Air conditioning system, inspection device, and inspection method

Abstract

To provide an air conditioning system capable of inspecting a wiring state of an indoor unit with a small number of operations.SOLUTION: An air conditioning system capable of simultaneously operating cooling and heating, comprises: an outdoor unit 11; a plurality of indoor units 13 connected to the outdoor unit 11 by refrigerant pipes 12, 14 and communication lines 17, 18; and a control device 21 that instructs the outdoor unit 11 and the indoor units 13 to operate so that the operation state of the plurality of indoor units 13 includes all of cooling, heating, and cooling / heating stop, determines the actual operation state of each indoor unit 13, and determines whether or not the operation state matches the instructed operation details.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an air conditioning system, an inspection device, and an inspection method. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is known an air conditioning system having an outdoor unit and a plurality of indoor units, and capable of simultaneously operating cooling and heating by the plurality of indoor units. When installing such an air conditioning system in a building, the outdoor unit and each indoor unit are connected by refrigerant piping, and the outdoor unit and each indoor unit are connected by a communication line for control. However, if one of the indoor units is mistakenly connected to the outdoor unit by the communication line in a state where the indoor unit is switched with another indoor unit, there is a risk of a malfunction in which a cold refrigerant for cooling flows into a certain indoor unit, even though the indoor unit is instructed to heat.

[0003] The following Patent Document 1 discloses a multi-type air conditioner equipped with an outdoor unit and multiple indoor units, and performs the following process to identify indoor units that have been miswired as described above. In this air conditioner, it is determined whether or not the indoor units that are operating and those that are stopped among the multiple indoor units are in an abnormal operating state, and then an operation pattern for the expansion valve is set based on the number of indoor units that are operating, and the operation of the indoor units is repeated the number of times equal to the number of operation patterns. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5858824 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] With the air conditioner described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to operate the device many times in order to identify the indoor unit that has been miswired, and this operation takes a long time.

[0006] An object of the present disclosure is to provide an air conditioning system, an inspection device, and an inspection method that are capable of inspecting the wiring condition of an indoor unit with a reduced number of operations. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] (1) The present disclosure provides an air conditioning system capable of simultaneously operating a cooling unit and a heating unit, The outdoor unit, A plurality of indoor units connected to the outdoor unit by refrigerant piping and communication lines; The system is equipped with a control device that issues operation instructions to the outdoor unit and the indoor units so that the operating states of the multiple indoor units include all of cooling, heating, and stopping of cooling / heating, and that judges the actual operating state of each indoor unit and determines whether the operating state matches the instructed operating content.

[0008] In the air conditioning system configured as described above, the control device issues operation instructions to the outdoor unit and indoor units so that the operating states of the multiple indoor units include all of cooling, heating, and stopping of cooling / heating, and determines for each indoor unit whether the instructed operation content matches the actual operating state, so that the wiring state of the indoor units can be inspected with a reduced number of operation cycles.

[0009] (2) Preferably, the control device has a plurality of operation patterns that combine cooling, heating, and stopping of cooling / heating, and operates the indoor units a plurality of times in different operation patterns. With this configuration, even if the number of indoor units increases, the wiring condition of the indoor units can be inspected with a reduced number of operation cycles.

[0010] (3) Preferably, a plurality of switching devices are connected to the refrigerant piping to switch the refrigerant flow path between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit in accordance with each of the cooling and heating operations, The operation pattern is set according to the number of the switching devices.

[0011] (4) Preferably, the control device validates the result of the judgment after the number of indoor units that have been instructed to operate in cooling, heating, or stopped cooling / heating mode matches the number of indoor units that are in that operating state. With this configuration, the wiring condition of the indoor units can be inspected using the judgment results after the operating state of cooling, heating, or cooling / heating stopped has stabilized, and any indoor units that are incorrectly wired can be accurately identified.

[0012] (5) Preferably, the control device validates the result of the judgment after the number of indoor units that have been instructed to operate at least two of cooling, heating, and stopping cooling / heating matches the number of indoor units that are in that operating state. With this configuration, the wiring condition of the indoor unit can be inspected using the judgment results after at least two operating states, cooling, heating, and cooling / heating stopped, have stabilized, and any indoor unit that is incorrectly wired can be accurately identified.

[0013] (6) Preferably, a plurality of switching devices are connected to the refrigerant piping for switching a refrigerant flow path between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit in accordance with each of the cooling and heating operations, The control device sets the number of switching devices connected to the indoor units that instruct cooling and the number of switching devices connected to the indoor units that instruct heating so that there is no discrepancy between them. According to this configuration, switching between cooling, heating, and stopping cooling and heating can be performed quickly, and stable operation can be performed quickly.

[0014] (7) Preferably, the control device sets the ratio of the number of switching devices connected to the indoor units that instruct cooling to the number of switching devices connected to the indoor units that instruct heating to be 1.5 or less.

[0015] (8) Preferably, a plurality of switching devices are connected to the refrigerant piping to switch the refrigerant flow path between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit according to each of the cooling and heating operations, The control device sets the respective numbers so that there is no discrepancy between the number of switching devices connected to the indoor units that instruct cooling, the number of switching devices connected to the indoor units that instruct heating, and the number of switching devices connected to the indoor units that instruct stopping cooling / heating. According to this configuration, switching between cooling, heating, and stopping cooling and heating can be performed quickly, and stable operation can be performed quickly.

[0016] (9) Preferably, the indoor unit has a fan that takes in indoor air, The control device operates the fan of the indoor unit for which a command to stop cooling or heating is issued. According to this configuration, when cooling or heating is stopped, the temperature of the refrigerant in the indoor unit can be quickly returned to room temperature, and then the operation can be smoothly switched back to cooling or heating.

[0017] (10) Preferably, the indoor unit has a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the refrigerant, The control device determines the actual operating state based on the detection result of the temperature sensor. According to this configuration, the temperature of the refrigerant flowing into the indoor unit differs between cooling and heating, so the refrigerant temperature can be used to determine the operating state.

[0018] (11) Preferably, before instructing an operation for the determination, the control device causes the outdoor unit and the indoor unit to perform a preliminary air-conditioning operation for setting the indoor temperature within a predetermined range. According to this configuration, if the indoor temperature is too high or too low, it becomes difficult to accurately determine the cooling and heating operating states, so the indoor temperature can be stabilized at an appropriate temperature in advance.

[0019] (12) Preferably, the indoor unit has identification information for identifying itself, The control device changes the identification information of an abnormal indoor unit whose actual operating state and the instructed operating content do not match in the determination, so as to match the actual operating state and the instructed operating content. According to this configuration, by changing the identification information of the incorrectly wired indoor unit, the indoor unit can be operated normally.

[0020] (13) Preferably, the control device rewrites the identification information of one abnormal indoor unit to identification information of another abnormal indoor unit for which an instruction matching the actual operating state of the one abnormal indoor unit has been given. According to this configuration, by rewriting the identification information of the incorrectly wired indoor unit with the identification information of another incorrectly wired indoor unit, the former indoor unit can be operated normally.

[0021] (14) Preferably, the control device is provided in the outdoor unit. According to this configuration, the outdoor unit itself can inspect the wiring condition of the indoor unit, and subsequent measures, such as rewriting the identification information of the indoor unit, can be carried out smoothly.

[0022] (15) The inspection device disclosed herein issues operation instructions to an outdoor unit and multiple indoor units in an air conditioning system capable of simultaneous cooling and heating operation so that the operating states of the multiple indoor units include all of cooling, heating, and stopping of cooling / heating, determines the actual operating state of each indoor unit, and judges whether the operating state matches the instructed operating content.

[0023] (16) The inspection method disclosed herein issues operation instructions to an outdoor unit and multiple indoor units in an air conditioning system capable of simultaneous cooling and heating operations so that the operating states of the multiple indoor units include all of cooling, heating, and stopped cooling / heating, determines the actual operating state of each indoor unit, and judges whether the operating state matches the instructed operating content. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an air conditioning system according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a simplified refrigerant circuit of an air conditioning system. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of an air conditioning system including an indoor unit that is miswired. [Figure 4] 11 is a table showing operation patterns for inspecting the wiring condition. [Diagram 5] 11 is a table showing the relationship between instructed driving contents and actual driving states. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another example of an air conditioning system including an indoor unit with incorrect wiring. [Figure 7] 11 is a table showing operation patterns for inspecting the wiring condition. [Figure 8] 11 is a table showing the relationship between instructed driving contents and actual driving states. [Figure 9] 11 is a table showing operation patterns for inspecting the wiring condition. [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another example of an air conditioning system including an indoor unit with incorrect wiring. [Figure 11] 11 is a table showing the relationship between instructed driving contents and actual driving states. [Figure 12] 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure for inspecting a wiring state. [Figure 13] FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of an air conditioning system according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Hereinafter, the air conditioning system of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the present disclosure is not limited to these examples, but is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0026] [First embodiment] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an air conditioning system according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. The air conditioning system 100 is installed in a building, a factory, etc., and realizes air conditioning of a space to be air-conditioned. The air conditioning system 100 cools and heats the space to be air-conditioned by performing a vapor compression refrigeration cycle operation.

[0027] The air conditioning system 100 includes an outdoor unit 11, an indoor unit 13, and a switching device 15. A plurality of indoor units 13 are connected to the outdoor unit 11 via refrigerant pipes 12, 14 and communication lines 17, 18. A plurality of switching devices 15 are provided between the outdoor unit 11 and the plurality of indoor units 13. The switching device 15 switches the flow path of the refrigerant between the outdoor unit 11 and the indoor units 13. In this embodiment, one switching device 15 is provided corresponding to one indoor unit 13.

[0028] The refrigerant pipes 12, 14 include a first refrigerant pipe 12 that connects the outdoor unit 11 and the switching device 15, and a second refrigerant pipe 14 that connects the switching device 15 and the indoor unit 13. The outdoor unit 11, the indoor unit 13, and the switching device 15 each have a control device 21, 23, 25. Each of the control devices 21, 23, 25 includes a microcomputer having a CPU (arithmetic unit), memory, etc. Each of the control devices 21, 23, 25 may include an integrated circuit such as an FPGA or an ASIC.

[0029] The communication lines 17, 18 include a first communication line 17 that connects the control device 21 of the outdoor unit 11 and the control device 25 of the switching device 15, and a second communication line 18 that connects the control device 25 of the switching device 15 and the control device 23 of the indoor unit 13. The control device 21 of the outdoor unit 11 and the control device 23 of the indoor unit 13 are capable of communicating with each other via the control device 25 of the switching device 15. The control device 21 of the outdoor unit 11 stores an address (identification information) assigned to each indoor unit 13, and is configured to be able to individually identify the multiple indoor units 13 connected thereto.

[0030] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a simplified refrigerant circuit of the air conditioning system. The outdoor unit 11 houses devices such as a compressor 11a, a heat exchanger 11b, a four-way switching valve 11c, and a pressure sensor 1d. The operations of the compressor 11a and the four-way switching valve 11c are controlled by a control device 21. The outdoor unit 11 flows out a high-pressure liquid refrigerant and / or a high-pressure gas refrigerant, and flows in a low-pressure gas refrigerant or a high-pressure liquid refrigerant, in a known manner.

[0031] The first refrigerant pipe 12 includes a liquid pipe 12L, a high and low pressure gas pipe 12Ga, and a low pressure gas pipe 12Gb. High pressure liquid refrigerant flowing out of or into the outdoor unit 11 flows through the liquid pipe 12L. High pressure gas refrigerant flowing out of the outdoor unit 11 flows through the high and low pressure gas pipe 12Ga. Low pressure gas refrigerant flowing into the outdoor unit 11 flows through the low pressure gas pipe 12Gb and the high and low pressure gas pipe 12Ga.

[0032] The switching device 15 includes an internal liquid pipe 30 connected to the liquid pipe 12L, a first internal gas pipe 31 connected to the high and low pressure gas pipe 12Ga, a second internal gas pipe 32 connected to the low pressure gas pipe 12Gb, and a third internal gas pipe 33 that joins the first internal gas pipe 31 and the second internal gas pipe 32. A first control valve 41 is provided in the first internal gas pipe 31, and a second control valve 42 is provided in the second internal gas pipe 32. The first control valve 41 and the second control valve 42 are motor-operated valves, and the opening degree is controlled by the control device 25 to a maximum opening degree and a minimum opening degree (including closing).

[0033] The second refrigerant pipe 14 includes a liquid pipe 14L connected to the internal liquid pipe 30 and a gas pipe 14G connected to the third internal gas pipe 33. The liquid pipe 14L and the gas pipe 14G are connected to the internal liquid pipe 35 and the internal gas pipe 36 of the indoor unit 13, respectively. The internal liquid pipe 35 is provided with an expansion valve 43. The expansion valve 43 is an electric valve, and the opening degree is controlled by the control device 23. The indoor unit 13 has a heat exchanger 44 connected to the internal liquid pipe 35 and the internal gas pipe 36. The indoor unit 13 is equipped with a fan 45 that draws in indoor air, supplies it to the heat exchanger 44, and then blows it out into the room. The indoor unit 13 further includes a first temperature sensor 51 that detects the temperature of the refrigerant in the internal liquid pipe 35 between the expansion valve 43 and the heat exchanger 44, a second temperature sensor 52 that detects the temperature of the refrigerant in the internal gas pipe 36, and a third temperature sensor 53 that detects the temperature of the air in the room.

[0034] [Air conditioning system operation] Next, the operation of the air conditioning system 100 will be briefly described. (Cooling operation) When all indoor units 13 perform cooling operation, high-pressure liquid refrigerant flows from the outdoor unit 11 through the liquid pipe 12L to the multiple switching devices 15. In the switching device 15, the first control valve 41 and the second control valve 42 are controlled to be in a fully open state. The high-pressure liquid refrigerant flowing through the liquid pipe 12L flows into the indoor unit 13 through the internal liquid pipe 30 of the switching device 15 and the liquid pipe 14L of the second refrigerant pipe 14. In the indoor unit 13, the opening degree of the expansion valve 43 in the internal liquid pipe 35 is adjusted, and the high-pressure liquid refrigerant is decompressed by the expansion valve 43 to become a low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant, which exchanges heat with the indoor air in the heat exchanger 44 and evaporates. As a result, the cooling operation is performed in each indoor unit 13. The evaporated refrigerant passes from the internal gas pipe 36 of the indoor unit 13, through the gas pipe 14G of the second refrigerant piping 14, the third internal gas pipe 33 of the switching device 15, the first and second internal gas pipes 31, 32, and then through the low-pressure gas pipe 12Gb and the high and low pressure gas pipe 12Ga to return to the outdoor unit 11.

[0035] (Heating operation) When all indoor units 13 are in heating operation, high-pressure gas refrigerant flows from the outdoor unit 11 through the high- and low-pressure gas pipes 12Ga to the multiple switching devices 15. In each switching device 15, the second control valve 42 is fully closed, and the first control valve 41 is fully open. The high-pressure gas refrigerant flowing through the high- and low-pressure gas pipes 12Ga flows into the indoor unit 13 through the first and third internal gas pipes 31 and 33 in the switching device 15 and the gas pipe 14G of the second refrigerant pipe 14. In the indoor unit 13, the high-pressure gas refrigerant that has passed through the internal gas pipe 36 exchanges heat with the indoor air in the heat exchanger 44 and condenses. This heats the room. The condensed liquid refrigerant returns to the outdoor unit 11 through the internal liquid pipe 35, the liquid pipe 14L of the second refrigerant pipe 14, the internal liquid pipe 30 of the switching device 15, and the liquid pipe 12L of the first refrigerant pipe 12.

[0036] (Cooling and heating operated simultaneously) When some indoor units 13 perform cooling and other indoor units 13 perform heating, high-pressure gas refrigerant flows out from the outdoor unit 11 through the high and low pressure gas pipes 12Ga, and high-pressure liquid refrigerant flows out through the liquid pipes 12L. In the switching device 15 corresponding to the indoor unit 13 performing cooling operation, the first control valve 41 is at the minimum opening and the second control valve 42 is in a fully open state. The opening of the expansion valve 43 of the indoor unit 13 is adjusted. In the switching device 15 corresponding to the indoor unit 13 performing heating operation, the first control valve 41 is in a fully open state and the second control valve 42 is in a fully closed state. The expansion valve 43 of the indoor unit 13 is fully open.

[0037] In simultaneous heating and cooling operation, high-pressure gas refrigerant flows from the outdoor unit 11 through the high and low pressure gas pipe 12Ga into the switching device 15 corresponding to the indoor unit 13 performing heating operation. The high-pressure gas refrigerant flows into the indoor unit 13 through the first and third internal gas pipes 31 and 33 of the switching device 15 and the gas pipe 14G of the second refrigerant pipe 14, and is condensed in the heat exchanger 44 via the internal gas pipe 36. This allows the indoor unit 13 to perform heating operation. The condensed liquid refrigerant flows through the internal liquid pipe 35, the liquid pipe 14L of the second refrigerant pipe 14, and the internal liquid pipe 30 of the switching device 15, flows into the liquid pipe 12L of the first refrigerant pipe 12, and merges with the high-pressure liquid refrigerant flowing out of the outdoor unit 11.

[0038] The high-pressure liquid refrigerant flowing through the liquid pipe 12L flows into the switching device 15 corresponding to the indoor unit 13 performing cooling. The high-pressure liquid refrigerant flows into the indoor unit 13 through the internal liquid pipe 30 of the switching device 15 and the liquid pipe 14L of the second refrigerant pipe 14. In the indoor unit 13, the opening degree of the expansion valve 43 in the internal liquid pipe 35 is adjusted, and the high-pressure liquid refrigerant is decompressed by the expansion valve 43 to become a low-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant, which evaporates in the heat exchanger 44. This allows the indoor unit 13 to perform cooling operation. The evaporated refrigerant returns to the outdoor unit 11 from the internal gas pipe 36 of the indoor unit 13 through the gas pipe 14G of the second refrigerant pipe 14, the third internal gas pipe 33 and the second internal gas pipe 32 of the switching device 15, and the low-pressure gas pipe 12Gb.

[0039] As described above, the air conditioning system 100 of this embodiment can simultaneously operate heating and cooling using multiple indoor units 13. In any of cooling operation, heating operation, and simultaneous cooling and heating operation, the cooling and heating of some of the indoor units 13 can be stopped, in which case the expansion valve 43 in that indoor unit 13 is fully closed, the first control valve 41 of the switching device 15 corresponding to that indoor unit 13 is set to the minimum opening degree, and the second control valve 42 is fully closed.

[0040] In the air conditioning system 100, when a user inputs an instruction to cool, heat, or stop cooling and heating using, for example, a remote control connected to the indoor unit 13, the control device 23 of the indoor unit 13 transmits the instruction information to the control device 25 of the switching device 15 and the control device 21 of the outdoor unit 11, and the outdoor unit 11, the indoor unit 13, and the switching device 15 perform operation control according to the instruction. In the indoor unit 13, the various sensors 51 to 53 detect the temperatures of the refrigerant and air, and the detected values ​​are transmitted to the control device 21 of the outdoor unit 11. The control device 21 of the outdoor unit 11 controls the operation of internal devices such as the compressor 11a according to the transmitted detection values ​​and the detection values ​​of its own sensor 11d. The control device 21 of the outdoor unit 11 transmits control signals to the control device 23 of the indoor unit 13 and the control device 25 of the switching device 15 as appropriate.

[0041] [Inspection of wiring condition] FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of an air conditioning system including an indoor unit that is miswired. When the outdoor unit 11, indoor unit 13, and switching device 15 in the air conditioning system 100 are installed in a building such as a building, the refrigerant pipes 12, 14 connecting the outdoor unit 11, indoor unit 13, and switching device 15 may not match the communication lines 17, 18 connecting the outdoor unit 11, indoor unit 13, and switching device 15, as shown in Fig. 3. In this embodiment, such a state is referred to as "miswiring" of the communication lines 17, 18. However, "miswiring" can also be rephrased as "mispiping."

[0042] If the above-mentioned incorrect wiring occurs, for example, even if a cooling command is given to the top indoor unit 13 in Fig. 3 and a heating command is given to the second-highest indoor unit 13, the refrigerant circuit between the indoor units 13 and the switching device 15 will not be formed in that way, and the indoor units 13 will perform cooling operation and heating operation in reverse. The air conditioning system 100 of this embodiment has a function of inspecting the wiring state of the indoor units 13 and detecting incorrect wiring in order to prevent such malfunctions from occurring. This function is executed when the air conditioning system 100 is installed, or after a malfunction is confirmed after installation.

[0043] In this embodiment, the control device 21 of the outdoor unit 11 functions as a wiring state inspection device. The control device 21 inspects the wiring state generally in the following procedure. First, the control device 21 instructs the outdoor units 11, the indoor units 13, and the switching device 15 to operate so that all three operating states of "cooling," "heating," and "cooling and heating stopped" are performed simultaneously in the multiple indoor units 13. Next, the control device 21 judges the actual operating states of the multiple indoor units 13. The control device 21 judges whether the instructed operating contents match the actual operating state for each indoor unit 13, and if they do not match, it judges that the indoor unit 13 is miswired.

[0044] (When there are three indoor units and switching devices) As a simple example, a detailed description will be given of a case in which an air conditioning system 100 has three indoor units 13 and three switching devices 15 as shown in Fig. 3. For ease of explanation, the switching devices 15 are numbered No. 1 to No. 3. Each indoor unit 13 has an address as identification information. In this explanation, the addresses of the indoor units 13 are assumed to be A to C. The switching devices 15 No. 1 to No. 3 are connected to the indoor units 13 with addresses A to C, respectively, via communication lines 18.

[0045] FIG. 4 is a table showing operation patterns for inspecting the wiring condition. The control device 21 issues instructions of "cooling", "heating" and "air blowing (cooling and heating stopped)" to the outdoor unit 11, the switching devices 15 of No. 1 to 3 and the indoor units 13 of addresses A to C in the operation patterns shown in Fig. 4. When cooling or heating is stopped, the fan 45 is driven with the flow of refrigerant in the indoor unit 13 stopped, and indoor air is taken into the indoor unit 13 and then blown into the room. The operation patterns shown in Fig. 4 and the operation patterns shown in Figs. 7 and 9 described below are stored in the memory of the control device 21.

[0046] In the example shown in Fig. 3, the No. 1 switching device 15 and the indoor unit 13 of address B are connected by the refrigerant pipe 14, and the No. 2 switching device 15 and the indoor unit 13 of address A are connected by the refrigerant pipe 14. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 5, the indoor unit 13 of address A performs heating operation despite receiving an instruction for cooling operation. Conversely, the indoor unit 13 of address B performs cooling operation despite receiving an instruction for heating operation. Therefore, the control device 21 judges the operating state of each indoor unit 13 and compares the operating state with the instructed operation content to determine whether or not there is an indoor unit 13 that is miswired.

[0047] (Determining driving status) The control device 21 acquires the detection values ​​of the temperature sensors 51, 52, and 53 from each indoor unit 13. The control device 21 acquires the discharge pressure (high pressure) of the compressor 11a detected by the pressure sensor 11d, and calculates the pressure-equivalent saturation temperature (condensation temperature of the refrigerant). The control device 21 calculates the difference between the detection value of the second temperature sensor 52 (temperature of the refrigerant flowing into the heat exchanger 44) and the pressure-equivalent saturation temperature, and if this difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, determines that the indoor unit 13 is performing heating operation.

[0048] On the other hand, the control device 21 calculates the difference between the detection value of the third temperature sensor 53 (the temperature of the intake air) and the detection value of the first temperature sensor 51 (the evaporation temperature of the refrigerant), and if this difference is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, it determines that the indoor unit 13 is operating in cooling mode.

[0049] When neither the heating operation condition nor the cooling operation condition is satisfied, the control device 21 determines that the indoor unit 13 is in an operating state in which neither heating nor cooling is performed (fan operation). The above-mentioned determination of the operating state is merely an example, and the operating state of cooling, heating, and cooling / heating stopped may be determined by other methods.

[0050] The control device 21 compares the operating state of each indoor unit 13 determined as described above with the operation contents instructed to each indoor unit 13, and judges whether the two match. If the two do not match, it judges that there is a wiring error in that indoor unit 13, and notifies the fact. This notification can be performed, for example, by displaying an error on a display unit provided on the control board or remote control of each control device 21, 23, 25, or by emitting a sound or light.

[0051] When a worker such as a serviceman who inspects the wiring condition confirms a notification of incorrect wiring, he or she rewrites the address of the indoor unit 13. For example, in the example shown in Fig. 5, the operating states of the indoor unit 13 with address A and the indoor unit 13 with address B are switched, so the address of the indoor unit 13 with address A is rewritten to B, and the address of the indoor unit 13 with address B is rewritten to A. This rewriting work aligns the connections of the outdoor unit 11, indoor unit 13, and switching device 15 through the refrigerant pipes 12, 14 and the connections through the communication lines 17, 18, and each indoor unit 13 becomes able to operate as instructed.

[0052] The above address rewriting may be performed automatically by the control device 21. In this case, the control device 21 can perform a process of rewriting the address of any one of the indoor units 13 determined to have incorrect wiring, among the multiple indoor units 13, to the address of another indoor unit 13 to which an instruction matching the actual operating state of that indoor unit 13 has been given.

[0053] In the above example, since there are three indoor units 13 and switching devices 15, different operation instructions for cooling, heating, and cooling / heating stop (air blowing) can be given to each, and each indoor unit 13 only needs to be operated once to inspect the wiring status. If the number of indoor units 13 and switching devices 15 increases, each indoor unit 13 can be operated in a unique operation pattern by performing the operation for inspecting the wiring status two or more times. Below, a description will be given of a case where there are four or more indoor units 13 and switching devices 15.

[0054] (When there are four or more indoor units and switching devices) Fig. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another example of an air conditioning system including a faulty wiring indoor unit. Fig. 6 shows a case where the air conditioning system 100 is equipped with four indoor units 13 and a switching device 15. For convenience, the switching devices 15 are numbered No. 1 to No. 4, and the addresses of the indoor units 13 are A to D. As shown in Fig. 6, when there are four indoor units 13, if there are only three operating states, cooling, heating, and cooling / heating stopped (air blowing), as described above, two indoor units 13 will be in the same operating state. Therefore, it is not possible to inspect the wiring state of all indoor units in one operation and identify the incorrectly wired indoor unit 13 and its correct address. However, if there are four to nine indoor units 13, it is possible to operate all indoor units 13 in a unique operating pattern in two operations, and it is possible to inspect the wiring state of all indoor units 13 and identify the incorrectly wired indoor unit 13 and its correct address.

[0055] FIG. 7 is a table showing operation patterns for inspecting the wiring state. FIG. 7 shows a case where the indoor units 13 and the switching devices 15 are up to nine. In this case, each indoor unit 13 can be operated in a unique operation pattern by two operations. For example, the first indoor unit 13 is in cooling operation the first time and in cooling operation the second time, and such an operation pattern does not exist in the other indoor units 13. The second indoor unit 13 is in heating operation the first time and in heating operation the second time, and such an operation pattern does not exist in the other indoor units 13. The same applies to the operation patterns of the other indoor units 13. Therefore, by operating multiple indoor units 13 in the operation patterns shown in the table of FIG. 7, it is possible to identify the miswired indoor unit 13 and its regular address from among the nine indoor units 13.

[0056] With reference to Fig. 6, a case where the wiring state of four indoor units 13 is inspected will be described. The control device 21 issues operation instructions shown in the table of Fig. 7 to the four indoor units 13 and the switching device 15. The control device 21 judges the operation state of each indoor unit 13 by the method described above, compares it with the instructed operation content, and judges whether the two match.

[0057] As shown in Fig. 8, the operation contents instructed in the two operations of the indoor unit 13 at address A match with the actual operation state. The operation contents instructed in the indoor units 13 at addresses B to D differ from the actual operation state. Therefore, the control device 21 determines that erroneous wiring has occurred in these indoor units 13 and issues a notice of erroneous wiring.

[0058] When a worker inspecting the wiring state confirms a notification of incorrect wiring, the worker rewrites the address of the indoor unit 13. For example, in the example shown in Fig. 8, the operation state (heating + cooling) of the indoor unit 13 at address B matches the operation content instructed to the indoor unit 13 at address D, so the worker rewrites the address of this indoor unit 13 from B to D. Similarly, the operation state (heating + heating) of the indoor unit 13 at address C matches the operation content instructed to the indoor unit 13 at address B, so the address of this indoor unit 13 is rewritten from C to B. Similarly, the operation state (blowing + blowing) of the indoor unit 13 at address D matches the operation content instructed to the indoor unit 13 at address C, so the address of this indoor unit 13 is rewritten from D to C. This rewriting operation ensures that the connections of the outdoor unit 11, the indoor unit 13, and the switching device 15 via the refrigerant pipes 12, 14 and the connections via the communication lines 17, 18 are consistent, enabling each indoor unit 13 to operate as instructed.

[0059] If there are ten or more indoor units 13 and switching devices 15, this can be accommodated by further increasing the number of times the system is operated to inspect the wiring condition. Fig. 9 is a table showing operation patterns for inspecting the wiring state. As shown in Fig. 9, when the number of indoor units 13 and switching devices 15 is up to 27, by performing three operations, each indoor unit 13 can be operated in a unique operation pattern, the wiring state of all indoor units 13 can be inspected, and the incorrectly wired indoor unit 13 and its correct address can be identified. Similarly, when the number of indoor units 13 and switching devices 15 is 28 or more and 81 or less, by performing four operations, each indoor unit 13 can be operated in a unique operation pattern, the wiring state of all indoor units 13 can be inspected, and the incorrectly wired indoor unit 13 and its correct address can be identified.

[0060] The relationship between the number of operations for inspecting the wiring state and the number of indoor units 13 and switching devices 15 is the same as the relationship between the number of digits in the ternary system and the number converted to a decimal system. To explain in detail, in the ternary system, the number of numbers that can be expressed by one digit is (0, 1, 2), the number of numbers that can be expressed by two digits is (00, 01, 02, 10, 11, 12, 20, 21, 22), the number of numbers that can be expressed by three digits is 27, and the number of numbers that can be expressed by four digits is 81. These relationships are the same as the relationship between the number of operations and the number of indoor units 13 and switching devices 15 described above. Also, for example, by replacing cooling with "0" in the ternary system, heating with "1", and stopping cooling and heating with "2", it is possible to easily set operation patterns that do not overlap with each other using the ternary system. For example, if the ternary number is expressed as two digits, it becomes "00", "01", "02", "10", "11", "12", "20", "21", and "22". However, if the digits 0, 1, and 2 are assigned to cooling, heating, and stopping of heating and cooling respectively, it is possible to easily set operation patterns that do not overlap with each other for two operations.

[0061] (When the number of indoor units and the number of switching devices are different) The above explanation is for the case where one indoor unit 13 is connected to one switching device 15. However, it is possible to connect multiple indoor units 13 in parallel to one switching device 15. In this case, all of the multiple indoor units 13 connected to one switching device 15 are in the same operating state.

[0062] FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram showing another example of an air conditioning system including an indoor unit with incorrect wiring. In the example shown in Fig. 10, three switching devices 15 are provided, and one indoor unit 13 is connected to each of the No. 1 and No. 2 switching devices 15. In contrast, two indoor units 13 are connected to the No. 3 switching device 15. The addresses of the total four indoor units 13 are A, B, C1, and C2.

[0063] When the number of indoor units 13 is greater than the number of switching devices 15, the operation pattern and the number of operations are set according to the number of switching devices 15. In the example of Fig. 10, since the number of switching devices 15 is three, one operation is performed according to the operation pattern shown in Fig. 4 to inspect the wiring condition.

[0064] The control device 21 instructs the four indoor units 13 and three switching devices 15 to operate in the operation pattern shown in Fig. 4. The control device 21 judges the operating state of each indoor unit 13 by the method described above, compares it with the instructed operation content, and determines whether the two match.

[0065] As shown in Fig. 11, the indoor unit 13 with address A has an instructed operation content that matches its actual operation state. In contrast, the indoor unit 13 with address B has an instructed operation content (heating) that differs from its actual operation state (air blowing). The indoor unit 13 with address C1 also has an instructed operation content (air blowing) that differs from its actual operation state (heating). The indoor unit 13 with address C2 has an instructed operation content (air blowing) that matches its actual operation content (air blowing). Therefore, the control device 21 can determine that incorrect wiring has occurred between the indoor unit 13 with address B and the indoor unit 13 with address C1.

[0066] (Number of indoor units and switching devices for each operation) As shown in Figures 4, 7, and 9, the operation patterns are set so that the number of switching devices connected to indoor units 13 performing cooling operation, the number of switching devices connected to indoor units 13 performing heating operation, and the number of switching devices 15 connected to indoor units 13 that have stopped cooling or heating do not diverge from one another.

[0067] Specifically, when there are three switching devices 15 as shown in Fig. 4, the number of switching devices 15 connected to the indoor units 13 that perform cooling, heating, and cooling / heating stop (fan) is one each. When there are nine switching devices 15 as shown in Fig. 7, the number of switching devices 15 connected to the indoor units 13 that perform cooling, heating, and cooling / heating stop (fan) is three each in the first and second operations. When there are 27 switching devices 15 as shown in Fig. 9, the number of switching devices 15 connected to the indoor units 13 that perform cooling, heating, and cooling / heating stop (fan) is nine each in the first and second operations.

[0068] In Fig. 7, when the number of switching devices 15 is 5 to 8, the difference between the number of switching devices 15 connected to indoor units 13 performing cooling, the number of switching devices 15 connected to indoor units 13 performing heating, and the number of switching devices 15 connected to indoor units 13 performing cooling / heating / stop (fan) is within 1. In Fig. 9, when the number of switching devices 15 is 10 to 26, the difference between the number of switching devices 15 connected to indoor units 13 performing cooling, heating, and cooling / heating / stop (fan) is also within 1. The same applies when the number of switching devices 15 is 28 or more.

[0069] In this way, by ensuring that the number of switching devices 15 connected to the indoor units 13 that perform cooling, heating, and cooling / heating stop is consistent, it is possible to prevent large fluctuations in the operating frequency of the compressor 11a of the outdoor unit 11 or large fluctuations in the refrigerant flow rate through the refrigerant circuit during each operation, and it is possible to quickly switch between each operation.

[0070] The operation pattern for inspecting the wiring state may be set so that the number of switching devices 15 connected to indoor units 13 performing cooling operation and the number of switching devices 15 connected to indoor units 13 performing heating operation do not deviate from each other. For example, the ratio of one number to the other number may be 1.5 or less. In other words, the ratio of one number to the other number may be set to be 4:6 or closer to 5:5.

[0071] However, when there are more indoor units 13 performing cooling or heating compared with indoor units 13 for which cooling or heating is stopped, it is necessary to increase the operating frequency of compressor 11a and increase the amount of refrigerant circulated accordingly. Therefore, it is preferable to set the operating pattern so that the numbers of switching devices 15 for cooling, heating, and cooling / heating / stopped operation do not diverge from each other.

[0072] It is desirable that the above-mentioned operation for inspecting the wiring state is performed when the indoor temperature is stable. Specifically, it is recommended to perform the operation when the indoor temperature is within a predetermined temperature range. If the indoor temperature is too high or too low, it is difficult to determine the cooling and heating operation states. Before performing the operation for inspecting the wiring state, the control device 21 instructs a preliminary air-conditioning operation to keep the indoor temperature within a predetermined range. For example, if the indoor temperature is higher than the predetermined temperature range, the control device 21 instructs an indoor cooling operation in advance so that the indoor temperature falls within the predetermined range. Conversely, if the indoor temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature range, the control device 21 instructs an indoor heating operation in advance so that the indoor temperature falls within the predetermined range.

[0073] In order to inspect the wiring condition, the control device 21 checks whether the number of indoor units 13 for which cooling has been instructed matches the number of indoor units 13 that are actually in cooling operation, and whether the number of indoor units 13 for which heating has been instructed matches the number of indoor units 13 that are actually in heating operation, and then judges whether the instructed operation content matches the actual operation state for each indoor unit 13. This is because if the number of indoor units 13 for which cooling and heating have been instructed differs from the number of indoor units 13 that are actually in cooling and heating operation, it will be impossible to accurately identify the indoor units 13 that have been miswired.

[0074] In addition, the control device 21 may, in order to inspect the wiring state, determine whether the instructed operation details for each indoor unit 13 match with the actual operating state after the number of indoor units 13 to which it has given instructions for any one of cooling, heating, and cooling / heating stop matches with the number of indoor units 13 in that operating state. Alternatively, the control device 21 may, in order to inspect the wiring state, determine whether the instructed operation details for each indoor unit 13 match with the actual operating state after the number of indoor units 13 to which it has given instructions for at least two of cooling, heating, and cooling / heating stop matches with the number of indoor units 13 in that operating state.

[0075] The above-described wiring state inspection procedure is shown in a flowchart in Fig. 12. The flow of the wiring state inspection will be briefly explained using this flowchart. In this explanation, it is assumed that the number of switching devices 15 is 81 or less.

[0076] When the control device 21 starts the process of inspecting the wiring state, it determines in step S1 whether the room temperature is within a predetermined range. If the determination in step S1 is affirmative (Yes), the control device 21 proceeds to step S2, and if the determination in step S1 is negative (No), the control device 21 proceeds to step S8. In step S8, the control device 21 causes the outdoor unit 11, the indoor unit 13, and the switching device 15 to perform pre-heating or pre-cooling, and keeps the room temperature within the predetermined range.

[0077] In step S2, the control device 21 issues instructions for cooling, heating, and fan operation (stopping cooling and heating) to the outdoor unit 11, the indoor unit 13, and the switching device 15 in accordance with the operating patterns shown in Figures 4, 7, and 9, and performs cooling, heating, and fan operation in each indoor unit 13.

[0078] Next, in step S3, the control device 21 determines the operating state of each indoor unit 13. In step S4, the control device 21 determines whether the number of indoor units 13 for which cooling and heating have been instructed matches the number of indoor units 13 for which cooling and heating have been determined. If the determination in step S4 is affirmative (Yes), the control device 21 advances the process to step S5, and if the determination in step S4 is negative (No), the control device 21 returns the process to step S3.

[0079] In step S5, the control device 21 judges whether the number of switching devices 15 is 3 or less, or whether the number is 4 to 9 and the second operation has been completed, or whether the number of switching devices 15 is 10 to 27 and the third operation has been completed, or whether the number of switching devices 15 is 28 to 81 and the fourth operation has been completed. If the judgment in step S5 is positive (Yes), the control device 21 proceeds to the process in step S6, and if the judgment in step S5 is negative (No), the control device 21 returns the process to step S2 and repeats the second and subsequent operations.

[0080] In step S6, the control device 21 determines whether or not there is a faulty wiring of the indoor unit 13. Specifically, it determines whether or not the instructed operation content matches the actual operation state of each indoor unit 13. As a result, if it is determined that there is a faulty wiring of the indoor unit 13, the control device 21 notifies an operator such as a serviceman that there is a faulty wiring in step S7.

[0081] [Second embodiment] FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram of an air conditioning system according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. The air conditioning system 100 of this embodiment includes a centralized control device 60 in addition to the outdoor unit 11, the indoor unit 13, and the switching device 15. This centralized control device 60 is installed, for example, in a central monitoring room of a building. The centralized control device 60 monitors the operating status of the outdoor unit 11 and the indoor unit 13 and performs remote control, etc.

[0082] The centralized control device 60 includes a control device 61, which is connected to the control device 21 of the outdoor unit 11 via a communication line 19. The control device 61 includes a microcomputer having a calculation unit such as a CPU, and memories such as a RAM and a ROM. The control device 61 may include an integrated circuit such as an FPGA or an ASIC.

[0083] In this embodiment, the control device 61 of the centralized control device 60 functions as an inspection device that inspects the wiring state of the indoor units 13. Information such as detection values ​​of the sensors 51, 52, 53 required for inspecting the wiring state, address information of the indoor units 13, etc. are transmitted to this control device 61 from the control device 21 of the outdoor unit 11. When inspecting the wiring state, the control device 61 of the centralized control device 60 issues operation instructions to the outdoor unit 11, the indoor units 13, and the switching device 15 to stop cooling, heating, and cooling / heating, and judges the operating state of each indoor unit, judges incorrect wiring, etc.

[0084] The inspection device for inspecting the wiring state of the indoor unit 13 may be composed of the control device 23 of the indoor unit 13 and the control device 25 of the switching device 15, in addition to the control device 21 of the outdoor unit 11 and the control device 61 of the centralized control device 60. The inspection device may be composed of a control device of a remote monitoring device connected to the centralized control device 60 via a wide area communication line such as the Internet.

[0085] [Effects of the embodiment] (1) The air conditioning system 100 of the above embodiment can simultaneously operate cooling and heating. The air conditioning system 100 includes an outdoor unit 11, a plurality of indoor units 13 connected to the outdoor unit 11 by refrigerant pipes 12, 14 and communication lines 17, 18, and a control device 21, 61. The control device 21, 61 instructs the outdoor unit 11 and the indoor units 13 to operate so that the operating states of the plurality of indoor units 13 include all of cooling, heating, and cooling and heating stop, judges the actual operating state of each indoor unit 13, and judges whether the operating state matches the instructed operating content. In this way, the control device 21, 61 judges whether the operating content instructed to the indoor unit 13 matches the actual operating state of the indoor unit 13 for the three operating states of cooling, heating, and cooling and heating stop, thereby inspecting the wiring state of the indoor unit 13 with a small number of operations and identifying the indoor unit 13 that has been miswired. For example, the wiring condition of the indoor units 13 can be inspected in one operation if there are three indoor units 13, in two operations if there are four to nine indoor units 13, in three operations if there are 10 to 27 indoor units 13, and in four operations if there are 28 to 81 indoor units 13.

[0086] (2) In the above embodiment, the control device 21 has a plurality of operation patterns that combine cooling, heating, and stopping cooling / heating, and operates the plurality of indoor units 13 a plurality of times in different operation patterns. With this configuration, even if the number of indoor units 13 increases, the wiring state can be inspected with a small number of operations.

[0087] (3) In the above embodiment, a plurality of switching devices 15 that switch the refrigerant flow path between the outdoor unit 11 and the indoor unit 13 in accordance with each of the cooling and heating operations are connected to the refrigerant pipes 12, 14. The operation patterns of cooling, heating, and stopping cooling / heating are set according to the number of switching devices 15. When multiple indoor units 13 are connected to one switching device 15, an operation pattern can be set according to the number of switching devices 15, and the wiring condition can be inspected.

[0088] (4) In the above embodiment, the control device 21 validates the result of the judgment after the number of indoor units 13 that have been instructed to operate in cooling, heating, or cooling / heating stopped matches the number of indoor units 13 in that operating state. Therefore, the wiring state can be inspected using the judgment result after the operating state of cooling, heating, or cooling / heating stopped has stabilized, and the indoor units 13 that have been miswired can be accurately identified.

[0089] (5) In the above embodiment, the control device 21 validates the result of the judgment after the number of indoor units 13 that have issued an instruction to operate at least two of cooling, heating, and cooling / heating / stopped matches the number of indoor units 13 in that operating state. Therefore, the wiring state of the indoor units 13 can be inspected using the judgment result after at least two operating states of cooling, heating, and cooling / heating / stopped are stabilized, and the indoor units 13 that are miswired can be accurately identified.

[0090] (6) In the above embodiment, a plurality of switching devices 15 that switch the refrigerant flow path between the outdoor unit 11 and the indoor unit 13 according to each of the cooling and heating operations are connected to the refrigerant pipes 12, 14, and the control device 21 sets the number of switching devices 15 connected to the indoor unit 13 that instructs cooling and the number of switching devices 15 connected to the indoor unit 13 that instructs heating so that they do not deviate from each other. For example, the control devices 21, 61 set the ratio of the number of switching devices 15 connected to the indoor unit 13 that instructs cooling to the number of switching devices 15 connected to the indoor unit 13 that instructs heating to be 1.5 or less. Therefore, switching between cooling, heating, and stopping cooling and heating can be quickly performed, and stable operation can be quickly performed.

[0091] (7) In the above embodiment, a plurality of switching devices 15 for switching the refrigerant flow path between the outdoor unit 11 and the indoor unit 13 according to each of cooling and heating operations are connected to the refrigerant pipes 12, 14, and the control device 21 sets the number of switching devices 15 connected to the indoor unit 13 that instructs cooling, the number of switching devices 15 connected to the indoor unit 13 that instructs heating, and the number of switching devices 15 connected to the indoor unit 13 that instructs stopping cooling / heating so that there is no discrepancy between them. Therefore, switching between cooling, heating, and stopping cooling / heating / heating can be quickly performed, and stable operation can be quickly performed.

[0092] (8) In the above embodiment, the indoor unit 13 has a fan 45 that takes in indoor air, and the control device 21 operates the fan 45 of the indoor unit 13 that instructs the cooling / heating to stop. Therefore, when the cooling / heating is stopped, the temperature of the refrigerant in the indoor unit 13 is quickly returned to room temperature, and then, it is possible to smoothly switch to cooling or heating.

[0093] (9) In the above embodiment, the indoor unit 13 has temperature sensors 51, 52 that detect the temperature of the refrigerant, and the control device 21 determines the actual operating state based on the detection results of the temperature sensors 51, 52. Since the temperature of the refrigerant flowing into the indoor unit 13 differs between cooling and heating, the refrigerant temperature can be used to determine the operating state.

[0094] (10) In the above embodiment, before instructing the control device 21 to perform operation for the determination, the control device 21 causes the outdoor unit 11 and the indoor unit 13 to perform a preliminary air-conditioning operation to set the indoor temperature within a predetermined range. If the indoor temperature is too high or too low, it becomes difficult to accurately determine the cooling and heating operating states, so the indoor temperature can be stabilized at an appropriate temperature in advance.

[0095] (11) In the above embodiment, the indoor unit 13 has an address (identification information) for identifying itself, and the control device 21 changes the address of an indoor unit 13 whose actual operating state does not match the instructed operating content in the above determination (an abnormal indoor unit) to match the actual operating state with the instructed operating content. In this way, by changing the identification information of the incorrectly wired indoor unit 13, the indoor unit 13 can be operated normally.

[0096] (12) In the above embodiment, the control device 21 rewrites the address of one abnormal indoor unit 13 to the address of another abnormal indoor unit 13 that has been instructed to match the actual operating state of the one indoor unit 13. Therefore, by rewriting the identification information of the faulty indoor unit 13 to the identification information of the other faulty indoor unit 13, the former indoor unit 13 can be operated normally.

[0097] (13) In the above embodiment, the control device 21 is provided in the outdoor unit 11. Therefore, the outdoor unit 11 itself can inspect the wiring state of the indoor unit 13, and can smoothly take subsequent measures, such as rewriting the address of the indoor unit 13.

[0098] [Other variations] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. For example, the inspection device of the present disclosure may be a dedicated inspection device separate from the air conditioning system 100. For example, the inspection device may be configured with a computer having the above-mentioned wiring state inspection function. By connecting this inspection device to the control device 21 of the outdoor unit 11, etc., and performing the above-mentioned procedure, the wiring state of the indoor unit 13 can be inspected.

[0099] The function of the switching device 15 may be provided in the indoor unit 13. For example, the internal liquid pipe 30, the first to third internal gas pipes 31-33, and the first and second control valves 41, 42 of the switching device 15 described in the above embodiment may be provided in the indoor unit 13. The switching device 15 may be controlled by the control device 23 of the indoor unit 13. [Explanation of symbols]

[0100] 11:Outdoor unit 12: Refrigerant piping 13: Indoor unit 14: Refrigerant piping 15: Switching device 17: Communication line 18: Communication line 21: Control device 45: Fan 51: Temperature sensor 52: Temperature sensor 61: Control device 100: Air conditioning systems

Claims

1. An air conditioning system capable of simultaneously operating cooling and heating, An outdoor unit (11); a plurality of indoor units (13) connected to the outdoor unit (11) by refrigerant piping (12, 14) and communication lines (17, 18); and a control device (21, 61) that issues operation instructions to the outdoor unit (11) and the indoor units (13) so that the operating states of the plurality of indoor units (13) include all of cooling, heating, and cooling / heating stopped, and that judges the actual operating state of each of the indoor units (13) and determines whether the operating state matches the instructed operating content.

2. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the control device (21, 61) has a plurality of operation patterns each combining cooling, heating, and stopping cooling and heating, and operates the indoor units (13) a plurality of times in different operation patterns.

3. A plurality of switching devices (15) are connected to the refrigerant pipes (12, 14) for switching a refrigerant flow path between the outdoor unit (11) and the indoor unit (13) in accordance with each of cooling and heating operations; The air conditioning system according to claim 2, wherein the operation pattern is set according to the number of the switching devices (15).

4. The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control device (21, 61) validates the result of the determination after the number of the indoor units (13) to which it has instructed cooling, heating, or stopping cooling and heating operation matches the number of the indoor units (13) in that operating state.

5. The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control device (21, 61) validates the result of the judgment after the number of the indoor units (13) that have issued an instruction to operate at least two of cooling, heating, and stopping cooling and heating matches the number of the indoor units (13) that are in that operating state.

6. A plurality of switching devices (15) are connected to the refrigerant pipes (12, 14) for switching a refrigerant flow path between the outdoor unit (11) and the indoor unit (13) in accordance with each of cooling and heating operations; The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control device (21, 61) sets the number of the switching devices (15) connected to the indoor units (13) that instruct cooling and the number of the switching devices (15) connected to the indoor units (13) that instruct heating so that there is no discrepancy between them.

7. 7. The air conditioning system according to claim 6, wherein the control device (21, 61) sets a ratio of the number of the switching devices (15) connected to the indoor units (13) that instruct cooling to the number of the switching devices (15) connected to the indoor units (13) that instruct heating to be 1.5 or less.

8. A plurality of switching devices (15) are connected to the refrigerant pipes (12, 14) for switching a refrigerant flow path between the outdoor unit (11) and the indoor unit (13) in accordance with each of cooling and heating operations; The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control device (21, 61) sets the respective numbers so that there is no discrepancy between the number of the switching devices (15) connected to the indoor units (13) that instruct cooling, the number of the switching devices (15) connected to the indoor units (13) that instruct heating, and the number of the switching devices (15) connected to the indoor units (13) that instruct stopping cooling or heating.

9. The indoor unit (13) has a fan that takes in indoor air, The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the control device (21, 61) operates the fan of the indoor unit (13) for which it has instructed to stop cooling or heating.

10. The indoor unit (13) has a temperature sensor (51, 52) for detecting a temperature of a refrigerant, The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the control device (21, 61) judges an actual operating state based on a detection result of the temperature sensor (51, 52).

11. The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the control device (21, 61) causes the outdoor unit (11) and the indoor unit (13) to perform a preliminary air-conditioning operation to set the indoor temperature within a predetermined range before instructing the operation for the determination.

12. The indoor unit (13) has identification information for identifying itself, The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the control device (21, 61) changes identification information for an abnormal indoor unit (13) whose actual operating state does not match the instructed operating content in the judgment, in order to make the actual operating state match the instructed operating content.

13. The air conditioning system according to claim 12, wherein the control device (21, 61) rewrites the identification information of one abnormal indoor unit (13) to identification information of another abnormal indoor unit (13) for which an instruction matching the actual operating state of the one abnormal indoor unit (13) has been given.

14. The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the control device (21) is provided in the outdoor unit (11).

15. An inspection device that issues operation instructions to an outdoor unit (11) and multiple indoor units (13) in an air conditioning system capable of simultaneously operating cooling and heating, so that the operating states of the multiple indoor units (13) include all of cooling, heating, and stopping of cooling and heating, judges the actual operating state of each indoor unit (13), and determines whether the operating state matches the instructed operating content.

16. An inspection method for issuing operation instructions to an outdoor unit (11) and a plurality of indoor units (13) in an air conditioning system capable of simultaneously operating cooling and heating, so that the operating states of the plurality of indoor units (13) include all of cooling, heating, and stopping of cooling and heating, determining the actual operating state of each of the indoor units (13), and judging whether the operating state matches the instructed operating content.

Images