Patent Description:
<CIT> discloses an air conditioning system including an air conditioner and an outside air processor. The air conditioner includes an outdoor unit and an indoor unit that are connected to each other with a refrigerant circuit. The indoor unit takes in air in a room, adjusts a temperature of the air, and blows out the air into the room. The outside air processor takes in air outside the room, adjusts a temperature and a humidity of the air, and blows out the air into the room. An air conditioning system including an indoor unit and an outdoor unit is disclosed also by <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

The outside air processor is typically installed in, for example, an attic which is an inconspicuous place, and is connected to a blow-out port formed in, for example, a ceiling, through a duct. Therefore, some users do not know the presence of the outside air processor and therefore stop only the operation of the air conditioning apparatus while keeping the outside air processor operating even after the use of the room, which may result in wasteful power consumption.

An object of the present invention is to reduce power consumption by an operation of an outside air processor.

In the air conditioning system, preferably, the control device causes the outside air processor to shift to the output restriction control on condition that all the indoor units shift to the output restriction control.

In a case where the air conditioning system includes the plurality of indoor units, the air conditioning system is capable of suppressing the output of the outside air processor in association with the shift of all of the plurality of the indoor units to the output restriction control.

(<NUM>) In the air conditioning system as recited in (<NUM>), preferably,.

With this configuration, for example, when a user finishes using the room, the air conditioning system is capable of stopping the outside air processor in association with the stop of the indoor units.

In this case, the air conditioning system is capable of suppressing the output of the outside air processor in association with the suppression of the outputs of all the indoor units under the stop control.

(<NUM>) In the air conditioning system as recited in any of (<NUM>) to (<NUM>), preferably,.

In this case, the air conditioning system is capable of suppressing the output of the outside air processor in association with the suppression of the outputs of all the indoor units under the suppression control or the stop control.

(<NUM>) In the air conditioning system as recited in (<NUM>), preferably,
the outside air processor is maintained at the stop control on condition that the outside air processor shifts to the stop control in association with a shift of all the indoor units to the stop control, and then at least one of the indoor units shifts to the ordinary operation control.

With this configuration, even when any of the indoor units shifts from the stop control to the ordinary operation control, the air conditioning system is capable of suppressing an unnecessary operation of the outside air processor, by maintaining the outside air processor at the stop control regardless of the shift.

(<NUM>) In the air conditioning system as recited in (<NUM>), preferably,
the control device causes the outside air processor to shift to the ordinary operation control on condition that the outside air processor shifts to the suppression control in association with a shift of all the indoor units to the stop control, and then any of the indoor units shifts to the ordinary operation control.

(<NUM>) In the air conditioning system as recited in (<NUM>), preferably,
the control device causes the outside air processor to shift to the ordinary operation control on condition that the outside air processor shifts to the suppression control in association with a shift of all the indoor units to the output restriction control, and then any of the indoor units shifts to the ordinary operation control.

(<NUM>) In the air conditioning system as recited in (<NUM>), (<NUM>), (<NUM>), or (<NUM>), preferably,.

With this configuration, the air conditioning system is capable of causing the outside air processor to perform the suppression control, by stopping the compressor of the outdoor unit.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an exemplary configuration of an air conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The air conditioning system <NUM> adjusts a temperature and a humidity inside a room R (i.e., a target space S). The air conditioning system <NUM> includes an air conditioner <NUM> and an outside air processor <NUM>. The air conditioner <NUM> includes an outdoor unit <NUM> installed outside the room R, and an indoor unit <NUM> installed inside the room R. In this embodiment, the indoor unit <NUM> is installed on a ceiling R1 or in an attic. The outside air processor <NUM> is installed in the attic of the room R. The outside air processor <NUM> is connected to the outside through a duct 21C and is connected to the target space S through a duct 21D.

The outdoor unit <NUM> includes a first control device 12A. The indoor unit <NUM> includes a second control device 13A. The second control device 13A of the indoor unit <NUM> is communicably connected to the first control device 12A of the outdoor unit <NUM>, with a communication line. A remote controller 13B is connected to the second control device 13A of the indoor unit <NUM>. The remote controller 13B allows a user to operate the air conditioner <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the air conditioner <NUM> includes one outdoor unit <NUM> and a plurality of indoor units <NUM> each connected to the outdoor unit <NUM>. Each of the second control devices 13A of the indoor units <NUM> is communicably connected to the first control device 12A of the outdoor unit <NUM>. The first control device 12A of the outdoor unit <NUM> receives identification codes from the second control devices 13A of the respective indoor units <NUM>, thereby distinguishing the indoor units <NUM> from one another. A plurality of remote controllers 13B may be provided for the respective indoor units <NUM> or a single remote controller 13B may be provided for the plurality of indoor units <NUM>.

The outside air processor <NUM> includes a third control device 21A. The third control device 21A of the outside air processor <NUM> is communicably connected to the first control device 12A of the outdoor unit <NUM>, with a communication line. A remote controller 21B is connected to the third control device 21A of the outside air processor <NUM>. The remote controller 21B allows the user to operate the outside air processor <NUM>. The first control device 12A of the outdoor unit <NUM> receives an identification code from the third control device 13A of the outside air processor <NUM>, thereby distinguishing the outside air processor <NUM> from each indoor unit <NUM>.

Each of the first, second, and third control devices 12A, 13A, and 21A is practicable using a computer including a processor, a memory, and the like. Each of the first, second, and third control devices 12A, 13A, and 21A exerts various functions in such a way that the processor executes a control program stored in the memory.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an exemplary refrigerant circuit in the air conditioning system <NUM>.

The outdoor unit <NUM>, the indoor units <NUM>, and the outside air processor <NUM> are connected to each other with a single-route refrigerant circuit <NUM>. The outdoor unit <NUM> includes, for example, a compressor <NUM>, an outdoor heat exchanger <NUM>, a fan <NUM>, a four-way switching valve <NUM>, and an expansion mechanism <NUM>. The compressor <NUM> causes a refrigerant to circulate through the refrigerant circuit. The outdoor heat exchanger <NUM> causes the refrigerant to exchange heat with air to increase or decrease a temperature of the air. The fan <NUM> generates a flow of air and provides the air to the outdoor heat exchanger <NUM>. The four-way switching valve <NUM> switches between a way to cause the refrigerant discharged from the compressor <NUM> to flow toward the outdoor heat exchanger <NUM> and a way to cause the refrigerant to flow toward indoor heat exchangers <NUM> and <NUM> which will be described later. The expansion mechanism <NUM> includes, for example, an electric expansion valve and adjusts a flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the outdoor heat exchanger <NUM>. In the outdoor unit <NUM>, the first control device 12A(see <FIG>) controls operations of the compressor <NUM>, fan <NUM>, four-way switching valve <NUM>, and expansion mechanism <NUM>.

Each indoor unit <NUM> includes, for example, the indoor heat exchanger <NUM>, a fan <NUM>, and an expansion mechanism <NUM>. The indoor heat exchanger <NUM> causes the refrigerant to exchange heat with air to increase or decrease a temperature of the air. The fan <NUM> generates a flow of air and provides the air to the indoor heat exchanger <NUM>. The expansion mechanism <NUM> includes, for example, an electric expansion valve and adjusts a flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the indoor heat exchanger <NUM>. In the indoor unit <NUM>, the second control device 13A (see <FIG>) controls operations of the fan <NUM> and expansion mechanism <NUM>.

The outside air processor <NUM> includes, for example, the indoor heat exchanger <NUM>, a fan <NUM>, an expansion mechanism <NUM>, and a humidifier <NUM>. The indoor heat exchanger <NUM> causes the refrigerant to exchange heat with air to increase or decrease a temperature of the air. The fan <NUM> generates a flow of air and provides the air to each of the indoor heat exchanger <NUM> and the humidifier <NUM>. The expansion mechanism <NUM> includes, for example, an electric expansion valve and adjusts a flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through the indoor heat exchanger <NUM>. The humidifier <NUM> includes, for example, an element capable of retaining moisture, and humidifies air that passes through the element. In the outside air processor <NUM>, the third control device 21A controls operations of the fan <NUM> and expansion mechanism <NUM>.

The outdoor unit <NUM>, the indoor units <NUM>, and the outside air processors <NUM> are each capable of performing a known vapor compression refrigeration cycle operation, thereby conditioning the air in the target space S. According to this refrigeration cycle operation, each indoor unit <NUM> performs air conditioning by taking in the air in the target space S, causing the indoor heat exchanger <NUM> to adjust the temperature of the air, and blowing out the air into the target space S. In this description, an output of each indoor unit <NUM> refers to a capability of the indoor unit <NUM> to increase or decrease the temperature of the air in the target space S.

The outside air processor <NUM> performs air conditioning by taking in outside air, adjusting a temperature and a humidity of the outside air, and blowing out the outside air into the target space S. In the outside air processor <NUM>, specifically, the fan <NUM> takes in outside air, the indoor heat exchanger <NUM> adjusts a temperature of the outside air, and the humidifier <NUM> adjusts a humidity of the outside air. In this description, an output of the outside air processor <NUM> refers to a capability of the outside air processor <NUM> to increase or decrease the temperature and humidity of the air in the target space S. The outside air processor <NUM> may alternatively be configured to adjust one of a temperature and a humidity of the target space S.

In each indoor unit <NUM>, the second control device 13A performs ordinary operation control and output restriction control under which the output is restricted as compared with the output under the ordinary operation control. The ordinary operation control is control to adjust an opening degree of the expansion mechanism <NUM> and a number of rotations of the fan <NUM>, thereby adjusting the temperature of the target space S to a predetermined target temperature. The output restriction control includes suppression control to suppress the output and control to stop the operation (stop control). The suppression control may be, for example, control to close the expansion mechanism <NUM> while driving the fan <NUM>, thereby stopping a flow of the refrigerant to the indoor heat exchanger <NUM>. The stop control may be control to close the expansion mechanism <NUM> and stop the fan <NUM> when the user stops the operation with the remote controller 13B.

Also in the outside air processor <NUM>, the third control device 21A performs ordinary operation control and output restriction control under which the output is restricted as compared with the output under the ordinary operation control. The ordinary operation control is control to adjust an opening degree of the expansion mechanism <NUM> and a number of rotations of the fan <NUM>, thereby adjusting the temperature and humidity of the target space S to predetermined target values. The output restriction control includes suppression control to suppress the output and control to stop the operation (stop control). The suppression control may be, for example, control to close the expansion mechanism <NUM> while driving the fan <NUM>, thereby stopping a flow of the refrigerant to the indoor heat exchanger <NUM>. The stop control may be control to close the expansion mechanism <NUM> and stop the fan <NUM> when the user stops the operation with the remote controller 21B.

The first control device 12A of the outdoor unit <NUM> communicates with the second control device 13A of each indoor unit <NUM> and the third control device 21A of the outside air processor <NUM> to receive control states from the second control device 13A and third control device 21A. Therefore, the first control device 12A of the outdoor unit <NUM> is capable of recognizing a present state of each of the indoor unit <NUM> and the outside air processor <NUM> performing the ordinary operation control or the output restriction control.

According to this embodiment, the first control device 12A of the outdoor unit <NUM> performs "association control" to cause the outside air processor <NUM> to shift to the output restriction control in association with a shift of each indoor unit <NUM> to the output restriction control. Next, a specific description will be given of the "association control".

<FIG> is a table illustrating a correspondence relationship between the output restriction control by each indoor unit <NUM> and the output restriction control by the outside air processor <NUM> under the association control. This table shows a correspondence between a state of each indoor unit <NUM> performing the output restriction control and a state of the outside air processor <NUM> performing the output restriction control, the outside air processor <NUM> being shifted to this state by the first control device 12A of the outdoor unit <NUM>. The first control device 12A of the outdoor unit <NUM> performs control to cause the outside air processor <NUM> to shift to one of states (A) to (D) in <FIG>.

In <FIG>, the state (A) indicates that when all the indoor units <NUM> shift to the output restriction control and at least one of the indoor units <NUM> shifts to the suppression control, in other words, when all the indoor units <NUM> shift to the suppression control or when some of the indoor units <NUM> shift to the suppression control while some of the indoor units <NUM> shift to the stop control, the first control device 12A of the outdoor unit <NUM> performs control to cause the outside air processor <NUM> to shift to the suppression control.

In <FIG>, the state (B) indicates that when all the indoor units <NUM> shift to the stop control, the first control device 12A of the outdoor unit <NUM> performs control to cause the outside air processor <NUM> to shift to the suppression control.

In <FIG>, the state (C) indicates that when one of the indoor units <NUM> in the state (A) shifts to the ordinary operation control, the first control device 12A of the outdoor unit <NUM> performs control to cause the outside air processor <NUM> to shift from the suppression control to the ordinary operation control.

In <FIG>, the state (D) indicates that when one of the indoor units <NUM> in the state (B) shifts to the ordinary operation control, the first control device 12A of the outdoor unit <NUM> performs control to cause the outside air processor <NUM> to shift from the suppression control to the ordinary operation control.

Next, a description will be given of a specific processing procedure in the first control device 12A under the association control.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary processing procedure in the first control device 12A of the outdoor unit <NUM> from a shift of each indoor unit <NUM> to the output restriction control to a return to the ordinary operation control.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in step S11, the first control device 12A of the outdoor unit <NUM> receives control states of the indoor units <NUM> from the second control devices 13A and receives a control state of the outside air processor <NUM> from the third control device 21A.

In step S <NUM>, the first control device 12A determines whether all the indoor units <NUM> shift to the output restriction control, in other words, whether all the indoor units <NUM> shift to the suppression control (the state (A) in <FIG>) or the stop control (the state (B) in <FIG>). When the first control device 12A makes a positive determination (YES) in step S12, then, in step S <NUM>, the first control device 12A transmits a signal instructing a shift to the suppression control to the third control device 21A of the outside air processor <NUM>. The third control device 21A of the outside air processor <NUM> performs the suppression control, based on the instruction signal from the first control device 12A.

In step S14, next, the first control device 12Aperforms control to stop the compressor <NUM> of the outdoor unit <NUM>. Since all the indoor units <NUM> shift to the suppression control or the stop control and the outside air processor <NUM> shifts to the suppression control before the processing proceeds to step S13, no problem occurs even when the compressor <NUM> is stopped. Stopping the compressor <NUM> enables a reduction in operating time and a reduction in power consumption. The shift of the outside air processor <NUM> to the suppression control may alternatively be achieved when the first control device 12A performs control to stop the compressor <NUM>. For example, when the compressor <NUM> is stopped, the refrigerant does not flow into the indoor heat exchanger <NUM> of the outside air processor <NUM>; therefore, the outside air processor <NUM> substantially shifts to the suppression control.

In step S <NUM>, when the first control device 12A of the outdoor unit <NUM> receives a signal indicating a shift to the ordinary operation control from the second control device 13A of any of the indoor units <NUM>, then, in step S <NUM>, the first control device 12A of the outdoor unit <NUM> restarts the operation of the compressor <NUM>. Next, in step S17, the first control device 12A transmits a signal instructing a shift to the ordinary operation control to the third control device 21A of the outside air processor <NUM>. The third control device 21A of the outside air processor <NUM> performs the ordinary operation control, based on the instruction signal from the first control device 12A.

The first control device 12A of the outdoor unit <NUM> is thus capable of causing the outside air processor <NUM> to shift to the output restriction control in association with the output restriction control by the indoor units <NUM>. This configuration thus eliminates continuation of an unnecessary operation of the outside air processor <NUM> while the indoor units <NUM> perform the suppression control or stop, and therefore enables a reduction in power consumption owing to the wasteful operation of the outside air processor <NUM>.

<FIG> is a table illustrating a correspondence relationship between the output restriction control by each indoor unit <NUM> and the output restriction control by the outside air processor <NUM> under the association control according to a modification. The first control device 12A of the outdoor unit <NUM> performs control to cause the outside air processor <NUM> to shift to one of states (E) to (H) in <FIG>.

In <FIG>, the state (E) indicates that when all the indoor units <NUM> shift to the output restriction control and at least one of the indoor units <NUM> shifts to the suppression control, in other words, when all the indoor units <NUM> shift to the suppression control or when some of the indoor units <NUM> shift to the suppression control while some of the indoor units <NUM> shift to the stop control, the first control device 12A of the outdoor unit <NUM> performs control to cause the outside air processor <NUM> to shift to the suppression control.

In <FIG>, the state (F) indicates that when all the indoor units <NUM> shift to the stop control, the first control device 12A of the outdoor unit <NUM> performs control to cause the outside air processor <NUM> to shift to the stop control.

In <FIG>, the state (G) indicates that when one of the indoor units <NUM> in the control state (E) shifts to the ordinary operation control, the first control device 12A of the outdoor unit <NUM> performs control to cause the outside air processor <NUM> to shift from the suppression control to the ordinary operation control.

In <FIG>, the state (H) indicates that when one of the indoor units <NUM> in the control state (F) shifts to the ordinary operation control, the outdoor unit <NUM> is maintained in a stopped state.

Next, a description will be given of a specific processing procedure in the first control device 12A under the association control according to the modification.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in step S21, the first control device 12A of the outdoor unit <NUM> receives control states of the indoor units <NUM> from the second control devices 13A and receives a control state of the outside air processor <NUM> from the third control device 21A.

In step S22, the first control device 12A determines whether all the indoor units <NUM> shift to the output restriction control. When the first control device 12A makes a positive determination (YES) in step S22, then, in step S23, the first control device 12A determines whether all the indoor units <NUM> shift to the stop control. A positive determination (YES) in step S23 made by the first control device 12A indicates that all the indoor units <NUM> shift to the stop control (the state (F) in <FIG>). A negative determination (NO) made by the first control device 12A indicates that all the indoor units <NUM> shift to the output restriction control and at least one of the indoor units <NUM> shifts to the suppression control (the state (E) in <FIG>).

When the first control device 12A of the outdoor unit <NUM> makes the positive determination (YES) in step S23, then, in step S24, the first control device 12A of the outdoor unit <NUM> transmits a signal instructing a shift to the stop control to the third control device 21A of the outside air processor <NUM>. The third control device 21A of the outside air processor <NUM> performs the stop control, based on the instruction signal from the first control device 12A.

In step S25, the first control device 12A of the outdoor unit <NUM> performs control to stop the compressor <NUM> of the outdoor unit <NUM>. Since all the indoor units <NUM> and the outside air processor <NUM> shift to the stop control before the processing proceeds to step S23, no problem occurs even when the compressor <NUM> is stopped. This configuration thus reduces an operating time of the compressor <NUM>, leading to a reduction in power consumption.

In step S26, when the first control device 12A of the outdoor unit <NUM> receives a signal indicating a shift to the ordinary operation control from the second control device 13A of any of the indoor units <NUM>, then, in step S27, the first control device 12A of the outdoor unit <NUM> restarts the operation of the compressor <NUM>. This configuration thus enables the ordinary operation control by any of the indoor units <NUM>. Thereafter, the first control device 12A maintains the outside air processor <NUM> in the stopped state without transmitting a signal instructing a shift to the ordinary operation control to the third control device 21A of the outside air processor <NUM>.

On the other hand, when the first control device 12A of the outdoor unit <NUM> makes the negative determination (NO) in step S23, then, in step S28, the first control device 12A of the outdoor unit <NUM> transmits a signal instructing a shift to the suppression control to the third control device 21A of the outside air processor <NUM>. The third control device 21A of the outside air processor <NUM> performs the suppression control, based on the instruction signal from the first control device 12A.

In step S29, next, the first control device 12A performs control to stop the compressor <NUM> of the outdoor unit <NUM>. Since all the indoor units <NUM> shift to the suppression control or the stop control and the outside air processor <NUM> shifts to the suppression control before the processing proceeds to step S28, no problem occurs even when the compressor <NUM> is stopped. This configuration thus reduces an operating time of the compressor <NUM>, leading to a reduction in power consumption. The shift of the outside air processor <NUM> to the suppression control may alternatively be achieved when the first control device 12A performs control to stop the compressor <NUM>.

In step S30, when the first control device 12A of the outdoor unit <NUM> receives a signal indicating a shift to the ordinary operation control from the second control device 13A of any of the indoor units <NUM>, then, in step S31, the first control device 12A of the outdoor unit <NUM> restarts the operation of the compressor <NUM>. This configuration thus enables the ordinary operation control by any of the indoor units <NUM>. Next, in step S32, the first control device 12A transmits a signal instructing a shift to the ordinary operation control to the third control device 21A of the outside air processor <NUM>. The third control device 21A of the outside air processor <NUM> performs the ordinary operation control, based on the instruction signal from the first control device 12A.

Also in the foregoing modification, the first control device 12A of the outdoor unit <NUM> is thus capable of causing the outside air processor <NUM> to shift to the output restriction control in association with the output restriction control by the indoor units <NUM>. This configuration thus eliminates continuation of an unnecessary operation of the outside air processor <NUM> while the indoor units <NUM> perform the suppression control or stop, and therefore enables a reduction in power consumption owing to the wasteful operation of the outside air processor <NUM>.

The first control device 12A of the outdoor unit <NUM> may receive selection of one of the way of the association control illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> and the way of the association control illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> and perform the association control in the selected way. In this case, for example, a control board on which the computer of the first control device 12A is mounted is provided with a selector, such as a DIP switch, for selecting the way of the association control. In installing the air conditioner <NUM> and the outside air processor <NUM>, the way of the association control can be selected through settings by a service engineer.

In the foregoing embodiment, the air conditioning system <NUM> includes the plurality of indoor units <NUM>. The air conditioning system <NUM> may alternatively include one indoor unit <NUM>. In the foregoing embodiment, the air conditioning system <NUM> includes one outside air processor <NUM>. The air conditioning system <NUM> may alternatively include a plurality of outside air processors <NUM>. In the foregoing embodiment, the air conditioning system <NUM> includes one outdoor unit <NUM>. The air conditioning system <NUM> may alternatively include a plurality of outdoor units <NUM>. In this case, the association control can be performed by the first control device 12A of one outdoor unit (master) <NUM> of the plurality of outdoor units <NUM>.

Claim 1:
An air conditioning system
comprising:
an outdoor unit (<NUM>) including a control device (12A);
an indoor unit (<NUM>); and
an outside air processor (<NUM>),
wherein
the indoor unit (<NUM>) is capable of performing
ordinary operation control to adjust a temperature of air in a room, the air being taken in the indoor unit (<NUM>), and supply the air into the room, and
output restriction control under which an output is restricted as compared with an output under the ordinary operation control,
the outside air processor (<NUM>) is capable of performing
ordinary operation control to adjust at least one of a temperature and a humidity of air outside the room, the air being taken in the outside air processor (<NUM>), and supply the air into the room, and
output restriction control under which an output is restricted as compared with an output under the ordinary operation control, characterized in that
the indoor unit (<NUM>) is communicably connected to the control device (12A);
the outside air processor (<NUM>) is communicably connected to the control device (12A); and
the control device (12A) causes the outside air processor (<NUM>) to shift from the ordinary operation control to the output restriction control on condition that the indoor unit (<NUM>) shifts from the ordinary operation control to the output restriction control.