air conditioning system

Abstract

An air-conditioning system (100) according to the present disclosure comprises: a display unit (55); a compressor (10); an outdoor unit (20); a first indoor unit (30A); a second indoor unit (30B); a refrigeration cycle (11); a first temperature sensor (35A); a second temperature sensor (35B); and a control device (50) that controls the operation frequency of the compressor using predetermined conditions based on the temperature of air in rooms corresponding to the indoor units. At least one of the first indoor unit (30A) and the second indoor unit (30B) is designated as one to be subjected to the predetermined conditions. When at least one of the indoor units that have been designated as one to be subjected to the predetermined conditions does not satisfy the predetermined conditions, the control device (50) controls the operation frequency of the compressor such that the temperature of evaporation is low, and causes the display unit (55) to display information indicating whether or not the predetermined conditions are satisfied, for each of the first indoor unit (30A) and the second indoor unit (30B).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to air conditioning systems. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, air conditioning systems having a configuration in which multiple indoor units are connected to one outdoor unit are known. Such air conditioning systems are used in office buildings, commercial facilities, and the like.

[0003] International Publication No. 2018 / 220803 (Patent Document 1) describes a method for saving energy by adjusting the target evaporation temperature of a refrigerant system based on the detection value of a temperature and humidity detection means provided in at least one of a plurality of indoor units. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-152071 (Patent Document 2) describes a method for excluding from selection an indoor unit that continues to have the highest required capacity value, and determining whether to adjust the evaporation temperature based on the required capacity of the indoor units included in the selection. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2018 / 220803 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-152071 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In JP 2013-152071 A (Patent Document 2), a condition for determining whether to increase the evaporation temperature is set for each of multiple indoor units, and control to increase the evaporation temperature of the refrigerant circuit is performed when all indoor units meet the condition. If the multiple indoor units include an indoor unit installed near a heating element, the indoor unit near the heating element may not meet the condition, and control to increase the evaporation temperature of the refrigerant circuit may not be performed. For this reason, in JP 2013-152071 A (Patent Document 2), indoor units that continue to have a high required capacity value are excluded from the indoor units that are subject to the condition.

[0006] However, if the evaporation temperature is increased by excluding an indoor unit, the comfort of the room the excluded indoor unit is installed in may be impaired. Therefore, if the indoor unit excluded from the conditions is installed in a room that is important to the user, such as a living room, the user may not want to make the exclusion setting.

[0007] The present disclosure has been made to solve such problems, and its purpose is to provide an air conditioning system that, in an air conditioning system having multiple indoor units, allows the user to recognize whether the conditions for each indoor unit to perform control to increase the evaporation temperature are met, and assists in determining which indoor units should be set as excluded. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The air conditioning system of the present disclosure includes a display unit, a compressor, an outdoor unit, a first indoor unit, a second indoor unit, a refrigeration cycle connecting the compressor, the outdoor unit, the first indoor unit, and the second indoor unit and circulating a refrigerant, a first temperature sensor detecting a first air temperature in a room corresponding to the first indoor unit, a second temperature sensor detecting a second air temperature in a room corresponding to the second indoor unit, and a control device that controls the operating frequency of the compressor using predetermined conditions based on the air temperatures in the rooms corresponding to the indoor units. At least one of the first indoor unit and the second indoor unit is specified as being subject to the predetermined conditions. If all of the indoor units designated as targets satisfy the predetermined conditions, the control device controls the operating frequency of the compressor so that the evaporation temperature of the refrigeration cycle becomes a first evaporation temperature; if at least one of the indoor units designated as targets does not satisfy the predetermined conditions, the control device controls the operating frequency of the compressor so that the evaporation temperature of the refrigeration cycle becomes a second evaporation temperature lower than the first evaporation temperature, acquires a first air temperature from the first temperature sensor, acquires a second air temperature from the second temperature sensor, and displays information on the display unit indicating whether the predetermined conditions are satisfied for each of the first indoor unit and the second indoor unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present disclosure, in an air conditioning system having multiple indoor units, the user can be made aware of whether the conditions for each indoor unit to perform control to increase the evaporation temperature are met, and can be assisted in determining which indoor units should be set as excluded. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an air conditioning system. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a refrigeration cycle. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an air conditioning system. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a first example for explaining a predetermined condition indicating whether or not high sensible heat control is to be executed. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a second example for explaining a predetermined condition indicating whether or not high sensible heat control is to be executed. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the suitability of the conditions for high sensible heat control for each indoor unit during a predetermined period. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the period of high sensible heat control that has increased due to the exclusion setting. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a first diagram for explaining the display in ranking form of the total period of time that does not satisfy the predetermined conditions. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a second diagram for explaining the display in ranking form of the total period of time that does not satisfy the predetermined conditions. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a method for calculating an electricity charge that can be reduced by an exclusion setting. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the electricity charges that can be reduced for each refrigeration cycle. [Figure 12] 10 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for outputting the suitability of the conditions for high sensible heat control for each indoor unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the technical concept according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals. The names and functions of the components are also the same. Therefore, detailed descriptions thereof will not be repeated.

[0012] <Overall configuration of the air conditioning system> FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of an air conditioning system 100. The air conditioning system 100 of this embodiment is installed, for example, in an office building, a commercial facility, or the like. Below, an overview of each component of the air conditioning system 100 will be described. The air conditioning system 100 includes a control device 50, an outdoor unit 20, indoor units 30A to 30H, an outdoor unit 21, and indoor units 31A to 31H. For ease of explanation, the indoor units 30C to 30G and the indoor units 31C to 31G are illustrated in a simplified manner in FIG. 1. Below, the indoor units 30A to 30H may be collectively referred to simply as "indoor unit 30." Furthermore, the indoor units 31A to 31H may be collectively referred to simply as "indoor unit 31."

[0013] The control device 50 is electrically connected to the outdoor unit 20 and the outdoor unit 21. The control device 50 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a storage device (including, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory) and a RAM (Random Access Memory)), an input / output buffer, etc. The control device 50 adjusts the evaporation temperature in the indoor units 30, 31 by having the CPU execute a program stored in the storage device. In this embodiment, the control device 50 is a terminal device installed, for example, in a management office of an office building in which the air conditioning system 100 is installed. The control device 50 may be provided as a cloud server. In other words, the control device 50 may be installed in a location different from the office building in which the air conditioning system 100 is installed. The control device 50 includes a display unit 55 that displays various information. The display unit 55 is realized, for example, by a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display.

[0014] The office building in which the air conditioning system 100 is installed includes a plurality of rooms. Each of the indoor units 30A to 30H, 31A to 31H is installed in a room in the office building in which the air conditioning system 100 is installed. In other words, each of the indoor units 30A to 30H, 31A to 31H is associated with a room in the office building. Note that, in some aspects, a plurality of indoor units may be installed for one room.

[0015] The outdoor unit 20 and the indoor units 30A to 30H are connected by piping that circulates a refrigerant, forming a refrigeration cycle 11. The outdoor unit 21 and the indoor units 31A to 31H are connected by piping that circulates a refrigerant, forming a refrigeration cycle 12. In other words, the refrigeration cycle 11 formed by the outdoor unit 20 and the indoor units 30A to 30H is a refrigeration cycle formed by piping separate from the piping of the refrigeration cycle 12 formed by the outdoor unit 21 and the indoor units 31A to 31H. In other words, the piping that forms the refrigeration cycle 11 and the piping that forms the refrigeration cycle 12 do not communicate with each other.

[0016] In the air conditioning system 100 of this embodiment, the indoor units 30A to 30H are installed in rooms on the first floor of an office building, for example, and the indoor units 31A to 31H are installed in rooms on the second floor of the office building. The control device 50 is equipped with an input device (not shown), and the user inputs set temperatures, which are target room temperatures for the rooms in which the indoor units 30A to 30H and indoor units 31A to 31H are installed, into the input device. The input device is installed, for example, in the management room mentioned above. The control device 50 controls the compressors included in the refrigeration cycles 11 and 12 according to the set temperatures.

[0017] As described above, in the air conditioning system 100 of this embodiment, a plurality of indoor units 30A-30H, 31A-31H are connected to one outdoor unit 20, 21, respectively, and the compressors included in each refrigeration cycle 11, 12 are controlled collectively by the control device 50. The indoor unit 30A may correspond to the "first indoor unit" of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the indoor unit 30B may correspond to the "second indoor unit" of the present disclosure.

[0018] <Refrigeration cycle configuration and refrigerant circulation> Fig. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a refrigeration cycle 11. The refrigeration cycle 11 is configured to circulate a refrigerant sealed in a circulation flow path L1. In the refrigeration cycle 11, a compressor 10, a four-way valve 15, an outdoor unit 20, expansion valves 25A to 25H, and indoor units 30A to 30H are connected by piping. For ease of explanation, Fig. 2 simply illustrates the indoor units 30C to 30G and the expansion valves 25C to 25G.

[0019] The four-way valve 15 switches the flow path of the refrigerant flowing through the circulation flow path L1. In this embodiment, the state of the four-way valve 15 switches between a first state and a second state, and FIG. 2 shows the circulation flow path L1 when the four-way valve 15 is in the first state. When the four-way valve 15 is in the first state, the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle 11 circulates in the order of the compressor 10, the four-way valve 15, the outdoor unit 20, the expansion valves 25A to 25H, and the indoor units 30A to 30H. The type of refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle 11 is, for example, an HFC refrigerant or a natural refrigerant.

[0020] When the four-way valve 15 is switched from the first state to the second state, the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle 11 circulates in the order of the compressor 10, four-way valve 15, indoor units 30A-30H, expansion valves 25A-25H, and outdoor unit 20. That is, depending on the state of the four-way valve 15, the direction in which the refrigerant flows in the pipes connecting the four-way valve 15, indoor units 30A-30H, expansion valves 25A-25H, and outdoor unit 20 will be reversed. Below, the configuration of the air conditioning system 100 will be described in terms of the order in which the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle 11 flows through the circulation flow path L1 when the four-way valve 15 is in the first state.

[0021] The compressor 10 is configured to compress the gaseous refrigerant in the circulation flow path L1. The refrigerant discharged from the compressor 10 becomes a high-temperature, high-pressure, superheated gas. Direction D is the direction in which the compressor 10 discharges the refrigerant. Hereinafter, the direction in which the refrigerant flows from an arbitrary position in the circulation flow path L1 may be referred to as "downstream," and the direction in which the refrigerant flows, which is opposite to "downstream," may be referred to as "upstream." For example, the compressor 10 is disposed upstream of the four-way valve 15, and the four-way valve 15 is disposed downstream of the compressor 10.

[0022] When the four-way valve 15 is in the first state, the outdoor unit 20 functions as a condenser. Due to the air blown by the fan F20, the gas refrigerant passing through the outdoor unit 20 exchanges heat with the air surrounding the outdoor unit 20. As a result, the refrigerant passing through the outdoor unit 20 is condensed and becomes liquid refrigerant. The liquid refrigerant passes through the branch point BP1 and flows into each of the expansion valves 25A to 25H. The liquid refrigerant is decompressed by the expansion valves 25A to 25H and becomes refrigerant in a gas-liquid two-phase state.

[0023] The refrigerant in a two-phase gas-liquid state flows into the indoor units 30A to 30H. When the four-way valve 15 is in the first state, the indoor units 30A to 30H function as evaporators. In the indoor units 30A to 30H, the refrigerant in a two-phase gas-liquid state exchanges heat with the air surrounding the indoor units 30A to 30H due to the air blown by the fans FA to FH. In FIG. 2, the fans FC to FG are simplified for ease of explanation. As a result, some of the refrigerant in a two-phase gas-liquid state passing through the indoor units 30A to 30H evaporates and becomes gas refrigerant. The gas refrigerant joins at branch point BP2 and flows into the four-way valve 15.

[0024] The gas refrigerant then returns to the compressor 10 and is compressed again by the compressor 10. An accumulator may be installed in the circulation flow path L1 downstream of the four-way valve 15 and upstream of the compressor 10. In this way, in the air conditioning system 100, a refrigeration cycle 11 in which the refrigerant circulates through the circulation flow path L1 is formed by the components shown in FIG. 2. When the four-way valve 15 is in the second state, the outdoor unit 20 functions as an evaporator, and the indoor units 30A to 30H function as condensers. The refrigeration cycle 12 has a similar configuration to the refrigeration cycle 11, so description of the refrigeration cycle 12 will not be repeated.

[0025] The control device 50 controls the amount of refrigerant discharged per unit time by the compressor 10 by adjusting the operating frequency of the compressor 10. The control device 50 can increase the energy-saving effect of the air conditioning system 100 by lowering the operating frequency of the compressor 10. Lowering the operating frequency of the compressor 10 increases the evaporation temperature at which the refrigerant evaporates in the evaporator. Control that raises the evaporation temperature by lowering the operating frequency of the compressor 10 in this manner is referred to as "high sensible heat control." Note that "high sensible heat control" is also sometimes referred to as "evaporation temperature control." This allows for a reduction in energy consumption by the compressor 10. The evaporation temperature after high sensible heat control is performed may correspond to the "first evaporation temperature" in this disclosure. The evaporation temperature before high sensible heat control is performed may correspond to the "second evaporation temperature" in this disclosure.

[0026] The control device 50 determines whether or not to execute high sensible heat control for each of the refrigeration cycles 11, 12, each of which includes a compressor. The control device 50 uses preset conditions to determine whether or not to execute high sensible heat control. The control device 50 sets multiple indoor units among the indoor units 30 as targets for the preset conditions and determines whether or not the preset conditions are met for the target indoor units. The control device 50 executes high sensible heat control if all of the indoor units subject to the preset conditions meet the preset conditions, and does not execute high sensible heat control if at least one of the indoor units subject to the preset conditions does not meet the preset conditions.

[0027] The following specifically describes the default conditions for high sensible heat control for the refrigeration cycle 11. In the initial setting, all of the indoor units 30A to 30H included in the refrigeration cycle 11 are set as targets for the default conditions. In this embodiment, the default conditions refer to whether or not the temperature difference obtained by subtracting the set temperature set in the indoor units from the air temperature is within a default range. Hereinafter, the indoor units that are targets for the default conditions will be referred to as "target units."

[0028] The control device 50 executes high sensible heat control of the refrigeration cycle 11 when the temperature difference obtained by subtracting the set temperature set in the target unit from the air temperature is within a predetermined range in all of the target indoor units 30A to 30H. If there is an indoor unit where the temperature difference obtained by subtracting the set temperature set in the target unit from the air temperature is outside the predetermined range, the control device 50 does not execute high sensible heat control. The execution conditions for high sensible heat control will be explained in more detail later.

[0029] <Configuration of the control device 50> Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the air conditioning system 100. As shown in Fig. 3, the air conditioning system 100 includes indoor units 30A-30H, 31A-31H, outdoor units 20, 21, a control device 50, as well as sensors 35A-35H, sensors 36A-36H, and an external terminal 60. Hereinafter, the sensors 35A-35H may be collectively referred to simply as "sensor 35." Furthermore, the sensors 36A-36H may be collectively referred to simply as "sensor 36."

[0030] The sensors 35A to 35H are provided in the rooms in which the indoor units 30A to 30H are installed, respectively. The sensors 35A to 35H detect the temperature of the air in the rooms in which the indoor units 30A to 30H are installed. In other words, the sensors 35A to 35H detect the temperature of the air drawn in by the indoor units 30A to 30H. Similarly, the sensors 36A to 36H are provided in the rooms in which the indoor units 31A to 31H are installed, respectively. In other words, the sensors 36A to 36H detect the temperature of the air drawn in by the indoor units 31A to 31H.

[0031] The sensors 35A to 35H and the sensors 36A to 36H may be disposed inside the indoor units 30A to 30H and the indoor units 31A to 31H, respectively. The sensors 35 and 36 are, for example, temperature sensors such as thermistors. Each of the sensors 35 and 36 may also include a humidity sensor.

[0032] Sensor 35A may correspond to the "first temperature sensor" in this disclosure. Sensor 35B may correspond to the "second temperature sensor" in this disclosure. The air temperature detected by sensor 35A may correspond to the "first air temperature" in this disclosure. The air temperature detected by sensor 35B may correspond to the "second air temperature" in this disclosure.

[0033] Each of the sensors 35, 36 transmits the detected air temperature to the control device 50. That is, the control device 50 acquires the detected values ​​of each of the sensors 35, 36 via the indoor units 30, 31 and the outdoor units 20, 21.

[0034] 3, the control device 50 includes a counting unit 51, a storage unit 52, a setting unit 53, a calculation unit 54, a display unit 55, a determination unit 56, and an output unit 57. The counting unit 51 receives the detection values ​​of the sensors 35, 36 at predetermined intervals. For example, the counting unit 51 obtains the detection values ​​from the sensors 35, 36 every 10 seconds and writes them into the storage unit 52. Note that the predetermined interval may be an interval other than 10 seconds, such as 1 second or 2 minutes.

[0035] The storage unit 52 is a non-volatile memory, such as a recording medium that carries data and programs in a fixed manner, such as a hard disk, SSD (Solid State Drive), CD-ROM, FD (Flexible Disk), magnetic tape, cassette tape, optical disk (MO (Magnetic Optical Disc) / MD (Mini Disc) / DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)), IC (Integrated Circuit) card (including memory card), optical card, mask ROM, EPROM (Electronically Programmable Read-Only Memory), EEPROM (Electronically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), flash ROM, or other semiconductor memory.

[0036] The processes executed by the calculation unit 54, determination unit 56, and output unit 57 are realized by the cooperation of software executed by the CPU. The calculation unit 54 calculates the temperature difference obtained when the set temperature is subtracted from the air temperature for each of the indoor units 30A-30H and indoor units 31A-31H. The calculation unit 54 transmits the temperature difference obtained when the set temperature is subtracted from the air temperature for each of the indoor units 30A-30H and indoor units 31A-31H to the determination unit 56.

[0037] Setting unit 53 transmits predetermined conditions related to high sensible heat control to calculation unit 54. For example, setting unit 53 transmits a temperature difference range that serves as a condition for determining whether or not to perform high sensible heat control. The temperature difference range that serves as the condition is, for example, within +1°C. For all of the target units, when the temperature difference obtained by subtracting the set temperature set for the target unit from the air temperature is within the temperature difference range set by setting unit 53, control device 50 performs high sensible heat control of refrigeration cycle 11.

[0038] Specifically, for example, if the set temperature of indoor unit 30A is 26°C and the air temperature of indoor unit 30A is 26.5°C, the temperature difference obtained by subtracting the set temperature from the air temperature in indoor unit 30A is +0.5°C. Because the temperature difference obtained by subtracting the set temperature from the air temperature is within the range of temperature differences set by setting unit 53, indoor unit 30A meets the conditions for executing high sensible heat control.

[0039] On the other hand, if the set temperature of indoor unit 30A is, for example, 26°C and the air temperature of indoor unit 30A is 28°C, the temperature difference obtained by subtracting the set temperature from the air temperature in indoor unit 30A is +2°C. In other words, indoor unit 30A does not satisfy the condition for executing high sensible heat control. In this way, calculation unit 54 calculates whether the condition for executing high sensible heat control is satisfied for each of indoor units 30, 31 based on the air temperature obtained from sensors 35, 36, the set temperature set in indoor units 30, 31, and the temperature difference that serves as the condition obtained from setting unit 53. In this way, the predetermined condition is a condition that determines whether high sensible heat control is executed for each indoor unit 30, 31, and is a condition that determines whether the temperature difference obtained by subtracting the set temperature from the air temperature is within the range of temperature differences set by setting unit 53. The default condition may be other conditions, for example, the air temperature and the set temperature may be stored as history, and the default condition may be determined based on whether the period during which the temperature difference between the air temperature and the set temperature is within a default range is greater than a predetermined threshold.

[0040] The calculation unit 54 transmits the calculation results for each of the indoor units 30A-30H and the indoor units 31A-31H to the determination unit 56. The determination unit 56 determines whether all of the target units satisfy the conditions for executing high sensible heat control. As described above, the target units in the initial setting are, for example, the indoor units 30A-30H in the refrigeration cycle 11 and the indoor units 31A-31H in the refrigeration cycle 12. That is, the target units in the initial setting are all the indoor units included in the refrigeration cycle. The target units can be changed by setting, and the memory unit 52 stores which indoor units are set as target units. For example, the user can use an input device (not shown) included in the control device 50 to set the indoor unit 30A to be excluded from the target units. This setting to exclude an indoor unit from the target units is referred to as an "exclusion setting."

[0041] The determination unit 56 determines to execute high sensible heat control if the difference between the set temperature and the air temperature in all of the target units is within a predetermined range. The determination unit 56 determines not to execute high sensible heat control if the difference between the set temperature and the air temperature in at least one indoor unit included in the target units is not within a predetermined range. The determination unit 56 transmits the calculation result acquired from the calculation unit 54 to the output unit 57 in addition to the determination result indicating whether or not to execute high sensible heat control. Note that the output unit 57 may receive the calculation result directly from the calculation unit 54.

[0042] The output unit 57 outputs the calculation result and the determination result to the display unit 55. The display unit 55 displays the calculation result and the determination result. The output unit 57 also outputs the calculation result and the determination result to an external terminal 60. The external terminal 60 is, for example, a general-purpose PC, a smartphone, or a tablet terminal. In this way, the control device 50 determines whether or not each of the indoor units satisfies the predetermined condition, and if all of the target units satisfy the predetermined condition, controls the compressor 10 so as to increase the evaporation temperature of the refrigeration cycle.

[0043] In the present embodiment, the control device 50 displays the calculation results and the determination results on the display unit 55 and the external terminal 60 as data for determining whether or not each of the indoor units 30A to 30H satisfies the predetermined conditions. This allows the user in the air conditioning system 100 having multiple indoor units to recognize whether or not the conditions for performing high sensible heat control to raise the evaporation temperature are met for each indoor unit, and helps the user determine which indoor units should be set as excluded.

[0044] Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating a first example of a default condition indicating whether or not high sensible heat control is to be performed. Fig. 4 shows a coordinate system in which the vertical axis indicates air temperature and the horizontal axis indicates time. The coordinate system also shows eight waveforms as lines LnA to LnH. Lines LnA to LnH indicate the detected values ​​of sensors 35A to 35H, respectively. That is, Fig. 4 shows waveforms of the air temperature changes in indoor units 30A to 30H in the refrigeration cycle 11. In the examples of Figs. 4 and 5, all of the indoor units 30A to 30H are set as target units.

[0045] In the example of Fig. 4, the set temperature of each of the indoor units 30A to 30H is set to 26°C. As described above, the setting unit 53 sets +1°C as the range of temperature difference that determines whether or not to perform high sensible heat control. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 4, the temperature that serves as the threshold for determining whether or not to perform high sensible heat control is 27°C.

[0046] During periods Dr11 and Dr13, the detection value of sensor 35D, indicated by line LnD, exceeds 27° C. During period Dr15, the detection values ​​of sensors 35D and 35G, indicated by lines LnD and LnG, respectively, exceed 27° C. During period Dr17, the detection values ​​of sensors 35D, 35G, and 35C, indicated by lines LnD, LnG, and LnC, respectively, exceed 27° C.

[0047] Therefore, the control device 50 does not execute high sensible heat control during periods Dr11, Dr13, Dr15, and Dr17. On the other hand, the control device 50 executes high sensible heat control during periods Dr12, Dr14, and Dr16 because none of the target indoor units does not satisfy the predetermined conditions and all of the target units satisfy the predetermined conditions. That is, the evaporation temperature of the refrigeration cycle 11 rises during periods Dr12, Dr14, and Dr16.

[0048] Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating a second example of a default condition indicating whether or not to perform high sensible heat control. Similar to Fig. 4, Fig. 5 shows a coordinate system in which the vertical axis indicates air temperature and the horizontal axis indicates time, and shows lines LnA to LnH that indicate the detection values ​​of sensors 35A to 35H, respectively. Also in Fig. 5, setting unit 53 sets +1°C as the temperature difference range that determines whether or not to perform high sensible heat control.

[0049] 5, unlike Fig. 4, the set temperatures of indoor units 30A-30C and 30E-30H are set to 26°C, while the set temperature of indoor unit 30D is set to 22°C. In other words, the threshold temperature for determining whether or not to perform high sensible heat control for indoor units 30A-30C and 30E-30H is 27°C, and the threshold temperature for determining whether or not to perform high sensible heat control for indoor unit 30D is 23°C.

[0050] During periods Dr21, Dr23, Dr25, and Dr27, the detection value of sensor 35D, indicated by line LnD, exceeds 23° C. During period Dr26, the detection value of sensor 35G, indicated by line LnG, exceeds 27° C. During period Dr29, the detection values ​​of sensors 35G and 35C, indicated by lines LnG and LnC, respectively, exceed 27° C.

[0051] That is, the control device 50 does not execute high sensible heat control during periods Dr21, Dr23, Dr25, Dr26, Dr27, and Dr29. On the other hand, the control device 50 executes high sensible heat control during periods Dr22, Dr24, and Dr28 because there are no indoor units among the target units that do not satisfy the predetermined conditions and all of the target units satisfy the predetermined conditions. That is, the evaporation temperature of the refrigeration cycle 11 rises during periods Dr22, Dr24, and Dr28.

[0052] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, there are cases where high sensible heat control is not performed on some of the target indoor units 30A-30H because they do not satisfy the preset conditions. By excluding some of the indoor units that do not satisfy the preset conditions from the target units, the user can prioritize energy-saving effects in the refrigeration cycle over the comfort of the room in which the indoor unit is installed. However, for example, if indoor unit 30G is installed in a room that is highly important to the user, such as a reception room or a president's office, the user may not want to set it as an exclusion. The air conditioning system 100 of this embodiment uses the method described below to help the user determine which of the indoor units 30A-30H should be set as an exclusion.

[0053] 6 is a diagram showing the suitability of the conditions for high sensible heat control for each indoor unit during a predetermined period. In response to receiving a command from the user to output the suitability of the conditions for high sensible heat control for each indoor unit, the control device 50 generates the data shown in FIG. 6 and displays it on the display unit 55.

[0054] FIG. 6 shows, in tabular form, data indicating the suitability of the default conditions for each indoor unit 30A-30H from the time a command to output the suitability of the conditions for high sensible heat control for each indoor unit up to the most recent hour from the time a command to output the suitability of the conditions for high sensible heat control for each indoor unit is received. The most recent hour may correspond to the "default period" in this disclosure. The default period is not limited to the most recent hour, and may be, for example, one day, one week, or one month from the time specified by the user. The default period may be specified by the user together with the command to output the suitability of the conditions for high sensible heat control for each indoor unit.

[0055] The tabular data in Figure 6 shows whether the default conditions for each indoor unit 30, 31 were met every two minutes over the last hour. More specifically, the leftmost column marked "00" shows whether the default conditions for the indoor unit 30 were met for two minutes going back 60 minutes from when the output command was received. The column marked "20" shows whether the default conditions for the indoor unit 30 were met for two minutes going back 40 minutes from when the output command was received. Furthermore, the rightmost column marked "58" shows whether the default conditions for the indoor unit 30 were met for two minutes going back 40 minutes from when the output command was received.

[0056] In Figure 6 and subsequent figures, a state in which the indoor unit 30 does not satisfy the preset conditions is represented as "OFF." That is, in Figure 6, a period in which the temperature difference when the indoor unit's set temperature is subtracted from the indoor air temperature is not within a preset range is represented as "OFF." Specifically, for indoor unit 30A, the temperature difference when the indoor unit's set temperature is subtracted from the indoor air temperature is not within the preset range during the period from 36 minutes to 42 minutes, so "OFF" is displayed in the corresponding section in Figure 6. Furthermore, for indoor unit 30D, the temperature difference when the indoor unit's set temperature is subtracted from the indoor air temperature is not within the preset range during the period from 10 minutes to 30 minutes, so "OFF" is displayed in the corresponding section in Figure 6.

[0057] The lower part of Fig. 6 shows the periods during which high sensible heat control is not performed by the control device 50, divided into cases depending on whether or not an exclusion setting is in place. The periods during which high sensible heat control is not performed are represented as "OFF." As shown in Fig. 6, when an exclusion setting is not in place, the control device 50 performs high sensible heat control for 14 minutes in the most recent hour.

[0058] The control device 50 also displays the period during which high sensible heat control would be performed if indoor unit 30D had been set as an exclusion. Fig. 6 displays the period during which high sensible heat control would be performed if indoor unit 30D had been excluded from the target units, that is, when all of indoor units 30A-30C, 30E-30H satisfy the predetermined conditions regardless of the detection value of sensor 35D. If indoor unit 30D had been set as an exclusion, the control device 50 would have performed high sensible heat control for 36 minutes of the most recent hour.

[0059] Furthermore, the control device 50 also displays the period during which high sensible heat control would have been performed if exclusion settings had been made for indoor unit 30G in addition to indoor unit 30D. If exclusion settings were made for indoor unit 30D and indoor unit 30G, the control device 50 would have performed high sensible heat control for 44 minutes of the most recent hour. The example in FIG. 6 shows a case in which indoor unit 30D, which has the longest period in the "OFF" state, and indoor unit 30G, which has the second longest period in the "OFF" state after indoor unit 30D, are excluded, but data may also be generated in which other indoor units are excluded. The data shown in FIG. 6 is output by output unit 57 and displayed by display unit 55.

[0060] In this way, in the air conditioning system 100 of this embodiment, the period within the last hour in which the preset conditions are not satisfied is displayed on the display unit 55 in a comparable manner for each of the indoor units 30A to 30H. A comparable manner is, for example, a manner in which it is shown in tabular form. The information in Fig. 6, in which the period in which the preset conditions are not satisfied for each of the indoor units 30A to 30H is displayed in a comparable manner, is information indicating whether or not the preset conditions are satisfied for each of the indoor units 30A to 30H.

[0061] Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the period of high sensible heat control that has increased as a result of making an exclusion setting. In addition to the table shown in Fig. 6, the control device 50 generates the table shown in Fig. 7 and displays it on the display unit 55. As explained in Fig. 6, when no exclusion setting is made, high sensible heat control is performed for 14 minutes, when indoor unit 30D is excluded, high sensible heat control is performed for 36 minutes, and when indoor unit 30D and indoor unit 30G are excluded, high sensible heat control is performed for 44 minutes.

[0062] In addition to the execution period of high sensible heat control, the control device 50 displays the execution period of high sensible heat control that has increased due to the exclusion setting as an increased period in the right column. As shown in Fig. 7, when indoor unit 30D is excluded, the execution period of high sensible heat control increases by 22 minutes compared to when the exclusion setting is not made. When indoor unit 30D and indoor unit 30G are excluded, the execution period of high sensible heat control increases by 30 minutes compared to when the exclusion setting is not made.

[0063] In this way, the control device 50 in this embodiment calculates the execution period of high sensible heat control when the exclusion setting is not made and the execution period of high sensible heat control when the exclusion setting is made for the most recent hour, and displays them on the display unit 55. This allows the air conditioning system 100 to easily recognize the increase in the execution period of high sensible heat control when the exclusion setting is made. The increase in the execution period allows the user to determine whether or not to exclude the indoor units 30D, 30G. The execution period of high sensible heat control when the exclusion setting is not made may correspond to the "first period" in the present disclosure. Furthermore, the execution period of high sensible heat control when the exclusion setting is made may correspond to the "second period" in the present disclosure.

[0064] Fig. 8 is the first diagram for explaining the display in ranking form of the total period of time during which the predetermined conditions are not satisfied. Fig. 8 shows the total period of time during which the predetermined conditions are not satisfied for the indoor units 30A to 30H included in the refrigeration cycle 11. The control device 50 displays the total period of time during which the indoor units 30A to 30H do not satisfy the predetermined conditions within the most recent hour in a manner that allows comparison.

[0065] More specifically, the rankings are displayed using a bar graph as shown in Fig. 8. The indoor units 30A to 30H are displayed in descending order, starting with indoor unit 30D, which has not satisfied the preset conditions for the longest period of time. This allows the user to easily recognize which of the multiple indoor units in the air conditioning system 100 is interfering with the execution of high sensible heat control.

[0066] FIG. 9 is a second diagram for explaining the display of the total period of time during which the predetermined conditions are not satisfied in a ranking format. FIG. 9 shows the total period of time during which the predetermined conditions are not satisfied for the indoor units 31A to 31H included in the refrigeration cycle 12. Although not shown, in this embodiment, the control device 50 also generates the tables shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 for the refrigeration cycle 12. This allows the control device 50 to display the total period of time during which the predetermined conditions are not satisfied for the refrigeration cycle 12 in a ranking format. The control device 50 causes the display unit 55 to display the table shown in FIG. 9.

[0067] By comparing Figure 8 and Figure 9, the user can see that the period in which the preset conditions are not satisfied for indoor unit 30D is longer than for the other indoor units 30A to 30C and 30E to 30H in Figure 8. This allows the user to recognize, by referring to Figure 8, that if exclusion settings are made for indoor unit 30D, the period during which high sensible heat control is increased will be longer. This allows the air conditioning system 100 to make the user aware of indoor units with a large deviation between the set temperature and the air temperature.

[0068] <Electricity charge calculation> 10 is a diagram for explaining an example of a method for calculating an electricity charge that can be reduced by an exclusion setting. The following describes a method for estimating an electricity charge that can be reduced by an exclusion setting.

[0069] Unlike the examples in Figures 6 to 9, Figure 10 shows an example in which the user has selected the period from 9:00 to 19:00 on August 1st as the default period. The control device 50 references data for the period from 9:00 to 19:00 on August 1st from the storage unit 52, and generates the table shown in Figure 6. The example in Figure 10 shows periods in which high sensible heat control is not performed, divided into cases in which exclusion settings are not made and cases in which exclusion settings are made for the indoor unit 30D that does not satisfy the default conditions for the longest period. The example in Figure 10 shows an example in which cooling operation is performed.

[0070] The control device 50 calculates the cooling load or heating load for each hour. Hereinafter, the cooling load and heating load are collectively referred to as the "air conditioning load." When cooling operation is performed, the control device 50 calculates the cooling load by multiplying the refrigerant flow rate by the inlet / outlet specific enthalpy difference of the evaporator. More specifically, the cooling load is calculated using the formula: Cooling load [kW] = Refrigerant flow rate per unit time [kg / h] × evaporator inlet / outlet specific enthalpy difference [kJ / kg]. When heating operation is performed, the heating load is calculated by multiplying the refrigerant flow rate by the inlet / outlet specific enthalpy difference of the condenser.

[0071] The control device 50 calculates the refrigerant flow rate in the refrigeration cycle 11 per unit time based on the operating frequency of the compressor 10, the pressures of the high-pressure side and low-pressure side of the refrigeration cycle, and the apertures of the expansion valves 25A-25H. The control device 50 also determines the outlet specific enthalpy of the evaporator based on the liquid pipe temperatures of the indoor units 30A-30H and the gas pipe temperatures of the indoor units 30A-30H. The control device 50 also determines the inlet specific enthalpy of the evaporator based on the liquid pipe temperature of the outdoor unit 20. The operating frequency of the compressor 10, the pressures of the high-pressure side and low-pressure side, the apertures of the expansion valves 25A-25H, the liquid pipe temperatures of the indoor units 30A-30H and the gas pipe temperatures of the indoor units 30A-30H, and the liquid pipe temperature of the outdoor unit 20 are acquired by pressure sensors, temperature sensors, etc. (not shown), and stored in the memory unit 52.

[0072] The control device 50 calculates the cooling load for each hour as shown in Fig. 10. As shown in Fig. 10, the cooling load for the time period from 9:00 to 10:00 on August 1st is 18.4 kW. The cooling load for the time period from 10:00 to 11:00 on August 1st is 26.4 kW. Note that the cooling loads shown in Fig. 10 are average values ​​per hour.

[0073] After calculating the cooling load, the control device 50 acquires the coefficient of performance (COP). The coefficient of performance is an index that indicates the air conditioning capacity per unit of power consumption, and is determined in advance through experiments or the like and stored in the memory unit 52. The coefficient of performance is a value that changes depending on the air conditioning load. The memory unit 52 stores the correspondence relationship between the coefficient of performance and the air conditioning load when high sensible heat control is executed and the correspondence relationship between the coefficient of performance and the air conditioning load when high sensible heat control is not executed. After calculating the air conditioning load as shown in FIG. 10, the control device 50 calculates the difference between the coefficient of performance when high sensible heat control is executed and the coefficient of performance when high sensible heat control is not executed. Hereinafter, the difference between the coefficient of performance when high sensible heat control is executed and the coefficient of performance when high sensible heat control is not executed will be referred to as the "COP difference."

[0074] The control device 50 multiplies the cooling load by the increased period of high sensible heat control due to the exclusion setting shown in Fig. 10, and divides the multiplied result by the COP difference. In this way, the control device 50 can obtain the power consumption (kW) that can be reduced by executing high sensible heat control. Furthermore, the control device 50 multiplies the calculated power consumption by the fee per power consumption presented by the power supply company, and can calculate the electricity fee that can be reduced by executing high sensible heat control.

[0075] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the electricity bill that can be reduced for each refrigeration cycle. The control device 50 displays the electricity bill that can be reduced by executing high sensible heat control, obtained by the method described in FIG. 10, in association with the indoor units to be excluded. The example of FIG. 11 shows that, in the refrigeration cycle 11, excluding indoor unit 30D can reduce the electricity bill by 10,000 yen per month, and excluding indoor units 30D and 30G can reduce the electricity bill by 12,000 yen per month. Furthermore, FIG. 11 shows that, in the refrigeration cycle 12, excluding indoor unit 31A can reduce the electricity bill by 800 yen per month, and excluding indoor units 31A and 31E can reduce the electricity bill by 1,000 yen per month. Note that, although the example of FIG. 11 displays the electricity bill that can be reduced per month, it may also display the electricity bill that can be reduced for other periods. The control device 50 may also display the calculated power consumption on the display unit 55.

[0076] As explained in Figures 10 and 11, the air conditioning system 100 of this embodiment calculates the amount of power consumption that can be reduced by performing exclusion settings using the increased period of high sensible heat control, the air conditioning load, and the coefficient of performance. Furthermore, the control device 50 can calculate the amount of electricity bill that can be reduced using the tariff of an electric power supply company obtained from an external source. This allows the air conditioning system 100 to make the user aware of the amount of electricity bill that can be reduced by performing high sensible heat control, and can assist in determining whether to perform exclusion settings on the indoor units.

[0077] <Output Processing Procedure by the Control Device 50> FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the processing steps for outputting the suitability of the conditions for high sensible heat control for each indoor unit. The following describes the processing in the control device 50 of the air conditioning system 100 according to this embodiment. The flowchart shown in FIG. 12 is stored as a program in the storage unit 52 and executed by the control device 50. The control device 50 executes the flowchart shown in FIG. 12 when it receives a command from the user to output the suitability of the conditions for high sensible heat control for each indoor unit, or when a predetermined period has passed. The predetermined period is, for example, one month. The control device 50 can prompt the user to review the conditions for high sensible heat control by periodically displaying the data to the user.

[0078] The control device 50 calculates the periods during the predetermined period in which the predetermined conditions are met and the periods in which they are not met for each indoor unit (step S100). That is, the control device 50 generates the table described in FIG. 6 by referring to the storage unit 52. Next, the control device 50 generates data that can display the total period in which the predetermined conditions are not met in a ranking format for each indoor unit (step S110). That is, the control device 50 generates the data described in FIGS. 8 and 9.

[0079] Next, the control device 50 calculates the execution period of high sensible heat control that has increased when the exclusion setting has been made (step S120). That is, the control device 50 calculates the execution period of high sensible heat control that has increased when the exclusion setting has been made as described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. The control device 50 calculates the power consumption, and calculates the amount of power consumption and electricity charges that can be reduced (step S130). That is, the control device 50 calculates the amount of power consumption and electricity charges using the methods described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11.

[0080] Finally, the control device 50 outputs at least one of the data acquired in steps S100 to S130 (step S140). That is, the control device 50 displays at least one of the tables and graphs shown in Figs. 6 to 11 on the display unit 55 or the external terminal 60. This allows the user to recognize whether the conditions for performing control to increase the evaporation temperature are met for each indoor unit in the air conditioning system 100 having indoor units 30A to 30H, and supports the user in determining which indoor units should be set as excluded.

[0081] <Variation 1> As explained above, the flowchart shown in Fig. 12 may be executed based on the lapse of a predetermined period. This allows the control device 50 to periodically output data every month, for example, and prompt the user to review the settings related to high sensible heat control. In Modification 1, the air conditioning system 100 does not need to periodically output data if, for example, the electricity bill that can be reduced even when the exclusion setting is set is smaller than a predetermined value.

[0082] In the air conditioning system 100 of Modification 1, for example, with regard to the output of data in the ranking format shown in Figures 8 and 9, if the difference between the longest period in which the preset conditions are not satisfied and the other periods is small, the data does not have to be output. More specifically, with reference to Figure 8, if the period in which the preset conditions are not satisfied for indoor unit 30D is shorter than a predetermined value determined from the average of the periods in which the preset conditions are not satisfied for indoor units 30A to 30H, the control device 50 will not output the data shown in Figure 8. In other words, as shown in Figure 9, if the variance in the periods in which the preset conditions are not satisfied for each of the indoor units 31A to 31H is small, the effect obtained by making an exclusion setting is small, so data is not output and processing can be reduced.

[0083] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0084] 10 Compressor, 11, 12 Refrigeration cycle, 15 Four-way valve, 20, 21 Outdoor unit, 25A to 25H Expansion valve, 30A to 30H, 31A to 31H Indoor unit, 35A to 35H, 36A to 36H Sensor, 50 Control device, 51 Aggregation unit, 52 Memory unit, 53 Setting unit, 54 Calculation unit, 55 Display unit, 56 Judgment unit, 57 Output unit, 60 External terminal, 100 Air conditioning system, BP1, BP2 Branch point, D Direction, Dr11 to Dr17, Dr21 to Dr29 Period, F20, FA to FH Fan, L1 Circulation flow path, LnA to LnH line.

Claims

1. An air conditioning system, comprising: A display unit; A compressor; The outdoor unit and A first indoor unit; A second indoor unit; a refrigeration cycle that connects the compressor, the outdoor unit, the first indoor unit, and the second indoor unit and circulates a refrigerant; a first temperature sensor that detects a first indoor air temperature corresponding to the first indoor unit; a second temperature sensor that detects a second indoor air temperature corresponding to the second indoor unit; a control device that controls the operating frequency of the compressor using a predetermined condition based on the indoor air temperature corresponding to the indoor unit, At least one of the first indoor unit and the second indoor unit is determined to be subject to the predetermined condition, The control device When all of the indoor units determined as the targets satisfy the predetermined condition, the operating frequency of the compressor is controlled so that the evaporation temperature of the refrigeration cycle becomes a first evaporation temperature; When at least one of the indoor units determined as the target does not satisfy the predetermined condition, the operating frequency of the compressor is controlled so that the evaporation temperature of the refrigeration cycle becomes a second evaporation temperature that is lower than the first evaporation temperature; obtaining the first air temperature from the first temperature sensor; obtaining the second air temperature from the second temperature sensor; an air conditioning system that causes the display unit to display information indicating whether or not the predetermined condition is satisfied for each of the first indoor unit and the second indoor unit.

2. The control device a period during which the first indoor unit does not satisfy the predetermined condition within the predetermined period; The air conditioning system according to claim 1 , wherein the display unit displays a period within the predetermined period in which the second indoor unit does not satisfy the predetermined condition in a comparable manner.

3. The air conditioning system according to claim 2, wherein the control device causes the display unit to display, using a graph, the total period during which the first indoor unit does not satisfy the predetermined condition within the predetermined period and the total period during which the second indoor unit does not satisfy the predetermined condition.

4. The air conditioning system according to claim 2 , wherein the control device causes the display unit to display, in a tabular format, a period during which the first indoor unit does not satisfy the predetermined condition and a period during which the second indoor unit does not satisfy the predetermined condition.

5. The control device a first period in which the first indoor unit and the second indoor unit satisfy the predetermined condition when the first indoor unit and the second indoor unit are subject to the predetermined condition during the predetermined period; calculating a second period in which the second indoor unit satisfies the predetermined condition when the first indoor unit is not subject to the predetermined condition but the second indoor unit is subject to the predetermined condition during the predetermined period; The air conditioning system according to claim 2 , further comprising: a calculation unit for calculating an increased period indicating a difference between the second period and the first period; and displaying the calculated increased period on the display unit.

6. The air conditioning system according to claim 5 , wherein the control device calculates the amount of power consumption that can be reduced using the increased period, the air conditioning load of the first indoor unit, and a coefficient of performance.

7. Further comprising an external terminal; The control device a period during which the first indoor unit does not satisfy the predetermined condition within the predetermined period; The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the external terminal displays a period within the predetermined period in which the second indoor unit does not satisfy the predetermined condition in a comparable manner.

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