Household appliance

Abstract

The embodiment of the application discloses a kind of household appliances, belong to electronic technical field, household appliances include: compressor, configured to provide power to refrigerant circulation;Evaporator, configured to absorb the heat of air;Condenser, configured to release heat to external environment;Power converter, configured to output electrical energy to compressor;Current detection device is arranged between power converter and compressor, configured to detect the current flowing through current detection device;Power converter is configured to: output detection voltage to compressor;Based on common-mode current detected by current detection device and preset mapping relationship, determine the viscosity of lubricating medium in compressor;Wherein, common-mode current is generated based on detection voltage, common-mode current flows through the lubricating medium in compressor, and preset mapping relationship is used to indicate the correspondence between common-mode current and viscosity. It can improve the accuracy of determining the viscosity of lubricating medium in compressor.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of electronic technology, and to, but is not limited to, a household appliance. Background Technology

[0002] In air conditioning systems, when the equipment is not in operation, the refrigerant and lubricating oil inside the compressor gradually mix, causing the lubricating oil viscosity to increase. This high viscosity can easily lead to insufficient lubrication when the equipment is restarted, causing mechanical damage to the compressor.

[0003] In related technologies, to avoid this risk, the conventional practice is to heat the compressor during standby to maintain suitable lubricating oil flow. However, due to the compressor's sealed structure, the viscosity of the internal lubricating oil cannot be directly observed. Currently, the industry generally adopts two alternative strategies: one is a blind control strategy, which ignores the actual viscosity and performs heating operations at fixed intervals; the other is an indirect estimation strategy, which collects temperature data from locations such as the bottom of the compressor casing or the exhaust pipe and calculates the viscosity-temperature relationship based on a preset correlation.

[0004] However, blind control strategies, lacking specificity, often extend heating time to ensure safety, resulting in energy waste. Indirect estimation strategies, on the other hand, suffer from poor accuracy due to factors such as errors in temperature measurement points, heat conduction delays, and the precision of temperature sensing elements. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a technical solution capable of accurately obtaining the viscosity of compressor lubricating oil. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, the household appliance provided in the embodiments of this application can improve the accuracy of determining the viscosity of the lubricating medium in the compressor. The household appliance provided in the embodiments of this application achieves this as follows: A first aspect of this application provides a household appliance, the household appliance comprising: A cooling system, located within the household appliance, comprising: The compressor is configured to power the refrigerant cycle; An evaporator is configured to absorb heat from the air; A condenser is configured to release heat to the external environment; A power converter is configured to output electrical energy to the compressor; A current detection device disposed between the power converter and the compressor is configured to detect the current flowing through the current detection device. The power converter is configured as follows: Output detection voltage to the compressor; Based on the common-mode current detected by the current detection device and the preset mapping relationship, the viscosity of the lubricating medium in the compressor is determined; The common-mode current is generated based on the detection voltage, and the common-mode current flows through the lubricating medium in the compressor. The preset mapping relationship is used to indicate the correspondence between the common-mode current and the viscosity.

[0006] Optionally, the power converter includes: The frequency converter connected to the power supply and the compressor is configured to output operating power or the detection voltage to the compressor based on the electrical energy provided by the power supply; The controller connected to the frequency converter and the current detection device is configured to: The inverter is controlled to output the detection voltage to the compressor and to receive the common-mode current detected by the current detection device; The viscosity of the lubricating medium in the compressor is determined based on the common-mode current and the preset mapping relationship.

[0007] Optionally, the controller is further configured to: When the compressor is not working, the inverter is controlled to output the detection voltage to the compressor.

[0008] Optionally, the controller is further configured to: When the detected voltage includes voltage signals with multiple frequency ranges, the inverter is controlled to output the detected voltage of each frequency range sequentially in a frequency sweep manner.

[0009] Optionally, the power converter further includes a filter connected between the power supply and the frequency converter; The filter is configured to filter the electrical energy supplied by the power source.

[0010] Optionally, the household appliance further includes: a heating device; The heating device is configured to heat the lubricating medium in the compressor; The power converter is also configured to: When the viscosity is greater than or equal to a preset threshold, the heating device is controlled to operate, or the heating power of the heating device is increased; When the viscosity is less than the preset threshold, the heating device is controlled to stop working or the heating power of the heating device is reduced.

[0011] Optionally, the power converter is further configured to: When the household appliance is in standby mode, a detection voltage is output to the compressor according to a preset time period, and the viscosity of the lubricating medium is determined. And / or, under the condition that a preset triggering condition is met, determine the viscosity of the lubricating medium; The preset triggering conditions include any one or more of the following: the ambient temperature is less than or equal to a preset temperature threshold, or a command is received to control the compressor to start.

[0012] Optionally, the detection voltage includes a voltage signal with at least one frequency range, and the detection voltage is a pulse wave voltage signal.

[0013] Optionally, the common-mode current flows sequentially through the power input terminal of the compressor, the lubricating medium, and the casing of the compressor, and the casing of the compressor is grounded.

[0014] Optionally, the household appliance is an air conditioner; The air conditioner includes an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, and the evaporator, the power converter, and the current detection device are installed in the outdoor unit.

[0015] The household appliance provided in this application determines the viscosity of the lubricating medium in the compressor by outputting a detection voltage to the compressor and based on the common-mode current detected by a current detection device and a preset mapping relationship. The common-mode current is generated based on the detection voltage and flows through the lubricating medium in the compressor. The preset mapping relationship indicates the correspondence between the common-mode current and the viscosity.

[0016] Specifically, when the detection voltage is output to the compressor, a corresponding common-mode current is generated within the compressor (which can flow through the compressor's power input terminal, lubricating medium, and compressor casing). Due to the influence of ambient temperature or standby time, the viscosity of the lubricating medium inside the compressor will change, resulting in different magnitudes of the common-mode current. By determining the viscosity corresponding to the detected common-mode current through a preset mapping relationship, the current viscosity of the lubricating medium can be determined.

[0017] As can be seen, compared to the blind control strategy of related technologies, the solution of this application can actively output a detection voltage and detect the common-mode current, and then determine the viscosity of the lubricating medium based on the common-mode current and a preset mapping relationship. In this way, the viscosity of the lubricating medium in the compressor can be accurately determined, so as to perform more precise subsequent heating control and achieve the goal of saving energy. Moreover, compared to the indirect estimation strategy of related technologies, this solution does not require setting a temperature point and avoids the problem of temperature transmission lag; even when the compressor has just stopped and the casing temperature is high, the viscosity of the lubricating medium can be accurately determined.

[0018] In this way, the accuracy of determining the viscosity of the lubricating medium in the compressor can be improved, thereby at least partially solving the technical problems mentioned in the background art. Attached Figure Description

[0019] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a first type of household appliance provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a second type of household appliance provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 3 A control flowchart for a first type of household appliance provided in this application embodiment; Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a second type of household appliance provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 5 This is a control flowchart of a second type of household appliance provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a third type of household appliance provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the viscosity and resistance curves of a lubricating medium provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0021] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the specific technical solutions of this application will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of this application. The following embodiments are used to illustrate this application, but are not intended to limit the scope of this application.

[0022] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing embodiments of this application only and is not intended to limit this application.

[0023] In the following description, references are made to “some embodiments,” which describe a subset of all possible embodiments. However, it is understood that “some embodiments” may be the same subset or different subsets of all possible embodiments and may be combined with each other without conflict.

[0024] It should be noted that the terms "first, second, third" used in the embodiments of this application are used to distinguish similar or different objects and do not represent a specific order of objects. It can be understood that "first, second, third" can be interchanged in a specific order or sequence where permitted, so that the embodiments of this application described herein can be implemented in an order other than that illustrated or described herein.

[0025] In related technologies, to avoid the risk of damage caused by starting the compressor under high viscosity conditions, the conventional practice is to heat the compressor during the standby phase to maintain the appropriate fluidity of the lubricating oil. However, due to the limited sealing structure of the compressor, it is impossible to directly observe the viscosity of the internal lubricating oil. Currently, the industry generally adopts two alternative strategies: one is a blind control strategy, which ignores the actual viscosity and performs heating operations at fixed intervals; the other is an indirect estimation strategy, which collects temperature data from locations such as the bottom of the compressor casing or the exhaust pipe, and calculates the viscosity-temperature relationship based on a preset correlation.

[0026] However, blind control strategies, lacking specificity, often extend heating time to ensure safety, resulting in energy waste. Indirect estimation strategies, on the other hand, suffer from poor accuracy due to factors such as errors in temperature measurement points, heat conduction delays, and the precision of temperature sensing elements. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a technical solution capable of accurately obtaining the viscosity of compressor lubricating oil.

[0027] To address this, embodiments of this application provide a household appliance, including: a cooling system disposed within the appliance, the cooling system including: a compressor, an evaporator, and a condenser; the appliance further includes: a power converter, and a current detection device disposed between the power converter and the compressor; the power converter is configured to: output a detection voltage to the compressor; and determine the viscosity of a lubricating medium in the compressor based on a common-mode current detected by the current detection device and a preset mapping relationship; wherein the common-mode current is generated based on the detection voltage, the common-mode current flows through the lubricating medium in the compressor, and the preset mapping relationship is used to indicate the correspondence between the common-mode current and the viscosity. This improves the accuracy of determining the viscosity of the lubricating medium in the compressor.

[0028] This application uses a refrigerator or air conditioner as an example of a household appliance for illustration. However, it does not mean that the household appliance in this application can only include refrigerators or air conditioners. In practical applications, the household appliance can be any device with a compressor, and this application does not limit it.

[0029] For example, please see Figure 1 , Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of a household appliance provided in an embodiment of this application. This household appliance could also be an air conditioner, such as... Figure 1 The air conditioner shown in (a) includes at least an indoor unit 101 and an outdoor unit 102. The indoor unit 101 may include any possible components such as a condenser, an evaporator, various sensors, a controller, a power system, an air filter, and a cleaning dust filter. The outdoor unit 102 may include any possible components such as a condenser, an evaporator, a compressor, a four-way valve, and an axial fan. This application does not limit the scope of the embodiments.

[0030] The household appliance can be, for example... Figure 1 The refrigerator shown in (b) includes at least a cabinet 201, a compartment and a compartment door 202. The refrigerator may also include any possible components such as various sensors, cooling systems (including compressors, condensers and evaporators), controllers, and power systems. This application does not limit the scope of the refrigerator.

[0031] It should be noted that, Figure 1 The household appliance shown is merely an example and does not represent that the household appliances provided in the embodiments of this application are limited to such examples. Figure 1 The air conditioner or refrigerator shown in the embodiments of this application are not limited to this.

[0032] The internal structure and control process of the household appliance proposed in this application embodiment can be applied to, for example... Figure 1 The embodiments of this application do not limit the household appliances shown.

[0033] To make the purpose and technical solution of this application clearer and more intuitive, the household appliances provided in the embodiments of this application will be explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0034] Figure 2 This application provides a structural schematic diagram of a household appliance, which may include, but is not limited to, devices with compressors such as refrigerators and air conditioners. The appliance may include any controller with processing, control, identification, and calculation functions. See also... Figure 2 This application provides a household appliance 300, which includes: A cooling system, located within the household appliance 300, includes: Compressor 301 is configured to power the refrigerant cycle.

[0035] An evaporator is configured to absorb heat from the air.

[0036] A condenser is configured to release heat to the external environment.

[0037] The cooling system, and its condenser and evaporator, were not included in the above description. Figure 2 As shown, in practical applications, the compressor 301, the condenser, and the evaporator in this cooling system can be configured in any possible manner.

[0038] Furthermore, the cooling system may also include a fan, a storage chamber for storing refrigerant, a channel for circulating refrigerant, a pipe for circulating air, a water-cooling component for cooling, and any other possible components, which are not limited in this application embodiment.

[0039] In this embodiment, the main function of compressor 301 is to compress the refrigerant gas, increasing its pressure and temperature, thereby driving the refrigerant to circulate in the cooling system. Compressor 301 typically contains a lubricating medium to reduce friction and wear. The evaporator absorbs heat from the surrounding environment (e.g., indoor air), causing the refrigerant to vaporize from a liquid state to a gaseous state. The condenser releases the heat absorbed by the refrigerant in the compressor to the external environment (e.g., outdoor air), causing the refrigerant to condense from a gaseous state to a liquid state.

[0040] In this embodiment, the refrigerant can be any possible refrigerant, such as R717 (ammonia), R22 (Freon-22), etc.

[0041] In this embodiment, the heat absorbed by the evaporator can be the temperature of the air inside the household appliance 300 or the environment in which the household appliance 300 is located. For example, if the household appliance 300 is a refrigerator, then the heat absorbed by the evaporator can be the temperature of the air inside the refrigerator; if the household appliance 300 is an air conditioner, then the heat absorbed by the evaporator can be the temperature of the air in the environment where the indoor or outdoor unit of the air conditioner is located.

[0042] Furthermore, the heat released by the condenser to the household appliance 300 can refer to the heat absorbed by the evaporator and the heat generated by the compressor 301 during operation. This application does not limit this aspect.

[0043] Furthermore, in order to enable the household appliance 300 to achieve the corresponding functions and effects, in this embodiment of the application, the household appliance 300 may also include: a power converter 302 and a current detection device 303 disposed between the power converter 302 and the compressor 301.

[0044] The power converter 302 is used to output electrical energy to the compressor 301. At the same time, it converts the electrical energy provided by the external power source into a form of electrical energy suitable for the operation of the compressor, such as adjusting the voltage and frequency, so as to provide the operating voltage to the compressor 301.

[0045] Optionally, the power converter 302 may also include a processing unit with functions such as control, processing, calculation, and identification to execute corresponding programs and implement corresponding functions.

[0046] The current detection device 303 is used to detect the current flowing through it. The current detection device 303 is also used to send the detected current to the power converter 302.

[0047] In this embodiment, the current detection device 303 can be any possible device such as a current transformer, a Rogowski coil, a Hall effect sensor, or a current detector composed of a sampling resistor and a current amplifier. This application does not limit the specific device to this type.

[0048] Furthermore, the current detection device 303 can be installed in any possible location. For example, if the household appliance 300 is an air conditioner, it can be installed in the outdoor unit of the household appliance 300. Or, for example, if the household appliance 300 is a refrigerator, then the current detection device 303 can be installed anywhere inside the refrigerator's casing 201. This application does not limit this.

[0049] Specifically, in order to enable the power converter 302 to automatically control the compressor 301 when the compressor 301 malfunctions, the power converter 302 is specifically configured to perform the following steps, see [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 3 As shown: Step 401: Output detection voltage to compressor 301.

[0050] Optionally, the detection voltage is a specific voltage signal that is specially generated by the power converter and output to the compressor.

[0051] Optionally, the detection voltage includes a voltage signal with at least one frequency range, and the detection voltage is a pulse wave voltage signal.

[0052] In this embodiment, the detection voltage can also be a voltage that prevents the compressor from operating (working) and only keeps it in a powered state. Generally, the detection voltage can be continuously output for a certain period of time to ensure that the current detection device 303 can detect the corresponding current.

[0053] Step 402: Based on the common-mode current detected by the current detection device 303 and the preset mapping relationship, determine the viscosity of the lubricating medium in the compressor 301.

[0054] Optionally, the common-mode current is generated based on the detected voltage and flows through the lubricating medium in the compressor 301. For example, the common-mode current flows sequentially through the power input terminal of the compressor 301, the lubricating medium, and the casing of the compressor 301, with the casing of the compressor 301 grounded. The power input terminal refers to the port in the compressor 301 that connects to the power converter 302, i.e., the port in the compressor 301 that receives the detected voltage.

[0055] In other words, common-mode current is a special current component that flows in the same direction through multiple conductors in this household appliance and forms a loop through a grounding path. In this embodiment, the common-mode current is generated inside the compressor based on the detected voltage and flows through the lubricating medium in the compressor; because it flows through the lubricating medium, the current value and other parameters of the common-mode current are affected by the viscosity of the lubricating medium.

[0056] Optionally, the lubricating medium can refer to the oil used inside the compressor to lubricate moving parts, typically engine oil. The viscosity of this lubricating medium is an important physical property that directly affects the compressor's operating efficiency and lifespan.

[0057] Generally, the higher the viscosity of the lubricating medium, the lower its impedance; conversely, the lower the viscosity, the higher its impedance. Therefore, after the detection voltage is applied to the compressor 301, the common-mode current generated based on the detection voltage will differ due to the varying viscosity of the lubricating medium.

[0058] Optionally, the preset mapping relationship is used to indicate the correspondence between the common-mode current and the viscosity; generally, the viscosity and the common-mode current have a positive correlation, that is, the higher the viscosity, the higher the common-mode current, and the lower the viscosity, the lower the common-mode current.

[0059] Generally, this preset mapping relationship can be obtained in advance by relevant technicians through multiple experiments or by establishing a simulation model. For example, the detection voltage can be applied to the compressor at different viscosities, while simultaneously detecting the current of the lubricating medium flowing through the compressor 301, and then the preset mapping relationship can be obtained based on the current value corresponding to different viscosities. This application embodiment does not limit this.

[0060] Furthermore, this preset mapping relationship can be expressed as a lookup table, mathematical model, or algorithm, enabling the viscosity of the lubricating medium to be calculated based on the detected common-mode current value. This application does not limit this aspect.

[0061] It is worth noting that when this household appliance is in standby mode for an extended period, the viscosity of the lubricating medium (such as engine oil) in the air conditioner's internal compressor may increase due to the low ambient temperature. If the compressor is started directly under these conditions, the high viscosity of the lubricating medium may lead to poor lubrication, resulting in wear or even damage to the compressor. To avoid this, it is necessary to accurately determine the viscosity of the lubricating medium in order to heat or otherwise treat it.

[0062] However, in this embodiment, the household appliance outputs a detection voltage to the compressor through a power converter, and based on the common-mode current detected by the current detection device, it finds the viscosity corresponding to the common-mode current based on the preset mapping relationship, thereby accurately determining the viscosity of the lubricating medium in the compressor.

[0063] In this embodiment, by outputting a detection voltage to the compressor 301, the viscosity of the lubricating medium in the compressor 301 is determined based on the common-mode current detected by the current detection device 303 and a preset mapping relationship. The common-mode current is generated based on the detection voltage and flows through the lubricating medium in the compressor 301. The preset mapping relationship indicates the correspondence between the common-mode current and the viscosity.

[0064] Specifically, when the detection voltage is output to compressor 301, a corresponding common-mode current is generated within the compressor (which can flow through the compressor's power input terminal, lubricating medium, and compressor casing). Due to the influence of ambient temperature or standby time, the viscosity of the lubricating medium inside compressor 301 changes, resulting in different magnitudes of the common-mode current. By determining the viscosity corresponding to the detected common-mode current through this preset mapping relationship, the current viscosity of the lubricating medium can be determined.

[0065] As can be seen, compared to the blind control strategy of related technologies, the solution of this application can actively output a detection voltage and detect the common-mode current, and then determine the viscosity of the lubricating medium based on the common-mode current and a preset mapping relationship. In this way, the viscosity of the lubricating medium in the compressor can be accurately determined, so as to perform more precise subsequent heating control and achieve the goal of saving energy. Moreover, compared to the indirect estimation strategy of related technologies, this solution does not require setting a temperature point and avoids the problem of temperature transmission lag; even when the compressor has just stopped and the casing temperature is high, the viscosity of the lubricating medium can be accurately determined.

[0066] This can improve the accuracy of determining the viscosity of the lubricating medium in the compressor.

[0067] In one possible implementation, see [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 4 In (a), the power converter 302 includes: a controller 3021 and a frequency converter 3022.

[0068] The frequency converter 3022 is connected to the power supply and the compressor 301 respectively, and the controller 3021 is connected to the frequency converter 3022 and the current detection device 303 respectively.

[0069] Inverter 3022 is configured to output operating power to compressor 301 based on the electrical energy provided by the power supply or the detected voltage.

[0070] Optionally, the frequency converter 3022, as part of a power converter, can be a power electronic device capable of converting electrical energy supplied by a power source into a specific voltage and frequency suitable for the operation or detection of the compressor 301. The frequency converter 3022 can employ any topology; for example, it can be a three-phase inverter bridge composed of IGBTs (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors) or MOSFETs (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistors), precisely controlling the amplitude and frequency of the output voltage using pulse width modulation (PWM) technology. Alternatively, the frequency converter 3022 can employ a matrix converter to directly convert AC power into variable frequency and voltage AC power.

[0071] In this embodiment, the frequency converter 3022 is used to convert the electrical energy provided by the power supply into the detection voltage mentioned above, ensuring the accurate output of the detection voltage.

[0072] Optionally, the controller 3021 can serve as the core control unit in the power converter 302, and can be an integrated circuit, such as a microcontroller (MCU), digital signal processor (DSP), or field-programmable gate array (FPGA). The controller 3021 is configured to execute a series of instructions to manage and coordinate the operation of the frequency converter and the current sensing device. For example, the controller 3021 may include a corresponding communication interface to send control commands to the frequency converter 3022 to control the frequency converter 3022 to output electrical energy for driving the compressor normally or the aforementioned sensed voltage. Another implementation could be to use a dedicated motor control DSP, which can more efficiently execute complex control algorithms and viscosity determination algorithms.

[0073] In other words, the controller 3021 is used to implement functions such as control, data reception, and calculation.

[0074] In this embodiment, see Figure 5 The controller 3021 is configured to perform the following steps: Step 4011: Control the frequency converter 3022 to output the detection voltage to the compressor 301 and receive the common mode current detected by the current detection device 303.

[0075] Optionally, the controller 3021 can also control the inverter 3022 to output the detection voltage to the compressor 301 when the compressor 301 is not working. This avoids current interference between the compressor 301 during normal operation and the detection voltage and the common-mode current, thereby improving detection accuracy.

[0076] The compressor 301 not working can refer to various states where the compressor 301 is not performing a cooling or heating cycle, such as being in standby mode, being turned off but still connected to the power supply, or being in the pre-check stage before startup.

[0077] Generally, the controller 3021 can determine whether the compressor is in a non-working state by monitoring the operating commands, power status, or motor feedback signals of the compressor 301. For example, when the controller 3021 does not send a command to the inverter 3022 to drive the motor of the compressor 301, it can be determined that the compressor 301 is in a non-working state; or, when it detects that the motor current or speed of the compressor 301 is zero, it can also be determined that it is in a non-working state.

[0078] Step 4021: Based on the common-mode current and the preset mapping relationship, determine the viscosity of the lubricating medium in the compressor 301.

[0079] It is worth noting that this application's solution, by introducing a frequency converter 3022 and a controller 3021, enables the power converter 302 to more accurately and flexibly detect the viscosity of the lubricating medium. Specifically, under certain conditions, the controller 3021 first sends a control command to the frequency converter 3022. Upon receiving the command, the frequency converter 3022 converts the electrical energy supplied by the power supply into the detected voltage and outputs it to the compressor 301. When this detected voltage flows through the compressor, it generates a common-mode current flowing through the lubricating medium in the compressor 301. The current detection device 303 detects this common-mode current in real time and feeds back the detection result to the controller 3021. After receiving the common-mode current, the controller 3021 finds the viscosity value corresponding to the common-mode current based on a pre-stored preset mapping relationship, thereby accurately determining the current viscosity of the lubricating medium in the compressor. In this way, the controller 3021 works closely with the frequency converter 3022 and the current detection device 303 to form a closed-loop control and detection system, which makes the generation of detection voltage, the acquisition of common mode current and the determination of viscosity more automated, effectively improving the accuracy and reliability of viscosity detection.

[0080] As can be seen, by subdividing the power converter 302 into a frequency converter 3022 and a controller 3021, the household appliance 300 can achieve precise control of the detection voltage output and intelligent management of the detection process when determining the viscosity of the lubricating medium in the compressor 301. The frequency converter 3022 can flexibly generate the required detection voltage, while the controller 3021 is responsible for coordinating the entire detection process, including controlling the output detection voltage of the frequency converter 3022, receiving the common-mode current fed back by the current detection device 303, and accurately calculating the viscosity of the lubricating medium based on a preset mapping relationship. This collaborative architecture not only improves the accuracy and stability of the detection voltage generation but also makes the viscosity determination process more automated and reliable, thereby enabling more timely and accurate understanding of the lubricating medium's condition and providing strong support for the maintenance and fault early warning of the household appliance 300.

[0081] In one possible implementation, controller 3021 is also configured as follows: When the detected voltage includes voltage signals with multiple frequency ranges, the control inverter 3022 outputs the detected voltage of each frequency range in sequence according to the frequency sweep method.

[0082] Optionally, the voltage signal with multiple frequency ranges includes multiple voltage signals of different frequencies; that is, the detection voltage is composed of voltage signals with multiple different frequency ranges. These voltage signals can cover a continuous frequency range or multiple discrete frequency points. By using voltage signals with multiple frequency ranges, the electrical response characteristics of the lubricating medium at different frequencies can be more comprehensively excited, thereby obtaining richer information and helping to improve the accuracy and robustness of viscosity detection.

[0083] For example, low-frequency signals may be more sensitive to the overall dielectric constant and resistivity of the lubricating medium, while high-frequency signals may better reflect the response of its internal microstructure or specific components. "Sweeping frequency mode sequentially outputting detection voltages across various frequency ranges" refers to gradually changing the frequency of the output signal within a certain frequency range according to a preset step size or a continuous variation. The controller 3021 sends commands to the inverter 3022 to cause the frequency of its output detection voltage to gradually change from a starting frequency to a termination frequency, or to output it sequentially according to a preset frequency sequence. This method can systematically detect the impedance characteristics of the lubricating medium at different frequencies, thereby constructing a frequency response curve. For example, the controller 3021 can command the inverter 3022 to start from 1kHz, increasing in steps of 100Hz up to 10kHz, sequentially outputting the detection voltage. Alternatively, the controller 3021 can command the inverter 3022 to perform a logarithmic sweep frequency within the range of 0.1Hz to 100kHz. This application does not limit this approach.

[0084] In one specific implementation, the controller 3021 can preset a frequency sweep sequence, for example, starting from 100Hz and increasing in 100Hz steps until 10kHz, or performing a logarithmic frequency sweep within the range of 0.1Hz to 1MHz. When it is necessary to detect the viscosity of the lubricating medium, the controller 3021 sends a command to the frequency converter 3022, causing it to output detection voltages sequentially according to the frequency sweep sequence. For example, the frequency converter 3022 first outputs a 100Hz detection voltage, and the current detection device 303 detects the corresponding common-mode current and feeds it back to the controller 3021; ​​then, the frequency converter 3022 outputs a 200Hz detection voltage, and the current detection device 303 detects and feeds it back again; this cycle continues until the entire frequency range is scanned. Each time a detection voltage of a specific frequency is output, the controller 3021 waits for a period of time to ensure that the system reaches a stable state before sampling the common-mode current. The controller 3021 can calculate the equivalent viscosity of the lubricating medium at different frequencies based on the common-mode current at these different frequencies and the mapping relationship between the common-mode current and viscosity at different frequencies, or obtain a comprehensive viscosity evaluation result by fitting and analyzing these data (such as calculating the average value).

[0085] Understandably, when determining the viscosity of the lubricating medium in compressor 301, the method is no longer limited to single-frequency detection. Instead, a frequency sweep method is used to output voltage signals across multiple frequency ranges to compressor 301, thereby obtaining the common-mode voltage corresponding to different frequency ranges. This multi-frequency detection method can more comprehensively reflect the dielectric and conductive properties of the lubricating medium, thus significantly improving the accuracy and sensitivity of viscosity detection. Especially when the lubricating medium ages, becomes contaminated, or undergoes subtle changes in composition, a single frequency may not be able to effectively capture these changes, while frequency sweep detection can identify these states through differences in response at different frequencies. This allows for a more accurate determination of the lubricating medium's viscosity, facilitating timely maintenance or replacement by technicians and improving the operational reliability of household appliance 300.

[0086] In one possible implementation, see [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 4 In (b), the power converter 302 further includes a filter 3023 connected between the power supply and the frequency converter 3022; Filter 3023 is configured to filter the electrical energy supplied by the power source.

[0087] Optionally, filter 3023 can be an electronic circuit or device used to suppress or attenuate signals within a specific frequency range while allowing signals within other frequency ranges to pass. The filter 3023 is placed between the power supply and the frequency converter 3022, and its main function is to filter the electrical energy supplied by the power supply to eliminate or significantly reduce noise, harmonic interference, and other unwanted frequency components in the power supply.

[0088] Optionally, filter 3023 can be a passive filter, such as an LC filter composed of inductors and capacitors, which can effectively filter out high-frequency noise and harmonics by properly designing its cutoff frequency and impedance characteristics. Alternatively, filter 3023 can also be an active filter, which actively detects harmonic currents in the power supply and generates reverse currents to cancel them out, thereby achieving a more precise and dynamic filtering effect. In addition, filter 3023 can also be an electromagnetic interference (EMI) filter, specifically designed to suppress electromagnetic interference and ensure the system's electromagnetic compatibility performance.

[0089] It is worth noting that by introducing a filter 3023 between the power supply and the inverter 3022, the filter 3023 can preprocess the electrical energy supplied by the power supply, effectively filtering out high-frequency noise, harmonic components, and other unnecessary interference signals. The filtered electrical energy is purer and more stable, providing a high-quality power input for the inverter 3022. After receiving pure and stable electrical energy, the inverter 3022 can more accurately generate and output the required detection voltage to the compressor 301. This ensures the accuracy of subsequent common-mode current detection, allowing the controller 3021 to accurately determine the viscosity of the lubricating medium in the compressor 301 based on more reliable common-mode current data.

[0090] In one possible implementation, see [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 6 The household appliance also includes: heating device 304.

[0091] The heating device 304 is configured to heat the lubricating medium in the compressor 301.

[0092] Optionally, the heating device 304 is a device capable of transferring heat energy to the compressor 301 and the lubricating medium. For example, the heating device 304 can be a resistance heater that generates Joule heating through current to increase the temperature of the lubricating medium. Alternatively, the heating device 304 can be an induction heating device that generates eddy current heating in the lubricating medium or its container through electromagnetic induction. Alternatively, the heating device 304 can also be a heat pump heater that uses the heat from the refrigerant cycle to heat the lubricating medium. In summary, the function of the heating device 304 is to reduce the viscosity of the lubricating medium by increasing its temperature. Furthermore, the heating device 304 can be positioned in any possible location. This application does not limit this.

[0093] In this embodiment, the power converter 302 is further configured as follows: When the viscosity is greater than or equal to a preset threshold, the heating device 304 is controlled to work or the heating power of the heating device 304 is increased.

[0094] When the viscosity is less than the preset threshold, the heating device 304 is controlled to stop working or the heating power of the heating device 304 is reduced.

[0095] The power converter 302 controls the operation of the heating device 304 or increases its heating power by actively adjusting the operating state of the heating device 304 based on the detected viscosity, so that the viscosity of the lubricating medium reaches the target range. For example, the power converter 302 can output control signals, such as pulse width modulation (PWM) signals or relay switching signals, through the controller 3021 inside the power converter 302 to directly control the power supply to the heating device 304; or, the power converter 302 can send commands to the heating device 304 through a communication interface to power on the heating device 304 or put it into a sleep state.

[0096] Optionally, the preset threshold can be set by relevant technical personnel according to actual needs. Generally, the preset threshold can be used to indicate that the viscosity of the lubricating medium is low and will not damage the compressor 301. For example, the preset threshold is usually determined based on factors such as the design requirements of the compressor 301, ambient temperature, and type of lubricating oil, aiming to ensure the optimal lubrication state of the compressor 301 during startup and operation, and as a condition for triggering the heating device 304 to work or increasing the heating power.

[0097] In other words, if the viscosity is greater than or equal to the preset threshold, it means that the viscosity of the lubricating medium is too high. Starting the compressor 301 at this viscosity could damage it, so heating is required. If the viscosity is less than the preset threshold, it means that the viscosity of the lubricating medium is relatively low, i.e., the lubricating medium is hot, and this serves as condition 1 for triggering the heating device to stop working or reduce the heating power, so heating is not required.

[0098] It is worth noting that in this solution, the household appliance 300 can monitor the viscosity of the compressor's lubricating medium in real time and actively adjust the operation of the heating device 304 according to the viscosity changes, thereby maintaining the viscosity of the lubricating medium within the optimal operating range. This significantly improves the starting performance of the compressor 301 in low-temperature environments, ensures the effective lubrication of the lubricating medium, and thus reduces starting current and mechanical wear, extends the compressor's service life, and improves the overall operating efficiency and reliability of the household appliance 300.

[0099] In one possible implementation, the power converter 302 is further configured as follows: When the household appliance is in standby mode, a detection voltage is output to the compressor 301 according to a preset time cycle, and the viscosity of the lubricating medium is determined.

[0100] Optionally, the standby state refers to the state in which the household appliance 300 does not start the compressor 301, but is still powered on and can respond to user commands or preset conditions at any time.

[0101] Optionally, the preset time period refers to a pre-set time interval, such as every 24 hours, 48 ​​hours, or once a week. This period can be set according to factors such as the type of household appliance, the usage environment, compressor characteristics, and sensitivity to changes in the viscosity of the lubricating medium, to ensure that the viscosity of the lubricating medium is monitored periodically without frequently interfering with normal use. This application does not limit this aspect.

[0102] For example, household appliance 300 is an air conditioner, which enters standby mode after the user turns off the cooling or heating function. At this time, the controller 3021 in the power converter 302 can be programmed to automatically output a detection voltage to the compressor 301 every 24 hours. For example, the controller 3021 can control the inverter to output a pulse wave voltage signal with a frequency of 1kHz and an amplitude of 10V to the compressor as the detection voltage. The current detection device 303 detects the resulting common-mode current and feeds it back to the controller 3021. The controller 3021 uses a preset mapping relationship to convert the common-mode current into the viscosity of the lubricating medium.

[0103] It is worth noting that when the ambient temperature is less than or equal to the preset temperature threshold, the viscosity of the lubricating medium usually increases. If the viscosity is too high, it may lead to starting difficulties or increased wear, which could affect the starting performance and lubrication effect of compressor 301. Therefore, using an ambient temperature lower than the preset temperature threshold as the trigger condition allows for timely detection of viscosity changes in the lubricating medium at low temperatures.

[0104] In one possible implementation, the power converter 302 is further configured as follows: Determine the viscosity of the lubricating medium if the preset triggering conditions are met.

[0105] In this embodiment, the preset triggering condition may refer to the condition that requires viscosity detection of the lubricating medium.

[0106] Optionally, the preset triggering conditions include any one or more of the following: the ambient temperature is less than or equal to a preset temperature threshold, or a command is received to control the compressor 301 to start.

[0107] Optionally, the command for controlling the compressor 301 to start can be input by the user. For example, the user can trigger a remote control, terminal device, or control panel of the home appliance 300 to send the command to the power converter 302 or controller 3021. Alternatively, the command can be automatically generated by the power converter 302 or controller 3021 upon detecting a corresponding condition. This application embodiment does not limit this aspect.

[0108] Generally, it is necessary to check whether the preset triggering conditions are met before starting the compressor 301. In other words, the viscosity of the lubricating medium can usually be determined before starting the compressor 301 to ensure that the compressor 301 can operate at an optimal viscosity.

[0109] For example, because the controller 3021 is also configured with preset trigger conditions, for instance, when the air conditioner's ambient temperature sensor detects that the outdoor ambient temperature has dropped to 5°C or lower, the controller will immediately trigger a viscosity detection even if the preset 24-hour cycle has not yet been reached. Alternatively, when the user inputs a command to start the air conditioner via a remote control or terminal device, the controller 3021 will preferentially perform a viscosity detection operation on the lubricating medium before the compressor 301 actually starts. If the viscosity is detected to be too high, the controller 3021 can first control the heating device 304 to preheat the lubricating medium, and start the compressor 301 only after the viscosity returns to the normal range, thereby avoiding cold start wear.

[0110] It is worth noting that when a command is received to control the compressor 301 to start, the power converter 302 immediately initiates the aforementioned viscosity detection process. This ensures that the viscosity of the lubricating medium can be obtained in a timely manner, thereby providing an accurate basis for the control of the heating device 304, ensuring that the compressor 301 always operates under suitable lubrication conditions, effectively extending its service life and improving operational reliability.

[0111] In one possible approach, because the lubricating medium and refrigerant (refrigerant) within the compressor 301 may mix together during prolonged periods of inactivity, generally, a higher viscosity of the lubricating medium indicates a higher degree of mixing between the lubricating medium and the refrigerant (refrigerant); conversely, a lower viscosity indicates a lower degree of mixing. Therefore, by determining the viscosity of the lubricating medium using the above method, the degree of mixing between the lubricating medium and the refrigerant (refrigerant) within the compressor can be further determined.

[0112] It is worth noting that if the compressor 301 is started when the mixing level is high, some lubricating medium and refrigerant may enter the refrigerant circulation loop together, resulting in less lubricating medium in the compressor 301 and causing wear or malfunction of the compressor 301. Therefore, by determining the viscosity of the lubricating medium, the power converter 302 and / or controller 3021 can determine the timing of starting the compressor 301, further improving the safety of the household appliance 300.

[0113] Based on the above embodiments, see below. Figure 7 , Figure 7 The resistance of lubricating media of different viscosities is shown under different frequency detection voltages. From... Figure 7 It is evident that, at the same detection voltage frequency, lubricating media with higher viscosity exhibit lower resistance, while lubricating media with lower viscosity exhibit higher resistance; moreover, for lubricating media of the same viscosity, different resistances can be observed at different frequencies. Generally speaking, Figure 7 The "specific frequency" mentioned refers to the frequency range corresponding to the detection voltage. Therefore, it can be determined that: under the same detection voltage, the larger the detected common-mode current, the higher the viscosity of the lubricating medium; the smaller the detected common-mode current, the lower the viscosity of the lubricating medium. This application does not limit this aspect.

[0114] It should be understood that although the steps in the above flowcharts are shown sequentially according to the arrows, these steps are not necessarily executed in the order indicated by the arrows. Unless explicitly stated herein, there is no strict order restriction on the execution of these steps, and they can be executed in other orders. Moreover, at least some steps in the above flowcharts may include multiple sub-steps or multiple stages. These sub-steps or stages are not necessarily completed at the same time, but can be executed at different times. The execution order of these sub-steps or stages is not necessarily sequential, but can be performed alternately or in turn with other steps or at least some of the sub-steps or stages of other steps.

[0115] This application provides a computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program thereon, which, when executed by a processor, implements the steps provided in the above embodiments.

[0116] This application provides a computer program product containing instructions that, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the various steps provided in the above embodiments.

[0117] Those skilled in the art will understand that Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 4 and Figure 6 The structure shown is merely a block diagram of a portion of the structure related to the present application and does not constitute a limitation on the computer device to which the present application is applied. Specific computer devices may include more or fewer components than those shown in the figure, or combine certain components, or have different component arrangements.

[0118] It should be understood that the phrases "one embodiment," "an embodiment," or "some embodiments" mentioned throughout the specification mean that a specific feature, structure, or characteristic related to an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of this application. Therefore, "in one embodiment," "in one embodiment," or "in some embodiments" appearing throughout the specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, these specific features, structures, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. It should be understood that in the various embodiments of this application, the sequence numbers of the above-described processes do not imply a sequential order of execution; the execution order of each process should be determined by its function and internal logic, and should not constitute any limitation on the implementation process of the embodiments of this application. The sequence numbers of the above-described embodiments are merely for descriptive purposes and do not represent the superiority or inferiority of the embodiments. The descriptions of the various embodiments above tend to emphasize the differences between the various embodiments; their similarities or commonalities can be referred to mutually, and for the sake of brevity, they will not be repeated here.

[0119] In this article, the term "and / or" is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that there can be three kinds of relationships. For example, object A and / or object B can represent three situations: object A exists alone, object A and object B exist simultaneously, and object B exists alone.

[0120] It should be noted that, in this document, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Unless otherwise specified, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one..." does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes that element.

[0121] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed devices and methods can be implemented in other ways. The embodiments described above are merely illustrative. For example, the division of modules is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods, such as: multiple modules or components can be combined, or integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored or not executed. In addition, the coupling, direct coupling, or communication connection between the various components shown or discussed can be through some interfaces, and the indirect coupling or communication connection between devices or modules can be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0122] The modules described above as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as modules may or may not be physical modules. They may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the modules may be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0123] In addition, each functional module in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing unit, or each module can be a separate unit, or two or more modules can be integrated into one unit; the integrated modules can be implemented in hardware or in the form of hardware plus software functional units.

[0124] Those skilled in the art will understand that all or part of the steps of the above embodiments can be implemented by hardware related to program instructions. The aforementioned program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. When the program is executed, it performs the steps of the above method embodiments. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media that can store program code, such as mobile storage devices, read-only memory (ROM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0125] Alternatively, if the integrated units described above are implemented as software functional modules and sold or used as independent products, they can also be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, or the parts that contribute to related technologies, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause an electronic device to execute all or part of the methods described in the various embodiments of this application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as mobile storage devices, ROMs, magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0126] The features (structures and steps) disclosed in the several embodiments provided in this application can be arbitrarily combined without conflict to obtain new product embodiments.

[0127] The above description is merely an embodiment of this application, but the scope of protection of this application is not limited thereto. Any variations or substitutions that can be easily conceived by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technology disclosed in this application should be included within the scope of protection of this application. Therefore, the scope of protection of this application should be determined by the scope of the claims.

[0128] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit this application. Various modifications and variations can be made to this application by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A household appliance, characterized in that, The household appliances include: A cooling system, located within the household appliance, comprising: The compressor is configured to power the refrigerant cycle; An evaporator is configured to absorb heat from the air; A condenser is configured to release heat to the external environment; A power converter is configured to output electrical energy to the compressor; A current detection device disposed between the power converter and the compressor is configured to detect the current flowing through the current detection device. The power converter is configured as follows: Output detection voltage to the compressor; Based on the common-mode current detected by the current detection device and the preset mapping relationship, the viscosity of the lubricating medium in the compressor is determined; The common-mode current is generated based on the detection voltage, and the common-mode current flows through the lubricating medium in the compressor. The preset mapping relationship is used to indicate the correspondence between the common-mode current and the viscosity.

2. The household appliance as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The power converter includes: The frequency converter connected to the power supply and the compressor is configured to output operating power or the detection voltage to the compressor based on the electrical energy provided by the power supply; The controller connected to the frequency converter and the current detection device is configured to: The inverter is controlled to output the detection voltage to the compressor and to receive the common-mode current detected by the current detection device; The viscosity of the lubricating medium in the compressor is determined based on the common-mode current and the preset mapping relationship.

3. The household appliance as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The controller is also configured to: When the compressor is not working, the inverter is controlled to output the detection voltage to the compressor.

4. The household appliance as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The controller is also configured to: When the detected voltage includes voltage signals with multiple frequency ranges, the inverter is controlled to output the detected voltage of each frequency range sequentially in a frequency sweep manner.

5. The household appliance as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The power converter further includes a filter connected between the power supply and the frequency converter; The filter is configured to filter the electrical energy supplied by the power source.

6. The household appliance as described in any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The household appliance also includes: a heating device; The heating device is configured to heat the lubricating medium in the compressor; The power converter is also configured to: When the viscosity is greater than or equal to a preset threshold, the heating device is controlled to operate, or the heating power of the heating device is increased; When the viscosity is less than the preset threshold, the heating device is controlled to stop working or the heating power of the heating device is reduced.

7. The household appliance as described in any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The power converter is also configured to: When the household appliance is in standby mode, a detection voltage is output to the compressor according to a preset time period, and the viscosity of the lubricating medium is determined. And / or, under the condition that a preset triggering condition is met, determine the viscosity of the lubricating medium; The preset triggering conditions include any one or more of the following: the ambient temperature is less than or equal to a preset temperature threshold, or a command is received to control the compressor to start.

8. The household appliance as described in any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The detection voltage includes a voltage signal with at least one frequency range, and the detection voltage is a pulse wave voltage signal.

9. The household appliance as described in any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The common-mode current flows sequentially through the power input terminal of the compressor, the lubricating medium, and the casing of the compressor, and the casing of the compressor is grounded.

10. The household appliance as described in any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that, The household appliance mentioned is an air conditioner; The air conditioner includes an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, and the evaporator, the power converter, and the current detection device are installed in the outdoor unit.

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