U.S. patent application number 14/808078 was filed with the patent office on 2016-01-28 for air conditioning system.
The applicant listed for this patent is LG ELECTRONICS INC.. Invention is credited to Junhee LIM, Sangyuk SON.
Application Number | 20160025369 14/808078 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53871836 |
Filed Date | 2016-01-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160025369 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LIM; Junhee ; et
al. |
January 28, 2016 |
AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM
Abstract
An air conditioning system is provided. The air conditioning
system may include at least one air handler that conditions indoor
air; an interface that controls the at least one air handler; and a
central controller that includes at least one input/output device
having an input/output port through which an electric signal is
input and output between a plurality of devices forming the at
least one air handler; and a controller that communicates with the
interface to control the plurality of devices forming the at least
one air handler. The interface may be configured based on a
configuration of the plurality of devices forming the at least one
air handler recognized through the at least one input/output
device, and the interface may be reconfigured in accordance with a
change in the plurality of devices forming the at least one air
handler.
Inventors: |
LIM; Junhee; (Seoul, KR)
; SON; Sangyuk; (Seoul, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LG ELECTRONICS INC. |
Seoul |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
53871836 |
Appl. No.: |
14/808078 |
Filed: |
July 24, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
236/1C |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 11/52 20180101;
F24F 11/30 20180101; F24F 11/89 20180101; F24F 3/044 20130101; F24F
11/62 20180101; F24D 19/10 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F24F 11/00 20060101
F24F011/00; F24D 19/10 20060101 F24D019/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 25, 2014 |
KR |
10-2014-0094995 |
Claims
1. An air conditioning system, comprising: at least one air handler
that conditions indoor air; an interface that controls the at least
one air handler; and a central controller that includes: at least
one input/output device having at least one input/output port
through which an electric signal is input and output between a
plurality of devices forming the at least one air handler; and a
controller that communicates with the interface to control the
plurality of devices forming the at least one air handler, wherein
the interface is configured based on a configuration of the
plurality of devices forming the air handler recognized through the
at least one input/output device, and wherein the interface is
reconfigured in accordance with a change in the plurality of
devices forming the at least one air handler.
2. The air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the interface
generates a control menu for an added device when a device is added
to the at least one air handler.
3. The air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the interface
inactivates or removes a control menu for a removed device when a
device is removed from the at least one air handler.
4. The air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the interface
displays a drive state of the at least one air handler in
accordance with a signal value which is input through the at least
one input/output device.
5. The air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the at least one
input/output comprises a plurality of input/output devices, and
wherein the plurality of input/output devices communicates with the
controller through serial communication.
6. The air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein an analog signal
is input/output through the input/output port.
7. The air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein a digital signal
is input/output through the input/output port.
8. The air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the at least one
air handler includes a fan motor, and a driver that drives the fan
motor in accordance with a control signal which is applied from the
controller.
9. The air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the interface is
provided at a location spaced apart from the at least one air
handler.
10. The air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the interface
is movable.
11. The air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the controller
includes a storage that stores information on the plurality of
devices forming the at least one air handler, and wherein when a
new device is added to the at least one air handler, the interface
obtains information on the added device from the storage and
reconfigures the interface in accordance with the obtained
information.
12. The air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the at least
one air handler includes at least one of a temperature sensor, a
humidity sensor, a fan motor, a flow rate sensor, a pressure
sensor, a differential pressure sensor, a different pressure
switch, a valve, a damper, a smoke sensing sensor, or a heater.
13. The air conditioner system of claim 1, further including at
least one outdoor device in communication with the at least one air
handler, the interface, and the central controller.
14. The air conditioner system of claim 13, further comprising an
outdoor device controller in communication with at least one
outdoor device, the interface, and the central controller.
15. The air conditioner system of claim 1, wherein the interface is
integral with the central controller.
16. A control system for an air conditioning system, the control
system comprising: an interface configured to control at least one
air handler that conditions indoor air; and a central controller
that includes: at least one input/output device having at least one
input/output port configured to input and output an electric signal
to and from a plurality of devices forming the at least one air
handler; and a controller that communicates with the interface and
is configured to control the plurality of devices forming the at
least one air handler, wherein the interface is configured based on
a configuration of the plurality of devices forming the air handler
recognized through the at least one input/output device, and
wherein the interface is reconfigured in accordance with a change
in the plurality of devices forming the at least one air
handler.
17. The control system of claim 16, wherein the interface generates
a control menu for an added device when a device is added to the at
least one air handler.
18. The control system of claim 16, wherein the interface
inactivates or removes a control menu for a removed device when a
device is removed from the at least one air handler.
19. The control system of claim 16, wherein the interface displays
a drive state of the at least one air handler in accordance with a
signal value which is input through the at least one input/output
device.
20. The control system of claim 16, wherein the at least one
input/output comprises a plurality of input/output devices, and
wherein the plurality of input/output devices communicates with the
controller through serial communication.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] This application claims priority to Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2014-0094995, filed in Korea on Jul. 25, 2014,
whose entire disclosure is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] An air conditioning system is disclosed herein.
[0004] 2. Background
[0005] An air conditioning system is a device that controls indoor
air and cools, heats, dehumidifies, humidifies, or ventilates
indoor air. Generally, the air conditioning system includes a heat
pump which increases the heat from a low temperature to a high
temperature. The heat pump is widely known to cool or heat indoor
air by circulating a refrigerant between indoor and outdoor using a
compressor, and passing the refrigerant through a condenser, an
expansion valve, and an evaporator during the refrigerant
circulating process to exchange heat with surrounding air.
[0006] In a building having a plurality of rooms, individual air
conditioning systems may be provided for the rooms or air for
conditioning may be supplied to the plurality of rooms from a
common air handling unit through at least one duct. When the common
air handling unit is used like the latter, a plurality of outdoor
units including a driving source (for example, a compressor) of the
heat pump may be provided in accordance with the number of rooms
which are air handling targets.
[0007] The air handling unit is configured by several devices, such
as a blower fan that blows air into the duct, a motor that drives
the blower fan, a heat exchanger that serves as a condenser or an
evaporator, an expansion valve, and a damper that adjusts an
opening degree of the duct, and the air conditioning system
includes a controller that controls the above described devices and
an interface unit that functions as an input unit or an output unit
of the controller and displays operation states of the devices to a
user, and provides an interface for receiving a control command for
the devices.
[0008] The air handling unit may have different configurations of
the devices depending on a handling load or an installation
condition, such as an air handling function to be provided. For
example, when the number of rooms being conditioned is large, that
is, the air handling load is large, more blower fans and motors may
be provided as compared with a small air handling load. Further,
when a function to supply mixed air in which return air discharged
from the indoor space and outdoor air flowing from the outdoors are
mixed at a target ratio is provided in addition to a function to
simply supply outdoor air to the indoor space, dampers that adjust
inflow rates of the outdoor air and the return air and a
discharging rate of the mixed air may be further provided. When the
configurations of the devices vary depending on the installation
condition, a configuration of the controller or the interface needs
to be changed. However, in the air conditioning system of the
related art, it is difficult to change the configuration of the
controller or the interface unit. Further, when the configurations
of the devices are changed, it is difficult to reflect the changed
configurations so that commonality of the controller or the
interface unit is lowered.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Embodiments will be described in detail with reference to
the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to
like elements, and wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an air conditioning system
according to an embodiment;
[0011] FIG. 2 is an applied example of the air conditioning system
illustrated in FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an air handling unit or air
handler according to an embodiment;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a control
relationship between main components of an air conditioning system
according to an embodiment;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a connection
relationship between main components of an air conditioning system
according to an embodiment;
[0015] FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration
of a central controller according to an embodiment and component
devices of an air handling unit that communicate with the central
controller, and FIG. 6B is a schematic diagram illustrating a
configuration of a blower fan;
[0016] FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a menu structure of an
interface unit or interface according to an embodiment;
[0017] FIGS. 8A-8B are exemplary views to explain a login method of
an interface unit according to an embodiment;
[0018] FIGS. 9 to 12 are exemplary views illustrating an embodiment
of a monitoring screen of an interface unit of an air conditioning
system according to an embodiment;
[0019] FIG. 13 is an exemplary view illustrating an idle screen of
an interface unit according to an embodiment;
[0020] FIGS. 14A to 16 are exemplary views to explain a manager
setting menu of an interface unit according to an embodiment;
[0021] FIG. 17 is an exemplary view illustrating a product
information screen of an interface unit according to an
embodiment;
[0022] FIGS. 18 to 22 are exemplary views to explain a system
setting menu of an interface unit according to an embodiment;
[0023] FIGS. 23A-23B and 24A-24B are exemplary views to explain a
schedule setting menu of an interface unit according to an
embodiment;
[0024] FIG. 25 is an exemplary view illustrating an embodiment of a
screen on which history information of an interface unit of an air
conditioning system according to an embodiment is displayed;
and
[0025] FIG. 26 is an exemplary view illustrating an embodiment of a
screen on which a warning is output when an error of an interface
unit of an air conditioning system according to an embodiment
occurs.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] Advantages, features and methods for achieving those of
embodiments may become apparent upon referring to embodiments
described later in detail together with attached drawings. However,
embodiments are not limited to the embodiments disclosed
hereinafter, but may be embodied in different modes. The
embodiments are provided for perfection of disclosure and informing
a scope to persons skilled in this field of art. The same reference
numbers may refer to the same elements throughout the
specification.
[0027] FIGS. 1 to 3 are schematic diagrams illustrating a
configuration of an air conditioning system according to an
embodiment. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a control
relationship between main components of an air conditioning system
according to an embodiment. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram
illustrating a connection relationship between main components of
an air conditioning system according to an embodiment.
[0028] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, the air conditioning system may
include an air handling unit or air handler 1, an outdoor unit or
device 2, a central controller 4, and an interface unit or
interface 5. The air handling unit 1 may supply air to an indoor
space to condition indoor air. The air handling unit 1 may be
configured by devices, such as a blower fan that blows air through
at least one duct 3 (3a, 3b and 3c) (see FIG. 2) that communicates
with the indoor space, a motor that drives the blower fan, a heat
exchanger that adjusts a temperature of air which is supplied to
the indoor space, and a supply air damper that adjusts an inflow
rate of supply air SA, which is supplied to the indoor space
through the duct 3.
[0029] The air handling unit 1 may supply not only outdoor air OA
but also return air RA, which may circulate in the indoor space and
return to the indoor space, and discharge the outdoor air and/or
the return air, which may flow in the indoor space, to the
outdoors. The air handling unit 1 may include a return air damper
that adjusts an inflow rate of the return air RA and an exhaust air
damper that adjusts a flow rate of exhaust air EA, which may be
discharged to the outdoors, and/or a mixture damper that adjusts a
mixture ratio of the return air RA and the exhaust air EA, which
may be mixed and supplied to the indoor space.
[0030] The air handling unit 1 may include a plurality of devices
which are involved to handle or condition the indoor air. These
devices may include a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a fan
motor, a flow sensor, a pressure sensor, a differential pressure
sensor, a differential pressure switch, a valve, a damper, a smoke
sensing sensor, and a heater, for example, and these configurations
or components may interwork or communicate with each other under
control of the central controller 4 to condition the indoor air.
These configurations or components will be described in more detail
hereinafter.
[0031] The outdoor unit 2 may supply a heat source of a heat pump
to the air handling unit 1. Hereinafter, as an example of the heat
source, a refrigerant which passes through a heat exchanger in
accordance with a temperature of surrounding air to change a phase,
may be used. However, the outdoor unit 2 is not limited thereto but
may be configured by an air cooling type or water cooling type
electric heat pump (EHP) or gas heat pump (GHP).
[0032] The outdoor unit 2 may include a compressor that compresses
the refrigerant to discharge a high pressure gaseous refrigerant,
an accumulator that divides a gaseous refrigerant and a liquid
refrigerant from the refrigerant to prevent the liquid refrigerant
which is not vaporized, from flowing into the compressor, an oil
separator that collects oil from the refrigerant discharged from
the compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger that condenses or
evaporates the refrigerant by heat exchange with the outdoor air,
an outdoor unit fan that blows the air into the outdoor heat
exchanger or discharges the heat-exchanged air to the outdoors in
order to smoothly perform the heat exchange of the outdoor heat
exchanger, a four way valve that changes a flow channel of the
refrigerant in accordance with a driving mode of the outdoor unit,
a pressure sensor that measures a pressure, a temperature sensor
that measures a temperature, and a controller that controls an
operation of the outdoor unit and communicates with the other
components, for example. The outdoor unit 2 may further include a
plurality of sensors, valves, and super-cooling devices, for
example.
[0033] The central controller 4 may control an entire operation of
the air conditioning system, and more specifically, may control
devices which configure or form the air handling unit 1. The
central controller 4 may control not only driving of the air
handling unit 1, but also a flow rate of the air which circulates
in order to handle or condition the indoor air. The central
controller 4 may include input/output units or devices 120a and
120b that provide input/output ports to input/output electric
signals between the devices which configure the air handling unit
1, and a control unit or controller 110 that controls the devices
which configure the air handling unit 1. The control unit 110 may
interwork or communicate with the interface unit 5, which will be
described hereinafter, to control the devices (hereinafter,
referred to as "air handling unit configuring devices"), which
configure or form the air handling unit 1. The input/output units
120a and 120b may include analog input/output (AI/AO) ports, or
digital input/output (DI/DO) ports as the input/output ports, for
example. The control unit 110 may include a recording unit or
storage, such as a RAM or a magnetic recording device, which
records or stores information on the devices which configure the
air handling unit. In the recording unit, information not only on
the devices which are currently installed in the air handling unit
1, but also devices which will be installed therein, may be
recorded.
[0034] Devices may interwork or communicate with each other under
the control of the control unit 110 to condition the indoor air.
For example, the air handling unit 1 may include a supply air
temperature sensor that senses a temperature of supply air and a
supply air damper that controls a flow rate of the supply air. In
this case, the control unit 110 may adjust an opening degree of the
damper based on the temperature sensed by the supply air
temperature sensor.
[0035] The central controller 4 may control the outdoor unit 2. The
central controller 4 may include communication units or devices
130a and 130b that communicate with the outdoor unit 2. A plurality
of communication units 130a and 130b may be provided in accordance
with the number of outdoor units 2. The communication units 130a
and 130b may be modularized, and when the outdoor unit 2 is added
or moved, the communication units may be added or removed. The
communication units 130a and 130b may transmit signals which
reflect a driving state of the outdoor unit 2 to the control unit
110, and the control unit 110 may control the outdoor unit 2 and/or
the air handling unit 1 based on the signals. Further, the control
unit 110 may directly control the outdoor unit 2 without using the
communication units 130a and 130b, and in this case, the control
unit 110 may directly communicate with the outdoor unit 2 to
control an air handling amount. For example, the control unit 110
may control the outdoor unit to be additionally driven, or some of
the outdoor units which are being driven to be stopped in
accordance with the air handling load.
[0036] Communication between the outdoor unit 2 and the
communication units 130a and 130b and/or communication between the
outdoor unit 2 and the control unit 110 may be wired or wireless
communication. For example, the communication units 130a and 130b
may provide a wired/wireless RS485 adaptor which employs a serial
communication method and is remotely controlled.
[0037] Units which configure or form the central controller 4 may
communicate with each other. For example, these units may perform
RS485 communication based on Modbus protocol. Further, the
communication may be performed not only between the units which
configure or form the central controller 4, but also devices which
configure or form the central controller 4 and the air handling
unit 1 or between the devices which configure or form the air
handling unit 1. Reference symbols L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, L6, and L7
represented in FIG. 1 denote channels through which communication
between the devices may be performed, and the communication method
may be wired communication or wireless communication. In this
embodiment, the communication is performed by the RS485 method, but
embodiments are not limited thereto.
[0038] The interface unit 5 may provide an interface (user
interface) to control the air handling unit 1. The control unit 110
may control the devices which configure the air handling unit 1 in
accordance with a setting input through the interface.
[0039] The interface unit 5 may be provided in or at a location
spaced apart from the air handling unit 1. The interface unit 5 may
be movable, and the movability of the interface unit 5 may be
implemented not only by wirelessly communicating with the air
handling unit 1 but also by sufficiently securing a length of a
communication line even when the interface unit 5 is connected to
the air handling unit 1 through wired communication.
[0040] The devices which configure the air handling unit 1 may
communicate with the interface unit 5 and/or the central controller
4 through the input/output ports of the input/output units 120, and
thus, when the devices which configure the air handling unit 1 are
changed, the interface unit 5 and/or the central controller 4 may
recognize which devices presently configure or form the air
handling unit 1. The interface unit 5 may reconfigure the interface
in accordance with the configurations of the devices which are
recognized through the input/output unit 120.
[0041] The interface unit 5 may display a driving state of the air
handling unit 1 and the outdoor unit 2 through an interface and
provide a control menu. The information which is input through the
control menu may be transmitted to the control unit 110 through the
communication line between units, and the control unit 110 may
control the devices which configure the air handling unit 1 based
on the transmitted information. The interface unit 5 may provide or
include a graphical user interface (GUI).
[0042] In some exemplary embodiments, the air conditioning system
may further include an outdoor unit controller or outdoor device
controller 6 that controls the outdoor unit 2, and a local
controller 9, which may be provided in each room or indoor space in
which air conditioning is performed to display an air handling
state and receive an air handling setting for each room from the
user.
[0043] The outdoor unit controller 6 may totally control or control
all of the outdoor units 2a, 2b and 2c. The outdoor unit controller
6 may be connected to communicate with the central controller 4,
and control driving of the outdoor units in accordance with the
setting transmitted from the central controller 4 and transmit
information on the driving state of the outdoor units to the
central controller 4. Separately from the central controller 4, a
command for driving control of the outdoor units may be directly
input through the outdoor unit controller 6.
[0044] A remote controller 7 may be provided in or at a location
spaced apart from the air handling unit 1 to control an entire
operation of the air conditioning system. The remote controller 7
may be connected to communicate with the outdoor unit controller 6
to transmit a command for controlling the outdoor units.
[0045] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the air conditioning system may
include several air handling units 1 (1a to 1c) in accordance with
an air handling load, such as a size or a scale of a building, and
may also include a plurality of outdoor units or devices 2a, 2b,
and 2c.
[0046] The air handling unit 1 may supply air to the indoor space
through the duct 3. An indoor temperature of each room may be
measured by a temperature sensor which may be provided in the room,
and the indoor temperature measured as described above may be
displayed through the local controller 9. An adjusting unit or
adjuster that adjusts a direction of discharged air and an amount
of discharged air may be provided at an end of the duct 3, that is,
a discharging port that discharges the air to the indoor space.
[0047] The central controller 4 may be connected to communicate
with the outdoor unit controller 6 and the remote controller 7 to
interwork or communicate with each other based on information which
is exchanged therebetween. The central controller 4 may exchange
information with the outdoor unit controller 6, the remote
controller 7, and/or local controller 9, control to output the
information through the interface unit 5, and transmit an
appropriate control command to the outdoor unit controller 6, the
remote controller 7 and/or the local controller 9 in accordance
with the setting which is input through the interface unit 5.
[0048] Referring to FIG. 3, the air handling unit 1 may include a
supply air unit or device 11 that supplies air to the indoor space
through the duct 3 (3a, 3b, 3c of FIG. 2), a return air unit or
device 12 into which the return air discharged from the indoor
space may flow, an exhaust air unit or device 13 that discharges
the return air which flows into the return air unit 12 to the
outdoors, an outdoor air unit or device 14 into which the outdoor
air may flow, a heat exchanging unit or device 16 that exchanges
heat between the return air which is flowing through the return air
unit 14 and/or the outdoor air which is flowing through the outdoor
air unit 14 and the heat source (hereinafter, referred to as a
"refrigerant"). An air mixing unit or device 15 may be configured
by the exhaust air unit 13 and the outdoor air unit 14 and adjust a
mixing ratio of the return air and the outdoor air which are
supplied to the heat exchanging unit 16. Hereinafter, air which is
transferred from the air mixing unit 15 to the heat exchanging unit
16 may be referred to as mixed air.
[0049] A return air damper 54 that adjusts a flow rate of the
return air which is flowing into the return air unit 12, an exhaust
air damper 52 that adjusts a flow rate of the exhaust air
discharged from the exhaust air unit 13, an outdoor air damper 51
that adjusts a flow rate of the outdoor air which is flowing into
the outdoor air unit 14, a mixture damper 53 that adjusts a flow
rate transferred from the exhaust air unit 13 to the outdoor air
unit 14, and a supply air damper 55 that adjusts a flow rate of the
supply air which is supplied to the duct 3 may be provided. These
dampers may include a vane that adjusts an opening degree of a flow
channel through which the air flows in accordance with a rotation
angle and a damper actuator that operates the vane.
[0050] The control unit 110 may control the opening degree of the
dampers to adjust a mixing ratio of the outdoor air and the return
air. The damper actuator may operate under control of the control
unit 110 to control the rotation angle of the vane. For example,
when the supply air, which is formed of mixed air with the return
air and the outdoor air at a ratio of 7:3, is formed, the control
unit 10 may adjust the opening degree of the exhaust air damper 52
to discharge 30% of the return air which is flowing into the return
air unit 12 to the outside and adjusts the opening degree of the
outside air damper 51 to allow the outdoor air to flow into the
outdoor air unit 14 as much as the discharged flow rate. In this
case, the mixture damper 53 may be completely open.
[0051] When the return air which is flowing into the return air
unit 12 is completely discharged to the outdoors in accordance with
the opening degree of the dampers, and the supply air is formed
only by the outdoor air flowing into the outdoor air unit 14, it is
said that all outdoor air is supplied. In some embodiments, the air
handling unit 1 may be configured without having the return air
unit 12 and the exhaust air unit 13, and in this case, a 100%
outdoor air is supplied indoors.
[0052] The return air unit 12, the exhaust air unit 13, the outdoor
air unit 14, the heat exchanging unit 16, and the supply air unit
11 may be modularized, and in this case, diversity may be applied
to the configuration of the devices by adding and removing each
unit. For example, when the indoor air handling is performed only
using 100% outdoor air, as described above, the air handling unit 1
may be configured without having the return air unit 12 and the
exhaust air unit 13 and the units may be added or removed in
accordance with a required air handling quantity. Further,
according to a structure in which each unit is modularized, units
may be delivered in a dissembled state to a field at which the air
handling unit 1 is provided and an assembling process of the units
may be also promptly and simply performed at the field.
[0053] The air handling unit 1 may include a blower that forms a
flow of air from the return air unit 12 to the supply air unit 11.
The blower may include fans 56 and 58, and fan motors 57 and 59
that rotate the fans 56 and 58, respectively. The fans 56 and 58
may be specifically provided in the supply air unit 11 and the
return air unit 12, respectively. As a driver 140 of the fan motors
57 and 59, an inverter drive that controls a rotation speed of the
motors 57 and 59 may be provided. One unit that configures or forms
the air handling unit 1, for example, the supply air unit 11, may
include a plurality of blowers. The blowers may be modularized, and
in this case, the blowers may be added or removed in accordance
with a required air blowing amount. The heat exchanging unit 16 may
include a heat exchanger 60 that changes a phase of the refrigerant
by exchanging heat with mixed air supplied from the air mixing unit
15 or the 100% outdoor air. The heat exchanger 60 may serve as an
evaporator in a case of a cooling operation and serve as a
condenser in a case of a heating operation. Further, the heat
exchanging unit 16 may include an expansion valve 61 that expands
the refrigerant. During the cooling operation, high temperature and
high pressure compressed refrigerant which is transferred from the
outdoor unit 2 may be transferred to the heat exchanger 60 through
the expansion valve 61. A plurality of expansion valves 61 may be
provided in accordance with the configuration of the outdoor unit
2.
[0054] The devices (hereinafter, referred to as "air handling unit
configuring devices") which configure or form the air handling unit
1, such as damper(s) 180, fan motor(s) 160, and expansion valve(s)
170 may be controlled by the central controller 4.
[0055] When the heat exchanging unit 15 includes a chiller that
uses water as a heat source, the air handling unit 1 may include a
valve that adjusts a flow rate of hot water which is supplied to
the chiller, a valve that adjusts a flow rate of hot water which is
discharged from the chiller, a valve that adjusts a flow rate of
cold water which is supplied to the chiller, and a valve that
adjusts a flow rate of cold water which is discharged from the
chiller. Further, the air handling unit 1 may include a filter that
filtrates the air, a pre-heater that heats the supply air to
pre-heat the indoor space in advance until the air conditioning
system is stabilized, a humidifier that humidifies the supply air,
and a humidifier valve that adjusts a humidifying amount of the
humidifier.
[0056] The air handling unit configuring devices may include at
least one sensor 150. The sensor 150 may be configured by a supply
air flow rate sensor that senses a flow rate of the supply air, a
return air flow rate sensor that senses a flow rate of the return
air, a CO2 sensor that senses a concentration of carbon dioxide
(CO2) in the air, a smog sensor that detects smog in the air, a
positive pressure sensor that senses a positive pressure of air
current which becomes a base to control an air volume, and a
differential pressure sensor that senses a differential pressure of
the air before and after passing through the filter.
[0057] The central controller 4 may include the input/output units
120a and 120b to which the air handling unit configuring devices
may be connected. Electric signals may be input and output between
the input/output units 120a and 120b and the air handling unit
configuring devices. The input/output units 120a and 120b may
include a plurality of input/output ports which may be allocated to
the air handling unit configuring devices to input/output the
signal. The plurality of input/output ports may be configured by an
analog port (AI/AO port), through which an analog signal may be
input/output, a digital port (DI/DO port) which inputs and outputs
a digital signal, or a combination thereof. A plurality of
input/output units may be provided in accordance with the number of
devices which configure the air handling unit, and the input/output
units 120a and 120b may be provided to be modularized to be added
or removed. The input/output ports may be provided by the control
unit 110, and in this case, the control unit 110 may receive
information from the air handling unit configuring devices through
the input/output port provided therein without using the
input/output unit.
[0058] The interface unit 5 may configure the interface based on
the air handling unit configuring devices which may be allocated to
the input/output ports. For example, when the exhaust air damper 13
is provided in the air handling unit 1, any one of the input/output
ports may be allocated to the exhaust air damper 13, and the
interface unit 5 may provide an interface including a menu that
adjusts the opening degree of the exhaust air damper 13.
[0059] The interface unit 5 may reconfigure an interface in
accordance with a change in the configuration of the air handling
unit configuring devices. For example, when the fan motor is added
or changed, a menu for controlling the fan motor may be changed on
the interface. The reconfiguration of the interface may include not
only the change of the control menu, which has been previously
provided, but also addition of a control menu for an added air
handling unit configuring device or inactivation or removal of the
control menu of a removed air handling unit configuring device.
[0060] The interface may be reconfigured based on the information
of the air handling unit configuring devices which is recorded in
the recording unit of the control unit 110. When a new device is
added to the air handling unit 1, the interface unit 5 may obtain
information on the added device from the recording unit and
reconfigure the interface based on the information obtained as
described above. For example, when a function of mixing the outdoor
air and the return air and devices related therewith are added to
the air handling unit 1, which originally included only an air
supplying function, so that a mixture damper 53 is additionally
provided, the interface unit 5 may obtain information on the
mixture damper 53 from the recording unit and generate a control
menu for controlling the mixture damper 53 based thereon.
[0061] The interface unit 5 may display a driving state of the air
handling unit 1 in accordance with a signal input through the
input/output port. The interface unit 5 may include a predetermined
input unit or input, such as an interface button, a switch, or a
touch pad and a displaying unit or display that provides a screen
on which numbers, characters, special characters, or images may be
output. The interface unit 5 may be provided as a touch screen in
which an input unit and an output unit form a layered
structure.
[0062] As illustrated in FIG. 6A, the control unit 110 may receive
information which is measured by the sensor 150 of the air handling
unit 1 through the input/output port provided therein, for example,
information for activating or stopping of the fan motor, a current
driving mode (cooling/heating/humidifying/ventilating mode) of the
air handling unit 1, smoke sensing, a measurement value of the
differential pressure sensor, or emergency stop, information for
checking a driving state of the air handling unit 1, and a signal
for a level (alarm level 1, alarm level 2, and alarm level 3) of an
alarm when an abnormal situation occurs. Such information may be
received through a digital input/output port.
[0063] The control unit 110 may receive a return air temperature, a
return air humidity, a supply air temperature, a supply air
humidity, an outdoor air temperature, or an outdoor air humidity
which may be sensed by the sensors and receive a signal which may
be output from fan motors of blowing devices which may be provided
for return air and supply air (a return air fan signal, a supply
air fan signal), respectively. The control unit 110 may receive
information through the input/output unit 120. According to this
embodiment, the first input/output unit 120a may receive a
temperature (mix temperature) of the mixed air, a flow rate of the
supply air, a flow rate of the return air, operation information (a
cold water valve (in)) of a valve that adjusts inflow of cold
water, operation information (a hot water valve (in)) of a valve
that adjusts inflow of hot water, operation information (a cold
water valve (out)) of a valve that adjusts a flow rate of
discharged cold water, operation information (a hot water valve
(out)) of a valve that adjusts a flow rate of discharged hot water,
whether to set a freezing protection function, and operation
information of a humidifier valve. Further, the second input/output
unit 120b may receive information from the CO2 sensor, the
differential pressure sensor, the outdoor air damper, the exhaust
air damper, the mixture damper, the positive pressure sensor, and
the pre-heaters, for example. Reference symbols L11, L12 and L13
represented in FIG. 6 denote channels through which communication
between the devices may be performed.
[0064] FIG. 6B illustrates configurations of a return air blower
module 140a that blows the return air and a supply air blower
module 140b that blows the supply air. Each blower module may be
configured by a plurality of blowers and each blower may be
configured by fan motors 143a, 143b, 143c, and 143d and drivers
142a, 142b, 142c, and 142d that control a speed of the fan motors,
respectively. Further, each blower module may include noise filters
141a and 141b that remove noise from power supplied from the fan
motors which configure the module.
[0065] FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a menu structure of an
interface unit or interface according to an embodiment. Referring
to FIG. 7, the interface unit 5 may display information received
from the central controller 4 and a control menu for controlling
the air handling unit 1 and/or the outdoor unit 2 on a screen and
transmit information input through the control menu to the central
controller 4.
[0066] The interface unit 5 may provide a login menu 201, and in
this case, a user, a manger, or an installer may log in. Displayed
screen configurations and provided menus may be different for every
user, manager, and installer. Therefore, control authority for the
air handling unit 1 and the outdoor unit 2 may also be differently
set in accordance with a log-in party.
[0067] A driving menu 202 that controls the driving of the air
handling unit 1 may be provided through the interface. The driving
menu 202 may relate to driving (start driving), stop (stop
driving), heating, cooling, blowing, outdoor air cooling,
dehumidifying, and optional driving and may be configured to
immediately set a driving mode when a corresponding key is
selected. Further, the logged-in screen may include menu items such
as main, home, schedule, history, and setting, for example.
[0068] The home menu may be configured by a monitoring menu for the
air handling unit 1 and the outdoor unit 2. The home menu may
include sub menus for a system view, a detail view, and a state for
the outdoor unit, for example. The system view may provide a
monitoring menu for the air handling unit 1, the detail view may
display detail information on an operating state of the air
handling unit 1, and the outdoor unit 2 may be monitored through
the state of the outdoor unit 2.
[0069] The schedule menu may be a menu item for setting a driving
schedule of the air handling unit 1. The schedule menu may include
a weekly schedule menu as a sub menu, and when the weekly schedule
menu is selected, a weekly schedule editing screen may be
separately provided.
[0070] When the history menu is selected, a control history or an
error occurring history for another controller or unit, which is
connected to the air handling unit 1, the outdoor unit 2, and/or
the central controller 4 may be displayed.
[0071] The setting menu may provide a menu for inputting and
testing information on the air handling unit configuring device in
order to control the driving of the air handling unit 1. As a
submenu of the setting menu, manager setting, product information,
and service setting may be provided, for example. The manager
setting may include submenus of manager settings 1, 2, and 3 as
setting menus for controlling the air handling unit 1 by the
manager, and model information or version information for the air
handling unit 1 and the interface unit 5 may be displayed as the
product information. Further, the service setting menu may provide
a submenu that inputs a reference value or a reference control
value for the device which is actually provided in the air handling
unit 1 under an authority of an installer as service settings 1 to
5. In this case, in the interface unit 5, when the user logs-in in
accordance with the login authority, only the home menu may be
displayed among the main menus (A) to display monitoring
information for the air handling unit 1 and/or the outdoor unit
2.
[0072] When the manager logs in, the interface unit 5 may display
four main menus of home, schedule, history, and setting on the
screen (B), for example. However, all the sub menus for home,
schedule, and history may be displayed, but only the manager
setting and the product information may be displayed among the
setting menus, and the service setting may not be displayed.
Therefore, when the manager logs in, not only basic monitoring, but
also setting input, history, and schedule for control may be
managed.
[0073] When the installer logs in, all menus including the service
setting of the setting menu may be displayed (C) and may be set.
When the air handling unit 1 is initially installed, a setting
value of a device (air handling unit configuring device) which is
installed in the air handling unit 1, for example, a sensor, a
valve, or a damper may be input, and more particularly, a sensing
range or sensitivity of the installed sensor may be input and the
function may be turned on/off in accordance with whether to install
the carbon dioxide sensor. The setting may not be changed after the
initial setting, so that the setting may be displayed only when the
installer logs in. When the configuration of the air handling unit
is changed or a module is added, the setting may be newly generated
for the changed configuration through the installer log-in.
[0074] The menu screens will be described hereinafter with
reference to the drawings.
[0075] FIGS. 8A-8B are exemplary views to explain a login method of
an interface unit according to an embodiment. Referring to FIG. 8,
the interface unit 5 may display a login menu 204 on a screen
210.
[0076] In the login menu 204, as illustrated in FIG. 8A, a manager
key 205 and a user key 206 may be displayed in accordance with
login authorities. When any one of them is selected, as illustrated
in FIG. 8B, a password input window 208 may be displayed on the
screen 210 as a popup menu. In the password input window 208, a
plurality of keys and an input section, in which a selected key may
be displayed. When a confirm key is selected after inputting the
password, the password may be compared with previously stored
authentication information. When authentication is successful, the
monitoring menu of FIG. 9, which will be described hereinafter, may
be displayed on the screen 210. When authentication fails, for
example, the password is not correct or a user has an authority
which is different from the selected authority, a guiding message
may be output to re-input the password together with a guide in
accordance with the incorrect password. Further, a separate warning
message may be output. In this case, in FIG. 8A, when login keys
for the manager or the user are displayed or a specific area of the
login screen 204 is selected (207) or when a specific area is
touched for a predetermined time or longer, a password input window
for installer login may be displayed.
[0077] As described above, a menu to be displayed may be
differently output in accordance with an authority of any one of an
installer, a manager, and a user, which may be used to log in, and
a setting authority may also be different.
[0078] FIGS. 9 to 12 are exemplary views illustrating an embodiment
of a monitoring screen of an interface unit of an air conditioning
system according to an embodiment. Hereinafter, monitoring screens
will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The
interface unit 5 according to embodiments may reconfigure the
interface in accordance with the air handling unit configuring
devices which are recognized through the input/output unit 120.
[0079] The interface may be reconfigured by generating a control
menu for an added device when a device is added to the air handling
unit 1 or inactivating or removing a control menu for a removed
device when a device is removed from the air handling unit 1.
Hereinafter, embodied aspects of the implementable interface in
accordance with the configuration of the devices provided in the
air handling unit 1 will be described in detail with reference to
the drawings.
[0080] FIG. 9 illustrates a monitoring screen, which represents a
state of the air conditioning system. Referring to FIG. 9,
information which is received to the central controller 4 may be
stored in a memory (not illustrated) in the control unit 110 of the
central controller 4. The control unit 110 may transmit the stored
information to the interface unit 5, and the interface unit 5 may
analyze information received from the central controller 4 to
display a monitoring screen for the air handling unit 1 on the
screen 210, as illustrated in FIG. 9.
[0081] The interface unit 5 may analyze the information received
from the central controller 4 to display a graphic based monitoring
screen. An actually measured information value may be displayed on
the screen 210 in accordance with information measured by the air
handling unit configuring devices, temperature, humidity, a state
of the valve, and information on an activating state, for example.
For example, a supply air temperature and an intake temperature may
be represented by numerical values. The information value may be
represented by at least one of a character, a number, a special
symbol, or a combination thereof, for example. Further, an image
and/or an icon, which represents the air handling unit configuring
devices, may be displayed through the screen 210.
[0082] An operating state of the air handling unit configuring
device may be displayed on the screen 210 as an icon or an image.
For example, a supply air fan and/or a return air fan may be
normally driven, a dynamic image of a rotating fan may be displayed
and when the fan is abnormally driven, an image of a stopped fan
may be displayed with a different color from that of the fan which
is normally driven. For example, the fan may be displayed with a
red color or displayed with a separate warning notice.
[0083] In the monitoring screen, an upper driving menu 220 and a
lower main menu 290 may be displayed, and a main screen may be
displayed at a center of the screen 210. In the monitoring state, a
monitoring menu 230 may be displayed on the main screen. In this
case, any one of the upper driving menu 220 or the lower main menu
290 may be selected, and thus, information corresponding thereto
may be displayed on the main screen. In this case, a selected key
from the driving menu 220 and the main menu 290 may be displayed to
be different from the other key. For example, when a home key 291
is selected and a drive key 222 and a heating key 224 are selected,
the main screen according to the selection may be displayed and the
home key and the heating key may be displayed to have different
colors and letter sizes from other keys, so that it is noticed that
the keys are currently selected.
[0084] In the upper driving menu 220, user information 211
regarding a user currently connected, a power key 221, the drive
key 222, a stop key 223, the heating key 224, a cooling key 225, a
blowing key 226, an outdoor air cooling key 227, a dehumidifying
key 228, and an additional function key 229 may be displayed.
Information on a user who logs into the interface unit 5 may be
displayed as the user information 211, and for example, may be
divided by an installer, a manager, and a user. A name to be
displayed may be changeable, and the name may be displayed by a
separate ID or an icon. When the power key 221 is a login key and
when the power key 221 is selected in a logged in state,
information on a user who is currently connected may be logged out.
When the power key 221 is selected in the logged out state, a login
menu may be displayed on the main screen at the center or a new
window may be created to display the login menu.
[0085] The drive key 222 and the stop key 223 may be key buttons
for a driving state and when the drive key 222 is selected, the air
handling unit 1 may start driving and when the stop key 223 is
selected, the driving air handling unit 1 may stop driving. When
the air handling unit 1 is stopped, the drive key 222 may be
activated and only when the air handling unit 1 is driven, the stop
key 223 may be activated. When the drive key 222 is selected, the
interface unit 5 may transmit a control signal in accordance with
the key to the central controller 4, and the central controller 4
may control the air handling unit corresponding to the control
signal.
[0086] The heating key 224, the cooling key 225, the blowing key
226, the outdoor air cooling key 227, and the dehumidifying key 228
may be keys for driving modes and set the air handling unit 1 to be
driven in a heating mode, a cooling mode, a blowing mode, an
outdoor air cooling mode, and a dehumidifying mode, for
example.
[0087] For example, when the cooling key 225 is selected, the air
handling unit 1 may be driven in a cooling mode. When the cooling
key 225 is selected, a signal indicating that the cooling mode is
set may be transmitted to the central controller 4, and the central
controller 4 may control the air handling unit 1 to be driven in
the cooling mode. The interface unit 5 may display that the cooling
operation is performed through the screen. For example, when the
cooling key 225 is selected while being driven in the heating mode,
the interface unit 5 may reconfigure the screen on which the
cooling mode is previously displayed to display the heating mode.
Further, the interface unit 5 may activate or inactivate a specific
key in accordance with provided air handling unit devices to be
displayed. For example, when a humidifier is not provided in the
air handling unit 1, the humidifier key 228 may be inactivated.
[0088] The additional function key 229 may be a menu for setting
additional functions of the air handling unit 1, such as
humidification or automatic ventilation, and provide selectable
menus in accordance with a device which is provided in the air
handling unit 1 in order to implement the additional function. For
example, when humidifying, automatic ventilating, and humidifying
and automatic ventilating functions are provided by the provided
air handling unit configuring devices, the menu may be changed in
the order of humidification, automatic ventilation, and
humidification and automatic ventilation, and not-used in
accordance with a number of times of selecting the additional
function key 229.
[0089] When the humidifying function is not provided in the air
handling unit 1, that is, the humidifier is not provided in the air
handling unit 1, the humidification menu may not be selected.
Further, when the carbon dioxide sensor is not provided in the air
handling unit 1, the automatic ventilation menu may be inactivated,
so that the automatic ventilation menu may not be selected. The
activation/inactivation of the menu may be automatically performed
when the air handling unit configuring device is connected or
disconnected to or from the input/output port provided in the
input/output unit 120 and/or the control unit 110.
[0090] In the lower main menu 290, the home key 291, a schedule key
292, a history key 293, and a setting key 294 may be displayed, and
a date and day of the week key 295 and a time key 296 may be
displayed at one or a right side. The home key 291 may display the
home screen on the main screen, and the monitoring menu 230 for the
driving state of the air handling unit 1 and the outdoor unit 2 may
be displayed as the home screen.
[0091] The schedule key 292 may set a driving schedule for the air
handling unit 1, and the history key 292 may display a driving
history and an error history of the air handling unit 1. The
setting key 294 may display a setting menu for controlling the air
handling unit 1 on the main screen. Further, the setting key 294
may display a menu for setting an operation of the interface unit 5
on the main screen. For example, a setting, such as screen
brightness, may be changed.
[0092] When the date and day of the week key 295 or the time key
296 is selected, a menu for changing a time of the system may be
displayed.
[0093] A plurality of tabs 231, 232, and 233 may be displayed on
the main screen in accordance with the displayed information, so
that the information may be changed and displayed corresponding to
the selected tab. The monitoring menu 230 may be displayed to be
divided into three tabs of a system view tab 231, a detail view tab
232, and an outdoor unit state tab 233. The system view tab 231 may
be basically selected when the home key 291 is selected, to be
displayed on the main screen and display the operating state of the
air handling unit 1 of the monitoring menu 230 in real time.
[0094] A flow of air may be displayed on the monitoring menu 230 by
arrows and return air 237, exhaust air 235, outdoor air 236, and
supply air 238 may be displayed in accordance with intake and
discharge of air in accordance with the flow of the air. Further,
devices which are individually provided, such as a damper, a valve,
a sensor, and a filter, may be displayed by images or icons, and
information values thereof may be displayed on the screen 210.
[0095] In this case, the image or the icon for each device may be
displayed to correspond to the device which is actually provided
and disposed on the screen so as to correspond to an actual
position. Further, in a case of a moving device, an image or an
icon may be displayed to vary corresponding to the moving device to
indicate a movement of the device, and when an error occurs, a
separate alarm may be output and an image or an icon in accordance
with the error may be additionally displayed on the screen 210 or
displayed with a changed color.
[0096] A smoke sensor may be provided at a side into which the
return air 237 flows, so that a smoke icon 247 corresponding
thereto may be displayed, images for a concentrate sensor 248, a
humidity sensor 249, and a temperature sensor 250 may be displayed,
and 1000 ppm, 80%, and 25.5 degrees (a rotation angle of a vane
which configures a damper) may be displayed as information values.
In this case, the smoke sensing may be displayed when smoke which
is generated due to a fire being sensed by the smoke sensor or
displayed with different colors to indicate whether to sense the
smoke has been sensed. The concentration sensor may determine
whether to automatically ventilate the indoor space in accordance
with a concentration of carbon dioxide in the return air which
circulates in the indoor space and returns by measuring the
concentration of carbon dioxide and a degree of the outdoor air and
the exhaust air may be correspondingly determined.
[0097] The return air fan 246 may be displayed and an operation
state icon 251 for every return air fan may be displayed above the
return air fan 246. When the return air fan 246 is configured by a
plurality of fans, for example, six fans, the fans may be divided
to be denoted by F1 to F6, and a state of each fan may be displayed
as drive, stop, and error by different colors of green, white, or
red in accordance with the operation state.
[0098] An exhaust air damper 239 (52) may be displayed at a side of
the exhaust air 235 and when a part of the return air is
discharged, an opening degree amount 252 of the exhaust air damper
may be displayed at a side of the return air 235. Further, an
outdoor air damper 240 (51) may be displayed at the side of the
outdoor air 236 and an opening degree amount 255 of the outdoor air
damper 240, which adjusts an inflow outdoor air, may be displayed.
A temperature 253 and a humidity 254 for flowing outdoor air may be
displayed at the side of the outdoor air 236. The temperature
sensor and the humidity sensor at the side of outdoor air may be
provided outside of the outdoor air damper 240 to measure an
outside temperature and an outside humidity. Therefore, even in a
state in which the outdoor air damper 240 is closed, the outside
temperature and the outside humidity may be measured.
[0099] When the opening degree amount of the exhaust air damper 239
(52) is zero, it means that the exhaust air damper is closed and
100% of return air is supplied as a supply air. In this case, the
opening degree of the exhaust air damper interworks with the
outdoor air damper 240 (51), so that the opening degree of the
outdoor air damper is also zero.
[0100] The mixture damper 241 (53) may be displayed between the
exhaust air and the outdoor air, and an opening degree amount 256
thereof may be displayed. In this case, the opening degree amount
of the damper may be represented by a rotation angle of the vane,
and when the rotation angle is zero degree, the damper may be
closed. Further, when the rotation angle is 90 degrees, the damper
may be open at maximum. As the exhaust air is 0%, the outdoor air
is 0%, and the return air is 100%, the damper may be open at
maximum to 90 degrees.
[0101] A temperature sensor 258 that measures a temperature of the
mixed air in which the return air and the outdoor air are mixed may
be displayed between the mixture damper 241 and the outdoor air
damper 240. In this case, heat exchangers 243 and 244, which may be
provided between an outdoor air or mixed air side and a supply air
side may be displayed, and a filter 242 that removes foreign
substances in air which is flowing in the heat exchanger may be
displayed. In this case, pressure sensors may be provided at both
sides of the filter 242, and a pressure 257 of the air which flows
into the heat exchanger through the filter 242 may be
displayed.
[0102] It may be determined whether filter cleaning is required in
accordance with a filter cleaning cycle or an information value of
a filter differential pressure sensor which may be installed in the
filter 242, and a filter icon 259 which represents a cleaning
timing may be displayed.
[0103] A pressure sensor 263, a humidity sensor 262, and a
temperature sensor 261 may be displayed at a side of the supply air
238, and a supply air fan 245 may be displayed. An operation state
of the supply air fan 245 may be denoted by F1 to F6 in accordance
with a number of provided fans and an operating state of each fan
may be represented.
[0104] Each fan and damper which may be displayed on the monitoring
menu 230 may be displayed by an image that moves in accordance with
a driving state, and each sensor may represent whether it normally
operates in accordance with a color or a displayed information
value. Further, a warning icon may be displayed.
[0105] FIG. 10 is an exemplary view illustrating display of detail
information among the monitoring menus on the interface unit. As
illustrated in FIG. 10, when a detail view tab 232 is selected,
detail information on temperature and humidity 271, a locked state
272, a damper opening degree 273, and a fan driving state 274 may
be displayed in the monitoring menu 30, for example. That is, the
detail information may be detail information on the operating state
of the air handling unit of the system view tab 231 described
above.
[0106] Temperatures and humidifies for the return air, the supply
air, the outdoor air, and the mixed air may be displayed by
numerical values, and the locked state in accordance with the
control mode may be represented by an icon. Further, damper opening
degree amounts of the outdoor air, the exhaust air, and the mixed
air may be displayed. The damper opening degree amount may be zero
degree in a closed state and 90 degrees in a maximum opening state.
Further, fan driving states 274 of the return air fan and the
supply air fan may be displayed. In this case, it may be displayed
whether to turn on/off the fan or whether an error has
occurred.
[0107] FIG. 11 is an exemplary view illustrating an outdoor unit
state among the monitoring menus displayed on the interface unit.
As illustrated in FIG. 11, state information on a heat source,
specifically, the outdoor unit 2, which is connected to the air
handling unit 1, may be displayed in the monitoring menu 230. The
state information of the outdoor unit 2, which is connected to the
air handling unit 1, may be displayed for every outdoor unit (281
to 286), and an address for communication with the outdoor unit,
any one operation state of drive, stop, and error, and whether to
perform a defrosting operation may be displayed.
[0108] In accordance with the number of connected outdoor units 2,
a plurality of pages may be provided and displayed. When the heat
source is not the outdoor unit, for example, when the heat source
is a boiler or a cooling tower, information thereon may be
displayed.
[0109] FIG. 12 is an exemplary view of a menu screen which is
differently displayed in accordance with a login authority of the
interface unit and illustrates a monitoring menu screen which is
differently configured when an installer logs in, in the monitoring
menu screen which is displayed when the detail view tab of FIG. 10
described above is selected. As illustrated in FIG. 12, when the
installer logs in and the detail view tab 232 is selected, in the
monitoring menu 230, a detail view menu having a screen
configuration which is different from the detail view tab 232 may
be displayed when the manager logs in, as described above.
[0110] When the installer logs in, the temperature/humidity 271,
the lock state 272, and the damper opening degree 273 may be
displayed to be the same as the monitoring menu when the manager
logs in, but the fan driving state 275 may be displayed to be
different from the case when the manager logs in. Not only the fan
on/off state, but also a driving frequency 276 of the fan may be
displayed on the menu screen of the detail view tab in accordance
with the login of the installer. In this case, the return air fan
and the supply air fan may each be configured by a plurality of
fans and operate at different frequencies.
[0111] FIG. 13 is an exemplary view illustrating an idle screen of
an interface unit according to an embodiment. Referring to FIG. 13,
when there is no input for a predetermine time or longer, the
interface unit 5 may display an idle screen 212. When there is no
separate input in a state in which the monitoring screen 210 is
output, the interface unit 5 may switch the screen 210 into the
idle screen 212 to display the idle screen, and in this case, brief
information on the air handling unit 1 may be displayed on the idle
screen 212.
[0112] On the idle screen 212, information on a driving state 213,
a driving mode 214, an additional driving 215, and a current
temperature 216 may be displayed as information. Each information
may be displayed by an image, an icon, a number, or a character, or
a combination thereof, for example. The driving state may indicate
whether to be driven, and as a driving mode, information on driving
mode which is currently set, among the driving modes, such as
heating, cooling, blowing, dehumidifying, and outdoor air cooling,
may be displayed and a set additional driving may be displayed, and
the return air temperature may be displayed as a current
temperature. In this case, when the reference for the indoor
temperature is a return air temperature, the return air temperature
may be displayed, and when the supply air temperature is a room
temperature, the supply air temperature may be displayed.
[0113] FIGS. 14A to 16 are exemplary views to explain a manager
setting menu of an interface unit according to an embodiment. FIG.
14A is an example of a menu screen of a first manager setting tab,
and FIG. 14B is an example of a menu screen when a control
reference of the first manager setting tab is set to be a supply
air.
[0114] When a setting key 294 is selected from the main menu, as
illustrated in FIG. 14A, the setting menu 310 may be displayed. The
setting menu 310 may include submenus of manager setting 311,
product information 312, and system setting 313. In this case, the
manager setting 311 may be a menu for controlling an operation of
the air handling unit 1, and the product information 312 may be
model information on the air handling unit 1 or the interface unit
5 or version information of a control program, and the system
setting 313 may be to set installation information for the air
handling unit 1.
[0115] In the manager setting 311, a menu for the manager setting
may be divided into a plurality of tabs to be displayed as first to
third manager setting tabs 314 to 316. As each tab is selected, a
menu screen corresponding thereto may be displayed to input the
setting, thereby controlling the air handling unit 1 for every
function. A basic operation for the air handling unit 1 may be set
through the operating menu 220 in an upper portion.
[0116] When the first manager setting tab 314 is selected, a menu
screen, which may be configured as or include menu items, such as a
control reference 321 for a room temperature for controlling the
air handling unit 1, a cooling temperature and humidity 322, a
heating temperature and humidity 323, an air volume setting 324, a
damper opening degree 325, a cooling damper opening degree 326, a
heating damper opening degree 327, and a blowing damper opening
degree 328, for example, to input information, may be displayed. As
the control reference 321, one of the return air or the supply air
may be selected as the room temperature, which becomes a reference
for temperature control. When the return air temperature is
selected, a temperature of the return air, which circulates in the
indoor space and returns may be measured to control the
temperature, and when the supply air temperature is selected, a
temperature of the supply air, which is supplied to the indoor
space may be maintained to be a set temperature. When the control
reference is set, a reference for the temperature may be changed
from the monitoring menu of the detail view described above to be
displayed.
[0117] The cooling temperature and humidity 322 and the heating
temperature and humidity 323 may be target temperature and humidity
when it is driven in the cooling mode and the heating mode. The
temperature may be input in a unit of 0.1.degree. C. and an input
temperature may be limited. For example, a cooling temperature
which is lower than 18.degree. C. may not be input and a heating
temperature which exceeds 30.degree. C. may not be input. This may
vary depending on the setting. The air volume may be set for an air
volume of the air handling unit 1 and may be set to be any one of
strong, medium, and weak, for example.
[0118] A damper opening degree 325 may be selected from automatic
setting and manual setting to control the damper opening degree,
and when the automatic setting is set, the damper opening degree
may be automatically changed. A cooling damper opening degree 326,
a heating damper opening degree 327, and a blowing damper opening
degree 328 may set opening degrees of an outdoor air damper, an
exhaust air damper, and a mixture damper when it is driven in a
cooling mode, a heating mode, and a blowing mode. When the damper
opening degree 325 is manual setting, the damper opening degree may
be determined in accordance with the set opening degree, and when
the damper opening degree is automatic setting, the damper opening
degree may vary depending on the driving state or indoor
environment change based on the set opening degree. In this case,
when the opening angle is zero degree, the damper may be in a
closed state and when the opening angle is 90 degrees, the damper
may be open to the maximum. The outdoor air damper, the exhaust
damper, and the mixture damper may interwork with each other to
determine the opening angle. As the air flows from the outside as
much as the amount discharged from the air handling unit 1, so that
the amount of the exhaust air may be the same as an amount of the
outdoor air, opening angles of the outdoor air damper and the
exhaust air damper may be set to be the same and a sum of the mixed
air and the outdoor air may be 100, so that a sum of the opening
angles of the outdoor air damper and the mixture damper may also be
90 degrees.
[0119] As described above, when a setting value for the menu item
of the first manager setting tab 314 is input, the interface unit 5
may store the set information and transmit the set information to
the control unit 110 of the central controller 4. The control unit
110 of the central controller 4, which may receive the information,
may change the setting in accordance with the received information
and control the air handling unit to be driven based on the changed
information. When the return air temperature sensor or the
temperature and humidity sensor is not provided, the supply air
temperature may be an initial value as a temperature reference and
when a setting value for an item in which the sensor is not
provided is input, the interface unit 5 may output a warning
through the screen.
[0120] As illustrated in FIG. 14B, when the control reference 321
is set to the supply air in the menu screen of the first manager
setting tab 314, the central controller 4 may control the
temperature of the air handling unit based on the supply air
temperature. When the control reference is set to the supply air,
the control reference 321, a cooling temperature and humidity 331,
a heating temperature and humidity 332, the air volume setting 324,
the damper opening degree 325, the cooling damper opening degree
326, the heating damper opening degree 327, and the blowing damper
opening degree 328 may be displayed on the menu screen which may be
displayed when the first manager setting tab 314 is selected, and
the cooling temperature and humidity 322 and the heating
temperature and humidity 323 may be displayed differently from the
case when the control reference is a return air.
[0121] The cooling temperature and humidity 331 and the heating
temperature and humidity 332 may additionally set a control range
for a temperature to input a target temperature and humidity when
it is driven in the cooling mode and the heating mode. When the
target temperature in the cooling mode is 18 degrees and an
allowable range when the installer logs in is set to be 2 degrees,
for example, 16 degrees to 20 degrees obtained by adding or
subtracting 2 degrees to or from 18 degrees becomes control ranges
for the target temperature. The control range may be set in the
unit of 1 degree.
[0122] FIG. 15 is a view illustrating an example of a menu screen
of a second manager setting tab. As illustrated in FIG. 15, when a
second manager setting tab 315 is selected from the manager setting
menu 311, a menu screen, which may be configured by or include menu
items of a type 335 of an air handling unit (AHU), a heat
exchanging method 336 of the air handling unit, and an applied
sensor 337, may be displayed.
[0123] Any one of a 100% outdoor air unit and an air handling unit
may be selected as the type 335 of the air handling unit. The type
of air handling unit may be an air handling unit when the air
handling unit 1 supplies the supply air to the indoor space with
the mixed air of the outdoor air and the return air, and may be a
100% outdoor air unit when the supply air is supplied only by the
outdoor air without the return air. That is, when the air handling
unit is configured or formed by the supply air unit, the heat
exchanging unit, the outdoor air unit, and the exhaust air unit
without having the return air unit, the air handling unit may be
the 100% outdoor air unit. Further, even though the return air unit
is provided, when the supply air is supplied only by the outdoor
air by opening the outdoor air damper by 100% at maximum, the air
handling unit may be set to be the 100% outdoor air unit.
[0124] The heat exchanging method 336 of the air handling unit may
be divided into a case when a fan is provided to heat-exchange the
refrigerant and a case when the heat is exchanged by circulating
water to set the heat exchanging methods 339a and 339b for cooling
and heating to be an air cooling type or water cooling type and set
to be "not used". As a heat exchanging method, a heat exchanging
method which coincides with a method which is actually provided in
the air handling unit 1 needs to be set. The case of "not used" may
be the outdoor air cooling which does not perform the heat exchange
and performs the cooling only with the outdoor air. The heat
exchanging method may be displayed to be selected by a drop-down
menu method.
[0125] The applied sensor 337 may be set for a sensor which is
provided in the air handling unit 1. That is, a type of sensor
which is actually provided may be set. In this case, the control
menu which controls the air handling unit 1 may be changed in
accordance with a setting state of the applied sensor 337.
[0126] The applied sensor 337 may be divided into a necessary
sensor and an optional sensor. A return air sensor and a supply air
sensor may be provided as the necessary sensor, and types 338a and
338b of the sensors provided may be set. Any one of the temperature
and humidity sensor or the temperature sensor may be set as the
return air sensor, and the supply air sensor and the selection menu
may be displayed by a drop-down menu method. The temperature and
humidity sensor may measure a temperature and a humidity.
[0127] An outdoor air temperature and humidity sensor, a mixed air
temperature sensor, a carbon dioxide sensor, a filter differential
pressure sensor, a supply air positive pressure sensor, a return
air flow sensor, and a supply air flow sensor may be set as the
optional sensor. In the case of the carbon dioxide sensor, a
reference value for determining a contamination degree may be
input, and in the filter differential pressure sensor, a reference
pressure for outputting an error or a warning may be input.
[0128] In the applied sensor 337, when a sensor which is not
provided in the air handling unit 1 is selected, information
corresponding thereto is not input. Further, even though the sensor
is provided in the air handling unit, when the sensor is not set,
an error does not occurred but the control related with the sensor
may not be used. For example, when the carbon dioxide (CO2) sensor
is not set, an icon for CO2 may be removed from the monitoring
screen and a related control menu may be inactivated or the
corresponding item may not be selected.
[0129] FIG. 16 is a view illustrating an example of a menu screen
of a third manager setting tab. As illustrated in FIG. 16, when a
third manager setting tab 316 is selected from the manager setting
menu 311, a menu screen, which may be configured by or include a
temperature and humidity mode setting 341, a language setting 343,
a touch coordinate correction 345, a password change 344, and a
software (SW) upgrade 346, may be displayed. In the temperature and
humidity mode setting 341, a control mode related with the
temperature and the humidity may be set, and the control mode may
set any one of local and remote schedules, and when the remote mode
is set, any one of a contact point or a mode bus may be set. Each
item may be displayed by a drop-down menu.
[0130] In the language setting 343, a language which is displayed
for an entire menu which is displayed in the interface unit 5 may
be changed. When a setting key is selected, an available language
list may be displayed. In the password change 344, a password which
is input to login in the interface unit 5 may be changed. Only a
password having a logged-in authority may be changed. That is, the
manager may not change the password of the user or the installer.
In the touch coordinate correction 345, when the interface unit 5
is configured by a touch screen or includes an input unit, such as
a touch pad, information may be input in accordance with the
touched position, that is, a key which is disposed in the touched
position may be selected. However, when the key does not coincide
with the touched position, that is, an A area is touched, but a B
area is selected, inconsistency may be corrected by the coordinate
correction. In the software upgrade 346, a program for monitoring
or control, including the menu screen which is displayed in the
interface unit 5 may be downloaded and updated from an external
program providing server. In some cases, the updating program may
be received through the controller or directly connected to be
downloaded.
[0131] FIG. 17 is an exemplary view illustrating a product
information screen of an interface unit according to an embodiment.
As illustrated in FIG. 17, when the product information 312 is
selected, version information 351 of a program which is currently
installed in the interface unit 5 and a driving time 352 of the air
handling unit may be displayed. In the manager setting menu
described above, when the program is updated by upgrading the
software, the version information which is displayed in the product
information may also be changed to be displayed as a version of an
updated program.
[0132] The driving time 352 may be information received through the
central controller 4 to represent a total time at or during which
the air handling unit 1 is driven. When an initialization key 353
is selected, an accumulated driving time may be initialized to be
zero and then counted again from zero. In this case, initialization
of the accumulated driving time may be selected only when the
log-in is performed as an installer. When there is a need to newly
count the time similarly to the case when the configuration of the
air handling unit 1 is changed, if the installer logs in, the
accumulated driving time may be initialized. When a user logs in as
a manager, the version information and the driving time may be
displayed, but the initialization key may be inactivated so as not
to be selected or displayed.
[0133] FIGS. 18 to 22 are exemplary views to explain a system
setting menu of an interface unit according to an embodiment. As
illustrated in FIG. 18, when a first system setting tab 361 is
selected from the system setting 313 of the interface unit 5, an
additional function 371 for the air handling unit 1, a warming time
373, and a smoke control mode 374 may be displayed on the menu
screen.
[0134] The additional function 371 may be selected from damper
feedback, a cooling humidifier function, a humidifier, a preheat
coil, and outdoor unit sequential control, for example. When the
additional function is selected, a driving mode may be set for the
selected additional function by the additional driving key 229 of
the driving menu 220. The damper feedback relates to whether to
receive a feedback signal from the damper and a feedback signal for
an opening degree of the damper may be transmitted to the central
controller 4 and displayed on the monitoring screen of the
interface unit 5. The cooling and humidifying function is available
when a humidifier is available and a dehumidification effect is
provided at the time of cooling, so that humidification may be
additionally performed if necessary. The preheat coil may select
any one of an electric heater, hot water, or steam as a type of a
heat source, for example. A type of the preheat coil may be set to
be the same as the device provided in the air handling unit 1.
[0135] The cooling and humidifying and the humidifier among the
additional functions may be set when a humidifier is provided in
the air handling unit 1, and the preheat coil may be set when a
device which supplies a heat source, such as a heater or a boiler,
for example, is provided in the air handling unit 1. When a
function which is not provided in the air handling unit 1 is
selected, the central controller 4 incurs an error and the
interface unit 5 outputs the error on the screen.
[0136] The warming time 373 sets a preparation time because when
the air handling unit 1 is driven, the set driving may be performed
as soon as the driving starts so that the indoor temperature is not
controlled, and provided devices including the outdoor unit require
a time to prepare the driving. In this case, during the warming
time, when the air handling unit 1 controls a damper and controls a
heat source to start and prepare driving of the devices in
accordance with the set driving mode to be in a main driving
available state, the air handling unit 1 may start the set
operation. In this case, even though a condition to start the main
driving is not satisfied, when the warming time has passed, the
central controller 4 may control the air handling unit 1 to be
operated in accordance with the driving setting. That is, the
warming time may be a maximum allowed time for warming up and
prevent the main driving from being delayed so as not to maintain
the warming up driving for a long time.
[0137] In the smoke control mode 374, a smoke control mode setting
375 may be allowed depending on whether to install a smoke sensor.
In some cases, when a fire signal is input from a smoke sensing
device of a building controller, the smoke control mode may be set.
In the smoke control mode 374, damper setting 376 and fan operation
setting 377 may be performed. In the damper setting 376, opening
angles of an outdoor air damper, an exhaust air damper, and a
mixture damper may be set and a frequency for rotating operation of
the return air fan and the supply air fan may be set in the fan
operation setting 377.
[0138] When the smoke control mode is set and smoke is sensed by
the smoke sensor or a fire signal is received, the central
controller 4 may set an opening degree of the damper of the air
handling unit 1 in accordance with the damper setting 376. In the
case of fire, operation of the outdoor unit may stop and the air
handling unit 1 may also stop a series of operations including the
heat exchange but the damper may operate with a predetermined
opening degree in accordance with the smoke control mode setting.
Further, the central controller 4 may operate the return air fan
and the supply air fan at a predetermined frequency in accordance
with the fan operation setting 377.
[0139] As illustrated in FIG. 19, among the system setting menu 313
of the interface unit, when the second system setting tab 362 is
selected, a menu screen configured by or including a sensor range
378 and a heat source securing temperature range 379 may be
displayed. The sensor range 378 may set a sensible range value for
a plurality of sensors which is provided in the air handling unit 1
in accordance with characteristic of the provided sensors. As a
sensible minimum value and maximum value of the sensor are input,
even though a specific sensor model is not provided, various models
may be selectively provided in the air handling unit 1.
[0140] The sensor range may be set for the return air temperature
sensor, the outdoor air temperature sensor, the filter differential
pressure sensor, the return air flow sensor, the carbon dioxide
sensor, the supply air temperature sensor, the mixed air
temperature sensor, the supply air positive pressure sensor, and
the supply air flow sensor, and the sensor range may not be input
for any sensor which is not provided. When the sensor range for the
provided sensor is not input and the sensor is set to be provided,
an initial value of the sensor may be automatically set.
[0141] In the heat source securing temperature range 379, a minimum
value and a maximum value of a securable temperature for the
cooling heat source and the heating heat source may be set when the
temperature of the air handling unit 1 is controlled. The minimum
value and the maximum value of the heat source securing temperature
may become a reference to determine to additionally drive the
outdoor unit and reduce the number of driven outdoor units when the
number of outdoor units is controlled. For example, when the
temperature is equal to or higher than the maximum value of the
supply air temperature cooling heat source securing temperature
during the cooling driving, the outdoor unit may be additionally
driven and when the temperature is equal to or lower than the
minimum value, the number of driven outdoor units may be reduced.
Further, even though the number of outdoor units is not controlled
in accordance with the heat source securing temperature, the room
temperature may be controlled not to be out of the range of the
maximum value and the minimum value of the heat source securing
temperature. That is, the heat source securing temperature range
379 may be a controllable temperature range when the temperature is
controlled.
[0142] As illustrated in FIG. 20, when a third system setting tab
363 is selected, a menu screen, which may be configured by or
include a central control address 381, a number of fans 383, and a
fan driving reference 379 at a time of a defrosting operation, may
be displayed. The central control address 381 may set an address of
the air handling unit 1 to be controlled. In this case, the address
setting method may be a method of displaying an address and may be
set by any one of a decimal number or a hexadecimal number.
[0143] The number of fans 383 may set a number of installed return
air fans, and supply air fans and 1, 2, 4, and 6 fans may be set.
As the fan driving reference 379 at the time of a defrosting
operation, a temperature at which the fan operation may stop at the
time of a defrosting operation and a temperature value at which the
operation starts may be input. For example, at the time of a
defrosting operation, when the supply air temperature is equal to
or higher than 25 degrees, operation of the fan may stop and when a
piping temperature is equal to or higher than 30 degrees, the fan
may operate.
[0144] As illustrated in FIG. 21, when a fourth system setting tab
364 is selected, a menu screen, which may be configured by or
include an inverter fan control reference 387, a positive pressure
control 388, and an inverter frequency 389, may be displayed on the
screen. The inverter fan control reference 387 may set to control
an inverter fan based on an air volume or a positive pressure. It
may be determined whether to control the inverter fan based on a
designated frequency in accordance with strong, medium, and weak
air volume settings, for example, or control the inverter fan based
on the positive pressure in accordance with the pressure in the air
handling unit 1. In the positive pressure control 388, when the
inverter fan control reference is set based on a positive pressure,
a positive pressure based control cycle and a pressure value which
becomes a control reference in accordance with the control cycle
may be set.
[0145] As the inverter frequency 389, when the inverter fan is
controlled based on the air volume, an operating frequency of the
inverter fan may be set for the supply air and the return air in
accordance with strong wind, medium wind, and weak wind, for
example. In this case, even though the strong wind is set in
accordance with the setting, an actual amount of wind may be
different in accordance with the frequency setting. The wind may be
changed into strong, medium, or weak wind to be set in accordance
with an environment in which the air handling unit is provided.
[0146] As illustrated in FIG. 22, when a fifth system setting tab
365 is selected, a menu screen, which may be configured by or
include an inverter fan control reference 391 in a test driving
situation, a fan control 392, a damper control 393, a
humidification valve 394 when the valve is controlled, a heater
valve 395, and a freezing protection contact point 396, may be
displayed. When test driving is performed, the inverter fan control
reference 391 may set whether to control the inverter fan based on
air volume or positive pressure when the inverter fan is controlled
in order to check operation of the inverter.
[0147] When the test driving is performed, the fan control 392 may
input driving frequencies to the supply air fan and the return air
fan to check operations of the supply air fan and the return air
fan. In this case, when the frequency is input and application keys
397a and 397b are selected, the fan for which the application key
is selected may operate. When the supply air fan operates, an
operation state of the supply fan may be displayed in the
monitoring menu or the detail view described above, and the
operation frequency of the supply air fan may be displayed when the
installer logs in. The installer may check whether the supply air
fan operates at the input frequency when the test driving is
performed.
[0148] In the damper control 393, when opening angles for the
outdoor air damper, the exhaust air damper, and the mixture damper
are input and application keys 397d to 397e are selected, the
opening degree of the damper of the air handling unit 1 may be
changed. In this case, the interface unit 5 may transmit
information to the control unit 110 of the central controller 4,
and the control unit 110 may transmit the control signal to the
input/output unit 120 to control the damper.
[0149] In the valve control, when humidifiers are provided, test
driving may be performed by selecting a DC signal and a contact
point signal for the humidification valve 394 by application keys
397f and 397g, and test driving may be performed by selecting a DC
signal and a contact point signal for the heater valve 395 by
application keys 397h and 397i. Further, the contact point signal
may be selected by the application key 397i to check whether to
perform the operation for the freeze protection.
[0150] In the case of test driving, the plurality of application
keys 397a to 397j may be provided to perform test driving for
individual devices. In this case, test driving may be performed for
one device whose application key is selected, but the test driving
may not be simultaneously performed on a plurality of devices.
[0151] The system setting menu may be displayed when the installer
logs in so as to be used for test driving to check whether to input
information corresponding to a device provided in the air handling
unit 1 in an installation step and whether to perform a normal
operation after installation. When the manager logs in, basically,
the system setting 313 may not be displayed. However, if necessary,
new information may not be input and a previous setting may not be
edited, but predetermined setting information may be displayed to
be read.
[0152] FIGS. 23A-23B to 24A-24B are exemplary views to explain a
schedule setting menu of an interface unit according to an
embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 23A, when a schedule key 292 is
selected, a schedule setting menu 410 may be displayed on the
screen 210. The schedule setting menu 410 may input, add, or change
a driving schedule of the air handling unit 1.
[0153] In the schedule setting menu 410, a previously set schedule
list 414 may be displayed, and a schedule key for individual
schedules and an editing key 416 for the schedules may be provided.
The schedule setting menu 410 may include a schedule selection 411
to select any one of currently applied schedules, a selected
schedule driving setting 412, or an application key 413. In the
schedule mode, the driving setting 412 may be displayed to be
applied to the schedule, but when the air handling unit 1 is
locally or remotely controlled, the driving setting may be
displayed to be unused. The application key 413 may apply a setting
to the changed schedule or a selected schedule in the schedule
setting menu 410. In this case, when any one schedule is selected
in the schedule list 414, for example, when schedule 1 (415) is
selected, as illustrated in FIG. 23B, schedule information 417
which is set for schedule 1 may be displayed. In the schedule
information, schedules in accordance with a time for every day of
the week may be displayed.
[0154] In the meantime, when an editing key 416 is selected in FIG.
23A, an editing screen for the schedule may be displayed. In this
case, an editing key 416 for the schedule 1 (415) is selected, a
schedule editing menu for the schedule 1 may be displayed and when
an editing key of schedule 2 may be selected, an editing menu for
the schedule 2 is displayed.
[0155] As illustrated in FIG. 24A, in the schedule editing menu
418, a schedule pattern in accordance with a time for every day of
the week for the schedule 1 selected may be displayed and the
schedule editing key 419 may be displayed. When the schedule
editing key 419 is selected, new schedule may be added to the
schedule 1 or the predetermined schedule may be corrected or
removed.
[0156] When the schedule editing key 419 is selected, as
illustrated in FIG. 24B, the editing menu 420 may be displayed. In
the editing menu 420, day selection 421, which may select a day of
the week to be edited, may be displayed as a drop down menu, and a
schedule pattern 422 for the selected day of the week may be
displayed. When the day of the week is changed, the schedule
pattern 422 may be correspondingly changed to be displayed.
[0157] When any one of time basis schedule pattern items which are
displayed in the schedule pattern 422 is selected, a driving start
time 423 and a driving stop time 424 therefore may be input and
when the correction key is selected, the time schedule pattern may
be changed. In this case, when the deletion key is selected, the
corresponding time schedule pattern may be deleted. Further, when
an additional key is selected after inputting the driving start
time and driving stop time without selecting the predetermined
schedule, new schedule pattern may be additionally input. Changed
information in accordance with addition, correction, and deletion
of the pattern item may be displayed in the schedule pattern 422.
When a storing key is selected, the changed schedule pattern may be
stored, and when the previous menu is selected, the changed
schedule pattern may move to the schedule editing menu 418
illustrated in FIG. 24A.
[0158] FIG. 25 is an exemplary view illustrating an embodiment of a
screen on which history information of an interface unit of an air
conditioning system according to an embodiment is displayed. As
illustrated in FIG. 25, among the main menu, when a history key 293
is selected, error information 430 for the air handling unit 1 may
be displayed.
[0159] The interface unit 5 may receive and store error information
occurring in the air handling unit 1 from the central control unit
4 and display the error information 430 based on the stored error
information. In this case, the interface unit 5 may output a
warning for occurrence of error of the air handling unit 1.
[0160] A number may be assigned to the error information 430 in
accordance with an order of error occurrence and a date and a time
when the error occurs may be displayed, and a code for the error
and information on a device in which the error occurs may be
displayed. Further, a code number or a message related with the
error may be displayed.
[0161] When a refresh key 432 is selected, error information 430
which is updated based on the newly received information may be
displayed. When new error information is received, if the refresh
key 432 is selected, new error information may be added to the
error information 430.
[0162] When delete all 431 is selected, all information in the
error information may be deleted and initialized. Errors occurring
before performing delete all 431 may be accumulated and stored as a
list and held for a predetermined period.
[0163] FIG. 26 is an exemplary view illustrating an embodiment of a
screen on which a warning is output when an error of an interface
unit of an air conditioning system according to an embodiment
occurs. As illustrated in FIG. 26, when an error occurs in the air
handling unit 1, the interface unit 5 may output a notice message
433 corresponding to error information which is received from the
central controller 4. In the notice message 433, a date and time
435 when the error occurs, an error code 434, and an error message
436 for an error code may be displayed.
[0164] Therefore, an air conditioning system according to
embodiments disclosed herein may include an air handling unit that
adjusts the return air, the exhaust air, the outdoor air, and the
supply air to circulate the indoor air and adjusts the temperature
to control the room temperature to simultaneously control the
temperature and ventilation while increasing heat efficiency, and a
controller that controls the air handling unit to control driving
while monitoring an operation state of the air handling unit
through a detachable interface unit or interface, which may be an
input/output device of the controller, thereby performing easy
management. The air conditioning system according to embodiments
disclosed herein may easily reconfigure the interface which is
provided through the interface unit even though a configuration of
the air handling unit varies in accordance with installation
conditions, so that generality and expandability for various
requirements, such as expansion, change, or simplification of the
system, may be improved.
[0165] The interface unit may function as a dedicated controller
for the completely installed air handling unit, but may not be
limited only to controlling air handling unit configuring devices
which are already installed, and has a generality to correspond to
the changed device configuration. That is, a high degree of freedom
for the interface configuration is assigned to the interface unit,
and no physical structure change is necessary to control the
changed configurations, even though the configuration of the air
handling unit is changed, so that commonality and generality of
components may be improved.
[0166] Embodiments disclosed herein provide an air conditioning
system which may easily reconfigure an interface that is provided
through an interface unit even when a configuration of an air
handling unit varies depending on an installation condition, so
that generality for various requirements, such as extension,
modification, or simplification of the system may be improved.
[0167] Embodiments disclosed herein provide an air conditioning
system that may include an air handling unit or air handler that
handles or conditions indoor air; an interface unit or interface
that provides an interface to control the air handling unit; and a
central controller that includes an input/output unit or device
that provides an input/output port through which an electric signal
may be input and output between devices configuring the air
handling unit and a control unit or controller that interworks or
communicates with the interface unit to control the devices
configuring the air handling unit, in which the interface unit may
configure the interface based on configuration of the devices
configuring the air handling unit recognized through the
input/output unit and the interface may be reconfigured in
accordance with change of the devices configuring the air handling
unit.
[0168] Embodiments disclosed herein provide an air conditioning
system that may include an air handling unit or air handler that
handles or conditions indoor air; an interface unit or interface
that provides an interface to control the air handling unit; and a
central controller that includes an input/output unit or device
that provides an input/output port through which an electric signal
may be input and output between devices configuring the air
handling unit and a control unit or controller that interworks with
or communicates the interface unit to control the devices
configuring the air handling unit, in which the interface unit may
configure the interface based on configuration of the devices
configuring the air handling unit recognized through the
input/output unit and the interface may be reconfigured in
accordance with change of the devices configuring the air handling
unit. The interface unit may generate a control menu for an added
device when a device is added to the air handling unit. The
interface unit may inactivate or remove a control menu for a
removed device when a device is removed from the air handling
unit.
[0169] The interface unit may display a driving state of the air
handling module in accordance with a signal value which is input
through the input/output unit. A plurality of input/output units
may be provided, and the plurality of input/output units may
communicate with the control unit through serial communication.
[0170] An analog signal may be input/output through the
input/output terminal. A digital signal may be input/output through
the input/output terminal.
[0171] The air handling module may include a fan motor, and a
driver that drives the fan motor in accordance with a control
signal which is applied from the control unit. The interface unit
may be provided in or at a location spaced apart from the air
handling unit. The interface unit may be movable.
[0172] The control unit may include a recording unit or storage
that records or stores information on devices configuring the air
handling unit, and when a new device is added to the air handling
unit, the interface unit may obtain information on the added device
from the recording unit and reconfigure the interface in accordance
with the obtained information.
[0173] The air handling unit may include at least one of a
temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a fan motor, a low rate
sensing sensor, a pressure sensor, a differential pressure sensor,
a different pressure switch, a valve, a damper, a smoke sensing
sensor, or a heater.
[0174] Any reference in this specification to "one embodiment," "an
embodiment," "example embodiment," etc., means that a particular
feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with
the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. The
appearances of such phrases in various places in the specification
are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further,
when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is
described in connection with any embodiment, it is submitted that
it is within the purview of one skilled in the art to effect such
feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other ones
of the embodiments.
[0175] Although embodiments have been described with reference to a
number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood
that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by
those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope
of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various
variations and modifications are possible in the component parts
and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within
the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims.
In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts
and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to
those skilled in the art.
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