Hybrid multi-air conditioning system and method for controlling a hybrid multi-air conditioning system

Abstract

A hybrid multi-air conditioning system and a method for controlling a hybrid multi-air conditioning system are provided. The hybrid multi-air conditioning system may include a hot water supply unit including a hot water supply heat exchanger that exchanges heat between refrigerant and water accommodated in a water tank and a first hot water supply expansion valve that blocks or allows refrigerant condensed in the hot water supply heat exchanger to flow through a first hot water supply discharge pipe; at least one indoor device installed indoors and including an indoor heat exchanger and at least one indoor expansion valve; an outdoor device connected to the at least one indoor device and the hot water supply unit through a refrigerant pipe and including an outdoor heat exchanger, a compressor, and an outdoor expansion valve; a second hot water supply discharge pipe having a first side branched from the first hot water supply discharge pipe, which connects the hot water supply heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger, and a second side that joins a first discharge pipe, which connects the compressor and the outdoor heat exchanger; and a second hot water supply expansion valve installed on the second hot water supply discharge pipe.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hybrid multi-air conditioning system, comprising:
 a hot water supply unit including a hot water supply heat exchanger that exchanges heat between a refrigerant and water accommodated in a water tank and a first hot water supply expansion valve that blocks or allows refrigerant condensed in the hot water supply heat exchanger to flow through a first hot water supply discharge pipe;   at least one indoor device installed indoors and including at least one indoor heat exchanger and at least one indoor expansion valve;   an outdoor device connected to the at least one indoor device and the hot water supply unit through a refrigerant pipe and including an outdoor heat exchanger, a compressor, and an outdoor expansion valve;   a second hot water supply discharge pipe having a first side branched from the first hot water supply discharge pipe, which connects the hot water supply heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger, and a second side that joins a first discharge pipe, which connects the compressor and the outdoor heat exchanger; and   a second hot water supply expansion valve installed on the second hot water supply discharge pipe.   
     
     
         2 . The hybrid multi-air conditioning system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one of a first temperature sensor that detects a water temperature in the water tank or a second temperature sensor installed at a rear end of the compressor.   
     
     
         3 . The hybrid multi-air conditioning system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first pressure sensor installed at a rear end of the compressor.   
     
     
         4 . The hybrid multi-air conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the hot water supply heat exchanger is wound around an outer wall of the water tank in a coil form and exchanges heat between the refrigerant and water while the refrigerant flows inside of the hot water supply heat exchanger. 
     
     
         5 . The hybrid multi-air conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the outdoor device includes:
 a hot water supply valve that allows compressed refrigerant from the compressor to flow to the hot water supply unit;   a discharge valve that allows the compressed refrigerant from the compressor to flow to the outdoor heat exchanger or the indoor heat exchanger; and   a four-way valve that allows the refrigerant passing through the discharge valve to flow to the outdoor heat exchanger or to the indoor heat exchanger.   
     
     
         6 . The hybrid multi-air conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one indoor heat exchanger comprises a plurality of indoor heat exchangers connected in parallel. 
     
     
         7 . The hybrid multi-air conditioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the first hot water supply expansion valve is installed downstream of a branch point of the second hot water supply discharge pipe from the first hot water supply discharge pipe. 
     
     
         8 . The hybrid multi-air conditioning system of  claim 7 , wherein in a hot water supply and cooling operation mode, either the hot water supply heat exchanger or the at least one outdoor heat exchanger operates as a condenser, or the hot water supply heat exchanger and the at least one outdoor heat exchanger operate as a condenser. 
     
     
         9 . The hybrid multi-air conditioning system of  claim 7 , wherein in a hot water supply and cooling operation mode, one of the first hot water supply expansion valve or the second hot water supply expansion valve is opened and the other is closed. 
     
     
         10 . The hybrid multi-air conditioning system of  claim 9 , wherein in the hot water supply and cooling operation mode, when a temperature of water accommodated in the water tank is a reference temperature or less and when a cooling load is lower than a reference value, the first hot water supply expansion valve is opened and the second hot water supply expansion valve is closed. 
     
     
         11 . The hybrid multi-air conditioning system of  claim 9 , wherein in the hot water supply and cooling operation mode, when a temperature of water accommodated in the water tank is a reference temperature or less, and when a cooling load is lower than a reference value, only the hot water supply heat exchanger operates as a condenser. 
     
     
         12 . The hybrid multi-air conditioning system of  claim 9 , wherein in the hot water supply and cooling operation mode, when a temperature of water accommodated in the water tank is a reference temperature or less, and when a cooling load is higher than a reference value, the second hot water supply expansion valve is opened and the first hot water supply expansion valve is closed, and wherein the hot water supply heat exchanger and the outdoor heat exchanger operate as condensers. 
     
     
         13 . The hybrid multi-air conditioning system of  claim 9 , wherein in the hot water supply and cooling operation mode, when a temperature of water accommodated in the water tank is a reference temperature or more, and when a cooling load is higher than a reference value, the second hot water supply expansion valve is opened and the first hot water supply expansion valve is closed, and wherein the hot water supply heat exchanger and the outdoor heat exchanger operate as condensers. 
     
     
         14 . The hybrid multi-air conditioning system of  claim 9 , wherein in the hot water supply and cooling operation mode, even if a temperature of water accommodated in the water tank is a reference temperature or more, and when a cooling load is higher than a reference value, the first hot water supply expansion valve is opened or the second hot water supply expansion valve is opened according to a superheating degree of the compressor. 
     
     
         15 . The hybrid multi-air conditioning system of  claim 8 , wherein in the hot water supply and cooling operation mode, when a temperature of water accommodated in the water tank is a reference temperature or more, and when a cooling load is lower than the reference value, only the outdoor heat exchanger operates as a condenser, or wherein the water tank is heated by a separate heater. 
     
     
         16 . A hybrid multi-air conditioning system, comprising:
 a hot water supply unit including a hot water supply heat exchanger that exchanges heat between a refrigerant and water accommodated in a water tank and a first hot water supply expansion valve that blocks or allows refrigerant condensed in the hot water supply heat exchanger to flow through a first hot water supply discharge pipe;   at least one indoor device installed indoors and including at least one indoor heat exchanger and at least one indoor expansion valve;   an outdoor device connected to the at least one indoor device and the hot water supply unit through a refrigerant pipe and including an outdoor heat exchanger, a compressor, and an outdoor expansion valve;   a second hot water supply discharge pipe having a first side branched from the first hot water supply discharge pipe, which connects the hot water supply heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger, and a second side that joins a first discharge pipe, which connects the compressor and the outdoor heat exchanger, such that the hot water supply unit and the outdoor heat exchanger are connected in series; and   a second hot water supply expansion valve installed on the second hot water supply discharge pipe.   
     
     
         17 . The hybrid multi-air conditioning system of  claim 16 , wherein the first hot water supply expansion valve is installed downstream of a branch point of the second hot water supply discharge pipe from the first hot water supply discharge pipe. 
     
     
         18 . The hybrid multi-air conditioning system of  claim 17 , wherein in a hot water supply and cooling operation mode, either the hot water supply heat exchanger or the at least one outdoor heat exchanger operates as a condenser, or the hot water supply heat exchanger and the at least one outdoor heat exchanger operate as a condenser. 
     
     
         19 . The hybrid multi-air conditioning system of  claim 17 , wherein in the hot water supply and cooling operation mode, one of the first hot water supply expansion valve or the second hot water supply expansion valve is opened and the other is closed. 
     
     
         20 . The hybrid multi-air conditioning system of  claim 17 , wherein in the hot water supply and cooling operation mode, when a temperature of water accommodated in the water tank is a reference temperature or more, and when a cooling load is lower than the reference value, only the outdoor heat exchanger operates as a condenser, or wherein the water tank is heated by a separate heater.