Apparatus and method for controlling multi-type air conditioner

Abstract

A method for controlling a multi-type air conditioner, includes selecting, from among a plurality of indoor units connected to an outdoor unit, at least one currently operating indoor unit; determining whether the at least one currently operating indoor unit is in an overcooling state; selecting, from among the plurality of indoor units connected to the outdoor unit, at least one currently stopped indoor unit. Further, if it is determined that the at least one currently operating indoor unit is operating in the overcooling state the refrigerant bypasses the at least one currently operating indoor unit such that refrigerant discharged from the outdoor unit is introduced into the at least one currently stopped indoor unit.

1 . A method for controlling a multi-type air conditioner, comprising: 
 selecting, from among a plurality of indoor units connected to an outdoor unit, at least one currently operating indoor unit;    determining whether the at least one currently operating indoor unit is in an overcooling state;    selecting, from among the plurality of indoor units connected to the outdoor unit, at least one currently stopped indoor unit; and    bypassing the at least one currently operating indoor unit such that refrigerant discharged from the outdoor unit is introduced into the at least one currently stopped indoor unit, when it is determined that the at least one currently operating indoor unit is operating in the overcooling state.    
   
   
       2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 operating the at least one currently operating indoor unit in response to an operation command inputted from a command input unit.    
   
   
       3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein determining whether the at least one currently operating indoor unit is operating in the overcooling state comprises: 
 selecting a preset temperature of the at least one currently operating indoor unit;    detecting a detected temperature via a temperature sensor;    comparing the preset temperature with the detected temperature; and    determining that the at least one currently operating indoor unit is operating in the overcooling state, when the detected temperature is less than the preset temperature.    
   
   
       4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one currently operating indoor unit is a plurality of currently operating indoor units.  
   
   
       5 . The method as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the at least one currently operating indoor unit is a plurality of currently operating indoor units.  
   
   
       6 . The method as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 providing each of the plurality of currently operating indoor units with respective temperature sensors.    
   
   
       7 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 prior to bypassing the refrigerant to the at least one stopped indoor unit, determining a refrigerant compression capacity of the outdoor unit, and    reducing the refrigerant compression capacity of the outdoor unit when the determined refrigerant compression capacity is greater than a minimum refrigerant compression capacity.    
   
   
       8 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 operating the at least one currently operating indoor unit by opening a solenoid valve; and    providing an expander in the at least one currently operating indoor unit such that the refrigerant discharged from the outdoor unit is introduced into an evaporator, and an evaporating fan is driven to perform heat exchange between the refrigerant and air while in the evaporator.    
   
   
       9 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerant bypasses at least two currently operating indoor units such that the refrigerant is introduced into at least two currently stopped indoor units.  
   
   
       10 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 selecting the at least one currently stopped indoor unit having a solenoid valve, an expander, an evaporator, and an evaporating fan;    opening the solenoid valve such that the refrigerant discharged from the outdoor unit bypasses the at least one currently operating indoor unit such that the refrigerant is introduced into an evaporator; and    preventing an operation of the evaporating fan.    
   
   
       11 . An apparatus for controlling a multi-type air conditioner, comprising: 
 a controller that selects, from among a plurality of indoor units connected to an outdoor unit, at least one currently operating indoor unit;    wherein the controller determines whether the at least one currently operating indoor unit is in an overcooling state;    wherein the controller selects, from among the plurality of indoor units connected to the outdoor unit, at least one currently stopped indoor unit; and    wherein when the controller determines that the at least one currently operating indoor unit is operating in the overcooling state, the refrigerant discharged from the outdoor unit bypassing the at least one currently operating indoor unit, and is introduced into the at least one currently stopped indoor unit.    
   
   
       12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a command input unit that operates the at least one currently operating indoor unit in response to an operation command inputted by a user.    
   
   
       13 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein 
 the controller selects a preset temperature of the at least one currently operating indoor unit, and compares the preset temperature with a detected temperature detected by a temperature sensor, and    wherein when the detected temperature is less than the preset temperature, the controller determines that the at least one currently operating indoor unit is operating in the overcooling state.    
   
   
       14 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one currently operating indoor unit is a plurality of currently operating indoor units.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the at least one currently operating indoor unit is a plurality of currently operating indoor units.  
   
   
       16 . The method as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 providing each of the plurality of currently operating indoor units with respective temperature sensors.    
   
   
       17 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein, prior to bypassing the refrigerant to the at least one stopped indoor unit, the controller determines a refrigerant compression capacity of the outdoor unit, and 
 wherein when the controller determines that the refrigerant compression capacity is greater than a minimum refrigerant compression capacity, the refrigerant compression capacity of the outdoor unit is reduced.    
   
   
       18 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a solenoid valve that opens to operate the at least one currently operating indoor unit;    an expander provided in the at least one currently operating indoor unit, and configured to allow refrigerant discharged from the outdoor unit to be introduced into an evaporator; and    an evaporating fan driven to perform heat exchange between the refrigerant and air while in the evaporator.    
   
   
       19 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the refrigerant bypasses at least two currently operating indoor units such that the refrigerant is introduced into at least two currently stopped indoor units.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein 
 the at least one currently stopped indoor unit includes a solenoid valve, an expander, an evaporator, and an evaporating fan;    wherein the solenoid valve, when opened, is configured to allow the refrigerant discharged from the outdoor unit to bypass the at least one currently operating indoor unit such that the refrigerant is introduced into an evaporator; and    wherein an operation of the evaporating fan is prevented.