Air conditioner and pipe search method therefor

A pipe search method for an air conditioner, wherein the air conditioner comprises:

• an outdoor unit configured to circulate refrigerant,
• a plurality of indoor units configured to circulate fluid,
• a heat exchanger that fluidly connects the outdoor unit to the plurality of indoor units and is configured to transfer heat between the refrigerant and the fluid, the heat exchanger including a plurality of ports that fluidly connect to the plurality of indoor units through a plurality of pipes, and
• a controller configured to control flow of the fluid between the heat exchanger and the plurality of indoor units,
• the pipe search method comprising:
• allowing the fluid that is at a first temperature to flow into a first subset of the plurality of ports;
• allowing the fluid that is at a second temperature lower than the first temperature to flow into a second subset of the plurality of ports;
• classifying at least some of the plurality of ports to a first group of ports and a second group of ports, wherein the fluid that is at the first temperature flows through the first group of ports, and wherein the fluid that is at the second temperature flows through the second group of ports;
• allowing the fluid that is at the first temperature to flow into a first subset of the first group of ports;
• allowing the fluid that is at the second temperature to flow into a second subset of the first group of ports;
• allowing the fluid that is at the first temperature to flow into a first subset of the second group of ports;
• and
• allowing the fluid that is at the second temperature to flow into a second subset of the second group of ports.

A pipe search method for an air conditioner, wherein the air conditioner comprises:

• an outdoor unit configured to circulate refrigerant,
• a plurality of indoor units configured to circulate fluid,
• a heat exchanger that fluidly connects the outdoor unit to the plurality of indoor units and is configured to transfer heat between the refrigerant and the fluid, the heat exchanger including a plurality of ports that fluidly connect to the plurality of indoor units through a plurality of pipes, and
• a controller configured to control flow of the fluid between the heat exchanger and the plurality of indoor units,
• the pipe search method comprising:
• detecting an indoor temperature;
• based on the indoor temperature being higher than or equal to a reference temperature, allowing the fluid that is at a first temperature to flow into a first subset of the plurality of ports, and allowing the fluid that is at a second temperature lower than the first temperature flows into a second subset of the plurality of ports;
• and
• based on the indoor temperature being lower than the reference temperature, allowing the fluid that is at the first temperature to flow into a third subset of the plurality of ports and allowing the fluid that is at a third temperature to flow into a fourth subset of the plurality of ports, the third temperature being between the first temperature and the second temperature.