AIR CONDITIONER AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING WATER INJECTION MODULE OF AIR CONDITIONER

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims benefit of priority to Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2023-0180306 and 10-2023-0188250 filed on Dec. 13, 2023 and Dec. 21, 2023 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND
1. Field

The present disclosure relates to an air conditioner and a method of controlling a water injection module of the air conditioner.

2. Description of Related Art

A condenser, a heat exchanger cooling and liquefying high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant vapor supplied from a compressor, may serve to externally discharge heat in a refrigeration cycle.

In particular, an evaporative condenser may be configured to cool a cooling fluid by spraying water on a tube through which the cooling fluid passes, causing air supplied from the blower to flow to a surface of the tube, and discharging water vapor vaporized on the surface of the tube, in a manner in which a water cooling-type operation and an air cooling-type operation are mixed.

An evaporative cooler may be configured to alternately and repeatedly form wet channels and dry channels, and to supply cooled air to an indoor space through the dry channels through heat exchange by evaporation in the wet channels. Specifically, the evaporative cooler may be configured to cool second air passing through the dry channels using latent heat of evaporation of water injected into first air passing through the wet channels.

Here, a water injection module, injecting water into an evaporative heat exchanger, such as an evaporative condenser, an evaporative cooler, or the like, may generally perform an operation of continuously injecting water while an air conditioner is in operation. Accordingly, under a partial load condition having a relatively small cooling load or a high-humidity condition having a lowered evaporation effect, an amount of water injected by the water injection module may exceed a required amount of injected water. Thus, it may be necessary to optimize an amount of injected water.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure aims to provide an air conditioner capable of reducing an amount of water consumed while ensuring operation performance of a heat exchanger, and a method of controlling a water injection module of the air conditioner.

Aspects of the present disclosure provide an air conditioner and a method of controlling a water injection module of the air conditioner.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an air conditioner including an evaporator in which refrigerant circulates, an expansion valve, a compressor, an evaporative condenser, a water injection module configured to spray water into the evaporative condenser, and a control unit configured to control an operation of the water injection module. The water injection module may include a supply line including a plurality of pressure regulation units configured to regulate a water injection pressure of water supplied to the evaporative condenser to different pressures while passing through a plurality of branch water injection lines branching from a water supply source. Each of the pressure regulation units may include a branch water injection line, a control valve disposed on the branch water injection line, the control valve configured to open and close a flow path of the branch water injection line, and a pressure reducing valve disposed on the branch water injection line. The control unit may be connected to the control valve, and may be configured to open one control valve, among a plurality of control valves, and to close a remaining control valve, among the plurality of control valves, according to the number of rotations of the compressor.

The pressure regulation unit may include a first pressure regulation unit including a first branch water injection line, a first control valve disposed on the first branch water injection line, and a first pressure reducing valve configured to reduce the water injection pressure to a first pressure, and a second pressure regulation unit including a second branch water injection line, a second control valve disposed on the second branch water injection line, and a second pressure reducing valve configured to reduce the water injection pressure to a second pressure, less than the first pressure. The control unit may be configured to open the first control valve and close the second control valve when the number of rotations of the compressor satisfies a first setting value, and to close the first control valve and open the second control valve when the number of rotations of the compressor satisfies a second setting value, less than the first setting value.

The first control valve may be formed as a normally open-type valve, and the second control valve may be formed as a normally closed-type valve.

The supply line may include a joining water injection line in which one ends of the branch water injection lines join each other. The water injection module may include a discharge unit connected to one end of the joining water injection line, the discharge unit including a water injection nozzle configured to spray water into the evaporative condenser.

The discharge unit may include a plurality of discharge lines branching from the one end of the joining water injection line, and the water injection nozzle disposed on the discharge line.

The discharge unit may include a first discharge line and a second discharge line branching from the one end of the joining water injection line, a plurality of first water injection nozzles disposed on the first discharge line, the plurality of first water injection nozzles configured to spray water into a portion of a heat exchange unit of the evaporative condenser, and a plurality of second water injection nozzles disposed on the second discharge line, the plurality of second water injection nozzles configured to spray water into another portion of the heat exchange unit of the evaporative condenser.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of controlling a water injection module of an air conditioner, the method including a driving start step of starting driving of a compressor according to a preset number of rotations of the compressor, a determination step of determining an opening and closing operation that is set to open one branch water injection line, among a plurality of branch water injection lines of a water injection module connected to each other in parallel, the plurality of branch water injection lines configured to supply water having a water injection pressure regulated to different pressures, and to close a remaining branch water injection line, among the plurality of branch water injection lines, according to the number of rotations of the compressor, and a water injection step of injecting water into the heat exchanger by performing the opening and closing operation determined in the determination step.

The branch water injection line may include a first branch water injection line having the water injection pressure regulated to a first pressure, and a second branch water injection line having the water injection pressure regulated to a second pressure, less than the first pressure. In the determination step, the opening and closing operation may be determined to open the first branch water injection line and close the second branch water injection line when the number of rotations of the compressor satisfies a first setting value, and may be determined to open the second branch water injection line and close the first branch water injection line when the number of rotations of the compressor satisfies a second setting value, less than the first setting value.

The method may further include a setting step of setting the number of rotations of the compressor according to outdoor air temperature, before the driving start step.

The determination step may include a determination step of determining whether the number of rotations of the compressor satisfies the first setting value or the second setting value. In the water injection operation, the determination step of determining whether the number of rotations of the compressor satisfies the first setting value or the second setting value may be entered and the determination step of determining the opening and closing operation may be re-performed when a predetermined condition is satisfied, and a current state may be maintained when the predetermined condition is not satisfied.

According to an air conditioner and a method of controlling a water injection module of the air conditioner according to aspects of the present disclosure, an amount of water consumed may be reduced while ensuring operation performance of a heat exchanger.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram illustrating an air conditioner according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a water injection module of an air conditioner according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a water injection module of an air conditioner according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is another flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a water injection module of an air conditioner according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is another flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a water injection module of an air conditioner according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is another flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a water injection module of an air conditioner according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is an exemplary diagram illustrating an air conditioner according to another example embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a water injection module of an air conditioner according to another example embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an opening and closing pattern of a control valve in a water injection module of an air conditioner according to another example embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a water injection module of an air conditioner according to another example embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 11 is another flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a water injection module of an air conditioner according to another example embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 is another flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a water injection module of an air conditioner according to another example embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 13 is another flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a water injection module of an air conditioner according to another example embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, example embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the spirit of the present disclosure is not limited to the presented example embodiments. For example, a person skilled in the art, and understanding the spirit of the present disclosure, would be able to propose other example embodiments included within the scope of the present disclosure through the addition, change, or deletion of components. All such variations are also within the scope of the present disclosure.

As used herein, when a component is described as being “on,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another component, it may be directly “on,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” the other component, or there may be one or more other components intervening therebetween. In addition, it will be understood that “comprises” or “includes” and/or “comprising” or “including” specify the presence of components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of other components.

As used herein, the terms “first,” “second,” and the like may be used to distinguish a component from another component, and may not limit a sequence and/or an importance, or others, in relation to the components. In some cases, a first component may be referred to as a second component, and similarly, a second component may be referred to as a first component without departing from the scope of the example embodiments.

Hereinafter, an air conditioner and a method of controlling a water injection module of the air conditioner according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an exemplary diagram illustrating an air conditioner according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a water injection module of an air conditioner according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an air conditioner 100 according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure may include an evaporative condenser 110 in which compressed refrigerant is condensed, an expansion valve 120 in which the refrigerant passing through the evaporative condenser 110 is expanded, an evaporator 130 in which the refrigerant passing through the expansion valve 120 is evaporated, and a compressor 140 in which the refrigerant passing through the evaporator 130 is compressed, and the refrigerant may pass through the evaporative condenser 110, the expansion valve 120, the evaporator 130, and the compressor 140 to form a refrigerant cycle R1. In the refrigerant cycle R1, the compressor 140, the evaporative condenser 110, and the expansion valve 120 may be disposed in an outdoor unit, and the evaporator 130 may be disposed in an indoor unit 150.

Here, the evaporative condenser 110 may include a condensing module 111 including a fluid flow path, a water injection module 200 spraying water passing through the condensing module 111 from an upper portion of the condensing module 111, and a blowing module 113 disposed on one side of the condensing module 111 to provide air passing through the condensing module 111. The evaporative condenser 110 may be installed in an outdoor unit (not illustrated) disposed in an outdoor space, spatially separated from an indoor space. The condensing module 111 may be connected to an air flow path A1 and a water supply source WS. Air, intaken by the blowing module 113 from the outside, may pass through the condensing module 111, may rise in temperature, and may be discharged to the air flow path A1. Water may be sprayed into the condensing module 111 by the water injection module 200, and then the water drained from a lower portion of the condensing module 111 may pass through the water supply flow path W1 and the refrigerant cycle R1. The refrigerant may be condensed by the air in the air flow path A1 and the water in the water supply flow path W1. The evaporator 130 through which the refrigerant cycle R1 passes may be disposed in the indoor unit 150, the indoor unit 150 may include a blower 151, and indoor air may pass through the evaporator 130 and may then form an indoor circulation flow path A1 supplied back into the indoor space, due to the blower 151.

Here, the condensing module 111 may exchange heat with water and air as the refrigerant passes through a three-dimensional structure formed in three directions, including a direction of extension of a header, a direction of extension of a connection tube, and a direction of stacking of header rows. Accordingly, more heat exchange may be performed even when the same volume is occupied, thereby improving cooling efficiency. Even when the condensing module 111 does not have the above-described structure, a condenser structure using evaporation of water may be applied to the condensing module 111.

The air conditioner 100 according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure may include an evaporative cooler, as necessary. The evaporative cooler may be disposed in the outdoor unit, and may be disposed on an inflow path through which outdoor air is introduced, may include a dry channel and a wet channel, and may cool air passing through the dry channel. The evaporative cooler may include a dry channel through which air, requiring cooling, passes and a wet channel adjacent to the dry channel, and the wet channel may exchange heat with the dry channel due to evaporation of water sprayed by a cooler water injection module. In general, the dry channel and the wet channel may be alternately disposed in the evaporative cooler, and the cooler water injection module may be disposed on an upper portion of the wet channel to provide water to the wet channel, and a cooler blowing module (not illustrated) may be provided on an upper portion or a lower portion of the wet channel to generate a flow. Here, the cooler water injection module, providing water to the wet channel of the evaporative cooler, may have a configuration the same as that of the water injection module 200, providing water to the evaporative condenser 110. The water injection module 200, providing water to the evaporative condenser 110, is described below as an example, However, the cooler water injection module of the evaporative cooler may also be applied in the same manner.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the water injection module 200, spraying water into the evaporative condenser 110 of the air conditioner 100 according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure, may include a supply line 210 connected to the water supply source WS, the supply line 210 supplying water to the evaporative condenser 110.

The supply line 210 may include a plurality of pressure regulation units 220 regulating a water injection pressure of water supplied to the evaporative condenser 110 to different pressures while passing through a plurality of branch water injection lines 230 branching from the water supply source WS. Each of the pressure regulation units 220 may include the branch water injection line 230, a control valve 240 disposed on the branch water injection line 230, the control valve 240 opening and closing a flow path of the branch water injection line 230, and a pressure reducing valve 250 disposed on the branch water injection line 230. Here, a water injection pressure of water, passing through each of the branch water injection lines 230, may be regulated to different pressures by the pressure reducing valve 250 disposed on each of the branch water injection lines 230.

The air conditioner 100 according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure may include a control unit C controlling an operation of the water injection module 200. The control unit C may be connected to the control valve 240, and may open one control valve 240, among a plurality of control valves 240, and close a remaining control valve 240, among the plurality of control valves 240, according to the number of rotations of the compressor 140. The number of rotations of the compressor 140 may be set in advance, and the number of rotations of the compressor 140 may be set according to outdoor air temperature. For example, when a cooling load is relatively large due to a relatively high first outdoor air temperature (for example, 25° C. or higher), for example, at a cooling load of 75% in an integrated energy efficiency ratio (IEER) indicating integrated cooling efficiency, the number of rotations of the compressor 140 may be set to a relatively greater first number of rotations, thereby increasing cooling efficiency. In addition, when a cooling load is relatively small due to a second outdoor air temperature (for example, lower than 20° C.), lower than the first outdoor air temperature, for example, at a cooling load of 25% in the IEER, the number of rotations of the compressor 140 may be set to a second number of rotations, less than the first number of rotations, thereby relatively lowering cooling efficiency. In addition, when a cooling load is relatively small as compared to the first outdoor air temperature and is relatively large as compared to the second outdoor air temperature due to a third outdoor air temperature, lower than the first outdoor air temperature and higher than the second outdoor air temperature, for example, at a cooling load of 25% in the IEER, the number of rotations of the compressor 140 may be set to a third number of rotations, less than the first number of rotations and greater than the second number of rotations, thereby appropriately maintaining cooling efficiency.

The control unit C may open a control valve disposed on a branch water injection line having a water injection pressure regulated to a required pressure by the pressure reducing valve 250, among the plurality of branch water injection lines 230, and may close a control valve disposed on a remaining branch water injection line, such that a required amount of injected water according to the number of rotations of the compressor 140 may be injected into the evaporative condenser 110, reducing an amount of water consumed and improving energy efficiency while ensuring operation performance of the evaporative condenser 110.

Hereinafter, as illustrated in FIG. 2, a pressure regulation unit 220 including a first pressure regulation unit 222 and a second pressure regulation unit 224 will be described as an example embodiment. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and three or more pressure regulation units may be installed, as necessary.

The first pressure regulation unit 222 may include a first branch water injection line 232, and a first control valve 242 and a first pressure reducing valve 252 disposed on the first branch water injection line 232. The first pressure reducing valve 252 may reduce a water injection pressure of water passing through the first branch water injection line 232 to a first pressure, and may provide the water to a discharge unit 270 to be described below. The second pressure regulation unit 224 may include a second branch water injection line 234, and a second control valve 244 and a second pressure reducing valve 254 disposed on the second branch water injection line 234. The second pressure reducing valve 254 may reduce a water injection pressure of water passing through the second branch water injection line 234 to a second pressure, and may provide the water to the discharge unit 270 to be described below. The second pressure may be set to be less than the first pressure. For example, the first pressure reducing valve 252 may reduce the water injection pressure to the first pressure set to 3.5 kg/cm³, and the second pressure reducing valve 254 may reduce the water injection pressure to the second pressure set to 2.5 kg/cm³. However, the first pressure and the second pressure are not limited, and may be appropriately set according to various actual conditions such as a form of the water injection module 200, a capacity of the evaporative condenser 110, or the like.

The supply line 210 may include a joining water injection line 260 in which one ends of the first branch water injection line 232 and the second branch water injection line 234 join each other. The water injection module 200 may supply water to the evaporative condenser 110 through the first branch water injection line 232 and the joining water injection line 260 of the supply line 210, and may supply water to the evaporative condenser 110 through the second branch water injection line 234 and the joining water injection line 260 of the supply line 210.

In addition, various components may be disposed on the supply line 210, as necessary. For example, a filter, filtering water flowing into the supply line 210, may be disposed on the supply line 210. The filter may be formed in various forms, and may be, for example, a resin filter including a large quantity of resin beads having a bead shape, the resin filter flowing at a flow rate. The filter may serve to remove a super-small quantity of dissolved inorganic ions and organic substances included in the water flowing into the supply line. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the filter may be one of a pretreatment filter, a pre-carbon filter, and a Moringa filter. The Moringa filter may include a first Moringa filter including Moringa seed powder and sand or anthracite, and a second Moringa filter including Moringa seed powder and activated carbon.

The water injection module 200 may include a discharge unit 270 connected to one end of the joining water injection line 260, that is, an outlet end. The discharge unit 270 may include a discharge line 271 connected to the one end of the joining water injection line 260, and a water injection nozzle 272 disposed on the discharge line 271, the water injection nozzle 272 spraying water into the evaporative condenser 110. Here, the water injection nozzle 272 may be a fine spray nozzle, generating water supplied to the discharge line 271 as sprayed water and spraying the water into the evaporative condenser 110. The discharge unit 270 may include one or more discharge lines 271 on which the water injection nozzle 272 is disposed, as necessary. When the discharge unit 270 includes a plurality of discharge lines 271, the plurality of discharge lines 271 may branch from one end of the supply line 210 in parallel to each other, and may spray water into the entire evaporative condenser 110 through the water injection nozzles 272 disposed on the plurality of discharge lines 271.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the discharge unit 270 may include a first discharge line 271a and a second discharge line 271b branching from the one end of the joining water injection line 260, a plurality of first water injection nozzles 272a disposed on the first discharge line 271a, and a plurality of second water injection nozzles 272b disposed on the second discharge line 271b. The first water injection nozzle 272a may inject water into a portion of a heat exchange unit (the above-described condensing module 111, see FIG. 1) of the evaporative condenser 110. The second water injection nozzle 272b may inject water into another portion of the heat exchange unit (the above-described condensing module 111, see FIG. 1) of the evaporative condenser 110. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. According to a form, a size, or necessity of an evaporative condenser, one discharge line may be disposed, or three or more discharge lines may be disposed in parallel to each other.

When the number of rotations of the compressor 140 satisfies a first setting value, the controller C may open the first control valve 242 and close the second control valve 244. The first setting value may be appropriately set according to a type, performance, or the like of the compressor 140, and may be, for example, 30 rps or more, but is merely an example. The first setting value is not limited thereto, and may be appropriately set. The controller C may close the first control valve 242 and open the second control valve 244 when the number of rotations of the compressor 140 satisfies the first setting value. Thus, water, supplied from the water supply source WS, may have a water injection pressure regulated to the first pressure by the first pressure reducing valve 252 while passing through the first branch water injection line 232, and may be sprayed into the evaporative condenser 110 through the discharge unit 270. The controller C may close the first control valve 242 and open the second control valve 244 when the number of rotations of the compressor 140 satisfies a second setting value less than the first setting value. The second setting value may be appropriately set according to a type, performance, or the like of the compressor 140, and may be, for example, less than 30 rps, but is not limited thereto. The second setting value may be appropriately set as long as it is a value less than the first setting value. When the number of rotations of the compressor 140 satisfies the second setting value less than the first setting value, the control unit C may close the first control valve 242 and open the second control valve 244. Thus, water, supplied from the water supply source WS, may have a water injection pressure reduced to a second pressure less than the first pressure by the second pressure reducing valve 254 while passing through the second branch water injection line 234, and may be sprayed into the evaporative condenser 110 through the discharge unit 270, thereby reducing a required amount of injected water for the evaporative condenser 110.

Here, the first control valve 242 may be, for example, a normally open-type valve. The normally open-type valve may refer to a valve that may be actively closed, and may be automatically opened or maintained in an open state in a state in which no current is supplied to the valve. However, the first control valve is not limited thereto, and may be implemented as any valve opened and closed by the control unit C to be described below. The second control valve 244 may be, for example, a normally closed-type valve. The normally closed-type valve may refer to a valve that can be actively opened, and may be automatically closed or maintained in a closed state in a state in which no current is supplied to the valve. However, the second control valve is not limited thereto, and may be implemented as any valve opened and closed by the control unit C to be described below.

According to the air conditioner having the above-described configuration according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure, a control valve disposed on a branch water injection line having a water injection pressure regulated to a required pressure by a pressure reducing valve, among a plurality of branch water injection lines, may be opened, and a control valve disposed on a remaining branch water injection line, among the plurality of branch water injection lines, may be closed, according to the number of rotations of a compressor. Accordingly, a required amount of injected water may be injected while ensuring operation performance of an evaporative condenser, thereby reducing an amount of water consumed and improving energy efficiency. In addition, a required amount of injected water may be injected to the evaporative condenser 110 under various conditions such as a partial load condition having a relatively small cooling load or a high-humidity condition having a low evaporation effect, thereby optimizing an amount of injected water.

FIGS. 3 to 6 are flowcharts illustrating a method of controlling a water injection module of an air conditioner according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure. The method of controlling a water injection module of an air conditioner may be applied to the air conditioner 100 including the evaporative condenser 110 according to the above-described example embodiment of the present disclosure, or may be applied to an air conditioner including both an evaporative condenser and an evaporative cooler or including an evaporative cooler. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the method may be applied to any air conditioner having a corresponding configuration. Hereinafter, a configuration of the air conditioner 100 according to the above-described example embodiment of the present disclosure will be described, and the method of controlling a water injection module will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the method of controlling the water injection module 200 of the air conditioner 100 according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure may include a driving start step S200, a determination step S400, and a water injection step S600.

The driving start step S200 is a step of starting driving of the compressor 140 according to a preset number of rotations of the compressor 140.

The determination step S400 may be a step of determining an opening and closing operation that is set to open one branch water injection line, among a plurality of branch water injection lines of the water injection module 200 connected to each other in parallel, the plurality of branch water injection lines supplying water having a water injection pressure regulated to different pressures, and to close a remaining branch water injection line, among the plurality of branch water injection lines, according to the number of rotations of the compressor 140. Here, a heat exchanger may be the evaporative condenser 110 or the evaporative cooler described above. In the present example embodiment, the evaporative condenser 110, applied as the heat exchanger, will be described in detail. That is, in the determination step S400, an opening and closing operation that is set to open one branch water injection line, among a plurality of branch water injection lines supplying water having a water injection pressure regulated to different pressures to the evaporative condenser 110, and to close a remaining branch water injection line, among the plurality of branch water injection lines, according to the number of rotations of the compressor 140, may be determined.

For example, an example embodiment in which the branch water injection line includes a first branch water injection line 232 having a water injection pressure regulated to a first pressure and a second branch water injection line 234 having a water injection pressure regulated to a second pressure, less than the first pressure, will be described in detail. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the determination step S400 may also include a determination step S420. The determination step S420 may be a step of determining whether the number of rotations of the compressor 140 satisfies the first setting value or the second setting value. In the determination step S420 of the determination step S400, the opening and closing operation of the branch water injection line may be determined to open the first branch water injection line 232 and close the second branch water injection line 234 when the number of rotations of the compressor 140 satisfies the first setting value, and may be determined to open the second branch water injection line 234 and close the first branch water injection line 232 when the number of rotations of the compressor 140 satisfies the second setting value less than the first setting value.

The first setting value may be appropriately set according to a type, performance, or the like of the compressor 140, and may be, for example, 30 rps or more, but is merely an example. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and may be appropriately set. The second setting value may be appropriately set according to a type, performance, or the like of the compressor 140, and may be, for example, less than 30 rps, but is merely an example and is not limited thereto, and the second setting value may be appropriately set as long as it is a value less than the first setting value. For example, in the determination step S400, the opening and closing operation of the branch water injection line may be determined to open the first branch water injection line 232 and close the second branch water injection line 234 when the number of rotations of the compressor 140 is 30 rps or more, and may be determined to open the second branch water injection line 234 and close the first branch water injection line 232 when the number of rotations of the compressor 140 is less than 30 rps.

In the determination step S400, the opening and closing operation of the branch water injection line may be determined in two example embodiments according to the number of rotations of the compressor 140, but other opening and closing operations of the branch water injection line may be additionally determined, as necessary. In this case, the branch water injection line may further include a third branch water injection line having a water injection pressure regulated to a pressure different from the first pressure and the second pressure. For example, when the number of rotations of the compressor satisfies a third setting value greater than the first setting value, the opening and closing operation of the water injection line may be determined to open the third branch water injection line and to close both the first and second branch water injection lines. The third setting value may be appropriately set, for example, 41 rps or more.

The injection step (S600) is a step of injecting water into the evaporative condenser 110, the heat exchanger, by performing the opening and closing operation of the branch water injection line determined in the determination step (S400).

In addition, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the method of controlling the water injection module 200 of the air conditioner 100 may further include a setting step S100 before the driving start step S200. The setting step S100 may be a step of setting the number of rotations of the compressor 140 according to outdoor air temperature. For example, when a cooling load is relatively large due to a relatively high first outdoor air temperature (for example, 25° C. or higher), for example, at a cooling load of 75% in an IEER indicating integrated cooling efficiency, the number of rotations of the compressor 140 may be set to a relatively greater first number of rotations. In addition, when a cooling load is relatively small due to a second outdoor air temperature (for example, lower than 20° C.), lower than the first outdoor air temperature, for example, at a cooling load of 25% in the IEER, the number of rotations of the compressor 140 may be set to a second number of rotations, less than the first number of rotations. In addition, when a cooling load is relatively small as compared to the first outdoor air temperature and is relatively large as compared to the second outdoor air temperature due to a third outdoor air temperature, lower than the first outdoor air temperature and higher than the second outdoor air temperature, for example, at a cooling load of 25% in the IEER, the number of rotations of the compressor 140 may be set to a third number of rotations, less than the first number of rotations and greater than the second number of rotations. The above-described method of setting the number of rotations of a compressor is merely an example, and may be set in various manners according to a specific operation mode.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, when a predetermined condition is satisfied in the water injection step S600, the determination step S420 may be entered to re-perform the determination step S400 and re-determine the opening and closing operation of the branch water injection line. When the predetermined condition is not satisfied in the water injection step S600, a current state may be maintained. Here, satisfying the predetermined condition may be set in a form in which various predetermined conditions are satisfied, and may be set to satisfy, for example, a case in which the number of rotations of the compressor 140 is to be changed in the water injection step S600. The determination step 400 may be periodically performed, thereby controlling the control module 200 to allow an amount of water optimized for an operation condition to be injected in real time.

According to the air conditioner having the above-described configuration and the method of controlling the water injection module of the air conditioner according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure, a branch water injection line having a water injection pressure regulated to a required pressure, among a plurality of branch water injection lines, may be opened, and a remaining branch water injection line, among the plurality of branch water injection lines, may be closed, according to the number of rotations of a compressor. Accordingly, a required amount of injected water may be injected while ensuring operation performance of a heat exchanger, thereby reducing an amount of water consumed and improving energy efficiency. In addition, a required amount of injected water may be injected to the heat exchanger under various conditions such as a partial load condition having a relatively small cooling load or a high-humidity condition having a low evaporation effect, thereby optimizing an amount of injected water.

Although the evaporative condenser, applied as the heat exchanger, has been described above, the above-described evaporative cooler may be applied in the same manner.

Hereinafter, an air conditioner and a method of controlling a water injection module of an air conditioner according to another example embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 7 is an exemplary diagram illustrating an air conditioner according to another example embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 8 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a water injection module of an air conditioner according to another example embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an opening and closing pattern of a control valve in a water injection module of an air conditioner according to another example embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 7 to 9, an air conditioner 1000 according to another example embodiment of the present disclosure may include an evaporative condenser 1100 in which compressed refrigerant is condensed, an expansion valve 1200 in which the refrigerant passing through the evaporative condenser 1100 is expanded, an evaporator 1300 in which the refrigerant passing through the expansion valve 1200 is evaporated, and a compressor 1400 in which the refrigerant passing through the evaporator 1300 is compressed, and the refrigerant may pass through the evaporative condenser 1100, the expansion valve 1200, the evaporator 1300, and the compressor 1400 to form a refrigerant cycle R1. In the refrigerant cycle R1, the compressor 1400, the evaporative condenser 1100, and the expansion valve 1200 may be disposed in an outdoor unit, and the evaporator 1300 may be disposed in an indoor unit 1500.

Here, the evaporative condenser 1100 may include a condensing module 1110 including a fluid flow path, a water injection module 20000 spraying water passing through the condensing module 1110 from an upper portion of the condensing module 1110, and a blowing module 1130 disposed on one side of the condensing module 1110 to provide air passing through the condensing module 1110. The evaporative condenser 1100 may be installed in an outdoor unit (not illustrated) disposed in an outdoor space, spatially separated from an indoor space. The condensing module 1110 may be connected to an air flow path A1 and a water supply source WS. Air, intaken by the blowing module 1130 from the outside, may pass through the condensing module 1110, may rise in temperature, and may be discharged to the air flow path A1. Water may be sprayed into the condensing module 1110 by the water injection module 2000, and then the water drained from a lower portion of the condensing module 1110 may pass through the water supply flow path W1 and the refrigerant cycle R1. The refrigerant may be condensed by the air in the air flow path A1 and the water in the water supply flow path W1. The evaporator 1300 through which the refrigerant cycle R1 passes may be disposed in the indoor unit 1500, the indoor unit 1500 may include a blower 1510, and indoor air may pass through the evaporator 1300 and may then form an indoor circulation flow path A10 supplied back into the indoor space, due to the blower 1510.

Here, the condensing module 1110 may exchange heat with water and air as the refrigerant passes through a three-dimensional structure formed in three directions, including a direction of extension of a header, a direction of extension of a connection tube, and a direction of stacking of header rows. Accordingly, more heat exchange may be performed even when the same volume is occupied, thereby improving cooling efficiency. Even when the condensing module 1110 does not have the above-described structure, a condenser structure using evaporation of water may be applied to the condensing module 1110.

The air conditioner 1000 according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure may include an evaporative cooler, as necessary. The evaporative cooler may be disposed in the outdoor unit, and may be disposed on an inflow path through which outdoor air is introduced, may include a dry channel and a wet channel, and may cool air passing through the dry channel. The evaporative cooler may include a dry channel through which air, requiring cooling, passes and a wet channel adjacent to the dry channel, and the wet channel may exchange heat with the dry channel due to evaporation of water sprayed by a cooler water injection module. In general, the dry channel and the wet channel may be alternately disposed in the evaporative cooler, and the cooler water injection module may be disposed on an upper portion of the wet channel to provide water to the wet channel, and a cooler blowing module (not illustrated) may be provided on an upper portion or a lower portion of the wet channel to generate a flow. Here, the cooler water injection module, providing water to the wet channel of the evaporative cooler, may have a configuration the same as that of the water injection module 2000, providing water to the evaporative condenser 1100. The water injection module 2000, providing water to the evaporative condenser 1100, is described below as an example, However, the cooler water injection module of the evaporative cooler may also be applied in the same manner.

Referring to FIGS. 7 to 9, the water injection module 2000, spraying water into the evaporative condenser 1100 of the air conditioner 1000 according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure, may include a supply line 210 connected to the water supply source WS, the supply line 210 supplying water to the evaporative condenser 1100. A control valve 2200, opening and closing a flow path through which water is supplied from the water supply source WS, may be disposed on the supply line 2100, and a pressure reducing valve 2300 may also be disposed on the supply line 2100. The control valve 2200 may be, for example, a normally open-type valve. The normally open-type valve may refer to a valve that may be actively closed, and may be automatically opened or maintained in an open state in a state in which no current is supplied to the valve. However, the control valve is not limited thereto, and may be implemented as any valve opened and closed by a control unit C to be described below.

In addition, various components may be disposed on the supply line 2100, as necessary. For example, a filter, filtering water flowing into the supply line 2100, may be disposed on the supply line 2100. The filter may be formed in various forms, and may be, for example, a resin filter including a large quantity of resin beads having a bead shape, the resin filter flowing at a flow rate. The filter may serve to remove a super-small quantity of dissolved inorganic ions and organic substances included in the water flowing into the supply line. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the filter may be one of a pretreatment filter, a pre-carbon filter, and a Moringa filter. The Moringa filter may include a first Moringa filter including Moringa seed powder and sand or anthracite, and a second Moringa filter including Moringa seed powder and activated carbon.

The water injection module 2000 may include a discharge unit 2400 connected to one end of the supply line 2100, that is, an outlet end. The discharge unit 2400 may include a discharge line 2410 connected to the one end of the supply line 2100, and a water injection nozzle 2420 disposed on the discharge line 2410, the water injection nozzle 2420 spraying water into the evaporative condenser 1100. Here, the water injection nozzle 2420 may be a fine spray nozzle, generating water supplied to the discharge line 2410 as sprayed water and spraying the water into the evaporative condenser 110. The discharge unit 2400 may include one or more discharge lines 2410 on which the water injection nozzle 2420 is disposed, as necessary. When the discharge unit 2400 includes a plurality of discharge lines 2410, the plurality of discharge lines 2410 may branch from one end of the supply line 210 in parallel to each other, and may spray water into the entire evaporative condenser 110 through the water injection nozzles 2420 disposed on the plurality of discharge lines 2410.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the discharge unit 2400 may include a first discharge line 2410a and a second discharge line 2410b branching from the one end of the supply line 2100, a plurality of first water injection nozzles 2420a disposed on the first discharge line 2410a, and a plurality of second water injection nozzles 2420b disposed on the second discharge line 2410b. The first water injection nozzle 2420a may inject water into a portion of a heat exchange unit (the above-described condensing module 1110, see FIG. 7) of the evaporative condenser 1100. The second water injection nozzle 2420b may inject water into another portion of the heat exchange unit (the above-described condensing module 1110, see FIG. 7) of the evaporative condenser 1100. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. According to a form, a size, or necessity of an evaporative condenser, one discharge line may be disposed, or three or more discharge lines may be disposed in parallel to each other.

The air conditioner 1000 according to another example embodiment of the present disclosure may include a control unit C controlling an operation of the water injection module 2000. The control unit C may be connected to the control valve 240 disposed on the supply line 2100, and may control the opening and closing operation of the control valve 2200 according to the number of rotations (TAR_rps) of the compressor 140. The number of rotations (TAR_rps) of the compressor 140 may be set in advance, and the number of rotations (TAR_rps) of the compressor 140 may be set according to outdoor air temperature. For example, when a cooling load is relatively large due to a relatively high first outdoor air temperature (for example, 25° C. or higher), for example, at a cooling load of 75% in an IEER indicating integrated cooling efficiency, the number of rotations (TAR_rps) of the compressor 140 may be set to a relatively greater first number of rotations, thereby increasing cooling efficiency. In addition, when a cooling load is relatively small due to a second outdoor air temperature (for example, lower than 20° C.), lower than the first outdoor air temperature, for example, at a cooling load of 25% in the IEER, the number of rotations (TAR_rps) of the compressor 140 may be set to a second number of rotations, less than the first number of rotations, thereby relatively lowering cooling efficiency. In addition, when a cooling load is relatively small as compared to the first outdoor air temperature and is relatively large as compared to the second outdoor air temperature due to a third outdoor air temperature, lower than the first outdoor air temperature and higher than the second outdoor air temperature, for example, at a cooling load of 25% in the IEER, the number of rotations (TAR_rps) of the compressor 140 may be set to a third number of rotations, less than the first number of rotations and greater than the second number of rotations, thereby appropriately maintaining cooling efficiency.

The control unit C may control the opening and closing operation of the control valve 2200 in a predetermined opening and closing pattern P according to the number of rotations (TAR_rps) of the compressor 1400. That is, the control unit C may control the opening and closing operation of the control valve 2200 in the opening and closing pattern P of opening the control valve 2200 for a preset water injection time and then closing the control valve 2200 for a preset water injection stop time according to the number of rotations (TAR_rps) of the compressor 1400. The opening and closing pattern P may be formed as a plurality of opening and closing patterns P, and the control unit C may control the opening and closing operation of the control valve 2200 in multiple stages using the plurality of opening and closing patterns P, according to the number of rotations (TAR_rps) of the compressor 1400.

For example, referring to FIG. 9, the opening and closing pattern P may include a first opening and closing pattern P1 and a second opening and closing pattern P2.

In this case, when the number of rotations (TAR_rps) of the compressor 1400 satisfies a first setting value, the control unit C may repeatedly perform the opening and closing operations of the control valve 2200 in the first opening and closing pattern P1 of maintaining the control valve 2200 in an open state for a first water injection time T1_on and then closing the control valve 2200 for a first water injection stop time T1_off. The first setting value may be appropriately set according to a type, performance, or the like of the compressor 1400, and may be, for example, 30 rps or more and less than 41 rps. In other words, when the number of rotations (TAR_rps) of the compressor 1400 satisfies 30 rps≤TAR_rps<41, the control unit C may repeatedly perform the opening and closing operations of the control valve 2200 in the first opening and closing pattern P1 of maintaining the control valve 2200 in an open state for the first water injection time T1_on and then closing the control valve 2200 for the first water injection stop time T1_off. Here, the first water injection time T1_on may be a time required to open the control valve 2200 and perform water injection, and may be appropriately set, as necessary. For example, the first water injection time T1_on may be set to 5 minutes. The first water injection stop time T1_off may be a time required to close the control valve 2200 and stop water injection, may refer to a time required to maintain performance of the evaporative condenser 1100 within a predetermined range in a water injection stop state, and may be appropriately set, as necessary. For example, the first water injection stop time T1_off may be set to 4 minutes. In this case, when the number of rotations (TAR_rps) of the compressor 1400 satisfies 30 rps≤TAR_rps<41 rps, the control unit C may repeatedly perform the opening and closing operation of the control valve 2200 in the first opening and closing pattern P1 of maintaining the control valve 2200 in an open state for 5 minutes and then closing the control valve 2200 for 4 minutes.

In addition, when the number of rotations (TAR_rps) of the compressor 1400 satisfies a second setting value, less than the first setting value, the control unit C may repeatedly perform the opening and closing operation of the control valve 2200 in a second opening and closing pattern P2 of maintaining the control valve 2200 in an open state for a second water injection time T2_on and then closing the control valve 2200 for a second water injection stop time T2_off, greater than the first water injection stop time T1_off. The second setting value may be appropriately set according to a type, performance, or the like of the compressor 1400, and may be, for example, less than 30 rps. In other words, when the number of rotations (TAR_rps) of the compressor 1400 satisfies TAR_rps<30 rps, the control unit C may repeatedly perform the opening and closing operation of the control valve 2200 in the second opening and closing pattern P2 of maintaining the control valve 2200 in an open state for the second water injection time T2_on and then closing the control valve 2200 for the second water injection stop time T2_off. Here, the second water injection time T2_on may be appropriately set, as necessary. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the second water injection time T2_on may be set to be equal to the first water injection time T1_on, and may be set to, for example, 5 minutes. The second water injection stop time T2_off may be appropriately set to a time, greater than the first water injection stop time T1_off, as necessary, and may be set to, for example, 10 minutes. In this case, when the number of rotations (TAR_rps) of the compressor 1400 satisfies TAR_rps<30 rps, the control unit C may repeatedly perform the opening and closing operation of the control valve 2200 in the second opening and closing pattern P2 of maintaining the control valve 2200 in an open state for 5 minutes and then closing the control valve 2200 for 10 minutes.

A case has been described above in which the first water injection time T1_on and the second water injection time T2_on are set to be equal to each other, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For another example, the first water injection time T1_on may be set to be greater than the second water injection time T2_on.

An example embodiment has been described in which the opening and closing pattern P includes the first opening and closing pattern P1 and the second opening and closing pattern P2, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The opening and closing pattern P may additionally include other opening and closing patterns, as necessary. For example, when the number of rotations of the compressor satisfies a third setting value, greater than the first setting value, the controller may repeatedly perform the opening and closing operation of the control valve in a third opening and closing pattern of maintaining the control valve in an open state for a third water injection time and then closing the control valve for a third water injection stop time, less than the first water injection stop time. The third setting value may be, for example, 41 rps or more. The third water injection time may be set to be equal to or greater than the first water injection time, and the third water injection stop time may be set to be less than the first water injection stop time, and may be set to 0, as necessary.

According to the air conditioner 1000 having the above-described configuration according to another example embodiment of the present disclosure, the opening and closing operation of the control valve 2200, disposed on the supply line 2100, may be controlled according to the number of rotations (TAR_rps) of the compressor 1400, such that a required amount of injected water may be injected to the evaporative condenser 1100 under various conditions such as a partial load condition having a relatively small cooling load or a high-humidity condition having a low evaporation effect, thereby optimizing an amount of injected water. An amount of water consumed may be reduced and energy efficiency may be improved while ensuring operation performance of the evaporative condenser 1100.

FIGS. 10 to 13 are flowcharts illustrating a method of controlling a water injection module of an air conditioner according to another example embodiment of the present disclosure. The method of controlling a water injection module of an air conditioner may be applied to the air conditioner 1000 including the evaporative condenser 1100 according to the above-described example embodiment of the present disclosure, or may be applied to an air conditioner including both an evaporative condenser and an evaporative cooler or including an evaporative cooler. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the method may be applied to any air conditioner having a corresponding configuration. Hereinafter, a configuration of the air conditioner 100 according to the above-described example embodiment of the present disclosure will be described, and the method of controlling a water injection module will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 13.

The method of controlling the water injection module 2000 of the air conditioner 1000 according to another example embodiment of the present disclosure may include a driving start step S2000, a determination step S4000, and an operation step S6000, as illustrated in FIG. 10.

The driving start step S2000 may be a step of starting driving of the compressor 1400 according to a preset number of rotations (TAR_rps) of the compressor 1400.

The determination step S4000 may be a step of determining the opening and closing pattern P of injecting water into a heat exchanger through the supply line 2100 of the water injection module 2000 for a preset water injection time and then stopping water injection for a preset water injection stop time, according to the number of rotations (TAR_rps) of the compressor 1400. Here, the heat exchanger may be the evaporative condenser 1100 or the evaporative cooler described above. In the present example embodiment, the evaporative condenser 1100, applied as the heat exchanger, will be described in detail. That is, in the determination step S4000, the opening and closing pattern P of injecting water into the evaporative condenser 1100, the heat exchanger, through the supply line 2100 for the preset water injection time and then stopping water injection for the preset water injection stop time, according to the number of rotations (TAR_rps) of the compressor 1400, may be determined.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the determination step S4000 may include a determination step S4200. The determination step S4200 may be a step of determining whether the number of rotations (TAR_rps) of the compressor 1400 satisfies the first setting value or the second setting value. When the number of rotations (TAR_rps) of the compressor 1400 satisfies the first setting value in the determination step S4200 of the determination step S4000, the opening and closing pattern P may be determined as the first opening and closing pattern P1. When the number of rotations (TAR_rps) of the compressor 1400 satisfies the second setting value, less than the first setting value, the opening and closing pattern P may be determined as the second opening and closing pattern P2.

The first opening and closing pattern P1 may be an opening and closing pattern of injecting water for a first water injection time T1_on and then stopping water injection for a first water injection stop time T1_off, and the second opening and closing pattern P2 may be an opening and closing pattern of injecting water for a second water injection time T2_on, less than or equal to the first water injection stop time T1_on, and then stopping water injection for a second water injection stop time T2_off, greater than or equal to the first water injection stop time T1_off. The first setting value may be appropriately set according to a type, performance, or the like of the compressor 1400, and may be, for example, 30 rps or more and less than 41 rps, but is merely an example and may be appropriately set. The first water injection time T1_on may be a time required to perform water injection, and may be appropriately set, as necessary. For example, the first water injection time T1_on may be set to 5 minutes, but is merely an example and is not limited thereto. The first water injection stop time T1_off may be a time required to close the control valve 2200 and stop water injection, may refer to a time required to maintain performance of the evaporative condenser 1100 within a predetermined range in a water injection stop state, and may be appropriately set, as necessary. For example, the first water injection stop time T1_off may be set to 4 minutes, but is merely an example and is not limited thereto. In addition, the second setting value may be appropriately set according to a type, performance, or the like of the compressor 1400, and may be, for example, less than 30 rps, but is merely an example and may be appropriately set. The second water injection time T2_on may be appropriately set, as necessary, and may be set to be equal to or less than the first water injection time T1_on. For example, the second water injection time T2_on may be set to 5 minutes, but is merely an example and is not limited thereto. The second water injection stop time T2_off may be appropriately set to a time, greater than the first water injection stop time T1_off, as necessary, and may be, for example, 10 minutes, but is merely an example and is not limited thereto. In other words, in the determination step S4000, the opening and closing pattern P may be determined as the first opening and closing pattern P1 of injecting water for 5 minutes and then stopping water injection for 4 minutes when the number of rotations (TAR_rps) of the compressor 1400 satisfies 30 rps≤TAR_rps<41 rps, and the opening and closing pattern P may be determined as the second opening and closing pattern P2 of injecting water for 5 minutes and then stopping water injection for 10 minutes when the number of rotations (TAR_rps) of the compressor 1400 satisfies TAR_rps<30 rps.

A case has been described in which the opening and closing pattern P is determined as the first opening and closing pattern P1 or the second opening and closing pattern P2 according to the number of rotations (TAR_rps) of the compressor 1400 in the determination step S4000, but the opening and closing pattern P may be additionally determined as another opening and closing pattern, as necessary. For example, when the number of rotations of the compressor satisfies a third setting value, greater than the first setting value, in the determination step, the opening and closing pattern may be determined as a third opening and closing pattern of injecting water for a third water injection time and then stopping water injection for a third water injection stop time, less than the first water injection stop time. The third setting value may be, for example, 41 rps or more. The third water injection time may be set to be equal to or greater than the first water injection time, and the third water injection stop time may be set to be less than the first water injection stop time, or may be set to 0, as necessary.

The operation step S6000 may be a step of performing a water injection operation and a water injection stop operation of the water injection module 2000 in the opening and closing pattern P determined in the determination step S4000. That is, in the operation step S6000, an operation of opening the control valve 2200 disposed on the supply line 2100 of the water injection supply module 2000 to inject water into the evaporative condenser 1100 for a preset water injection time and then closing the control valve 2200 to stop water injection without injecting water into the evaporative condenser 1100 for a preset water injection stop time, using the opening and closing pattern P determined in the determination step S4000, may be performed. In the operation step S6000, the water injection operation and the water injection stop operation of the water injection module 2000 in the opening and closing pattern P determined in the determination step S4000 may be repeatedly performed.

In addition, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the method of controlling the water injection module 2000 of the air conditioner 1000 may further include a setting step S1000 before the driving start step S2000. The setting step S1000 may be a step of setting the number of rotations (TAR_rps) of the compressor 1400 according to external air temperature. For example, when a cooling load is relatively large due to a relatively high first outdoor air temperature (for example, 25° C. or higher), for example, at a cooling load of 75% in an IEER indicating integrated cooling efficiency, the number of rotations (TAR_rps) of the compressor 140 may be set to a relatively greater first number of rotations. In addition, when a cooling load is relatively small due to a second outdoor air temperature (for example, lower than 20° C.), lower than the first outdoor air temperature, for example, at a cooling load of 25% in the IEER, the number of rotations (TAR_rps) of the compressor 1400 may be set to a second number of rotations, less than the first number of rotations. In addition, when a cooling load is relatively small as compared to the first outdoor air temperature and is relatively large as compared to the second outdoor air temperature due to a third outdoor air temperature, lower than the first outdoor air temperature and higher than the second outdoor air temperature, for example, at a cooling load of 25% in the IEER, the number of rotations (TAR_rps) of the compressor 140 may be set to a third number of rotations, less than the first number of rotations and greater than the second number of rotations. The above-described method of setting the number of rotations of a compressor is merely an example, and may be set in various manners according to a specific operation mode.

As illustrated in FIG. 13, when a predetermined condition is satisfied in the operation step S6000, the determination step S4200 may be entered to re-perform the determination step S4000 and re-determine the opening and closing operation P. When the predetermined condition is not satisfied in the operation step S6000, a current state may be maintained. Here, satisfying the predetermined condition may be set in a form in which various predetermined conditions are satisfied, and may be set to satisfy, for example, a condition in which an operation is completed in at least one opening and closing pattern P of injecting water for a preset water injection time and then stopping water injection for a preset water injection stop time. For another example, satisfying the predetermined condition may be set to satisfy a condition in which water is injected for the preset water injection time, water injection is stopped for the preset water injection stop time, water is injected again for the preset water injection time, and water injection is completed. For another example, satisfying the predetermined condition may be set to satisfy a case in which the number of rotations of the compressor 140 is to be changed in the operation step S6000. The determination step 4000 may be periodically performed, thereby controlling the control module 2000 to allow an amount of water optimized for an operation condition to be injected in real time.

According to the air conditioner having the above-described configuration and the method of controlling the water injection module of the air conditioner according to another example embodiment of the present disclosure, a required amount of injected water may be injected to a heat exchanger according to the number of rotations of heat exchanger under various conditions such as a partial load condition having a relatively small cooling load or a high-humidity condition having a low evaporation effect, thereby optimizing an amount of injected water. An amount of water consumed may be reduced and energy efficiency may be improved while ensuring operation performance of an evaporative condenser.

Although the evaporative condenser, applied as the heat exchanger, has been described above, the above-described evaporative cooler may be applied in the same manner.

While example embodiments have been shown and described above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations could be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

Number	Date	Country	Kind
10-2023-0180306	Dec 2023	KR	national
10-2023-0188250	Dec 2023	KR	national

AIR CONDITIONER AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING WATER INJECTION MODULE OF AIR CONDITIONER

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CPC

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