Air-conditioning apparatus and method for controlling same

Abstract

The present invention relates to an air-conditioning apparatus which is capable of performing a cooling operation in a stable manner in an environment having a low outside temperature. The air-conditioning apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a housing including an inlet, a bypass inlet, and an outlet; a fan configured to introduce air into the housing and discharge the air from the housing; a heat-exchange flow path deposed between the inlet and the outlet; a heat exchanger disposed at the heat exchange flow path; and a bypass flow path disposed between the bypass inlet and the outlet.

1 . An air conditioning apparatus comprising:
 a housing including an inlet, a bypass inlet and an outlet;   a fan configured to introduce air into the housing and to discharge the air from the housing;   a heat exchange flow path defined between the inlet and the outlet;   a heat exchanger located in the heat exchange flow path; and   a bypass flow path defined between the bypass inlet and the outlet.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a bypass blocking device configured to selectively open or close the bypass inlet. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a bypass vane configured to adjust an opening degree of the bypass inlet. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to control revolutions per minute (RPM) of a fan motor, the fan motor serving to drive the fan. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the controller controls the RPM of the fan motor based on a condensation pressure or condensation temperature of refrigerant. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the controller controls the fan motor so as to be operated at minimum control RPM when the condensation pressure or condensation temperature is below a first predetermined value, and
 wherein the controller controls the fan motor to stop operation thereof when the condensation pressure or condensation temperature is below a second predetermined value, the second predetermined value being less than the first predetermined value.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , further comprising a bypass vane configured to selectively open or close the bypass inlet and to adjust an opening degree of the bypass inlet. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the controller controls the bypass vane to open the bypass inlet when the fan motor is operated at minimum control RPM. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the controller increases the opening degree of the bypass inlet when the fan motor is operated at the minimum control RPM, thereby increasing the flow rate of air introduced through the bypass inlet and reduces the flow rate of air introduced through the inlet. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a cover configured to prevent outside air from being directly introduced into the inlet in a direction perpendicular to the inlet. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the cover has a cover top inlet and a cover lateral inlet and includes a main body configured to bypass the air, directly introduced in the direction perpendicular to the inlet of the housing, to the cover top inlet and the cover lateral inlet. 
     
     
         12 . An air conditioning apparatus comprising an outdoor unit and one or more indoor units connected to the outdoor unit,
 wherein the outdoor unit comprises:   a housing including an inlet, a bypass inlet and an outlet;   a fan configured to introduce air into the housing through the inlet and the bypass inlet and to discharge the air from the housing through the outlet; and   a controller configured to control driving of the fan,   wherein the inlet is in indirect communication with the outlet through a heat exchanger and the bypass inlet is in direct communication with the outlet, and   wherein the controller varies the flow rate of air introduced through the inlet by adjusting the flow ate of air introduced through the bypass inlet.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the controller controls driving of the fan based on a condensation pressure or condensation temperature of refrigerant. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , further comprising a bypass vane configured to selectively open or close the bypass inlet and to adjust an opening degree of the bypass inlet. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the controller controls the bypass vane so as to be operated when a fan motor is operated at minimum control RPM. 
     
     
         16 . A control method of an air conditioning apparatus, the control method comprising:
 sensing a condensation pressure or condensation temperature of refrigerant in an outdoor unit;   implementing constant speed operation of a fan in which a fan motor of the outdoor unit is controlled so as to be operated at minimum control RPM and the flow rate of air introduced into a heat exchanger is varied when the sensed result is below a first predetermined value; and   implementing variable speed operation of the fan in which the fan motor of the outdoor unit is controlled so as to be operated at RPM exceeding the minimum control RPM when the sensed result is the first predetermined value or more.   
     
     
         17 . The control method according to  claim 16 , wherein, in the constant speed operation of the fan, the flow rate of bypassed air not subjected to heat exchange is varied. 
     
     
         18 . The control method according to  claim 17 , wherein, in the constant speed operation of the fan, the flow rate of bypassed air through the bypass inlet is increased to reduce the flow rate of air introduced into the heat exchanger through the inlet. 
     
     
         19 . The control method according to  claim 16 , wherein operation of the fan stops during the constant speed operation of the fan when the sensed result is below a second predetermined value.