Cooling System and Controlling Method Thereof

This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/KR2023/021080 designating the United States, filed on Dec. 20, 2023, in the Korean Intellectual Property Receiving Office and claiming priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0021675, filed on Feb. 17, 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 cooling system and a control method thereof.

A cooling system may cool a designated space by circulating refrigerant according to a cooling cycle. The cooling cycle may include processes of compressing, condensing, expanding, and evaporating the refrigerant. The cooling system may include a compressor, an expansion valve, and a heat exchanger such as a condenser and an evaporator, to perform the cooling cycle.

A temperature of the evaporator may be relatively low compared to ambient air. Accordingly, moisture may condense on a surface of the evaporator and frost is generated. The frost generated on the surface of the evaporator reduces heat exchange efficiency of the evaporator, and therefore the cooling system may perform a defrosting operation to remove the frost.

The cooling system may include an outdoor unit and a plurality of cooling devices connected to the outdoor unit. For example, when some cooling devices among the plurality of cooling devices perform the defrosting operation, an internal temperature of adjacent cooling devices may increase. For example, when the cooling system includes a plurality of cooling devices, the defrosting operation of some cooling devices among the plurality of cooling devices may affect cooling efficiency of other cooling devices.

Embodiments of the disclosure may provide a cooling system capable of easily controlling operations of a plurality of cooling devices by group by grouping the plurality of cooling devices and a control method thereof.

Embodiments of the disclosure may provide a cooling system capable of easily set and/or change a defrosting group of each of a plurality of cooling devices and a control method thereof.

Embodiments of the disclosure may provide a cooling system that does not require a separate communication line for setting a defrosting group and a control method thereof.

An example embodiment of the disclosure provides a cooling system including: a plurality of cooling devices and an outdoor unit configured to provide a refrigerant to each of the plurality of cooling devices, wherein each of the plurality of cooling devices may include: an evaporator configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant and air, a communication unit comprising circuitry configured to communicate between the plurality of cooling devices, a user interface comprising circuitry configured to obtain an input, and a controller comprising circuitry electrically connected to the communication unit and the user interface and configured to set a defrosting group based on the input, wherein based on any one of the cooling devices belonging to the same defrosting group satisfying a specified defrosting entry condition, all of the cooling devices belonging to the same defrosting group may be controlled to enter a defrosting operation together.

An example embodiment of the disclosure provides a method of controlling a cooling system, wherein the cooling system may include a plurality of cooling devices and an outdoor unit configured to provide a refrigerant to each of the plurality of cooling devices. The method of controlling the cooling system may include: grouping the plurality of cooling devices based an input; controlling all cooling devices belonging to the same group to enter a defrosting operation together based on any one of the cooling devices belonging to the same group among the plurality of cooling devices satisfying a specified defrosting entry condition.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure and the terms used therein are not intended to limit the technical features described in the present disclosure, and should be understood to include various modifications, equivalents, or substitutes of the various example embodiments.

In connection with the description of the drawings, like reference numbers may be used for like or related components.

The singular form of a noun corresponding to an item may include one item or a plurality of items, unless the relevant context clearly dictates otherwise.

In the present disclosure, each of 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 of the items listed together in the corresponding one of the phrases, or all possible combinations thereof.

The term “and/or” includes any combination of a plurality of related components or any one of a plurality of related components.

Terms such as “first,” “second,” “primary,” and “secondary” may simply be used to distinguish a given component from other corresponding components, and do not limit the corresponding components in any other aspect (e.g., importance or order).

When any (e.g., a first) component is referred to as being “coupled” or “connected” to another (e.g., a second) component with or without the terms “functionally” or “communicatively”, this may refer, for example, to the any component being connected to the other component directly (e.g., by wire), wirelessly, or through a third component.

The terms “comprises” and “has” are intended to indicate that there are features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the present disclosure, and do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

When any component is referred to as being “connected”, “coupled”, “supported” or “in contact” with another component, this includes a case in which the components are indirectly connected, coupled, supported, or in contact with each other through a third component as well as directly connected, coupled, supported, or in contact with each other.

When any component is referred to as being located “on” or “above” another component, this includes not only a case in which any component is in contact with another component but also a case in which another component is present between the two components.

Terms such as “˜unit”, “˜part,” “˜block,” “˜member,” “˜module,” and the like may denote a unit for processing at least one function or operation. For example, the terms may refer to at least one hardware such as a field-programmable gate array (FPGA)/an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), at least one software stored in memory, or at least one process processed by at least one processor comprising processing circuitry.

An identification number assigned to each step is used to identify each step, the identification numeral does not describe the order of the steps, and each step may be performed differently from the order specified unless the context clearly states a particular order.

Hereinafter, various example embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

is a diagram illustrating an example of a cooling system according to various embodiments.

A cooling systemmay include an outdoor unit. The outdoor unitmay be provided in an outdoor space to perform heat exchange between outdoor air and refrigerant. The outdoor unitmay provide the refrigerant to a cooling device, which will be described in greater detail below. The outdoor unitmay provide the refrigerant to each of a plurality of the cooling devices, which will be described later.

illustrates that the cooling systemincludes the one outdoor unit, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the cooling systemmay include a plurality of the outdoor units.

The cooling systemmay include the cooling devices. The cooling devicemay discharge cold air. The cooling devicemay be provided in an indoor space to perform heat exchange between indoor air and the refrigerant. The cooling devicemay decrease an internal temperature thereof through heat exchange between air inside the room and the refrigerant supplied from the outdoor unit. The cooling devicemay keep a predetermined (e.g., specified) temperature in order to store a storage object at a low temperature. For example, the cooling devicemay be provided as a unit cooler, a refrigerator, a freezer, a showcase, or an air conditioner. However, this is merely an example, and the cooling devicemay be a variety of devices for performing cooling operations (e.g., refrigeration operation, freezing operation, cooling operation, etc.). The cooling devicemay be referred to as the indoor unit.

The cooling systemmay include the plurality of cooling devices.illustrates that five cooling devices are provided, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the cooling systemmay include six or more cooling devices. For example, the cooling systemmay include four or fewer cooling devices. For example, the cooling systemmay include one cooling device.

For example, referring to, the cooling systemmay include a first cooling device, a second cooling device, a third cooling device, a fourth cooling device, and a fifth cooling device. Depending on a case, at least one of the first cooling device, the second cooling device, the third cooling device, the fourth cooling device, and the fifth cooling devicemay be omitted in the cooling system. Depending on a case, cooling devices other than the first cooling device, the second cooling device, the third cooling device, the fourth cooling device, and the fifth cooling devicemay be added to the cooling system.

is a diagram illustrating example flow of refrigerant in an example cooling system according to various embodiments.

The cooling systemmay include a refrigerant pipeconfigured to circulate the refrigerant between the outdoor unitand the plurality of cooling devices. The refrigerant may absorb or release heat through a change in state (e.g., change in state from gas to liquid or change in state from liquid to gas) while circulating through the outdoor unitand the plurality of cooling devicesalong the refrigerant pipe.

The refrigerant pipemay include a liquid pipethat serves as a passage through which liquid refrigerant flows. The refrigerant pipemay include a gas pipethat serves as a passage through which gaseous refrigerant flows.

The cooling systemmay include a compressor. The outdoor unitmay include the compressor. The compressormay be configured to compress the refrigerant. The compressormay discharge high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant.

The cooling systemmay include an outdoor heat exchanger. The outdoor unitmay include the outdoor heat exchanger. The outdoor heat exchangermay be configured to perform heat exchange between outdoor air and the refrigerant. The outdoor heat exchangermay dissipate heat. The outdoor heat exchangermay operate as a condenser. The outdoor heat exchangermay be referred to as the condenser.

For example, the outdoor heat exchangermay include an outdoor heat exchanger refrigerant pipe (not shown) through which the refrigerant passes. For example, the outdoor heat exchangermay include outdoor heat exchanger cooling fins (not shown) to increase a surface area that comes into contact with outdoor air. As the surface area in contact between the outdoor heat exchanger and outdoor air is increased, efficiency of heat exchange between the refrigerant and outdoor air may be improved.

The cooling systemmay include an outdoor fan. The outdoor unitmay include the outdoor fan. The outdoor fanmay be provided around the outdoor heat exchanger. The outdoor fanmay flow outdoor air to the outdoor heat exchanger. The outdoor fanmay blow outdoor air before heat exchange to the outdoor heat exchangerand simultaneously blow the heat-exchanged air outdoors. The outdoor fanmay discharge air around the outdoor heat exchangerto the outside of the outdoor unit.illustrates that the one outdoor fanis provided, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, a plurality of the outdoor fansmay be provided.

The cooling systemmay include an accumulator. The accumulatormay be provided on a suction side of the compressor. The accumulatormay store liquid refrigerant and vaporize the stored liquid refrigerant. The accumulatormay prevent and/or reduce liquid refrigerant from being introduced into the compressor.illustrates that the outdoor unitincludes the accumulator, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the outdoor unitmay not include the accumulator. For example, the accumulatormay be omitted in the cooling system.

The cooling systemmay include a four-way valve. The four-way valvemay change a flow direction of high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant discharged from the compressor. The four-way valvemay guide the refrigerant compressed in the compressorto the outdoor heat exchangeror to an indoor heat exchanger. For example, in a case in which an indoor unit capable of cooling and heating operations is connected to the outdoor unit, the outdoor unitmay include the four-way valveconfigured to change a flow direction of the refrigerant.illustrates that the outdoor unitincludes the four-way valve, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, outdoor unitmay not include the four-way valve. For example, the four-way valvemay be omitted in the cooling system.

The cooling systemmay include an expansion valve. The expansion valvemay expand the refrigerant. For example, the expansion valvemay expand high-temperature and high-pressure liquid refrigerant and discharge refrigerant in which gas and liquid of low-temperature and low-pressure are mixed. The expansion valvemay regulate a flow rate of the refrigerant provided to the indoor heat exchanger. The expansion valvemay depressurize the refrigerant using a throttling action. The throttling action may refer, for example, to when refrigerant passes through a narrow passage, a pressure of the refrigerant decreasing without heat exchange with the outside.

illustrates that the cooling deviceincludes the expansion valve, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the outdoor unitmay include an expansion valve (not shown), and the cooling devicemay not include the expansion valve. For example, both the outdoor unitand the cooling devicemay include an expansion valve.illustrates that each of the plurality of cooling devicesincludes the one expansion valve, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the expansion valvemay be provided as two or more expansion valves connected in series. For example, the expansion valvemay be provided as two or more expansion valves connected in parallel. As long as the expansion valvemay depressurize the refrigerant discharged from the outdoor heat exchangerand directed to the indoor heat exchanger, the configuration and/or arrangement thereof is not limited.

For example, the expansion valvemay be an electronic expansion valve (EEV) with an adjustable opening degree. The expansion valvemay be, for example, a thermoelectric type electronic expansion valve utilizing deformation of a bimetal, a thermal actuating type electronic expansion valve utilizing volume expansion due to heating of an encapsulating wax, a pulse width modulation type electronic expansion valve opening and closing a solenoid valve by a pulse signal, or a stem motor type electronic expansion valve opening and closing the valve using a motor.

For example, in a case in which the cooling systemincludes the plurality of cooling devices, each of the plurality of cooling devicesmay include the expansion valve. For example, an nth cooling device may include an nth expansion valve. For example, the first cooling devicemay include a first expansion valve. For example, the second cooling devicemay include a second expansion valve. For example, the third cooling devicemay include a third expansion valve. For example, the fourth cooling devicemay include a fourth expansion valve. For example, the fifth cooling devicemay include a fifth expansion valve. However, as described above, for example, each of the plurality of cooling devicesmay not include the expansion valve, and the outdoor unitmay include an expansion valve. For example, each of the plurality of cooling devicesand the outdoor unitmay all include an expansion valve.

The cooling systemmay include the indoor heat exchanger. The cooling devicemay include the indoor heat exchanger. The indoor heat exchangermay be configured to perform heat exchange between indoor air and the refrigerant. The indoor heat exchangermay absorb heat. The indoor heat exchangermay operate as an evaporator. The indoor heat exchangermay be referred to as the evaporator.

For example, the indoor heat exchangermay include an indoor heat exchanger refrigerant pipe (not shown) through which the refrigerant passes. For example, the indoor heat exchangermay include indoor heat exchanger cooling fins (not shown) to increase a surface area with which indoor air comes into contact. As the surface area in contact between the indoor heat exchanger and indoor air is increased, the efficiency of heat exchange between the refrigerant and indoor air may be improved.

For example, in the case in which the cooling systemincludes the plurality of cooling devices, each of the plurality of cooling devicesmay include the indoor heat exchanger. For example, the nth cooling device may include an nth indoor heat exchanger. For example, the first cooling devicemay include a first indoor heat exchanger. For example, the second cooling devicemay include a second indoor heat exchanger. For example, the third cooling devicemay include a third indoor heat exchanger. For example, the fourth cooling devicemay include a fourth indoor heat exchanger. For example, the fifth cooling devicemay include a fifth indoor heat exchanger

The cooling systemmay include an indoor fan. The cooling devicemay include the indoor fan. The indoor fanmay be provided around the indoor heat exchanger. The indoor fanmay flow indoor air into the indoor heat exchanger. The indoor fanmay blow indoor air before heat exchange to the indoor heat exchangerand simultaneously blow the heat-exchanged air into the indoor space.illustrates that each of the plurality of cooling devicesincludes the one indoor fan, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, a plurality of the indoor fansmay be provided.

For example, in the case in which the cooling systemincludes the plurality of cooling devices, each of the plurality of cooling devicesmay include the indoor fan. For example, the nth cooling device may include an nth indoor fan. For example, the first cooling devicemay include a first indoor fan. For example, the second cooling devicemay include a second indoor fan. For example, the third cooling devicemay include a third indoor fan. For example, the fourth cooling devicemay include a fourth indoor fan. For example, the fifth cooling devicemay include a fifth indoor fan

A flow of the refrigerant may be explained as follows. The high-temperature and high-pressure gaseous refrigerant discharged from the compressormay move to the outdoor heat exchanger. The liquid or near-liquid refrigerant condensed in the outdoor heat exchangermay be expanded and depressurized in the expansion valve. The refrigerant passed through the expansion valvemay move to the indoor heat exchanger. The refrigerant introduced into the indoor heat exchangermay be evaporated through heat exchange with ambient air. Accordingly, a temperature of the heat-exchanged ambient air may decrease, and the cooling devicemay discharge cold air. The cooling devicemay perform the cooling operation (refrigeration or freezing operation).

is a block diagram illustrating an example configuration of an outdoor unit according to various embodiments. Components that are the same as those of the outdoor unitillustrated inare assigned the same numbers, and detailed descriptions thereof may not be repeated here.

The outdoor unitmay include the compressor. The outdoor unitmay include the outdoor fan. The outdoor unitmay include the four-way valve. The outdoor unitmay include the accumulator. The outdoor unitmay include a communication unit (e.g., including communication circuitry). The outdoor unitmay include a controller (e.g., including circuitry). The controllermay include a processor (e.g., including processing circuitry). The controllermay include memory.