Air conditioner and method for controlling the same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Air conditioners face challenges in winter operation due to increased viscosity of lubricating oil in compressors, which requires high rotational torque and can lead to demagnetization of permanent magnets, necessitating additional heating methods that are energy-intensive and pose fire hazards.
Innovation Solution
An air conditioner system with a main control board that generates timing control signals to drive coils for electromagnetic heating of the oil pool, eliminating the need for auxiliary electric heating belts by using a six-pulse algorithm to control IGBTs and achieve efficient heating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If auxiliary electric heating belts are used to heat the oil pool, then the viscosity of lubricating oil is reduced, but energy consumption increases and fire hazards arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heating function with the existing compressor coils by controlling them to generate heat through electromagnetic induction. Instead of using separate auxiliary heating belts, the compressor's own coils serve dual purposes: compression and heating, thereby reducing energy consumption and eliminating additional heating components.
Solution Approach 2:
The compressor serves itself by using its own coils to heat the oil pool. The control unit enables the coils to generate heat through electromagnetic induction, allowing the compressor to maintain optimal oil temperature without external heating devices, thus reducing energy consumption and fire hazards.
2Temperature
If auxiliary electric heating belts are used to heat the oil pool, then the viscosity of lubricating oil is reduced, but fire hazards arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the auxiliary electric heating belts from the system. By using the compressor's own coils for heating through electromagnetic induction, the design removes the fire hazard associated with external heating elements while maintaining the necessary temperature control for optimal oil viscosity.
Solution Approach 2:
The compressor uses its own coils to heat the oil pool, eliminating the need for external heating belts that pose fire hazards. This self-service approach reduces safety risks while maintaining effective temperature control for proper lubrication.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the oil pool is not heated, then energy consumption is reduced, but the viscosity of lubricating oil increases requiring high rotational torque
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit activates the coils to heat the oil pool before the compressor starts operating at full load. This preliminary heating action ensures that the oil viscosity is optimized before high torque is required, reducing the peak torque demand and overall energy consumption during compression cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic heating cycles controlled by the control unit, activating the coils intermittently to maintain optimal oil temperature. This periodic action balances energy consumption with the need to maintain low viscosity, avoiding continuous high energy input while preventing torque spikes.
4Temperature
If additional heating components are added, then the oil pool can be heated effectively, but manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The compressor coils are designed to perform multiple functions: compression and heating. By controlling the coils to generate heat through electromagnetic induction, the system eliminates the need for separate heating components, reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining effective temperature control for optimal oil viscosity.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating function is merged with the compression function by using the same coils for both purposes. This integration eliminates auxiliary heating belts and associated components, simplifying the system and reducing manufacturing costs while achieving effective oil pool heating.
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 solution reduces manufacturing costs and avoids fire hazards by efficiently heating the oil pool within the compressor, maintaining optimal viscosity without the need for additional heating components, thus prolonging stator coil life and ensuring safe operation.
Implementation Method 1
driving the coil to heat the oil pool according to the timing control signals
Data Source
AI summary
An air conditioner and a control method thereof are provided. The air conditioner includes: a compressor including a coil; an oil pool connected to the compressor through an oil piping; a main control board configured to receive a power-on signal of the air conditioner, obtain an actual temperature of the oil pool after receiving the power-on signal, generate a required heating amount in response to the actual temperature of the oil pool being lower than a preset startup temperature, and generate timing control signals according to the required heating amount; a power device, wherein two sides of the power device are respectively connected to the main control board and the coil, and the power device is configured to drive the coil to heat the oil pool according to the timing control signals generated by the main control board.