, allow the air conditioner to resume normal operation, and realize the orderly start-up and shutdown management of the grid dispatch.

[0183] In some embodiments of this application, when the air conditioner stops operating, if a power limit command with a power limit value greater than 0% is received, the air conditioner can also be controlled to restart.

[0184] The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments described above. Of course, those skilled in the art can make various modifications without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed in the claims. These modifications should not be understood separately from the technical concept or prospect of the present invention.

[0185] This invention can be implemented in various forms, and its scope of claim is not limited to the embodiments described above. Therefore, any modified embodiment that includes the constituent elements within the scope of the claims of this invention should be considered to fall within the scope of the claims of this invention.

[0186] The embodiments of the present invention described above, or other embodiments thereof, are not mutually exclusive or distinct. The embodiments of the present invention described above, or other embodiments thereof, can be used in combination or in combination of their respective configurations or functions.

[0187] For example, it indicates that configuration A described in a particular embodiment and / or figure and configuration B described in another embodiment and / or figure can be combined. That is, even if no combination between the configurations is directly described, it indicates that they can be combined, except where cases where combination is impossible are explained.

[0188] The detailed description above should not be construed as limiting in all respects, but should be considered exemplary. The scope of the invention should be determined by a reasonable interpretation of the appended claims, and all modifications within the equivalent scope of the invention are included within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An air conditioner, comprising: The refrigerant circulation loop allows the refrigerant to circulate in a loop formed by the compressor, condenser, expansion valve, evaporator, and four-way valve connected in sequence. One of the evaporator and the condenser is an indoor heat exchanger, and the other is an outdoor heat exchanger. An indoor fan is used to drive indoor air to flow through the indoor heat exchanger for heat exchange. The first temperature sensor is used to detect the temperature value of the indoor heat exchanger; The controller is electrically connected to the indoor fan, the expansion valve, and the first temperature sensor; The controller is characterized in that it is configured to perform the following steps: When an energy-saving control command is received from the power grid, the air conditioner is controlled to operate in the corresponding demand response mode, and the power limit of the air conditioner is obtained according to the energy-saving control command. During the operation of the demand response mode of the air conditioner, the temperature setpoint of the indoor heat exchanger is calculated based on the power limit and rated power of the air conditioner. Adjust the speed of the indoor fan and / or the opening of the expansion valve so that the difference between the temperature value of the indoor heat exchanger and the temperature set value of the indoor heat exchanger is less than a preset value.

2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: The second temperature sensor is used to detect the indoor ambient temperature. The controller is also configured to perform the following steps: The default temperature value of the indoor heat exchanger is obtained based on the indoor ambient temperature value and the indoor heat exchanger temperature value. A compensation coefficient is determined based on the current operating mode of the air conditioner, wherein the operating mode includes heating mode and cooling mode; Calculate the ratio of the power limit of the air conditioner to the rated power value; The temperature setpoint of the indoor heat exchanger is calculated based on the compensation coefficient, the ratio, and the default temperature value of the indoor heat exchanger.

3. The air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that, The controller is also configured to perform the following steps: When the air conditioner is running in cooling mode, if the temperature value of the indoor heat exchanger is detected to be above the set temperature value of the indoor heat exchanger, the speed of the indoor fan is reduced and / or the opening of the expansion valve is reduced so that the difference between the temperature value of the indoor heat exchanger and the set temperature value of the indoor heat exchanger is less than a preset value. When the air conditioner is running in heating mode, if the temperature value of the indoor heat exchanger is detected to be below the set temperature value of the indoor heat exchanger, the speed of the indoor fan is reduced and / or the opening of the expansion valve is reduced so that the difference between the temperature value of the indoor heat exchanger and the set temperature value of the indoor heat exchanger is less than a preset value.

4. The air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that, The controller also includes an outdoor electrical control module, which is used to control the expansion valve and the compressor; The energy-saving control command includes a power limiting command; the controller is also configured to perform the following steps: The power limit of the air conditioner is determined according to the power limit instruction; Based on the power limit of the air conditioner, the maximum operating current of the outdoor electrical control module is determined so that the outdoor electrical control module operates with current limiting according to the maximum operating current.

5. The air conditioner according to claim 4, characterized in that, The controller also includes an indoor electrical control module, which is used to classify the power limits of the air conditioner. The controller is also configured to perform the following steps: Based on the power limit of the air conditioner, determine the corresponding limit level; Based on the corresponding limit level, the maximum operating current of the outdoor electrical control module is determined so that the outdoor electrical control module operates with current limiting according to the maximum operating current.

6. The air conditioner according to claim 5, characterized in that, There are multiple indoor electrical control modules and one outdoor electrical control module; The controller is also configured to perform the following steps: The plurality of indoor electronic control modules obtain the power limit values ​​of the plurality of air conditioners according to the energy-saving control command; The controller selects the minimum power limit from a plurality of power limits for the air conditioner as the final power limit for the air conditioner; The maximum operating current of the outdoor electrical control module is determined based on the final power limit, so that the outdoor electrical control module operates with current limiting according to the maximum operating current.

7. The air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that, The energy-saving control command includes a temperature compensation command; the controller is also configured to perform the following steps: Obtain the current set temperature of the air conditioner; Determine the temperature compensation value according to the temperature compensation command; The actual set temperature of the air conditioner is calculated based on the current set temperature and the temperature compensation value. The air conditioner is controlled to adjust the operating parameters of the compressor and / or the expansion valve according to the actual set temperature.

8. The air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: A wireless communication module, through which the controller receives the energy-saving control command; The controller is also electrically connected to the wireless communication module, and the controller is further configured to perform the following steps: Detect the communication connection status of the wireless communication module; If the wireless communication module is continuously offline for a preset duration, the air conditioner is controlled to exit the demand response mode.

9. The air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: User terminal; Wireless communication module; The indoor electrical control module can be configured to enable or disable the demand response function via memory. The controller is also electrically connected to the wireless communication module and the indoor electrical control module, and the controller is further configured to perform the following steps: When the air conditioner completes network distribution through the wireless communication module, the control menu of the demand response function is pushed to the user terminal through the wireless communication module so that the user terminal can display the control menu.

10. The air conditioner according to claim 1, characterized in that, The controller is also configured to perform the following steps: If a shutdown command is received from the power grid during the operation of the air conditioner, the air conditioner will be shut down. If a start-up command is received from the power grid during the shutdown process of the air conditioner, the air conditioner will be turned on.

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