JP2001041528A - Multi type air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a multi-type air conditioner in which the operation time of a plurality of outdoor units and the operation time of one or more fixed capacity compressors equipped with the outdoor units are made uniform. SOLUTION: An outdoor unit 1A is a variable capacity compressor 10.
And a fixed-capacity compressor 11 and outdoor units 1B to 1D
Is equipped with a plurality of fixed capacity compressors 11
In the multi-type air conditioner in which the number of operating constant-capacity compressors 11 is increased or decreased in accordance with the increase or decrease in the load of the outdoor unit, the time during which at least one constant-capacity compressor operates in the outdoor unit is defined as the outdoor unit operating time. As the number of units increases, the capacity of the compressor is constant in order from the outdoor unit with the shortest integrated operation time.
One of the units 11 is operated, and the remaining constant capacity compressors 11 are operated in the same outdoor unit order as described above in accordance with a further increase in the load, and the constant capacity compressors 11 of the respective outdoor units are operated with a short integrated time. Rotate to start driving in order.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-type air conditioner comprising a plurality of outdoor units and a plurality of indoor units, and more particularly, to equalizing the operation time of fixed capacity compressors installed in each outdoor unit. The present invention relates to a multi-type air conditioner suitable for achieving the above.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a multi-type air conditioner in which a plurality of outdoor units are connected in parallel to the same refrigerant system, the integrated operation time of each outdoor unit and the integrated operation time of each compressor are equalized. As a control method for this, there is known a method of performing rotation control in units of outdoor units as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-249529. Further, a method of performing rotation control on a compressor basis only during the minimum capacity operation disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-281577 is known.

[0003]

In the above prior art, the integrated operation time of each outdoor unit can be made uniform, but the deviation of the integrated operation time of each compressor mounted on each outdoor unit can be prevented. Therefore, there is an inadequate means for extending the life of each outdoor unit. Further, in the above-mentioned conventional technology, since the application conditions are limited to the minimum capacity operation, if the operation / stop other than the minimum capacity operation is repeated, the rotation control is not applied, and the means for extending the life of the compressor is inadequate. There is.

The present invention solves the above deficiencies and, in a multi-type air conditioner having a plurality of outdoor units, rotates the operation of a fixed capacity type compressor installed in each outdoor unit so as to maintain a fixed capacity. It is an object of the present invention to provide a multi-type air conditioner capable of making the life of a type compressor uniform.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, a multi-type air conditioner according to the present invention comprises a group of a plurality of outdoor units connected in parallel and a group of a plurality of indoor units connected in parallel. Are connected via one refrigerant piping system, one of the plurality of outdoor units is equipped with a variable capacity compressor and a fixed capacity compressor, and each of the other outdoor units is equipped with a plurality of fixed capacity compressors. In a multi-type air conditioner mounted and controlled to increase or decrease the number of operating constant-capacity compressors in accordance with an increase or decrease in the load of an indoor unit, the time during which at least one constant-capacity compressor operates in an outdoor unit is reduced. As the outdoor unit operation time, the outdoor unit operation time integration means for integrating the operation time of each outdoor unit, and the operation time integrated by the outdoor unit operation time integration means in ascending order of the operation time Outdoor unit rotation means for rearranging the operation order of the outdoor unit after the operation of the air conditioner, compressor operating time integrating means for integrating the operation time of the fixed capacity compressor for each outdoor unit, and The air conditioner is provided with a controller consisting of compressor rotation means which rearranges the operation order of the fixed capacity compressors in ascending order of the operation time accumulated by the compressor operation time accumulation means after the operation of the air conditioner. When the load increases in the next operation of the outdoor unit, the outdoor unit rotation means instructs the operation of the outdoor unit cyclically in the operation order rearranged by the outdoor unit rotation means, and the compressor related to the commanded outdoor unit. The rotation means operates according to the operating order rearranged by the compressor rotation means. Characterized by driving one fixed type compressor.

[0006] In the multi-type air conditioner, it is preferable that the compressor rotation means be configured to stop the operating constant-capacity compressors in the order of starting operation. Preferably, the outdoor unit operation time integrating means and the outdoor unit rotation means are provided in an outdoor unit equipped with a variable capacity compressor and a fixed capacity compressor. Further, it is preferable that the compressor operating time integrating means and the compressor rotation means are installed in each outdoor unit.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a multi-type air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows four outdoor units as an example, but the number is not limited to this. This multi-type air conditioner has four outdoor units 1A, 1B, as a group of outdoor units installed in parallel.
1C and 1D are connected by a communication line 30 and a refrigerant pipe 4 to a number of indoor units 5... 5 serving as a group of indoor units installed in parallel. The outdoor unit 1A includes a variable capacity compressor 10A and a fixed capacity compressor 11A. On the other hand, the outdoor unit 1B has two fixed capacity compressors 11B-1 and 11B-2, and the outdoor unit 1C has two fixed capacity compressors 11C-C.
1, 11C-2 and the outdoor unit 1D are also equipped with two constant capacity compressors 11D-1 and 11D-2.

The outdoor units 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D have controllers 20A, 20B, 20C and 2C, respectively.
0D is mounted. In particular, the controller 20A of the outdoor unit 1A calculates the optimum operation capacity according to the operation request, load, and the like from the indoor units 5... 5 and controls the controllers 20B, 20C, and 20 of the other outdoor units 1B, 1C, and 1D.
It plays an overall role in controlling the multi-type air conditioner that sends operation signals to D. These controllers 20A to 20D
Are often in the form of printed circuit boards.

The outdoor units 1A, 1B, 1C, 1
By providing D with communication means 25A and 25B having the same communication protocol as the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, it is possible to realize connection by one communication line 30.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the controller 20A of the outdoor unit 1A. This controller 20
A has outdoor units 1A to 1D as main components.
An outdoor unit operating time integrating means 21A for integrating each operating time, an outdoor unit rotating means 22A for rotating each of the outdoor units 1A to 1D with a smaller operating integrated time, and a variable capacity type mounted on the outdoor unit 1A. Compressor operation time integration means 23A for integrating the operation time of each of the compressor 10A and the fixed capacity compressor 11A, and compressor rotation means 24A for rotating the compressor so as to operate from the one with the smaller operation integration time; Controllers 20 for indoor units 5 ... 5 and outdoor units 1B, 1C, 1D
B, 20C, and 20D, and communication means 25A that mainly communicates data such as various temperatures, pressure sensor detection values, and operation commands. However, in the outdoor unit operation time integrating means 21A of the outdoor unit 1A, it is assumed that only the operation time of the fixed capacity type compressor 11A is related to the rotation of the outdoor unit, and does not include the operation of the fixed capacity type compressor 10A. . Further, since the compressor rotation means 24A rotates only the fixed capacity compressor, the same one is always selected when there is one fixed capacity compressor. The operation integration time of each of the outdoor units 1B, 1C, 1D is obtained by integrating the time during which at least one of the two fixed capacity compressors is operating.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the controller 20B of the outdoor unit 1B. This controller 20
B is a compressor operating time accumulating means 23 for accumulating the operating time of each of the fixed capacity compressors 11B-1 and 11B-2 mounted on the outdoor unit 1B itself as a main component.
B, compressor rotation means for starting operation of the fixed capacity compressors 11B-1 and 11B-2 from the one with the shortest integrated operation time, and rotating the fixed capacity compressor during operation so as to stop in the order of operation start. 24B, a controller 20A of the outdoor unit 1A that controls the control of the multi-type air conditioner, and a communication unit 25B that mainly communicates data such as various temperature, pressure sensor detection values and operation commands. Similarly to the controller B, the controller 20C (20D) of the other outdoor unit 1C (or 1D) also has compressor operating time integrating means 23C (23D), compressor rotation means 24C (24D), and communication means 25C (25D).
D).

Next, the operation of the outdoor unit rotation means 22A of the outdoor unit 1A will be described. The outdoor unit rotation means 22A rotates so that the operation of each of the outdoor units 1A to 1D with a shorter operation integration time is started preferentially as described above. When the load on the indoor unit side is increased, the outdoor unit rotation means 22A operates one of the constant capacity compressors in the outdoor unit having a higher operation order, and the constant capacity compressor in the outdoor unit of the next order. An operation command is issued to the outdoor unit cyclically, such as operating one machine. Then, as the load decreases, a command is issued to stop the operating constant capacity compressors in the order in which they start operating.

As shown in FIG. 4, the outdoor units 1A, 1A
B, 1C, 1D operation integration time is 12h, 14h, 10
h, 16h, and the outdoor units 1A, 1B, 1C,
The number of fixed-capacity compressors mounted on 1D is one, two
If there are two, two, and two units, the outdoor unit rotation means 22A rotates the operation of each outdoor unit and each fixed capacity compressor according to the table shown in FIG.

Outdoor unit rotation means 22A
Has a table shown in FIG. 5, that is, an operation waiting table and a stop waiting table. The operation waiting table indicates which outdoor unit starts operation when the multi-type air conditioner starts operation (operation number 1 to 4), and the stop waiting table indicates which outdoor unit is in operation. This indicates the stop from the unit or the stop order (No. 1 to No. 4). Patterns 1 to 7 shown in the vertical direction of the table
Represents a state in which the state changes from the state in which the previous operation of the multi-type air conditioner has ended to the next operation in accordance with the increase or decrease in the load on the indoor unit. Here, the number of alphabets indicates the number of mounted constant capacity compressors, and A is the indoor unit 1
A has a fixed capacity compressor (11A) with BB
Denotes two fixed capacity compressors (11B-1 and 11B-2) of the indoor unit 1B, and CC denotes two fixed capacity compressors (11C-1 and 11C-2) of the indoor unit 1B.
And DD represent two fixed capacity compressors (11D-1 and 11D-2) of the indoor unit 1B.

Pattern 1 is the contents of the "operation waiting table" at the time of the previous operation of the multi-type air conditioner.
The order of starting the operations A to 1D is 1A, 1B, 1C, 1
The order was D. After the end of the previous operation, the outdoor unit rotation means 22A sets the operation order of the outdoor units to 1C (CC), 1A (A), 1B in the order of the operation integrated time as shown in FIG.
(BB), rearranged to 1D (DD).

Thereafter, when an operation command is input and three compressors of constant capacity are required depending on the load state, first, the outdoor unit 1C having the first operation order in pattern 2 is operated, and two of the outdoor units 1C are operated. One of the constant capacity compressors (CC) is operated. At this time, the operation waiting table is rotated, as shown in pattern 3, the outdoor unit 1C is placed at the lowest position, the operation order of the other outdoor units 1A, 1B, and 1D is raised by one, and the constant capacity compressor that is operated is operated. (C) is moved to the first stop order in the stop wait table.

Subsequently, the second vehicle has the driving order 1 in the pattern 3.
The 1st outdoor unit 1A is operated, and one of the fixed capacity compressors (A) is operated. At this time, the driving wait table is rotated, and as shown in pattern 4,
The priority of 1B, 1D, and 1C is moved up by one, and the operated fixed capacity compressor (A) is moved to the second stop order in the stop wait table. Here, since the outdoor unit 1A has only one constant capacity compressor, the operation order of the operation waiting table will disappear on the surface, but this operation order will return to the fixed capacity compressor (A). When you come back, you will be resurrected.

In the third unit, the outdoor unit 1B having the highest operation order in pattern 4 is operated, and one (B) of the two fixed capacity compressors (BB) is operated. At this time, as shown in pattern 5, the operation waiting table is rotated so that the outdoor unit 1B is at the lowest position and the operation order of the other outdoor units 1D and 1C is raised by one, and the constant capacity compressor (B ) Is moved to the third stop order in the stop wait table. At this time, there are four fixed capacity compressors on standby at the operation waiting table,
There are three fixed capacity compressors in operation at the stop waiting table.

When one more constant capacity compressor is added from the state of the pattern 5 due to the increase of the load, the compressor is added in the same manner as in the operation of the third unit. Changes. Thereafter, if necessary, the operation of the constant capacity compressor is added in the order of the outdoor units 1C, 1B, and 1D, and up to seven units are operated. At this time, the order in each of the operation waiting table and the stop waiting table is expanded up to No. 7, and the number of patterns is also expanded.

Pattern 7 is obtained from pattern 6 (three fixed capacity compressors are operating in the stop wait table).
This shows a state where one unit is stopped due to a decrease in load. At this time, the constant-capacity compressor (C) having the first stop order in the stop waiting table returns to the position of the outdoor unit 1C in the operation waiting table. In addition, in one operation of the multi-type air conditioner (from the start to the end of operation), the operation wait table indicates that the outdoor units 1C, 1A, 1B, 1
The priority of D changes cyclically, but does not change back and forth.

By rotating the outdoor unit as described above, it is possible to realize a multi-type air conditioner capable of equalizing the operation time of the outdoor unit. However, the operation of the variable capacity compressor in the outdoor unit 1A is not considered.

Next, the compressor rotation means (24)
A, 24B, 24C, 24D) by the outdoor unit
Compressor rotation means 2 in 1B control device 20B
4B will be described as an example. Now, as shown in FIG. 6, it is assumed that the integrated operation times of the two fixed capacity compressors 11B-1 and 11B-2 mounted on the outdoor unit 1B are 6 hours and 8 hours.

The compressor rotation means 24B is provided as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the apparatus has an operation waiting table indicating the operation order of the fixed capacity compressor to be operated and a stop waiting table indicating the stop order of the operating fixed capacity compressor. The numbers 1 and 2 in these tables indicate the machine numbers assigned to the fixed capacity compressors. Patterns 1 to 5 shown in the vertical direction of the table represent states that change from the state of the end of the previous operation of the multi-type air conditioner in accordance with the increase or decrease of the load on the indoor unit in the next operation.

Pattern 1 shows the contents of the operation waiting table at the time when the previous operation of the multi-type air conditioner has been completed. At the end point, the accumulated operation time of each fixed capacity compressor is 6 hours for the compressor 1 and 8 hours for the compressor 2 as shown in FIG. Here, compressor rotation means 24B
Changes the operation order of the compressors into the order 1 and 2 in ascending order of the operation integration time as in pattern 2. Thereafter, when the operation of one compressor is instructed by the controller (20A), the compressor 1 having a higher priority is operated, the operation waiting table is rotated, and the compressor 2 is operated as shown in the pattern 3. The operation order is raised, and the operated compressor 1 is moved to the first stop order in the stop wait table. Then, if there is an additional operation command of the fixed capacity compressor to the outdoor unit 1B, the compressor 2 in the operation waiting table of the pattern 3 is operated, and the compressor 2 operated as shown in the pattern 4 is stopped. Move to the stop order number 2 in the waiting table.

Conversely, if there is an instruction to decrease the load of the fixed capacity compressor to the outdoor unit 1B due to the decrease in load in the state of the pattern 3, the compressor rotation means 24B causes the outdoor unit 1B to stop at the first stop order in the stop wait table. The compressor 1 is moved to the second operation order in the operation waiting table as in the operation pattern 5.

As described above, by rotating the fixed capacity compressor, it is possible to realize a multi-type air conditioner in which the operation time of the fixed capacity compressor can be made uniform. Thus, as desired by the user, it is possible to provide a multi-type air conditioner that realizes an operation that does not shorten the life of a specific outdoor unit and a compressor by offsetting the operation time of the fixed capacity compressor.

In this embodiment, since the outdoor unit 1A has only one fixed capacity compressor, the compressor rotation means 24A always selects one fixed capacity compressor. But the outdoor unit 1
When A has a plurality of fixed capacity compressors, it operates similarly to the compressor rotation means 24B. The number of fixed capacity compressors mounted on each outdoor unit may be increased as appropriate.

When the operation time of the indoor unit and the fixed-capacity compressor is integrated by a microcomputer or the like, as a method of managing the integration time, when the total operation integration time reaches a predetermined time, the minimum operation integration is performed. By subtracting the time from each integration time, the value of the operation integration time becomes smaller. This makes it possible to minimize the memory required for managing the accumulated operation time.

[0029]

According to the present invention, a multi-type air conditioner in which one outdoor unit is equipped with a variable capacity compressor and a fixed capacity compressor and each other outdoor unit is equipped with a plurality of fixed capacity compressors. When at least one constant-capacity compressor is operated in the outdoor unit, the operation time of the at least one constant-capacity compressor is defined as the outdoor unit operating time. And
The remaining constant capacity compressors are operated in the same outdoor unit order as described above in accordance with a further increase in load, and the fixed capacity compressors of each outdoor unit are rotated so as to start operation in ascending order of operation integration time. Therefore, there is an effect that the operation time of each outdoor unit and the operation time of each fixed capacity compressor can be made uniform.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a multi-type air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a main controller in the multi-type air conditioner of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of another controller in the multi-type air conditioner of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an integrated operation time of each outdoor unit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of rotation of an outdoor unit.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an integrated operation time of a fixed capacity compressor.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of rotation of a fixed capacity compressor.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1A to 1D Outdoor unit 4 Refrigerant piping 5 Indoor unit 6 Remote control switch 10A Variable capacity compressor 11A to 11D Constant capacity compressor 20A to 20D Controller 30, 31 Communication line

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Satoru Yoshida 390 Muramatsu, Shimizu-shi, Shizuoka Prefecture Inside Hitachi Air Conditioning Systems Shimizu Production Headquarters (72) Inventor Yasuyuki Igarashi 390 Muramatsu, Shimizu-shi Shizuoka Prefecture Hitachi Shimizu Engineering Co., Ltd. 72) Inventor Yasuo Shiozaka 390 Muramatsu, Shimizu-shi, Shizuoka Pref. Hitachi Shimizu Engineering Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takeshi Kubota 390 Muramatsu, Shimizu-shi Shizuoka Pref. Hitachi Shimizu Engineering Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 3L060 AA01 CC08 DD01 DD02 EE01 3L092 FA10 GA04 JA05 JA11 KA15 KA16

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A group in which a plurality of outdoor units are connected in parallel and a group in which a plurality of indoor units are connected in parallel are connected via a refrigerant piping system, and one of the plurality of outdoor units has variable capacity. Equipped with a fixed capacity compressor and a fixed capacity compressor, the other outdoor units are equipped with a plurality of fixed capacity compressors, and the number of operating fixed capacity compressors is increased or decreased according to the increase or decrease of the load on the indoor unit. In a multi-type air conditioner controlled to increase or decrease, the outdoor unit operation time integration in which the operation time of at least one constant capacity compressor in the outdoor unit is taken as the outdoor unit operation time and the operation time of each outdoor unit is accumulated. Means for rearranging the operation order of the outdoor units after the operation of the air conditioner has been completed in ascending order of the operation time accumulated by the outdoor unit operation time accumulation means. Knit rotation means, each compressor operating time integrating means for integrating the operating time of the fixed capacity compressor for each outdoor unit, and the operating time integrated by the compressor operating time integrating means for each outdoor unit. A compressor consisting of compressor rotation means for rearranging the operation order of the fixed capacity compressor in ascending order after the operation of the air conditioner is completed, and when the load increases in the next operation of the air conditioner, the outdoor unit The rotation means cyclically instructs the operation of the outdoor unit in the operation order rearranged by the outdoor unit rotation means, and the compressor rotation means relating to the instructed outdoor unit is the operation rearranged by the compressor rotation means. Operating one of the constant capacity compressors in order of priority. Form the air conditioner. 2. The multi-type air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the compressor rotation means stops the constant-capacity compressor in operation in the order of starting operation. 3. The outdoor unit in which the outdoor unit operating time integrating means and the outdoor unit rotation means are provided in an outdoor unit equipped with the variable capacity compressor and the fixed capacity compressor. 2. The multi-type air conditioner according to item 1. 4. The multi-type air conditioner according to claim 3, wherein said compressor operating time integrating means and said compressor rotation means are provided in each of said outdoor units.