# US 11,441,822 B2 · Air conditioner

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- Number: US 11,441,822 B2
- Document ID: US11441822B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/621,850
- Filed: 2018-07-26
- Published: 2020-05-28
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2017-07-31
- Assignees: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
- Applicants: Daikin Industries, LTD.
- Inventors: Motoki Takagi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11441822B2

## CPC

- F25B 13/00: Compression machines, plants or systems, with reversible cycle (defrosting cycles F25B47/02)
- F24F 11/46: Improving electric energy efficiency or saving
- F24F 11/49: ensuring correct operation, e.g. by trial operation or configuration checks
- F24F 11/58: using Internet communication
- F24F 11/59: for presetting
- F24F 11/64: using pre-stored data
- F24F 11/65: for selecting an operating mode
- F24F 11/74: for controlling air flow rate or air velocity
- F24F 11/80: for controlling the temperature of the supplied air
- F24F 11/84: using valves
- F24F 11/86: by controlling compressors within refrigeration or heat pump circuits
- F25B 41/34: with the valve member being actuated by electric means, e.g. by piezoelectric actuators
- F25B 41/385: Dispositions with two or more expansion means arranged in parallel on a refrigerant line leading to the same evaporator
- F25B 49/02: for compression type machines, plants or systems
- F25B 49/022: {Compressor control arrangements}
- G05B 15/02: electric
- F24F 2140/50: Load
- F24F 2140/60: Energy consumption
- F25B 2313/0233: in parallel arrangements
- F25B 2313/0314: Temperature sensors near the indoor heat exchanger
- F25B 2313/0315: Temperature sensors near the outdoor heat exchanger
- F25B 2600/025: by controlling speed
- F25B 2600/0253: with variable speed
- F25B 2600/111: of condenser fans
- F25B 2600/112: of evaporator fans
- F25B 2600/19: Refrigerant outlet condenser temperature
- F25B 2600/2513: Expansion valves
- F25B 2700/21152: at the discharge side of the compressor
- F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02)
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)

## Abstract

An air conditioner is provided with a refrigerant circuit that has a first refrigerant path to which a compressor, a first utilization-side heat exchanger, a first expansion valve, and a heat source-side heat exchanger are connected in order. A control unit controls the compressor and the first expansion valve. When the control unit receives a request for high-temperature air that temporarily increases the temperature of the hot air blown out through the first utilization-side heat exchanger, the control unit changes the control of the first expansion valve so that the temperature of a refrigerant that flows through the first utilization-side heat exchanger increases.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An air conditioner comprising:
a refrigerant circuit that has a first refrigerant path to which a compressor, a first utilization-side heat exchanger, a first expansion valve, and a heat source-side heat exchanger are connected in order; and
a control unit that controls the compressor and the first expansion valve,
wherein the control unit changes control of the first expansion valve such that a temperature of a refrigerant that flows through the first utilization-side heat exchanger increases so as to increase an average temperature of the first utilization-side heat exchanger when receiving a request for high-temperature air that temporarily increases a temperature of hot air blown out through the first utilization-side heat exchanger,
wherein the refrigerant circuit further includes at least one second refrigerant path to which the compressor, a second utilization-side heat exchanger, a second expansion valve controlled by the control unit, and the heat source-side heat exchanger are connected in order, and
when receiving the request for high-temperature air, the control unit changes the turn-off condition of the heating operation of the second refrigerant path, which is not required for the high-temperature air, so that the heating operation does not turn off before the change of the turn-off condition but turns off after the change of the turn-off condition in a predetermined state.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The air conditioner according to claim 1,
wherein, when receiving the request for high-temperature air, the control unit performs control for lowering a target degree of subcooling so as to increase a superheated area occupied by a gas refrigerant in the first utilization-side heat exchanger.

### Claim 3

An air conditioner comprising:
a refrigerant circuit that has a first refrigerant path to which a compressor, a first utilization-side heat exchanger, a first expansion valve, and a heat source-side heat exchanger are connected in order; and
a control unit that controls the compressor and the first expansion valve,
wherein the control unit changes control of the first expansion valve such that a temperature of a refrigerant that flows through the first utilization-side heat exchanger increases when receiving a request for high-temperature air that temporarily increases a temperature of hot air blown out through the first utilization-side heat exchanger,
wherein the refrigerant circuit further includes at least one second refrigerant path to which the compressor, a second utilization-side heat exchanger, a second expansion valve controlled by the control unit, and the heat source-side heat exchanger are connected in order, and
when receiving the request for high-temperature air, the control unit changes a turn-off condition of a heating operation of the second refrigerant path such that a difference between a set temperature and an indoor temperature, which is a condition for turning off the heating operation of the second refrigerant path for which the request for high-temperature air has not been made, is reduced or set to 0.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The air conditioner according to claim 1,
wherein, when receiving the request for high-temperature air, the control unit performs control for increasing a flow rate of the refrigerant that flows through the first utilization-side heat exchanger by increasing the number of rotations of the compressor.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The air conditioner according to claim 1, further comprising a heat source-side fan that is controlled by the control unit and generates an air flow that passes through the heat source-side heat exchanger,
wherein, when receiving the request for high-temperature air, the control unit increases the number of rotations of the heat source-side fan.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The air conditioner according to claim 1, further comprising a first utilization-side fan that is controlled by the control unit and generates an air flow that passes through the first utilization-side heat exchanger and is blown out as hot air,
wherein, when receiving the request for high-temperature air, the control unit performs control for bringing an airflow volume of the first utilization-side fan to a predetermined value or less.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The air conditioner according to claim 1, further comprising a remote controller that is used when sending the request for high-temperature air to the control unit,
wherein the control unit is configured to receive the request for high-temperature air from the remote controller.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The air conditioner according to claim 1,
wherein, when receiving the request for high-temperature air, the control unit performs control for changing, to a maximum value, a set temperature of a room to be air-conditioned to which hot air is blown out from the first utilization-side heat exchanger.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The air conditioner according to claim 1,
wherein, when receiving the request for high-temperature air, the control unit performs control for correcting an opening degree of the first expansion valve such that the temperature of the refrigerant that flows through the first utilization-side heat exchanger increases.