Multi-type air conditioner and method of controlling the same

Abstract

A multi type air conditioner is provided that may include a plurality of indoor devices, each comprising an indoor heat exchanger, and a plurality of outdoor devices connected to the plurality of indoor devices, each comprising an outdoor heat exchanger. When a defrosting operation condition is satisfied during a heating operation, the plurality of outdoor devices may successively perform a defrosting operation.

1 . A multi-type air conditioner, comprising:
 a plurality of indoor devices, each comprising an indoor heat exchanger; and   a plurality of outdoor devices connected to the plurality of indoor devices, each comprising an outdoor heat exchanger, wherein, when a defrosting operation condition is satisfied during a heating operation, the plurality of outdoor devices successively perform a defrosting operation.   
     
     
         2 . The multi-type air conditioner according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of outdoor devices comprises a valve, wherein during the heating operation, the outdoor heat exchanger of each of the plurality of outdoor devices not currently performing the defrosting operation serves as an evaporator by switching a refrigerant flow through the valve, and wherein the outdoor heat exchanger in which the defrosting operation is currently being performed serves as a condenser by switching the refrigerant flow through the corresponding valve. 
     
     
         3 . The multi-type air conditioner according to  claim 2 , wherein the valve comprises a four-way valve. 
     
     
         4 . The multi-type air conditioner according to  claim 3 , wherein each outdoor heat exchanger is divided into a plurality of heat exchanger parts through which a refrigerant separately flows, and wherein when a specific outdoor device of the plurality of outdoor devices performs the defrosting operation, frost on all of the heat exchanger parts of the specific outdoor device is removed. 
     
     
         5 . The multi-type air conditioner according to  claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of outdoor devices comprises a plurality of four-way valves, and wherein the number of four-way valves is equal to that of heat exchanger parts. 
     
     
         6 . The multi-type air conditioner according to  claim 1 , wherein an order of the plurality of outdoor devices performing the defrosting operation is based on a heat exchange capacity of the outdoor heat exchanger of each of the outdoor devices. 
     
     
         7 . The multi-type air conditioner according to  claim 6 , wherein the outdoor device comprising a outdoor heat exchanger having a relatively small capacity performs the defrosting operation first. 
     
     
         8 . The multi-type air conditioner according to  claim 1 , wherein an order of the plurality of outdoor devices performing the defrosting operation is preset. 
     
     
         9 . The multi-type air conditioner according to  claim 8 , further comprising a memory in which the preset order is stored. 
     
     
         10 . The multi-type air conditioner according to  claim 1 , wherein an order of the plurality of outdoor devices performing the defrosting operation is determined whenever the defrosting operation condition is satisfied. 
     
     
         11 . The multi-type air conditioner according to  claim 1 , wherein, during the defrosting operation, an operation of an outdoor fan disposed in the outdoor device performing the defrosting operation is stopped. 
     
     
         12 . A multi type air-conditioner, comprising:
 a plurality of indoor devices, each comprising an indoor heat exchanger; and   a plurality of outdoor devices connected to the plurality of indoor devices, each comprising an outdoor heat exchanger, wherein, when a defrosting operation condition is satisfied during a heating operation, the outdoor heat exchanger of one of the plurality of outdoor device is switched into a condenser state to perform a defrosting operation.   
     
     
         13 . The multi-type air conditioner according to  claim 12 , wherein, when the outdoor heat exchanger of the one of the plurality of outdoor devices completely performs the defrosting operation, the outdoor heat exchanger of another outdoor device is switched into the condenser state to perform the defrosting operation. 
     
     
         14 . The multi-type air conditioner according to  claim 13 , wherein an order of the plurality of outdoor devices performing the defrosting operation is based on a heat exchange capacity of the outdoor heat exchanger of each of the plurality of outdoor devices. 
     
     
         15 . The multi-type air conditioner according to  claim 13 , wherein an order of the plurality of outdoor devices performing the defrosting operation is preset. 
     
     
         16 . The multi-type air conditioner according to  claim 15 , further comprising a memory in which the preset order is stored. 
     
     
         17 . The multi-type air conditioner according to  claim 13 , wherein an order of the plurality of outdoor devices performing the defrosting operation is determined whenever the defrosting operation condition is satisfied. 
     
     
         18 . The multi-type air conditioner according to  claim 12 , wherein each of the outdoor heat exchangers of the plurality of outdoor devices is divided into a plurality of heat exchanger parts through which a refrigerant independently flows, and wherein when a specific outdoor device performs the defrosting operation, frost on all of the plurality of heat exchanger parts is removed. 
     
     
         19 . The multi-type air conditioner according to  claim 12 , wherein, when a specific outdoor device performs the defrosting operation, an operation of an outdoor fan disposed in the outdoor device performing the defrosting operation is stopped. 
     
     
         20 . A method of controlling a multi-type air conditioner comprising a plurality of indoor devices and a plurality of outdoor devices, the method comprising:
 performing a heating operation in the plurality of outdoor devices;   determining whether a defrosting operation condition is satisfied during the heating operation of the plurality of outdoor devices; and   successively performing a defrosting operation in the plurality of outdoor devices when the defrosting operation condition is satisfied.   
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein, when a specific outdoor device performs the defrosting operation, an outdoor heat exchanger of the respective outdoor device serves as a condenser by switching a refrigerant flow through a four-way valve. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the successively performing of the defrosting operation comprises performing the defrosting operation in another outdoor device after a specific outdoor device completely performs the defrosting operation. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein, when a specific outdoor device performs the defrosting operation, an operation of a corresponding outdoor fan of the specific outdoor device is stopped. 
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein an order of the plurality of outdoor devices performing the defrosting operation is based on a heat exchange capacity of an outdoor heat exchanger of each of the plurality of outdoor devices. 
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein an order of the plurality of outdoor devices performing the defrosting operation is preset. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein an order of the plurality of outdoor devices performing the defrosting operation is determined whenever the defrosting operation condition is satisfied.