Method for controlling an air conditioner

Abstract

A method for controlling an air conditioner. The method for controlling an air conditioner may include determining time information for determining an execution time of a low-noise operation and performing the low-noise operation according to the determined time information. The performing of the low-noise operation may include limiting a maximum value of an operation frequency of a compressor; and reducing an amount of refrigerant introduced into an indoor unit or device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for controlling an air conditioner, the method comprising:
 determining time information for determining an execution time of a low-noise operation; and   performing the low-noise operation according to the determined time information, wherein the performing of the low-noise operation comprises:
 limiting a maximum value of an operation frequency of a compressor; and 
 reducing an amount of refrigerant introduced into an indoor device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the performing of the low-noise operation further comprises reducing an amount of wind of an indoor blower. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the performing of the low-noise operation further comprises limiting a maximum value of a rotational rate of an outdoor blower. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the maximum value of the rotational rate of the outdoor blower is limited to about 70% or less of a maximum rotational rate of the outdoor blower. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 recognizing whether a target pressure of a refrigeration cycle is satisfied while the low-noise operation is performed; and   performing a supplementation operation if the target pressure is not satisfied.   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein, when a target low-pressure is not satisfied while the air conditioner performs a cooling operation, the performing of the supplementation operation comprises performing a primary supplementation operation in which a rotational rate of the outdoor blower varies. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the performing of the supplementation operation further comprises performing a secondary supplementation operation in which an operation frequency of the compressor varies if the target low-pressure is not satisfied after the primary supplementation operation is performed. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the performing of the supplementation operation further comprises performing a tertiary supplementation operation in which the outdoor blower and the compressor normally operate without limiting the rotational rate of the outdoor blower and the frequency of the compressor if the target low-pressure is not satisfied after the secondary supplementation operation is performed. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein, when a target high-pressure is not satisfied while the air conditioner performs a heating operation, the performing of the supplementation operation comprises allowing the compressor to normally operate without limiting a frequency of the compressor. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the maximum value of the operation frequency of the compressor is limited to about 50% or less of the maximum frequency of the compressor when the air conditioner performs a cooling operation and is limited to about 70% or less of the maximum frequency of the compressor when the air conditioner performs a heating operation. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the reducing of the amount of refrigerant introduced into the indoor device comprises increasing a target superheating degree and a target supercooling degree of the indoor device. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the increasing of the target superheating degree and the target supercooling degree of the indoor device comprises reducing an opening degree of an expansion device provided in the indoor device. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the determining the time information for determining the execution time of the low-noise operation comprises:
 determining a reference time through a predetermined operation process; and   determining a range of the execution time of the low-noise operation on the basis of the determined reference time.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the predetermined operation process comprises:
 measuring an external air temperature at a predetermined cycle;   datarizing distribution of the external air temperature to store the datarized distribution; and   setting a time period corresponding to a highest temperature in the distribution of the measured external air temperature as a reference time period.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the predetermined operation process comprises primary and secondary operation processes, and wherein the method further comprises comparing a reference time period set in the primary operation process to a reference time period set in the secondary operation process. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein, when a difference between the reference time period set in the primary operation process and the reference time period set in the secondary operation process occurs, the reference time period is determined by using a mean value of data of the primary operation process and data of the secondary operation process. 
     
     
         17 . A method for controlling an air conditioner, the method comprising:
 determining time information for determining an execution time of a low-noise operation; and   performing the low-noise operation according to the determined time information, wherein the performing of the low-noise operation comprises:
 limiting of an operation frequency of a compressor; and 
 reducing an amount of refrigerant introduced into an indoor device, and wherein the determining the time information for determining the execution time of the low-noise operation comprises:
 determining a reference time through a predetermined operation process; and 
 determining a range of the execution time of the low-noise operation on the basis of the determined reference time. 
 
   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the predetermined operation process comprises:
 measuring an external air temperature at a predetermined cycle;   datarizing distribution of the external air temperature to store the datarized distribution; and   setting a time period corresponding to a highest temperature in the distribution of the measured external air temperature as a reference time period.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the predetermined operation process comprises primary and secondary operation processes, and wherein the method further comprises comparing a reference time period set in the primary operation process to a reference time period set in the secondary operation process. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , wherein, when a difference between the reference time period set in the primary operation process and the reference time period set in the secondary operation process occurs, the reference time period is determined by using a mean value of data of the primary operation process and data of the secondary operation process. 
     
     
         21 . A method for controlling an air conditioner, the method comprising:
 determining time information for determining an execution time of a low-noise operation; and   performing the low-noise operation according to the determined time information, wherein the performing of the low-noise operation comprises:
 limiting of an operation frequency of a compressor; and 
 reducing an amount of refrigerant introduced into an indoor device, and wherein the reducing of the amount of refrigerant introduced into the indoor device comprises increasing a target superheating degree and a target supercooling degree of the indoor device. 
   
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the increasing of the target superheating degree and the target supercooling degree of the indoor device comprises reducing an opening degree of an expansion device provided in the indoor device.