[0001] An air conditioner and a method for controlling an air conditioner are disclosed
herein.
[0002] An air conditioner is a device designed to alter properties of air in a specific
space to conditions suitable for a specific purpose. Generally, the air conditioner
includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator. The specific
space may be cooled or heated during a refrigeration cycle in which a refrigerant
is compressed, condensed, expanded, and evaporated.
[0003] The specific space may be a place in which the air conditioner is installed. For
example, if the air conditioner is installed at a home or office, the specific space
may be an interior space of a house or a building. As another example, if the air
conditioner is installed in a vehicle, the specific space may be an occupant compartment
in which a person sits.
[0004] If the air conditioner performs a cooling operation, an outdoor heat exchanger provided
in an outdoor unit or device performs functions of a condenser, and an indoor heat
exchanger provided in an indoor unit or device performs functions of an evaporator.
Alternatively, if the air conditioner performs a heating operation, the indoor heat
exchanger performs functions of a condenser and the outdoor heat exchanger performs
functions of an evaporator.
[0005] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an outdoor unit or device of an air conditioner
according to related art. Referring to FIG. 1, the air conditioner includes an outdoor
unit or device 1, in which a compressor and a heat exchanger are provided, a plurality
of distribution units or devices (not shown) connected to the outdoor device 1, and
a plurality of indoor units or devices (not shown) which are connected to the plurality
of distribution devices, respectively, and in which an indoor heat exchanger is provided.
[0006] For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the outdoor device 1 includes an air outlet
2 provided on a top surface of the outdoor device 1, an air inlet 3 provided on a
side surface of the outdoor device 1, and a case 4 that defines an outer appearance
of the outdoor device 1. The outdoor device 1 may further include a compressor (not
shown), a heat exchanger (not shown), a fan (not shown), and a refrigerant pipe (not
shown). Outdoor air flows into the outdoor device 1 through the air inlet 3, is heat-exchanged
in the heat exchanger, and then is discharged to the outside through the air outlet
2.
[0007] However, when the outdoor air is at a low temperature and the related art air conditioner
performs a cooling operation, high pressure and low pressure during a refrigeration
cycle are excessively lowered, so that a load of the compressor may be excessive.
As a result, an operation efficiency of a system may be degraded.
[0008] That is, the refrigerant is excessively heat-exchanged with outdoor air at a low
temperature, leading to an excessive amount of heat exchange. As a result, a condensing
temperature is reduced, and therefore, a condensing rate may increase excessively.
[0009] Due to the excessively increased condensation rate, an evaporation pressure and evaporation
temperature may also be reduced, and thus, the indoor heat exchanger which performs
functions of an evaporator may be frozen. As a result, it is hard to perform a continuous
operation.
[0010] It is an object of the invention to provide an improved air conditioner and method
for controlling an air conditioner. This object is achieved with the subject matter
of the independent claims. The dependent claims relate to further aspects of the invention.
[0011] To solve this problem, a method of forcibly increasing an evaporation pressure in
an indoor heat exchanger has been proposed. However, in a case of forcibly increasing
the evaporation pressure, a pressure ratio may be reduced, so that a cooling efficiency
and product reliability may be degraded.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] Embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings
in which like reference numerals refer to like elements, and wherein:
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an outdoor device of an air conditioner according
to a related art;
FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of an outdoor unit or device of an air conditioner
according to an embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the outdoor device of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken along line A-A' in FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view, taken along line B-B' in FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating airflow in the outdoor device when an air
conditioner according to an embodiment operates in a normal mode;
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating airflow in an outdoor device when an air
conditioner according to an embodiment operates in a heating mode;
FIG. 8 is a flow chart of a method for controlling an outdoor device of an air conditioner
according to an embodiment; and
FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating airflow in an outdoor device when an air
conditioner according to another embodiment operates.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0013] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated
in the accompanying drawings. Where possible, the same or like reference numerals
have been used to indicate the same or like elements, and repetitive disclosure has
been omitted.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of an outdoor unit or device of an air conditioner
according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the outdoor device
of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view, taken along line IV-IV' of FIG. 2. FIG.
5 is a cross-sectional view, taken alone line V-V' of FIG. 2.
[0015] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, an outdoor unit or device 20 of an air conditioner 10
according to an embodiment may include at least one of a compressor 12, a heat exchanger
13, a pipe (not shown), a fan 15, an air outlet 16, an air inlet 17, a hood 100, and
a skirt 200, or may include all of the aforementioned components. The compressor 12
may compress a flowing refrigerant and cause the refrigerant to flow along the pipe.
[0016] The heat exchanger 13 may perform heat exchange between air flowing into the outdoor
device 20 and the refrigerant. The heat exchanger 13 may perform functions of a condenser
during a cooling operation of the air conditioner 10, while performing functions of
an evaporator during a heating operation of the air conditioner 10.
[0017] The heat exchanger 13 may be provided inside of the outdoor device 20 and face the
air inlet 17, which will be described hereinafter. Depending on a heat exchange capacity,
the heat exchanger 13 may be provided in multiple rows. When viewed from a top, the
heat exchanger 13 may be I-shaped, L-shaped, or U-shaped, for example.
[0018] The pipe may guide the flow of the refrigerant, and the fan 15 may cause circulation
of the air which passes through the outdoor device 20. The fan 15 may be provided
in an upper portion of the outdoor device 20. In addition, the fan 15 may cause the
air contained inside of the outdoor device 20 to flow toward an upper portion of the
outdoor device 20.
[0019] The air inlet 17 may be provided on at least one of a side surface or a rear surface
of the outdoor device 20 so as to face the heat exchanger 13, and the air outlet 16
may be provided on a top surface of the outdoor device 20 so as to face the fan 15.
Accordingly, outdoor air may flow into the outdoor device 20 through the air inlet
17 provided on the side surface or the rear surface of the outdoor device 20.
[0020] Although this embodiment shows that the air inlet 17 provided on at least one of
the side surface or the rear surface of the outdoor device 20 and the air outlet 16
provided on the top surface of the outdoor device 20, embodiments are not limited
thereto. That is, depending on a capacity and shape of the outdoor device 20, the
air inlet 17 and the air outlet 16 may be provided at any position on an outer surface
of the outdoor device 20.
[0021] The hood 100 may be provided on the top surface of the outdoor device 20, and may
be connected to the air outlet 16 through an opening formed on a bottom surface of
the hood 100. The hood 100 may include a housing having a guide surface that guides
an airflow, a vent 110, which may be formed on an open front surface of the housing
and through which the air may be discharged, and circulation guides 120 and 121 formed
on at least one of the rear surface or the side surface of the outdoor device 20.
[0022] The vent 110 may discharge air contained inside of the hood 100 to the outside, and
air flowing into the air inlet 17 may pass through the hood 100 to be discharged to
the vent 110. In addition, the hood 100 may include first dampers 310, which may selectively
shield the vent 110. The first dampers 310 may adjust an amount of air flowing from
the hood 100, and a degree of opening of the first dampers 310 may increase or decrease
depending on the amount of air flowing from the hood 100.
[0023] The circulation guides 120 and 121 may selectively discharge air contained inside
of the hood 100 to the skirt 200, which will be described hereinafter. Air flowing
from the air inlet 16 passes through the hood 100 to be discharged to the circulation
guides 120 and 121.
[0024] In addition, the hood 100 may include second dampers 320 to selectively shield the
circulation guides 120 and 121. The second dampers 320 may adjust the amount of air
circulating in the outdoor device 20, and a degree of opening of the second dampers
320 may increase or decrease depending on the amount of air circulating in the outdoor
device 20.
[0025] The skirt 200 may be provided on at least one of the side surface or the rear surface
of the outdoor device 20, and face the air inlet 17 and the circulation guides 120
and 121. The skirt 200 may be connected to the air inlet 17 and the circulation guides
120 and 121 through an opening formed on one side of the outdoor device 20.
[0026] The skirt 200 may include a housing having a guide surface that guides an airflow,
and air intakes 211 and 212, which may be formed on an open bottom surface of the
housing and through which air may be suctioned.
[0027] The air intakes 211 and 212 may suction outdoor air into the skirt 200, and the air
flowing into the skirt 200 may pass the skirt 200 to be discharged to the air inlet
17. The skirt 200 may include third dampers 330 that selectively shields the air intakes
211 and 212.
[0028] The third dampers 330 may adjust the amount of air flowing into the skirt 200, and
a degree of opening of the third dampers 330 may increase or decrease depending on
the amount of air flowing into the skirt 200. In addition, even air flowing into the
skirt 200 through the circulation guides 120 and 121 may flow into the outdoor device
20 through the air inlet 17. Accordingly, air contained inside of the skirt 200 may
flow into the outdoor device 20 through the air inlet 17, and air contained inside
the outdoor device 20 may flow into the hood 100 through the air outlet 16. Then,
circulation passage P3 may be formed through which air contained inside of the hood
100 may flow into the skirt 200 again through the circulation guides 120 and 121.
[0029] The skirt 200 may include at least one of a rear skirt 201 provided on the rear surface
of the outdoor device 20 and a side skirt 202 provided on the side surface of the
outdoor device 20. The rear skirt 201 and the side skirt 202 may be provided at different
positions, but may have a same function, and thus, the rear skirt 201 and the side
skirt 202 may be considered to include the same components.
[0030] In addition, although this embodiment shows that skirts are provided on the rear
surface and the side surface of the outdoor device 20, embodiments are not limited
thereto. That is, the skirts may be provided on any surface on which the air inlet
17 of the outdoor device 20 and the circulation guides 120 and 121 are provided.
[0031] In addition, at least one of the hood 100 or the skirt 200 may be detachable from
the outdoor device 20. For example, the outdoor device 20 may further include fixing
members to allow the hood 100 and the skirt 200 to be installed and detached from
the outdoor device 20, and the fixing members may be between the hood 100 and the
outdoor device 20 and between the skirt 200 and the side surface of the outdoor device
20.
[0032] In addition, the skirt 200 may be referred to as "a first guide", the hood 100 may
be referred to as "a second guide", and the circulation guides and the second dampers
may be referred to as "third guides."
[0033] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating airflow in the outdoor device when an
air conditioner according to an embodiment operates in a normal mode. FIG. 7 is a
schematic diagram illustrating airflow in the outdoor device when an air conditioner
according to an embodiment operates in a heating mode.
[0034] With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, when the an air conditioner according to an embodiment
operates in a normal mode, the vent 110 of the hood 100 and the air intakes 211 and
212 of the skirt 200 may be open whereas the circulation guides 120 and 121 may be
closed. That is, a degree of opening of the first dampers 310 provided in the vent
110 and a degree of opening of the third dampers 330 provided in the air intakes 211
and 212 may be maximized and/or open, whereas a degree of opening of the second dampers
320 provided in the circulation guides 120 and 121 may be minimized and/or closed.
[0035] Accordingly, outdoor air may flow into the skirt 200 through the air intakes 211
and 212 which are open. Then, the air contained inside of the skirt 200 may flow into
the outdoor device 20 through the air inlet 17. Then, when passing through the heat
exchanger 13, the air may be heat-exchanged with a refrigerant contained inside of
the heat exchanger 13, i.e. ,passage P1.
[0036] After passing through the heat exchanger 13, the air may be discharged to the hood
100 through the air outlet 16 provided on the top surface of the outdoor device 20
and then discharged to the outside , i.e., passage P2. At this point, the circulation
guides 120 and 121 may be closed, so the air having passed through the heat exchanger
13 may be unable to move into the skirt 200. That is, the above circulation passage,
i.e., passage P3, may be closed. Therefore, air in the passage P1 may flow along the
passage P2.
[0037] However, a degree of opening of the second dampers 220 may increase in multiple stages.
That is, the second damper 320 may be closed in multiple stages at a low condensing
pressure of a system. Alternatively, the second damper 320 may be open in multiple
stages at a high condensing pressure of a system.
[0038] When an air conditioner according to an embodiment operates in a heating mode, the
vent 110 of the hood 100 and the air intakes 211 and 212 of the skirt 200 may be closed
whereas the circulation guides 120 and 121 may be open. That is, a degree of opening
of the first and third dampers 310 and 330 may be minimized and/or closed, whereas
a degree of opening of the second dampers 320 may be maximized and/or open.
[0039] As the first and third dampers 310 and 330 are closed, outdoor air may not flow into
the skirt 200 and air contained inside of the hood 100 may not leak to the outside.
That is, the passage P1 and the passage P2 are closed. However, as the second dampers
320 are open, the circulation passage, i.e., the passage P3, is open.
[0040] Accordingly, air contained inside of the outdoor device 20 after passing through
the fan 15 may be discharged to the hood 100 through the air outlet 16, i.e., the
first circulation passage. Then, the air discharged to the hood 100 may pass through
the circulation guides 120 and 121 to be discharged to the skirt 200, i.e., the second
circulation passage. Then, the air discharged to the skirt 200 may pass through the
air inlet 17 to flow into the outdoor device 20, i.e., the third circulation passage.
[0041] The air flowing into the skirt 200 through the circulation guides 120 and 121 has
already passed through the heat exchanger 13 and absorbed heat of the refrigerant
flowing in the heat exchanger 13. Therefore, the air may be heated in proportion to
a number of times the air passes through the heat exchanger 13 along the first to
third circulation passages. In addition, a temperature of the air may increase in
proportion to a duration of a heating mode.
[0042] As the outdoor device 20 is able to increase a temperature of the air which passes
through the heat exchanger 13, a condensing temperature and a condensing pressure
of the refrigerant may increase, so that a condensing rate may be limited.
[0043] FIG. 8 is a flow chart of a method for controlling an outdoor device of an air conditioner
according to an embodiment. Referring to FIG. 8, upon starting an operation, an air
conditioner according to an embodiment may drive a compressor, such as compressor
12 discussed above, to circulate a refrigerant in step or operation S1.
[0044] Then, the air conditioner may be driven in a normal mode in step or operation S2.
That is, a degree of opening of first and third dampers, such as first and third dampers
310 and 320 discussed above, may be set to be maximized and/or open, whereas a degree
of opening of second dampers, such as second dampers 320 discussed above, may be set
to be minimized and/or closed. Accordingly, the passage P1 and the passage P2 may
be open, and the passage P3 may be closed.
[0045] Then, the air conditioner may operate for longer than a first preset or predetermined
time in step or operation S3. The refrigerant may not be circulated in a normal cycle
immediately after the air conditioner starts to operate. That is, the cycle may be
stabilized only when the air conditioner operates for longer than a specific time.
Thus, the air conditioner may operate for the first predetermined time to wait until
the cycle becomes stabilized. For example, the first predetermined time may be between
about two minutes and about five minutes.
[0046] After the first predetermined time has lapsed, an outdoor temperature and a high
operating pressure may be detected in step or operation S4. Then, whether the outdoor
temperature of the air conditioner is lower than a first predetermined temperature
or whether the high operating pressure is lower than a first predetermined pressure
may be determined in step or operation S5.
[0047] The first predetermined temperature may indicate a state in which the outdoor temperature
is low. For example, the first predetermined temperature may be about -10°.
[0048] If it is determined in step or operation in step or operation S5 that the outdoor
temperature is higher than the first predetermined temperature or that the high operating
pressure is higher than the first predetermined pressure, step or operation S3 may
be performed again. That is, the air conditioner may operate for the first predetermined
time again in step or operation S3. Then, the outdoor temperature and the high operating
pressure may be detected in step or operation S4. Then, a determination as to the
outdoor temperature and the high operating pressure may be made again in step or operation
S5. At this point, the first predetermined time of S3 may be a cycle not for securing
stabilization of the system, but rather, for recursively determining whether the system
is stable.
[0049] If it is determined in step or operation S5 that the outdoor temperature is lower
than the first predetermined temperature or that the high operating pressure is lower
than the first predetermined pressure, a degree of opening of the first and third
dampers may be reduced in step or operation S6.
[0050] As a degree of opening of the first and third dampers is reduced, an amount of air
to flow into a skirt, such as skirt 200 discussed above, and an amount of air to be
discharged from a hood, such as hood 100 discussed above, may be reduced. As the amount
of air to pass through a heat exchanger, such as heat exchanger 13 discussed above
is reduced, a heat exchange rate of the heat exchanger may be reduced. As a result,
a condensing rate may be limited.
[0051] Then, the air conditioner may operate for a second preset or predetermined time in
step or operation S7. The second predetermined time may be time which is required
until a cycle of the air conditioner is changed as the degree of opening of the first
and third dampers is changed.
[0052] After the second predetermined time has lapsed, whether the high operating pressure
is higher than the first predetermined pressure may be determined in step or operation
S8. If it is determined in step or operation S8 that the high operating pressure is
higher than the first predetermined pressure, the air conditioner may return to a
normal mode in step or operation S9. As the operating pressure has already reached
a preset or predetermined target range, the air conditioner may return to the normal
mode by increasing a degree of opening of the first and third dampers. Once the air
conditioner returns to the normal mode, step or operation S2 or S10 may be performed
again.
[0053] Alternatively, if it is determined in step or operation S8 that the high operating
pressure is lower than the first predetermined pressure, whether the first and third
dampers are closed may be determined in step or operation S10. If it is not determined
in step or operation S10 that the first and third dampers are closed, step or operation
S6 may be performed again. That is, a degree of opening of the first and third dampers
may be further reduced in step or operation S6, the air conditioner may operate for
the second predetermined time in step or operation S7, and a determination as to the
high operating pressure may be made again in step or operation S8. As a degree of
opening of the first and third dampers is further reduced, the amount of air passing
through the outdoor device 20 may be further reduced. As a result, a condensing rate
may be further limited.
[0054] If it is determined in step or operation S10 that the first and third dampers 310
and 330 are closed, the second dampers may be opened in step or operation S11. At
this point, a degree of opening of the first and third dampers may be set to be minimized
and/or closed, so that it is not possible to increase the high operating pressure
by adjusting the degree of opening of the first and third dampers. Therefore, the
second dampers may be open so as to open the circulation passage, i.e., the passage
P3, so that air contained inside the outdoor device may circulate along the circulation
passage. The circulation passage may be a passage through which air contained in a
closed space repetitively passes through the heat exchanger, and therefore, a temperature
of the air may increase in proportion to a number of times the air passes through
the heat exchanger. As the temperature of the air heat-exchanged with the refrigerant
increases, the high operating pressure of the system may increase.
[0055] Then, with the second dampers opened, and the air conditioner may operate for a third
preset or predetermined time in step or operation S12. After the third predetermined
time has lapsed, whether the high operating pressure is higher than the second predetermined
pressure may be determined in step or operation S13. At this point, the air conditioner
may set a target operating pressure to be higher than the first predetermined pressure
and lower than the second predetermined pressure. The second predetermined pressure
may be higher than the first predetermined pressure.
[0056] If the high operating pressure is higher than the second predetermined pressure,
the second dampers may be closed in step or operation S14. Because the high operating
pressure has already exceeded the target operating pressure, it is not necessary to
further increase the temperature of the air, and thus, the circulation passage may
be closed by closing the second dampers. At this point, the first and third dampers
may already be closed.
[0057] The second dampers may be closed in step or operation S14. Then, the method may return
to step or operation S12 to wait for the third predetermined time to lapse. Then,
whether the high operating pressure is higher than the second predetermined pressure
may be determined in step or operation S13.
[0058] Alternatively, if the high operating pressure is lower than the second predetermined
pressure, step or operation S8 may be performed again. That is, whether the high operating
pressure is higher than the first predetermined pressure may be determined in step
or operation S8, and, if so, the air conditioner may return to a normal mode in step
or operation S9 and finishes the above process.
[0059] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating airflow in an outdoor unit or device when
an air conditioner according to another embodiment operates. Referring to FIG. 9,
an air conditioner according to another embodiment may operate in a same manner of
the previous embodiment, except for operations of the first to third dampers 310 and
330.
[0060] In this embodiment, the air conditioner may operate while the first, second, and
third dampers 310, 320, and 330 are open. At this point, the condensing temperature
and the condensing pressure may be adjusted by adjusting a degree of opening of the
first, second, and third dampers 310, 320, and 330 based on a target condensing temperature
and a target condensing pressure. That is, depending on a degree of opening of the
first, second, and third dampers 310, 320, and 330, the amount of air to pass through
the passage P1, the passage P2, and the passage P3 may be adjusted.
[0061] More specifically, when a condensing pressure of a system is low, it is possible
to reduce the amount of air flowing along the passage P1 and the passage P3 while
increasing the amount of air flowing along the passage P2. Alternatively, when the
condensing pressure of a system is high, it is possible to increase the amount of
air flowing along the passage P1 and the passage P3 while reducing the amount of air
flowing along the passage P2.
[0062] Depending on an airflow direction, the passage P1 may be referred to as an "intake
passage", the passage P2 may be referred to as a "discharge passage", and the passage
P3 may be referred to as a "circulation passage." In addition, the first dampers 310
provided on the passage P1 or the third dampers 330 provided on the passage P2 may
be referred to as "suctioning and discharging dampers", and the second dampers 320
provided on the passage P3 may be referred to as "circulation dampers".
[0063] According to embodiments disclosed herein, a condensing capacity may be limited to
a specific range so that a continuous operation is possible even when outdoor air
is at a low temperature. In addition, it is possible to control a refrigerant to be
condensed at a required condensing temperature, so that the air conditioner may operate
efficiently.
[0064] Further, it is possible to control a temperature of air which passes through a heat
exchanger of an outdoor device, so that a high operating pressure and a low operating
pressure of a system may be controlled. Further, it is possible to prevent a foreign
substance, such as snow or rain, from coming into the outdoor device as an outlet/inlet
of the outdoor device may be selectively closed. Also, it is possible to prevent the
outdoor device from being frozen when outdoor air is at a low temperature.
[0065] Embodiments disclosed herein provide an air conditioner which is capable of preventing
a condensing rate from excessively increasing when outdoor air is at a low temperature.
Embodiments disclosed herein also provide an air conditioner which is capable of adjusting
a temperature of air which is to be heat-exchanged in an outdoor device.
[0066] Further, embodiments disclosed herein provide an air conditioner which is capable
of increasing a temperature of air passing through the outdoor device without using
additional power. Moreover, embodiments disclosed herein provide an air conditioner
which is capable of controlling a high temperature and a low temperature of a system.
[0067] Embodiments disclosed herein may include a first guide device or guide provided on
at least one surface of an outdoor unit or device to guide outdoor air to an air inlet;
a second guide device or guide provided on one surface of the outdoor unit to guide
air discharged from an air outlet to an outside; and a third guide device or guide
that guides the air discharged from the air outlet to flow from the second guide device
to the first guide device. The third guide device may include a circulation guide
that circulates the air discharged from the air outlet to the air inlet, and a circulation
damper that adjusts an amount of air to circulate in the circulation guide. The first
guide device or the second guide device may include a housing, an opening which may
be formed on one open surface of the housing through which air may flow, and a suctioning
and discharging damper installed on or in the opening.
[0068] Circulation passages may be formed in the outdoor unit. The first guide device, the
second guide device, and the third guide device may form a circulation passage. The
circulation passages may include a first circulation passage along which air contained
inside of the outdoor unit may pass through a fan to flow into the second guide device;
a second circulation passage along which air contained in the second guide device
may pass through a circulation guide unit or guide to flow into the first guide device;
and a third circulation passage along which air contained inside the first guide device
may pass through the heat exchanger to flow into the outdoor unit.
[0069] In addition, embodiments disclosed herein may include depending on a detected high
operating pressure or an outdoor air temperature, adjusting a degree of opening of
the first guide device or the second guide device; and, in response to the high operating
pressure exceeding a predetermined range after the degree of opening of the first
guide device or the second guide device is adjusted, circulating air contained inside
the outdoor unit from the second guide device to the first guide device.
[0070] In response to the high operating pressure being higher than a first preset or predetermined
pressure or in response to the outdoor air temperature being lower than a preset or
predetermined temperature, a degree of opening of the first guide device or the second
guide device may be reduced. In response to the high operating pressure being lower
than the first preset pressure, the air contained inside the outdoor unit may be caused
to circulate from the second guide device to the first guide device.
[0071] Circulating the air contained inside the outdoor unit from the second guide device
to the first guide device may include closing a damper of the first guide device or
the second guide device. The control method further includes, in response to the high
operating pressure being higher than a second preset or predetermined pressure when
the air circulates from the second guide device to the first guide device, blocking
the air from circulating from the second guide device to the first guide device.
[0072] 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.
[0073] 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 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.
1. An air conditioner (10), comprising:
an outdoor device (20) including a compressor (12) that circulates a refrigerant,
a heat exchanger (13) that performs heat exchange between the refrigerant and air,
a fan (15) that causes the air to flow; an air inlet (17) through which the air is
suctioned into the air conditioner (10), and an air outlet (16) through which the
air heat-exchanged in the heat exchanger (13) is discharged;
a first guide provided on at least one surface of the outdoor device (20) to guide
outdoor air to the air inlet (17);
a second guide provided on at least one surface of the outdoor device to guide air
discharged from the air outlet (16) to an outside; and
a third guide that guides the air discharged from the air outlet (16) to flow from
the second guide to the first guide.
2. The air conditioner (10) according to claim 1, wherein the third guide includes a
circulation guide (120), and wherein the air discharged through the air outlet (16)
circulates to the air inlet (17) through the circulation guide (120).
3. The air conditioner (10) according to claim 2, wherein the third guide includes a
circulation damper that adjusts an amount of air to circulate in the circulation guide
(120) by adjusting a degree of opening of the circulation guide.
4. The air conditioner (10) according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first guide
or the second guide includes:
a housing having a guide surface that guides an airflow; and
an opening formed on one open surface of the housing and through which the air is
suctioned or discharged.
5. The air conditioner (10) according to claim 4, wherein the first guide or the second
guide includes a suctioning and discharging damper, which is installed on the opening
and adjusts an amount of air flow.
6. The air conditioner (10) according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein circulation passages
are formed in the outdoor device (20), the first guide, the second guide, and third
guide.
7. The air conditioner (10) according to claim 6, wherein the circulation passages include
a first circulation passage through which air contained inside of the outdoor device
(20) passes through the fan (15) to flow into the second guide.
8. The air conditioner (10) according to claim 7, wherein the circulation passages further
include a second circulation passage through which air contained inside of the second
guide passes through the third guide to flow into the first guide.
9. The air conditioner (10) according to claim 8, wherein the circulation passages further
include a third circulation passage through which air contained inside the first guide
passes through the heat exchanger (13) to flow into the outdoor device (20).
10. A method for controlling an air conditioner (10), the air conditioner (10) including
an outdoor device (20) having a compressor (12) that circulates a refrigerant, a heat
exchanger (13) that performs heat exchange between the refrigerant and air, a fan
(15) that causes the air to flow; an air inlet (17) through which the air is suctioned
into the air conditioner (10), and an air outlet (16) through which the air heat-exchanged
in the heat exchanger (13) is discharged; a first guide that suctions outdoor air
into the outdoor device (20) and a degree of opening of which is adjustable; a second
guide that discharges air contained inside the outdoor device (20) and a degree of
opening of which is adjustable, the method comprising:
driving the fan (15) so as to cause outdoor air to flow into the outdoor device (20)
through the first guide;
detecting a high operating pressure or outdoor air temperature;
depending on the detected high operating pressure or outdoor air temperature, adjusting
a degree of opening of at least one of the first guide or the second guide; and
in response to the high operating pressure exceeding a predetermined range after the
degree of opening of the first guide or the second guide is adjusted, circulating
air contained inside the outdoor device (20) from the second guide to the first guide.
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the first guide or the second
guide includes a damper that controls an amount of air flow.
12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein, in response to the high operating
pressure being higher than a first predetermined pressure an/or in response to the
outdoor air temperature being lower than a predetermined temperature, a degree of
opening of the first guide or the second guide is reduced so as to reduce an amount
of air to be suctioned into the outdoor device (20) or to be discharged from the outdoor
device (20).
13. The method according to any of claims 10 to 12, further including:
after the degree of opening of the at least one of first guide or the second guide
is adjusted, waiting for a predetermined period of time to lapse; and
after the predetermined period of time has lapsed, redetecting the high operating
pressure;
14. The method according to any of claims 10 to 13, further including:
in response to the high operating pressure being lower than the first predetermined
pressure, circulating the air contained inside the outdoor device (20) from the second
guide to the first guide.
15. The method according to any of claims 10 to 14, further including:
in response to the high operating pressure being higher than a second predetermined
pressure when the air is circulating from the second guide to the first guide, blocking
the air from circulating from the second guide to the first guide.