STARTUP CONTROL APPARATUS OF AIR CONDITIONER

• US 20110107781A1
• Filed: 07/08/2009
• Published: 05/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Daikin Industries Ltd
• Original Assignee: Daikin Industries Ltd
• Inventors: Kinugasa, Nanae
• Granted Patent: US 9,400,120 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/157
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/65 for selecting an operating mode
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/83 by controlling the supply of heat-exchange fluids to heat-exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/84 using valves
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/86 by controlling compressors within refrigeration or heat pump circuits
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2500/26 characterised by the startup of the refrigeration cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/02 Compressor control
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/025 by controlling speed
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/0252 with two speeds
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/0253 with variable speed
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2700/2104 of an indoor room or compartment
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 49/022 Compressor control arrangements

Abstract

An air conditioner performs startup control in which compressor capacity is reduced as measured indoor temperature approaches a set temperature. A desired time of day is set directly or indirectly. A startup control apparatus of the air conditioner measures an inflection point occurrence time from when the air conditioner starts operation until when measured indoor temperature exhibits an inflection point. Alternatively, the startup control apparatus measures a control parameter lowering arrival time from when the air conditioner starts operation until when a control parameter transmitted to the compressor decreases to a prescribed value. A scheduled operation start time of the air conditioner is set as a time of day that is the desired time of day set moved forward by the inflection point occurrence time or the control parameter lowering arrival time. Operation of the air conditioner is started when the scheduled operation start time arrives.

Claims

1. A startup control apparatus of an air conditioner that performs startup control of the air conditioner in which capacity of a compressor is automatically reduced as an indoor temperature approaches a set temperature to bring the indoor temperature close to the set temperature, the startup control apparatus comprising:

a desired time setting unit configured to set a desired time of day directly or indirectly;

an indoor temperature measuring unit configured to measure the indoor temperature;

an inflection point occurrence time measuring unit configured to measure an inflection point occurrence time, which is a time from when the air conditioner starts operation until when measured indoor temperature measured by the indoor temperature measuring unit exhibits an inflection point;

an air conditioning operation scheduled start time determining unit configured to set as a scheduled operation start time of the air conditioner a time of day that is the desired time of day set by the desired time setting unit moved forward by the inflection point occurrence time; and

a startup control unit configured to start operation of the air conditioner when the scheduled operation start time set by the air conditioning operation scheduled start time determining unit arrives.

2. The startup control apparatus of the air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein

the inflection point occurrence time measuring unit includes:

a moving average value calculating and storing section configured to calculate and store a moving average value of the measured indoor temperature each time a prescribed time interval elapses;

a slope calculating and storing section configured to calculate and store a slope of a change in the measured indoor temperature by subtracting a second-latest moving average value of the measured indoor temperature from a latest moving average value of the measured indoor temperature; and

an inflection point detecting section configured to detect the inflection point by comparing

a positive or negative sign of a latest slope of the change with

a positive or negative sign of a second-latest slope of the change.

3. The startup control apparatus of the air conditioner according to claim 1, further comprising:

an absolute difference calculating unit configured to calculate an absolute difference between the set temperature and the measured indoor temperature when the inflection point is exhibited; and

an inflection point occurrence time remeasuring command unit configured to cause the inflection point occurrence time measuring unit to remeasure the inflection point occurrence time if the absolute difference is greater than or equal to a prescribed value.

4. The startup control apparatus of the air conditioner according to claim 1, further comprising:

an absolute difference calculating unit configured to calculate an absolute difference between the set temperature and the measured indoor temperature when the inflection point is exhibited; and

an inflection point occurrence time remeasuring command unit configured to add the absolute difference to or subtract the absolute difference from the set temperature and then cause the inflection point occurrence time measuring unit to remeasure the inflection point occurrence time if the absolute difference is greater than or equal to a prescribed value.

5. The startup control apparatus of the air conditioner according to claim 1, further comprising:

a temperature difference calculating unit configured to calculate a temperature difference by subtracting the measured indoor temperature from the set temperature when the inflection point is exhibited; and

an inflection point occurrence time remeasuring command unit configured to cause the inflection point occurrence time measuring unit to remeasure the inflection point occurrence time if the temperature difference is greater than or equal to a prescribed value or less than or equal to the prescribed value.

6. The startup control apparatus of the air conditioner according to claim 1, further comprising:

a temperature difference calculating unit configured to calculate a temperature difference by subtracting the measured indoor temperature from the set temperature when the inflection point is exhibited; and

an inflection point occurrence time remeasuring command unit configured to add the temperature difference to the set temperature and then cause the inflection point occurrence time measuring unit to remeasure the inflection point occurrence time unit, which, if the temperature difference is greater than or equal to a prescribed value or less than or equal to the prescribed value.

8. The startup control apparatus of the air conditioner according to claim 2, further comprising:

an absolute difference calculating unit configured to calculate an absolute difference between the set temperature and the measured indoor temperature when the inflection point is exhibited; and

an inflection point occurrence time remeasuring command unit configured to cause the inflection point occurrence time measuring unit to remeasure the inflection point occurrence time if the absolute difference is greater than or equal to a prescribed value.

9. The startup control apparatus of the air conditioner according to claim 2, further comprising:

an absolute difference calculating unit configured to calculate an absolute difference between the set temperature and the measured indoor temperature when the inflection point is exhibited; and

an inflection point occurrence time remeasuring command unit configured to add the absolute difference to or subtract the absolute difference from the set temperature and then cause the inflection point occurrence time measuring unit to remeasure the inflection point occurrence time if the absolute difference is greater than or equal to a prescribed value.

10. The startup control apparatus of the air conditioner according to claim 2, further comprising:

a temperature difference calculating unit configured to calculate a temperature difference by subtracting the measured indoor temperature from the set temperature when the inflection point is exhibited; and

an inflection point occurrence time remeasuring command unit configured to cause the inflection point occurrence time measuring unit to remeasure the inflection point occurrence time if the temperature difference is greater than or equal to a prescribed value or less than or equal to the prescribed value.

11. The startup control apparatus of the air conditioner according to claim 2, further comprising:

a temperature difference calculating unit configured to calculate a temperature difference by subtracting the measured indoor temperature from the set temperature when the inflection point is exhibited; and

an inflection point occurrence time remeasuring command unit configured to add the temperature difference to the set temperature and then cause the inflection point occurrence time measuring unit to remeasure the inflection point occurrence time if the temperature difference is greater than or equal to a prescribed value or less than or equal to the prescribed value.

7. A startup control apparatus of an air conditioner that performs startup control of the air in which capacity of a compressor is automatically reduced as an indoor temperature approaches a set temperature to bring the indoor temperature close to the set temperature, the startup control apparatus comprising:

a desired time setting unit configured to set a desired time of day directly or indirectly;

an indoor temperature measuring unit configured to measure the indoor temperature;

a control parameter lowering arrival time measuring unit configured to measure a control parameter lowering arrival time, which is a time from when the air conditioner starts operation until when a control parameter transmitted to the compressor decreases to a prescribed value;

an air conditioning operation scheduled start time determining unit configured to set sets as a scheduled operation start time of the air conditioner a time of day that is the desired time of day set by the desired time setting unit moved forward by the control parameter lowering arrival time; and

a startup control unit configured to start operation of the air conditioner when the scheduled operation start time set by the air conditioning operation scheduled start time determining unit arrives.