U.S. patent application number 13/872387 was filed with the patent office on 2014-02-20 for air conditioner and control method thereof.
This patent application is currently assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. The applicant listed for this patent is Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Jong Won Bak, Min Chang, Il Yong Cho, Man Ki Ha, Dong Il Jung, Hyun Wuk Kang, Kyung Hoon Kim, Mun Sub Kim, Se Won Kim, Tae Il Kim, You Jae Kim, Je Jin Lee, Suk Ho Lee, Jin Yong Mo, Hyeong Joon Seo.
Application Number | 20140047852 13/872387 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50099093 |
Filed Date | 2014-02-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140047852 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim; Kyung Hoon ; et
al. |
February 20, 2014 |
AIR CONDITIONER AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF
Abstract
An air conditioner that improves efficiency of an inverter
compressor by injecting an intermediate pressure refrigerant to the
inverter compressor during heating or cooling and a control method
thereof are provided.
Inventors: |
Kim; Kyung Hoon; (Yongin-si,
KR) ; Kang; Hyun Wuk; (Suwon-si, KR) ; Kim;
Mun Sub; (Suwon-si, KR) ; Kim; You Jae;
(Suwon-si, KR) ; Lee; Suk Ho; (Suwon-si, KR)
; Kim; Se Won; (Seoul, KR) ; Kim; Tae Il;
(Suwon-si, KR) ; Mo; Jin Yong; (Anyang-si, KR)
; Bak; Jong Won; (Suwon-si, KR) ; Seo; Hyeong
Joon; (Suwon-si, KR) ; Lee; Je Jin; (Suwon-si,
KR) ; Chang; Min; (Suwon-si, KR) ; Jung; Dong
Il; (Suwon-si, KR) ; Cho; Il Yong; (Suwon-si,
KR) ; Ha; Man Ki; (Busan, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. |
Suwon-si |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
Samsung Electronics Co.,
Ltd.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
50099093 |
Appl. No.: |
13/872387 |
Filed: |
April 29, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/79 ; 62/296;
62/498 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25B 1/06 20130101; F25B
2400/075 20130101; F25B 2400/13 20130101; F25B 1/10 20130101; F25B
13/00 20130101; F25B 2600/2519 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/79 ; 62/498;
62/296 |
International
Class: |
F25B 1/06 20060101
F25B001/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 14, 2012 |
KR |
10-2012-0088936 |
Claims
1. An air conditioner comprising: a dual inverter compressor that
includes a first inverter compressor and a second inverter
compressor and compresses a refrigerant at a high temperature and
at a high pressure; an indoor heat exchanger that liquefies the
refrigerant supplied from the dual inverter compressor; an
expansion valve that decompresses and expands the refrigerant
supplied from the indoor heat exchanger; an outdoor heat exchanger
that vaporizes the refrigerant supplied from the expansion valve; a
bypass pipe that is bypassed in a refrigerant pipe for connecting
the indoor heat exchanger and the outdoor heat exchanger, and in
which an electric expansion valve is installed; an inner heat
exchanger that is provided between the indoor heat exchanger and
the outdoor heat exchanger, and is connected with the bypass pipe
to generate an intermediate pressure refrigerant through heat
exchange of the refrigerant moved from the indoor heat exchanger to
the outdoor heat exchanger and the refrigerant bypassed to the
bypass pipe; an intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe that
guides the intermediate pressure refrigerant generated through the
heat exchange in the inner heat exchanger to the dual inverter
compressor, and in which an intermediate pressure refrigerant
shut-off valve for controlling injection of the intermediate
pressure refrigerant to the dual inverter compressor or controlling
the injection to be prevented, and an intermediate pressure
refrigerant spraying port for spraying the intermediate pressure
refrigerant that has passed through the intermediate pressure
refrigerant shut-off valve to the dual inverter compressor are
installed; and an intermediate pressure refrigerant branch pipe
that is branched in the intermediate pressure refrigerant guide
pipe, and in which an opening and closing valve for controlling the
intermediate pressure refrigerant to be injected to the dual
inverter compressor along the intermediate pressure refrigerant
guide pipe is installed.
2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the inner heat
exchanger performs heat exchange between the refrigerant that is
moved from the indoor heat exchanger to the outdoor heat exchanger
and the refrigerant that is bypassed to the bypass pipe and enters
the inner heat exchanger, so that the refrigerant moved from the
indoor heat exchanger to the outdoor heat exchanger is supercooled
and the refrigerant bypassed to the bypass pipe and entering the
inner heat exchanger is superheated.
3. The air conditioner according to claim 1, further comprising: an
accumulator that is provided so as to be connected with the
intermediate pressure refrigerant branch pipe, and stores the
intermediate pressure refrigerant injected through the intermediate
pressure refrigerant branch pipe when the opening and closing valve
is opened.
4. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the
intermediate pressure refrigerant branch pipe is provided so as to
be connected to a refrigerant pipe, which connects the intermediate
pressure refrigerant branch pipe to the dual inverter compressor,
and which enables the intermediate pressure refrigerant injected
through the intermediate pressure refrigerant branch pipe to be
supplied to the dual inverter compressor together with a
refrigerant moved from the outdoor heat exchanger to the dual
inverter compressor when the opening and closing valve is
opened.
5. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the
intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off valve includes a first
intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off valve for controlling
injection of the intermediate pressure refrigerant to the first
inverter compressor and a second intermediate pressure refrigerant
shut-off valve for controlling injection of the intermediate
pressure refrigerant to the second inverter compressor.
6. The air conditioner according to claim 5, wherein a muffler is
provided between the first inverter compressor and the first
intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off valve and between the
second inverter compressor and the second intermediate pressure
refrigerant shut-off valve.
7. The air conditioner according to claim 1, further comprising: a
control unit that controls the electric expansion valve, the
opening and closing valve, and the intermediate pressure
refrigerant shut-off valve.
8. An air conditioner comprising: a dual inverter compressor that
includes a first inverter compressor and a second inverter
compressor, and compresses a refrigerant at a high temperature and
at a high pressure; an outdoor heat exchanger that liquefies the
refrigerant supplied from the dual inverter compressor; an
expansion valve that decompresses and expands the refrigerant
supplied from the outdoor heat exchanger; an indoor heat exchanger
that vaporizes the refrigerant supplied from the expansion valve; a
bypass pipe that is bypassed in a refrigerant pipe for connecting
the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger, and in
which an electric expansion valve is installed; an inner heat
exchanger that is provided between the outdoor heat exchanger and
the indoor heat exchanger and is connected with the bypass pipe to
generate an intermediate pressure refrigerant through heat exchange
of the refrigerant moved from the outdoor heat exchanger to the
indoor heat exchanger and the refrigerant bypassed to the bypass
pipe; an intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe that guides
the intermediate pressure refrigerant generated through the heat
exchange in the inner heat exchanger to the dual inverter
compressor, and in which an intermediate pressure refrigerant
shut-off valve for controlling injection of the intermediate
pressure refrigerant to the dual inverter compressor or controlling
the injection to be prevented and an intermediate pressure
refrigerant spraying port for spraying the intermediate pressure
refrigerant that passed through the intermediate pressure
refrigerant shut-off valve to the dual inverter compressor are
installed; and an intermediate pressure refrigerant branch pipe
that connects the intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe and
an accumulator, and in which an opening and closing valve for
controlling the intermediate pressure refrigerant to be injected to
the dual inverter compressor along the intermediate pressure
refrigerant guide pipe or to be discharged to the accumulator is
installed.
9. The air conditioner according to claim 8, wherein the inner heat
exchanger performs heat exchange between the refrigerant that is
moved from the outdoor heat exchanger to the indoor heat exchanger
and the refrigerant that is bypassed to the bypass pipe and enters
the inner heat exchanger, so that the refrigerant moved from the
outdoor heat exchanger to the indoor heat exchanger is supercooled
and the refrigerant bypassed to the bypass pipe and entering the
inner heat exchanger is superheated.
10. The air conditioner according to claim 8, wherein the
accumulator stores the intermediate pressure refrigerant injected
through the intermediate pressure refrigerant branch pipe when the
opening and closing valve is opened.
11. The air conditioner according to claim 8, wherein the
intermediate pressure refrigerant branch pipe is provided so as to
be connected to a refrigerant pipe, which connects the intermediate
pressure refrigerant branch pipe to the dual inverter compressor,
and which enables the intermediate pressure refrigerant injected
through the intermediate pressure refrigerant branch pipe to be
supplied to the dual inverter compressor together with a
refrigerant moved from the indoor heat exchanger to the dual
inverter compressor when the opening and closing valve is
opened.
12. The air conditioner according to claim 8, wherein the
intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off valve includes a first
intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off valve for controlling
injection of the intermediate pressure refrigerant to the first
inverter compressor and a second intermediate pressure refrigerant
shut-off valve for controlling injection of the intermediate
pressure refrigerant to the second inverter compressor.
13. The air conditioner according to claim 12, wherein a muffler is
provided between the first inverter compressor and the first
intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off valve and between the
second inverter compressor and the second intermediate pressure
refrigerant shut-off valve.
14. The air conditioner according to claim 8, further comprising: a
control unit that controls the electric expansion valve, the
opening and closing valve, and the intermediate pressure
refrigerant shut-off valve.
15. A method for controlling a heating operation of an air
conditioner including a dual inverter compressor having a first
inverter compressor and a second inverter compressor, an indoor
heat exchanger, and an outdoor heat exchanger, the method
comprising: enabling a partial refrigerant to be expanded in a
bypass pipe that is bypassed from a refrigerant pipe for connecting
the indoor heat exchanger and the outdoor heat exchanger by opening
an electric expansion valve installed in the bypass pipe;
generating an intermediate pressure refrigerant by supplying the
refrigerant of the bypass pipe to the inner heat exchanger
installed in the refrigerant pipe for connecting the indoor heat
exchanger and the outdoor heat exchanger; shutting off an opening
and closing valve that is provided in an intermediate pressure
refrigerant branch pipe branched in an intermediate pressure
refrigerant guide pipe for connecting the inner heat exchanger and
the dual inverter compressor so that the intermediate pressure
refrigerant is moved through the intermediate pressure refrigerant
guide pipe; and enabling the intermediate pressure refrigerant to
be injected to the dual inverter compressor through the
intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe by opening the
intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off valve provided in the
intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe.
16. The method according to claim 15, wherein, when the electric
expansion valve is opened, the refrigerant bypassed to the bypass
pipe is expanded in the electric expansion valve and then injected
to the inner heat exchanger to be heat-exchanged with the
refrigerant moved from the indoor heat exchanger to the outdoor
heat exchanger, the refrigerant moved from the indoor heat
exchanger to the outdoor heat exchanger is supercooled through heat
exchange to be supplied to the outdoor heat exchanger, and the
refrigerant bypassed to the bypass pipe is supplied to the dual
inverter compressor in a state of absorbing heat.
17. A method for controlling a heating operation of an air
conditioner including a dual inverter compressor having a first
inverter compressor and a second inverter compressor, an indoor
heat exchanger, and an outdoor heat exchanger, the method
comprising: preventing a refrigerant from flowing to a bypass pipe
that is bypassed in a refrigerant pipe for connecting the indoor
heat exchanger and the outdoor heat exchanger and is connected with
an inner heat exchanger provided in the refrigerant pipe, by
shutting off an electric expansion valve installed in the bypass
pipe, so that an intermediate pressure refrigerant is prevented
from being injected to the dual inverter compressor.
18. The method according to claim 17, wherein, when the
intermediate pressure refrigerant is prevented from being injected
to the dual inverter compressor by shutting off the electric
expansion valve, an opening and closing valve that is installed in
an intermediate pressure refrigerant branch pipe branched in an
intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe for connecting the
inner heat exchanger and the dual inverter compressor is maintained
to be opened, so that an increase in piping stress due to an
internal flow of the intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe
is prevented.
19. The method according to claim 18, wherein, when the
intermediate pressure refrigerant is prevented from being injected
to the dual inverter compressor by shutting off the electric
expansion valve and opening the opening and closing valve, the
intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off valve provided in the
intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe is maintained to be
opened, so that chattering that occurs when the refrigerant flows
in a direction opposite to a refrigerant flow direction of the
intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off valve, and occurrence of
vibration of the intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe are
reduced.
20. A method for controlling a heating operation of an air
conditioner including a dual inverter compressor having a first
inverter compressor and a second inverter compressor, an indoor
heat exchanger, and an outdoor heat exchanger, the method that
prevents injection of an intermediate pressure refrigerant to the
dual inverter compressor, and controls a refrigerant moved from the
indoor heat exchanger to the outdoor heat exchanger to be
supercooled, the method comprising: enabling a refrigerant to be
bypassed to a bypass pipe by opening an electric expansion valve
installed in the bypass pipe that is bypassed in a refrigerant pipe
for connecting the indoor heat exchanger and the outdoor heat
exchanger and connected to an inner heat exchanger provided in the
refrigerant pipe; and preventing the intermediate pressure
refrigerant from being injected to the dual inverter compressor by
opening an opening and closing valve installed in an intermediate
pressure refrigerant branch pipe branched in an intermediate
pressure refrigerant guide pipe for connecting the inner heat
exchanger and the dual inverter compressor so that the intermediate
pressure refrigerant generated in the inner heat exchanger is moved
through the intermediate pressure refrigerant branch pipe to be
stored in an accumulator connected with the intermediate pressure
refrigerant branch pipe.
21. The method according to claim 20, wherein, when the
intermediate pressure refrigerant is prevented from being injected
to the dual inverter compressor by opening the electric expansion
valve and the opening and closing valve, an intermediate pressure
refrigerant shut-off valve provided in the intermediate pressure
refrigerant guide pipe is maintained to be opened, so that
chattering that occurs when the refrigerant flows in a direction
opposite to a refrigerant flow direction of the intermediate
pressure refrigerant shut-off valve, and occurrence of vibration of
the intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe are reduced.
22. A method for controlling a cooling operation of an air
conditioner including a dual inverter compressor having a first
inverter compressor and a second inverter compressor, an indoor
heat exchanger, and an outdoor heat exchanger, the method
comprising: enabling a partial refrigerant to be expanded in a
bypass pipe that is bypassed from a refrigerant pipe for connecting
the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger by opening
an electric expansion valve installed in the bypass pipe;
generating an intermediate pressure refrigerant by supplying the
refrigerant of the bypass pipe to the inner heat exchanger
installed in the refrigerant pipe for connecting the outdoor heat
exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger; shutting off an opening
and closing valve that is provided in an intermediate pressure
refrigerant branch pipe branched in an intermediate pressure
refrigerant guide pipe for connecting the inner heat exchanger and
the dual inverter compressor so that the intermediate pressure
refrigerant is moved through the intermediate pressure refrigerant
guide pipe; and enabling the intermediate pressure refrigerant to
be injected to the dual inverter compressor through the
intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe by opening the
intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off valve provided in the
intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe.
23. The method according to claim 22, wherein, when the electric
expansion valve is opened, the refrigerant bypassed to the bypass
pipe is expanded in the electric expansion valve and then injected
to the inner heat exchanger to be heat-exchanged with the
refrigerant moved from the outdoor heat exchanger to the indoor
heat exchanger, the refrigerant moved from the outdoor heat
exchanger to the indoor heat exchanger is supercooled through heat
exchange to be supplied to the indoor heat exchanger, and the
refrigerant bypassed to the bypass pipe is supplied to the dual
inverter compressor in a state of absorbing heat.
24. A method for controlling a cooling operating of an air
conditioner including a dual inverter compressor having a first
inverter compressor and a second inverter compressor, an indoor
heat exchanger, and an outdoor indoor exchanger, the method
comprising: preventing a refrigerant from flowing to a bypass pipe
that is bypassed in a refrigerant pipe for connecting the outdoor
heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger and is connected with
an inner heat exchanger provided in the refrigerant pipe, by
shutting off an electric expansion valve installed in the bypass
pipe, so that an intermediate pressure refrigerant is prevented
from being injected to the dual inverter compressor.
25. The method according to claim 24, wherein, when the
intermediate pressure refrigerant is prevented from being injected
to the dual inverter compressor by shutting off the electric
expansion valve, an opening and closing valve that is installed in
an intermediate pressure refrigerant branch pipe branched in an
intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe for connecting the
inner heat exchanger and the dual inverter compressor is maintained
to be opened, so that an increase in piping stress due to an
internal flow of the intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe
is prevented.
26. The method according to claim 25, wherein, when the
intermediate pressure refrigerant is prevented from being injected
to the dual inverter compressor by shutting off the electric
expansion valve and opening the opening and closing valve, the
intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off valve provided in the
intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe is maintained to be
opened, so that chattering that occurs when the refrigerant flows
in a direction opposite to a refrigerant flow direction of the
intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off valve, and occurrence of
vibration of the intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe are
reduced.
27. A method for controlling a cooling operation of an air
conditioner including a dual inverter compressor having a first
inverter compressor and a second inverter compressor, an indoor
heat exchanger, and an outdoor heat exchanger, the method that
prevents injection of an intermediate pressure refrigerant to the
dual inverter compressor, and controls a refrigerant moved from the
indoor heat exchanger to the outdoor heat exchanger to be
supercooled, the method comprising: enabling a refrigerant to be
bypassed to a bypass pipe by opening an electric expansion valve
installed in the bypass pipe that is bypassed in a refrigerant pipe
for connecting the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat
exchanger and connected to an inner heat exchanger provided in the
refrigerant pipe; and preventing the intermediate pressure
refrigerant from being injected to the dual inverter compressor by
opening an opening and closing valve installed in an intermediate
pressure refrigerant branch pipe branched in an intermediate
pressure refrigerant guide pipe for connecting the inner heat
exchanger and the dual inverter compressor so that the intermediate
pressure refrigerant generated in the inner heat exchanger is moved
through the intermediate pressure refrigerant branch pipe to be
stored in an accumulator connected with the intermediate pressure
refrigerant branch pipe.
28. The method according to claim 27, wherein, when the
intermediate pressure refrigerant is prevented from being injected
to the dual inverter compressor by opening the electric expansion
valve and the opening and closing valve, an intermediate pressure
refrigerant shut-off valve provided in the intermediate pressure
refrigerant guide pipe is maintained to be opened, so that
chattering that occurs when the refrigerant flows in a direction
opposite to a refrigerant flow direction of the intermediate
pressure refrigerant shut-off valve, and occurrence of vibration of
the intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe are reduced.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the priority benefit of Korean
Patent Application No. 2012-0088936, filed on Aug. 14, 2012 in the
Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] Embodiments relate to an air conditioner and a control
method thereof.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] In general, an air conditioner includes an outdoor unit and
multiple indoor units. Here, a compressor, a four-way valve, an
outdoor heat exchanger, and an expansion valve are provided in the
outdoor unit, and an indoor heat exchanger is provided in each of
the multiple indoor units.
[0006] The compressor, the four-way valve, the outdoor heat
exchanger, the expansion valve, and the indoor heat exchanger are
connected with each other by a refrigerant pipe that is applied for
performing a cooling or a heating cycle.
[0007] The compressor includes an inverter compressor whose
capacity is variable and a constant speed type compressor whose
capacity is not variable, and one inverter compressor and multiple
constant speed type compressors are used together due to the
expensive price of the inverter compressor.
[0008] In the above-described system, since one inverter compressor
is used, the whole system may heavily depend on a driving situation
of the inverter compressor, and for example, may stop when the
inverter compressor is broken.
[0009] In addition, in a state in which one inverter compressor
first starts to control and all constant speed type compressors of
a system are operated, superheated steam injection cannot be used
until the inverter compressor can be operated in a region in which
the superheated steam injection is possible. Accordingly, a region
in which the superheated steam injection can be performed is
limited, and there is no gain due to the superheated steam
injection at the time of high-capacity operation. As a result,
generally, the superheated injection is not used during
cooling.
SUMMARY
[0010] In an aspect of one or more embodiments, there is provided
an air conditioner that improves efficiency of an inverter
compressor by injecting an intermediate pressure refrigerant to the
inverter compressor during heating and cooling, and a control
method thereof.
[0011] In an aspect of one or more embodiments, there is provided
an air conditioner includes: a dual inverter compressor that
includes a first inverter compressor and a second inverter
compressor and compresses a refrigerant at a high temperature and
at a high pressure; an indoor heat exchanger that liquefies the
refrigerant supplied from the dual inverter compressor; an
expansion valve that decompresses and expands the refrigerant
supplied from the indoor heat exchanger; an outdoor heat exchanger
that vaporizes the refrigerant supplied from the expansion valve; a
bypass pipe that is bypassed in a refrigerant pipe for connecting
the indoor heat exchanger and the outdoor heat exchanger, and in
which an electric expansion valve is installed; an inner heat
exchanger that is provided between the indoor heat exchanger and
the outdoor heat exchanger and is connected with the bypass pipe to
generate an intermediate pressure refrigerant through heat exchange
of the refrigerant moved from the indoor heat exchanger to the
outdoor heat exchanger and the refrigerant bypassed to the bypass
pipe; an intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe that guides
the intermediate pressure refrigerant generated through the heat
exchange in the inner heat exchanger to the dual inverter
compressor, and in which an intermediate pressure refrigerant
shut-off valve for controlling injection of the intermediate
pressure refrigerant to the dual inverter compressor or controlling
the injection to be prevented, and an intermediate pressure
refrigerant spraying port for spraying the intermediate pressure
refrigerant that has passed through the intermediate pressure
refrigerant shut-off valve to the dual inverter compressor are
installed; and an intermediate pressure refrigerant branch pipe
that is branched in the intermediate pressure refrigerant guide
pipe, and in which an opening and closing valve for controlling the
intermediate pressure refrigerant to be injected to the dual
inverter compressor along the intermediate pressure refrigerant
guide pipe is installed.
[0012] The inner heat exchanger may perform heat exchange between
the refrigerant that is moved from the indoor heat exchanger to the
outdoor heat exchanger and the refrigerant that is bypassed to the
bypass pipe and enters the inner heat exchanger, so that the
refrigerant moved from the indoor heat exchanger to the outdoor
heat exchanger is supercooled and the refrigerant bypassed to the
bypass pipe and entering the inner heat exchanger is
superheated.
[0013] The air conditioner may further include an accumulator that
is provided so as to be connected with the intermediate pressure
refrigerant branch pipe, and stores the intermediate pressure
refrigerant injected through the intermediate pressure refrigerant
branch pipe when the opening and closing valve is opened.
[0014] Also, the intermediate pressure refrigerant branch pipe may
be provided so as to be connected to a fourth refrigerant pipe and
enable the intermediate pressure refrigerant injected through the
intermediate pressure refrigerant branch pipe to be supplied to the
dual inverter compressor together with a refrigerant moved from the
outdoor heat exchanger to the dual inverter compressor when the
opening and closing valve is opened.
[0015] In addition, the intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off
valve may include a first intermediate pressure refrigerant
shut-off valve for controlling injection of the intermediate
pressure refrigerant to the first inverter compressor and a second
intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off valve for controlling
injection of the intermediate pressure refrigerant to the second
inverter compressor.
[0016] In addition, a muffler may be provided between the first
inverter compressor and the first intermediate pressure refrigerant
shut-off valve and between the second inverter compressor and the
second intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off valve.
[0017] Moreover, the air conditioner may further include a control
unit that controls the electric expansion valve, the opening and
closing valve, and the intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off
valve.
[0018] In an aspect of one or more embodiments, there is provided
an air conditioner includes: a dual inverter compressor that
includes a first inverter compressor and a second inverter
compressor and compresses a refrigerant at a high temperature and
at a high pressure; an outdoor heat exchanger that liquefies the
refrigerant supplied from the dual inverter compressor; an
expansion valve that decompresses and expands the refrigerant
supplied from the outdoor heat exchanger; an indoor heat exchanger
that vaporizes the refrigerant supplied from the expansion valve; a
bypass pipe that is bypassed in a refrigerant pipe for connecting
the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger, and in
which an electric expansion valve is installed; an inner heat
exchanger that is provided between the outdoor heat exchanger and
the indoor heat exchanger and is connected with the bypass pipe to
generate an intermediate pressure refrigerant through heat exchange
of the refrigerant moved from the outdoor heat exchanger to the
indoor heat exchanger and the refrigerant bypassed to the bypass
pipe; an intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe that guides
the intermediate pressure refrigerant generated through the heat
exchange in the inner heat exchanger to the dual inverter
compressor, and in which an intermediate pressure refrigerant
shut-off valve for controlling injection of the intermediate
pressure refrigerant to the dual inverter compressor or controlling
the injection to be prevented and an intermediate pressure
refrigerant spraying port for spraying the intermediate pressure
refrigerant that passed through the intermediate pressure
refrigerant shut-off valve to the dual inverter compressor are
installed; and an intermediate pressure refrigerant branch pipe
that connects the intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe and
an accumulator, and in which an opening and closing valve for
controlling the intermediate pressure refrigerant to be injected to
the dual inverter compressor along the intermediate pressure
refrigerant guide pipe or to be discharged to the accumulator is
installed.
[0019] The inner heat exchanger may perform heat exchange between
the refrigerant that is moved from the outdoor heat exchanger to
the indoor heat exchanger and the refrigerant that is bypassed to
the bypass pipe and enters the inner heat exchanger, so that the
refrigerant moved from the outdoor heat exchanger to the indoor
heat exchanger is supercooled and the refrigerant bypassed to the
bypass pipe and entering the inner heat exchanger is
superheated.
[0020] The air conditioner may further include an accumulator that
is provided so as to be connected with the intermediate pressure
refrigerant branch pipe, and stores the intermediate pressure
refrigerant injected through the intermediate pressure refrigerant
branch pipe when the opening and closing valve is opened.
[0021] Also, the intermediate pressure refrigerant branch pipe may
be provided so as to be connected to a fourth refrigerant pipe, and
enable the intermediate pressure refrigerant injected through the
intermediate pressure refrigerant branch pipe to be supplied to the
dual inverter compressor together with a refrigerant moved from the
indoor heat exchanger to the dual inverter compressor when the
opening and closing valve is opened.
[0022] In addition, the intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off
valve may include a first intermediate pressure refrigerant
shut-off valve for controlling injection of the intermediate
pressure refrigerant to the first inverter compressor and a second
intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off valve for controlling
injection of the intermediate pressure refrigerant to the second
inverter compressor.
[0023] In addition, a muffler may be provided between the first
inverter compressor and the first intermediate pressure refrigerant
shut-off valve and between the second inverter compressor and the
second intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off valve.
[0024] Moreover, the air conditioner may further include a control
unit that controls the electric expansion valve, the opening and
closing valve, and the intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off
valve.
[0025] In an aspect of one or more embodiments, there is provided a
method for controlling a heating operation of an air conditioner
including a dual inverter compressor having a first inverter
compressor and a second inverter compressor, an indoor heat
exchanger, and an outdoor heat exchanger, the method includes:
enabling a partial refrigerant to be expanded in a bypass pipe that
is bypassed from a refrigerant pipe for connecting the indoor heat
exchanger and the outdoor heat exchanger by opening an electric
expansion valve installed in the bypass pipe; generating an
intermediate pressure refrigerant by supplying the refrigerant of
the bypass pipe to the inner heat exchanger installed in the
refrigerant pipe for connecting the indoor heat exchanger and the
outdoor heat exchanger; shutting off an opening and closing valve
that is provided in an intermediate pressure refrigerant branch
pipe branched in an intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe
for connecting the inner heat exchanger and the dual inverter
compressor so that the intermediate pressure refrigerant is moved
through the intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe; and
enabling the intermediate pressure refrigerant to be injected to
the dual inverter compressor through the intermediate pressure
refrigerant guide pipe by opening the intermediate pressure
refrigerant shut-off valve provided in the intermediate pressure
refrigerant guide pipe.
[0026] Here, when the electric expansion valve is opened, the
refrigerant bypassed to the bypass pipe may be expanded in the
electric expansion valve and then injected to the inner heat
exchanger to be heat-exchanged with the refrigerant moved from the
indoor heat exchanger to the outdoor heat exchanger, the
refrigerant moved from the indoor heat exchanger to the outdoor
heat exchanger may be supercooled through heat exchange to be
supplied to the outdoor heat exchanger, and the refrigerant
bypassed to the bypass pipe may be supplied to the dual inverter
compressor in a state of absorbing heat.
[0027] In an aspect of one or more embodiments, there is provided a
method for controlling a heating operation of an air conditioner
including a dual inverter compressor having a first inverter
compressor and a second inverter compressor, an indoor heat
exchanger, and an outdoor heat exchanger, the method includes:
preventing a refrigerant from flowing to a bypass pipe, which is
bypassed in a refrigerant pipe for connecting the indoor heat
exchanger and the outdoor heat exchanger and is connected with an
inner heat exchanger provided in the refrigerant pipe, by shutting
off an electric expansion valve installed in the bypass pipe, so
that an intermediate pressure refrigerant is prevented from being
injected to the dual inverter compressor.
[0028] When the intermediate pressure refrigerant is prevented from
being injected to the dual inverter compressor by shutting off the
electric expansion valve, an opening and closing valve that is
installed in an intermediate pressure refrigerant branch pipe
branched in an intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe for
connecting the inner heat exchanger and the dual inverter
compressor may be maintained to be opened, so that an increase in
piping stress due to an internal flow of the intermediate pressure
refrigerant guide pipe is prevented.
[0029] In addition, when the intermediate pressure refrigerant is
prevented from being injected to the dual inverter compressor by
shutting off the electric expansion valve and opening the opening
and closing valve, the intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off
valve provided in the intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe
may be maintained to be opened, so that chattering that occurs when
the refrigerant flows in a direction opposite to a refrigerant flow
direction of the intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off valve,
and occurrence of vibration of the intermediate pressure
refrigerant guide pipe are reduced.
[0030] In an aspect of one or more embodiments, there is provided a
method for controlling a heating operation of an air conditioner
including a dual inverter compressor having a first inverter
compressor and a second inverter compressor, an indoor heat
exchanger, and an outdoor heat exchanger, the method that prevents
injection of an intermediate pressure refrigerant to the dual
inverter compressor and controls a refrigerant moved from the
indoor heat exchanger to the outdoor heat exchanger to be
supercooled, the method includes: enabling a refrigerant to be
bypassed to a bypass pipe by opening an electric expansion valve
installed in the bypass pipe that is bypassed in a refrigerant pipe
for connecting the indoor heat exchanger and the outdoor heat
exchanger and connected to an inner heat exchanger provided in the
refrigerant pipe; and preventing the intermediate pressure
refrigerant from being injected to the dual inverter compressor by
opening an opening and closing valve installed in an intermediate
pressure refrigerant branch pipe branched in an intermediate
pressure refrigerant guide pipe for connecting the inner heat
exchanger and the dual inverter compressor so that the intermediate
pressure refrigerant generated in the inner heat exchanger is moved
through the intermediate pressure refrigerant branch pipe to be
stored in an accumulator connected with the intermediate pressure
refrigerant branch pipe.
[0031] When the intermediate pressure refrigerant is prevented from
being injected to the dual inverter compressor by opening the
electric expansion valve and the opening and closing valve, an
intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off valve provided in the
intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe may be maintained to
be opened, so that chattering that occurs when the refrigerant
flows in a direction opposite to a refrigerant flow direction of
the intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off valve, and
occurrence of vibration of the intermediate pressure refrigerant
guide pipe are reduced.
[0032] In an aspect of one or more embodiments, there is provided a
method for controlling a cooling operation of an air conditioner
including a dual inverter compressor having a first inverter
compressor and a second inverter compressor, an indoor heat
exchanger, and an outdoor heat exchanger, the method includes:
enabling a partial refrigerant to be expanded in a bypass pipe that
is bypassed from a refrigerant pipe for connecting the indoor heat
exchanger and the outdoor heat exchanger by opening an electric
expansion valve installed in the bypass pipe; generating an
intermediate pressure refrigerant by supplying the refrigerant of
the bypass pipe to the inner heat exchanger installed in the
refrigerant pipe for connecting the indoor heat exchanger and the
outdoor heat exchanger; shutting off an opening and closing valve
that is provided in an intermediate pressure refrigerant branch
pipe branched in an intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe
for connecting the inner heat exchanger and the dual inverter
compressor so that the intermediate pressure refrigerant is moved
through the intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe; and
enabling the intermediate pressure refrigerant to be injected to
the dual inverter compressor through the intermediate pressure
refrigerant guide pipe by opening the intermediate pressure
refrigerant shut-off valve provided in the intermediate pressure
refrigerant guide pipe.
[0033] When the electric expansion valve is opened, the refrigerant
bypassed to the bypass pipe may be expanded in the electric
expansion valve and then injected to the inner heat exchanger to be
heat-exchanged with the refrigerant moved from the outdoor heat
exchanger to the indoor heat exchanger, the refrigerant moved from
the outdoor heat exchanger to the indoor heat exchanger may be
supercooled through heat exchange to be supplied to the indoor heat
exchanger, and the refrigerant bypassed to the bypass pipe may be
supplied to the dual inverter compressor in a state of absorbing
heat.
[0034] In an aspect of one or more embodiments, there is provided a
method for controlling a cooling operating of an air conditioner
including a dual inverter compressor having a first inverter
compressor and a second inverter compressor, an indoor heat
exchanger, and an outdoor indoor exchanger, the method includes:
preventing a refrigerant from flowing to a bypass pipe that is
bypassed in a refrigerant pipe for connecting the outdoor heat
exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger and is connected with an
inner heat exchanger provided in the refrigerant pipe, by shutting
off an electric expansion valve installed in the bypass pipe, so
that an intermediate pressure refrigerant is prevented from being
injected to the dual inverter compressor.
[0035] When the intermediate pressure refrigerant is prevented from
being injected to the dual inverter compressor by shutting off the
electric expansion valve, an opening and closing valve that is
installed in an intermediate pressure refrigerant branch pipe
branched in an intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe for
connecting the inner heat exchanger and the dual inverter
compressor may be maintained to be opened, so that an increase in
piping stress due to an internal flow of the intermediate pressure
refrigerant guide pipe is prevented.
[0036] In addition, when the intermediate pressure refrigerant is
prevented from being injected to the dual inverter compressor by
shutting off the electric expansion valve and opening the opening
and closing valve, the intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off
valve provided in the intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe
may be maintained to be opened, so that chattering that occurs when
the refrigerant flows in a direction opposite to a refrigerant flow
direction of the intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off valve,
and occurrence of vibration of the intermediate pressure
refrigerant guide pipe are reduced.
[0037] In an aspect of one or more embodiments, there is provided a
method for controlling a cooling operation of an air conditioner
including a dual inverter compressor having a first inverter
compressor and a second inverter compressor, an indoor heat
exchanger, and an outdoor heat exchanger, the method that prevents
injection of an intermediate pressure refrigerant to the dual
inverter compressor and controls a refrigerant moved from the
indoor heat exchanger to the outdoor heat exchanger to be
supercooled, the method includes: enabling a refrigerant to be
bypassed to a bypass pipe by opening an electric expansion valve
installed in the bypass pipe that is bypassed in a refrigerant pipe
for connecting the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat
exchanger and connected to an inner heat exchanger provided in the
refrigerant pipe; and preventing the intermediate pressure
refrigerant from being injected to the dual inverter compressor by
opening an opening and closing valve installed in an intermediate
pressure refrigerant branch pipe branched in an intermediate
pressure refrigerant guide pipe for connecting the inner heat
exchanger and the dual inverter compressor so that the intermediate
pressure refrigerant generated in the inner heat exchanger is moved
through the intermediate pressure refrigerant branch pipe to be
stored in an accumulator connected with the intermediate pressure
refrigerant branch pipe.
[0038] When the intermediate pressure refrigerant is prevented from
being injected to the dual inverter compressor by opening the
electric expansion valve and the opening and closing valve, an
intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off valve provided in the
intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe may be maintained to
be opened, so that chattering that occurs when that the refrigerant
flows in a direction opposite to a refrigerant flow direction of
the intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off valve, and
occurrence of vibration of the intermediate pressure refrigerant
guide pipe are reduced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0039] These and/or other aspects of embodiments will become
apparent and more readily appreciated from the following
description of embodiments, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings of which:
[0040] FIGS. 1 and 2 are diagrams showing a configuration of an air
conditioner according to an embodiment;
[0041] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a multi-air
conditioner according to an embodiment;
[0042] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a state in which an air
conditioner according to an embodiment is controlled by a control
unit;
[0043] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a process in which an
intermediate pressure refrigerant is injected to a dual inverter
compressor during a heating operation of an air conditioner
according to an embodiment;
[0044] FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing control of the air
conditioner of FIG. 4;
[0045] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a case in which injection of an
intermediate pressure refrigerant to a dual inverter compressor is
prevented during a heating operation of an air conditioner
according to an embodiment and supercooling control is not
required;
[0046] FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing control of the air
conditioner of FIG. 6;
[0047] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a case in which injection of an
intermediate pressure refrigerant to a dual inverter compressor is
prevented during a heating operation of an air conditioner
according to an embodiment and supercooling control is
required;
[0048] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing control of the air
conditioner of FIG, 9;
[0049] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a process in which an
intermediate pressure refrigerant is injected to a dual inverter
compressor during a cooling operation of an air conditioner
according to an embodiment;
[0050] FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing control of the air
conditioner of FIG. 11;
[0051] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a case in which injection of an
intermediate pressure refrigerant to a dual inverter compressor is
prevented during a cooling operation of an air conditioner
according to an embodiment and supercooling control is not
required;
[0052] FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing control of the air
conditioner of FIG. 13;
[0053] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a case in which injection of an
intermediate pressure refrigerant to a dual inverter compressor is
prevented during a cooling operation of an air conditioner
according to an embodiment and supercooling control is required;
and
[0054] FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing control of the air
conditioner of FIG. 15.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0055] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments,
examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements
throughout.
[0056] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an air conditioner includes an
outdoor unit 1 and an indoor unit 2. In the outdoor unit 1, dual
inverter compressors 10 that are sequentially connected to a
refrigerant pipe so as to configure a closed circuit, a four-way
valve 3 for switching between heating and cooling, an outdoor heat
exchanger 4, an expansion valve 6 are provided, and in the indoor
unit 2, an indoor heat exchanger 5 is provided.
[0057] At the time of a heating operation, a refrigerant is
circulated in such a manner that the refrigerant is compressed in
the dual inverter compressor 10 at a high temperature and at a high
pressure, the compressed refrigerant is supplied to the indoor heat
exchanger 5 to be liquefied in the indoor heat exchanger 5, the
liquefied refrigerant is supplied to the expansion valve 6 to be
decompressed and expanded, the decompressed and expanded
refrigerant is supplied to the outdoor heat exchanger 4 to be
vaporized in the outdoor heat exchanger 4, and then the vaporized
refrigerant is supplied again to the dual inverter compressor
10.
[0058] At the time of cooling operation, a refrigerant is
circulated in such a manner that the refrigerant is compressed in
the dual inverter compressor 10 at a high temperature and at a high
pressure, the compressed refrigerant is supplied to the outdoor
heat exchanger 14 to be liquefied in the outdoor heat exchanger,
the liquefied refrigerant is supplied to the expansion valve 6 to
be decompressed and expanded, the decompressed and expanded
refrigerant is supplied to the indoor heat exchanger 5 to be
vaporized in the indoor heat exchanger 5, and then the vaporized
refrigerant is supplied again to the dual inverter compressor
10.
[0059] As shown in FIG. 3, an air conditioner may be configured as
a multi-air conditioner including a plurality of indoor heat
exchangers 5.
[0060] When the air conditioner is configured as the multi-air
conditioner, electric expansion valves 31, 32, and 33 may be
provided for each of the plurality of indoor heat exchangers 5.
When efficiency of the dual inverter compressor 10 is reduced
during heating and cooling operations, the air conditioner may
improve the efficiency of the dual inverter compressor 10 by
injecting an intermediate pressure refrigerant to the dual inverter
compressor 10.
[0061] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in order for the intermediate
pressure refrigerant to be injected to the dual inverter compressor
10, the air conditioner may include an inner heat exchanger 20 that
is provided between the indoor heat exchanger 5 and the outdoor
heat exchanger 4 to generate the intermediate pressure refrigerant
through heat exchange, a bypass pipe B1 that is bypassed in
refrigerant pipes P2 and P3 for connecting the indoor heat
exchanger 5 and the outdoor heat exchanger 4 and connected to the
inner heat exchanger 20, an electric expansion valve 30 that is
provided in the bypass pipe B1 and controls a refrigerant to enter
the bypass pipe B1 or the entering of the refrigerant to be
prevented, an intermediate pressure refrigerant spraying port 40
that is provided in an intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe
P5 for guiding the intermediate pressure refrigerant generated in
the inner heat exchanger 20 to the dual inverter compressor 10 and
spraying the intermediate pressure refrigerant to the dual inverter
compressor 10, an opening and closing valve 50 that is provided in
an intermediate pressure refrigerant branch pipe B2 branched in the
intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe P5 and controls the
intermediate pressure refrigerant to be injected to the dual
inverter compressor 10 or the injection to be prevented, and an
intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off valve 60 that is
provided in the intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe P5 and
controls the intermediate pressure refrigerant to be injected to
the dual inverter compressor 10 or the injection to be
prevented.
[0062] The dual inverter compressor 10 includes a first inverter
compressor 11 and a second inverter compressor 13, and two inverter
compressors are provided in the drawing, but at least two inverter
compressors may be provided.
[0063] The inner heat exchanger 20 may be provided between the
indoor heat exchanger 5 and the outdoor heat exchanger 4, and have
a plate-shaped structure or a double tube structure.
[0064] When the air conditioner performs a heating operation, a
condensed refrigerant from the indoor heat exchanger 5 used as a
condenser is moved to the outdoor heat exchanger 4 via the inner
heat exchanger 20.
[0065] A part of the refrigerant moved from the indoor heat
exchanger 5 to the outdoor heat exchanger 4 passes through the
inner heat exchanger 20, is supplied to the outdoor heat exchanger
4 used as a vaporizer via the expansion valve 6, and then is
vaporized.
[0066] The remaining part of the refrigerant moved from the indoor
heat exchanger 5 to the outdoor heat exchanger 4 is bypassed
through the bypass pipe B1, and enters the inner heat exchanger 20.
In a process in which the refrigerant bypassed to the bypass pipe
B1 passes through the bypass pipe B1, the refrigerant bypassed to
the bypass pipe B1 passes through the electric expansion valve 30
provided in the bypass pipe B1, and enters the inner heat exchanger
20 in a state of being expanded.
[0067] The refrigerant that is bypassed to the bypass pipe B1 and
enters the inner heat exchanger 20 is heat-exchanged with a
refrigerant that passes through the inner heat exchanger 20 in the
indoor heat exchanger 5 and is moved to the outdoor heat exchanger
4, the refrigerant that is moved from the indoor heat exchanger 5
to the outdoor heat exchanger 4 through heat exchange is supplied
to the outdoor heat exchanger 4 in a state of being supercooled,
and a refrigerant that is bypassed to the bypass pipe B1 and enters
the inner heat exchanger 20 is superheated and injected to the dual
inverter compressor 10 through the intermediate pressure
refrigerant guide pipe P5 as an intermediate pressure refrigerant
of a superheated steam state.
[0068] When the air conditioner performs a cooling operation, a
condensed refrigerant from the outdoor heat exchanger 4 used as a
condenser is moved to the indoor heat exchanger 5 via the inner
heat exchanger 20, as shown in FIG. 2.
[0069] A part of the refrigerant moved from the outdoor heat
exchanger 4 to the indoor heat exchanger 5 passes through the inner
heat exchanger 20 via the expansion valve 6, is supplied to the
indoor heat exchanger 5 used as a vaporizer, and then is
vaporized.
[0070] Although not shown, at the time of the cooling operation,
the expansion valve 6 is provided between the inner heat exchanger
20 and the indoor heat exchanger 5, so that a part of the
refrigerant moved from the outdoor heat exchanger 4 to the indoor
heat exchanger 5 passes through the inner heat exchanger 20, is
supplied to the indoor heat exchanger 5 used as a vaporizer through
the expansion valve 6, and then is vaporized.
[0071] The remaining part of the refrigerant moved from the outdoor
heat exchanger 4 to the indoor heat exchanger 5 is bypassed through
the bypass pipe B1 and enters the inner heat exchanger 20.
[0072] In a process in which the refrigerant bypassed to the bypass
pipe B1 passes through the bypass pipe B1, the refrigerant bypassed
to the bypass pipe B1 passes through the electric expansion valve
30 provided in the bypass pipe B1 and enters the inner heat
exchanger 20 in a state of being expanded.
[0073] The refrigerant that is bypassed to the bypass pipe B1 and
enters the inner heat exchanger 20 passes through the inner heat
exchanger 20 in the outdoor heat exchanger 4 and is heat-exchanged
with a refrigerant moved to the indoor heat exchanger 5, the
refrigerant that is moved from the outdoor heat exchanger 4 to the
indoor heat exchanger 5 through heat exchange is supplied to the
indoor heat exchanger 5 in a state of being supercooled, and the
refrigerant that is bypassed to the bypass pipe B1 and enters the
inner heat exchanger 20 is injected to the dual inverter compressor
10 through the intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe P5 as
an intermediate pressure refrigerant in a superheated steam
state.
[0074] The bypass pipe B1 is provided so as to be bypassed in a
second refrigerant pipe P2 and connected with the inner heat
exchanger 20, so that the refrigerant bypassed to the bypass pipe
B1 can enter the inner heat exchanger 20, and as shown in FIG. 2,
the bypass pipe B1 is provided so as to be bypassed in a third
refrigerant pipe P3 and connected with the inner heat exchanger 20,
so that the refrigerant bypassed to the bypass pipe B1 can enter
the inner heat exchanger 20.
[0075] The electric expansion valve 30 is provided in the bypass
pipe B1, so that the refrigerant bypassed to the bypass pipe B1 can
enter the inner heat exchanger 20 in a state of being expanded.
[0076] In addition, the refrigerant bypassed to the bypass pipe B1
is controlled to enter the inner heat exchanger 20 or the entering
to be prevented depending on whether the electric expansion valve
30 is opened or closed.
[0077] When the electric expansion valve 30 is opened, the
refrigerant bypassed to the bypass pipe B1 enters the inner heat
exchanger 20 and is supercooled and superheated through heat
exchange with the refrigerant moved from the indoor heat exchanger
5 to the outdoor heat exchanger 4 during heating within the inner
heat exchanger 20, and is supercooled and superheated through heat
exchange with the refrigerant moved from the outdoor heat exchanger
4 to the indoor heat exchanger 5 during cooling, so that the
superheated refrigerant is moved through the intermediate pressure
refrigerant guide pipe P5 as an intermediate pressure refrigerant
of a superheated steam state to thereby be injected to the dual
inverter compressor 10.
[0078] When the electric expansion valve 30 is closed, the
refrigerant does not enter the bypass pipe B1, and therefore heat
exchange within the inner heat exchanger 20 is not performed, and
the intermediate pressure refrigerant is not generated in the inner
heat exchanger 20, thereby preventing the intermediate pressure
refrigerant from being injected to the dual inverter compressor
10.
[0079] The intermediate pressure refrigerant spraying port 40 is
provided in the intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe P5 for
guiding the intermediate pressure refrigerant generated through
heat exchange in the inner heat exchanger 20 to be injected to the
dual inverter compressor 10, and includes a first intermediate
pressure refrigerant spraying port 41 for spraying the intermediate
pressure refrigerant to the first inverter compressor 11 and a
second intermediate pressure refrigerant spraying port 43 for
spraying the intermediate pressure refrigerant to the second
inverter compressor 13.
[0080] When efficiency of the dual inverter compressor 10 is
reduced, the intermediate pressure refrigerant spraying port 40 may
spray the intermediate pressure refrigerant generated in the inner
heat exchanger 20 to the dual inverter compressor 10, whereby the
efficiency of the dual inverter compressor 10 is improved.
[0081] When the efficiency of the dual inverter compressor 10 is
reduced, an operating frequency of the dual inverter compressor 10
is increased or a discharge temperature is increased. Therefore, in
order to improve the efficiency of the dual inverter compressor 10,
the dual inverter compressor 10 should maintain the operating
frequency at an optimal frequency or reduce the discharge
temperature. By injecting the intermediate pressure refrigerant
generated in the inner heat exchanger 20 to the dual inverter
compressor 10, the dual inverter compressor 10 may maintain the
operating frequency as the optimal frequency, or reduce the
discharge temperature.
[0082] The opening and closing valve 50 is provided in the
intermediate pressure refrigerant branch pipe B2 branched in the
intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe P5, and the controls
the intermediate pressure refrigerant generated in the inner heat
exchanger 20 to be injected to the dual inverter compressor 10 or
the injection to be prevented.
[0083] When the opening and closing valve 50 is closed, a path
through which the intermediate pressure refrigerant is moved to an
accumulator A through the intermediate pressure refrigerant branch
pipe B2 is shut off, whereby the intermediate pressure refrigerant
generated in the inner heat exchanger 20 is injected to the dual
inverter compressor 10 through the intermediate pressure
refrigerant guide pipe P5, and when the opening and closing valve
50 is opened, the intermediate pressure refrigerant generated in
the inner heat exchanger 20 is moved along the intermediate
pressure refrigerant branch pipe B2 branched in the intermediate
pressure refrigerant guide pipe P5, and stored in the accumulator
provided so as to be connected to the intermediate pressure
refrigerant branch pipe B2.
[0084] Although not shown, the intermediate pressure refrigerant
branch pipe B2 branched in the intermediate pressure refrigerant
guide pipe P5 is provided so as to be connected directly to a
fourth refrigerant pipe P4 without using the accumulator, and
therefore, when the opening and closing valve 50 is opened, the
intermediate pressure refrigerant injected through the intermediate
pressure refrigerant branch pipe B2 can be supplied to the dual
inverter compressor 10 together with the refrigerant moved from the
outdoor heat exchanger 4 to the dual inverter compressor 10.
[0085] The above-described case is a case of heating operating, and
in a case of cooling operating, when the opening and closing valve
50 is opened, the intermediate pressure refrigerant injected
through the intermediate pressure refrigerant branch pipe B2 can be
supplied to the dual inverter compressor 10 together with the
refrigerant moved from the indoor heat exchanger 5 to the dual
inverter compressor 10.
[0086] The intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off valve 60 is
provided in the intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe P5,
and controls the intermediate pressure refrigerant to be injected
to the dual inverter compressor 10 or the injection to be
prevented.
[0087] The intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off valve 60
includes a first intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off valve
61 for controlling the intermediate pressure refrigerant to be
injected to the first inverter compressor 11 or the injection to be
prevented, and a second intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off
valve 63 for controlling the intermediate pressure refrigerant to
be injected to the second inverter compressor 13 or the injection
to be prevented.
[0088] When the intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off valve 60
is opened, the intermediate pressure refrigerant moved along the
intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe P5 is injected to the
dual inverter compressor 10, and when the intermediate pressure
refrigerant shut-off valve 60 is shut off, the intermediate
pressure refrigerant is prevented from being injected to the dual
inverter compressor 10.
[0089] Since the intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off valve
60 has large variability of a pressure state front and rear, a
chattering phenomenon easily occurs when a piston-like movement
inside the intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off valve 60 is
inordinately and repeatedly turned on and off, and there are
problems such as occurrence of noise and damage of the valve when
the chattering phenomenon occurs.
[0090] The intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off valve 60 may
be provided as a two-way valve or one-way valve. In a case of the
one-way valve, there is a disadvantage that the one-way valve is
opened when a prescribed pressure or higher acts in a direction
opposite to an intermediate pressure refrigerant flow direction,
and in the two-way valve, on and off operation states of the valve
may be maintained regardless of two-way pressure due to a check
valve structure.
[0091] Accordingly, the two-way valve is mainly used as the
intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off valve 60, but is more
expansive than the one-way valve.
[0092] In order to obtain effects of the two-way valve while using
the inexpensive one-way valve as the intermediate pressure
refrigerant shut-off valve 60, a muffler 70 is provided between the
intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off valve 60 and the
intermediate pressure refrigerant spraying port 40.
[0093] The muffler 70 is provided between the intermediate pressure
refrigerant shut-off valve 60 and the intermediate pressure
refrigerant spraying port 40, and therefore a pressure pulsation
transmitted from the dual inverter compressor 10 is reduced even
when the one-way valve is used as the intermediate pressure
refrigerant shut-off valve 60, thereby solving a chattering
occurrence problem and a piping vibration problem due to the
refrigerant flow within the refrigerant pipe.
[0094] As shown in FIG. 4, the electric expansion valve 30, the
opening and closing valve 50, and the intermediate pressure
refrigerant shut-off valve 60 may be opened or closed by the
control unit 80.
[0095] Next, a control method of an air conditioner during heating
or cooling operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to
16.
[0096] In FIGS. 5, 9, 11, and 15, a movement path in which an
intermediate pressure refrigerant generated in the inner heat
exchanger 20 is injected to the dual inverter compressor 10 or the
injection is prevented by control of the electric expansion valve
30, the opening and closing valve 50, and the intermediate pressure
refrigerant shut-off valve 60 is shown as a bold arrow.
[0097] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, during a heating operation of an
air conditioner, a high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant
discharged from the dual inverter compressor 10 passes through the
four-way valve 3 along an arrow shown in the refrigerant pipe, and
flows into the indoor heat exchanger 5 acting as a condenser
through the first refrigerant pipe P1. The flowing-in
high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant is heat-exchanged
with an indoor air of the outside of the indoor heat exchanger 5 in
the indoor heat exchanger 5 to heat the indoor air.
[0098] A heating cycle is performed in such a manner that the
refrigerant passing through the indoor heat exchanger 5 is moved
through the second refrigerant pipe P2 and the third refrigerant
pipe P3, expanded and decompressed via the expansion valve 6
provided in the third refrigerant pipe P3, flows into the outdoor
heat exchanger 4, and then re-circulated to the dual inverter
compressor 10 again through the fourth refrigerant pipe P4. In this
instance, when efficiency of the dual inverter compressor is
reduced, an operating frequency of the dual inverter compressor 10
is increased or a discharge temperature is increased. In order to
improve the efficiency of the dual inverter compressor 10, the
operating frequency of the dual inverter compressor 10 should be
maintained at an optimal frequency or the discharge temperature
should be reduced. Therefore, an intermediate pressure refrigerant
is injected to the dual inverter compressor 10 in order to maintain
the operating frequency of the dual inverter compressor 10 at the
optimal frequency or reduce the discharge temperature.
[0099] In order to maintain the operating frequency of the dual
inverter compressor 10 at the optimal frequency or reduce the
discharge temperature, by performing heat-exchange between a
refrigerant that is moved from the indoor heat exchanger 5 to the
outdoor heat exchanger 4 in the inner heat exchanger 20 provided
between the second refrigerant pipe P2 and the third refrigerant
pipe P3 and a refrigerant that is bypassed to the bypass pipe B1
while being moved from the indoor heat exchanger 5 to the outdoor
heat exchanger 4 and then enters the inner heat exchanger 20, an
intermediate pressure refrigerant is generated and the generated
intermediate pressure refrigerant is injected to the dual inverter
compressor 10.
[0100] For this, first, in order for heat-exchange for generating
the intermediate pressure refrigerant to be performed in the inner
heat exchanger 20, a part of the refrigerant moved from the indoor
heat exchanger 5 to the outdoor heat exchanger 4 is bypassed to the
bypass pipe B1 by opening the electric expansion valve 30 provided
in the bypass pipe B1.
[0101] The refrigerant bypassed to the inner heat exchanger 20 is
heat-exchanged with the refrigerant moved from the indoor heat
exchanger 5 to the outdoor heat exchanger 4 through the second
refrigerant pipe P2 and the third refrigerant pipe P3 inside the
inner heat exchanger 20, so that the refrigerant moved from the
indoor heat exchanger 5 to the outdoor heat exchanger 4 through the
heat-exchange is supercooled to be supplied to the outdoor heat
exchanger 4, and the refrigerant bypassed to the inner heat
exchanger 20 is superheated to flow along the intermediate pressure
refrigerant guide pipe P5.
[0102] In order for the intermediate pressure refrigerant flowing
along the intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe P5 to be
guided to the dual inverter compressor 10, the opening and closing
valve 50 provided in the intermediate pressure refrigerant branch
pipe B2 branched in the intermediate pressure refrigerant guide
pipe P5 is shut off.
[0103] When shutting off the opening and closing valve 50, the
intermediate pressure refrigerant cannot be moved to the
intermediate pressure refrigerant branch pipe B2, and therefore the
intermediate pressure refrigerant flows along the intermediate
pressure refrigerant guide pipe P5.
[0104] When the intermediate pressure refrigerant is moved along
the intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe P5, the
intermediate pressure refrigerant is injected to the dual inverter
compressor 10 by opening the intermediate pressure refrigerant
shut-off valve 60. When an operating frequency of the dual inverter
compressor 10 is maintained at an optimal frequency, or a discharge
temperature of the dual inverter compressor 10 is reduced, the dual
inverter compressor 10 should be protected by preventing the
intermediate pressure refrigerant from being injected to the dual
inverter compressor 10.
[0105] In a case in which supercooling control is not required
while the intermediate pressure refrigerant is prevented from being
injected to the dual inverter compressor 10 by maintaining the
operating frequency of the dual inverter compressor 10 at the
optimal frequency or reducing the discharge temperature, in order
for the intermediate pressure refrigerant to be prevented from
being injected to the dual inverter compressor 10, the electric
expansion valve 30 is shut off so that heat-exchange of the
refrigerant is not performed in the inner heat exchanger 20, as
shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.
[0106] When the electric expansion valve 30 is shut off, the
refrigerant is prevented from flowing to the bypass pipe B1 and the
intermediate pressure refrigerant is not generated in the inner
heat exchanger 20, and therefore the intermediate pressure
refrigerant is prevented from being injected to the dual inverter
compressor 10.
[0107] In this instance, since the intermediate pressure
refrigerant is prevented from being injected to the dual inverter
compressor 10, the opening and closing valve 50 should be shut off,
but in order to prevent an increase in piping stress due to an
internal flow of the intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe
P5, it is desirable that the opening and closing valve 50 be
maintained to be opened.
[0108] In addition, since the intermediate pressure refrigerant is
prevented from being injected to the dual inverter compressor 10,
the intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off valve 60 should be
also shut off, but in order to reduce a chattering phenomenon that
occurs when a refrigerant flows in a direction opposite to a
refrigerant flow direction of the intermediate pressure refrigerant
shut-off valve 60 and to reduce vibration occurrence of the
intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe P5, it is desirable
that the intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off valve 60 be
maintained to be opened.
[0109] In a case in which supercooling control is required in order
to prevent occurrence of noise due to a low rotation frequency or
low operating load of the dual inverter compressor 10, a long main
pipe of 90 cm or more, or head installation between the indoor unit
2 and the outdoor unit 1, the electric expansion valve 30 is opened
so that heat-exchange of the refrigerant is performed in the inner
heat exchanger 20, and the opening and closing valve 50 is opened
so that the intermediate pressure refrigerant is prevented from
being injected to the dual inverter compressor 10, whereby the
intermediate pressure refrigerant generated in the inner heat
exchanger 20 is moved along the intermediate pressure refrigerant
branch pipe B2 to be stored in the accumulator A, as shown in FIGS.
9 and 10.
[0110] When opening the electric expansion valve 30, among the
refrigerants moved from the indoor heat exchanger 5 to the outdoor
heat exchanger 4, the refrigerant bypassed through the bypass pipe
B1 and the refrigerant moved from the indoor heat exchanger 5 to
the outdoor heat exchanger 4 are heat-exchanged in the inner heat
exchanger 20, so that the refrigerant bypassed through the bypass
pipe B1 through the heat-exchange is superheated and moved along
the intermediate pressure refrigerant branch pipe B2 branched in
the intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe P5 to be stored in
the accumulator A, and the refrigerant moved from the indoor heat
exchanger 5 to the outdoor heat exchanger 4 is supercooled and
moved to the outdoor heat exchanger 4.
[0111] In this instance, since the intermediate pressure
refrigerant is prevented from being injected to the dual inverter
compressor 10, the intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off valve
60 should be shut off, but it is desirable that the intermediate
pressure refrigerant shut-off valve 60 be maintained to be opened
in order to reduce the chattering phenomenon that occurs when the
refrigerant flows in a direction opposite to a refrigerant flow
direction of the intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off valve
60, and to reduce occurrence of vibration of the intermediate
pressure refrigerant guide pipe P5 are reduced.
[0112] In FIG. 11, a cooling cycle at the time of a cooling
operation of an air conditioner is shown, but there is a difference
only in that the refrigerant flows in a direction opposite to the
direction at the time of a heating operation shown in FIG. 5, and
thus description of general refrigerant flow will be omitted.
[0113] As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, in the same manner as the
heating operation, when efficiency of the dual inverter compressor
10 is reduced during a cooling operation, an operating frequency of
the dual inverter compressor 10 is increased or a discharge
temperature of the dual inverter compressor 10 is increased. In
order to improve the efficiency of the dual inverter compressor 10,
the operating frequency of the dual inverter compressor 10 should
be maintained at an optimal frequency or the discharge temperature
should be reduced. Therefore, the intermediate pressure refrigerant
is injected to the dual inverter compressor 10 in order to maintain
the operating frequency of the dual inverter compressor 10 at the
optimal frequency or reduce the discharge temperature.
[0114] In order to maintain the operating frequency of the dual
inverter compressor 10 at the optimal frequency or reduce the
discharge temperature, by performing heat-exchange between a
refrigerant moved from the outdoor heat exchanger 4 to the indoor
heat exchanger 5 in the inner heat exchanger 20 provided between
the second refrigerant pipe P2 and the third refrigerant pipe P3
and a refrigerant that is bypassed to the bypass pipe B1 while
being moved from the outdoor heat exchanger 4 to the indoor heat
exchanger 5 and enters the inner heat exchanger 20, an intermediate
pressure refrigerant is generated, and the generated intermediate
pressure refrigerant is injected to the dual inverter compressor
10.
[0115] For this, first, in order for heat-exchange for generating
the intermediate pressure refrigerant to be performed in the inner
heat exchanger 20, a part of the refrigerant moved from the outdoor
heat exchanger 4 to the indoor heat exchanger 5 is bypassed to the
bypass pipe B1 by opening the electric expansion valve 30 provided
in the bypass pipe B1.
[0116] The refrigerant bypassed to the inner heat exchanger 20 is
heat-exchanged with the refrigerant moved from the outdoor heat
exchanger 4 to the indoor heat exchanger 5 through the second
refrigerant pipe P2 and the third refrigerant pipe P3 inside the
inner heat exchanger 20, so that the refrigerant moved from the
outdoor heat exchanger 4 to the indoor heat exchanger 5 through the
heat-exchange is supercooled to be supplied to the indoor heat
exchanger 5, and the refrigerant bypassed to the inner heat
exchanger 20 is superheated to flow along the intermediate pressure
refrigerant guide pipe P5.
[0117] A gas refrigerant injected to the inner heat exchanger 20
again is heat-exchanged with a liquid refrigerant inside the inner
heat exchanger 20, so that the liquid refrigerant is supercooled
through the heat-exchange to be supplied to the indoor heat
exchanger 5 and the gas refrigerant is superheated to flow along
the intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe P5.
[0118] In order for the intermediate pressure refrigerant flowing
along the intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe P5 to be
guided to the dual inverter compressor 10, the opening and closing
valve 50 provided in the intermediate pressure refrigerant branch
pipe B2 branched in the intermediate pressure refrigerant guide
pipe P5 is shut off.
[0119] When shutting off the opening and closing valve 50, the
intermediate pressure refrigerant cannot be moved to the
intermediate pressure refrigerant branch pipe B2, and therefore the
intermediate pressure refrigerant is moved along the intermediate
pressure refrigerant guide pipe P5.
[0120] When the intermediate pressure refrigerant is moved along
the intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe P5, the
intermediate pressure refrigerant is injected to the dual inverter
compressor 10 by opening the intermediate pressure refrigerant
shut-off valve 60.
[0121] When an operating frequency of the dual inverter compressor
10 is maintained at an optimal frequency, or a discharge
temperature of the dual inverter compressor 10 is reduced, the dual
inverter compressor 10 should be protected by preventing the
intermediate pressure refrigerant from being injected to the dual
inverter compressor 10.
[0122] In a case in which supercooling control is not required
while the intermediate pressure refrigerant is prevented from being
injected to the dual inverter compressor 10 by maintaining the
operating frequency of the dual inverter compressor 10 at the
optimal frequency or reducing the discharge temperature, in order
for the intermediate pressure refrigerant to be prevented from
being injected to the dual inverter compressor 10, the electric
expansion valve 30 is shut off so that heat-exchange of the
refrigerant is not performed in the inner heat exchanger 20, as
shown in FIGS. 13 and 14.
[0123] When the electric expansion valve 30 is shut off, the
refrigerant is prevented from flowing to the bypass pipe B1 and the
intermediate pressure refrigerant is not generated in the inner
heat exchanger 20, and therefore the intermediate pressure
refrigerant is prevented from being injected to the dual inverter
compressor 10.
[0124] In this instance, since the intermediate pressure
refrigerant is prevented from being injected to the dual inverter
compressor 10, the opening and closing valve 50 should be shut off,
but in order to prevent an increase in piping stress due to an
internal flow of the intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe
P5, it is desirable that the opening and closing valve 50 be
maintained to be opened.
[0125] In addition, since the intermediate pressure refrigerant is
prevented from being injected to the dual inverter compressor 10,
the intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off valve 60 should be
also shut off, but in order to reduce a chattering phenomenon that
occurs when a refrigerant flows in a direction opposite to a
refrigerant flow direction of the intermediate pressure refrigerant
shut-off valve 60 and to reduce vibration occurrence of the
intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe P5, it is desirable
that the intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off valve 60 be
maintained to be opened.
[0126] In a case in which supercooling control is required in order
to prevent occurrence of noise due to a low rotation frequency or
low operating load of the dual inverter compressor 10, a long main
pipe of 90 cm or more, or head installation between the indoor unit
2 and the outdoor unit 1, the electric expansion valve 30 is opened
so that heat-exchange of the refrigerant is performed in the inner
heat exchanger 20, and the opening and closing valve 50 is opened
so that the intermediate pressure refrigerant is prevented from
being injected to the dual inverter compressor 10, whereby the
intermediate pressure refrigerant generated in the inner heat
exchanger 20 is moved along the intermediate pressure refrigerant
branch pipe B2 to be stored in the accumulator A, as shown in FIGS.
13 and 14.
[0127] When opening the electric expansion valve 30, among the
refrigerants moved from the outdoor heat exchanger 4 to the indoor
heat exchanger 5, the refrigerant bypassed through the bypass pipe
B1 and the refrigerant moved from the outdoor heat exchanger 4 to
the indoor heat exchanger 5 are heat-exchanged in the inner heat
exchanger 20, so that the refrigerant bypassed through the bypass
pipe B1 through the heat-exchange is superheated and moved along
the intermediate pressure refrigerant branch pipe B2 branched in
the intermediate pressure refrigerant guide pipe P5 to be stored in
the accumulator A, and the refrigerant moved from the outdoor heat
exchanger 4 to the indoor heat exchanger 5 is supercooled and moved
to the indoor heat exchanger 5.
[0128] In this instance, since the intermediate pressure
refrigerant is prevented from being injected to the dual inverter
compressor 10, the intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off valve
60 should be shut off, but it is desirable that the intermediate
pressure refrigerant shut-off valve 60 be maintained to be opened
in order to reduce the chattering phenomenon that occurs when the
refrigerant flows in a direction opposite to a refrigerant flow
direction of the intermediate pressure refrigerant shut-off valve
60, and to reduce occurrence of vibration of the intermediate
pressure refrigerant guide pipe P5 are reduced.
[0129] As described above, according to one or more embodiments,
during the cooling operation, the cooling operation is performed
with a high frequency, the frequency may be moved to a region with
superior efficiency by injecting the intermediate pressure
refrigerant to the inverter compressor, and the discharge
temperature of the inverter compressor may be reduced without any
separate device.
[0130] Although a few embodiments have been shown and described, it
would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may
be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles
and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the
claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *