Multi-Air Conditioner

This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/KR2023/020108 designating the United States, filed on Dec. 7, 2023, in the Korean Intellectual Property Receiving Office and claiming priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0010449, filed on Jan. 26, 2023, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of each of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

The disclosure relates to a multi-air conditioner including a plurality of indoor units.

An air conditioner refers to a device for cooling or heating an indoor space. When the indoor space is partitioned into a plurality of spaces, a respective air conditioner may be installed to cool or heat each of the indoor spaces.

A multi-air conditioner may connect a plurality of indoor units to a single outdoor unit. The plurality of indoor units may be installed in respective indoor spaces, thereby allowing the temperature of each of the indoor spaces to be individually regulated according to the user's convenience.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide a multi-air conditioner that prevents/reduces refrigerant from being introduced into an indoor unit that has stopped operation.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide a multi-air conditioner that prevents/reduces oil from being introduced into an indoor unit that has stopped operation.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide a multi-air conditioner that prevents/reduces noise from being generated from an indoor unit that has stopped operation.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide a multi-air conditioner having improved compatibility with an indoor unit.

Technical problems to be addressed by this disclosure are not limited to the above-mentioned technical problems, and other technical problems, which are not described above, may be clearly understood from the following descriptions by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains.

A multi-air conditioner according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure includes: an outdoor unit, a plurality of indoor units, a header module including an inlet pipe branched and configured to supply refrigerant compressed by the outdoor unit to the plurality of indoor units and a collection pipe joined and configured to collect refrigerant heat-exchanged from the plurality of indoor units to the outdoor unit, and a connection kit detachably coupled between the header module and the plurality of indoor units. The connection kit may include a connection inlet pipe configured to introduce refrigerant from the inlet pipe of the header module to the plurality of indoor units, a connection collection pipe configured to collect refrigerant from the plurality of indoor units to the collection pipe of the header module, connection regulating valves provided to the connection inlet pipe and the connection collection pipe and configured to suppress refrigerant from being supplied to the plurality of indoor units, and a connection bypass portion connecting the connection inlet pipe and the connection collection pipe and configured to bypass refrigerant introduced into the connection inlet pipe to the connection collection pipe.

A multi-air conditioner according to an example embodiment the present disclosure includes: an outdoor unit, a plurality of indoor units, and a header module including a first header including an inlet pipe branched and configured to supply refrigerant compressed by the outdoor unit to the plurality of indoor units, and a second header including a collection pipe joined and configured to collect refrigerant heat-exchanged from the plurality of indoor units to the outdoor unit. The header module may include regulating valves provided to the inlet pipe and the collection pipe configured to suppress refrigerant from being supplied to the plurality of indoor units, and a bypass portion connecting the inlet pipe and the collection pipe and configured to bypass refrigerant introduced into the inlet pipe to the collection pipe.

A multi-air conditioner according to an example embodiment the present disclosure may include: an outdoor unit, a first indoor unit connected to the outdoor unit, a second indoor unit disposed spaced apart from the first indoor unit, and a cooling and heating switching device configured to connect the outdoor unit, the first indoor unit, and the second indoor unit. The cooling and heating switching device may include a liquid pipe, a high-pressure gas pipe, a heating regulating valve provided to the high-pressure gas pipe, a low-pressure gas pipe, and a cooling regulating valve provided to the low-pressure gas pipe. The multi-air conditioner may include a controller comprising circuitry configured to control the heating regulating valve and the cooling regulating valve. The controller may be configured to close the heating regulating valve and the cooling regulating valve connected to the first indoor unit to suppress refrigerant from being supplied to the first indoor unit based on the operation of the first indoor unit being stopped.

A multi-air conditioner according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure includes: an outdoor unit, a first indoor unit connected to the outdoor unit, a second indoor unit connected to the outdoor unit and disposed spaced apart from the first indoor unit, a header module including an inlet pipe branched and configured to supply refrigerant compressed by the outdoor unit to the first indoor unit and the second indoor unit, and a collection pipe joined and configured to collect refrigerant heat-exchanged from the first indoor unit and the second indoor unit to the outdoor unit, and a connection kit detachably coupled between the header module and the first indoor unit. The connection kit may include: a connection inlet pipe configured to introduce refrigerant from the header module to the first indoor unit, a connection collection pipe configured to collect refrigerant from the first indoor unit to the header module, a connection regulating valve provided to the connection inlet pipe and the connection collection pipe and configured to suppress refrigerant from being supplied to the first indoor unit, and a connection bypass portion connecting the connection inlet pipe and the connection collection pipe configured to bypass refrigerant introduced into the connection inlet pipe to the connection collection pipe.

Various example embodiments of the disclosure and terms used herein are not intended to limit the technical features described herein to specific embodiments, and should be understood to include various modifications, equivalents, or substitutions of the corresponding embodiments.

In describing of the drawings, similar reference numerals may be used for similar or related elements.

The singular form of a noun corresponding to an item may include one or more of the items unless clearly indicated otherwise in a related context.

In the disclosure, phrases, such as “A or B”, “at least one of A and B”, “at least one of A or B”, “A, B or C”, “at least one of A, B and C”, and “at least one of A, B, or C” may include any one or all possible combinations of the items listed together in the corresponding phrase among the phrases.

As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

Terms such as “1st”, “2nd”, “primary”, or “secondary” may be used simply to distinguish an element from other elements, without limiting the element in other aspects (e.g., importance or order).

When an element (e.g., a first element) is referred to as being “(functionally or communicatively) coupled” or “connected” to another element (e.g., a second element), the first element may be connected to the second element, directly (e.g., wired), wirelessly, or through a third element.

It will be understood that when the terms “includes”, “comprises”, “including”, and/or “comprising” are used in the disclosure, they specify the presence of the specified features, figures, steps, operations, components, members, or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, figures, steps, operations, components, members, or combinations thereof.

When a given element is referred to as being “connected to”, “coupled to”, “supported by” or “in contact with” another element, it is to be understood that it may be directly or indirectly connected to, coupled to, supported by, or in contact with the other element. When a given element is indirectly connected to, coupled to, supported by, or in contact with another element, it is to be understood that it may be connected to, coupled to, supported by, or in contact with the other element through a third element.

It will also be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on” another element, it may be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present.

An air conditioner according to various embodiments may refer to a device that performs functions such as purification, ventilation, humidity control, cooling or heating in an air conditioning space (hereinafter referred to as “indoor space”), and in particular a device having at least one of these functions.

According to an embodiment, an air conditioner may include a heat pump device to perform a cooling function or a heating function. The heat pump device may include a refrigeration cycle in which a refrigerant is circulated through a compressor, a first heat exchanger, and an expansion device and a second heat exchanger. Components of the heat pump device may be embedded in a single housing forming an exterior of an air conditioner, which includes a window-type air conditioner or a portable air conditioner. On the other hand, some components of the heat pump device may be divided and embedded in a plurality of housings forming a single air conditioner, which includes a wall-mounted air conditioner, a stand-type air conditioner, and a system air conditioner.

The air conditioner including the plurality of housings may include at least one outdoor unit installed outdoors and at least one indoor unit installed indoors. For example, the air conditioner may be provided such that a single outdoor unit and a single indoor unit are connected by a refrigerant pipe. Alternatively, the air conditioner may be provided such that a single outdoor unit is connected to two or more indoor units by a refrigerant pipe. Alternatively, the air conditioner may be provided such that two or more outdoor units and two or more indoor units are connected by a plurality of refrigerant pipes.

The outdoor unit may be electrically connected to the indoor unit. For example, information (or commands) for controlling the air conditioner may be received through an input interface provided in the outdoor unit or the indoor unit. The outdoor unit and the indoor unit may operate simultaneously or sequentially in response to a user input.

The air conditioner may include an outdoor heat exchanger provided in the outdoor unit, an indoor heat exchanger provided in the indoor unit, and a refrigerant pipe connecting the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger.

The outdoor heat exchanger may be configured to exchange heat between a refrigerant and air from outdoor through a phase change of the refrigerant (e.g., evaporation or condensation). For example, while the refrigerant is condensed in the outdoor heat exchanger, the refrigerant may radiate heat to the outdoor air. While the refrigerant flowing in the outdoor heat exchanger evaporates, the refrigerant may absorb heat from the outdoor air.

The indoor unit is installed indoors. For example, according to the arrangement method of the indoor unit, the air conditioner may be classified into a ceiling-type indoor unit, a stand-type indoor unit, a wall-type indoor unit, and the like. For example, the ceiling-type indoor unit may be classified into a 4-way type indoor unit, a 1-way type indoor unit, a duct type indoor unit and the like according to a method of discharging air.

The indoor heat exchanger may be configured to exchange heat between a refrigerant and outdoor air through a phase change of the refrigerant (e.g., evaporation or condensation). For example, while the refrigerant evaporates in the indoor unit, the refrigerant may absorb heat from the indoor air. The indoor space may be cooled by blowing the indoor air cooled through the cooled indoor heat exchanger. While the refrigerant is condensed in the indoor heat exchanger, the refrigerant may radiate heat to the indoor air. The indoor space may be heated by blowing the indoor air heated through the high-temperature indoor heat exchanger.

The air conditioner may perform a cooling or heating function by a phase change process of a refrigerant circulated between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger. To circulate the refrigerant, the air conditioner may include a compressor to compress the refrigerant. The compressor may draw refrigerant gas through an inlet and compress the refrigerant gas. The compressor may discharge high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant gas through an outlet. The compressor may be disposed inside the outdoor unit.

Through the refrigerant pipe, the refrigerant may be circulated sequentially through the compressor, the outdoor heat exchanger, the expansion device, and the indoor heat exchanger or sequentially circulated through the compressor, the indoor heat exchanger, the expansion device, and the outdoor heat exchanger.

For example, in the air conditioner, when a single outdoor unit and a single indoor unit are directly connected through a refrigerant pipe, the refrigerant may be circulated between the single outdoor unit and the single indoor unit through the refrigerant pipe.

For example, in the air conditioner, when a single outdoor unit is connected to two or more indoor units through a refrigerant pipe, the refrigerant may flow from the single outdoor unit to the plurality of indoor units through branched refrigerant pipes. Refrigerant discharged from the plurality of indoor units may be combined and circulated to the outdoor unit. For example, each of the plurality of indoor units may be directly connected in parallel to the single outdoor unit through a separate refrigerant pipe.

Each of the plurality of indoor units may be operated independently according to an operation mode set by a user. In other words, some of the plurality of indoor units may be operated in a cooling mode while others of the plurality of indoor units are operated in a heating mode. At that time, the refrigerant may be selectively introduced into each indoor unit in a high-pressure state or a low-pressure state, discharged, and circulated to the outdoor unit along a circulation path that is designated through a flow path switching valve to be described later.

For example, in the air conditioner, when two or more outdoor units and two or more indoor units are connected by the plurality of refrigerant pipes, refrigerant discharged from the plurality of outdoor units may be combined and flow through one refrigerant pipe, and then diverged again at a certain point and introduced into the plurality of indoor units.

The plurality of outdoor units may be driven or at least some of the plurality of outdoor units may not be driven, in accordance with to a driving load corresponding to an operating amount of the plurality of indoor units. At that time, the refrigerant may be provided through a flow path switching valve to be introduced into and circulated to an outdoor unit that is selectively driven. The air conditioner may include the expansion device to reduce the pressure of the refrigerant flowing into the heat exchanger. For example, the expansion device may be disposed inside the indoor unit or inside the outdoor unit, or disposed both inside the indoor unit and the outdoor unit.

The expansion device may reduce the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant using a throttling effect. The expansion device may include an orifice configured to reduce a cross-sectional area of a flow path. A temperature and pressure of the refrigerant passing through the orifice may be lowered.

For example, the expansion device may be implemented as an electronic expansion valve configured to adjust an opening ratio (a ratio of a cross-sectional area of a flow path of a valve in a partially opened state to a cross-sectional area of the flow path of the valve in a fully opened state). According to the opening ratio of the electronic expansion valve, the amount of refrigerant passing through the expansion device may be adjusted.

The air conditioner may further include a flow path switching valve disposed on the refrigerant circulation path. The flow path switching valve may include a 4-way valve. The flow path switching valve may determine a refrigerant circulation path depending on an operation mode of the indoor unit (e.g., cooling operation or heating operation). The flow path switching valve may be connected to the outlet of the compressor.

The air conditioner may include an accumulator. The accumulator may be connected to the inlet of the compressor. A low-temperature and low-pressure refrigerant, which is evaporated in the indoor heat exchanger or the outdoor heat exchanger, may flow into the accumulator.

When a refrigerant mixture of refrigerant liquid and refrigerant gas is introduced, the accumulator may separate the refrigerant liquid from the refrigerant gas, and supply the refrigerant gas separated from the refrigerant liquid to the compressor.

An outdoor fan may be installed near the outdoor heat exchanger. The outdoor fan may blow outdoor air to the outdoor heat exchanger to promote heat exchange between the refrigerant and the outdoor air.

The outdoor unit of the air conditioner may include at least one sensor. For example, the outdoor unit sensor may be provided as an environmental sensor. The outdoor unit sensor may be disposed at a given position of the inside or the outside of the outdoor unit. For example, the outdoor unit sensor may include a temperature sensor configured to detect an air temperature around the outdoor unit, an air humidity sensor configured to detect air humidity around the outdoor unit, or a refrigerant temperature sensor configured to detect a refrigerant temperature in a refrigerant pipe passing through the outdoor unit, or a refrigerant pressure sensor configured to detect a refrigerant pressure in a refrigerant pipe passing through the outdoor unit.

The outdoor unit of the air conditioner may include an outdoor unit communication circuitry. The outdoor unit communication circuitry may be configured to receive a control signal from an indoor unit controller of the air conditioner, which will be described later. Based on a control signal received through the outdoor unit communication circuitry, the outdoor unit may control the operation of the compressor, the outdoor heat exchanger, the expansion device, the flow path switching valve, the accumulator, or the outdoor fan. The outdoor unit may transmit a measurement value detected by the outdoor unit sensor to the indoor unit controller through the outdoor unit communication circuitry.

The indoor unit of the air conditioner may include a housing, a blower configured to circulate air inside or outside the housing, and the indoor heat exchanger configured to exchange heat with air introduced into the housing.

The housing may include an inlet. Indoor air may flow into the housing through the inlet.

The indoor unit of the air conditioner may include a filter configured to filter out foreign substance in air that is introduced into the inside of the housing through the inlet.

The housing may include an outlet. Air flowing inside the housing may be discharged to the outside of the housing through the outlet.