U.S. patent application number 13/243354 was filed with the patent office on 2012-03-29 for refigerant system and a control method the same.
Invention is credited to Baikyoung Chung, Hojong Jeong, Jaehwa Jung, Byungsoon Kim, Yongcheol Sa.
Application Number | 20120073313 13/243354 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44970932 |
Filed Date | 2012-03-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120073313 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jeong; Hojong ; et
al. |
March 29, 2012 |
REFIGERANT SYSTEM AND A CONTROL METHOD THE SAME
Abstract
The present invention relates to the refrigerant system in which
the refrigerant amount stored in the accumulator may be adjusted by
the super cooling adjustment unit according to the indoor
conditioning load. Therefore, according to the present invention,
the flow refrigerant amount on the refrigerant cycle may be
optimally adjusted according to the indoor conditioning load, and
there is an advantage that the operation efficiency may be more
improved.
Inventors: |
Jeong; Hojong; (Seoul,
KR) ; Chung; Baikyoung; (Seoul, KR) ; Jung;
Jaehwa; (Seoul, KR) ; Sa; Yongcheol; (Seoul,
KR) ; Kim; Byungsoon; (Seoul, KR) |
Family ID: |
44970932 |
Appl. No.: |
13/243354 |
Filed: |
September 23, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/77 ; 62/132;
62/149 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25B 2700/04 20130101;
F25B 45/00 20130101; F25B 2600/19 20130101; F25B 2400/13 20130101;
F25B 2700/21163 20130101; F25B 13/00 20130101; F25B 2313/02741
20130101; F25B 2400/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/77 ; 62/132;
62/149 |
International
Class: |
F25B 45/00 20060101
F25B045/00; F25B 49/02 20060101 F25B049/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 27, 2010 |
KR |
10-2010-0093470 |
Claims
1. A refrigerant system, comprising: a compressor which compresses
a refrigerant; a condenser which condenses the refrigerant
discharged from the compressor; an expanding unit which expands the
refrigerant passed through the condenser, an evaporator which
evaporates the refrigerant passed through the expanding unit; a
main refrigerant pipe which forms a refrigerant cycle by connecting
the compressor, the condenser, the expanding unit and the
evaporator; an accumulator filtering a liquid refrigerant among
refrigerants flowing into the compressor; a super cooler in which a
portion of the refrigerants is distributed to super cool the
refrigerant of the main refrigerant pipe, the super cooler
configured to guide to introduce the portion into the accumulator;
a super cooling adjustment unit which adjusts a portion of
refrigerant amount passed through the super cooler; and a control
unit which controls refrigerant amount stored in the accumulator by
the super cooling adjustment unit so that flow refrigerant amount
on the refrigerant cycle is optimized according to operation
states; and
2. The refrigerant system according to claim 1, wherein the control
unit controls the super cooling adjustment unit to increase or
decrease the refrigerant amount stored in the accumulator according
to an indoor conditioning load.
3. The refrigerant system according to claim 2, wherein the control
unit controls the super cooling adjustment unit to decrease the
refrigerant amount stored in the accumulator when the indoor
conditioning load is increased, and, the control unit controls the
super cooling adjustment unit to increase the refrigerant amount
stored in the accumulator when the indoor conditioning load is
decreased.
4. The refrigerant system according to claim 2, further comprising:
a high pressure detection unit which detects high pressure of
refrigerants in the discharge side of the compressor; and a super
cooling degree detection unit which detects a refrigerant super
cooling degree of a discharge side of the condenser, wherein the
control unit controls the super cooling adjustment unit to adjust
the refrigerant amount stored in the accumulator according to at
least one of the high pressure of refrigerants and the refrigerant
super cooling degree when the indoor conditioning load is
decreased
5. The refrigerant system according to claim 4, wherein the control
unit controls the super cooling adjustment unit to decrease the
refrigerant amount stored in the accumulator when the high pressure
of refrigerants is equal to or higher than a reference high
pressure, and the control unit controls the super cooling
adjustment unit to increase the refrigerant amount stored in the
accumulator when the high pressure of refrigerants is lower than
the reference high pressure.
6. The refrigerant system according to claim 4, wherein the control
unit controls the super cooling adjustment unit to decrease flow
refrigerant amount on the refrigerant cycle when the refrigerant
super cooling degree is equal to or higher than a reference super
cooling degree, and the control unit controls the super cooling
adjustment unit to increase the flow refrigerant amount on the
refrigerant cycle when the refrigerant super cooling degree is
lower than the reference super cooling degree.
7. The refrigerant system according to claim 1, further comprising:
a refrigerant amount detection unit which detects refrigerant
amount stored in the accumulator.
8. The refrigerant system according to claim 7, wherein the
refrigerant amount detection unit includes: a first detection unit
which detects whether the a refrigerant water level of the
accumulator is lower than a first water level, and a second
detection unit which is separately disposed into the upper side of
the first detection unit to detect whether the refrigerant water
level of the accumulator is equal to or higher than a second water
level.
9. The refrigerant system according to claim 8, wherein the control
unit controls such that an open degree of the super cooling
adjustment unit is decreased when the refrigerant water level
stored in the accumulator is higher than the first water level.
10. The refrigerant system according to claim 9, wherein the first
water level is a level corresponded to a minimum of storage amount
of the allowable refrigerants to be stored in the accumulator.
11. The refrigerant system according to claim 8, wherein the
control unit controls such that the open degree of the super
cooling adjustment unit is increased when the refrigerant water
level stored in the accumulator is lower than the second water
level.
12. The refrigerant system according to claim 11, wherein the
second water level is a level corresponded to a maximum of storage
amount of the allowable refrigerants to be stored in the
accumulator.
13. The refrigerant system according to claim 1, wherein the super
cooler includes a bypass pipe which bypasses the portion of
refrigerants passed through the condenser to guide the portion into
an inlet side of the accumulator, and a super cooling heat
exchanger which performs the heat-exchange between the portion of
the refrigerants bypassed and the refrigerant of the main
refrigerant pipe.
14. The refrigerant system according to claim 2, wherein the
control unit controls such that the open degree of the super
cooling adjustment is closed or decreased during converting the
cooling operation into the heating operation.
15. A control method of a refrigerant system comprising a
compressor, a condenser, an expanding unit and an evaporator, the
refrigerant system includes a refrigerant cycle which performs the
conversion of cooling or heating operations, a refrigerant pipe
which guides the refrigerant circulating the refrigerant cycle, and
an accumulator which filters a liquid refrigerant of the
refrigerants introduced into the compressor, the control method
comprising: detecting a discharge pressure of the compressor;
detecting the refrigerant amount stored in the accumulator;
comparing the detected discharge pressure or refrigerant amount
with a predetermined reference value; and adjusting refrigerant
amount introduced into the accumulator, among refrigerants
circulating the refrigerant pipe, based on a compared result.
16. The control method according to claim 15, wherein the
refrigerant amount introduced into the accumulator is decreased
when the discharge pressure is lower than the reference pressure
and the refrigerant amount is higher than the predetermined minimum
storage amount, during the cooling or heating operation.
17. The control method according to claim 15, wherein the
refrigerant amount introduced into the accumulator is increased
when the discharge pressure is higher than the reference pressure
and the refrigerant amount is lower than the predetermined maximum
storage amount, during the cooling or heating operation.
18. The control method according to claim 15, further comprising
detecting a super cooling degree passed through the condenser
during the cooling operation, wherein refrigerant amount introduced
into the accumulator is decreased when a detected super cooling
degree is lower than the reference super cooling degree and a
detected discharge pressure is lower than the reference
pressure.
19. The control method according to claim 18, wherein the
refrigerant amount introduced into the accumulator is maintained or
increased when the detected super cooling degree is lower than the
reference super cooling degree and the detected discharge pressure
is higher than the reference pressure.
20. The control method according to claim 18, wherein the
refrigerant amount introduced into the accumulator is increased
when the detected super cooling degree is higher than the reference
super cooling degree and the detected refrigerant amount is lower
than the predetermined maximum storage amount.
21. The control method according to claim 18, wherein the
refrigerant amount introduced into the accumulator is decreased
when the detected super cooling degree is lower than the reference
super cooling degree and the detected refrigerant amount is higher
than the predetermined minimum storage amount.
Description
CROSS REFERENCES RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119
and 35 U.S.C. 365 to Korean Patent Application No. 2010-0093470
(filed on Sep. 27, 2010), which is hereby incorporated by reference
in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The prevent invention relates to a refrigerant system to
perform a refrigerant cycle.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] In general, the refrigerant system is a cooling or heating
device for conditioning indoor air by performing a refrigerant
cycle composed of
compression-condensation-expansion-evaporation.
[0006] The refrigerant system includes an indoor unit for
heat-exchanging indoor air with a refrigerant and an outdoor unit
for heat-exchanging outdoor air with the refrigerant. The indoor
unit includes an indoor heat exchanger for heat-exchanging indoor
air with the refrigerant, a fan for blowing the indoor air, and a
motor for rotating the fan. The outdoor unit includes an outdoor
heat exchanger for heat exchanging outdoor air with a refrigerant,
a fan for blowing the outdoor air, a motor for rotating the fan, a
compressor for compressing the refrigerant, expanding unit for
expanding the refrigerant, and a 4-way valve for changing flow
direction of the refrigerant.
[0007] In addition, when performing a cooling operation of the
indoor, the indoor heat exchanger is become evaporating unit and
the outdoor heat exchanger is become a condensing unit. In
addition, when performing a heating operation of the indoor, the
indoor heat exchanger is become evaporating unit and the outdoor
heat exchanger is become a condensing unit. The conversion of the
cooling and heating operations is performed by changing flow
direction of the refrigerant by the 4-way valve.
[0008] According to the conventional refrigerant system,
refrigerant amount of the system required to the cooling or the
heating operation varies with each other, and an unbalance between
the required refrigerant amount and the refrigerant amount
circulated on the actual system occurs. Accordingly, there is a
problem that the operating efficiency of the system is reduced.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention is to provide a refrigerant system
through which optimal refrigerant amount can be flowed according to
the operating conditions.
[0010] In addition, the present invention is to provide a
refrigerant system in which the operating efficiency can be
improved.
[0011] In one embodiment, a refrigerant system comprises: a
compressor which compresses a refrigerant; a condenser which
condenses the refrigerant discharged from the compressor; an
expanding unit which expands the refrigerant passed through the
condenser; an evaporator which evaporates the refrigerant passed
through the expanding unit; a main refrigerant pipe which forms a
refrigerant cycle by connecting the compressor, the condenser, the
expanding unit and the evaporator; an accumulator filtering a
liquid refrigerant among refrigerants flowing into the compressor;
a super cooler in which a portion of the refrigerants is
distributed and guided to introduce the portion into the
accumulator after super cooling the refrigerant of the main
refrigerant pipe; a super cooling adjustment unit which adjusts a
portion of refrigerant amount passed through the super cooler; and
a control unit which controls refrigerant amount stored in the
accumulator by the super cooling adjustment unit so that flow
refrigerant amount on the refrigerant cycle is optimized according
to operation states.
[0012] In another embodiment, a control method of a refrigerant
system comprises a compressor, a condenser, an expanding unit and
an evaporator, the refrigerant system includes a refrigerant cycle
which performs the conversion of cooling or heating operations, a
refrigerant pipe which guides the refrigerant circulating the
refrigerant cycle, and an accumulator which filters a liquid
refrigerant of the refrigerants introduced into the compressor, the
control method comprising: detecting a discharge pressure of the
compressor; detecting the refrigerant amount stored in the
accumulator; comparing the detected discharge pressure or
refrigerant amount with a predetermined reference value; and
adjusting refrigerant amount introduced into the accumulator, among
refrigerants circulating the refrigerant pipe, based on the
compared result.
[0013] As mentioned above, according to the refrigerant system of
the present invention, flow refrigerant amount on a refrigerant
cycle can be adjusted by adjusting refrigerant amount stored in an
accumulator according to the indoor conditioning load. In more
detail, if the indoor conditioning load is increased, the flow
refrigerant amount on a refrigerant cycle may be increased and
condensing energy amount and evaporating energy amount may be
increased, by reducing refrigerant amount stored in the
accumulator. In addition, if the indoor conditioning load is
decreased, the flow refrigerant amount on a refrigerant cycle may
be decreased and condensing energy amount and evaporating energy
amount may be decreased, by increasing refrigerant amount stored in
the accumulator. That is, there is an advantage that optimal
refrigerant amount can be flowed according to the operating
status.
[0014] In addition, since the performance of the refrigerant system
to cover the indoor conditioning load may be varied by only varying
flow refrigerant amount on the refrigerant cycle without varying
operating rates, there is an advantage capable of improving the
overall operating efficiency.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration of
an embodiment of a refrigerant system according to the present
invention.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the flow of control signal
of the embodiment of the refrigerant system according to the
present invention.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating the flow of control
during a heating operation in the embodiment of the refrigerant
system according to the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the flow of control
during a cooling operation in the embodiment of the refrigerant
system according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0019] Hereafter, a refrigerant system according to the present
invention will be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings in more detail.
[0020] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration of
the embodiment of the refrigerant system according to the present
invention.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 1, the refrigerant system further includes
an outdoor heat exchanger 11 which is heat-exchanged between
outdoor air and a refrigerant, a compressor 12 compressing the
refrigerant, an indoor heat exchanger 13 which is heat-exchanged
between indoor air and the refrigerant, expanding units 141, 142
for expanding the refrigerant, a main refrigerant pipe 151 forming
a refrigerant cycle by connecting the outdoor heat exchanger 11,
the compressor 12, the indoor heat exchanger 13 and the expanding
units 141, 142, an accumulator 16 filtering liquid refrigerant
among refrigerants flowing into the compressor 12, and a flow
conversion unit 15 converting any one of the outdoor heat exchanger
11 and the indoor heat exchanger 13.
[0022] The outdoor heat exchanger 11 and the indoor heat exchanger
13 may function as a condenser or a compressor according to
operation modes of the refrigerant system. For example, when the
refrigerant system is operated in the heating operation, the
outdoor heat exchanger 11 and the indoor heat exchanger 13 may
function as an evaporator or a condenser respectively and when the
refrigerant system is operated in the cooling operation, the
outdoor heat exchanger 11 and the indoor heat exchanger 13 may
function as a condenser or an evaporator respectively. In this
case, according to the operation mode of the refrigerant system,
refrigerant flow directions on the refrigerant cycle may be changed
by converting the flow direction of the refrigerant through the
flow conversion unit 15.
[0023] That is, the refrigerant system includes the compressor 12,
a condenser condensing the refrigerant passed through the
compressor 12, an expanding units 141, 142 expanding the
refrigerant passed through the condenser, an evaporator evaporating
the refrigerant passed through the expanding units 141, 142, the
main refrigerant pipe 151 forming the refrigerant cycle by
connecting the compressor 12, the condenser, the expanding units
141, 142 and the evaporator, and the accumulator 16.
[0024] The outdoor heat exchanger 11 is installed on one side of
the outdoor to be exposed on the outdoor air. In addition, the
indoor heat exchanger 13 is installed on one side of an indoor
space to perform an indoor conditioning. In this case, the indoor
heat exchanger 13 may include a plurality of indoor heat exchangers
131, 132, 133 installed on a plurality of indoor spaces
respectively.
[0025] The compressor 12 may include a constant displacement
compressor 121 constantly maintaining a compression capacity and an
inverter compressor 122 varying the compression capacity.
[0026] The expanding units 141, 142 may includes an outdoor
expanding unit 141 mounted on one side of the main refrigerant pipe
151 adjacent to the outdoor heat exchanger 11 and an indoor
expanding unit 142 mounted on one side of the main refrigerant pipe
151 adjacent to the indoor heat exchanger 13.
[0027] The outdoor expanding unit 141 and the indoor expanding unit
142 are mounted on the one side of the main refrigerant pipe 151
connecting the outdoor heat exchanger 11 and the indoor heat
exchanger 13 each other. In this case, the indoor expanding unit
142 may include a plurality of indoor expanding units 142 installed
to correspond to each one side of the plurality of indoor heat
exchangers 131, 132, 133. In this case, the indoor expanding unit
142 may function that refrigerants introduced into a plurality of
indoor heat exchanger units 131, 132, 133 are selectively blocked
according to whether a plurality of indoor heat exchanger units
131, 132, 133 are operated.
[0028] The outdoor expanding unit 141 and the indoor expanding unit
142 include a valve, for example, an electronic expanding valve
(EEV), capable of adjusting an open degree and the open degree may
be adjusted according to the operation mode of the refrigerant
system.
[0029] In more detail, when the refrigerant system is operated in
the heating operation, the indoor expanding unit 142 is completely
opened, the outdoor expanding unit 141 is partially opened, and
accordingly the refrigerant passed through the indoor heat
exchanger 13 is passed through the indoor expanding unit 142
without changing the state and expanded through the outdoor
expanding unit 141, and then the expanded refrigerant may be
introduced into the outdoor heat exchanger 11.
[0030] In addition, when the refrigerant system is operated in the
cooling operation, the outdoor expanding unit 141 is completely
opened, the indoor expanding unit 142 is partially opened, and
accordingly the refrigerant passed through the outdoor heat
exchanger 11 is passed through the outdoor expanding unit 141
without changing the state and expanded through the indoor
expanding unit 142, and then the expanded refrigerant may be
introduced into the indoor heat exchanger 13.
[0031] Meanwhile, the refrigerant system may further include a
refrigerant amount detection unit 18 which detects refrigerant
amount stored in the accumulator 16.
[0032] In more detail, the accumulator 16 is a device capable of
storing a liquid refrigerant of refrigerants introduced into the
compressor 12, for example, as a tank capable of receiving
refrigerants. That is, the accumulator 16 is to store a portion of
the refrigerants on the refrigerant cycle.
[0033] In addition, the refrigerant amount detection unit 18 is
installed in one side of the accumulator 16 to detect refrigerant
amounts stored in the accumulator 16. The refrigerant amount
detection unit 18 may include a plurality of water level sensors
181, 182, installed in one side of the accumulator 16, with a
plurality of different heights to detect various refrigerant water
levels of the accumulator 16.
[0034] For example, a first sensor 181 of the plurality of water
level sensors 181, 182 is installed at the lower location of the
inside space of the accumulator 16, and a second sensor 182 is
installed at the upper location of the inside space of the
accumulator 16. The second sensor 182 is separately disposed on the
upper side of the first sensor 181 from the first sensor 181.
[0035] The first sensor 181 may detect whether the refrigerant of
the accumulator 16 is located below a predetermined water level (a
first water level) and the second sensor 182 may detect whether the
accumulator 16 is filled above the predetermined water level (a
second water level).
[0036] The first water level may be a level corresponding to a
minimum storage amount as described in later, and the second water
level may be a level corresponding to a maximum storage amount as
described in later.
[0037] In addition, a third sensor (not shown) may be further
installed at a location corresponding to one point between the
first sensor 181 and the second sensor 182 of the internal space of
the accumulator 16. The third sensor may also detect whether the
storage refrigerant amount of the accumulator 16 is corresponded to
a standard refrigerant amount.
[0038] In this case, the standard refrigerant amount may mean an
appropriate refrigerant amount which can be stored in the
accumulator 16 to flow an appropriate reference refrigerant amount
at the initial operation of the refrigerant cycle.
[0039] Meanwhile, the refrigerant system may further include a
super cooler which super-cools the refrigerants passed through the
condenser.
[0040] The super cooler may further include a bypass pipe 153 which
bypasses a portion of refrigerants passed through the condenser to
guide the portion into an inlet side of the accumulator 16, a super
cooling heat exchanger 191 which performs the heat-exchange between
the portion of the refrigerants bypassed and the refrigerant of the
main refrigerant pipe 151, and a super cooling adjustment unit 192
which adjusts a portion of refrigerant amounts passed through the
super cooling heat exchanger 191.
[0041] The refrigerant of the main refrigerant pipe 151 may be
super-cooled by the heat-exchange between the portion of the
refrigerants bypassed and the refrigerant of the main refrigerant
pipe 151.
[0042] The supper cooling adjustment unit 192 may perform a
function of adjusting a liquid refrigerant amount stored in
accumulator 16 by adjusting the portion of refrigerant amounts
passed through the super cooling heat exchanger 119. The super
cooling adjustment unit 192 may include a valve, for example, an
electronic expanding valve (EEV), capable of consecutively
adjusting an open degree.
[0043] When the open degree of the super cooling adjustment unit
192 is increased, the refrigerant amount stored in the accumulator
16 is increased, but the flow refrigerant amount on refrigerant
system may be decreased. Meanwhile, when the open degree of the
super cooling adjustment unit 192 is decreased, the refrigerant
amount stored in the accumulator 16 is decreased, but the flow
refrigerant amount on refrigerant system may be increased.
[0044] When a lot of refrigerant amounts are circulated in the
system, the super cooling adjustment unit 192 is opened, and
accordingly the bypassed refrigerants may be introduced into the
accumulator.
[0045] According to the detected result of the water level sensor
18, when the water level of refrigerant stored in accumulator 16 is
above the predetermined water level, the open degree of the super
cooling adjustment unit 192 is decreased, and then the refrigerant
amount introduced into the accumulator 16 may be decreased.
[0046] When the refrigerant amount circulated on the system is
insufficient, the super cooling adjustment unit 192 is closed or
the open degree is decreased, and accordingly the refrigerant
amount introduced into the accumulator 16 is decreased. At this
time, the refrigerant stored in the accumulator 16 is evaporated
and introduced into the compressor 12, and the refrigerant amount
circulated on the system may be supplemented.
[0047] As one example, the refrigerant amount required in the
heating operation may be higher than the refrigerant amount
required in the cooling operation. Accordingly, the closure or open
degree decrease control of the super cooling adjustment unit 192
may be performed when converting from the cooling operation to the
heating operation.
[0048] In contrast, the closure or open degree increase control of
the super cooling adjustment unit 192 may be performed when
converting from the heating operation to the cooling operation.
[0049] Hereafter, a control flow of an embodiment of a refrigerant
system according to the present invention will be described with
reference to the accompanying drawings in detail.
[0050] FIG. 2 is a control configuration diagram illustrating the
flow of control signal of the embodiment of the refrigerant system
according to the present invention; FIG. 3 is a flow chart
illustrating the flow of control during a heating operation in the
embodiment of the refrigerant system according to the present
invention; and FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the control flow
during a cooling operation in the embodiment of the refrigerant
system according to the present invention.
[0051] Referring to FIG. 2, the refrigerant system includes the
refrigerant amount detection unit 18, a high pressure detection
unit 101 which detects a high pressure, that is, a pressure of the
refrigerant discharged from the compressor 12, and a super cooling
degree detection unit 102 which detects a super cooling degree,
that is, a temperature of the refrigerant passed through the
condenser.
[0052] In addition, the refrigerant system includes the super
cooling adjustment unit 192 and a control unit 105 which controls
the super cooling adjustment unit 192 based on information detected
from the refrigerant amount detection unit 18, the high pressure
detection unit 101 and the super cooling detection unit 102.
[0053] The high pressure detection unit 101 may install at one side
of the main refrigerant pipe 151 corresponding to the discharge
side of the compressor 12 so as to easily detect the refrigerant
pressure of the discharge side of the compressor 12.
[0054] In addition, the super cooling detection unit 102 may
install at one side of the main refrigerant pipe 151 corresponding
to the discharge side of the condenser so as to easily detect the
refrigerant temperature passed through the condenser. In detail,
the super cooling detection unit may install at one side of the
main refrigerant pipe 151 corresponding to the discharge side of
the super cooler.
[0055] The refrigerant amount detection unit 18, the high pressure
detection unit 101, the super cooling detection unit 102, the super
cooling adjustment unit 192 and the control unit 105 are
electrically connected each other so as to receive or transmit the
control signal.
[0056] Referring to FIG. 3, the control flow when the refrigerant
system is operated in a heating operation will be described.
[0057] First, when the heating operation of the refrigerant system
starts, a process that the refrigerant system is generally
stabilized is performed (S11). For example, when the heating
operation of the refrigerant system starts, since the flow state of
refrigerant is changed, the time may be needed until the heating
operation of the refrigerant system is stabilized. In this case,
the stabilization process of the refrigerant system may be the
elapsed time until the heating operation of the refrigerant system
is stabilized
[0058] When the refrigerant system is stabilized, the high pressure
and the refrigerant amount stored in the accumulator are detected.
(S12). In this case, the high pressure and the storage refrigerant
amount may be detected by the high pressure detection unit 101 and
the refrigerant amount detection unit 18.
[0059] In addition, when the high pressure detected by the high
pressure detection unit 10, that is, a detected high pressure, is
below a reference pressure and the storage refrigerant amount
detected by the refrigerant amount detection unit 18 exceeded the
minimum storage amount (S14), the open degree of the super cooling
adjustment unit 192 is controlled to decrease (S15).
[0060] In this case, the high reference pressure may mean a high
pressure to achieve the indoor heating, that is, a proper high
pressure value to cover the indoor conditioning load. The reference
high pressure may be a specific pressure value and may be a range
of a proper pressure value to cover the indoor conditioning
load.
[0061] Accordingly, when the detected high pressure is below the
reference high pressure, it may mean that the high pressure on the
refrigerant cycle is insufficient to cover the indoor conditioning
load. In contrast when the detected high pressure exceeded the
reference high pressure, it may mean that the high pressure on the
refrigerant cycle is sufficient to cover the indoor conditioning
load and the rest is excessive.
[0062] In addition, the minimum storage amount may mean a minimum
value of the allowable refrigerant amount to be stored in
accumulator 16. For example, when the accumulator 16 has no the
refrigerant and an empty state is possible, the minimum storage
amount will be become "0".
[0063] That is, the minimum storage amount may be previously set as
a minimum limit value to be stored in accumulator 16. For one
example, the first sensor 181 may detect whether the storage
refrigerant amount is higher or lower than the minimum storage
amount.
[0064] Accordingly, when the storage refrigerant amount is below
the minimum storage amount, without operating the super cooling
adjustment unit 192, that is, without decreasing the open degree of
the super cooling adjustment unit 192, the next step is progressed.
Therefore, even when the refrigerant storage of the accumulator 16
is a minimum limit state, loss such as system efficiency
degradation caused by decreasing the open degree of the super
cooling adjustment unit 192 may be prevented.
[0065] Meanwhile, when the detected high pressure exceeded the
reference high pressure (S16) and the storage refrigerant amount is
below the maximum storage amount (S17), the open degree of the
super refrigerant adjustment unit 192 is controlled to increase
(S18).
[0066] In this case, the minimum storage amount may mean a maximum
value of the allowable refrigerant amount to be stored in
accumulator 16. For example, when the refrigerant can be filled in
the inside space of the accumulator 16, the refrigerant amount
filled in the inside of the accumulator 16 may be the maximum
storage amount.
[0067] That is, the maximum storage amount may be previously set as
a maximum limit value to be stored in accumulator 16. For one
example, the second sensor 182 may detect whether the storage
refrigerant amount is higher or lower than the minimum storage
amount.
[0068] Accordingly, when the storage refrigerant amount is equal to
or higher than the maximum storage amount (S17), without operating
the super cooling adjustment unit 192, that is, without increasing
the open degree of the super cooling adjustment unit 192, the next
step is progressed. Therefore, even when the refrigerant storage of
the accumulator 16 is a maximum limit state, damage and the like of
the accumulator 16 caused by opening the super cooling adjustment
unit 192 may be prevented.
[0069] Meanwhile, when the detected high pressure is not below the
reference high pressure (S13) and not exceeded the reference high
pressure (S16), that is, the detected high pressure is corresponded
to the reference high pressure, the current state is
maintained.
[0070] In addition, unless a signal for ending the heating
operation of the refrigerant system is not inputted (S11), the
stabilization process of the refrigerant system is again performed
(S11).
[0071] In this case, the signal input for ending the heating
operation of the refrigerant system may be performed by inputting
separate signal through the user or by the end conditions
internally set.
[0072] Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 4, the control flow when the
refrigerant system is operated in a cooling operation will be
described. First, when the cooling operation of the refrigerant
system starts, a process that the refrigerant system is generally
stabilized is performed (S21).
[0073] In addition, when the refrigerant system is stabilized, the
high pressure, the super cooling degree and the refrigerant amount
stored in the accumulator 16 are detected (S22). In this case, the
high pressure and the storage refrigerant amount may be detected by
the high pressure detection unit 101, the super cooling detection
unit 102 and the refrigerant amount detection unit 18.
[0074] In addition, when the super cooling degree detected by the
super cooling degree detection unit 102, that is, a detected super
cooling degree, is degree below a reference super cooling degree
(S23), the high pressure (detected high pressure) detected by the
high detection unit 101 is below a safe high pressure (S24), and
the storage refrigerant amount detected by the refrigerant amount
detection unit 18 exceeded the minimum storage amount (S25), the
open degree of the super cooling adjustment unit 192 is controlled
to decrease (S26).
[0075] In this case, the reference super cooling degree may mean a
super cooling degree to achieve the indoor cooling, that is, a
proper super cooling degree value to cover the indoor conditioning
load. The reference super cooling degree may be a specific super
cooling degree value and may be a range of a proper super cooling
degree value to cover the indoor conditioning load.
[0076] Accordingly, when the detected super cooling degree is below
the reference super cooling degree, it may means that the
supercooling degree on the refrigerant cycle is insufficient to
cover the indoor conditioning load. In contrast when the detected
super cooling degree exceeded the reference super cooling degree,
it may mean that the super cooling degree on the refrigerant cycle
is sufficient to cover the indoor conditioning load and the rest is
excessive.
[0077] Meanwhile, as the high pressure and the super cooling degree
are variable state amount according to the indoor conditioning load
of the refrigerant system, comparing the high pressure and the
super cooling degree with the reference high pressure and the
reference super cooling degree may mean comparing the indoor
conditioning load of the refrigerant system with the reference
load.
[0078] In addition, the safe high pressure may mean a minimum high
pressure value that damage may be applied to the compressor 12 and
the refrigerant pipe. That is, the high pressure on the refrigerant
cycle is above the safe high pressure, the compressor 12 and the
refrigerant pipe may be damaged.
[0079] Accordingly, when the detected high pressure is above the
safe high pressure, without operating the super cooling adjustment
unit 192, that is, without decreasing the open degree of the super
cooling adjustment unit 192, the next step is progressed.
Therefore, the damage of the compressor 12 and the refrigerant pipe
may be prevented
[0080] Accordingly, when the storage refrigerant amount is below
the minimum storage amount (S25, without operating the super
cooling adjustment unit 192, that is, without decreasing the open
degree of the super cooling adjustment unit 192, the next step is
progressed. Therefore, loss such as system efficiency degradation
caused by decreasing the open degree of the super cooling
adjustment unit 192 may be prevented.
[0081] Meanwhile, when the detected super cooling degree exceeded
the reference super cooling degree (S27) and the storage
refrigerant amount is below the maximum storage amount (S28), the
open degree of the super refrigerant adjustment unit 192 is
controlled to increase (S29).
[0082] However, when the storage refrigerant amount is equal to or
higher than the maximum storage amount (S28), without operating the
super cooling adjustment unit 192, that is, without increasing the
open degree of the super cooling adjustment unit 192, the next step
is progressed. Therefore, even when the refrigerant storage of the
accumulator 16 is a maximum limit state, damage and the like of the
accumulator 16 caused by increasing open degree of the super
cooling adjustment unit 192 may be prevented.
[0083] Meanwhile, when the detected super cooling degree is not
below the reference super cooling degree (S23) and not exceeded the
reference super cooling degree (S27), that is, the detected super
cooling degree is corresponded to the reference super cooling
degree, the current state is maintained.
[0084] In addition, unless a signal for ending the heating
operation of the refrigerant system is not inputted (S30), the
stabilization process of the refrigerant system is again performed
(S21). In this case, the signal input for ending the cooling
operation of the refrigerant system may be performed by inputting
separate signal through the user or by the end conditions
internally set.
[0085] According to the refrigerant system, there is an advantage
that the flow the refrigerant amount on the refrigerant cycle may
be optimally adjusted according to the operation state of the
refrigerant system.
[0086] In more detail, during the heating operation, when the
detected high pressure is below the reference high pressure, the
open degree of the super cooling adjustment unit 192 is decreased,
and accordingly the refrigerant amount introduced in the
accumulator 16 may be decreased.
[0087] In addition, refrigerant amounts stored in the accumulator
16 are introduced into the compressor 12 and may be supplemented
into the main refrigerant pipe 151. That is, by increasing the flow
refrigerant amount on the refrigerant cycle, the high pressure is
increased and may be controlled to reach the reference high
pressure.
[0088] Meanwhile, when the detected high pressure is above the
reference high pressure, the open degree of the super cooling
adjustment unit 192 is increased, and accordingly the refrigerant
amount introduced in the accumulator 16 may be increased.
Accordingly, refrigerant amounts stored in the accumulator 16 of
the main refrigerant pipe 151 are increased. That is, by decreasing
the flow refrigerant amount on the refrigerant cycle, the high
pressure is decreased and may be controlled to reach the reference
high pressure.
[0089] During the cooling operation, when the detected super
cooling degree is below the reference super cooling degree, the
open degree of the super cooling adjustment unit 192 is decreased,
and accordingly the refrigerant amount introduced in the
accumulator 16 is decreased.
[0090] In addition, refrigerant stored in the accumulator 16 is
introduced into the compressor 12 and may be supplemented into the
main refrigerant pipe 151. That is, by increasing the flow
refrigerant amount on the refrigerant cycle, the super cooling
degree is increased and may be controlled to reach the reference
supercooling degree.
[0091] Meanwhile, when the detected super cooling degree is above
the reference super cooling degree, the open degree of the super
cooling adjustment unit 192 is increased, and accordingly the
refrigerant amount introduced in the accumulator 16 is
increased.
[0092] Accordingly, refrigerant amounts stored in the accumulator
16 of refrigerants of the main refrigerant pipe 151 is increased.
That is, by decreasing the flow refrigerant amount on the
refrigerant cycle, the super cooling degree is decreased and may be
controlled to reach the reference super cooling degree.
[0093] In addition, according to the refrigerant, there is an
advantage that the overall operating efficiency of the refrigerant
system may be improved. In more detail, for example, without
changing an operating rate of the compressor 12, the rotation speed
of a fan (not shown) and the like, the performance of the
refrigerant system to cover the indoor conditioning load may be
varied by only the flow refrigerant amount on the refrigerant
cycle. Therefore, the overall operation efficiency of the
refrigerant system may be improved.
[0094] In addition, according to the refrigerant system, there is
an advantage that the overall operating efficiency of the
refrigerant system may be optimized within the scope that damage of
refrigerant system may be prevented.
[0095] In more detail, during the cooling operation, even when the
detected super cooling degree is below the reference super cooling
degree, when the high pressure is above the safe high pressure,
without operating the super cooling adjustment unit 192, that is,
without decreasing the open degree of the super cooling adjustment
unit 192, the next step is progressed.
[0096] In other words, in order to increase the detected super
cooling degree, when the open degree of the super cooling
adjustment unit 192, the flow refrigerant amount on the refrigerant
cycle is increased together with the high pressure, and damage the
compressor 12 and the refrigerant pipe occurs. Therefore, in this
case, a control to not decrease the open degree of the super
cooling adjustment unit 192 is performed and, as a result, the
refrigerant introduced into the accumulator 16 is maintained or
increased.
[0097] As described above, although the present invention is
described by specific matters such as concrete components, and the
like, exemplary embodiments, and drawings, they are provided only
for assisting in the entire understanding of the present invention.
Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the exemplary
embodiments. Various modifications and changes may be made by those
skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains from
this description.
[0098] Therefore, the spirit of the present invention should not be
limited to the above-described exemplary embodiment and the
following claims as well as all modified equally or equivalently to
the claims are intended to fall within the scopes and spirits of
the invention.
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