Multi-protocol networking multi-split system

Abstract

The utility model discloses a multi-protocol networking multi-split system which comprises a plurality of outdoor units, first indoor equipment and second indoor equipment, the first indoor equipment is equipment applying a first communication protocol, and the second indoor equipment is equipment applying a second communication protocol; wherein the control panel of each outdoor unit communicates in a mode of being connected to the bus in parallel, each group of first indoor equipment communicates with the control panel of the corresponding outdoor unit based on a first communication protocol, and the second indoor equipment communicates with the control panel of the target outdoor unit through a second communication bus and a second communication protocol. The target outdoor unit is one of the multiple outdoor units. The control panel of the outdoor unit not only meets the communication protocol of the outdoor unit, but also is compatible with the first communication protocol and the second communication protocol of the first indoor equipment and the second indoor equipment with different communication protocols, so that the indoor equipment with new and old protocols can be accessed to the multi-split air conditioning system, and the compatibility of the multi-split air conditioning system is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of multi-unit system technology, and in particular to a multi-unit system with multi-protocol networking. Background Technology

[0002] Multi-split air conditioning systems are typically based on one outdoor unit paired with multiple indoor units. In some multi-split systems, they also include indoor geothermal components, water heaters, etc. In this case, the outdoor unit also needs to coordinate and control various devices such as geothermal components and water heaters. These devices may be upgraded, and the communication protocols used by the new and old devices of the same type may be different. In this case, there are multiple different communication protocols in the multi-split system, which cannot be directly controlled by a conventional outdoor unit. Utility Model Content

[0003] This embodiment provides a multi-network system with multiple protocols, based on a communication architecture compatible with both new and old communication protocols.

[0004] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a multi-unit system, comprising:

[0005] Multiple outdoor units, each outdoor unit including a hydraulic module and a refrigerant circulation system for exchanging heat with the hydraulic module;

[0006] Multiple sets of first indoor devices, each set of first indoor devices is connected to the hydraulic module of an outdoor unit through a first water supply pipe, and the first indoor device is a device that uses a first communication protocol;

[0007] The second indoor device is connected to the hydraulic module via a second water supply pipe. The second indoor device is a device that uses a second communication protocol.

[0008] The control boards of each outdoor unit are connected in parallel. Each group of first indoor devices communicates with the control board of the corresponding outdoor unit based on the first communication protocol. The second indoor device communicates with the control board of the target outdoor unit based on the second communication protocol. The target outdoor unit is one of the multiple outdoor units.

[0009] In some embodiments, the number of the first indoor devices is multiple, the first indoor devices in the same group are connected in parallel, and each of the first indoor devices is connected to a first communication bus in the group, the first communication bus being connected to the control board of the target outdoor unit.

[0010] In some embodiments, the first indoor device is provided with a first communication port, and the first communication ports of multiple first indoor devices in the same group are connected in sequence to form a bus topology of the first communication bus.

[0011] In some embodiments, the number of outdoor units is the same as the number of groups of the first indoor devices, and each group of the first indoor devices is connected to the outdoor unit one-to-one through the first communication bus within the group.

[0012] In some embodiments, each group of the first indoor devices includes at least one of the following:

[0013] Indoor air conditioners, the control boards of each indoor air conditioner are connected to the first communication bus;

[0014] The water manifold is connected to the hydraulic module via a water supply pipe, and the control board of the water manifold is connected to the first communication bus.

[0015] The first fresh air device, the control board of the first fresh air device is connected to the first communication bus;

[0016] A sensor control board, one end of which is connected to the first communication bus, and the other end of which is connected to at least one of the sensor components;

[0017] A wall-hung boiler, wherein the control board of the wall-hung boiler is connected to the first communication bus.

[0018] In some embodiments, the number of the second indoor devices is multiple, each of the second indoor devices is connected in parallel, and each of the second indoor devices is connected to a second communication bus, which is connected to the control board of the target outdoor unit.

[0019] In some embodiments, the second indoor device is provided with a second communication port, and the second communication ports of multiple second indoor devices are connected in sequence to form a bus topology of the second communication bus.

[0020] In some embodiments, the second indoor device includes at least one of the following:

[0021] The second fresh air unit, the control board of the second fresh air unit is connected to the second communication bus;

[0022] The humidification device has its control board connected to the second communication bus.

[0023] In some embodiments, the outdoor unit includes a hydraulic module control board and an outdoor unit drive control board. The hydraulic module control board is used to control the operation of the hydraulic module, and the outdoor unit drive control board is used to control the operation of the refrigerant circulation system.

[0024] In some embodiments, a first wired controller is also included, which is connected to the target outdoor unit.

[0025] In some embodiments, the control board of the outdoor unit is provided with a third communication port, and the third communication ports of multiple outdoor units are connected in sequence to form a bus topology of a third communication bus.

[0026] In some embodiments, each of the first indoor devices is connected to a first communication bus, each of the second indoor devices is connected to a second communication bus, and the third communication port of the target outdoor unit is connected to a group of the first indoor devices corresponding to the first communication bus and the second indoor devices connected to the second communication bus.

[0027] The multi-protocol networking multi-split air conditioning system of this embodiment has at least the following beneficial effects: The multi-split air conditioning system consists of multiple outdoor units and multiple indoor devices, wherein the first indoor devices are grouped together. The outdoor units integrate a hydraulic module and a refrigerant circulation system. The refrigerant circulation system operates in the outdoor unit and exchanges heat with the hydraulic module. The outdoor units output chilled or hot water to the indoor devices through the hydraulic module to realize the cooling and heating of the indoor devices. The multiple outdoor units communicate with each other by being connected in parallel to a bus. Each group of first indoor devices communicates with the control board of the corresponding outdoor unit based on a first communication protocol. The second indoor devices communicate with the control board of the target outdoor unit based on a second communication protocol. The target outdoor unit is one of the multiple outdoor units. The control board of the target outdoor unit not only meets the communication protocol of the outdoor unit, but is also compatible with the first communication protocol of the first indoor device and the second communication protocol of the second indoor device. The other outdoor units not only meet the communication protocol of the parallel connection of outdoor units, but are also compatible with the first communication protocol of the first indoor device. This enables indoor devices with both new and old protocols to be connected to the multi-split air conditioning system of this application, improving the compatibility of the multi-split air conditioning system. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the communication architecture of the multi-unit system provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0029] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the flow path architecture of a multi-unit system provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0030] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of this application. Furthermore, the features, operations, or characteristics described in the specification can be combined in any suitable manner to form various implementations. Simultaneously, the steps or actions described in the method description can be rearranged or adjusted in a manner readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the various orders in the specification and drawings are merely for the clear description of a particular embodiment and do not imply a mandatory order, unless otherwise stated that a particular order must be followed.

[0031] In the description of this application, "several" means one or more, "more than" means two or more, "greater than," "less than," and "exceeding" are understood to exclude the stated number, while "above," "below," and "within" are understood to include the stated number. The use of "first" and "second" in the description is merely for distinguishing technical features and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance, or implicitly indicating the number of indicated technical features, or implicitly indicating the order of the indicated technical features.

[0032] The serial numbers assigned to components in this document, such as "first" and "second," are used only to distinguish the described objects and have no sequential or technical meaning. The terms "connection" and "linkage" used in this application, unless otherwise specified, include both direct and indirect connections (linkages).

[0033] Currently, the Tianfu-Geothermal-Water Multi-Split Air Conditioning System adopts an architecture of outdoor unit + hydraulic module + indoor equipment. The indoor equipment corresponding to the hydraulic module includes geothermal modules, hot water boilers, etc., while the indoor equipment corresponding to the outdoor unit includes indoor air conditioners, dehumidifiers, etc. The multi-split system can provide heating and cooling through indoor air conditioning, as well as geothermal heating. Because the outdoor unit and hydraulic module of the Tianfu-Geothermal-Water Multi-Split Air Conditioning System are independent, energy consumption may not meet user needs, and the control system is relatively complex. When replacing or adding indoor equipment, the compatibility of the control system must be considered. For example, when adding indoor air purification and dehumidification equipment, although the ports connected to the outdoor unit are compatible, differences in communication protocols can cause problems for users in using the new equipment properly.

[0034] Based on this, this embodiment provides a multi-split air conditioning system with multi-protocol networking. It employs a rooftop / floor-mounted multi-split system, with multiple outdoor units connected in parallel. The outdoor unit integrates the refrigerant system components and the water system's hydraulic module into a single integrated water-refrigerant unit. All indoor units are connected to the outdoor unit's hydraulic module, using the water system to provide cooling and heating. Regarding the outdoor unit's control board, a compatible communication protocol is used, allowing indoor devices to connect via the ports provided on the control board. Simultaneously, the outdoor unit can recognize indoor devices using different communication protocols, thus resolving incompatibility issues caused by replacing old equipment or connecting new equipment.

[0035] The following description, in conjunction with the accompanying diagram, illustrates a multi-network system with multiple protocols:

[0036] Reference Figure 1 and Figure 2 , Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the communication architecture of the multi-unit system provided in this embodiment. Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the flow path architecture of the multi-unit system provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0037] In some embodiments, the multi-unit air conditioning system provided in this embodiment includes:

[0038] Multiple outdoor units, each outdoor unit including a hydraulic module and a refrigerant circulation system for heat exchange with the hydraulic module;

[0039] Multiple sets of first indoor devices, each set of first indoor devices is connected to the hydraulic module of an outdoor unit through a first water supply pipe, and the first indoor devices are devices that use a first communication protocol;

[0040] The second indoor device is connected to the hydraulic module via the second water supply pipe. The second indoor device is a device that uses the second communication protocol.

[0041] The control boards of each outdoor unit are connected in parallel. Each group of first indoor devices communicates with the control board of the corresponding outdoor unit based on the first communication protocol, and the second indoor device communicates with the control board of the target outdoor unit based on the second communication protocol. The target outdoor unit is one of multiple outdoor units.

[0042] Reference Figure 2As shown, in terms of the flow path architecture, each outdoor unit in this embodiment is an integrated water and refrigerant system. Each unit has an outlet and inlet pipe configured through an internal hydraulic module at its water output port. These pipes connect to the manifold of the multi-split air conditioning system. The manifold then switches the corresponding pipes according to the indoor water usage to ensure the indoor units can use water normally. The indoor units are divided into a first indoor unit and a second indoor unit, corresponding to devices using the first and second communication protocols, respectively. The first indoor unit connects to the outdoor unit's hydraulic module via a first water supply pipe, and the second indoor unit connects to the outdoor unit's hydraulic module via a second water supply pipe. This implicitly means that both the first and second water supply pipes are connected to the manifold, and the manifold's main inlet and outlet pipes connect to the hydraulic module. In terms of flow path architecture, the water outlet pipes of each outdoor unit converge into a main water outlet pipe, and the water inlet pipes of each outdoor unit converge into a main water inlet pipe. The main water outlet pipe and the main water inlet pipe are connected to one or more manifolds, for example, to two manifolds. One manifold is responsible for indoor equipment at higher positions such as indoor air conditioners, and the other manifold is responsible for indoor equipment at lower positions such as geothermal modules.

[0043] The hydraulic module is a crucial component in the water system, driving water circulation. It typically includes water pipes, heat exchangers, valves, filters, a constant pressure water supply device, and electronic components such as pumps, motors, and controllers. When the hydraulic module is integrated into the outdoor unit, a portion of the outdoor unit is designated for installing these modules, and water pipes are routed from the outdoor unit to connect to the manifold. The manifold consists of a main distribution pipe and a main collection pipe. The main distribution pipe connects to the water supply pipe of the multi-split air conditioning system. Multiple water flow branches connect between the distributor and collector of the manifold to achieve water circulation. The distributor includes the main distribution pipe, and the collector includes the main collection pipe. Multiple water distribution connectors are fixedly connected to the main distribution pipe for connecting multiple indoor units. By controlling the opening and closing of the water distribution connectors, the supply of water to each water flow branch can be controlled.

[0044] Reference Figure 1As shown, in terms of communication architecture, the control boards of each outdoor unit in this embodiment provide communication ports for parallel connection. In parallel connection, the control boards of each outdoor unit are connected to a specific bus, and the outdoor units communicate via the bus, forming a bus topology. In actual connection, the communication ports of the control boards of each outdoor unit are connected to a specific bus via cables, thus enabling the outdoor units to be connected in parallel. For example, the control boards of the outdoor units may have a third communication port. Multiple outdoor units' third communication ports are connected sequentially to form a bus topology of a third communication bus. The third communication port can be a port corresponding to the RS485 communication protocol, such as an RJ45 interface. The parallel connection method is as follows: the 485+ and 485- wires of the first outdoor unit are connected to the 485+ and 485- wires of the second outdoor unit, respectively; the 485+ and 485- wires of the second outdoor unit are connected to the 485+ and 485- wires of the third outdoor unit, and so on, until connected to the last outdoor unit. There are no branches on the entire connection line, realizing a daisy-chain topology bus connection structure. Using the above bus topology, one outdoor unit can be selected as the target outdoor unit. This target outdoor unit can provide a third communication port to connect to the first and second indoor devices. This target outdoor unit can operate as a master unit, while the other outdoor units operate as slave units. The master unit can first receive data from the first indoor device based on the first communication protocol and data from the second indoor device based on the second communication protocol. Figure 1 Taking four outdoor units as an example, the control boards of each outdoor unit are connected as follows: each control board provides a third communication port. The third communication port of the fourth outdoor unit's control board is connected to the third communication port of the third outdoor unit's control board via a cable. The third communication port of the third outdoor unit's control board is connected to the third communication port of the second outdoor unit's control board via a cable. The third communication port of the second outdoor unit's control board is connected to the third communication port of the first outdoor unit via a cable. The first outdoor unit acts as the master unit, and its control board's third communication port is connected to both the first and second indoor devices via cables. As for the slave outdoor units (excluding the master unit), since their control boards also need to be connected to the first indoor device, the slave units can provide a third communication port to connect to the first indoor device and receive data from the first indoor device based on the first communication protocol.

[0045] In some embodiments, there are multiple first indoor devices, which are connected in parallel within the same group, and each first indoor device is connected to a first communication bus, which is connected to the control board of the target outdoor unit. In some embodiments, there are multiple second indoor devices, which are connected in parallel, and each second indoor device is connected to a second communication bus, which is connected to the control board of the target outdoor unit.

[0046] Multi-split air conditioning systems (MSLS) typically have multiple indoor units, such as multiple air conditioners distributed in different rooms or multiple geothermal modules located in different places. The indoor units can be grouped according to the rooms; for example, the indoor units in the first room can be grouped into one group, and those in the second room into another group. The second indoor units do not need to be grouped and can communicate directly with the target indoor unit. Due to compatibility issues between new and old equipment, the communication protocols of the first and second indoor units differ. Therefore, the first and second indoor units cannot be directly networked and must be connected to separate indoor units.

[0047] For multiple indoor units within the same group, a bus topology can be formed, where multiple indoor units are connected in parallel, and each indoor unit within the group is then connected to its corresponding outdoor unit via a bus. In the actual connection method, the communication ports of the control boards of each indoor unit are connected to a specific bus via cables, thus enabling the indoor units to be connected in parallel. For example, the control boards of the indoor units within the group are equipped with first communication ports, and the first communication ports of multiple indoor units are connected sequentially to form a bus topology of a first communication bus. The first communication port can be a port corresponding to the RS485 communication protocol, such as an RJ45 interface. The parallel connection method is as follows: connect the 485+ and 485- wires of the first indoor unit to the 485+ and 485- wires of the second indoor unit, respectively; connect the 485+ and 485- wires of the second indoor unit to the 485+ and 485- wires of the third indoor unit, and so on, until connecting to the last indoor unit. The first communication port of the control board of the last indoor unit is then connected to the third communication port of the corresponding outdoor unit via a cable, effectively connecting the first and third communication buses. The same principle applies to the first indoor units in other groups, although the number of first indoor units within a group may differ, but they are all connected sequentially to form a bus topology. These details will not be described further here.

[0048] For multiple second indoor units, a bus topology can be formed, where multiple second indoor units are connected in parallel, and each second indoor unit is then connected to the target outdoor unit via a bus. In the actual connection method, the communication ports of the control boards of each second indoor unit are connected to a specific bus via cables, thus enabling the parallel connection of the second indoor units. For example, the control boards of the second indoor units may have second communication ports, and these second communication ports are connected sequentially to form a bus topology of a second communication bus. The second communication port can be a port corresponding to the RS485 communication protocol, such as an RJ45 interface. The parallel connection method is as follows: the 485+ and 485- wires of the first second indoor unit are connected to the 485+ and 485- wires of the second second indoor unit, respectively; the 485+ and 485- wires of the second second indoor unit are connected to the 485+ and 485- wires of the third second indoor unit, and so on, until the last second indoor unit. The second communication port of the control board of the last indoor unit is then connected to the third communication port of the target outdoor unit via a cable, effectively connecting the second and third communication buses.

[0049] It is understood that in some embodiments, the number of outdoor units is the same as the number of groups of first indoor devices, and each group of first indoor devices corresponds one-to-one with an outdoor unit. For example, if there are four groups of first indoor devices and four outdoor units, then each group of first indoor devices is connected to one outdoor unit via a first communication bus, and the outdoor unit performs communication control. Of course, one outdoor unit can correspond to multiple groups of first indoor devices, or one or more outdoor units may not correspond to any first indoor devices; this will not be elaborated upon here.

[0050] In the above embodiments, the first indoor device, the second indoor device, and the outdoor unit all adopt a daisy-chain topology bus connection structure based on the RS485 communication protocol. In this case, the control boards of the first indoor device, the second indoor device, and the outdoor unit can all be equipped with only one communication port. The corresponding 485+ cable and the corresponding 485- cable can be connected to the communication port. The control boards of each outdoor unit are compatible with the first communication protocol, and the control board of the target outdoor unit is compatible with both the first and second communication protocols. It is also compatible with communication protocols between outdoor units. When the target outdoor unit can access other outdoor units, the first indoor device, and the second indoor device via polling on the bus, the control board of the target outdoor unit, upon receiving data with different communication protocols, can identify the communication protocol and analyze the data. It can also send data to other outdoor units, the first indoor device, and the second indoor device. This data is packaged and sent according to the communication protocol of the receiving device, thereby enabling communication between the target outdoor unit and other devices in the system.

[0051] Reference Figure 1As shown, the types of the first indoor equipment and the second indoor equipment are classified according to different communication protocols.

[0052] Each group of first indoor equipment includes at least one of the following:

[0053] The control boards of each indoor air conditioner are connected to the first communication bus.

[0054] The water manifold is connected to the hydraulic module via a water supply pipe, and the control board of the water manifold is connected to the first communication bus.

[0055] The first fresh air unit, the control board of the first fresh air unit is connected to the first communication bus;

[0056] A sensor control board, one end of which is connected to a first communication bus, and the other end of which is connected to at least one sensor component.

[0057] The wall-hung boiler's control board is connected to the first communication bus.

[0058] The second indoor equipment includes at least one of the following:

[0059] The control board of the second fresh air unit is connected to the second communication bus.

[0060] The humidification equipment's control board is connected to the second communication bus.

[0061] The first indoor device can refer to equipment using the new communication protocol, while the second indoor device can refer to equipment using the old communication protocol, for example in... Figure 1 Within the same group, multiple indoor air conditioners are connected in parallel, as are the control boards of multiple manifolds. The wall-mounted boiler, sensor control board, and primary fresh air system (such as an integrated fresh air unit) are all connected in parallel to the control boards of the indoor air conditioners and manifolds, and are all connected to their corresponding outdoor units via a first communication bus. The indoor air conditioners are also connected to indoor unit wired controllers within the room, which control the operating status of the indoor air conditioners. The sensor control board is responsible for collecting and transmitting data from various sensors within the room, such as data from temperature and humidity sensors, dew point sensors, and water valve on / off data.

[0062] Figure 1 The second fresh air unit and humidifier are also connected in parallel and connected to the target outdoor unit via a second communication bus.

[0063] The outdoor unit's control board can be divided into two parts: the hydraulic module control board and the outdoor unit drive control board. The hydraulic module control board controls the operation of the hydraulic module, while the outdoor unit drive control board controls the refrigerant circulation system. Structurally, the hydraulic module control board and the outdoor unit drive control board can be arranged adjacent to each other, for example, centrally located above the compressor and connected via corresponding wiring to achieve communication. The third communication port of the outdoor unit's control board mentioned above can be located on either the hydraulic module control board or the outdoor unit drive control board.

[0064] In some embodiments, the multi-split air conditioning system of this application further includes a first wired controller, which is connected to the target outdoor unit. The first wired controller provides the user with control functions for the target outdoor unit. The first wired controller can typically be installed indoors. Through the first wired controller, the user can directly adjust the operating status of the target outdoor unit, for example, by connecting it to the outdoor unit host among multiple outdoor units, providing the user with a convenient control method.

[0065] In some embodiments, an adapter box is also included. One end of the adapter box is connected in parallel with the outdoor unit and can be connected to the third communication bus of the outdoor unit. The other end of the adapter box is connected to a second wired controller. The second wired controller can provide users with control over temperature, operating mode, and fan speed. It is a commonly used user-end control device in some areas. Since the second wired controller usually cannot be directly connected to the third communication bus, the adapter box is used to convert the control signals into control signals for the outdoor unit and send them to the bus, thereby fulfilling the user's need to control the outdoor unit's operation via the second wired controller. The method of connecting the adapter box in parallel to the outdoor unit can be referred to the above description of bus connection. Figure 1 In the middle, the adapter box is connected to Figure 1 The fourth outdoor unit in the system.

[0066] In summary, the multi-split air conditioning system consists of multiple outdoor units and multiple indoor units. The indoor units are grouped together, with each outdoor unit integrating a hydraulic module and a refrigerant circulation system. The refrigerant circulation system operates in the outdoor unit and exchanges heat with the hydraulic module. The outdoor unit outputs chilled or hot water to the indoor units through the hydraulic module, achieving cooling and heating. The multiple outdoor units communicate in parallel. Each group of first-indoor units is connected to the outdoor unit via a first communication bus, and each group of second-indoor units is connected via a second communication bus. The control board of this outdoor unit not only meets the communication protocol for parallel outdoor unit connections but is also compatible with first-indoor and second-indoor units using different communication protocols. It can communicate with first-indoor units via the first communication protocol and with second-indoor units via the second communication protocol, enabling indoor units using both new and old protocols to be connected to the multi-split air conditioning system of this application, thus improving the system's compatibility.

[0067] The following is a detailed explanation of the multi-protocol networking multi-connector system of this application through a specific example.

[0068] In terms of the flow path architecture, there are four outdoor units in total: the first outdoor unit, the second outdoor unit, the third outdoor unit, and the fourth outdoor unit. The first outdoor unit acts as the main unit, and the other three outdoor units act as slave units. Each outdoor unit is an integrated water and refrigerant system. For the water output ports, each unit is equipped with an inlet and outlet pipe via an internal hydraulic module. These pipes connect to the manifold of the multi-split system. The manifold then switches the corresponding pipes on and off according to the indoor water usage, ensuring that the indoor units can use water normally. (Refer to...) Figure 2 The system is equipped with two manifolds. One manifold connects to the indoor air conditioner and the ceiling radiant panel. The indoor air conditioner provides both cooling and heating, while the ceiling radiant panel primarily provides heating. The other manifold connects to the geothermal module, which is responsible for heating the area. The multi-split system also includes a wall-mounted boiler, such as a gas-fired boiler, which has pipes for tap water, domestic water, and hot water. The gas-fired boiler consumes the input gas to heat the water from the tap water pipe. This heated water can be output as domestic hot water from the domestic water pipe or as supplementary hot water for the multi-split system from the hot water pipe. The multi-split system can also supplement hot water to the boiler through the hot water pipe. Therefore, a three-way valve can be installed in the main inlet and outlet water pipes of the outdoor unit. One end connects to the outdoor unit, one end connects to the indoor air conditioner and geothermal module, and the remaining end connects to the boiler. The three-way valve controls the water flow direction of the multi-split system.

[0069] The manifold connects to multiple indoor air conditioners and geothermal modules through multiple sets of inlet and outlet water pipes. The control board of the manifold can be connected to the outdoor unit, which controls the on / off of each set of inlet and outlet water pipes.

[0070] In terms of communication architecture, each outdoor unit is equipped with a hydraulic module control board and an outdoor unit drive control board. The hydraulic module control board and the outdoor unit drive control board communicate with each other via the RS485 protocol (e.g., Figure 1 As shown in the example (this example represents the RS485-1 protocol version), the four outdoor units are connected in parallel in a combined bus topology, and the third port on the outdoor unit's control board for parallel connection uses the RS485 protocol for communication (e.g., Figure 1 As shown in the example (this example represents the 485-3 protocol version), the adapter box is also connected in parallel to the outdoor unit's bus via the 485-3 protocol. The hydraulic module control board and / or the outdoor unit drive control board can provide only one third communication port, which can be used for interconnection between outdoor unit control boards, parallel connection of another outdoor unit, and connection of indoor equipment, etc.

[0071] Regarding indoor equipment, four groups of first indoor units are defined, corresponding to the first, second, third, and fourth outdoor units, respectively. Using the first group of first indoor units, multiple indoor air conditioners (indoor fan coil units) communicate via RS485 protocol (e.g., Figure 1 As shown in the example, this example represents a 485-2 protocol version connected to the first outdoor unit. The wall-mounted boiler, manifold control board, and sensor control board are also connected to the first outdoor unit via the 485-2 protocol. The sensor control board is responsible for collecting and transmitting data from various sensors within the room, such as temperature and humidity sensors, dew point sensors, and water valve switch data. The indoor air conditioner, wall-mounted boiler, manifold control board, and sensor control board using the new protocol are connected in parallel to the first communication bus. The fresh air unit and humidifier using the old protocol are connected in parallel to the second communication bus. The first and second communication buses are connected to the host control board, i.e., the control board of the first outdoor unit. From a network topology perspective, this is equivalent to both the first and second communication buses being connected to the third communication bus. For the slave outdoor unit, the indoor air conditioner, wall-mounted boiler, manifold control board, and sensor control board using the new protocol are connected in parallel to the first communication bus. The first communication bus of this group of first indoor devices is connected to the corresponding slave control board. From a network topology perspective, this is equivalent to the first communication bus of this group of first indoor devices being connected to the third communication bus.

[0072] This example demonstrates a multi-split air conditioning system with multi-protocol networking, specifically a rooftop / floor-mounted / water-based system. On one side, multiple outdoor units are connected in parallel, integrating the refrigerant system components and the water system's hydraulic module into a single integrated water-refrigerant unit. On the other side, all indoor units are connected to the outdoor unit's hydraulic module, using the water system to provide cooling and heating. The outdoor unit's control board employs a compatible communication protocol, allowing indoor devices to connect via the provided ports. The outdoor unit can recognize indoor devices using different communication protocols, thus resolving incompatibility issues arising from replacing old equipment or adding new devices. Therefore, this example of a multi-split air conditioning system with multi-protocol networking is compatible with both old and new communication protocols, connects different indoor devices, and implements a parallel communication architecture for the outdoor units.

[0073] 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 system 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 system. 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 system that includes that element.

[0074] The above is a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of this application. However, this application is not limited to the above embodiments. Those skilled in the art can make various equivalent modifications or substitutions without departing from the spirit of this application. All such equivalent modifications or substitutions are included within the scope defined by the claims of this application.

Claims

1. A multi-split air conditioning system, characterized in that, include: Multiple outdoor units, each outdoor unit including a hydraulic module and a refrigerant circulation system for exchanging heat with the hydraulic module; Multiple sets of first indoor devices, each set of first indoor devices is connected to the hydraulic module of an outdoor unit through a first water supply pipe, and the first indoor device is a device that uses a first communication protocol; The second indoor device is connected to the hydraulic module via a second water supply pipe. The second indoor device is a device that uses a second communication protocol. The control boards of each outdoor unit are connected in parallel. Each group of first indoor devices communicates with the control board of the corresponding outdoor unit based on the first communication protocol. The second indoor device communicates with the control board of the target outdoor unit based on the second communication protocol. The target outdoor unit is one of the multiple outdoor units.

2. The multi-unit air conditioning system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The number of the first indoor devices is multiple, and the first indoor devices in the same group are connected in parallel. Each first indoor device is connected to the first communication bus in the group, and the first communication bus is connected to the control board of the target outdoor unit.

3. The multi-unit air conditioning system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The first indoor device is equipped with a first communication port, and the first communication ports of multiple first indoor devices in the same group are connected in sequence to form a bus topology of the first communication bus.

4. The multi-unit air conditioning system according to claim 2, characterized in that, The number of outdoor units is the same as the number of groups of the first indoor equipment, and each group of the first indoor equipment is connected to the outdoor unit one-to-one through the first communication bus within the group.

5. The multi-unit air conditioning system according to claim 2, characterized in that, Each group of the first indoor equipment includes at least one of the following: Indoor air conditioners, the control boards of each indoor air conditioner are connected to the first communication bus; The water manifold is connected to the hydraulic module via a water supply pipe, and the control board of the water manifold is connected to the first communication bus. The first fresh air device, the control board of the first fresh air device is connected to the first communication bus; A sensor control board, one end of which is connected to the first communication bus, and the other end of which is connected to at least one sensor component; A wall-hung boiler, wherein the control board of the wall-hung boiler is connected to the first communication bus.

6. The multi-unit air conditioning system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The number of the second indoor devices is multiple, and each second indoor device is connected in parallel. Each second indoor device is connected to a second communication bus, which is connected to the control board of the target outdoor unit.

7. The multi-unit air conditioning system according to claim 6, characterized in that, The second indoor device is equipped with a second communication port, and the second communication ports of multiple second indoor devices are connected in sequence to form a bus topology of the second communication bus.

8. The multi-unit air conditioning system according to claim 6, characterized in that, The second indoor device includes at least one of the following: The second fresh air unit, the control board of the second fresh air unit is connected to the second communication bus; The humidification device has its control board connected to the second communication bus.

9. The multi-unit air conditioning system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The outdoor unit includes a hydraulic module control board and an outdoor unit drive control board. The hydraulic module control board is used to control the operation of the hydraulic module, and the outdoor unit drive control board is used to control the operation of the refrigerant circulation system.

10. The multi-unit air conditioning system according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a first wired controller, which is connected to the target outdoor unit.

11. The multi-unit air conditioning system according to claim 1, characterized in that, The control board of the outdoor unit is provided with a third communication port, and multiple third communication ports of the outdoor units are connected in sequence to form a bus topology of the third communication bus.

12. The multi-unit air conditioning system according to claim 11, characterized in that, Each of the first indoor devices is connected to the first communication bus, and each of the second indoor devices is connected to the second communication bus. The third communication port of the target outdoor unit is connected to a group of the first indoor devices corresponding to the first communication bus and to the second indoor devices connected to the second communication bus.

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