Air conditioner and control method of air conditioner
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioners face challenges in low-temperature environments, where refrigerant stagnation and electronic component malfunctions occur, leading to increased power consumption and size due to the use of heaters or high current requirements for heating, which hinder downsizing and increase costs.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioner with a locked energization control unit that selectively applies AC or DC locked energization to the compressor and electronic substrate based on outdoor temperature, using a temperature detector to determine when to perform DC or AC locked energization to prevent refrigerant stagnation and maintain component functionality without increasing size or power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a heater is attached to the electronic component, then the electronic component can operate at low temperatures, but the device size increases and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The compressor motor serves dual purposes: compression during operation and self-heating during locked energization. The motor's own winding resistance generates heat to prevent refrigerant stagnation and protect electronic components, eliminating the need for separate heaters and achieving self-service heating functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The compressor motor is designed to perform multiple functions: acting as both a compression device during normal operation and a heating device during locked energization. This multi-functionality allows the same component to protect against refrigerant stagnation and maintain electronic component operation without requiring additional dedicated heating components
2Reliability
If a heater is attached to the electronic component, then the electronic component can operate at low temperatures, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The motor's own resistance is utilized to generate heat during locked energization, converting electrical energy directly into thermal energy within the motor windings. This self-heating mechanism eliminates the need for separate heating elements and optimizes power usage by leveraging the motor's inherent electrical properties
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the electrical parameters applied to the motor by switching between normal AC power supply during compression and DC power supply during locked energization. This parameter change enables the motor to function as a heating device during specific conditions, using the same component with different electrical characteristics to achieve heating without additional power consumption
3Temperature
If DC locked energization is used to heat the compressor, then sufficient heat is generated quickly, but a large current is required and power efficiency is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically changes electrical parameters by switching between AC and DC power supply modes based on temperature conditions. During extremely low temperatures, DC locked energization is used for rapid heating despite higher current requirements, while during milder low temperatures, AC locked energization provides sufficient heating with better power efficiency, optimizing the balance between heating speed and energy loss
4Loss of energy
If AC locked energization is used to heat the compressor, then power consumption is reduced, but a long time is required to supply sufficient heat under extremely low temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The system adaptively changes electrical parameters based on ambient temperature conditions. When extremely low temperatures are detected, the control system switches to DC locked energization for rapid heating. When temperatures are moderately low, AC locked energization is used for energy-efficient heating, thereby optimizing the trade-off between heating time and power consumption according to actual environmental conditions
5Reliability
If the compressor is heated to prevent refrigerant stagnation, then compressor breakage is prevented, but device size and cost increase due to additional heating components
Solution Approach 1:
The compressor motor performs self-heating through locked energization, using its own winding resistance to generate the necessary heat. This self-service approach prevents refrigerant stagnation and protects against compressor breakage without requiring external heating components, thereby maintaining simple device structure and avoiding additional complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The motor is designed to fulfill multiple roles: serving as the compression device during normal operation and as the heating device during locked energization. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate heating components, preventing compressor breakage while maintaining straightforward device structure and avoiding increased complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach effectively suppresses power consumption and refrigerant stagnation while preventing electronic component malfunctions, maintaining air conditioner efficiency and cost-effectiveness even in low-temperature conditions.
Implementation Method 1
In the DC locked energization, heat is generated by a loss of a resistance component of a winding of a compressor electric motor
Implementation Method 2
a converter circuit that is on an electronic substrate and converts an alternating current to a direct current
Implementation Method 3
an inverter circuit that is on the electronic substrate and converts a direct current converted by the converter circuit to an alternating current
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
An air conditioner including: a converter circuit (2) that is on an electronic substrate (7) and converts an alternating current to a direct current; an inverter circuit (3) that is on the electronic substrate and converts a direct current converted by the converter circuit to an alternating current to operate a motor (4) that drives a compressor (5); an inverter control circuit (6) that is on the electronic substrate and drives the inverter circuit; and a temperature detector (8) that detects an outside air temperature input to the inverter control circuit, wherein the inverter control circuit includes a locked energization control unit (9), and the locked energization control unit performs AC locked energization or DC locked energization on the motor in accordance with the outside air temperature detected by the temperature detector.