System and method for diagnosing malfunction of multi-air conditioner

Abstract

A system for diagnosing malfunctions of a multi-air conditioner according to an aspect of the invention disclosed herein comprises: a multi-air conditioner comprising a plurality of outdoor units and at least one indoor unit connected to the plurality of outdoor units, respectively; and a server configured to determine whether the multi-air conditioner malfunctions or not. The multi-air conditioner comprises: a plurality of power measurement units connected to the plurality of outdoor units, respectively, so as to measure the power consumption of the plurality of outdoor units and at least one indoor unit connected to the outdoor units, respectively; and a communication unit configured to transmit data regarding whether the plurality of outdoor units and at least one indoor unit connected to the plurality of outdoor units, respectively, operate or not, and measurement data from the plurality of power measurement units, to the server. The server may determine whether at least one of the plurality of outdoor units, at least one indoor unit connected to the plurality of outdoor units, respectively, the plurality of power measurement units, and the communication unit malfunctions or not on the basis of data regarding whether the plurality of outdoor units and at least one indoor unit connected to the plurality of outdoor units, respectively, operate or not, and measurement data from the plurality of power measurement units, received from the communication unit of the multi-air conditioner.

Description

Fault diagnosis system and fault diagnosis method for multi-air conditioner

[0001] The disclosed invention relates to a fault diagnosis system and a fault diagnosis method for a multi-air conditioner capable of determining whether the multi-air conditioner is faulty.

[0002] In general, an air conditioner is a device used for the purpose of cooling or heating a room, and performs cooling or heating by circulating a refrigerant between the indoor and outdoor units, and absorbing the surrounding heat when the liquid refrigerant vaporizes and releasing the heat when it liquefies.

[0003] Conventional air conditioners typically install one indoor unit to one outdoor unit, but recently, the use of multi-system air conditioners, which connect multiple indoor units of various shapes and capacities to one or more outdoor units to perform cooling or heating operations separately in large buildings with multiple separate spaces such as schools, companies, and hospitals, has been increasing.

[0004] In these multi-air conditioners, communication lines are connected between the outdoor unit and multiple indoor units, and communication is exchanged between them according to a set communication protocol through these communication lines, and the multiple indoor units can be controlled to operate based on the set temperature and the indoor temperature.

[0005] If a malfunction or other abnormality occurs in a component that makes up a multi-air conditioner, it may be difficult to calculate the exact power consumption of each outdoor and indoor unit unless the malfunctioning component is discovered and prompt action is taken.

[0006] One aspect of the disclosed invention provides a fault diagnosis system and a fault diagnosis method for a multi-air conditioner, which can determine whether each component in the multi-air conditioner is faulty and provide a notification, thereby enabling prompt action to be taken in response to a fault.

[0007] Additionally, by quickly addressing the failure of the multi-air conditioner, the exact power consumption of the multi-air conditioner can be measured.

[0008] The technical problems to be achieved in this document are not limited to the technical problems mentioned above, and other technical problems not mentioned can be clearly understood by a person having ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present invention belongs from the description below.

[0009] According to one aspect of the disclosed invention, a fault diagnosis system for a multi-air conditioner includes a multi-air conditioner including a plurality of outdoor units and at least one indoor unit connected to each of the plurality of outdoor units; and a server for determining whether the multi-air conditioner is faulty, wherein the multi-air conditioner includes a plurality of power measurement units connected to each of the plurality of outdoor units and measuring power consumption of each of the plurality of outdoor units and at least one indoor unit connected to each of the plurality of outdoor units, a communication unit for transmitting data regarding whether the plurality of outdoor units and at least one indoor unit connected to each of the plurality of outdoor units are operating and measurement data of the plurality of power measurement units to the server, and the server can determine whether at least one of the plurality of outdoor units and at least one indoor unit connected to each of the plurality of outdoor units, the plurality of power measurement units, or the communication unit is faulty based on the data regarding whether the plurality of outdoor units and at least one indoor unit connected to each of the plurality of outdoor units are operating and the measurement data of the plurality of power measurement units received from the communication unit of the multi-air conditioner.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a multi-air conditioner system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0011] FIG. 2 is a drawing showing a control block diagram of a multi-air conditioner fault diagnosis system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0012] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a multi-air conditioner fault diagnosis system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, by configuration.

[0013] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a multi-air conditioner fault diagnosis method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for diagnosing whether a multi-air conditioner is faulty based on a measured value of a power measurement unit according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method for diagnosing whether a multi-air conditioner is faulty by comparing a measured value of a power measurement unit according to one embodiment of the present disclosure with the maximum power consumption of the multi-air conditioner.

[0016] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method for diagnosing whether each component of a multi-air conditioner is faulty based on a measured value compared to the power used by the multi-air conditioner according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating transmitting information regarding a failure of a multi-air conditioner according to one embodiment of the present disclosure to an external device.

[0018] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating transmitting fault diagnosis information to an external device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0019] It should be understood that the various embodiments and terms used in this document are not intended to limit the technical features described in this document to specific embodiments, but rather to include various modifications, equivalents, or substitutes of the embodiments.

[0020] In connection with the description of the drawings, similar reference numerals may be used for similar or related components.

[0021] The singular form of a noun corresponding to an item may include one or more of said items, unless the relevant context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0022] In this document, each of the phrases "A or B", "at least one of A and B", "at least one of A or B", "A, B, or C", "at least one of A, B, and C", and "at least one of A, B, or C" may include any one of the items listed together in that phrase, or all possible combinations thereof.

[0023] The term “and / or” includes any combination of a plurality of related described elements or any one of a plurality of related described elements.

[0024] Terms such as "first," "second," or "first" or "second" may be used simply to distinguish one component from another and do not qualify the components in any other respect (e.g., importance or order).

[0025] When a component (e.g., a first component) is referred to as being "coupled" or "connected" to another component (e.g., a second component), with or without the terms "functionally" or "communicatively," it means that the component can be connected to the other component directly (e.g., wired), wirelessly, or through a third component.

[0026] The terms “include” or “have” are intended to specify the presence of a feature, number, step, operation, component, part or combination thereof described in this document, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof.

[0027] When a component is said to be “connected,” “coupled,” “supported,” or “in contact with” another component, this includes not only cases where the components are directly connected, coupled, supported, or in contact, but also cases where the components are indirectly connected, coupled, supported, or in contact through a third component.

[0028] When we say that a component is “on” another component, this includes not only cases where the component is in contact with the other component, but also cases where there is another component between the two components.

[0029] An air conditioner according to various embodiments is a device that performs functions such as air purification, ventilation, humidity control, cooling or heating in an air-conditioned space (hereinafter referred to as “indoor”), and means a device having at least one of these functions.

[0030] In one embodiment, an air conditioner may include a heat pump device to perform a cooling function or a heating function. The heat pump device may include a refrigeration cycle in which a refrigerant circulates along a compressor, a first heat exchanger, an expansion device, and a second heat exchanger. All components of the heat pump device may be housed in a single housing forming the exterior of the air conditioner, such as a window air conditioner or a portable air conditioner. On the other hand, some components of the heat pump device may be housed separately in multiple housings forming a single air conditioner, such as a wall-mounted air conditioner, a stand-alone air conditioner, and a system air conditioner.

[0031] An air conditioner including a plurality of housings may include at least one outdoor unit installed outdoors and at least one indoor unit installed indoors. For example, the air conditioner may be configured such that one outdoor unit and one indoor unit are connected via a refrigerant pipe. For example, the air conditioner may be configured such that one outdoor unit is connected to two or more indoor units via refrigerant pipes. For example, the air conditioner may be configured such that two or more outdoor units and two or more indoor units are connected via a plurality of refrigerant pipes.

[0032] The outdoor unit can be electrically connected to the indoor unit. For example, information (or commands) for controlling the air conditioner can be input through an input interface provided on either the outdoor or indoor unit, and the outdoor and indoor units can operate simultaneously or sequentially in response to user input.

[0033] The air conditioner may include an outdoor heat exchanger provided in an outdoor unit, an indoor heat exchanger provided in an indoor unit, and a refrigerant pipe connecting the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger.

[0034] An outdoor heat exchanger can utilize a phase change (e.g., evaporation or condensation) of the refrigerant to exchange heat between the refrigerant and the outdoor air. For example, while the refrigerant condenses in the outdoor heat exchanger, it releases heat to the outdoor air, and while the refrigerant flowing in the outdoor heat exchanger evaporates, it absorbs heat from the outdoor air.

[0035] Indoor units are installed indoors. For example, indoor units can be categorized into ceiling-mounted, stand-alone, and wall-mounted types depending on their placement. For example, ceiling-mounted indoor units can be categorized into four-way, one-way, and duct-type indoor units depending on how air is discharged.

[0036] Similarly, an indoor heat exchanger can utilize the phase change of the refrigerant (e.g., evaporation or condensation) to exchange heat between the refrigerant and indoor air. For example, while the refrigerant evaporates in the indoor unit, the refrigerant can absorb heat from the indoor air. The cooled indoor air can then be blown through the cooled indoor heat exchanger, thereby cooling the room. Furthermore, while the refrigerant condenses in the indoor heat exchanger, the refrigerant can release heat to the indoor air. By blowing the heated indoor air through the high-temperature indoor heat exchanger, the room can be heated.

[0037] That is, the air conditioner performs a cooling or heating function through a phase change process of the refrigerant circulating between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger. To circulate the refrigerant, the air conditioner may include a compressor that compresses the refrigerant. The compressor can suck in refrigerant gas through the suction port and compress the refrigerant gas. The compressor can discharge the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant gas through the discharge port. The compressor may be placed inside the outdoor unit.

[0038] The refrigerant may circulate through the refrigerant pipes in the order of a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion device, and an indoor heat exchanger, or in the order of a compressor, an indoor heat exchanger, an expansion device, and an outdoor heat exchanger.

[0039] For example, if an air conditioner has one outdoor unit and one indoor unit directly connected through a refrigerant pipe, the refrigerant may be arranged to circulate between one outdoor unit and one indoor unit through the refrigerant pipe.

[0040] For example, in an air conditioner, if one outdoor unit is connected to two or more indoor units via refrigerant pipes, the refrigerant may flow to multiple indoor units via refrigerant pipes branching from the outdoor unit. The refrigerant discharged from the multiple indoor units may be combined and circulated to the outdoor unit. For example, multiple indoor units may be directly connected in parallel to a single outdoor unit via separate refrigerant pipes.

[0041] Multiple indoor units can operate independently, each according to a user-defined operating mode. That is, some indoor units can operate in cooling mode, while others operate in heating mode. In this case, the refrigerant can be selectively introduced into each indoor unit at either high or low pressure along a designated circulation path via a flow-through valve, described later, and then discharged to the outdoor unit for circulation.

[0042] For example, when an air conditioner has two or more outdoor units and two or more indoor units connected through multiple refrigerant pipes, the refrigerant discharged from the multiple outdoor units may merge and flow through a single refrigerant pipe, then branch off again at some point and flow into multiple indoor units.

[0043] Multiple outdoor units may be operated, or at least some may not be operated, depending on the operating load of the multiple indoor units. In this case, the refrigerant may be introduced into the outdoor unit, which is selectively operated, through a flow switching valve and circulated therein. The air conditioner may include an expansion device to reduce the pressure of the refrigerant flowing into the heat exchanger. For example, the expansion device may be located within the indoor unit, the outdoor unit, or both.

[0044] An expansion device can, for example, utilize a throttling effect to lower the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant. The expansion device may include an orifice capable of reducing the cross-sectional area of ​​the flow path. Refrigerant passing through the orifice may experience a decrease in temperature and pressure.

[0045] The expansion device may be implemented as, for example, an electronic expansion valve capable of controlling the opening ratio (the ratio of the cross-sectional area of ​​the valve's flow path when partially open to the cross-sectional area of ​​the valve's flow path when fully open). Depending on the opening ratio of the electronic expansion valve, the amount of refrigerant passing through the expansion device can be controlled.

[0046] The air conditioner may further include a flow diverter valve positioned along the refrigerant circulation path. The flow diverter valve may include, for example, a four-way valve. The flow diverter valve may determine the refrigerant circulation path depending on the operating mode of the indoor unit (e.g., cooling operation or heating operation). The flow diverter valve may be connected to the discharge port of the compressor.

[0047] The air conditioner may include an accumulator. The accumulator may be connected to the suction port of the compressor. The accumulator may receive low-temperature, low-pressure refrigerant vaporized in an indoor heat exchanger or an outdoor heat exchanger.

[0048] The accumulator can separate the refrigerant liquid from the refrigerant gas when a refrigerant mixture of refrigerant liquid and refrigerant gas is introduced, and provide the refrigerant gas from which the refrigerant liquid has been separated to the compressor.

[0049] An outdoor fan may be installed near the outdoor heat exchanger. The outdoor fan may blow outdoor air to the outdoor heat exchanger to promote heat exchange between the refrigerant and the outdoor air.

[0050] The outdoor unit of the air conditioner may include at least one sensor. For example, the sensor of the outdoor unit may be provided as an environmental sensor. The outdoor unit sensor may be located at any location inside or outside the outdoor unit. For example, the outdoor unit sensor may include a temperature sensor for detecting the air temperature around the outdoor unit, a humidity sensor for detecting the air humidity around the outdoor unit, a refrigerant temperature sensor for detecting the refrigerant temperature of a refrigerant pipe passing through the outdoor unit, or a refrigerant pressure sensor for detecting the refrigerant pressure of a refrigerant pipe passing through the outdoor unit.

[0051] An outdoor unit of an air conditioner may include an outdoor unit communication unit. The outdoor unit communication unit may be configured to receive a control signal from a control unit of an indoor unit of the air conditioner, which will be described later. The outdoor unit may control the operation of a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion device, a flow switching valve, an accumulator, or an outdoor fan based on the control signal received through the outdoor unit communication unit. The outdoor unit may transmit a sensing value detected by an outdoor unit sensor to the control unit of the indoor unit through the outdoor unit communication unit.

[0052] The indoor unit of the air conditioner may include a housing, a blower for circulating air into or out of the housing, and an indoor heat exchanger for exchanging heat with air flowing into the interior of the housing.

[0053] The housing may include an intake port through which indoor air may be drawn into the interior of the housing.

[0054] The indoor unit of the air conditioner may include a filter that is provided to filter foreign substances in the air that flows into the housing through the intake port.

[0055] The housing may include an exhaust port. Air flowing within the housing may be discharged to the exterior of the housing through the exhaust port.

[0056] The housing of the indoor unit may be provided with an airflow guide that guides the direction of air discharged through the exhaust port. For example, the airflow guide may include blades positioned above the exhaust port. For example, the airflow guide may include an auxiliary fan for controlling the exhaust airflow. However, the airflow guide is not limited thereto and may be omitted.

[0057] An indoor heat exchanger and a blower may be provided inside the housing of the indoor unit, which are arranged on a path connecting the intake and exhaust ports.

[0058] Blowers may include indoor fans and fan motors. For example, indoor fans may include axial fans, diffusion fans, crossflow fans, and centrifugal fans.

[0059] An indoor heat exchanger may be positioned between the blower and the exhaust, or between the intake and the blower. The indoor heat exchanger may absorb heat from air drawn in through the intake or transfer heat to the air drawn in through the intake. The indoor heat exchanger may include heat exchange tubes through which refrigerant flows, and heat exchange fins in contact with the heat exchange tubes to increase the heat transfer surface area.

[0060] The indoor unit of the air conditioner may include a drain tray positioned below the indoor heat exchanger to collect condensate generated in the indoor heat exchanger. The condensate collected in the drain tray may be drained to the outside through a drain hose. The drain tray may be provided to support the indoor heat exchanger.

[0061] The indoor unit of the air conditioner may include an input interface. The input interface may include any type of user input means, including buttons, switches, a touch screen, and / or a touch pad. The user can directly input setting data (e.g., desired indoor temperature, operating mode settings for cooling / heating / dehumidification / air purification, outlet selection settings, and / or air flow settings) through the input interface.

[0062] The input interface may also be connected to an external input device. For example, the input interface may be electrically connected to a wired remote controller. The wired remote controller may be installed at a specific location in an indoor space (e.g., a portion of a wall). A user may input configuration data regarding the operation of the air conditioner by operating the wired remote controller. Electrical signals corresponding to the configuration data obtained through the wired remote controller may be transmitted to the input interface. In addition, the input interface may include an infrared sensor. A user may remotely input configuration data regarding the operation of the air conditioner using a wireless remote controller. The configuration data input through the wireless remote controller may be transmitted to the input interface as an infrared signal.

[0063] Additionally, the input interface may include a microphone. A user's voice command may be acquired through the microphone. The microphone may convert the user's voice command into an electrical signal and transmit the converted electrical signal to an indoor unit control unit. The indoor unit control unit may control components of the air conditioner to execute a function corresponding to the user's voice command. Setting data acquired through the input interface (e.g., desired indoor temperature, operation mode settings for cooling / heating / dehumidification / air purification, outlet selection settings, and / or air volume settings) may be transmitted to the indoor unit control unit, which will be described later. In one example, the setting data acquired through the input interface may be transmitted externally, i.e., to an outdoor unit or a server, through an indoor unit communication unit, which will be described later.

[0064] The indoor unit of the air conditioner may include a power module. The power module may be connected to an external power source to supply power to components of the indoor unit.

[0065] An indoor unit of an air conditioner may include an indoor unit sensor. The indoor unit sensor may be an environmental sensor positioned within a space within or outside the housing. For example, the indoor unit sensor may include one or more temperature sensors and / or humidity sensors positioned within a predetermined space within or outside the housing of the indoor unit. For example, the indoor unit sensor may include a refrigerant temperature sensor for detecting a refrigerant temperature of a refrigerant pipe passing through the indoor unit. For example, the indoor unit sensor may include respective refrigerant temperature sensors for detecting the inlet, middle, and / or outlet temperatures of the refrigerant pipe passing through the indoor heat exchanger.

[0066] For example, each environmental information detected by an indoor unit sensor can be transmitted to the indoor unit control unit described later or transmitted externally through the indoor unit communication unit described later.

[0067] The indoor unit of the air conditioner may include an indoor unit communication unit. The indoor unit communication unit may include at least one of a short-range communication module and a long-range communication module. The indoor unit communication unit may include at least one antenna for wireless communication with other devices. The outdoor unit may include an outdoor unit communication unit. The outdoor unit communication unit may also include at least one of a short-range communication module and a long-range communication module.

[0068] The short-range wireless communication module may include, but is not limited to, a Bluetooth communication module, a BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) communication module, a near field communication module, a WLAN (Wi-Fi) communication module, a Zigbee communication module, an infrared (IrDA, infrared Data Association) communication module, a WFD (Wi-Fi Direct) communication module, an UWB (ultrawideband) communication module, an Ant+ communication module, a microwave (uWave) communication module, etc.

[0069] The long-distance communication module may include a communication module that performs various types of long-distance communication and may include a mobile communication unit. The mobile communication unit transmits and receives wireless signals with at least one of a base station, an external terminal, and a server on a mobile communication network.

[0070] The indoor unit communication unit can communicate with external devices such as servers, mobile devices, and other home appliances through a nearby access point (AP). The access point (AP) can connect a local area network (LAN) to which the air conditioner or user device is connected to a wide area network (WAN) to which the server is connected. The air conditioner or user device can be connected to the server through the wide area network (WAN). The indoor unit of the air conditioner may include an indoor unit control unit that controls components of the indoor unit, including a blower, etc. The outdoor unit of the air conditioner may include an outdoor unit control unit that controls components of the outdoor unit, including a compressor, etc. The indoor unit control unit can communicate with the outdoor unit control unit through the indoor unit communication unit and the outdoor unit communication unit. The outdoor unit communication unit can transmit control signals generated by the outdoor unit control unit to the indoor unit communication unit, or transmit control signals transmitted from the indoor unit communication unit to the outdoor unit control unit. In other words, the outdoor unit and the indoor unit can communicate bidirectionally. The outdoor unit and the indoor unit can transmit and receive various signals generated during the operation of the air conditioner.

[0071] The outdoor unit control unit can be electrically connected to components of the outdoor unit and can control the operation of each component. For example, the outdoor unit control unit can adjust the frequency of the compressor and control the flow switching valve to change the circulation direction of the refrigerant. The outdoor unit control unit can adjust the rotation speed of the outdoor fan. In addition, the outdoor unit control unit can generate a control signal to adjust the opening degree of the expansion valve. Under the control of the outdoor unit control unit, the refrigerant can circulate along a refrigerant circulation circuit including the compressor, the flow switching valve, the outdoor heat exchanger, the expansion valve, and the indoor heat exchanger.

[0072] The various temperature sensors included in the outdoor and indoor units can transmit electrical signals corresponding to the detected temperatures to the outdoor unit control unit and / or the indoor unit control unit. For example, the humidity sensors included in the outdoor and indoor units can transmit electrical signals corresponding to the detected humidity to the outdoor unit control unit and / or the indoor unit control unit.

[0073] The indoor unit control unit can obtain user input from a user device, including a mobile device, via the indoor unit communication unit, and can obtain user input directly through the input interface or via a remote controller. The indoor unit control unit can control components of the indoor unit, including a blower, in response to the received user input. The indoor unit control unit can transmit information regarding the received user input to the outdoor unit control unit of the outdoor unit.

[0074] The outdoor unit control unit can control the components of the outdoor unit, including the compressor, based on information regarding user input received from the indoor unit. For example, when a control signal corresponding to a user input for selecting an operation mode, such as cooling operation, heating operation, ventilation operation, defrosting operation, or dehumidification operation, is received from the indoor unit, the outdoor unit control unit can control the components of the outdoor unit so that the air conditioner performs an operation corresponding to the selected operation mode.

[0075] The outdoor unit control unit and the indoor unit control unit may each include a processor and a memory. The indoor unit control unit may include at least one first processor and at least one first memory, and the outdoor unit control unit may include at least one second processor and at least one second memory.

[0076] The memory can store / remember various information necessary for the operation of the air conditioner. The memory can store instructions, applications, data, and / or programs necessary for the operation of the air conditioner. For example, the memory can store various programs for cooling, heating, dehumidifying, and / or defrosting operations of the air conditioner. The memory can include volatile memory, such as Static Random Access Memory (S-RAM) and Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), for temporarily storing data. In addition, the memory can include nonvolatile memory, such as Read Only Memory (ROM), Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM), and Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM), for storing data for a long period of time.

[0077] The processor can generate control signals for controlling the operation of the air conditioner based on instructions, applications, data, and / or programs stored in memory. The processor, as hardware, may include logic circuits and arithmetic circuits. The processor can process data according to programs and / or instructions provided from the memory and generate control signals based on the processing results. The memory and the processor may be implemented as a single control circuit or as multiple circuits.

[0078] An indoor unit of an air conditioner may include an output interface. The output interface is electrically connected to the indoor unit control unit and can output information related to the operation of the air conditioner under the control of the indoor unit control unit. For example, information such as an operating mode selected by a user input, wind direction, wind volume, and temperature can be output. Additionally, the output interface can output sensing information obtained from an indoor unit sensor or an outdoor unit sensor, as well as warning / error messages.

[0079] The output interface may include a display and a speaker. The speaker, as an audio device, can output various sounds. The display may display information input by the user or information provided to the user using various graphic elements. For example, operation information of an air conditioner may be displayed as at least an image or text. The display may also include an indicator that provides specific information. The display may include a liquid crystal display panel (LCD), a light emitting diode panel (LED), an organic light emitting diode panel (OLED), a micro LED panel, and / or a plurality of LEDs.

[0080] The above describes a typical air conditioner. Below, with reference to the drawings, a fault diagnosis system and method for a multi-air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail.

[0081] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a multi-air conditioner system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0082] In Fig. 1, the multi-air conditioner (10) may include at least one outdoor unit (11) and a plurality of indoor units (12: 12-1, 12-2, 12-3, 12-4 ···) connected to the outdoor unit (11) through refrigerant pipes.

[0083] The outdoor unit (11) is installed in an outdoor space and can perform heat exchange between outdoor air and a refrigerant. Here, the number of outdoor units (11) is not limited, and the number can be adjusted so as to achieve the desired cooling and heating capacity depending on the total cooling and heating capacity required from all indoor units (12: 12-1, 12-2, 12-3, 12-4, etc.).

[0084] The physical structure of the outdoor unit (11) is not limited and may vary depending on the installation location, the number of connected indoor units (12: 12-1, 12-2, 12-3, 12-4, etc.), the designer's intention or preference, etc.

[0085] A plurality of indoor units (12: 12-1, 12-2, 12-3, 12-4, etc.) are installed in at least one indoor space where the air is to be regulated, and are arranged to discharge cold or warm air into the indoor space to regulate the indoor temperature. In this case, one indoor unit (12: 12-1, 12-2, 12-3, 12-4, etc.) may be installed in one indoor space, or a plurality of indoor units (12: 12-1, 12-2, 12-3, 12-4, etc.) may be installed in one indoor space.

[0086] The plurality of indoor units (12: 12-1, 12-2, 12-3, 12-4, etc.) may have any desired form that can be considered by the designer, such as a wall-mounted indoor unit that is mounted on a wall, a stand-alone indoor unit that is installed at a location in an indoor space, a window-type indoor unit that is installed on a window, or a ceiling-mounted indoor unit that is installed on the ceiling, depending on the embodiment. The disclosed indoor unit forms are merely examples, and indoor units of various forms may be implemented.

[0087] The plurality of indoor units (12: 12-1, 12-2, 12-3, 12-4 ...) connected to the outdoor unit (11) may all have the same shape, or may have different shapes, and some may have the same shape and others may have different shapes. For example, the indoor units (12: 12-1, 12-2, 12-3, 12-4 ...) may all be ceiling-mounted indoor units, or some of the indoor units (12: 12-1, 12-2, 12-3, 12-4 ...) may be ceiling-mounted indoor units, others may be stand-type indoor units, and still others may be wall-mounted indoor units.

[0088] In this way, the configured multi-air conditioner (10) can provide cold air (cooling operation) or warm air (heating operation) to each corresponding indoor space of each indoor unit (12: 12-1, 12-2, 12-3, 12-4...) by using the refrigerant flowing between the plurality of indoor units (12: 12-1, 12-2, 12-3, 12-4...) and the outdoor unit through the refrigerant pipe. Here, the cooling operation and the heating operation can be selectively performed according to a predefined setting or a user's operation.

[0089] The refrigerant may be introduced into multiple indoor units (12: 12-1, 12-2, 12-3, 12-4, etc.), or may be selectively introduced into only some of the indoor units (12: 12-1, 12-2, 12-3, 12-4, etc.). Accordingly, the multi-air conditioner may control the air in all indoor spaces in which the multiple indoor units (12: 12-1, 12-2, 12-3, 12-4, etc.) are installed, or may control the air in only some of the indoor spaces.

[0090] Below, the process of diagnosing failures in various components included in the multi-air conditioner (10) is described in detail.

[0091] FIG. 2 is a drawing showing a control block diagram of a multi-air conditioner fault diagnosis system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 3 is a drawing showing a multi-air conditioner fault diagnosis system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure by configuration.

[0092] As described above, the multi-air conditioner (10) may include a plurality of outdoor units (11: 11a, 11b 11c) and at least one indoor unit (12: 12a-1, 12a-2, 12b-1, 12c-1, 12c-2) connected to each of the plurality of outdoor units (11: 11a, 11b 11c). The number of indoor units (12) connected to one outdoor unit (11) may vary, and at least one indoor unit (12) may be connected as needed.

[0093] A multi-air conditioner (10) may include a plurality of power measuring units (13: 13a, 13b, 13c) that are connected to each of a plurality of outdoor units (11) and measure the power consumption of the connected outdoor unit (11) and at least one indoor unit (12) connected to the outdoor unit (11).

[0094] That is, one power measuring unit (13) is connected to one outdoor unit (11), so that the power consumption of the connected outdoor unit (11) and at least one indoor unit (12) can be measured.

[0095] In addition, the multi-air conditioner (10) may include a communication unit (14) that transmits data on whether a plurality of outdoor units (11) and at least one indoor unit (12) connected to each of the plurality of outdoor units (11) are operating and measurement data of a plurality of power measurement units (13) to a server (20).

[0096] This communication unit (14) can receive data from each outdoor unit (11) and other outdoor units (11) regarding the operation of each outdoor unit (11) and at least one indoor unit (12) connected to the outdoor unit (11), and can receive measurement data from each of a plurality of power measurement units (13).

[0097] In addition, the communication unit (14) can further receive data on the capacity of the indoor unit (12) and data on the required capacity of the indoor unit (12) from each outdoor unit (11), etc., and can also further receive mapping data on which outdoor unit (11) each of the plurality of power measurement units (13) is connected to.

[0098] The multi-air conditioner (10) can transmit various information about the multi-air conditioner (10) to the server (20) through the communication unit (14) (S01).

[0099] The server (20) can determine whether at least one of the plurality of outdoor units (11) and at least one indoor unit (12) connected to each of the plurality of outdoor units (11), the plurality of power measurement units (13), or the communication units (14) is faulty based on data regarding the operation of the plurality of outdoor units (11) and at least one indoor unit (12) connected to each of the plurality of outdoor units (11) received from the communication unit (14) of the multi-air conditioner (10), and measurement data of the plurality of power measurement units (13) (S02).

[0100] The server (20) may include a memory that stores programs and data for determining whether a failure has occurred, and at least one processor that generates a signal based on the programs and data stored in the memory. The memory and processor may be provided as an integrated unit or separately.

[0101] In addition, the server (20) can further utilize data regarding the capacity of the indoor unit (12) received from the communication unit (14), data regarding the required capacity of the indoor unit (12), and mapping data regarding which outdoor unit (11) each of the plurality of power measurement units (13) is connected to when determining whether there is a failure.

[0102] The server (20) can transmit information about a failure to an external device (30) or the like based on whether the configuration of the multi-air conditioner (10) has been determined to be faulty (S03).

[0103] Below, the detailed operation for diagnosing whether each component of the multi-air conditioner (10) is faulty is described.

[0104] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a multi-air conditioner fault diagnosis method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0105] The server (20) can receive data on the operation of a plurality of outdoor units (11) and at least one indoor unit (12) connected to each of the plurality of outdoor units (11) from the communication unit (14) of the multi-air conditioner (10), and measurement data of a plurality of power measurement units (13) (401).

[0106] In addition, the server (20) can further utilize data regarding the capacity of the indoor unit (12) received from the communication unit (14), data regarding the required capacity of the indoor unit (12), and mapping data regarding which outdoor unit (11) each of the plurality of power measurement units (13) is connected to when determining whether there is a failure.

[0107] The server (20) can determine whether at least one of the plurality of outdoor units (11) and at least one indoor unit (12) connected to each of the plurality of outdoor units (11), the plurality of power measurement units (13), or the communication units (14) is faulty based on data regarding the operation of the plurality of outdoor units (11) and at least one indoor unit (12) connected to each of the plurality of outdoor units (11) received from the communication unit (14) of the multi-air conditioner (10), and measurement data of the plurality of power measurement units (13) (403).

[0108] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method for diagnosing whether a multi-air conditioner is faulty based on a measured value of a power measurement unit according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0109] As described above, the server (20) can receive data on the operation of multiple outdoor units (11) and indoor units (12) from the communication unit (14) of the multi-air conditioner (10) and measurement data of multiple power measurement units (13) (501).

[0110] The server (20) can determine that the communication unit (14) is faulty if the multi-air conditioner (10) is not operating based on the received data (No of 503) and the power consumption measured by the power measurement unit (13) increases by more than a reference value (Yes of 505).

[0111] Here, the reference value can be set by taking into account that a certain amount of standby power, etc. may be consumed even when the multi-air conditioner (10) is not in operation.

[0112] That is, even if the multi-air conditioner (10) is not in operation, the power consumption may increase to a standard value such as standby power, so if the power consumption measured by the power measurement unit (13) increases to a standard value or more, it can be determined that the communication unit (14) is broken.

[0113] That is, if the power consumption measured by the power measurement unit (13) based on the data transmitted by the communication unit (14) increases by more than a reference value even though the required capacity of the indoor unit (12) does not increase while the multi-air conditioner (10) is turned off, it can be determined that there is an abnormality in the communication unit (14) transmitting the data, resulting in a breakdown of the communication unit (14).

[0114] Alternatively, the server (20) may determine that the power measurement unit (13) that measures non-consumed power as consumed power is faulty because the power consumption measured by the power measurement unit (13) increases by more than a reference value even though the multi-air conditioner (10) is turned off.

[0115] In addition, the server (20) can determine that the multi-air conditioner (10) is operating normally if the multi-air conditioner (10) is not operating based on the received data (No of 503) and if the power consumption measured by the power measurement unit (13) does not increase by more than a reference value (No of 505).

[0116] That is, since the required capacity of the indoor unit (12) does not increase when the multi-air conditioner (10) is turned off and the measured value does not increase accordingly, it can be determined that it is operating normally.

[0117] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method for diagnosing whether a multi-air conditioner is faulty by comparing a measured value of a power measurement unit according to one embodiment of the present disclosure with the maximum power consumption of the multi-air conditioner.

[0118] The server (20) can determine that the power measurement unit (13) is faulty if the power consumption measured by the power measurement unit (13) does not increase (No of 601) when the multi-air conditioner (10) is operating (Yes of 503) based on the received data (603).

[0119] That is, since the multi-air conditioner (10) is in operation and the measured power consumption should increase, the power consumption measured by the power measuring unit (13) does not increase, so it can be determined that the power measuring unit (13) is broken.

[0120] In addition, when the multi-air conditioner (10) is in operation (example of 503), if the power consumption measured by the power measurement unit (13) increases (example of 601), the server (20) can determine whether the increased measured value is greater than the maximum power consumption that the multi-air conditioner (10) can consume (605).

[0121] That is, it is possible to determine whether the increased measurement value measured by the power measurement unit (13) per unit time is greater than the maximum power amount that the multi-air conditioner (10) can consume per the same unit time (605).

[0122] The server (20) can determine that the power measurement unit (13) is faulty (607) if the increased measurement value is greater than the maximum power that the multi-air conditioner (10) can consume (example of 605).

[0123] That is, if the power consumption measured by the power measurement unit (13) is greater than the maximum power consumption that the multi-air conditioner (10) can consume within the same time, it can be determined that there is an abnormality in the power measurement unit (13), and thus it can be determined that the power measurement unit (13) is broken.

[0124] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method for diagnosing whether each component of a multi-air conditioner is faulty based on a measured value compared to the power used by the multi-air conditioner according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0125] If the increased measurement value is less than the maximum power consumption of the multi-air conditioner (10) (No of 605), the server (20) can compare the increased measurement value with the power consumption of the multi-air conditioner (10) (701).

[0126] If the server (20) determines that the increased measured value compared to the power usage of the multi-air conditioner (10) is abnormal as a result of the comparison (No of 701), it can determine that there is a failure in the power measurement unit (13), outdoor unit (11), or indoor unit (12) (705).

[0127] That is, for example, if the power consumption of the multi-air conditioner (10) is 100 kWh, the power consumption measured by the power measurement unit (13) should also increase by 100 kWh, but if the measured value increases by 200 kWh compared to the power consumption of the multi-air conditioner (10), it can be determined that there is a failure in the power measurement unit (13), the outdoor unit (11), or the indoor unit (12).

[0128] In addition, if the server (20) determines that the increased measured value compared to the power usage of the multi-air conditioner (10) is normal as a result of the comparison (example of 701), it can determine that the multi-air conditioner (10) is operating normally (703).

[0129] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating transmitting information on a failure of a multi-air conditioner according to one embodiment of the present disclosure to an external device, and FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating transmitting failure diagnosis information according to one embodiment of the present disclosure to an external device.

[0130] If the server (20) determines that at least one of the plurality of outdoor units (11) and at least one indoor unit (12), a plurality of power measuring units (13) or a communication unit (14) connected to each of the plurality of outdoor units (11) is faulty according to the fault diagnosis operation described above (801), it can transmit information about the fault to an external device (30) (803).

[0131] The external device (30) may include a mobile device such as a smart phone as shown in FIG. 9, and may include various devices that can notify a user or the like of a malfunction of the multi-air conditioner (10), without being limited thereto.

[0132] According to one embodiment, a fault diagnosis system for a multi-air conditioner includes a multi-air conditioner including a plurality of outdoor units and at least one indoor unit connected to each of the plurality of outdoor units; and a server for determining whether the multi-air conditioner is faulty, wherein the multi-air conditioner includes a plurality of power measurement units connected to each of the plurality of outdoor units and measuring power consumption of each of the plurality of outdoor units and at least one indoor unit connected to each of the plurality of outdoor units, a communication unit for transmitting data regarding whether the plurality of outdoor units and at least one indoor unit connected to each of the plurality of outdoor units are operating and measurement data of the plurality of power measurement units to the server, and the server can determine whether at least one of the plurality of outdoor units and at least one indoor unit connected to each of the plurality of outdoor units, the plurality of power measurement units, or the communication unit is faulty based on the data regarding whether the plurality of outdoor units and at least one indoor unit connected to each of the plurality of outdoor units are operating and the measurement data of the plurality of power measurement units received from the communication unit of the multi-air conditioner.

[0133] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to determine whether each component in a multi-air conditioner is faulty and provide a notification, thereby enabling rapid action to be taken in response to a fault.

[0134] Additionally, by quickly addressing the failure of the multi-air conditioner, the exact power consumption of the multi-air conditioner can be measured.

[0135] The server may determine that the communication unit is faulty if the power consumption measured by the power measurement unit increases when the multi-air conditioner is not operating.

[0136] The above server may determine that the multi-air conditioner is operating normally if the power consumption measured by the power measurement unit does not increase when the multi-air conditioner is not operating.

[0137] The server may determine that the power measurement unit is faulty if the power consumption measured by the power measurement unit does not increase while the multi-air conditioner is in operation.

[0138] The server can determine, when the multi-air conditioner is in operation and the power consumption measured by the power measurement unit increases, whether the increased measured value is greater than the maximum power consumption that the multi-air conditioner can consume.

[0139] The server may determine that the power measurement unit is faulty if the increased measurement value is greater than the maximum power consumption of the multi-air conditioner.

[0140] The server may compare the increased measurement value with the power consumption of the multi-air conditioner if the increased measurement value is less than the maximum power consumption of the multi-air conditioner.

[0141] If the server determines that the increased measurement value compared to the power usage of the multi-air conditioner is abnormal as a result of the comparison, it may determine that there is a failure in the power measurement unit, outdoor unit, or indoor unit.

[0142] The server may determine that the multi-air conditioner is operating normally if the increased measurement value is determined to be normal compared to the power usage of the multi-air conditioner as a result of the comparison.

[0143] An external device; further comprising, the server may transmit information about a failure to the external device when it determines that at least one of the plurality of outdoor units and at least one indoor unit connected to each of the plurality of outdoor units, the plurality of power measuring units, or the communication units is faulty.

[0144] According to one embodiment, a method for diagnosing a fault of a multi-air conditioner includes a plurality of outdoor units, at least one indoor unit connected to each of the plurality of outdoor units, a plurality of power measurement units for measuring power consumption of each of the plurality of outdoor units and at least one indoor unit connected to each of the outdoor units, and a communication unit for communicating with the outside, the method comprising: receiving data on whether the plurality of outdoor units and at least one indoor unit connected to each of the plurality of outdoor units are operating from the communication unit and measurement data of the plurality of power measurement units; and determining whether at least one of the plurality of outdoor units and at least one indoor unit connected to each of the plurality of outdoor units, the plurality of power measurement units, or the communication unit is faulty based on the data on whether the plurality of outdoor units and at least one indoor unit connected to each of the plurality of outdoor units are operating and the measurement data of the plurality of power measurement units received from the communication unit of the multi-air conditioner.

[0145] Determining whether the above failure occurs may include determining that the communication unit is faulty if the power consumption measured by the power measurement unit increases when the multi-air conditioner is not operating.

[0146] Determining whether the above malfunction occurs may include determining that the multi-air conditioner is operating normally if the power consumption measured by the power measuring unit does not increase when the multi-air conditioner is not operating.

[0147] Determining whether the above failure occurs may include determining that the power measurement unit is faulty if the power consumption measured by the power measurement unit does not increase when the multi-air conditioner is operating.

[0148] Determining whether the above-mentioned failure occurs may include, when the multi-air conditioner is in operation, determining whether the increased power consumption measured by the power measurement unit increases and whether the increased measured value is greater than the maximum power consumption that the multi-air conditioner can consume.

[0149] Determining whether the above failure occurs may include determining that the power measurement unit is faulty if the increased measurement value is greater than the maximum power amount that the multi-air conditioner can consume.

[0150] Determining whether the above failure has occurred may include comparing the increased measurement value with the power consumption of the multi-air conditioner, if the increased measurement value is less than the maximum power consumption of the multi-air conditioner.

[0151] Determining whether there is a breakdown may include determining that there is a breakdown in the power measuring unit, outdoor unit, or indoor unit if the increased measured value is determined to be abnormal compared to the power used by the multi-air conditioner as a result of the comparison.

[0152] Determining whether the above malfunction occurs may include determining that the multi-air conditioner is operating normally if the increased measurement value compared to the power usage of the multi-air conditioner is determined to be normal as a result of the comparison.

[0153] The method may further include transmitting information about the failure to an external device when it is determined that at least one of the plurality of outdoor units and at least one indoor unit connected to each of the plurality of outdoor units, the plurality of power measuring units, or the communication units is faulty.

[0154] According to one aspect of the disclosed invention, it is possible to determine whether each component in a multi-air conditioner is faulty and provide a notification, thereby enabling prompt action to be taken in response to a fault.

[0155] Additionally, by quickly addressing the failure of the multi-air conditioner, the exact power consumption of the multi-air conditioner can be measured.

[0156] Meanwhile, the disclosed embodiments may be implemented in the form of a recording medium storing computer-executable instructions. The instructions may be stored in the form of program code, and when executed by a processor, may generate program modules to perform the operations of the disclosed embodiments. The recording medium may be implemented as a computer-readable recording medium.

[0157] Computer-readable storage media include all types of storage media that store instructions that can be deciphered by a computer. Examples include read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic tape, magnetic disks, flash memory, and optical data storage devices.

[0158] The disclosed embodiments have been described with reference to the attached drawings as described above. Those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention can be implemented in forms other than the disclosed embodiments without altering the technical spirit or essential features of the present invention. The disclosed embodiments are illustrative and should not be construed as limiting.

Claims

1. A multi-air conditioner failure diagnosis system including a multi-air conditioner including a plurality of outdoor units and at least one indoor unit connected to each of the plurality of outdoor units; and a server for determining whether the multi-air conditioner is faulty; The above multi-air conditioner, A plurality of power measuring units connected to each of the plurality of outdoor units and measuring the power consumption of each of the plurality of outdoor units and at least one indoor unit connected to each of the outdoor units, A communication unit that transmits data on the operation of the plurality of outdoor units and at least one indoor unit connected to each of the plurality of outdoor units and measurement data of the plurality of power measurement units to the server, The above server, A fault diagnosis system for a multi-air conditioner, which determines whether at least one of the plurality of outdoor units and at least one indoor unit connected to each of the plurality of outdoor units, the plurality of power measurement units, or the communication unit is faulty based on data regarding the operation status of the plurality of outdoor units and at least one indoor unit connected to each of the plurality of outdoor units received from the communication unit of the multi-air conditioner, and measurement data of the plurality of power measurement units.

2. In paragraph 1, The above server, A fault diagnosis system for a multi-air conditioner that determines that the communication unit is faulty when the power consumption measured by the power measuring unit increases by more than a reference value when the multi-air conditioner is not in operation.

3. In paragraph 1, The above server, A fault diagnosis system for a multi-air conditioner that determines that the multi-air conditioner is operating normally if the power consumption measured by the power measuring unit does not increase by more than a reference value when the multi-air conditioner is not operating.

4. In paragraph 1, The above server, A fault diagnosis system for a multi-air conditioner that determines that the power measurement unit is faulty if the power consumption measured by the power measurement unit does not increase while the multi-air conditioner is in operation.

5. In paragraph 1, The above server, A fault diagnosis system for a multi-air conditioner that determines whether the increased measured value is greater than the maximum power consumption that the multi-air conditioner can consume when the multi-air conditioner is in operation and the power consumption measured by the power measuring unit increases.

6. In paragraph 5, The above server, A fault diagnosis system for a multi-air conditioner that determines that the power measurement unit is faulty if the increased measurement value is greater than the maximum power consumption of the multi-air conditioner.

7. In paragraph 5, The above server, A fault diagnosis system for a multi-air conditioner that compares the increased measured value with the power consumption of the multi-air conditioner when the increased measured value is less than the maximum power consumption of the multi-air conditioner.

8. In paragraph 7, The above server, A fault diagnosis system for a multi-air conditioner that determines that the power measurement unit, outdoor unit, or indoor unit is faulty when the increased measured value is determined to be abnormal compared to the power usage of the multi-air conditioner as a result of the above comparison.

9. In paragraph 7, The above server, A fault diagnosis system for a multi-air conditioner that determines that the multi-air conditioner is operating normally when the increased measured value compared to the power usage of the multi-air conditioner is determined to be normal as a result of the comparison.

10. In paragraph 1, including external devices; The above server, A fault diagnosis system for a multi-air conditioner that transmits information about a fault to an external device when it is determined that at least one of the plurality of outdoor units and at least one indoor unit connected to each of the plurality of outdoor units, the plurality of power measuring units, or the communication units is faulty.

11. A method for diagnosing a fault in a multi-air conditioner, comprising: a plurality of outdoor units; at least one indoor unit connected to each of the plurality of outdoor units; a plurality of power measuring units measuring the power consumption of each of the plurality of outdoor units and at least one indoor unit connected to each of the outdoor units; and a communication unit communicating with the outside. Receive data on the operation of the plurality of outdoor units and at least one indoor unit connected to each of the plurality of outdoor units from the communication unit and measurement data of the plurality of power measurement units; A method for diagnosing a fault in a multi-air conditioner, comprising: determining whether at least one of the plurality of outdoor units and at least one indoor unit connected to each of the plurality of outdoor units, the plurality of power measuring units, or the communication unit is faulty based on data regarding the operation of the plurality of outdoor units and at least one indoor unit connected to each of the plurality of outdoor units received from the communication unit of the multi-air conditioner, and measurement data of the plurality of power measuring units.

12. In paragraph 11, Determining whether the above failure occurs is: A method for diagnosing a fault in a multi-air conditioner, including determining that the communication unit is faulty when the power consumption measured by the power measuring unit increases by more than a reference value when the multi-air conditioner is not in operation.

13. In paragraph 11, Determining whether the above failure occurs is: A method for diagnosing a fault of a multi-air conditioner, including determining that the multi-air conditioner is operating normally if the power consumption measured by the power measuring unit does not increase by more than a reference value when the multi-air conditioner is not operating.

14. In paragraph 11, Determining whether the above failure occurs is: A method for diagnosing a fault in a multi-air conditioner, including determining that the power measuring unit is faulty if the power consumption measured by the power measuring unit does not increase while the multi-air conditioner is in operation.

15. In paragraph 11, Determining whether the above failure occurs is: A method for diagnosing a fault in a multi-air conditioner, comprising: when the multi-air conditioner is in operation, if the power consumption measured by the power measuring unit increases, determining whether the increased measured value is greater than the maximum power consumption that the multi-air conditioner can consume.

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