Air Conditioner and Method for Controlling the Same

This application is a by-pass continuation of International Application No. PCT/KR2025/008437, filed on Jun. 18, 2025, which is based on and claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0079793, filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Jun. 19, 2024, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

The disclosure relates to an air conditioner, a method of controlling an air conditioner, and a computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for performing the method of controlling an air conditioner.

Air conditioners may adjust the condition of air, such as the temperature, humidity, or cleanliness of air. In general, an air conditioner may include a heat pump device including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator. By controlling the heat pump device, the air conditioner may drive a refrigerant cycle by compressing, condensing, expanding, and evaporating a refrigerant.

When a refrigerant amount in the heat pump device is insufficient in the air conditioner, a capacity of the air conditioner may significantly deteriorate, and the air conditioner may be damaged in a worse case. Accordingly, various methods for checking and monitoring a state of a refrigerant amount in a heat pump device are proposed.

For example, an air conditioner may check a state of a refrigerant amount by using an artificial intelligence model or an algorithm in a measurement mode separate from a general operation mode. However, the measurement mode of the air conditioner operates separately from the general operation mode, and a user has to repeatedly perform the measurement mode so as to identify the state of the refrigerant amount. Thus, it takes a large amount of time. Also, even in the measurement mode, it is possible to only identify whether there is a leakage in the refrigerant amount, and it is difficult to monitor in real time in which state the refrigerant amount currently is (e.g., whether it decreases).

Alternatively, for example, even while the air conditioner is performing the general operation mode, the air conditioner may provide a notification to a user in a case where the refrigerant amount is very low. However, a point in time when the notification is provided to the user is usually when the user has already experienced dissatisfaction due to the low refrigerant amount, and thus, user convenience may decrease.

Alternatively, for example, when a pressure sensor is present in the air conditioner, the air conditioner may determine a state of the refrigerant amount via the pressure sensor. However, even in this case, it is possible to only identify whether there is a leakage in the refrigerant amount, and it is difficult to monitor in real time in which state the refrigerant amount currently is.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, an air conditioner includes: memory storing at least one instruction; and at least one processor, including processing circuitry, configured to execute the at least one instruction.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, the at least one instruction, when executed by the at least one processor individually or collectively, cause the air conditioner to, based on whether a parameter related to a change in a refrigerant amount corresponds to a predetermined condition while one or more operations of the air conditioner are performed, assign a score to the parameter at each of a plurality of predetermined times,

According to an aspect of the disclosure, the at least one instruction, when executed by the at least one processor individually or collectively, cause the air conditioner to obtain one or more average scores corresponding to each of the one or more operations based on the score assigned to the parameter at the each of the plurality of predetermined times.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, the at least one instruction, when executed by the at least one processor individually or collectively, cause the air conditioner to obtain a refrigerant amount state score based on the one or more average scores corresponding to the each of the one or more operations.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, the at least one instruction, when executed by the at least one processor individually or collectively, cause the air conditioner to provide a notification about a refrigerant amount state based on the refrigerant amount state score.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, a method of controlling an air conditioner includes: based on whether a parameter related to a change in a refrigerant amount corresponds to a predetermined condition while one or more operations of the air conditioner are performed, assign a score to the parameter at each of a plurality of predetermined times. obtaining one or more average scores corresponding to each of the one or more operations based on the score assigned to the parameter at the each of the plurality of predetermined times, obtaining a refrigerant amount state score based on the one or more average scores corresponding to the each of the one or more operations and providing a notification about a refrigerant amount state, based on the refrigerant amount state score.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, a non-transitory computer readable medium has instructions stored therein, which when executed individually or collectively by at least one processor cause the at least one processor to execute a method of controlling an air conditioner, the method including: based on whether a parameter related to a change in a refrigerant amount corresponds to a predetermined condition while one or more operations of the air conditioner are performed, assign a score to the parameter at each of a plurality of predetermined times. obtaining one or more average scores corresponding to each of the one or more operations based on the score assigned to the parameter at the each of the plurality of predetermined times. obtaining a refrigerant amount state score based on the one or more average scores corresponding to the each of the one or more operations and providing a notification about a refrigerant amount state, based on the refrigerant amount state score.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, an air conditioner includes: memory storing at least one instruction; and at least one processor configured to execute the at least one instruction, wherein the at least one instruction, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the air conditioner to: based on a parameter related to a change in a refrigerant amount corresponding to a predetermined condition while an operation of the air conditioner is performed, assign a score to the parameter at a plurality of predetermined times, obtain an average score based on each score assigned to the parameter at each of the plurality of predetermined times, obtain a refrigerant amount state score based on the average score, and provide a notification about a refrigerant amount state based on the refrigerant amount state score.

Embodiments of the disclosure in the present document, and terms used therein, are not intended to limit technical features of the present document to particular embodiments of the disclosure, and it is to be appreciated that all changes, equivalents, or substitutes of the embodiments of the disclosure are included therein.

Throughout the specification and drawings, like reference numerals may be used to denote like or similar components.

A singular form of a noun corresponding to an item may include the item or a plurality of the items, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

In the present document, the expressions “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 in the corresponding expression or all possible combinations thereof.

The term “and/or” as used herein includes a combination of a plurality of related recited elements or any one of a plurality of related recited elements.

The terms “first,” “second,” etc. as used herein may be only used to distinguish one element from another and do not limit the elements in any other aspects (e.g., importance or order).

When a certain (e.g., first) element is referred to as being “coupled” or “connected” to another (e.g., second) element with or without the terms “functionally” or “communicatively,” it means that the certain element may be coupled or connected to the other element directly (e.g., by wire) or wirelessly or through a third element.

The terms “comprise” or “include” as used herein are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected to,” “coupled to,” “supported to,” or “in contact with” another element, the element may be “directly connected to, coupled to, supported to, or in contact with” the other element or may be “indirectly connected to, coupled to, supported to, or in contact with” the other element through a third element.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being located “on” another element, the element may be in contact with the other element, and another element may also be present between the two elements.

Hereinafter, an air conditioner according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

is a diagram illustrating an operation of an air conditioner according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

Referring to, an air conditioneraccording to one or more embodiments of the disclosure is a device that performs functions including air conditioning, ventilation, humidity adjustment, cooling or heating in an air conditioning space, and refers to a device with at least one of the functions.

According to one or more embodiments of the disclosure, for cooling of the air conditioning space that is a target of air conditioning, the air conditionermay absorb heat from the air conditioning space (hereinafter, referred to as “indoor space”) and may release heat in the outside of the air conditioning space (hereinafter, referred to as “outdoor space”).

According to one or more embodiments of the disclosure, the air conditioner may include a heat pump device to perform a cooling function or a heating function. The heat pump device may include a cooling cycle in which a refrigerant circulates according to a compressor, an evaporator(or, a first heat exchanger), an expansion valve, and a condenser(or, a second heat exchanger). The air conditionermay include a refrigerant pipethat connects the compressor, the evaporator, the expansion valve, and the condenser.

The evaporatormay perform heat exchange between a refrigerant and air by using a phase change (e.g., evaporation) of the refrigerant. For example, while the refrigerant flowing the evaporatorevaporates, the refrigerant may absorb heat from the air. The space may be cooled by blowing the air cooled while passing through the cooled evaporator.

The condensermay perform heat exchange between the refrigerant and the air by using a phase change (e.g., condensation) of the refrigerant. For example, the refrigerant may release heat to the air while the refrigerant is condensed in the condenser. The space may be heated by blowing the air heated while passing through the high-temperature condenser.

That is, the air conditionerperforms the cooling function or the heating function via a phase change procedure of the refrigerant that circulates the evaporatorand the condenser, and for circulation of the refrigerant, the air conditioner may include the compressorfor compressing the refrigerant. The compressormay suck in refrigerant gas via a suction port and may compress the refrigerant gas. The compressormay discharge high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant gas via a discharge port.

The refrigerant may circulate through the refrigerant pipein the order of the compressor, the evaporator, the expansion valve, and the condenser, or in the order of the compressor, the condenser, the expansion valve, and the evaporator.

The expansion valvemay lower the temperature and pressure of the refrigerant by using, for example, a throttling effect. The expansion valvemay include an orifice capable of reducing the cross-sectional area of the flow path. The temperature and pressure of the refrigerant having passed through the orifice may be lowered.

The expansion valvemay be implemented as an electronic expansion valve (EEV) capable of adjusting degree of openness (that is, degree of openness of the valve). The amount of refrigerant passing through the expansion valvemay be controlled depending on the degree of openness of the EEV. For example, 0% may indicate a state in which the valve is fully close, and 100% may indicate a state in which the valve is fully open. The higher the degree of openness increases, the higher a flow rate of the refrigerant may increase.

According to one or more embodiments of the disclosure, while the air conditionerperforms an operation, the air conditionermay monitor in real time an amount of a refrigerant (that is, the refrigerant amount) that circulates the refrigerant pipe.

According to one or more embodiments of the disclosure, according to whether a parameter related to a change in the refrigerant amount corresponds to a predetermined condition while the air conditionerperforms an operation of the air conditioner, the air conditionermay assign a score to the parameter at every predetermined time. The air conditionermay calculate () an average score while the operation of the air conditioneris performed, based on the score of the parameter assigned at every predetermined time. The air conditionermay calculate () a refrigerant amount state score, based on average scores for respective operations performed a plurality of times. The air conditionermay provide () a notification about a refrigerant amount state, based on the calculated refrigerant amount state score. The refrigerant amount state score may increase or decrease according to a change in the refrigerant amount. For example, when the refrigerant amount state score increases as the number of times an operation is performed increases, it may be identified that a refrigerant is leaked.

The parameter according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure may indicate a sensing value, a numerical value, data, a signal, and the like of the air conditionerwhich are changed when a refrigerant amount is changed in the heat pump device. For example, the predetermined condition may be a condition about a value, a numerical value, data, a signal, and the like of the parameter which are changed in a preset pattern different from that of a normal operation when the refrigerant is leaked. The predetermined condition may correspond to a condition at which the parameter is shown when the refrigerant amount is insufficient. The parameter according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure may include one or more parameters. This will be described with reference to.

According to one or more embodiments of the disclosure, while the air conditionerperforms the operation, the air conditionermay identify the parameter in real time, and may assign a different score to each of a case in which the parameter corresponds to the predetermined condition and a case in which the parameter does not correspond to the predetermined condition. For example, when the parameter corresponds to the predetermined condition, the air conditionermay assign a score corresponding to a refrigerant amount insufficiency state. Based on the score corresponding to a refrigerant amount insufficiency state, the air conditionermay identify a state in which the refrigerant amount is insufficient.

Referring to the operation, the air conditioneraccording to one or more embodiments of the disclosure may assign a score to the parameter at every predetermined time while the air conditionerperforms the operation. That is, the score of the parameter may be repeatedly assigned by a preset interval at every predetermined time while the air conditionerperforms the operation. The air conditionermay repeatedly obtain a plurality of scores by a preset interval during one operation, may average the plurality of scores, and thus, may calculate an average score with respect to one operation. The air conditionermay calculate an average score for a plurality of operations, and thus, may respectively obtain average scores for a plurality of operations. Referring to the operation, the air conditionermay apply a moving average to the respective average scores for the plurality of operations, and thus, may calculate a refrigerant amount state score. Here, the refrigerant amount state score may be a moving average value for the average scores. This will be described in detail with reference to. The air conditionermay identify whether the calculated refrigerant amount state score is equal to or greater than a threshold score, and when the refrigerant amount state score is equal to or greater than the threshold score, may identify that the refrigerant amount is insufficient.

According to one or more embodiments of the disclosure, the air conditionermay score a refrigerant amount state in real time while the operation is performed. The air conditionermay not monitor the refrigerant amount via a separate refrigerant amount measurement mode but may constantly score the refrigerant amount state in a general operation mode, and thus, a user may manage the refrigerant amount of the air conditioner. The user may identify the refrigerant amount state in every operation of the air conditioner, and thus, may quickly check the air conditionerwhen the user determines a leakage in the refrigerant even before a malfunction due to the leakage in the refrigerant occurs.

is a graph showing a parameter change in each refrigerant amount according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure. Referring to, a parameter change according to a change in a refrigerant amount of the air conditionerwill now be described.

A graphshows a change in a cooling capacity of the air conditioner, a discharge temperature (shown as “T”) of the compressor, a degree of openness of the expansion valve, an outlet temperature (shown as “T”) of the evaporator, and an inlet temperature (shown as “T”) of the evaporatoraccording to a decrease in the refrigerant amount. The horizontal axis of the graphrepresents a refrigerant amount, and the vertical axis represents a value of each parameter.

Referring to the graph, when the refrigerant amount decreases, the cooling capacity of the air conditionermay decrease. For example, when the refrigerant amount is 100%, the cooling capacity of the air conditionermay be 100%, and when the refrigerant amount is 40%, the cooling capacity of the air conditionermay be 60.6%. When a refrigerant of the air conditioneris leaked, the cooling capacity decreases, and thus, a room temperature (shown as “T”) does not reach a user-set setting temperature (shown as “T”), or a reaching time significantly increases. This may be related to a first parameter of the disclosure.

Referring to the graph, when the refrigerant amount decreases, the outlet temperature of the evaporatormay increase, and the inlet temperature of the evaporatormay decrease. For example, when the refrigerant amount is sufficient (e.g., the refrigerant amount is 60%), a temperature difference between the outlet temperature and the inlet temperature of the evaporatormay be small due to latent heat exchange of the evaporator(e.g., change from liquid refrigerant to gaseous refrigerant). When the refrigerant is insufficient, sensible heat exchange (e.g., change from gaseous refrigerant with low temperature to gaseous refrigerant with high temperature) occurs after the latent heat exchange, and thus, the outlet temperature of the evaporatormay become higher than the inlet temperature of the evaporator. This may be related to a second parameter of the disclosure.

When the refrigerant amount is significantly insufficient (e.g., the refrigerant amount is 10%), a temperature of the evaporator(i.e., the inlet temperature and the outlet temperature of the evaporator) may significantly increase. For example, as a cold refrigerant does not flow to the evaporatorwhen the refrigerant amount is significantly insufficient, a temperature difference between the room temperature and the inlet temperature of the evaporatorand a temperature difference between the room temperature and the outlet temperature of the evaporatormay be small. This may be related to a third parameter of the disclosure.

In the disclosure, a temperature of the evaporatormay be referred to as the inlet temperature of the evaporatorand the outlet temperature of the evaporator.

Referring to the graph, when the refrigerant amount decreases, the degree of openness of the expansion valvemay increase. For example, when the refrigerant amount is 100%, the degree of openness of the expansion valvemay be 289, and when the refrigerant amount is 40%, the degree of openness of the expansion valvemay be 480. In this regard, when the degree of openness of the expansion valveis 480, it may indicate a state in which the valve is fully open (i.e., 100%). When the refrigerant is decreased in the refrigerant pipe, a circulation amount of the refrigerant is decreased, and thus, the air conditionermay control the expansion valveto have a fully open state so as to increase the circulation amount of the refrigerant. This may be related to a fourth parameter of the disclosure.

Referring to the graph, when the refrigerant amount is decreased, the discharge temperature of the compressormay be increased. For example, when the refrigerant amount is 100%, the discharge temperature of the compressormay be 72.5 degrees, and when the refrigerant amount is 40%, the discharge temperature of the compressormay be increased up to 95 degrees. The refrigerant that circulates the refrigerant pipeserves to cool the compressor, and when the refrigerant is insufficient, a temperature of the compressoris increased so that the temperature of the compressed refrigerant (i.e., the discharge temperature of the compressor) is also increased. When the discharge temperature is increased by a preset temperature or more (e.g., 95 degrees), the air conditionermay enter a protective control mode for adjusting a speed of the compressor. The air conditionermay generate a protective control signal for controlling the compressorso as to decrease the rotation speed of the compressor. This may be related to a fifth parameter of the disclosure.