Cogeneration system and method for controlling the same

Abstract

A cogeneration system and a method for controlling the same have an advantage that it is easy to operate a cogeneration device because the operation of the cogeneration device can be controlled according to operation signals of an air conditioner, and have an effect that it is possible to make the best use of the generated electricity of the cogeneration device through an interconnection between the air conditioner and the cogeneration device.

1 . A cogeneration system, comprising: 
 a cogeneration device for supplying at least one of electricity and heat to an air conditioner; and    a cogeneration device controller for controlling the operation of the cogeneration device according to operation signals from the air conditioner.    
   
   
       2 . The cogeneration system of  claim 1 , wherein the cogeneration device controller is supplied with electricity from an external power source.  
   
   
       3 . The cogeneration system of  claim 1 , further comprising an air conditioner controller supplied with electricity from an en external power source, for controlling the air conditioner.  
   
   
       4 . The cogeneration system of  claim 1 , wherein the air conditioner comprises an indoor unit supplied with electricity from an external power source and an outdoor unit supplied with electricity from the generator.  
   
   
       5 . The cogeneration system of  claim 4 , wherein the cogeneration device controller controls the operation of the cogeneration device according to operation signals from the indoor unit.  
   
   
       6 . The cogeneration system of  claim 4 , wherein the air conditioner further comprises a remote control for wirelessly operating the indoor unit, and 
 the cogeneration device controller controls the operation of the cogeneration device according to operation signals from the indoor unit.    
   
   
       7 . The cogeneration system of  claim 1 , wherein the cogeneration device comprises a generator for generating electricity and a driving source for driving the generator and generating heat.  
   
   
       8 . The cogeneration system of  claim 7 , wherein the cogeneration device controller controls the driving of the driving source according to the operation signals from the air conditioner.  
   
   
       9 . The cogeneration system of  claim 7 , wherein the cogeneration device controller controls the power supply to the air conditioner from the generator according to the operation signals from the air conditioner.  
   
   
       10 . The cogeneration system of  claim 7 , further comprising a waste heat recovery unit for supplying waste heat recovered from the driving source to the air conditioner.  
   
   
       11 . The cogeneration system of  claim 1 , wherein the air conditioner and the cogeneration device controller perform data communication by the RS-485 communication protocol.  
   
   
       12 . The cogeneration system of  claim 1 , further comprising a monitoring device connected to the cogeneration device controller, for monitoring the operations of the cogeneration device and the air conditioner.  
   
   
       13 . A cogeneration system, comprising: 
 an air conditioner;    an air conditioner controller supplied with electricity from an external power source, for controlling the air conditioner;    a generator for supplying electricity to the air conditioner;    a driving source for driving the generator and generating heat; and    a controller supplied with electricity from an external power source, for controlling the operation of the generator according to operation signals from the air conditioner.    
   
   
       14 . The cogenerations system of  claim 13 , wherein the air conditioner comprises an indoor unit supplied with electricity from an external power source and an outdoor unit supplied with electricity from the generator.  
   
   
       15 . The cogeneration system of  claim 14 , wherein the air conditioner further comprises a remote control for wirelessly operating the indoor unit, and 
 the cogeneration device controller controls the operation of the cogeneration device according to operation signals from the indoor unit.    
   
   
       16 . A method for controlling a cogeneration system, comprising: 
 applying power to an indoor unit of an air conditioner and a controller of a cogeneration device from outside;    transmitting operation signals from the indoor unit of the air conditioner to the controller of the cogeneration device;    if the signal transmitted in the transmitting of operation signals is an ON signal, operating the cogeneration device by the controller of the cogeneration device; and    operating the cogeneration device to supply produced electricity to an outdoor unit of the air conditioner.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein if the operation signals outputted in the transmitting of operation signals are OFF signals, the cogeneration device controller stops the cogeneration device.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein if the operation signals outputted in the transmitting of operation signals are OFF signals, and the OFF signals are maintained for a predetermined time, the operation of the cogeneration device is stopped.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein if the operation signals outputted in the transmitting of operation signals are OFF signals, the power supply from the cogeneration device to the outdoor unit is cut off.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein once the power supply of the cogeneration device is cut off, the driving source of the cogeneration device is stopped.