Air conditioning system, refrigerant amount estimation method for air conditioning system, air conditioner, and refrigerant amount estimation method for air conditioner

Abstract

An air conditioning system includes an air conditioner that includes a refrigerant circuit that is constituted to have a structure in which indoor unit is connected to an outdoor unit and a predetermined amount of refrigerant is filled, and a server. The conditioner includes a first processor detect a quantity related to control of the conditioner, acquire the detected value, and transmit the acquired value to the server. The server includes a second processor receive the value from the conditioner, estimate a remaining refrigerant amount of the refrigerant remaining in the circuit by using a value of a feature value in a case where a state quantity related to an amount of the refrigerant that is filled in the circuit is indicated by the feature value, and determine whether the value of the feature value is detection value that is to be used to estimate the remaining refrigerant amount.

1 . An air conditioning system comprising:
 an air conditioner that includes a refrigerant circuit that is constituted to have a structure in which at least one indoor unit is connected to an outdoor unit by a refrigerant pipe and a predetermined amount of refrigerant is filled; and   a server that is communicably connected to the air conditioner, wherein   the air conditioner includes
 an first memory; and first processing circuitry coupled to the first memory and configured to: 
 detect a state quantity related to control of the air conditioner, 
 acquire a detection value that has been detected by the detecting, and 
 transmit the detection value that has been acquired by the acquiring to the server, and 
   the server includes
 a second memory; and second processing circuitry coupled to the second memory and configured to: 
 receive the detection value from the air conditioner, 
 estimate a remaining refrigerant amount of the refrigerant that remains in the refrigerant circuit by using a detection value of a first feature value in a case where a state quantity related to an amount of the refrigerant that is filled in the refrigerant circuit is indicated by the first feature value, and 
 determine whether or not the detection value of the first feature value is a detection value that is to be used to estimate the remaining refrigerant amount performed by the estimating. 
   
     
     
         2 . The air conditioning system according to  claim 1 , wherein, in a case where, from among the state quantities, state quantities that include at least one state quantity that is included in the first feature value and at least one state quantity that is not included in the first feature value are indicated by a second feature value, the determining determines, by using a detection value of the second feature value, whether or not the detection value of the first feature value is the detection value that is to be used to estimate the remaining refrigerant amount. 
     
     
         3 . The air conditioning system according to  claim 2 , wherein a number of state quantities included in the second feature value is larger than the number of state quantities included in the first feature value. 
     
     
         4 . The air conditioning system according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the estimating
 includes an estimation model that is generated by using the first feature value, and 
 estimates the remaining refrigerant amount by applying the detection value of the first feature value to the estimation model, and 
   the determining
 includes a determination model that is generated by using the second feature value, and 
 determines, by applying the detection value of the second feature value to the determination model, whether or not the detection value of the first feature value is to be used to estimate the remaining refrigerant amount performed by the estimation unit estimating. 
   
     
     
         5 . The air conditioning system according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the determination model calculates, by adopting the second feature value that is used to generate the determination model as a normal sample value, an outlier that indicates a degree of deviation from the normal sample value related to the detection value of the second feature value from among the detection values acquired by the acquiring, and,   when an absolute value of the calculated outlier is larger than a predetermined threshold, the determining does not estimate the remaining refrigerant amount performed by the estimating by using the detection value of the first feature value that is acquired at the same time as the detection value of the second feature value, and,   when the absolute value of the calculated outlier is less than the predetermined threshold, the determining estimates the remaining refrigerant amount performed by the estimating by using the detection value of the first feature value that is acquired at the same time as the detection value of the second feature value.   
     
     
         6 . The air conditioning system according to  claim 1 , wherein, before the remaining refrigerant amount is estimated by the estimating, the determining determines whether or not the detection value of the first feature value is to be used. 
     
     
         7 . The air conditioning system according to  claim 4 , wherein, before the remaining refrigerant amount is estimated by the estimating, the determining determines whether or not the detection value of the first feature value is to be used. 
     
     
         8 . The air conditioning system according to  claim 4 , wherein the second feature value that is used to generate the determination model is a value that is obtained from a result of a simulation of an operation of the refrigerant circuit when the operation of the refrigerant circuit is normal and only the remaining refrigerant amount has been changed. 
     
     
         9 . The air conditioning system according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the outdoor unit includes a compressor,   the detecting includes a suction temperature sensor that detects a suction temperature that is a temperature of the refrigerant that is sucked into the compressor, and   the second feature value includes a rotation speed of the compressor and the suction temperature.   
     
     
         10 . The air conditioning system according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the determination model includes
 a heating time determination model that is used when the air conditioner performs a heating operation, and 
 a cooling time determination model that is used when the air conditioner performs a cooling operation, and 
   the second feature value that is used by the heating time determination model is different from the second feature value that is used by the cooling time determination model except for the rotation speed of the compressor and the suction temperature.   
     
     
         11 . The air conditioning system according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the outdoor unit further includes
 an outdoor heat exchanger, and 
 an outdoor unit expansion valve, 
   the detecting further includes
 a discharge temperature sensor that detects a discharge temperature that is a temperature of the refrigerant that is discharged from the compressor, 
 a discharge pressure sensor that detects a discharge pressure that is a pressure of the refrigerant that is discharged from the compressor, and 
 a suction pressure sensor that detects a suction pressure that is a pressure of the refrigerant that is sucked into the compressor, 
   the discharge temperature, the suction pressure, a low pressure saturation temperature that is calculated by using the suction pressure, and a degree of opening of the outdoor unit expansion valve are included as the second feature value that is used for the heating time determination model, and   the heat exchange outlet temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger, a high pressure saturation temperature that is calculated by using the discharge pressure, and the discharge pressure are included as the second feature value that is used for the cooling time determination model.   
     
     
         12 . The air conditioning system according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the indoor unit includes
 an indoor heat exchanger, and 
 an indoor unit expansion valve, 
   the detecting includes
 a refrigerant temperature sensor that detects
 an indoor unit side heat exchange inlet temperature that is a temperature of the refrigerant flowing into the indoor heat exchanger at the time of a heating operation, and 
 an indoor unit side heat exchange outlet temperature that is a temperature of the refrigerant flowing out from the indoor heat exchanger at the time of the heating operation, and 
 
   the second feature value includes
 the indoor unit side heat exchange inlet temperature, 
 the indoor unit side heat exchange outlet temperature, and 
 a degree of opening of the indoor unit expansion valve. 
   
     
     
         13 . The air conditioning system according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the estimation model is generated by using linear analysis, and   the determination model is generated by using non-linear analysis.   
     
     
         14 . The air conditioning system according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the estimation model is generated by using linear analysis, and   the determination model is generated by using non-linear analysis.   
     
     
         15 . A refrigerant amount estimation method that is implemented by an air conditioning system that includes
 an air conditioner that includes
 a refrigerant circuit that is constituted to have a structure in which at least one indoor unit is connected to an outdoor unit by a refrigerant pipe and a predetermined amount of refrigerant is filled, and 
 a server that is communicably connected to the air conditioner, the refrigerant amount estimation method for the air conditioning system comprising: 
   detecting, performed by first processing circuitry included in the air conditioner, a state quantity related to control of the air conditioner;   acquiring, performed by the first processing circuitry included in the air conditioner, a detection value of the detected state quantity;   transmitting, performed by the first processing circuitry included in the air conditioner, the acquired detection value to the server;   receiving, performed by second processing circuitry included in the server, the detection value from the air conditioner;   determining, performed by the second processing circuitry included in the server, whether or not a detection value of a first feature value is a detection value that is to be used to estimate a remaining refrigerant amount in a case where a state quantity related to an amount of the refrigerant that is filled in the refrigerant circuit is indicated by the first feature value; and   estimating, performed by an the second processing circuitry included in the server, the remaining refrigerant amount of the refrigerant that remains in the refrigerant circuit by using the detection value of the first feature value.   
     
     
         16 . The refrigerant amount estimation method for the air conditioning system according to  claim 15 , wherein, in a case where, from among the state quantities, state quantities that include at least one state quantity that is included in the first feature value and at least one state quantity that is not included in the first feature value are indicated by a second feature value, the determining includes determining, performed by the determining, by using a detection value of the second feature value, whether or not the detection value of the first feature value is the detection value that is to be used to estimate the remaining refrigerant amount. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerant amount estimation method for the air conditioning system according to  claim 16 , further comprising:
 inputting, performed by the determining, the detection value of the second feature value to a determination model that has been generated by using the second feature value;   calculating, performed by the determining, by adopting the second feature value that is used to generate the determination model as a normal sample value, an outlier that indicates a degree of deviation from the normal sample value related to the detection value of the second feature value from among the detection values acquired by the acquiring; and   determining, performed by the determining, when an absolute value of the outlier is larger than a predetermined threshold, that the detection value of the first feature value that is acquired at the same time as the detection value of the second feature value is not to be used to estimate the remaining refrigerant amount.   
     
     
         18 . The refrigerant amount estimation method for the air conditioning system according to  claim 17 , wherein the second feature value that is used to generate the determination model is a value that is obtained from a result of a simulation of an operation of the refrigerant circuit when the operation of the refrigerant circuit is normal and only the remaining refrigerant amount has been changed. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerant amount estimation method for the air conditioning system according to  claim 17 , further comprising determining, performed by the determining, when the absolute value of the outlier is less than the predetermined threshold, that the detection value of the first feature value that is acquired at the same time as the detection value of the second feature value is to be used to estimate the remaining refrigerant amount. 
     
     
         20 . An air conditioner that includes a refrigerant circuit that is constituted to have a structure in which at least one indoor unit is connected to an outdoor unit by a refrigerant pipe and a predetermined amount of refrigerant is filled, the air conditioner comprising:
 an first memory; and first processing circuitry coupled to the first memory and configured to:   detect a state quantity related to control of the air conditioner;   acquire a detection value that has been detected by the detecting;   estimate a remaining refrigerant amount of the refrigerant that remains in the refrigerant circuit by using a detection value of a first feature value in a case where a state quantity related to an amount of the refrigerant that is filled in the refrigerant circuit is indicated by the first feature value; and   determine whether or not the detection value of the first feature value is a detection value that is to be used to estimate the remaining refrigerant amount performed by the estimating.   
     
     
         21 . The air conditioner according to  claim 20 , wherein, in a case where, from among the state quantities, state quantities that include at least one state quantity that is included in the first feature value and at least one state quantity that is not included in the first feature value are indicated by a second feature value, the determining determines, by using a detection value of the second feature value, whether or not the detection value of the first feature value is the detection value that is to be used to estimate the remaining refrigerant amount. 
     
     
         22 . The air conditioner according to  claim 21 , wherein a number of state quantities included in the second feature value is larger than the number of state quantities included in the first feature value. 
     
     
         23 . The air conditioner according to  claim 21 , wherein
 the estimating
 includes an estimation model that is generated by using the first feature value, and 
 estimates the remaining refrigerant amount by applying detection value of the first feature value to the estimation model, and 
   the determining
 includes a determination model that is generated by using the second feature value, and 
 determines, by applying the detection value of the second feature value to the determination model, whether or not the detection value of the first feature value is to be used to estimate the remaining refrigerant amount performed by the estimating. 
   
     
     
         24 . The air conditioner according to  claim 23 , wherein
 the determination model calculates, by adopting the second feature value that is used to generate the determination model as a normal sample value, an outlier that indicates a degree of deviation from the normal sample value related to the detection value of the second feature value from among the detection values acquired by the acquiring, and,   when an absolute value of the calculated outlier is larger than a predetermined threshold, the determining does not estimate the remaining refrigerant amount performed by the estimating by using the detection value of the first feature value that is acquired at the same time as the detection value of the second feature value, and,   when the absolute value of the calculated outlier is less than the predetermined threshold, the determining estimates the remaining refrigerant amount performed by the estimating by using the detection value of the first feature value that is acquired at the same time as the detection value of the second feature value.   
     
     
         25 . The air conditioner according to  claim 20 , wherein, before the remaining refrigerant amount is estimated by the estimating, the determining determines whether or not the detection value of the first feature value is to be used. 
     
     
         26 . The air conditioner according to  claim 23 , wherein, before the remaining refrigerant amount is estimated by the estimating, the determining determines whether or not the detection value of the first feature value is to be used. 
     
     
         27 . The air conditioner according to  claim 23 , wherein the second feature value that is used to generate the determination model is a value that is obtained from a result of a simulation of an operation of the refrigerant circuit when the operation of the refrigerant circuit is normal and only the remaining refrigerant amount has been changed. 
     
     
         28 . The air conditioner according to  claim 23 , wherein
 the outdoor unit includes a compressor,   the detecting includes a suction temperature sensor that detects a suction temperature that is a temperature of the refrigerant that is sucked into the compressor, and   the second feature value includes a rotation speed of the compressor and the suction temperature.   
     
     
         29 . The air conditioner according to  claim 28 , wherein
 the determination model includes
 a heating time determination model that is used when the air conditioner performs a heating operation, and 
 a cooling time determination model that is used when the air conditioner performs a cooling operation, and 
   the second feature value that is used by the heating time determination model is different from the second feature value that is used by the cooling time determination model except for the rotation speed of the compressor and the suction temperature.   
     
     
         30 . The air conditioner according to  claim 29 , wherein
 the outdoor unit further includes
 an outdoor heat exchanger, and 
 an outdoor unit expansion valve, 
   the detecting further includes
 a discharge temperature sensor that detects a discharge temperature that is a temperature of the refrigerant that is discharged from the compressor, 
 a discharge pressure sensor that detects a discharge pressure that is a pressure of the refrigerant that is discharged from the compressor, and 
 a suction pressure sensor that detects a suction pressure that is a pressure of the refrigerant that is sucked into the compressor, 
   the discharge temperature, the suction pressure, a low pressure saturation temperature that is calculated by using the suction pressure, and a degree of opening of the outdoor unit expansion valve are included as the second feature value that is used for the heating time determination model, and   the heat exchange outlet temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger, a high pressure saturation temperature that is calculated by using the discharge pressure, and the discharge pressure are included as the second feature value that is used for the cooling time determination model.   
     
     
         31 . The air conditioner according to  claim 23 , wherein
 the indoor unit includes
 an indoor heat exchanger, and 
 an indoor unit expansion valve, 
   the detecting includes
 a refrigerant temperature sensor that detects
 an indoor unit side heat exchange inlet temperature that is a temperature of the refrigerant flowing into the indoor heat exchanger at the time of a heating operation, and 
 an indoor unit side heat exchange outlet temperature that is a temperature of the refrigerant flowing out from the indoor heat exchanger at the time of the heating operation, and 
 
   the second feature value includes
 the indoor unit side heat exchange inlet temperature, 
 the indoor unit side heat exchange outlet temperature, and 
 a degree of opening of the indoor unit expansion valve. 
   
     
     
         32 . The air conditioner according to  claim 23 , wherein
 the estimation model is generated by using linear analysis, and   the determination model is generated by using non-linear analysis.   
     
     
         33 . The air conditioner according to  claim 24 , wherein
 the estimation model is generated by using linear analysis, and   the determination model is generated by using non-linear analysis.   
     
     
         34 . A refrigerant amount estimation method for estimating a remaining refrigerant amount in an air conditioner that includes a refrigerant circuit that is constituted to have a structure in which at least one indoor unit is connected to an outdoor unit by a refrigerant pipe and a predetermined amount of refrigerant is filled or estimating a remaining refrigerant amount in an air conditioning system that includes the air conditioner, the refrigerant amount estimation method for the air conditioner comprising:
 detecting a state quantity related to control of the air conditioner;   acquiring a detection value of the detected state quantity;   determining whether or not a detection value of a first feature value is a detection value that is to be used to estimate the remaining refrigerant amount in a case where a state quantity related to an amount of the refrigerant that is filled in the refrigerant circuit is indicated by the first feature value; and   estimating the remaining refrigerant amount of the refrigerant that remains in the refrigerant circuit by using the detection value of the first feature value.   
     
     
         35 . The refrigerant amount estimation method for the air conditioner according to  claim 34 , wherein, in a case where, from among the state quantities, state quantities that include at least one state quantity that is included in the first feature value and at least one state quantity that is not included in the first feature value are indicated by a second feature value, the determining includes determining, by using a detection value of the second feature value, whether or not the detection value of the first feature value is the detection value that is to be used to estimate the remaining refrigerant amount. 
     
     
         36 . The refrigerant amount estimation method for the air conditioner according to  claim 35 , wherein the determining further includes
 calculating, by adopting the second feature value as a normal sample value, an outlier that indicates a degree of deviation from the normal sample value related to the detection value of the second feature value from among the acquired detection values, and   determining, when an absolute value of the outlier is larger than a predetermined threshold, that the detection value of the first feature value that is acquired at the same time as the detection value of the second feature value is not to be used to estimate the remaining refrigerant amount.   
     
     
         37 . The refrigerant amount estimation method for the air conditioner according to  claim 35 , wherein the second feature value that is used at the determining is a value that is obtained from a result of a simulation of an operation of the refrigerant circuit when the operation of the refrigerant circuit is normal and only the remaining refrigerant amount has been changed. 
     
     
         38 . The refrigerant amount estimation method for the air conditioner according to  claim 36 , further comprising determining, when the absolute value of the outlier is less than the predetermined threshold, that the detection value of the first feature value that is acquired at the same time as the detection value of the second feature value is to be used to estimate the remaining refrigerant amount.