# US 12,222,127 B2 · Air conditioner, control method and control device thereof

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- Number: US 12,222,127 B2
- Document ID: US12222127B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/713,051
- Filed: 2022-04-04
- Published: 2022-07-21
- Granted: 2025-02-11
- Earliest claimed: 2016-10-17
- Assignees: Gree Electric Appliances, Inc. of Zhuhai
- Applicants: Gree Electric Appliances, Inc. of Zhuhai
- Inventors: Feng Wei; Haidong Lin; Si Sun; Chuanhua Wang; Enquan Zhang; Pengju Zhao; Pu Zhao; Huaben Li
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12222127B2

## CPC

- F24F 11/86: by controlling compressors within refrigeration or heat pump circuits
- F25B 13/00: Compression machines, plants or systems, with reversible cycle (defrosting cycles F25B47/02)
- F24F 11/63: Electronic processing
- F25B 49/02: for compression type machines, plants or systems
- F25B 2400/13: Economisers
- F25B 2500/26: characterised by the startup of the refrigeration cycle
- 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

## Abstract

A control method of an air conditioner, includes: acquiring a temperature of injected vapor and a pressure of the injected vapor of a compressor of the air conditioner, to obtain a superheat degree of the injected vapor of the compressor of the air conditioner and a continuous duration of the superheat degree of the injected vapor; if the continuous duration is greater than or equal to a first preset value, and if an exhaust temperature of the compressor is less than a critical value of the exhaust temperature of the compressor within the continuous duration, controlling the compressor to be in a shutdown state, and if the continuous duration is less than the first preset value, and if the exhaust temperature of the compressor is less than the critical value of the exhaust temperature of the compressor within the continuous duration, controlling the compressor to remain in an operating state.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A control method of an air conditioner, comprising:
acquiring a temperature (T1) of injected vapor and a pressure (P1) of the injected vapor of a compressor of the air conditioner, to obtain a superheat degree (TG) of the injected vapor of the compressor of the air conditioner and a continuous duration (tc) of the superheat degree (TG) of the injected vapor; the continuous duration (tc) of the superheat degree (TG) of the injected vapor being a time period during which the superheat degree (TG) of the injected vapor continues;
if the continuous duration (tc) is greater than or equal to a first preset value (tMAX), and if an exhaust temperature (T2) of the compressor is less than a critical value (TL) of the exhaust temperature of the compressor within the continuous duration (tc), controlling the compressor to be in a shutdown state, and controlling the compressor to restart or to be in a shutdown protection state according to the number (N) of shutdowns of the compressor; and
if the continuous duration (tc) is less than the first preset value (tMAX), and if the exhaust temperature (T2) of the compressor is less than the critical value (TL) of the exhaust temperature of the compressor within the continuous duration (tc), controlling the compressor to remain in an operating state.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The control method according to claim 1, wherein, the controlling the compressor to restart or to be in a shutdown protection state according to the number (N) of shutdowns of the compressor comprises:
determining whether the number (N) of the shutdowns of the compressor is greater than a second preset value (NMAX);
if the number (N) of the shutdowns of the compressor is less than or equal to the second preset value (NMAX), controlling the compressor to restart; and
if the number (N) of the shutdowns of the compressor is greater than the second preset value (NMAX), controlling the compressor to be in the shutdown protection state.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The control method according to claim 2, wherein, the second preset value (NMAX) is an integer satisfying 1≤N≤2.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The control method according to claim 1, further comprising:
determining whether the exhaust temperature (T2) of the compressor is greater than or equal to the critical value (TL) of the exhaust temperature of the compressor;
if the exhaust temperature (T2) of the compressor is greater than or equal to the critical value (TL) of the exhaust temperature of the compressor, controlling the compressor to be in the shutdown protection state.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The control method according to claim 1, wherein the acquiring the temperature (T1) of the injected vapor and the pressure (P1) of the injected vapor of the compressor of the air conditioner, to obtain the superheat degree (TG) of the injected vapor of the compressor of the air conditioner and the continuous duration (tc) of the superheat degree (TG) of the injected vapor, comprises:
determining whether the superheat degree (TG) of the injected vapor is less than or equal to a superheat degree deviation (TP);
if the superheat degree (TG) of the injected vapor is less than or equal to the superheat degree deviation (TP), the superheat degree (TG) being negative, calculating a negative-superheat degree continuous duration (tN), and calculating the continuous duration (tc) of the superheat degree (TG) of the injected vapor to be tc=tN; the negative-superheat degree continuous duration (tN) being a time period during which the negative superheat degree continues; and
if the superheat degree (TG) of the injected vapor is greater than the superheat degree deviation (TP), the superheat degree (TG) being positive, calculating a positive-superheat degree continuous duration (tP), and determining whether the positive-superheat degree continuous duration (tP) is less than or equal to a third preset value (tthreshold); the positive-superheat degree continuous duration (tP) being a time period during which the positive superheat degree continues;
if the positive-superheat degree continuous duration (tP) is less than or equal to the third preset value (tthreshold) calculating the continuous duration (tc) of the superheat degree (TG) of the injected vapor to be tc=tN+tP; and
if the positive-superheat degree continuous duration (tP) is greater than the third preset value (tthreshold), resetting a calculated continuous duration (tc) to obtain tc=0.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The control method according to claim 5, wherein, the third preset value (tthreshold) satisfies 0<tthreshold≤60 s.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The control method according to claim 1, wherein, the acquiring the temperature (T1) of the injected vapor and the pressure (P1) of the injected vapor of the compressor of the air conditioner, to obtain the superheat degree (TG) of the injected vapor of the compressor of the air conditioner and the continuous duration (tc) of the superheat degree (TG) of the injected vapor, comprises:
in a heating mode or in a cooling mode of the air conditioner, determining whether the superheat degree (TG) of the injected vapor is less than or equal to the superheat degree deviation (TP);
if the superheat degree (TG) of the injected vapor is less than or equal to the superheat degree deviation (TP), the superheat degree (TG) being negative, calculating a negative-superheat degree continuous duration (tN), and calculating the continuous duration (tc) of the superheat degree (TG) of the injected vapor to be tc=tN; the negative-superheat degree continuous duration (tN) being a time period during which the negative superheat degree continues;
if the superheat degree (TG) of the injected vapor is greater than the superheat degree deviation (TP), the superheat degree (TG) being positive, calculating a positive-superheat degree continuous duration (tP), and determining whether the positive-superheat degree continuous duration (tP) is less than or equal to a third preset value (tthreshold); the positive-superheat degree continuous duration (tP) being a time period during which the positive superheat degree continues;
if the positive-superheat degree continuous duration (tP) is less than or equal to the third preset value (tthreshold), calculating the continuous duration (tc) of the superheat degree (TG) of the injected vapor to be tc=tN+tP; and
if the positive-superheat degree continuous duration (tP) is greater than the third preset value (tthreshold), resetting a calculated continuous duration (tc) to obtain tc=0; and
in the heating mode, and when the air conditioner performs the defrost mode, the continuous duration being reset to tc=0.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

A computer device, comprising a memory and a processor, wherein, a computer program is stored in the memory, and when executing the computer program, the processor performs steps of the control method of claim 1.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, wherein a computer program is stored in the storage medium, and when executed by a processor, the computer program performs steps of the control method of claim 1.

### Claim 10

A control device of an air conditioner, comprising:
circuitry of an acquiring unit, comprising a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, and a pressure sensor, and configured to acquire a temperature (T1) of injected vapor and a pressure (P1) of the injected vapor of a compressor of the air conditioner, to obtain a superheat degree (TG) of the injected vapor of the compressor of the air conditioner and a continuous duration (tc) of the superheat degree (TG) of the injected vapor, wherein the continuous duration (tc) of the superheat degree (TG) of the injected vapor is a time period during which the superheat degree (TG) of the injected vapor continues; and
circuitry of a comparing and controlling unit, electrically connected with the circuitry of the acquiring unit, and configured to: if the continuous duration (tc) is greater than or equal to a first preset value (tMAX), and if an exhaust temperature (T2) of the compressor is less than a critical value (TL) of the exhaust temperature of the compressor within the continuous duration (tc), control the compressor to be in a shutdown state, and control the compressor to restart or to be in a shutdown protection state according to the number (N) of shutdowns of the compressor; and if the continuous duration (tc) is less than the first preset value (tMAX), and if the exhaust temperature (T2) of the compressor is less than the critical value (TL) of the exhaust temperature of the compressor within the continuous duration (tc), control the compressor to remain in an operating state.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The control device of the air conditioner according to claim 10, wherein,
the circuitry of the comparing and controlling unit is further configured to: determine whether the number (N) of the shutdowns of the compressor is greater than a second preset value (NMAX); if the number (N) of the shutdowns of the compressor is less than or equal to the second preset value (NMAX), control the compressor to restart; and if the number (N) of the shutdowns of the compressor is greater than the second preset value (NMAX), control the compressor to be in the shutdown protection state.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The control device of the air conditioner according to claim 10, wherein,
the circuitry of the comparing and controlling unit is further configured to: determine whether the exhaust temperature (T2) of the compressor is greater than or equal to the critical value (TL) of the exhaust temperature of the compressor; and if the exhaust temperature (T2) of the compressor is greater than or equal to the critical value (TL) of the exhaust temperature of the compressor, control the compressor to be in the shutdown protection state.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The control device of the air conditioner according to claim 10, wherein,
the circuitry of the acquiring unit is further configured to:
determine whether the superheat degree (TG) of the injected vapor is less than or equal to the superheat degree deviation (TP);
if the superheat degree (TG) of the injected vapor is less than or equal to the superheat degree deviation (TP), the superheat degree (TG) is negative, calculate a negative-superheat degree continuous duration (tN), and calculate the continuous duration (tc) of the superheat degree (TG) of the injected vapor to be tc=tN, wherein the negative-superheat degree continuous duration (tP) is a time period during which the negative superheat degree continues; and
if the superheat degree (TG) of the injected vapor is greater than the superheat degree deviation (TP), the superheat degree (TG) is positive, calculate a positive-superheat degree continuous duration (tP), and determine whether the positive-superheat degree continuous duration (tP) is less than or equal to a third preset value (tthreshold), wherein the positive-superheat degree continuous duration (tP) is a time period during which the positive superheat degree continues;
if the positive-superheat degree continuous duration (tP) is less than or equal to the third preset value (tthreshold), calculate the continuous duration (tc) of the superheat degree (TG) of the injected vapor to be tc=tN+tP; and
if the positive-superheat degree continuous duration (tP) is greater than the third preset value (tthreshold), reset a calculated continuous duration (tc) to obtain tc=0.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The control device of the air conditioner according to claim 10, wherein,
the circuitry of the acquiring unit is further configured to: in a heating mode or in a cooling mode of the air conditioner, determine whether the superheat degree (TG) of the injected vapor is less than or equal to the superheat degree deviation (TP);
if the superheat degree (TG) of the injected vapor is less than or equal to the superheat degree deviation (TP), the superheat degree (TG) is negative, calculate a negative-superheat degree continuous duration (tN), and calculate the continuous duration (tc) of the superheat degree (TG) of the injected vapor to be tc=tN, wherein the negative-superheat degree continuous duration (tN) is a time period during which the negative superheat degree continues;
if the superheat degree (TG) of the injected vapor is greater than the superheat degree deviation (TP), the superheat degree (TG) is positive, calculate a positive-superheat degree continuous duration (tP), and determine whether the positive-superheat degree continuous duration (tP) is less than or equal to a third preset value (tthreshold), wherein the positive-superheat degree continuous duration (tP) is a time period during which the positive superheat degree continues;
if the positive-superheat degree continuous duration (tP) is less than or equal to the third preset value (tthreshold), calculate the continuous duration (tc) of the superheat degree (TG) of the injected vapor to be tc=tN+tP; and
if the positive-superheat degree continuous duration (tP) is greater than the third preset value (tthreshold), reset a calculated continuous duration (tc) to obtain tc=0; and
in the heating mode, and when the air conditioner performs the defrost mode, reset the continuous duration to be tc=0.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

An air conditioner, comprising:
a compressor, a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, a gas supply device, which are in communication with each other;
the control device of the air conditioner of claim 10; and
a gas supply pipeline, a first end of the gas supply pipeline being in communication with an outlet end of the first heat exchanger, a second end of the gas supply pipeline being in communication with a gas supply port of the compressor, and at least part of the gas supply pipeline performing heat exchange with the gas supply device to increase temperature of a refrigerant in the gas supply pipeline.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The air conditioner according to claim 15, wherein, the gas supply pipeline is provided with at least one of an electronic expansion valve, a pressure sensor and a first temperature sensor.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The air conditioner according to claim 15, wherein, a second temperature sensor is arranged in a discharge pipeline of the compressor.