Patent Application
20150377503
The present invention relates to, for example, an indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus.
Some indoor units of air-conditioning apparatuses include motion detectors that detect, for example, the presence of a person in a room. The motion detector is, for example, a temperature sensor (a temperature detector) that detects a temperature due to heat generated from a person. For example, an indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus rotates a temperature sensor in order to increase the detection range (see, for example, Patent Literature 1).
[Patent Literature 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2012-42183 (FIG. 2)
A wall-mounted indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus, for example, is often placed on a wall (outer wall) separating the building into inside and outside, because of the relationship between components such as an outdoor unit and pipes. In such cases, a temperature sensor such as a motion detector is placed so as to detect the temperature of a target moving in a direction from a wall to the inside of the room. In Patent Literature 1, for example, the temperature sensor is disposed below the front surface of the body.
However, in a season such as winter, for example, the temperature at the outer wall that is in contact with cold outdoor air is the lowest in the room. Thus, in thermal calculation, it is important to detect the temperature of the outer wall. However, since the outer wall is the wall on which the indoor unit is placed, the temperature sensor is not conventionally directed to the outer wall in order to detect the temperature at the outer wall. In addition, in a case where the temperature sensor can detect the temperature only in a narrow range, comfort and energy saving performance, for example, are limited.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide, for example, an indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus that can detect the temperature in a wider range.
To achieve the object, in an indoor unit of an air-conditioning apparatus according to the present invention including the indoor unit having a body placed on a wall surface of a room that is an air-conditioned space, the indoor unit 100 including a temperature sensor disposed at a position projecting from the body, and including a temperature detector that detects a temperature based on heat radiation from a target and a driver that causes the temperature detector to rotate, the position being a place where the temperature sensor is capable of detecting a temperature in all the horizontal directions by rotating the temperature detector.
The indoor unit of the air-conditioning apparatus of the present invention includes the temperature sensor that can detect a temperature of a target in all the horizontal directions. Thus, the temperature detection range in a room that is an air-conditioned space, for example, can be expanded.
Indoor units of air-conditioning apparatuses (hereinafter referred to as indoor units) according to embodiments of the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the drawings. In the drawings including
Referring to
A drain pan 8 is disposed below the heat exchanger front portion 4a so as to receive water (drain water) generated from, for example, frost or dew attached to the indoor heat exchanger 4. An upper surface 8a of the drain pan 8 forms a drain pan surface that receives drain water in actual application, and a lower surface 8b of the drain pan 8 serves as a front surface of the air passage 6.
The controller 70 performs control of the indoor unit 100 (that may include the entire air-conditioning apparatus), such as the airflow rate of the fan 5 and the temperature of refrigerant passing through the indoor heat exchanger 4 (for maintaining the temperature), on the basis of, for example, an instruction from a user (an end user) transmitted through, for example, a remote controller. The controller 70 sends a signal to the notification device 40 such that an operating state, for example, is displayed, for example. In Embodiment 1, the controller 70 has a function as a wall process controller that determines a portion serving as a wall (especially an outer wall on which the indoor unit is placed) on the basis of the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 800. Based on the temperature at a location serving as a wall, the amount of heat (a thermal load of a room as an air-conditioned space) supplied from the indoor unit 100 is calculated. In this example, the controller 70 of the indoor unit 100 performs control, but another device that can communicate with the controller 70 may perform the control.
The controller 70 of Embodiment 1 is, for example, a microcomputer including an arithmetic processing unit for controlling such as a central processing unit (CPU). The controller 70 also includes a recording device (not shown) in which data on processing such as control is stored as a program. The arithmetic processing unit performs processing based on program data for control. The controller 70 may also include clocking means such as a timer so as to perform measurement on time (time of day).
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
When the right connecting rod 20R is caused to move in parallel by the right drive means, the lateral air deflectors 10a, 10b, . . . , and 10g rotate while being in parallel to each other. Then, when the left connecting rod 20L is caused to move in parallel by the left drive means 30L, the lateral air deflectors 10h, 10i, . . . , and 10n rotate while being in parallel to each other. Thus, air can be sent in the same direction with respect to the entire width of the air outlet 7, in directions away from each other with respect to each half width of the air outlet 7, and in the directions approaching each other with respect to each half width of the air outlet 7. The lateral air deflectors 10 are not to those illustrated in
The protective cover 805 protects the temperature detector 804 and forms the lower end of the rotation shaft. A transmission part cover 802 protects the power transmission part 803 and is installed on the body 1 through an attachment part 806. As illustrated in
After the operation of the air-conditioning apparatus has started, the controller 70 applies a stepped pulse to the motor 801 so that the motor 801 rotates counterclockwise. The location at which the rib 807 comes into contact with the stopper 808 and stops rotating is defined as an initial location. At the initial location, the temperature detector 804 faces a direction substantially opposite to the indoor direction. Thus, the temperature of the outer wall serving as the installation wall is detected. Since the temperature sensor 800 of Embodiment 1 projects from the body 1, it is possible to detect the temperature of the outer wall serving as the installation wall. The temperature detector 804 cannot be directed to a portion covered with the stopper 808, but this portion can be covered from the angle of detection of the temperature sensor 800 in the horizontal direction.
After initial positioning, the temperature sensor 800 is caused to detect the temperature. Temperature data having detection angles of 7 degrees in the horizontal direction and 60 degrees in the vertical direction where t=0 is obtained. In addition, a stepped pulse for causing the temperature detector 804 to rotate to 7 degrees is applied to the motor 801, and the temperature sensor 800 is caused to rotate clockwise, thereby changing the angle of temperature detection. After the angle change, a second (t=1) temperature detection is performed. This detection is repeated as t=2, 3, . . . with the angle of the temperature sensor 800 being repeatedly changed. The temperature detection is performed until the rib 807 comes into contact with the stopper 808, and then, the temperature detection operation for one turn is completed. To perform the temperature detection for one turn, the temperature sensor 800 performs temperature detection at least 52 times (up to t=51). In the foregoing manner, a panorama thermal image with 32×52 pixels can be obtained. Then, the temperature sensor 800 is caused to rotate counterclockwise and performs the similar operation. As described above, oscillating rotation relative to the stopper 808 is repeated so as to detect the indoor temperature, thereby obtaining panorama thermal image data. Since the principle is the same, only a panorama thermal image in the clockwise rotation will be described below.
Referring to
Around t=25, which is an approximately middle, the temperature of the end user U is detected and the presence thereof is detected. Around t=30, the temperature of the object O1 is detected, and the presence thereof is detected. Around t=40, the boundary between the outer wall and the right wall is detected. The conventional motion detector, for example, cannot detect the temperature at the boundary. In this situation, the temperature sensor 800 of Embodiment 1 can determine the rear vertical air deflector 9b. As a result, the temperatures of the air outlet 7 and the vertical air deflectors 9 can be detected as the air outlet thermal image 7v and the vertical air deflector thermal image 9v. In subsequent processes, the air outlet 7, the vertical air deflectors 9, and the installation wall surface are seen. In the foregoing manner, the temperature of the installation wall (outer wall), which is most important in Embodiment 1, can be detected.
As described above, in the indoor unit 100 of Embodiment 1, the temperature sensor 800 projects from the body 1 and is caused rotate by approximately 360 degrees for temperature detection. Thus, the temperature can be detected in a wide range including the installation wall (the outer wall). In addition, even in cases where the outer wall is cold or warm because of the outdoor air, appropriate thermal calculation can be performed, thereby enabling air at more comfortable temperature, for example, to be sent into the room.
For example, in
At step SQ12 described above, the easiest method for calculating the amount of heat, for example, is a method of calculating the temperature based on a comparison between the temperature obtained by simply averaging the temperatures of the left wall, the right wall, the back wall, and the outer wall serving as the installation wall and a set temperature. The amount of heat is calculated after correction of, for example, the temperature of the walls in some cases. However, this calculation is complicated, and description thereof is omitted. In a conventional technique, the temperature of the outer wall serving as the installation wall cannot be included in calculation, but in Embodiment 1, the temperature of the outer wall can be included in calculation. For example, suppose the set temperature is 20 degrees C., and the temperatures of the left wall, the right wall, and the back wall are 17 degrees C. The outer wall serving as the installation wall is 9 degrees C. because the outer wall is separated from the outdoor air.
In this case, the amount of heat obtained by the conventional calculation and the amount of heat obtained in Embodiment 1 are:
(20−(17+17+17)/3)×51000 [J/K]=153000 J Conventional calculation:
(20−(17+17+17+9)/4)*51000 [J/K]=255000 J. Embodiment 1:
The, the amount of heat obtained by the conventional calculation is in short, that is, smaller by 100000 J than the amount of heat obtained in Embodiment 1 in consideration of the temperature of the outer wall. In the conventional calculation, various corrections are needed because the temperature of the outer wall is unknown. As a result, the calculation of the amount of heat is complicated and calculation by controller 70 requires a large number of processes. In addition, the processing speed slightly decreases. In Embodiment 1, the temperature of the outer wall serving as the installation wall is directly detected and reflected in thermal calculation. Thus, a smaller number of corrections are needed, and the number of processes can be reduced. Furthermore, since the temperature of the outer wall is obtained not by correction but by detection, the required accuracy in the amount of heat can be enhanced.
In a case where the installation wall is the outer wall as in Embodiment 1, the detection is easily affected by the temperature of outdoor air. For example, if the outside of the room is cold, it is hypothesized that the temperature sensible by a person is low. Thus, the heat higher than the set temperature may be taken into the room. For example, in the above-described thermal calculation of the average temperature of the walls, the weight of the temperature of the outer wall may be doubled ((i.e., left wall+right wall+back wall+installation wall surface×2)/5). The assignment of weight to the temperature of the outer wall enables thermal calculation to be closer to the sensible temperature, thereby making the room comfortable.
As described above, the temperature of the installation wall surface (the outer wall) can be directly detected so that thermal calculation can be accurately performed even in seasons such as cold winter with the cold outer wall and hot summer with the warmed outer wall. In addition, since the detected temperature of the outer wall can be used for adjustment of the sensible temperature of the end user, air can be sent into the room at a more comfortable airflow rate, for example.
First, at SQ21, the controller 70 obtains panorama thermal image data based on the operation of the temperature sensor 800. Since the process in SQ21 is the same as that in SQ11 described in Embodiment 1, processes subsequent to SQ22 may be performed by using panorama thermal image data obtained by the process at SQ11.
At SQ22, it is determined whether there is a region showing a temperature difference greater than or equal to a predetermined difference. In general, the window is warmer than the wall in summer, and colder than the wall in winter. This is because the window is more susceptible to the influence of outdoor air than the wall. Then, at SQ23, for a portion serving as a wall, an outdoor-air temperature region is extracted. Thereafter, at SQ24, a window region is extracted (i.e., a portion serving as the window is detected).
Once the window region is extracted, the controller 70 monitors a change with time in the temperature at the window region, thereby determining opening/closing of the curtain. For example, if the curtain is open, it is necessary to supply the amount of heat more than that obtained by thermal calculation. In view of this, in order not dissipate heat from the room through the window, the curtain needs to be closed.
At SQ25, it is determined whether the curtain in the window region is open based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 800. If it is determined that the curtain is open, then it is determined at SQ26 whether the difference between the set temperature and the temperature of the window (or the wall) is greater than or equal to a predetermined temperature difference. If the difference is determined to be greater than or equal to the predetermined temperature difference, at SQ27, a signal of instructing that the curtain is closed is transmitted to the notification device 40, and the end user is notified of the signal. Here, the notification is provided by displaying in the notification device 40, but may be provided by means of sound (voice). Alternatively, the notification may be provided by, for example, displaying on a connected remote controller or other components.
As described above, the indoor unit 100 of Embodiment 2 can obtain the same advantages as those of the indoor unit 100 of Embodiment 1. In addition, since a window region of the installation wall surface (the outer wall) can be extracted, the window can be monitored. The monitoring of the window can provide a notification of closing the curtain in a case where the temperature difference between the room and the outdoor air is large, and dissipation of heat from the window can be reduced. Thus, energy can be saved.
An intake air temperature condition detector 60 includes a temperature sensor 61 that detects a dry-bulb temperature (hereinafter referred to as a temperature) near an air inlet 3 and a humidity sensor 62 that detects a relative humidity (hereinafter referred to as a humidity) near the air inlet 3. The temperature sensor 61 and the humidity sensor 62 are disposed near the air inlet 3. A controller 70 of Embodiment 3 calculates a dewpoint temperature (a temperature at which steam changes to water), on the basis of the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 61 and the humidity detected by the humidity sensor 62. Here, a method for calculating the dewpoint temperature, such as a method based on “humidity chart” and a method based on the table in JIS8806, are not specifically limited.
In Embodiment 3, to prevent dew condensation on airflow direction adjustment devices (especially the vertical air deflectors 9), a portion serving as vertical air deflectors 9 is determined based on the parallel thermal image data, and the state of dew condensation is determined based on the temperature at the vertical air deflectors 9 and the dewpoint temperature. Based on the determination, an air deflector driver (not shown) is driven, thereby providing the function as a deflector process controller that controls the vertical air deflectors 9.
First, dew condensation will be described. For example, the case of cooling a room at a temperature of 30 degrees C. with a humidity of 80% will be described. The indoor unit 100 sucks air at a temperature of 30 degrees C. with a humidity of 80% into the body 1 through the air inlet 3. The dewpoint temperature in this case is 26 degrees C. Thus, this air is cooled to 26 degrees C. or lower, part of steam becomes dew (water).
The controller 70 obtains, as data, the temperature and humidity of a room from the intake air temperature condition detector 60. From the data on the temperature and the data on the humidity, the temperature of air to be sent from the air outlet 7 is determined based on the temperature, and a refrigeration cycle is operated in accordance with the determined air temperature. Here, the blowing temperature is 20 degrees C. At this time, dew is generated mainly in the indoor heat exchanger 4, but dew generated in the body 1 is collected. Air at a temperature of 20 degrees C. with a humidity of 100% is sent from the air outlet 7.
Here, during operation, possible dew condensation on airflow direction adjustment devices (especially vertical air deflectors 9 outside the body 1) cannot be collected. The vertical air deflectors 9 themselves are kept at around the blowing temperature (20 degrees C.). For example, depending on the way of sending air, the vertical air deflectors 9 might come into contact with the room air (at a temperature of 30 degrees C. and a humidity of 80%) during operation. The vertical air deflectors 9 might also come into contact with the room air in a case where an air current passing in a path different from an air passage 6. The room air is cooled by air from the body 1 and changes into air at a temperature of 26 degrees C. or less with a humidity of about 100%. When this air strikes the vertical air deflectors 9, condensation can occur. Water drops generated by dew condensation on the lateral air deflectors 10 of the body 1 might also come into contact with the vertical air deflectors 9. In both of these cases, it is common that the temperature and humidity of room air are high when dew is generated.
On the other hand, dew condensation can be prevented immediately before dew condensation is generated on the vertical air deflectors 9. Specifically, the operation of the air-conditioning apparatus is stopped, and the vertical air deflectors 9 are temporarily housed in the body 1 and dried for a short period so that condensation can be prevented. While the vertical air deflectors 9 are housed in the body 1, the operation of the air-conditioning apparatus is stopped and air is not sent into the room. Thus, comfort cannot be provided to the end user.
For example, since the temperature of the vertical air deflectors 9 cannot be detected in the conventional technique, the operation stop of the air-conditioning apparatus for preventing dew condensation is performed at regular intervals. Thus, the efficiency might be degraded by regularly stopping the operation without dew condensation, and water drops are generated by not stopping the operation until a predetermined time has elapsed after generation of dew condensation. In the indoor unit 100 of Embodiment 3, the temperature of the vertical air deflectors 9 is detected so that the operation for preventing dew condensation on the vertical air deflectors 9 can be performed not by time management but is performed when necessary.
If it is determined that the temperature of the vertical air deflectors 9 is greater than or equal to the temperature of air at the air outlet 7, at SQ34, it is determined whether the temperature difference (difference in deflector temperature) between the temperature of the vertical air deflectors 9 and the temperature of air at the air outlet 7 for determination is greater than or equal to a predetermined deflector standard temperature. Here, the deflector standard temperature is set at a temperature that is considered abnormal as the temperature of the vertical air deflectors 9. If it is determined that the difference of deflector temperature is not greater than or equal to the deflector standard temperature, the process returns to SQ31. If it is determined that the difference of deflector temperature is greater than or equal to the deflector standard temperature, at SQ35, the operation of the air-conditioning apparatus (the indoor unit 100) is stopped, and the air outlet 7 is closed by the vertical air deflectors 9.
After the air outlet 7 has been closed, at SQ36, it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed. If the predetermined time has not elapsed, the process waits for the lapse. If it is determined that the predetermined period has lapsed, at SQ37, the operation of the air-conditioning apparatus is started, and the vertical air deflectors 9 are opened. Then, the process returns to SQ31.
Here, in SQ31 through SQ33, the temperature decreasing state of the vertical air deflectors 9 may be monitored. Alternatively, the temperature decreasing state may wait based on time. In addition, SQ36, after a predetermined time is elapsed, the temperature of the vertical air deflectors 9 is detected, and an operation of determining whether the vertical air deflectors 9 are dried or not based on the detected temperature. If it is determined that the vertical air deflectors 9 are not dried, drying is performed by further extending a wait time.
As described above, the indoor unit 100 of the Embodiment 3 can obtain the same advantages as those of the indoor unit 100 of Embodiment 1. In addition, since the air-outlet set temperature and the temperature of the vertical air deflectors 9 can be detected and directly monitored, the state of dew condensation on the vertical air deflectors 9 can be accurately determined. Thus, the vertical air deflectors 9 (the airflow direction adjustment devices) can be dried in an optimum time. Since the vertical air deflectors 9 can determine the state before dew condensation, it is possible to prevent at least dew (water) from dropping onto the room (e.g., the floor) from the body 1. In addition, it is possible to determine whether the temperature of outlet air is abnormal. Furthermore, the position of the vertical air deflectors 9 can be determined so that it is possible to determine whether the vertical air deflectors 9 are at the position as specified. It is also possible to detect abnormality such as a case where the end user forces to touch the vertical air deflectors 9 by hand.
Then, at SQ44, it is determined whether a door is open. If it is determined that the door is not open (i.e., is closed), a process for this door is finished. On the other hand, if it is determined that the door is open, this detection means that the temperature on the farside of the door is detected. Thus, at SQ45, the temperature in the extracted region corresponding to the door is detected. Subsequently, at SQ46, it is determined whether the temperature difference (door temperature difference) between the temperature at the region corresponding to the door n and the room is greater than or equal to a predetermined temperature difference (standard door temperature difference). If it is determined that the door temperature difference is not greater than or equal to the standard door temperature difference, the process on the door n is finished. On the other hand, if it is determined that the door temperature difference is greater than or equal to the standard door temperature difference, output of the indoor unit 100, for example, is increased at SQ47 so that the room including the farside on the door is air-conditioned. Then, at SQ48, n=n+1 is established. At SQ49, it is then determined whether processes on all the doors are finished. If it is determined that the processes are not finished, the process returns to SQ44, and a process is performed on the next door. If it is determined that the processes are finished, processes on the doors are terminated.
As described above, in the indoor unit 100 of Embodiment 4, the temperature sensor 800 can detect all the doors (especially the door at the installation wall) of the room. If one of the doors is open, for example, the temperature in a region on the farside of the door can be detected. For example, in a case where the temperature in a region on the farside of the door is lower than the room temperature in a heating operation or a case where the temperature in a region on the farside of the door is higher than the room temperature in a cooling operation, the room including the region on the farside of the room can be air-conditioned. Thus, comfort of the end user can be enhanced. Here, at SQ46, in a case where the temperature in a region on the farside of the door is higher than the room temperature in a heating operation or a case where the temperature in a region on the farside of the door is lower than the room temperature in a cooling operation, energy saving may be tried by reducing output (the amount of supplied heat) from the indoor unit 100. In a case where the temperature difference between the region on the farside of the door and the room temperature is large, notification of opening the door can be issued.
Thereafter, at SQ53, the angle to each wall surface is calculated. First, suppose the detection time of the edge O7 or the edge O8 is t, conversion into an angle from the initial location of the edge O7 or the edge O8 based on the detection time t is performed. In Embodiment 5, the relationship:
Edge detection angle E=(t/52)×360 degrees
where E is an edge detection angle is established.
Then the distance between the body 1 (the temperature sensor 800) and each edge is obtained as:
Distance L to edge O7=K×tan(edge detection angle E of edge O7)
Distance R to edge O8=K×tan(edge detection angle E of edge O8)
where K (known) is the distance from the installation wall to the temperature sensor 800.
The height of the indoor unit 100 installed on the installation wall can also be derived. For example, on the basis of thermal images shown in
Height of indoor unit 100=L×tan(F)
is established. In the foregoing manner, since the height of the installation location of the indoor unit 100 on the installation wall from the floor is determined, air can be caused to strike the wall when necessary. Detailed description thereof is omitted.
As described above, in the indoor unit 100 of Embodiment 5, the temperature sensor 800 can detect the edge O7 or O8 that are respectively the boundary between the installation wall and the left or right wall. Then, the distance between the temperature sensor 800 and the edge O7 or O8 and the height from the floor are calculated, for example, thereby determining the installation location of the indoor unit 100. For example, to adjust the direction of air flow at the highest temperature, the installation location of the indoor unit 100 can be utilized.
For example, in the room illustrated in
The compressor 210 compresses sucked refrigerant and discharges the compressed refrigerant. The compressor 210 may change the capacity (the amount of refrigerant that is send in a unit time) by, but not limited to, optionally changing the operating frequency with, for example, an inverter circuit. The four-way valve 220 is a valve that switches a refrigerant flow between a cooling operation and a heating operation, for example.
The outdoor heat exchanger 230 of Embodiment 6 exchanges heat between the refrigerant and air (outdoor air). For example, in the heating operation, the outdoor heat exchanger 230 serves as an evaporator and causes refrigerant to evaporate and vaporize. In the cooling operation, the outdoor heat exchanger 230 serves as a condenser and condenses and liquefies the refrigerant.
The expansion valve 240 such as an expansion device (a flow rate controlling means) reduces the pressure of refrigerant and causes the refrigerant to expand. For example, in a case where the expansion valve 240 is an electronic expansion valve, for example, the expansion valve 240 adjusts the opening degree on the basis of an instruction from, for example, a controller (not shown). An indoor heat exchanger 4 exchanges heat between air to be conditioned and refrigerant, for example. The indoor heat exchanger 110 serves as a condenser and condenses and liquefies refrigerant in the heating operation. The indoor heat exchanger 110 serves as an evaporator and causes refrigerant to evaporate and vaporize in the cooling operation.
As described above, since the air-conditioning apparatus can be configured by using indoor unit 100 described in Embodiments above (i.e., the temperature of the installation wall can be directly detected), the temperature detection range in a room to be an air-conditioned space can be expanded, thereby providing a heating operation and a cooling operation with comfort while achieving energy saving.
1: body, 2: front panel, 3: air inlet, 4: indoor heat exchanger, 4a: heat exchanger front portion, 4b: heat exchanger upper front portion, 4c: heat exchanger upper rear portion, 5: fan, 6: air passage, 7: air outlet, 8: drain pan, 8a: upper surface, 8b: lower surface, 9: vertical air deflector, 9a: front vertical air deflector, 9b: rear vertical air deflector, 10: lateral air deflector, 10L: left lateral air deflector group, 10R: right lateral air deflector group, 10a to 10n: lateral air deflector, 20L: left connecting rod, 20R: right connecting rod, 30L: left drive means, 40: notification device, 60: intake air temperature condition detector, 61: temperature sensor, 62: humidity sensor, 70: controller, 100: indoor unit, 200: outdoor unit, 210: compressor, 220: four-way valve, 230: outdoor heat exchanger, 240: expansion valve, 300: gas refrigerant pipe, 400: liquid refrigerant pipe, 800: temperature sensor, 801: motor, 802: transmission part cover, 803: power transmission part, 804: temperature detector, 805: protective cover, 806: attachment part, 807: rib, 808: stopper, 7v: air outlet thermal image, 9v: vertical air deflector thermal image, 100v: indoor unit thermal image.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-130666 | Jun 2014 | JP | national |
