Air conditioner with solar generator

• US 5,878,584 A
• Filed: 06/13/1996
• Issued: 03/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sanyo Electric Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Onizuka, Keigo, Koga, Kenichi, Madenokoji, Masaki, Sasaki, Shigeharu, Tokizaki, Hisashi
• Primary Examiner(s): WAYNER, WILLIAM E
• Application Number:
  US08/662,502
• Time in Patent Office: 999 Days
• Field of Search: 136/206, 62/236, 62/235.1, 323/906, 307/22, 307/64
• US Class Current: 62/115
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 5/0046 using natural energy, e.g. solar energy, energy from the ground
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/24 of photovoltaic origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 323/906 Solar cell systems

Abstract

An air conditioner equipped with a solar generator is disclosed. The solar generator is capable of converting the DC power generated by a solar cell into the AC power whose voltage and frequency correspond to that of the commercial power source. The electrical power generated by the solar cell and the electrical power consumed by the air conditioner are monitored and may be displayed. The DC power generated by the solar cell is used directly by the air conditioner or used indirectly as the commercial power source by merging the converted AC power to the commercial power source. Further, the converted AC power may be selectively merged to the commercial power source depending on the various states of the air conditioner, and the air conditioning operations may be regulated depending on the electrical power generated by the solar cell.

Claims

1. An air conditioner comprising:

an air conditioning operation section which effects air conditioning operation of an interior to be air-conditioned by circulating a refrigerant in a refrigerant circuit including an interior unit provided in the interior and an exterior unit provided at an exterior;

a power-generating section provided at the exterior for absorbing sunlight and generating electric power from the sunlight;

an inverter section converting the electric power generated at said power generating section into AC power having a voltage and a frequency that can be joined to a commercial AC power source, and outputting the converted AC power to the commercial AC power source, wherein said operation information displayed by said display section includes the electric power generated by said power-generating section and outputted current or power outputted from said inverter section to the commercial source;

a remote controller, separate from the air conditioner, for setting operating conditions of the air conditioner; and

a display section, installed either in the remote controller or the interior unit of the air conditioner, for displaying operation information of said electric power generating section.

2. An air conditioner having a refrigerating cycle which circulates refrigerant and includes a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device and an evaporator, heat exchange is effected between the refrigerant and air supplied to an interior, to carry out air-conditioning operation of the interior by supplying air which has been subjected to heat exchange to the interior so that at least one of a temperature or a humidity of the interior changes to a desired state, said air conditioner equipped with a commercial power source-supplying function for generating power by using sunlight as an energy source and supplying the generated power to a commercial power source, said air conditioner further comprising:

a rectifier/smoothing section for converting alternating current power supplied from the commercial power source into direct current power;

an inverter section for permitting the direct current power obtained from said rectifier/smoothing section to pass through intermittently the compressor in response to signals, for controlling a revolution of the compressor;

a rotation-controlling section for outputting to said inverter section the signals to change at least one of the temperature or the humidity of the interior to a desired state;

a power-supplying section for merging the power generated by using sunlight as an energy source with direct current power outputted from said rectifier/smoothing section; and

a control section for allocating the sunlight-generated power between the compressor and the commercial power source, wherein the power generated by using sunlight as an energy source is preferentially merged with the direct current power outputted from said rectifier/smoothing section when said air conditioner is carrying out air conditioning operation, whereas the power generated by using sunlight as an energy source is preferentially supplied to the commercial power source when said air conditioner is not carrying out air conditioning operation, said control section comprising;

a first power-detecting section for detecting the power generated by using sunlight as an energy source;

a second power-detecting section for detecting either one of power consumed at said air conditioner or power consumed at the compressor; and

a regulating section for correcting the revolution of the compressor to maintain a value detected by said second power-detecting section less than or equal to a value detected by said first power-detecting section.

3. An air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein a portion of said air conditioner effecting air conditioning operation and a portion of said air conditioner having the function for supplying to the commercial power source the power generated by using sunlight as an energy source are controlled by the same microprocessor.

4. An air-conditioning system using solar energy, comprising:

a power generator for generating direct current power by absorbing sunlight;

an inventor system for converting the direct current power generated by said power generator into an alternating current power in such a way that the current of the converted alternating current power coincides with alternating current supplied by an external current power source, said inverter system connected to said power generator and to said external current power source, wherein said inverter system converts the direct current into an alternating current having a quasi-sinewave having a phase matching the phase of the alternating current from said external current power source, in which the phase-matching is conducted based on a zero-cross point at which an instantaneous value of the alternating current of said external power source becomes zero;

an air-conditioning apparatus for air-conditioning a defined space, said air-conditioning apparatus comprising a refrigerant circulation line in which a condenser, an evaporator, an expansion valve, and a compressor are provided, said compressor driven by current supplied from at least either said power generator or said external current power source; and

a control system for controlling current supplied to said compressor in such a way that when the direct current power generated by said power generator is insufficient to drive said compressor, the insufficient power is compensated for by current power from said external current power source, and when the direct current power generated by said power generator is in excess of the power consumption of said compressor, the excess power is merged into said external current power source via said inventor system.

5. An air-conditioning system according to claim 4, further comprising a monitor for monitoring power generation performance of said power generator.

6. An air-conditioning system according to claim 4, further comprising a switch provided between said power generator and said external current power source, said switch electrically disconnecting said power generator and said external current power source in the event of a power cut of the external current power.

7. An air-conditioning system according to claim 4, further comprising a rectifier for converting the alternating current from said external current power source into direct current;

and a second inverter system for changing the direct current from at least either said power generator or said external current power source into a current which controls the rpm'"'"'s of said compressor.

8. An air-conditioning system according to claim 7, wherein said second converter system controls the rpm'"'"'s of said compressor in such a way that power consumption of said compressor is not higher than the current power generated by said power generator.

9. A method for air-conditioning a defined space using solar energy, comprising the steps of:

(a) generating direct current power by absorbing sunlight;

(b) determining a zero-cross point at which an instantaneous value of the alternating current of an external power source becomes zero;

(c) converting the generated direct current power into an alternating current power in such a way that the current of the converted alternating current power coincides with alternating current supplied by an external current power source, said alternating current having a quasi-sinewave having a phase matching the phase of the alternating current from said external current power source based on the determined zero-cross point;

(d) air-conditioning a defined space using an air-conditioning apparatus comprising a refrigerant circulation line in which a condenser, an evaporator, an expansion valve, and a compressor are provided, said compressor driven by at least either the generated current power or the external current power; and

(e) controlling current supplied to said compressor in such a way that when the generated current power is insufficient to drive said compressor, the insufficient power is compensated for by the external current power, and when the generated current power is in excess of the power consumption of said compressor, the excess power is merged into said external current power source upon the conversion of the generated current power in step (c).

10. A method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of monitoring power generation performance in step (a).

11. A method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of disconnecting the generated current power from said external current power source in the event of a power cut of the external current power.

12. A method according to claim 9, further comprising, prior to step (c), the steps of converting the alternating current from said external current power source into direct current;

and changing the direct current of at least either the generated current power or the external current power into a current for controlling the rpm'"'"'s of said compressor.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein, in step (c), the rpm'"'"'s of said compressor is controlled in such a way that the power consumption of said compressor is not higher than the generated current power.