# US 12,111,066 B2 · Method and device for controlling cold storage of air conditioner, and computer-readable storage medium

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- Number: US 12,111,066 B2
- Document ID: US12111066B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/641,196
- Filed: 2019-10-25
- Published: 2022-10-27
- Granted: 2024-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2019-09-10
- Assignees: Gd Midea Air-Conditioning Equipment Co., Ltd.; Midea Group Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Gd Midea Air-Conditioning Equipment Co., Ltd.; Midea Group Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Zhiqin Wu
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12111066B2

## CPC

- F24F 11/64: using pre-stored data
- F24F 5/0017: {using cold storage bodies, e.g. ice}
- F24F 11/61: using timers
- F24F 11/84: using valves
- F24F 11/86: by controlling compressors within refrigeration or heat pump circuits
- F25B 49/02: for compression type machines, plants or systems
- F24F 2110/10: Temperature
- F24F 2110/12: of the outside air
- F24F 2140/20: Heat-exchange fluid temperature
- F25B 2600/01: Timing
- F25B 2600/2513: Expansion valves
- F25B 2700/2106: of fresh outdoor air
- F25B 2700/21152: at the discharge side of the compressor
- Y02E 60/14: Thermal energy storage
- 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)
- F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A method for controlling cold storage of an air conditioner includes acquiring an ambient temperature around the air conditioner and a pipe temperature of an exhaust pipe of a compressor of the air conditioner, acquiring a target opening degree corresponding to a current cold storage mode of the air conditioner according to the ambient temperature and the pipe temperature, and adjusting an opening degree of a throttle device of the air conditioner to be the target opening degree. The throttle device is arranged at a pipe between a cold storage box of the air conditioner and a condenser of the air conditioner.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for controlling cold storage of an air conditioner comprising:
acquiring an ambient temperature around the air conditioner and a pipe temperature of an exhaust pipe of a compressor of the air conditioner;
acquiring a target opening degree Corresponding to a current cold storage mode of the air conditioner according to the ambient temperature and the pipe temperature;
adjusting an opening degree of a throttle device of the air conditioner to be the target opening degree, the throttle device being arranged at a pipe between a cold storage box of the air conditioner and a condenser of the air conditioner; and
before acquiring the ambient temperature and the pipe temperature:
in response to detecting a cold storage instruction, starting a cooling fan of the air conditioner; and
in response to determining that the cooling fan has been operating for a preset duration, starting the compressor.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein acquiring the target opening degree includes:
detecting that a target temperature range matching the ambient temperature exists in preset temperature ranges of a preset temperature range set; and
acquiring the target opening degree according to the target temperature range and the pipe temperature.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2, wherein acquiring the target opening degree according to the target temperature range and the pipe temperature includes:
detecting that a target pipe temperature matching the pipe temperature exists among a plurality of preset pipe temperatures corresponding to the target temperature range; and
acquiring the target opening degree according to the target pipe temperature.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2, wherein:
the pipe temperature is a first pipe temperature of the exhaust pipe; and
acquiring the target opening degree according to the target temperature range and the pipe temperature includes:
in response to determining that a target pipe temperature corresponding to the first pipe temperature does not exist among a plurality of preset pipe temperatures corresponding to the target temperature range and a duration since the first pipe temperature is acquired reaches a preset duration, acquiring a second pipe temperature of the exhaust pipe; and
acquiring the target opening degree according to the first pipe temperature, the second pipe temperature, and the plurality of preset pipe temperatures.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method according to claim 4, wherein:
the target pipe temperature is a first target pipe temperature; and
acquiring the target opening degree according to the first pipe temperature, the second pipe temperature, and the plurality of preset pipe temperatures includes:
in response to determining that the second pipe temperature is greater than the first pipe temperature, acquiring one or more preset temperatures higher than the first pipe temperature among the plurality of preset pipe temperatures;
acquiring a second target pipe temperature that is lowest among the one or more preset temperatures; and
acquiring the target opening degree according to the second target pipe temperature.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The method according to claim 4, wherein:
the target pipe temperature is a first target pipe temperature; and
acquiring the target opening degree according to the first pipe temperature, the second pipe temperature, and the plurality of preset pipe temperatures includes:
in response to determining that the second pipe temperature is lower than the first pipe temperature, acquiring one or more preset temperatures lower than the first pipe temperature among the plurality of preset pipe temperatures;
acquiring a second target pipe temperature that is highest among the one or more preset temperatures; and
acquiring the target opening degree according to the second target pipe temperature.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein:
the compressor is a constant frequency compressor; and
starting the compressor includes controlling the compressor to operate according to a preset frequency.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein:
the compressor is a variable frequency compressor;
the preset duration is a first preset duration; and
starting the compressor includes:
controlling the compressor to operate according to a low frequency; and
in response to that a duration of the compressor operating at the low frequency reaches a second preset duration, adjusting an operating frequency of the compressor according to a preset frequency greater than the low frequency.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method according to claim 8, wherein adjusting the operating frequency of the compressor according to the preset frequency includes:
increasing the operating frequency of the compressor to reach the preset frequency according to a preset time interval and a preset step size.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein:
the preset duration is a first preset duration; and
acquiring the ambient temperature and the pipe temperature includes:
acquiring the ambient temperature and the pipe temperature in response to determining that an operating duration of the compressor reaches a second preset duration.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising, after adjusting the opening degree of the throttle device to be the target opening degree:
acquiring a cold storage temperature in the cold storage box, determining that the cold storage temperature reaches a preset temperature, and turning tuning off the compressor; and
in response to determining that a duration since the compressor is turned off reaches a preset duration, turning off a cooling fan of the air conditioner.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising, after adjusting the opening degree of the throttle device to be the target opening degree:
in response to determining that a duration since the opening degree of the throttle device is adjusted to be the target opening degree reaches a preset duration, acquiring again the ambient temperature and the pipe temperature.

### Claim 13

A device for controlling cold storage of an air conditioner comprising:
a memory storing computer-readable instructions; and
a processor configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to:
acquire an ambient temperature around the air conditioner and a pipe temperature of an exhaust pipe of a compressor of the air conditioner;
acquire a target opening degree Corresponding to a current cold storage mode of the air conditioner according to the ambient temperature and the pipe temperature;
adjust an opening degree of a throttle device of the air conditioner to be the target opening degree, the throttle device being arranged at a pipe between a cold storage box of the air conditioner and a condenser of the air conditioner; and
before acquiring the ambient temperature and the pipe temperature:
in response to detecting a cold storage instruction, start a cooling fan of the air conditioner; and
in response to determining that the cooling fan has been operating for a preset duration, start the compressor.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The device according to claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to:
detect that a target temperature range matching the ambient temperature exists in preset temperature ranges of a preset temperature range set; and
acquire the target opening degree according to the target temperature range and the pipe temperature.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The device according to claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to:
detect that a target pipe temperature matching the pipe temperature exists among a plurality of preset pipe temperatures corresponding to the target temperature range; and
acquire the target opening degree according to the target pipe temperature.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The device according to claim 14, wherein:
the pipe temperature is a first pipe temperature of the exhaust pipe; and
the processor is further configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to:
in response to determining that a target pipe temperature corresponding to the first pipe temperature does not exist among a plurality of preset pipe temperatures corresponding to the target temperature range and a duration since the first pipe temperature is acquired reaches a preset duration, acquire a second pipe temperature of the exhaust pipe; and
acquire the target opening degree according to the first pipe temperature, the second pipe temperature, and the plurality of preset pipe temperatures.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The device according to claim 16, wherein:
the target pipe temperature is a first target pipe temperature; and
the processor is further configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to:
in response to determining that the second pipe temperature is greater than the first pipe temperature, acquire one or more preset temperatures higher than the first pipe temperature among the plurality of preset pipe temperatures;
acquire a second target pipe temperature that is lowest among the one or more preset temperatures; and
acquire the target opening degree according to the second target pipe temperature.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The device according to claim 16, wherein:
the target pipe temperature is a first target pipe temperature; and
the processor is further configured to execute the computer-readable instructions to:
in response to determining that the second pipe temperature is lower than the first pipe temperature, acquire one or more preset temperatures lower than the first pipe temperature among the plurality of preset pipe temperatures;
acquire a second target pipe temperature that is highest among the one or more preset temperatures; and
acquire the target opening degree according to the second target pipe temperature.

### Claim 19

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
acquire an ambient temperature around the air conditioner and a pipe temperature of an exhaust pipe of a compressor of the air conditioner;
acquire a target opening degree Corresponding to a current cold storage mode of the air conditioner according to the ambient temperature and the pipe temperature;
adjust an opening degree of a throttle device of the air conditioner to be the target opening degree, the throttle device being arranged at a pipe between a cold storage box of the air conditioner and a condenser of the air conditioner; and
before acquiring the ambient temperature and the pipe temperature:
in response to detecting a cold storage instruction, start a cooling fan of the air conditioner; and
in response to determining that the cooling fan has been operating for a preset duration, start the compressor.