JP2009092335A

JP2009092335A - Air conditioner

Info

Publication number: JP2009092335A
Application number: JP2007265172A
Authority: JP
Inventors: Kenichiro Yano; 謙一郎矢野
Original assignee: Panasonic Corp
Current assignee: Panasonic Corp
Priority date: 2007-10-11
Filing date: 2007-10-11
Publication date: 2009-04-30

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air conditioner with small refrigerant noise generated when switching a four-way valve in starting of heating operation after defrosting. <P>SOLUTION: A rotational frequency variable compressor 1, the four-way valve 2, an outdoor heat exchanger 5, a decompression expansion valve 11, and an indoor heat exchanger 3 are annularly connected to compose a refrigerant circuit. A rotational frequency of the compressor 1 during defrosting operation is reduced in response to a rising speed of a temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger 5, and a pressure difference between discharge and suction in completion of defrosting control can be suppressed, and generation of the refrigerant noise generated when switching the four-way valve 2 in heating restart can be reduced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

本発明は、空気調和機に関するもので、特に、除霜後の暖房運転開始時の四方弁切換え時に発生する騒音を低減する空気調和機に関するものである。 The present invention relates to an air conditioner, and more particularly to an air conditioner that reduces noise generated when switching a four-way valve at the start of heating operation after defrosting.

従来、この種の空気調和機の除霜後の暖房運転開始時の四方弁切換え時に発生する騒音低減は、除霜運転終了時の圧縮機の電流値を検出し、この電流値に応じて、四方弁を暖房に切換えるまでの時間を変えて、暖房休止時間を短縮するようにしている（例えば、特許文献１参照）。 Conventionally, noise reduction that occurs when switching the four-way valve at the start of heating operation after defrosting of this type of air conditioner detects the current value of the compressor at the end of the defrosting operation, and according to this current value, The time until the four-way valve is switched to heating is changed to shorten the heating pause time (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

図３は、上記特許文献１に記載された従来の空気調和機のサイクルと制御装置の概略図を示すものである。 FIG. 3 shows a schematic diagram of a conventional air conditioner cycle and control apparatus described in Patent Document 1.

図３に示すように、従来の空気調和機は、圧縮機１と、四方弁２と、室内熱交換器３と、キャプラリチューブ４と、室外熱交換器５と、制御部６と、除霜運転時間等を計時するタイマー７、圧縮機１の電流値を検出する電流検出部８と、除霜運転終了時の圧縮機１の電流値と各電流値に対応する四方弁２の切換え前の圧縮機１のオフ時間のデータを記憶するメモリ部９を備えている。
特開平０７−１７４４４０号公報 As shown in FIG. 3, the conventional air conditioner includes a compressor 1, a four-way valve 2, an indoor heat exchanger 3, a capillary tube 4, an outdoor heat exchanger 5, a control unit 6, a removal unit. Before switching of the timer 7 for measuring the frost operation time, the current detection unit 8 for detecting the current value of the compressor 1, and the current value of the compressor 1 at the end of the defrost operation and the four-way valve 2 corresponding to each current value The memory unit 9 stores the off-time data of the compressor 1.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 07-174440

しかしながら上記従来の空気調和機の構成では、除霜は終了しているのに除霜運転を継続するカラ除霜により高圧が上昇し、高圧が上昇する条件ほど、除霜運転後から暖房運転開始時の四方弁２の切換えまでの時間を長くして高低圧力差を小さくして騒音を低減するようにしているため、高圧が高いほど、暖房運転再開までに時間がかかり、暖房休止時間が増加し、室温の低下により使用者の快適性を大きく損なうという課題を有していた。 However, in the configuration of the conventional air conditioner described above, although the defrosting is finished, the high pressure rises due to the color defrosting that continues the defrosting operation, and the heating operation starts after the defrosting operation as the high pressure rises. Since the time until switching of the four-way valve 2 is increased to reduce the noise by reducing the pressure difference between the high and low pressures, the higher the high pressure, the longer it takes to resume the heating operation and the heating pause time increases. However, there is a problem that the comfort of the user is greatly impaired due to a decrease in room temperature.

本発明は、前記従来の課題を解決するもので、除霜運転終了時の高圧上昇を抑制することにより、四方弁切換え時の騒音を低減し、かつ暖房休止時間の短縮により快適性を向上した空気調和機を提供することを目的とする。 The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and by suppressing the increase in high pressure at the end of the defrosting operation, noise at the time of switching the four-way valve is reduced, and comfort is improved by shortening the heating pause time. An object is to provide an air conditioner.

前記従来の課題を解決するために、本発明の空気調和機は、回転数可変の圧縮機と、四方弁と、室外熱交換器と、減圧膨張弁と、室内熱交換器とを環状に接続して冷媒回路を構成し、除霜運転中の前記圧縮機の回転数を、前記室外熱交換器の温度の上昇速度に応じて低減するもので、除霜制御終了時の吐出と吸入の圧力差を抑制し、暖房再開時の四方弁切換え時に発生する冷媒音の発生を低減することができる。 In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, an air conditioner according to the present invention includes a compressor having a variable speed, a four-way valve, an outdoor heat exchanger, a decompression expansion valve, and an indoor heat exchanger connected in a ring shape. The refrigerant circuit is configured to reduce the rotational speed of the compressor during the defrosting operation according to the temperature increase rate of the outdoor heat exchanger, and the discharge and suction pressure at the end of the defrost control The difference can be suppressed, and the generation of refrigerant noise that occurs when switching the four-way valve when resuming heating can be reduced.

本発明の空気調和機は、除霜制御終了時の吐出圧力を低減することにより、吐出と吸入の圧力差が抑制され、暖房再開時の四方弁切換え時に発生する冷媒音の発生を低減することができる。 The air conditioner of the present invention reduces the discharge pressure at the end of the defrost control, thereby suppressing the pressure difference between discharge and suction and reducing the generation of refrigerant noise that occurs when switching the four-way valve when resuming heating. Can do.

第１の発明は、回転数可変の圧縮機と、四方弁と、室外熱交換器と、減圧膨張弁と、室内熱交換器とを環状に接続して冷媒回路を構成し、除霜運転中の前記圧縮機の回転数を、
前記室外熱交換器の温度の上昇速度に応じて低減するもので、除霜制御終了時の吐出と吸入の圧力差を抑制し、暖房再開時の四方弁切換え時に発生する冷媒音の発生を低減することができる。 In the first aspect of the present invention, a refrigerant circuit is configured by connecting a compressor having a variable rotation speed, a four-way valve, an outdoor heat exchanger, a decompression expansion valve, and an indoor heat exchanger in an annular manner, and during a defrosting operation The rotation speed of the compressor
Reduces according to the temperature rise rate of the outdoor heat exchanger, suppresses the pressure difference between discharge and suction at the end of defrost control, and reduces the generation of refrigerant noise that occurs when switching the four-way valve when resuming heating can do.

第２の発明は、特に、第１の発明の空気調和機において、外気温度に応じて、除霜開始時の圧縮機の回転数を変えるもので、例えば、外気温度が低い場合は高回転で、外気温が高い場合は低回転で除霜を開始するようにすれば、外気温が高いときに高圧が急激に上昇することを抑制できる。 In the air conditioner of the first invention, in particular, the second invention changes the rotation speed of the compressor at the start of defrosting according to the outside air temperature. For example, when the outside air temperature is low, the rotation speed is high. When the outside air temperature is high, defrosting is started at a low rotation, so that the high pressure can be prevented from rapidly increasing when the outside air temperature is high.

第３の発明は、特に、第１又は第２の発明の空気調和機において、高圧圧力と低圧圧力の差が第１所定値以下になってから、四方弁を切換えるもので、圧縮機を停止させることなく四方弁の切換えを行え、騒音を常に一定のレベルとすることができ、暖房運転再開までの時間を短縮することにより快適性を向上できる。 The third invention is the air conditioner according to the first or second invention, in which the four-way valve is switched after the difference between the high pressure and the low pressure falls below the first predetermined value, and the compressor is stopped. The four-way valve can be switched without causing the noise to be kept at a constant level, and the comfort can be improved by shortening the time until the heating operation is resumed.

第４の発明は、特に、第３の発明の圧縮機の電流値により、高圧圧力と低圧圧力の差を判定するもので、圧力検出器を備えていない空気調和機においても、四方弁切換え時の騒音を常に一定のレベルとすることができる。 In the fourth invention, in particular, the difference between the high pressure and the low pressure is determined based on the current value of the compressor of the third invention. Even in an air conditioner not equipped with a pressure detector, the four-way valve is switched. The noise can be kept at a constant level.

第５の発明は、特に、第３の発明の第１所定値を選択するコントローラを備えたもので、騒音が問題にならない条件では、コントローラで第１所定値を初期値より高く設定し、四方弁を切換えて暖房再開までの時間を短縮でき、一方騒音が非常に気になる条件では、コントローラで第１所定値を初期値より低く設定するようにすれば、四方弁切換え時の騒音をより小さくする運転となるように選択することができる。 The fifth aspect of the invention includes a controller that selects the first predetermined value of the third aspect of the invention. In a condition where noise is not a problem, the controller sets the first predetermined value higher than the initial value and The time to restart the heating by switching the valve can be shortened. On the other hand, if the noise is very worrisome, if the controller sets the first predetermined value lower than the initial value, the noise at the time of switching the four-way valve can be further increased. The operation can be selected to be reduced.

以下、本発明の実施の形態について、図面を参照しながら説明する。なお、この実施の形態によって本発明が限定されるものではない。 Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

（実施の形態１）
図１は、本発明の第１の実施の形態における空気調和機の構成を示すものである。 (Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

図１において、本実施の形態における空気調和機は、圧縮機１、四方弁２、室内熱交換器３、減圧膨張弁１１、室外熱交換器５とで構成された冷媒回路１０と、室外熱交換器５の温度から着霜を検出する室外熱交温度センサ１５と、外気温度を検出する外気温度センサ１２と、制御装置１６と、空気調和機のコントローラ１７とを備え、コントローラ１７は、四方弁２を切換える時の圧縮機１の高圧圧力と低圧圧力の差（第１所定値）を選択できる機能も備えている。制御装置１６は、圧縮機１の電流値も検出する。 In FIG. 1, the air conditioner in this Embodiment is the refrigerant circuit 10 comprised with the compressor 1, the four-way valve 2, the indoor heat exchanger 3, the pressure reduction expansion valve 11, and the outdoor heat exchanger 5, and outdoor heat. An outdoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 15 that detects frost formation from the temperature of the exchanger 5, an outdoor air temperature sensor 12 that detects the outdoor air temperature, a control device 16, and a controller 17 of the air conditioner, It also has a function of selecting the difference (first predetermined value) between the high pressure and low pressure of the compressor 1 when the valve 2 is switched. The control device 16 also detects the current value of the compressor 1.

圧縮機１は、周波数可変圧縮機で、その電源周波数を変化させることにより圧縮機１の回転数を変化させ、容量を制御するものである。この圧縮機１から吐出された冷媒は、四方弁２を通り、暖房時は、室内熱交換器３で液化凝縮され、減圧膨張弁１１で減圧膨張し、室外熱交換器５で吸熱し、除霜時は、室外熱交換器５で液化凝縮し除霜を行い、減圧膨張弁１１で減圧膨張し、室内熱交換器３で吸熱し、四方弁２を経て圧縮機１へ吸入される。 The compressor 1 is a variable frequency compressor, and controls the capacity by changing the number of revolutions of the compressor 1 by changing its power supply frequency. The refrigerant discharged from the compressor 1 passes through the four-way valve 2 and is liquefied and condensed by the indoor heat exchanger 3 during heating, is decompressed and expanded by the decompression expansion valve 11, is absorbed by the outdoor heat exchanger 5 and is removed. At the time of frosting, it is liquefied and condensed by the outdoor heat exchanger 5 and defrosted, decompressed and expanded by the decompression expansion valve 11, absorbed by the indoor heat exchanger 3, and sucked into the compressor 1 through the four-way valve 2.

以上のように構成された空気調和機について、図２のフローチャートを用いて以下その動作、作用を説明する。 About the air conditioner comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below using the flowchart of FIG.

暖房運転中に、室外熱交温度センサ１５の検出値が、除霜運転開始条件を満たすと、圧縮機１の回転数を所定の低速一定回転数としてから、四方弁２を除霜側へ切換え、外気温センサ１２の検出値に応じた回転数で圧縮機１を運転し除霜運転を開始する。 If the detected value of the outdoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 15 satisfies the defrosting operation start condition during the heating operation, the four-way valve 2 is switched to the defrosting side after setting the rotation speed of the compressor 1 to a predetermined low speed constant rotation speed. Then, the compressor 1 is operated at the number of revolutions corresponding to the detected value of the outside air temperature sensor 12, and the defrosting operation is started.

除霜が進むと、室外熱交温度センサ１５の検出値が上昇を始める。除霜中は、所定時間毎に室外熱交温度センサ１５の前回と今回の検出値の差を監視し、その差に応じて、圧縮機１の回転数を減速させる。 As the defrosting progresses, the detection value of the outdoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 15 starts to rise. During the defrosting, the difference between the previous and current detection values of the outdoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 15 is monitored every predetermined time, and the rotational speed of the compressor 1 is decelerated according to the difference.

室外熱交温度センサ１５の検出値が除霜完了の所定値まで達した後は、圧縮機１の回転数を低速で一定とし、制御装置１６で検出される圧縮機電流が、高圧圧力と低圧圧力の差が所定値となる第１所定値以下となる値になれば、四方弁２を暖房側へ切換え暖房運転を再開する。 After the detected value of the outdoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 15 reaches a predetermined value for completion of defrosting, the rotational speed of the compressor 1 is kept constant at a low speed, and the compressor current detected by the control device 16 is a high pressure and a low pressure. When the pressure difference becomes a value that is equal to or less than a first predetermined value that is a predetermined value, the four-way valve 2 is switched to the heating side and the heating operation is resumed.

以上のように、本実施の形態においては、除霜完了前に圧縮機１の回転数を低下させてから、四方弁２の切換えを一定の高低圧力差で行うため、除霜終了後から四方弁２の切換えまでのカラ除霜による高圧の上昇を抑制し、カラ除霜時間を短縮したうえで常に切換え時の騒音を所定レベル以下に抑えることができる。 As described above, in the present embodiment, since the rotational speed of the compressor 1 is reduced before the defrosting is completed, the four-way valve 2 is switched at a constant high and low pressure difference, so that the four-way valve is started after the defrosting is completed. It is possible to suppress an increase in high pressure due to the color defrosting until the valve 2 is switched, shorten the color defrosting time, and always suppress the noise at the time of switching to a predetermined level or less.

また、外気温度に応じて、除霜開始時の圧縮機１の回転数を変える際、外気温度が低い場合は高回転で、外気温が高い場合は低回転で除霜を開始するようにすれば、外気温が高いときに高圧が急激に上昇することを抑制できる。 Further, when changing the rotation speed of the compressor 1 at the start of defrosting according to the outside air temperature, the defrosting is started at a high speed when the outside air temperature is low and at a low speed when the outside temperature is high. Thus, it is possible to suppress a rapid increase in high pressure when the outside air temperature is high.

また、本実施の形態では、コントローラ１７で四方弁２の切換え時の圧力差である第１所定値を設定でき、騒音レベルが問題ない運転条件においては、第１所定値を高く設定し、除霜終了後から四方弁２の切換えまでの時間を短縮でき、一方騒音が気になる条件では、第１所定値を低く設定し、圧力差が小さい条件で、四方弁２を切換えするので切換え時の騒音をより小さくすることができる。 In the present embodiment, the controller 17 can set the first predetermined value, which is the pressure difference when switching the four-way valve 2, and set the first predetermined value to be high and remove it under operating conditions where the noise level is not a problem. The time from the end of the frost to the switching of the four-way valve 2 can be shortened. On the other hand, when the noise is anxious, the first predetermined value is set low and the four-way valve 2 is switched under a small pressure difference. The noise can be further reduced.

以上のように、本発明にかかる空気調和機は、四方弁切換え時に発生する騒音を制御できるので四方弁を用いた自動販売機等の用途にも適用できる。 As described above, the air conditioner according to the present invention can be applied to applications such as a vending machine using a four-way valve since it can control noise generated when the four-way valve is switched.

本発明の実施の形態１における空気調和機の構成図The block diagram of the air conditioner in Embodiment 1 of this invention 同空気調和機の制御フローチャートControl flow chart of the air conditioner 従来の空気調和機のサイクルと制御装置の概略図Schematic of conventional air conditioner cycle and control device

符号の説明Explanation of symbols

１圧縮機
２四方弁
３室内熱交換器
５室外熱交換器
１０冷媒回路
１１減圧膨張弁
１２外気温度センサ
１５室外熱交温度センサ
１６制御装置
１７コントローラ DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Compressor 2 Four-way valve 3 Indoor heat exchanger 5 Outdoor heat exchanger 10 Refrigerant circuit 11 Pressure-reduction expansion valve 12 Outside temperature sensor 15 Outdoor heat exchange temperature sensor 16 Controller 17 Controller

Claims

回転数可変の圧縮機と、四方弁と、室外熱交換器と、減圧膨張弁と、室内熱交換器とを環状に接続して冷媒回路を構成し、除霜運転中の前記圧縮機の回転数を、前記室外熱交換器の温度の上昇速度に応じて低減することを特徴とした空気調和機。 A compressor having a variable number of revolutions, a four-way valve, an outdoor heat exchanger, a decompression expansion valve, and an indoor heat exchanger are connected in a ring to form a refrigerant circuit, and the compressor rotates during the defrosting operation. The air conditioner is characterized in that the number is reduced in accordance with the temperature increase rate of the outdoor heat exchanger.

外気温度に応じて、除霜開始時の圧縮機の回転数を変えることを特徴とする請求項１に記載の空気調和機。 The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the rotation speed of the compressor at the start of defrosting is changed according to the outside air temperature.

高圧圧力と低圧圧力の差が第１所定値以下になってから、四方弁を切換えることを特徴とする請求項１又は２に記載の空気調和機。 The air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the four-way valve is switched after the difference between the high pressure and the low pressure is equal to or less than a first predetermined value.

圧縮機の電流値により、高圧圧力と低圧圧力の差を判定することを特徴とする請求項３に記載の空気調和機。 The air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein a difference between the high pressure and the low pressure is determined based on a current value of the compressor.

第１所定値を選択するコントローラを備えたことを特徴とする請求項３に記載の空気調和機。 The air conditioner according to claim 3, further comprising a controller that selects the first predetermined value.