Air conditioner

Abstract

Disclosed is an air conditioner. The air conditioner a main compressor for compressing a refrigerant; a four-way valve disposed at a discharge side of the main compressor and switching a fluid path; an outdoor heat exchanger having one side connected with the four-way valve; an indoor heat exchanger having one side connected with the outdoor heat exchanger and the other side connected with the four-way valve; an expansion valve disposed between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger; and an auxiliary compression unit for reducing the load on the main compressor. Accordingly, since the load on the main compressor decreases, efficiency and reliability of the main compressor are enhanced and noises are reduced. In addition, an instrumental part such as a bearing inside the main compressor is not subject to abrasion and high heat damage to a motor unit is prevented.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to an air conditioner, and particularly, to an air conditioner reducing a load on a compressor when ambient air temperature is low during heating operation.

[0003] 2. Description of the Background Art

[0004] In general, an air conditioner is for adjusting temperature, humidity, air current and cleanliness of air in order to create a pleasant indoor environment.

[0005] According to the unit construction, there are an integral type air conditioner in which an indoor unit and an outdoor unit are received inside one single case and a separated type air conditioner in which a compressor and a condenser as an indoor unit are separated from an evaporator as an outdoor unit. Some air conditioners can selectively perform their cooling or heating functions by being provided with fluid path switch valves to switch a fluid path of a refrigerant.

[0006] FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a construction of a conventional air conditioner for both cooling and heating, and FIG. 2 is a pressure-enthalpy diagram corresponding to ambient air temperature of the air conditioner.

[0007] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a conventional air conditioner for cooling and heating includes: a compressor 101 for compressing a refrigerant; a four-way valve 103 disposed at a discharge side of the compressor 101 so as to switch a fluid path of a refrigerant; an outdoor heat exchanger 105 and an indoor heat exchanger 107 which are connected with the four-way valve 103 and in which the refrigerant undergoes heat exchange; and an expansion valve 109 disposed between the outdoor heat exchanger 105 and the indoor heat exchanger 107.

[0008] With the construction of FIG. 1, during cooling operation, the four-way valve 103 switches the fluid path such that the refrigerant compressed in the compressor 101 flows to the outdoor heat exchanger 105. The refrigerant compressed in the compressor 101 undergoes heat exchange and then is condensed in the outdoor heat exchanger 105. Then condensed refrigerant is decompressed and expanded in the expansion valve 109. Thereafter, the refrigerant performs cooling operation, undergoing heat exchange and absorbing latent heat of evaporation in the indoor heat exchanger 107.

[0009] During heating operation, the four-way valve 103 switches the fluid path such that the refrigerant compressed in the compressor 101 flows to the indoor heat exchanger 107. The refrigerant having undergone heat exchange in the indoor heat exchanger 107 and performed heating operation is condensed, and then is decompressed and expanded while passing the expansion valve 109. The decompressed and expanded refrigerant absorbs latent heat and is evaporated in the outdoor heat exchanger 105. Here, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the pressure-enthalpy diagram is formed in an order of a loop 1->2->3->4 in which a difference between a high-pressure side and a low-pressure side forms a first value (.DELTA.P). Meanwhile, when ambient air temperature is very low, the enthalpy diagram is formed in an order of a loop 1'->2'->3->4 in which the difference between the high pressure and the low pressure forms a second value (.DELTA.P') which is greater than the first value (.DELTA.P).

[0010] As the pressure difference increases from the first value (.DELTA.P) to the second value (.DELTA.P'), the load on the compressor 101 increases. Thus, efficiency and reliability of the compressor 101 are deteriorated and noises are increased. In addition, because of the increase in the compressor 101 load, an instrumental part such as a bearing inside the compressor 101 is subject to abrasion and a motor unit is subject to high heat damage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIOIN OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner reducing a load on a compressor when ambient air temperature is low during heating operation.

[0012] To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided an air conditioner comprising: a main compressor for compressing a refrigerant; a four-way valve disposed at a discharge side of the main compressor and switching a fluid path; an outdoor heat exchanger having one side connected with the four-way valve; an indoor heat exchanger having one side connected with the outdoor heat exchanger and the other side connected with the four-way valve; an expansion valve disposed between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger; and an auxiliary compression unit for reducing the load on the main compressor.

[0013] The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

[0015] In the drawings:

[0016] FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating a construction of a conventional air conditioner for both cooling and heating;

[0017] FIG. 2 is a pressure-enthalpy diagram according to ambient air temperature of the air conditioner of FIG. 1;

[0018] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] FIG. 4 is a view illustrating the operation of an auxiliary compression unit of FIG. 3;

[0020] FIG. 5 is a control block diagram of the air conditioner of FIG. 3;

[0021] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an air conditioner in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0022] FIG. 7 is a view illustrating the operation of an auxiliary compression unit of FIG. 6; and

[0023] FIG. 8 is a control block diagram of the air conditioner of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] Hereinafter, an air conditioner in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an air conditioner in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a view showing the operation of an auxiliary compression unit of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a control block diagram of the air conditioner of FIG. 3.

[0025] With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, an air conditioner in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention includes: a main compressor 11 to compress the refrigerant, a four-way valve 13, an outdoor heat exchanger 15, an indoor heat exchanger 17, an expansion valve 19 and an auxiliary compression unit 20.

[0026] The four-way valve 13 is disposed at a discharge side of the main compressor 11 and switches a fluid path of a refrigerant according to its operating mode.

[0027] The outdoor heat exchanger 15 has one side connected with the four-way valve 13 and the refrigerant undergoes heat exchange.

[0028] The indoor heat exchanger 17 has one side connected with the outdoor heat exchanger 15 and the other side connected with the four-way valve 13 and the refrigerant undergoes heat exchange.

[0029] The expansion valve 19 is disposed between the outdoor heat exchanger 15 and the indoor heat exchanger 17, and the refrigerant is decompressed and expanded while passing through the expansion valve 19.

[0030] The auxiliary compression unit 20 is installed between the main compressor 11 and the four-way valve 13, and decreases a load on the main compressor 11 when a difference between a high-pressure side and a low-pressure side is great because ambient air temperature is low during heating operation.

[0031] The auxiliary compression unit 20 includes: an auxiliary fluid path 21, a sub-compressor 25, an inlet-side opening/closing valve 23, an outlet-side opening/closing valve 24, a pressure equalizing tank 27 and an oil return fluid path 28.

[0032] One side of the auxiliary fluid path 21 is connected to the discharge side of the main compressor 11 and the other side thereof is connected to the upstream side of the four-way valve 13.

[0033] The sub-compressor 25 is disposed on the auxiliary fluid path 21, and compresses once again the refrigerant having been compressed in the main compressor 11.

[0034] The inlet-side opening/closing valve 23 is disposed at an inlet side of the auxiliary fluid path 21, and opens or closes the auxiliary fluid path 21.

[0035] The outlet-side opening/closing valve 24 is disposed at an outlet side of the auxiliary fluid path 21, and opens or closes the auxiliary fluid path 21.

[0036] The pressure equalizing tank 27 is disposed on the downstream side of the inlet-side opening/closing valve 23, and temporarily receives the refrigerant compressed by the main compressor 11. The pressure equalizing tank 27 reduces discharge pulsation of the refrigerant being discharged from the main compressor 11, and a problem resulted from a difference of mass flow per unit time between the main compressor 11 and the sub-compressor 25.

[0037] The oil return fluid path 28 responds to excessive oil discharge in the main compressor 11. To do so, the oil return fluid path 28 includes an oil return pipe 29 and a return pipe opening/closing valve 30.

[0038] One side of the oil return fluid path 28 is installed at the lower part of the pressure equalizing tank 27 and the other side thereof is connected to an intake side of the main compressor 11 such that oil of the pressure equalizing tank 27 is returned to the main compressor 11. Also, to have a convenience in installing oil return fluid path 28, it is desirable that the oil return fluid path 28 includes a capillary tube.

[0039] The oil return pipe 29 have one side connected with the lower part of pressure equalizing tank 27 and the other side connected to the intake side of the main compressor 11.

[0040] The return pipe opening/closing valve 30 is installed on the oil return pipe 29, and opens or closes the oil return pipe 29.

[0041] Meanwhile, the inlet-side opening/closing valve 23 and the outlet-side opening/closing valve 24 can be manually opened or closed by measuring a pressure difference between the intake side and the discharge side of the main compressor 11. However, it is difficult for the user to measure and determine the pressure difference and open or close the inlet-side opening/closing valve 23 and the outlet-side opening/closing valve 24 all the time. Accordingly, in order to do this automatically, a intake-side pressure sensor 12, a discharge-side pressure sensor 14 and a control unit 31 are further included, preferably.

[0042] With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the intake-side pressure sensor 12 is installed at the intake side of the main compressor 11 and transmits a signal to the control unit 31 by detecting the pressure of the intake side of the main compressor 11.

[0043] The discharge-side pressure sensor 14 is installed at the discharge side of the main compressor 11 and transmits a signal to the control unit 31 by detecting the pressure of the discharge side of the main compressor 11.

[0044] The control unit 31 is implemented in the form of MICOM having a control program therein or the like, and controls the opening or closing of the inlet-side opening/closing valve 23 and the outlet-side opening/closing valve 24 by receiving signals of the intake-side pressure sensor 12 and the discharge-side pressure sensor 14. Here, the control unit 31 includes a pressure difference calculating unit 33 for calculating the pressure difference between the intake side and the discharge side of the main compressor 11, preferably.

[0045] Hereinafter, the operation of the air conditioner in accordance with the first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5 will be described. For reference, refrigerant flow is indicated by the full line with the arrow and oil flow is indicated by the dotted line with the arrow.

[0046] With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, during heating operation, the control unit 31 controls the four-way valve 13 such that the refrigerant compressed in the main compressor 11 flows to the indoor heat exchanger 17.

[0047] The refrigerant having flowed to the indoor heat exchanger 17 performs heating operation and then is decompressed and expanded while passing the expansion valve 19.

[0048] The refrigerant having passed the expansion valve 19 absorbs latent heat and is evaporated in the outdoor heat exchanger 15, and is drawn into the main compressor 11 via the four-way valve 13.

[0049] The pressure difference calculating unit 33 calculates the pressure difference between the intake side and the discharge side through the signals transmitted from the intake-side pressure sensor 12 and the discharge-side pressure sensor 14.

[0050] Here, when the pressure difference is small because ambient air temperature is high, the refrigerant can be compressed by the main compressor 11 without overload. Accordingly, the control unit 31 blocks the auxiliary fluid path 21 by closing the inlet-side opening/closing valve 23 and the outlet-side opening/closing valve 24 such that compression of the refrigerant can be performed only in the main compressor 11.

[0051] Meanwhile, when the pressure difference is great because ambient air temperature is low, the overload may be on the main compressor 11 when the compression of the refrigerant is performed only by the main compressor 11. Accordingly, the control unit 31 opens the inlet-side opening/closing valve 23 and the outlet-side opening/closing valve 24 and operates the sub-compressor 25 such that the refrigerant can flow to the auxiliary fluid path 21. In this case, part of the refrigerant discharged from the main compressor 11 flows along the auxiliary fluid path 21 and is temporarily received in the pressure equalizing tank 27.

[0052] The refrigerant received temporarily in the pressure equalizing tank 27 is drawn into the sub-compressor 25 and is condensed, then flows along the auxiliary fluid path 21 and joins together with the refrigerant discharged from the main compressor 11, and then flows to the indoor heat exchanger 17 via the four-way valve 13.

[0053] The refrigerant having performed the heating operation in the indoor heat exchanger 17 is drawn into the main compressor 11 via the expansion valve 19, the outdoor heat exchanger 15 and the four-way valve 13, and repeats compression and discharge processes.

[0054] Meanwhile, if oil is accumulated to a certain degree, the control unit 31 opens the return pipe opening/closing valve 30 so as to open the oil return pipe 29.

[0055] If the oil return pipe 29 is opened, oil inside the pressure equalizing tank 27 flows along the oil return pipe 29, is drawn into the intake side of the main compressor 11, and is returned to the inside of the main compressor 11.

[0056] Hereinafter, an air conditioner in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an air conditioner in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 7 is a view showing the operation of an auxiliary compression unit of FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is a control block diagram of the air conditioner of FIG. 6. The same reference numerals are given to the same parts as those in the aforementioned and illustrated construction for the purpose of simplicity in description for the drawings, and detailed descriptions therefor will be omitted.

[0057] In the first embodiment, the auxiliary compression unit 20 is operated when a pressure difference is great after the pressure difference between the intake side and the discharge side of the main compressor 11 is detected. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, an auxiliary compression unit 20 is operated when ambient air temperature is low after ambient air temperature is detected instead of the pressure difference. As occasion demands, after both the pressure difference and the ambient air temperature are detected, on the basis of such results, the auxiliary compression unit 20 can be operated.

[0058] To do so, the air conditioner in accordance with the second embodiment includes an ambient air temperature sensor 40 instead of the intake-side pressure sensor 12 and the discharge-side pressure sensor 14 of the first embodiment. In addition, the air conditioner of the second embodiment has a control unit 31 excluding the pressure difference calculating unit 33 of the first embodiment. The remaining construction except for this is the same and a detailed description therefor will be omitted.

[0059] With reference to FIGS. 6 and 8, the ambient air temperature sensor 50 is installed at one side of the outdoor heat exchanger 15, and transmits a signal to the control unit 31 by detecting outside temperature.

[0060] Hereinafter, the operation of the air conditioner in accordance with the second embodiment will be described. For reference, refrigerant flow is indicated by the full line with the arrow and oil flow is indicated by the dotted line with the arrow.

[0061] During heating operation, the control unit 31 controls a four-way valve 13 such that the refrigerant compressed in a main compressor 11 flows to an indoor heat exchanger 17.

[0062] The refrigerant having flowed to the indoor heat exchanger 17 performs the heating operation, and is decompressed and expanded while passing through an expansion valve 19.

[0063] The refrigerant having passed the expansion valve 19 absorbs latent heat and is evaporated in the outdoor heat exchanger 15, and is drawn into the main compressor 11 via the four-way valve 13.

[0064] The ambient air temperature sensor 50 detects the outside temperature and transmits a signal to the control unit 31.

[0065] When ambient air temperature is high, compression of the refrigerant can be performed by the main compressor 11 without overload. Accordingly, the control unit 31 blocks an auxiliary fluid path 21 by closing an inlet-side opening/closing valve 23 and an outlet-side opening/closing valve 24.

[0066] Meanwhile, when the ambient air temperature is low, the overload may be on the main compressor 11. Accordingly, the control unit 31 opens the inlet-side opening/closing valve 23 and the outlet-side opening/closing valve 24 such that the refrigerant can flow to the auxiliary fluid path 21, and operates a sub-compressor 25. In this case, part of the refrigerant discharged from the main compressor 11 flows along the auxiliary fluid path 21 and is temporality received in a pressure equalizing tank 27.

[0067] The refrigerant temporarily received in the pressure equalizing pipe 27 is drawn into the sub-compressor 25 and is compressed, then flows along the auxiliary fluid path 21 and joins together with the refrigerant discharged form the main compressor 11, and then flows to the indoor heat exchanger 17 via the four-way valve 13.

[0068] The refrigerant having performed the heating operation in the indoor heat exchanger 17 passes the expansion valve 19, the outdoor heat exchanger 15, and the four-way valve 13, then is drawn into the main compressor 11, and repeats compression and discharge processes.

[0069] Meanwhile, if oil inside the pressure equalizing tank 27 is accumulated to a certain degree, the control unit 31 opens a return pipe opening/closing valve 30 so as to open an oil return pipe 29.

[0070] If the oil return pipe 29 is opened, the oil inside the pressure equalizing tank 27 flows along the oil return pipe 29, is drawn into an intake side of the main compressor 11, and is returned to the inside of the main compressor 11.

[0071] As described so far, the air conditioner in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention includes the auxiliary compression unit 20 reducing the load on the main compressor 11 when ambient air temperature is low during heating operation. Accordingly, since the load on the main compressor 11 decreases, efficiency and reliability of the main compressor 11 are enhanced and noises are reduced. In addition, an instrumental part such as a bearing inside the main compressor 11 is not subject to abrasion and high heat damage to a motor unit is prevented.

[0072] As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalence of such metes and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An air conditioner comprising: a main compressor for compressing a refrigerant; a four-way valve disposed at a discharge side of the main compressor and switching a fluid path; an outdoor heat exchanger having one side connected with the four-way valve; an indoor heat exchanger having one side connected with the outdoor heat exchanger and the other side connected with the four-way valve; an expansion valve disposed between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger; and an auxiliary compression unit for reducing a load on the main compressor.

2. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary compression unit comprises: an auxiliary fluid path having one side connected with the discharge side of the main compressor and the other side connected to the upstream side of the four-way valve; a sub-compressor disposed on the auxiliary fluid path and compressing the refrigerant; an inlet-side opening/closing valve disposed at an inlet side of the auxiliary fluid path and opening or closing the auxiliary fluid path; and an outlet-side opening/closing valve disposed at an outlet side of the auxiliary fluid path and opening or closing the auxiliary fluid path.

3. The air conditioner of claim 2, wherein the auxiliary compression unit further comprises: a pressure equalizing tank disposed on the downstream side of the inlet-side opening/closing valve for temporarily receiving the refrigerant compressed by the main compressor.

4. The air conditioner of claim 3, wherein the auxiliary compression unit further comprises: an oil return fluid path for connecting the pressure equalizing tank with an intake side of the main compressor such that oil of the pressure equalizing tank is returned to the main compressor.

5. The air conditioner of claim 4, wherein the oil return fluid path comprises: an oil return pipe having one side connected with the pressure equalizing tank and the other side connected to the intake side of the main compressor; and a return pipe opening/closing valve for opening or closing the oil return pipe.

6. The air conditioner of claim 4, wherein the oil return fluid path includes a capillary tube.

7. The air conditioner of claim 2, further comprising: an intake-side pressure sensor for detecting the pressure of the intake side of the main compressor; a discharge-side pressure sensor for detecting the pressure of the discharge side of the main compressor; and a control unit for controlling the opening or closing of the inlet-side opening/closing valve and the outlet-side opening/closing valve by receiving signals of the intake-side pressure sensor and the discharge-side pressure sensor.

8. The air conditioner of claim 7, wherein the control unit includes a pressure difference calculating unit for calculating a pressure difference between the intake side and the discharge side of the main compressor.

9. The air conditioner of claim 2, further comprising: an ambient air temperature sensor for detecting ambient air temperature; and Is a control unit for controlling the opening or closing of the inlet-side opening/closing valve and the outlet-side opening/closing valve by receiving a signal of the ambient air temperature sensor.

10. The air conditioner of claim 2, further comprising: an intake-side pressure sensor for detecting the pressure of the intake side of the main compressor; a discharge-side pressure sensor for detecting the pressure of the discharge side of the main compressor; an ambient air temperature sensor for detecting ambient air temperature; and a control unit for controlling the opening or closing of the inlet-side opening/closing valve and the outlet-side opening/closing valve by receiving a signal of the ambient air temperature sensor and controlling the opening or closing of the inlet-side opening/closing valve and the outlet-side opening/closing valve by receiving signals of the intake-side pressure sensor and the discharge-side pressure sensor.

11. The air conditioner of claim 10, wherein the control unit includes a pressure difference calculating unit for calculating a pressure difference between the intake side and the discharge side of the main compressor.

12. An air conditioner comprising: a main compressor for compressing a refrigerant; a four-way valve disposed at a discharge side of the main compressor and switching a fluid path; an outdoor heat exchanger having one side connected with the four-way valve; an indoor heat exchanger having one side connected with the outdoor heat exchanger and the other side connected with the four-way valve; an expansion valve disposed between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger; an auxiliary fluid path having one side connected with the discharge side of the main compressor and the other side connected to the upstream side of the four-way valve; a sub-compressor disposed on the auxiliary fluid path and compressing the refrigerant; an inlet-side opening/closing valve disposed at an inlet side of the auxiliary fluid path and opening or closing the auxiliary fluid path; an outlet-side opening/closing valve disposed at an outlet side of the auxiliary fluid path and opening or closing the auxiliary fluid path; and a pressure equalizing tank disposed on the downstream side of the inlet-side opening/closing valve for temporarily receiving the refrigerant compressed by the main compressor.

13. The air conditioner of claim 12, further comprising: an oil return fluid path for connecting the pressure equalizing tank with an intake side of the main compressor such that oil of the pressure equalizing tank is returned to the main compressor.

14. The air conditioner of claim 13, wherein the oil return fluid path comprises: an oil return pipe having one side connected with the pressure equalizing tank and the other side connected to the intake side of the main compressor; and a return pipe opening/closing valve for opening or closing the oil return pipe.

15. The air conditioner of claim 13, wherein the oil return fluid path includes a capillary tube.

16. The air conditioner of claim 12, further comprising: an intake-side pressure sensor for detecting the pressure of the intake side of the main compressor; a discharge-side pressure sensor for detecting the pressure of the discharge side of the main compressor; and a control unit for controlling the opening or closing of the inlet-side opening/closing valve and the outlet-side opening/closing valve by receiving signals of the intake-side pressure sensor and the discharge-side pressure sensor.

17. The air conditioner of claim 16, wherein the control unit includes a pressure difference calculating unit for calculating a pressure difference between the intake side and the discharge side of the main compressor.

18. The air conditioner of claim 12, further comprising: an ambient air temperature sensor for detecting ambient air temperature; Is and a control unit for controlling the opening or closing of the inlet-side opening/closing valve and the outlet-side opening/closing valve by receiving a signal of the ambient air temperature sensor.

19. The air conditioner of claim 12, further comprising: an intake-side pressure sensor for detecting the pressure of the intake side of the main compressor; a discharge-side pressure sensor for detecting the pressure of the discharge side of the main compressor; an ambient air temperature sensor for detecting ambient air temperature; and a control unit for controlling the opening or closing of the inlet-side opening/closing valve and the outlet-side opening/closing valve by receiving a signal of the ambient air temperature sensor and controlling the opening or closing of the inlet-side opening/closing valve and the outlet-side opening/closing valve by receiving signals of the intake-side pressure sensor and the discharge-side pressure sensor.

20. The air conditioner of claim 19, wherein the control unit includes a pressure difference calculating unit for calculating a pressure difference between the intake side and the discharge side of the main compressor.