Startup control apparatus of air conditioner

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9400120-B2
Application number	US-200913002201-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 8, 2009
Priority date	Jul 11, 2008
Publication date	Jul 26, 2016
Grant date	Jul 26, 2016

Abstract

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

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A startup control apparatus of an air conditioner that performs startup control of the air conditioner in which capacity of a compressor is automatically reduced as an indoor temperature approaches a set temperature to bring the indoor temperature close to the set temperature, the startup control apparatus comprising:
a desired time setting unit configured to set a desired time of day directly or indirectly;
an indoor temperature measuring unit configured to measure the indoor temperature;
an inflection point occurrence time measuring unit configured to measure an inflection point occurrence time, which is a time from when the air conditioner starts operation until when a measured indoor temperature measured by the indoor temperature measuring unit exhibits an inflection point, the inflection point being a first point in which a sign of a slope value of the indoor temperature changes by automatically and gradually reducing the capacity of the compressor in the startup control of the air conditioner as the indoor temperature approaches the set temperature to bring the indoor temperature close to the set temperature;
an air conditioning operation scheduled start time determining unit configured to set as a scheduled operation start time of the air conditioner a time of day that is the desired time of day set by the desired time setting unit moved forward by the inflection point occurrence time; and
a startup control unit configured to start a subsequent start operation of the air conditioner when the scheduled operation start time set by the air conditioning operation scheduled start time determining unit arrives.

2. The startup control apparatus of the air conditioner according to claim 1 , wherein
the inflection point occurrence time measuring unit includes
a moving average value calculating and storing section configured to calculate and store a moving average value of the measured indoor temperature each time a prescribed time interval elapses;
a slope calculating and storing section configured to calculate and store a slope of a change in the measured indoor temperature by subtracting a second-latest moving average value of the measured indoor temperature from a latest moving average value of the measured indoor temperature; and
an inflection point detecting section configured to detect the inflection point by comparing
a positive or negative sign of a latest slope of the change with
a positive or negative sign of a second-latest slope of the change.

3. The startup control apparatus of the air conditioner according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an absolute difference calculating unit configured to calculate an absolute difference between the set temperature and the measured indoor temperature when the inflection point is exhibited; and
an inflection point occurrence time remeasuring command unit configured to cause the inflection point occurrence time measuring unit to remeasure the inflection point occurrence time if the absolute difference is greater than or equal to a prescribed value.

4. The startup control apparatus of the air conditioner according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an absolute difference calculating unit configured to calculate an absolute difference between the set temperature and the measured indoor temperature when the inflection point is exhibited; and
an inflection point occurrence time remeasuring command unit configured to add the absolute difference to or subtract the absolute difference from the set temperature and then cause the inflection point occurrence time measuring unit to remeasure the inflection point occurrence time if the absolute difference is greater than or equal to a prescribed value.

5. The startup control apparatus of the air conditioner according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a temperature difference calculating unit configured to calculate a temperature difference by subtracting the measured indoor temperature from the set temperature when the inflection point is exhibited; and
an inflection point occurrence time remeasuring command unit configured to cause the inflection point occurrence time measuring unit to remeasure the inflection point occurrence time if the temperature difference is greater than or equal to a prescribed value or less than or equal to the prescribed value.

6. The startup control apparatus of the air conditioner according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a temperature difference calculating unit configured to calculate a temperature difference by subtracting the measured indoor temperature from the set temperature when the inflection point is exhibited; and
an inflection point occurrence time remeasuring command unit configured to add the temperature difference to the set temperature and then cause the inflection point occurrence time measuring unit to remeasure the inflection point occurrence time if the temperature difference is greater than or equal to a prescribed value or less than or equal to the prescribed value.

7. A startup control apparatus of an air conditioner that performs startup control of the air in which capacity of a compressor is automatically reduced as an indoor temperature approaches a set temperature to bring the indoor temperature close to the set temperature, the startup control apparatus comprising:
a desired time setting unit configured to set a desired time of day directly or indirectly;
an indoor temperature measuring unit configured to measure the indoor temperature;
a control parameter lowering arrival time measuring unit configured to measure a control parameter lowering arrival time, the control parameter lowering arrival time being a time from when the air conditioner starts operation until when a control parameter transmitted to the compressor decreases to a prescribed value by automatically and gradually reducing the capacity of the compressor in the startup control of the air conditioner as the indoor temperature approaches the set temperature to bring the indoor temperature close to the set temperature, the control parameter being numerical information by which an operation frequency of the compressor is reduced:
an air conditioning operation scheduled start time determining unit configured to set as a scheduled operation start time of the air conditioner a time of day that is the desired time of day set by the desired time setting unit moved forward by the control parameter lowering arrival time; and
a startup control unit configured to start a subsequent start operation of the air conditioner when the scheduled operation start time set by the air conditioning operation scheduled start time determining unit arrives.

8. The startup control apparatus of the air conditioner according to claim 2 , further comprising:
an absolute difference calculating unit configured to calculate an absolute difference between the set temperature and the measured indoor temperature when the inflection point is exhibited; and
an inflection point occurrence time remeasuring command unit configured to cause the inflection point occurrence time measuring unit to remeasure the inflection point occurrence time if the absolute difference is greater than or equal to a prescribed value.

9. The startup control apparatus of the air conditioner according to claim 2 , further comprising:
an absolute difference calculating unit configured to calculate an absolute difference between the net temperature and the measured indoor temperature when the inflection point is exhibited; and
an inflection point occurrence time remeasuring command unit configured to add the absolute difference to or subtract the absolute difference from the set temperature and then cause the inflection point occurrence time measuri

Assignees

• Kinugasa Nanae
• Daikin Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Kinugasa Nanae

Classifications

• F24F11/86 Primary

  by controlling compressors within refrigeration or heat pump circuits · CPC title

• F24F11/84

  using valves · CPC title

• F24F11/83 Primary

  by controlling the supply of heat-exchange fluids to heat-exchangers · CPC title

• F25B49/022

  Compressor control arrangements · CPC title

• F25B2600/0253

  with variable speed · CPC title