Method for selectively operating compressors of dual type unitary air conditioner

Abstract

A method for selectively operating compressors of a dual type unitary air conditioner includes respectively sensing compressor operation requiring signals outputted from a plurality of centralized warm and cold air circulators and a compressor operation requiring signal outputted from at least one individual warm and cold air circulator; changing the compressor operation requiring signals to numerical values for defining a total compressor capacity value by respectively applying weights to the signals; and selectively operating the compressors connected in parallel according to the obtained total compressor capacity value, thereby correctly selectively operating the compressors corresponding to the amount of an actually required load, thus improving user's comfort and increasing an energy efficiency of the dual type unitary air conditioner.

1 . A method for selectively operating compressors of a dual type unitary air conditioner comprising: 
 respectively sensing compressor operation requiring signals outputted from a plurality of centralized warm and cold air circulators and a compressor operation requiring signal outputted from at least one individual warm and cold air circulator;    changing the compressor operation requiring signals to numerical values for defining a total compressor capacity value by respectively applying weights to the signals; and    selectively operating the compressors connected in parallel according to the obtained total compressor capacity value.    
   
   
       2 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the compressor operation requiring signals outputted from a plurality of the centralized warm and cold air circulators include three signals respectively indicating the supply of a large amount of air, the supply of a small amount of air, and non supply of air, and the compressor operation requiring signal outputted from the individual warm and cold air circulator includes ON and OFF signals.  
   
   
       3 . The method as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the weight applied to the signal indicating the supply of a small amount of air is 0.65 of the weight applied to the signal indicating the supply of a large amount of air.  
   
   
       4 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the centralized warm and cold air circulators are independently installed in corresponding regions of a building, in which the dual type unitary air conditioner is installed, so that the number of the centralized warm and cold air circulators coincides with the number of the regions, and are independently connected in parallel to an outdoor heat exchanger.  
   
   
       5 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the individual warm and cold air circulator is independently installed in a designated place, and is independently connected in parallel to the outdoor heat exchanger.  
   
   
       6 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the compressors have different capacities.  
   
   
       7 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the compressors are operated by different methods.  
   
   
       8 . A method for selectively operating compressors of a dual type unitary air conditioner, which has a plurality of centralized warm and cold air circulators independently installed in corresponding regions of a building, in which the dual type unitary air conditioner is installed, so that the number of the centralized warm and cold air circulators coincides with the number of the regions, and independently connected in parallel to an outdoor heat exchanger, and at least one individual warm and cold air circulator independently installed in a designated place and independently connected in parallel to the outdoor heat exchanger, comprising: 
 respectively sensing compressor operation requiring signals outputted from the centralized warm and cold air circulators and a compressor operation requiring signal outputted from the individual warm and cold air circulator;    changing the compressor operation requiring signals to numerical values for defining a total compressor capacity value by respectively applying weights to the signals; and    selectively operating the compressors connected in parallel according to the obtained total compressor capacity value.    
   
   
       9 . The method as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the compressor operation requiring signals outputted from a plurality of the centralized warm and cold air circulators include three signals respectively indicating the supply of a large amount of air, the supply of a small amount of air, and non supply of air, and the compressor operation requiring signal outputted from the individual warm and cold air circulator includes ON and OFF signals.  
   
   
       10 . The method as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the weight applied to the signal indicating the supply of a small amount of air is 0.65 of the weight applied to the signal indicating the supply of a large amount of air.  
   
   
       11 . The method as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein: 
 the centralized warm and cold air circulators respectively heat and cool two regions, and one individual warm and cold air circulator is provided;    a plurality of the compressors comprise a first compressor having a capacity corresponding to 60% of a total compressor capacity, and a second compressor having a capacity corresponding to 40% of the total compressor capacity;    the weight applied to the signal indicating the supply of a large amount of air is 2, the weight applied to the signal indicating the supply of a small amount of air is 1.3, the weight applied to the signal indicating non supply of air is 0, the weight applied to the ON signal is 0.8, and the weight applied to the OFF signal is 0; and    when the obtained total compressor capacity value is more than 4.0, both the first and second compressors are operated, when the obtained total compressor capacity value is between 4.0 and 2.8, only the first compressor is operated, and when the obtained total compressor capacity value is between 2.8 and 0, only the second compressor is operated.    
   
   
       12 . The method as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein a plurality of the compressors have different capacities.  
   
   
       13 . The method as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein a plurality of the compressors are operated by different methods.  
   
   
       14 . A method for selectively operating compressors of a dual type unitary air conditioner, which has centralized warm and cold air circulators for respectively heating and cooling two regions, one individual warm and cold air circulator, a first compressor having a capacity corresponding to 60% of a total compressor capacity, and a second compressor having a capacity corresponding to 40% of the total compressor capacity, comprising: 
 respectively sensing compressor operation requiring signals outputted from the centralized warm and cold air circulators and a compressor operation requiring signal outputted from the individual warm and cold air circulator;    changing the compressor operation requiring signals to numerical values for defining a total compressor capacity value by respectively applying weights to the signals; and    selectively operating the compressors connected in parallel according to the obtained total compressor capacity value.    
   
   
       15 . The method as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the compressor operation requiring signals outputted from the centralized warm and cold air circulators include three signals respectively indicating the supply of a large amount of air, the supply of a small amount of air, and non supply of air, and the compressor operation requiring signal outputted from the individual warm and cold air circulator includes ON and OFF signals.  
   
   
       16 . The method as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the weight applied to the signal indicating the supply of a small amount of air is  0 . 65  of the weight applied to the signal indicating the supply of a large amount of air.  
   
   
       17 . The method as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein: 
 the weight applied to the signal indicating the supply of a large amount of air is 2, the weight applied to the signal indicating the supply of a small amount of air is 1.3, the weight applied to the signal indicating non supply of air is 0, the weight applied to the ON signal is 0.8, and the weight applied to the OFF signal is 0; and    when the obtained total compressor capacity value is more than 4.0, both the first and second compressors are operated, when the obtained total compressor capacity value is between 4.0 and 2.8, only the first compressor is operated, and when the obtained total compressor capacity value is between 2.8 and 0, only the second compressor is operated.    
   
   
       18 . The method as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein a plurality of the compressors are operated by different methods.  
   
   
       19 . The method as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the centralized warm and cold air circulators are independently installed in corresponding regions of a building, in which the dual type unitary air conditioner is installed, and are independently connected in parallel to an outdoor heat exchanger.  
   
   
       20 . The method as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein the individual warm and cold air circulator is independently installed in a designated place, and is independently connected in parallel to the outdoor heat exchanger.