AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM, AND CONTROL METHOD AND PROGRAM THEREFOR

Abstract

 An object is to provide an air conditioning system refrigerant system that provides interlocked operation without limiting the number of connections of components. An air conditioning system includes: a refrigerant system component controlling unit 5x controlling refrigerant system components 4a each including an outdoor unit 3a and at least one indoor unit 2a connected to each other; a first communication unit 6x providing a connection between the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5x and each refrigerant system component 4a; a central control unit 7 provided in a higher class than the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5x; and a second communication unit 8 providing a connection between the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5x and the central control unit 7. The central control unit 7 regards the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5 connected to the central control unit 7 through the second communication unit 8 as a group 11 controllable by the central control unit 7, regardless of the number of connections of the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5x to the downstream refrigerant system components 4a and 4b, and sends a control instruction to the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5 through the second communication unit 8 to control the refrigerant system components 4 belonging to the group 11.

Description

{Technical Field}

[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioning system, and a control method and a program therefor.

{Background Art}

[0002] In an environment with a plurality of connected air conditioning systems for facilities of, for example, factories, interlocking control of the air conditioning systems cannot be achieved unless they are combined through an external sequencer. However, the interlocking control of the air conditioning systems through an external sequencer requires much additional costs and the specifications of the sequencer is under control of a company in charge of the maintenance of the air conditioning systems. A request must be therefore sent to the maintenance company to change the sequencer settings, which is a reason for the difficulty in changing the sequencer settings. For this reason, a method has been proposed of achieving the interlocking control of air conditioning systems for facilities without the use of a sequencer.

[0003] PTL 1 discloses a chiller warehouse in which a controller for chillers and a controller for coolers are connected to a bus through a transmitter provided at a central control unit in order to achieve information communication between a plurality of coolers and allow the central control unit to send instructions to the chillers and coolers, thereby reducing the amount of frost formation.

{Citation List}

{Patent Literature}

[0004] {PTL 1}
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication No. 9-229523

{Summary of Invention}

{Technical Problem}

[0005] However, in the method in PTL 1, which includes a limitation on the number of terminals connectable to the transmitter, if the number of coolers and chillers or the number of central control units that send instructions to the coolers and chillers increases, the interlocking control of the coolers and chillers cannot be achieved.

[0006] It is an object of the present invention, which has been made in this background, to provide an air conditioning system that provides interlocked operation without limiting the number of connections of refrigerant system components, and a control method and a program therefor. {Solution to Problem}

[0007] The first aspect of the present invention is an air conditioning system including: a refrigerant system component control means that controls refrigerant system components each including an outdoor unit and at least one indoor unit connected to each other; a first communication means that provides a connection between the refrigerant system component control means and each refrigerant system component and, when the refrigerant system component control means includes a plurality of refrigerant system component control means, provides a connection between the plurality of refrigerant system component control means; a central control means that is provided in a higher class than the refrigerant system component control means; and a second communication means that is different from the first communication means and provides a connection between one of the plurality of refrigerant system component control means and the central control means, wherein the central control means regards the refrigerant system component control means connected to the central control means through the second communication means as a group controllable by the central control means, regardless of the number of connections of the refrigerant system component control means to the downstream refrigerant system components, and sends a control instruction to the refrigerant system component control means through the second communication means to control the refrigerant system components belonging to the group.

[0008] According to the first aspect of the present invention, the refrigerant system component control means is connected to objects to be controlled by the refrigerant system component control means, i.e., the refrigerant system components through the first communication means, and is connected to the central control means, which is in a higher class than the refrigerant system component control means, through the second communication means. The central control means regards the refrigerant system component control means, which is connected to the central control means through the second communication means, as a group that can be controlled by the central control means, regardless of the number of connections of refrigerant system components to the refrigerant system component control means through the first communication means, and sends control instructions to the refrigerant system component control means through the second communication means, thereby controlling the refrigerant system components that belong to the group.

[0009] The refrigerant system component control means is connected to downstream control objects through the first communication means, and is connected to the higher-class central control means through the second communication means. Thus, the refrigerant system component control means is connected to a plurality of communication means, thereby separating communication areas. Since the refrigerant system component control means separates communication areas, the central control means is independent of the number of connections of downstream refrigerant system components to the refrigerant system component control means.

[0010] The central control means regards the downstream refrigerant system component control means as a group and one control object, so that the connection between the central control means and the refrigerant system component control means is independent of a limit on the number of second communication means.

[0011] Further, the number of connections of refrigerant system components to the refrigerant system component control means has no impact on the connection (communication) between the central control means and the refrigerant system component control means, thereby providing such expandability that the refrigerant system component control means can be connected to any number of downstream refrigerant system components as long as the performance of the refrigerant system component control means can be maximized.

[0012] In this air conditioning system, when the indoor unit includes a plurality of indoor units, the refrigerant system components for the plurality of indoor units in the same installation environment may be connected in the downstream of the same refrigerant system component control means.

[0013] According to the first aspect of the present invention, the refrigerant system components in the same installation environment can be easily controlled by the common refrigerant system component control means. The same installation environment refers to the same space to install the indoor units, for example, the same room, the same factory, or the same warehouse.

[0014] In this air conditioning system, the plurality of indoor units may be connected in parallel via a common duct to form an air handling unit, and the refrigerant system component control means for the air handling unit may be provided.

[0015] According to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of indoor units is connected in parallel via a common duct to form an air handling unit and a refrigerant system component control means is provided to facilitate the control of the air handling unit.

[0016] The air handling unit in this air conditioning system may be connected to an indoor unit of another refrigerant system component through the second communication means.

[0017] According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the air handling unit is classified by the refrigerant system component control means and regarded as one object to be controlled, the air handling unit and the other indoor unit which is out of control by the refrigerant system component control means can coexist. The other indoor unit out of control by the refrigerant system component control means refers to, for example, a multi-type air conditioning unit for buildings.

[0018] The refrigerant system component control means in this air conditioning system may perform synchronous control or distributed control on the plurality of indoor units during a defrosting operation, an oil tempering operation, and/or an oil equalizing operation.

[0019] According to the first aspect of the present invention, the refrigerant system component control means easily conducts synchronous control or distributed control on the plurality of indoor units of the same air handling unit.

[0020] In this air conditioning system, when the plurality of refrigerant system component control means is provided, the refrigerant system component control means may be connected to each other through the first communication means, and the parent refrigerant system component control means of the plurality of refrigerant system component control means may control the child refrigerant system component control means.

[0021] According to the first aspect of the present invention, even when a plurality of refrigerant system component control means is provided, they are connected to each other through the first communication means and have parent and child functions, allowing for a clear-cut division of control instruction systems among the refrigerant system component control means.

[0022] The second aspect of the present invention is a control method for an air conditioning system including: a refrigerant system component control means that controls refrigerant system components each including an outdoor unit and at least one indoor unit connected to each other; a first communication means that provides a connection between the refrigerant system component control means and each refrigerant system component and, when the refrigerant system component control means includes a plurality of refrigerant system component control means, provides a connection between the plurality of refrigerant system component control means; a central control means that is provided in a higher class than the refrigerant system component control means; and a second communication means that is different from the first communication means and provides a connection between one of the plurality of refrigerant system component control means and the central control means, wherein the refrigerant system component control means connected to the central control means through the second communication means is regarded as a group controllable by the central control means, regardless of the number of connections of the refrigerant system component control means to the downstream refrigerant system components, and a control instruction is sent to the refrigerant system component control means through the second communication means to control the refrigerant system components belonging to the group.

[0023] The third aspect of the present invention is a control program for an air conditioning system including: a refrigerant system component control means that controls refrigerant system components each including an outdoor unit and at least one indoor unit connected to each other; a first communication means that provides a connection between the refrigerant system component control means and each refrigerant system component and, when the refrigerant system component control means includes a plurality of refrigerant system component control means, provides a connection between the plurality of refrigerant system component control means; a central control means that is provided in a higher class than the refrigerant system component control means; and a second communication means that is different from the first communication means and provides a connection between one of the plurality of refrigerant system component control means and the central control means, wherein the control program causes a computer to execute a process in which the refrigerant system component control means connected to the central control means through the second communication means is regarded as a group controllable by the central control means, regardless of the number of connections of the refrigerant system component control means to the downstream refrigerant system components, and a control instruction is sent to the refrigerant system component control means through the second communication means to control the refrigerant system components belonging to the group.

{Advantageous Effects of Invention}

[0024]  An advantage of the present invention is to provide interlocked operation without limiting the number of connections of refrigerant system components.

{Brief Description of Drawings}

[0025] 

{Fig. 1} FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an air conditioning system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

{FIG. 2} FIG. 2 is an oblique view of an indoor unit in the air conditioning system.

{FIG. 3} FIG. 3 is an oblique view of an outdoor unit in the air conditioning system.

{FIG. 4} FIG. 4 shows an example structure of the air conditioning system according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

{FIG. 5} FIG. 5 shows an example structure of an air conditioning system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

{FIG. 6} FIG. 6 shows an example structure of an air conditioning system according to a modification of the second embodiment of the present invention.

{FIG. 7} FIG. 7 shows an example structure of an air conditioning system according to a modification of the second embodiment of the present invention.

{Description of Embodiments}

[0026] An air conditioning system, and a control method and a program therefor according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

{First Embodiment}

[0027] FIG. 1 is an example structural diagram of an air conditioning system 1 according to the first embodiment. In the following description, the air conditioning system 1 according to this embodiment is, for example, a facility air conditioner that is intended for use in factories and sends conditioned air to objects other than humans.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioning system 1 includes air-conditioning units (hereinafter referred to as "air-conditioning units") 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d, refrigerant system component controlling units (refrigerant system component control means) 5x and 5y, and a central control unit (central control means) 7. The central control unit 7 of the air conditioning system 1 is connected to one refrigerant system component controlling unit as an example in this embodiment, although the number of refrigerant system component controlling units connected to the central control unit 7 should not be limited thereto and may be two or more.

[0029] In this embodiment, the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5y, which is disconnected from the central control unit 7, is connected to the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5x, which is connected to the central control unit 7.

[0030] In the following description, the air-conditioning units 10a, 10b, 10c, and 10d are denoted by reference numerals followed by a to d, respectively, when they are distinguished from each other and are denoted as air-conditioning units 10 without a to d when they are not distinguished from each other. Similarly, other components will be denoted without a to d when they are not distinguished from each other.

[0031] Each air-conditioning unit 10 includes an indoor unit 2 and an outdoor unit 3. In FIG. 1, only the air-conditioning unit 10a includes a remote control device (hereinafter referred to as "remote control") R, although the other air-conditioning units 10b to 10d may or may not include a remote control. The indoor unit 2 includes an indoor substrate 20 and the outdoor unit 3 includes an outdoor substrate 30. The indoor unit 2 and the outdoor unit 3 are connected to each other by refrigerant piping, forming a refrigerant system component 4. Here, FIG. 2 is an external oblique view of the indoor unit 2 according to this embodiment, and FIG. 3 is an external oblique view of the outdoor unit 3 according to this embodiment.

[0032] Each refrigerant system component controlling unit 5 is provided to any one of the air-conditioning units 10 serving as the refrigerant system components 4 to be controlled. In this embodiment, the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5x controls the refrigerant system components 4a and 4b and is provided to the air-conditioning unit 10a. The refrigerant system component controlling unit 5y controls the refrigerant system components 4c and 4d and is provided to the air-conditioning unit 10c.

[0033] In addition, the refrigerant system component controlling units 5 classify the objects to be controlled, i.e., the refrigerant system components 4 into sub-groups. In this embodiment, the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5x classifies the air-conditioning units 10a and 10b, which are the objects to be controlled by the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5x, into a sub-group 12A, and the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5y classifies the air-conditioning units 10c and 10d, which are the objects to be controlled by the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5y, into a sub-group 12B.

[0034] The refrigerant system component controlling unit 5x is connected to the air-conditioning unit 10a and the air-conditioning unit 10b, the indoor unit 2a is connected to the outdoor unit 3a, and the indoor unit 2b is connected to the outdoor unit 3b through the first communication unit (the first communication means) 6x, allowing for information communication therebetween.

[0035] The refrigerant system component controlling unit 5y is connected to the air-conditioning unit 10c and the air-conditioning unit 10d, the indoor unit 2c is connected to the outdoor unit 3c, and the indoor unit 2d is connected to the outdoor unit 3d through the first communication unit 6y, allowing for information communication therebetween.

[0036] The refrigerant system component controlling units 5x and 5y are connected to each other through the first communication unit 6z.

[0037] The refrigerant system component controlling unit 5x is also connected to the higher-class central control unit 7 through the second communication unit (second communication means) 8 which is different from the first communication units 6 for information communication. Hence, the refrigerant system component controlling units 5 are connected to higher-class units and lower-class units through different communication means in order to separate the communication areas.

[0038] Here, the number of substrates in the indoor unit 2 and the outdoor unit 3 in the air-conditioning unit 10a is different from that in the other air-conditioning units 10b, 10c, and 10d. This is because this number is set in accordance with the power of each air-conditioning unit 10 (for example, the air-conditioning unit 10a produces 20 horsepower, and the air-conditioning units 10b to 10d produce 10 horsepower), with no limitation on the present invention.

[0039] Each indoor substrate 20 includes indoor communication address setting by which the corresponding refrigerant system component controlling unit 5 and outdoor unit 3 identify the indoor unit 2, and outdoor communication address setting for identification of the corresponding outdoor unit 3.

[0040] The outdoor substrate 30 includes outdoor communication address setting for identification of the outdoor unit 3.

[0041] Each refrigerant system component controlling unit 5 includes an overall control parent substrate 51 and a seven-segment substrate 52.

[0042] Each overall control parent substrate 51 includes a central processing unit (CPU), a random access memory (RAM), and an I/O connector for connection to external devices, etc. which are not shown in the drawing. A series of steps for achieving functions, which will be described below, is recoded in, for example, a recording medium in the form of a program which is read out by the CPU into a RAM or the like to subject information to processing and computation, thereby achieving various functions described below.

[0043] To be specific, each overall control parent substrate 51 is in charge of the overall control of the indoor substrates 20 and the outdoor substrates 30 provided to the refrigerant system components 4 to which the overall control parent substrates 51 are connected through the first communication units 6. In the case where the first communication units 6 are connected to a plurality of overall control parent substrates 51, any one of the plurality of overall control parent substrates 51 is determined to be a representative overall control parent substrate 51'. The representative overall control parent substrate 51' may control the other overall control parent substrate 51 to provide interlocking control according to acquired control instructions (the interlocking control of controlled substrates).

[0044] For example, the representative overall control parent substrate 51' (51x) may send an acquired control instruction to the other overall control parent substrate 51y connected through the first communication units 6 without changing any information in the control instruction. Alternatively, the representative overall control parent substrate 51' (51x) may appropriately change an acquired control instruction according to its program or the like and send it to the other overall control parent substrate 51y.

[0045] In addition, the overall control parent substrate 51 is connected to the central control unit 7 through and the second communication unit 8 provided in a higher class than the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5. Since the overall control parent substrate 51 is provided and the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5 can be connected to a higher-class side and a lower-class side through different communication means, the overall control parent substrate 51 can separate the higher-class side and the lower-class side of the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5.

[0046] The seven-segment substrate 52 is a substrate included in a seven-segment display. The seven-segment substrates 52 allow the operation status to be checked without the use of an instrument.

[0047] The central control unit 7 includes, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a random access memory (RAM), and a computer-readable recording medium, which are not shown in the drawing. A series of steps for achieving various functions, which will be described below, is recoded in, for example, a recording medium in the form of a program which is read out by the CPU into a RAM or the like to subject information to processing and computation, thereby achieving various functions described below.

[0048] The central control unit 7 is in a higher class than the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5 and is connected to the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5 through the second communication unit 8 which is different from the first communication unit 6. The central control unit 7 is provided, for example, in a central monitoring room or other facilities for monitoring the air conditioning system 1.

[0049] The central control unit 7 regards the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5, which is connected to the central control unit 7 through the second communication unit 8, as a main group (group) 11 that can be controlled by the central control unit 7, regardless of the number of connections of refrigerant system components 4 in the downstream of the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5, and sends control instructions to the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5 through the second communication unit 8 and thus controls the refrigerant system components 4 that belong to the main group 11.

[0050] Although the central control unit 7 determines the formation of a main group to be controlled from the number of components connected to the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5, the central control unit 7 cannot acquire information on the refrigerant system components 4, the indoor units 2, the outdoor units 3, and other components connected in the downstream of the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5 through the second communication unit 8 (for example, the display unit in the central control unit 7 does not show any information on the components in the downstream of the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5), and therefore cannot directly access to the refrigerant system components 4, the indoor units 2, the outdoor units 3, and other components. In other words, the central control unit 7 cannot acquire any information on the sub-group basis.

[0051] In this embodiment, the central control unit 7 includes the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5x connected thereto through the second communication unit 8, regards the components in the downstream of the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5x as one main group 11, and, in order to control the main group 11, sends a control instruction to the overall control parent substrate 51x.

[0052] In addition, a control instruction to the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5 can be acquired from not only the central control unit 7 but also an external input terminal connected to the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5 or the remote control R connected to any one of the downstream indoor units 2.

[0053] The air conditioning system 1 according to this embodiment includes two refrigerant system component controlling units 5 each connected to two refrigerant system components 4, although there is no limitation on the number of refrigerant system component controlling units 5 and the number of connections of refrigerant system components 4 connected to the refrigerant system component controlling units 5. For example, the refrigerant system component controlling units 5 and the refrigerant system components 4 are connected to each other by communication lines (the first communication units 6), which are different from the second communication unit 8 between the central control unit 7 and the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5, having no impact on connection to (communication with) the second communication unit 8. Accordingly, the refrigerant system component controlling units 5 can be connected to any number of downstream refrigerant system components 4 as long as the performance of the refrigerant system component controlling units 5 can be maximized.

[0054] FIG. 4 illustrates the situation where eight indoor units 2 (indoor units 2e, 2f, 2g, 2h, 2i, 2j, 2k, and 2m) are installed in a warehouse 70 (the same installation environment) and one of them, the indoor unit 2h, has a refrigerant system component controlling unit 5.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 4, the indoor substrate 20 of each indoor unit 2 has a set address, and the indoor units 2 are daisy-chain connected including the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5.

[0056] The refrigerant system component controlling unit 5 controls the indoor substrate 20 and/or the outdoor substrate 30 in each air-conditioning unit 10 in accordance with predetermined conditions stored in a storage (not shown in the drawing) or the like. For example, the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5 controls the number of indoor units 2 to be operated according to the load.

[0057] The refrigerant system component controlling unit 5 levels out the running time by operating a plurality of controlled outdoor units 3, which are connected to the refrigerant system components 4, in rotation taking the running time of each outdoor unit 3 into account. This prevents an increase in the running time of particular outdoor units 3, making the timings of routine checks synchronous and facilitating the scheduling of routine checks.

[0058] In case of trouble in any component (e.g., a compressor) in the air conditioning system 1, the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5 instructs a component in another outdoor unit 3 (e.g., a compressor in another outdoor unit) disconnected from the same refrigerant system component 4 to perform a backup operation. This enables the continuous operation of the air conditioning system 1.

[0059] Moreover, the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5 controls the indoor units 2 and outdoor units 3 according to the thermo-conditions set for each address for the substrates.

[0060] Further, the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5 controls the indoor unit 2h independently of the indoor unit 2i during defrosting operation control, an oil tempering operation, and/or an oil equalizing operation. This minimizes a temporary decrease in the performance of the overall air conditioning system 1.

[0061] Processing conducted by the air conditioning system 1 according to this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIG. 1.

[0062] Since one refrigerant system component controlling unit 5 is connected to the central control unit 7, and the central control unit 7 connected to the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5x regards the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5x as one main group 11. The central control unit 7 does not identify a sub-group 12A (e.g., the indoor units 2 and outdoor units 3 in the downstream of the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5x) or a sub-group 12B (e.g., the other refrigerant system component controlling unit 5y connected to the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5x through the first communication unit 6z, and the indoor units 2 and outdoor units 3 in the downstream of the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5x). The central control unit 7 sends a control instruction to the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5x in order to instruct the refrigerant system components 4 in the main group 11 to start an operation.

[0063] Upon reception of the control instruction for operation startup, the representative overall control parent substrate 51' (the overall control parent substrate 51x) sends a control instruction for operation startup according to the conditions in a storage or the like to objects to be controlled by the representative overall control parent substrate 51', i.e., the refrigerant system components 4a and 4b connected to the representative overall control parent substrate 51' through the first communication unit 6x. In addition, the representative overall control parent substrate 51' (the overall control parent substrate 51x) may send a control instruction for operation startup to the other overall control parent substrate 51y connected to the representative overall control parent substrate 51' through the first communication units 6. Upon reception of the control instruction from the representative overall control parent substrate 51' (the overall control parent substrate 51x), the overall control parent substrate 51y sends a control instruction for operation startup according to the conditions in a storage or the like to objects to be controlled by the overall control parent substrate 51y, i.e., the refrigerant system components 4c and 4d connected to the overall control parent substrate 51y through the first communication unit 6y.

[0064] The indoor substrate 20 and the outdoor substrate 30 in each refrigerant system component 4 start an operation based on the acquired control instruction.

[0065] It should be noted that this process is also performed when the central control unit 7 outputs a control instruction for operation halt or other processing other than operation startup.

[0066] As described above, in the air conditioning system 1 according to this embodiment, and a control method and a program therefor, the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5 is connected to objects to be controlled by the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5, i.e., the refrigerant system components 4 through the first communication unit 6, and is connected to the central control unit 7, which is in a higher class than the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5, through the second communication unit 8. The central control unit 7 regards the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5, which is connected to the central control unit 7 through the second communication unit 8, as a main group 11 that can be controlled by the central control unit 7, regardless of the number of connections of refrigerant system components 4 connected to the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5 through the first communication unit 6, and sends control instructions to the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5 through the second communication unit 8, thereby controlling the refrigerant system components 4 that belong to the main group 11.

[0067] The refrigerant system component controlling unit 5 is connected to downstream control objects through the first communication unit 6, and is connected to the higher-class central control unit 7 through the second communication unit 8. Thus, the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5 is connected to a plurality of communication means through the overall control parent substrate 51, thereby separating communication areas. Since the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5 separates communication areas, the central control unit 7 is independent of the number of connections of downstream refrigerant system components 4 to the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5.

[0068]  Besides, the central control unit 7 regards all the downstream refrigerant system component controlling units 5 as a main group and one control object, so that the connection between the central control unit 7 and the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5 is independent of a limit on the number of second communication units 8.

[0069] Further, the number of connections of refrigerant system components 4 to the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5 has no impact on the connection (communication) between the central control unit 7 and the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5, thereby providing such expandability that the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5 can be connected to any number of downstream refrigerant system components 4 as long as the performance of the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5 can be maximized.

[0070] Moreover, the refrigerant system components 4 in the same installation environment, e.g., room, factory, or warehouse can be easily controlled by the common refrigerant system component controlling unit 5.

{Second Embodiment}

[0071] The second embodiment of the present invention will now be described. This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that a plurality of indoor units in an air conditioning system are connected by a common duct, forming an air handling unit. The air conditioning system according to this embodiment will be described in terms of points different from the first embodiment with reference to FIGS. 1 and 5, omitting the same points as the first embodiment.

[0072] FIG. 5 shows an air handling unit 100 according to this embodiment. FIG. 5 shows one refrigerant system component controlling unit 5' connected to a central control unit 7, although a plurality of refrigerant system component controlling units 5' may be connected to the central control unit 7.

[0073] The air handling unit 100 includes a plurality of indoor units 2a', 2b', 2c', and 2d' connected by a common duct 22.

[0074] A plurality of indoor units 2a', 2b', 2c', and 2d' sends conditioned air SA, which is fed from fans 23a, 23b, 23c, and 23d through dampers 24a, 24b, 24c, and 24d and then mixed in the common duct 22, to a room 21. The plurality of indoor units 2a', 2b', 2c', and 2d' suctions room air RA from the room 21, external air OA from outside of the room, and thus mixed air through the duct 22.

[0075] In this embodiment, among the indoor units 2a', 2b', 2c', and 2d' included in the air handling unit 100, the indoor unit 2a' is provided to the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5'.

[0076] The central control unit 7 may be connected to another air-conditioning unit 40, which is for example a multi-type air conditioning unit for buildings, through the second communication unit 8 so that the air handling unit 100 and the other air-conditioning unit 40 can coexist.

[0077] The overall control parent substrate 51 in the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5' sends a control instruction, which is based on a control instruction sent from the central control unit 7, to the indoor substrates 20 and/or the outdoor substrates 30 of the indoor units 2a', 2b', 2c', and 2d' connected to a common refrigerant system component 4.

[0078] The refrigerant system component controlling unit 5' controls the indoor substrates 20 and/or the outdoor substrates 30 of the indoor units 2a' to 2d' in accordance with predetermined conditions stored in a storage or the like (not shown in the drawing). For example, the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5' controls the number of indoor units 2 to be operated, according to the load. Thus, the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5' enables the interlocked operation of the indoor units 2a' and 2d' included in the air handling unit 100, forming a large-size indoor unit.

[0079] Further, the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5' performs distributed control or synchronous control on the indoor units 2a', 2b', 2c', and 2d' during defrosting operation control, an oil tempering operation, and/or an oil equalizing operation.

[0080] The refrigerant system component controlling unit 5' levels out the running time by operating a plurality of indoor units 2, which are to be controlled by the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5', in rotation taking the running time of each indoor unit 2 into account. This prevents an increase in the running time of particular indoor units 2, making the timings of routine checks synchronous and facilitating the scheduling of routine checks. During the operation of the indoor units 2 in rotation, switching may be performed by either the time shift control according to not only the running time but the clock time, or the external input shift control in which an operation in rotation is conducted upon detection of an input instruction for switching between the indoor units 2 at an external input unit (not shown in the drawing) of the indoor unit 2.

[0081] Processing executed by the air conditioning system according to this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIG. 5.

[0082] The central control unit 7 sends a control instruction for operation startup to the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5' including the overall control parent substrate 51 controlling the downstream group 11'. Upon reception of the control instruction for operation startup, the overall control parent substrate 51 in the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5' sends a control instruction for startup of a target operation to the indoor units 2a', 2b', 2c', and 2d' forming the refrigerant system components 4 downstream in the air handling unit 100.

[0083] The central control unit 7 regards the downstream group 11' as one indoor unit and thus treats it as the same priority as the other air-conditioning unit 40 connected thereto through the second communication unit 8. The group 11' and the air-conditioning unit 40 follow predetermined control instructions from the central control unit 7.

[0084] As described above, in an air conditioning system, and a control method and a program therefor according to this embodiment, a plurality of indoor units 2a', 2b', 2c', and 2d' is connected in parallel via a common duct 22 to form an air handling unit 100 and a refrigerant system component controlling unit 5' is provided to facilitate the control of the air handling unit 100.

[0085] In addition, the air handling unit 100 and the other indoor unit (e.g., a multi-type air conditioning unit for buildings) which is out of control by the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5' can coexist through the second communication unit 8.

[0086] It should be noted that in this embodiment, fans 23a, 23b, 23c, and 23d provided to the respective indoor units 2a' to 2d' are used when a plurality of indoor units 2a' to 2d' is connected via a duct 22 to form an air handling unit 100, although this is not necessarily the case. Alternatively, a large-sized fan may be provided in the duct 22 in the upstream of the room 21 in the case where the conditioned air SA is fed to the room 21. In this case, the overall control parent substrate 51 includes a means for controlling the large-sized fan.

{Modification 1}

[0087] As shown in FIG. 6, an air handling unit 100 may include a total heat exchanger (external air processor) 60 and sensors 61 in the intake path of external air, and the air handling unit 100, the total heat exchanger 60, and the sensors 61 may be operated in combination.

[0088] The total heat exchanger 60 causes heat exchange between at least part of room air RA taken from the room 21 and external air OA taken from the exterior. The rest of the room air RA and external air OA generated by heat exchange in the total heat exchanger 60 are sent to the inlet side of the indoor unit.

[0089] Sensors 61a and 61b are high-accuracy sensors (e.g., Pt100) with reduced temperature distortion. The sensor 61a is provided to the inlet of an indoor unit in order to detect the temperature of suctioned air. The sensor 61b is provided to the outlet of the indoor unit in order to detect the temperature of exhausted conditioned air.

[0090] The indoor unit 2a' is provided with a refrigerant system component controlling unit 5' including an overall control parent substrate 51.

[0091] The air handling unit 100 is connected to a central control unit 7.

[0092] For example, the overall control parent substrate 51 acquires temperature values detected by the sensors 61a and 61b and provides control according to the acquired detected temperature values and predetermined conditions stored in a storage unit.

[0093] In the modification 1, the overall control parent substrate 51 includes an extended input/output interface for the sensors 61a and 61b and the total heat exchanger 60 and can therefore acquire detected values from the sensors 61a and 61b and control the total heat exchanger 60 according to the detected values.

{Modification 2}

[0094] As shown in FIG. 7, a CO₂ sensor 63 that detects the concentration of CO₂ (carbon dioxide) in the room 21 and a temperature and humidity sensor 64 that detects the temperature and humidity of the room 21 may be provided in a room 21 connected to an air handling unit 100 and be used in combination.

[0095] An indoor unit 2a' is provided with a refrigerant system component controlling unit 5' including an overall control parent substrate 51.

[0096] For example, when the concentration of carbon dioxide detected by the CO₂ sensor 63 is a predetermined concentration or above (or a predetermined concentration or below), the overall control parent substrate 51 of the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5' determines that the introduction of external air is necessary (or unnecessary), and opens (or closes) the damper.

[0097] In addition, for example, when the temperature and humidity values detected by the temperature and humidity sensor 64 is a predetermined humidity and a predetermined temperature or above (or a predetermined humidity and a predetermined temperature or below), the overall control parent substrate 51 of the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5' controls the operation of the indoor unit to set the room 21 to a target temperature and a target humidity.

[0098] In this modification 2 which includes the external input/output interface for the CO₂ sensor 63, the temperature and humidity sensor 64, and other components, the refrigerant system component controlling unit 5' can accurately control the indoor unit of the air handling unit 100.

[0099] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and includes design modifications without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, a combination of the first embodiment and the second embodiment, a combination of the first embodiment, the second embodiment, and the modifications, and other appropriate combinations of embodiments and modifications may be implemented.

{Reference Signs List}

[0100] 

1 air conditioning system

2, 2a to 2m, 2a' to 2d' indoor unit

3, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d outdoor unit

4a, 4b refrigerant system component

5 refrigerant system component controlling unit (refrigerant system component control means)

6 first communication unit (first communication means)

7 central control unit (central control means)

8 second communication unit (second communication means)

51 overall control parent substrate

100 air handling unit

Claims

1. An air conditioning system (1) comprising:

a refrigerant system component control means (5) that controls refrigerant system components (4a, 4b) each including an outdoor unit (3) and at least one indoor unit (2) connected to each other;

a first communication means (6) that provides a connection between the refrigerant system component control means (5) and each refrigerant system component (4a, 4b) and, when the refrigerant system component control means (5) includes a plurality of refrigerant system component control means (5), provides a connection between the plurality of refrigerant system component control means (5);

a central control means (7) that is provided in a higher class than the refrigerant system component control means (5); and

a second communication means (8) that is different from the first communication means (6) and provides a connection between one of the plurality of refrigerant system component control means (5) and the central control means (7),

wherein the central control means (7) regards the refrigerant system component control means (5) connected to the central control (7) means through the second communication means (8) as a group controllable by the central control means (7), regardless of the number of connections of the refrigerant system component control means (5) to the downstream refrigerant system components (4a, 4b), and sends a control instruction to the refrigerant system component control means (5) through the second communication means (8) to control the refrigerant system components (4a, 4b) belonging to the group.

2. The air conditioning system (1) according to Claim 1, wherein when the indoor unit (2) includes a plurality of indoor units, the refrigerant system components for the plurality of indoor units (2) in the same installation environment are connected in the downstream of the same refrigerant system component control means (5).

3. The air conditioning system (1) according to Claim 1, wherein the plurality of indoor units (2) is connected in parallel via a common duct to form an air handling unit, and the refrigerant system component control means (5) for the air handling unit is provided.

4. The air conditioning system (1) according to Claim 3, wherein the air handling unit is connected to an indoor unit (2) of another refrigerant system component through the second communication means (8).

5. The air conditioning system (1) according to Claim 3 or 4, wherein the refrigerant system component control means (5) performs synchronous control or distributed control on the plurality of indoor units (2) during a defrosting operation, an oil tempering operation, and/or an oil equalizing operation.

6. The air conditioning system (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein
when the plurality of refrigerant system component control means (5) is provided, the refrigerant system component control means (5) are connected to each other through the first communication means (6), and
the representative refrigerant system component control means (5) of the plurality of refrigerant system component control means (5) controls the refrigerant system component control means (5) other than the representative refrigerant system component control means (5).

7. A control method for an air conditioning system (1) comprising:

a refrigerant system component control means (5) that controls refrigerant system components (4a, 4b) each including an outdoor unit (3) and at least one indoor unit (2) connected to each other;

a first communication means (6) that provides a connection between the refrigerant system component control means (5) and each refrigerant system component (4a, 4b) and, when the refrigerant system component control means (5) includes a plurality of refrigerant system component control means (5), provides a connection between the plurality of refrigerant system component control means (5);

a central control means (7) that is provided in a higher class than the refrigerant system component control means (5); and

a second communication means (8) that is different from the first communication means (6) and provides a connection between one of the plurality of refrigerant system component control means (5) and the central control means (7),

wherein the refrigerant system component control means (5) connected to the central control means (7) through the second communication means (8) is regarded as a group controllable by the central control means (7), regardless of the number of connections of the refrigerant system component control means (5) to the downstream refrigerant system components (4a, 4b), and a control instruction is sent to the refrigerant system component control means (5) through the second communication means (8) to control the refrigerant system components (4a, 4b) belonging to the group.

8. A control program for an air conditioning system (1) comprising:

a refrigerant system component control means (5) that controls refrigerant system components (4a, 4b) each including an outdoor unit (3) and at least one indoor unit (2) connected to each other;

a first communication means (6) that provides a connection between the refrigerant system component control means (5) and each refrigerant system component (4a, 4b) and, when the refrigerant system component control means (5) includes a plurality of refrigerant system component control means (5), provides a connection between the plurality of refrigerant system component control means (5);

a central control means (7) that is provided in a higher class than the refrigerant system component control means (5); and

a second communication means (8) that is different from the first communication means (6) and provides a connection between one of the plurality of refrigerant system component control means (5) and the central control means (7),

wherein the control program causes a computer to execute a process in which the refrigerant system component control means (5) connected to the central control means (7) through the second communication means (8) is regarded as a group controllable by the central control means (7), regardless of the number of connections of the refrigerant system component control means (5) to the downstream refrigerant system components (4a, 4b), and a control instruction is sent to the refrigerant system component control means (5) through the second communication means (8) to control the refrigerant system components (4a, 4b) belonging to the group.

Drawing