Air conditioner outdoor unit and ventilation method using same

Abstract

An air conditioner outdoor unit comprises: a cabinet including a heat exchanger, a compressor, and a fan; an internal cabinet provided inside the cabinet; a passage provided at a lower portion of the internal cabinet and in through which air flows; a vent provided at an upper portion of the internal cabinet and through which introduced air is discharged; an air guide duct disposed inside the internal cabinet; and a dust sensor disposed at the air guide duct and configured to detect dust concentration of the air passing through the internal cabinet.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An outdoor unit of an air conditioner comprising:
 a cabinet including a heat exchanger, a compressor, and a fan;   an internal cabinet provided inside the cabinet;   a passage provided at a lower portion of the internal cabinet and configured so that air flows therethrough;   a vent provided at an upper portion of the internal cabinet and configured to discharge introduced air;   an air guide duct disposed inside the internal cabinet; and   a dust sensor disposed in the air guide duct and configured to detect dust concentration of the air passing through the internal cabinet.   
     
     
         2 . The outdoor unit of an air conditioner of  claim 1 , wherein
 a movement direction of air inside the internal cabinet is from a lower surface to an upper surface of the internal cabinet, and   wherein the air guide duct is configured so that some of the air passing through the internal cabinet flows into the air guide duct in a direction perpendicular or inclined to the movement direction of air, and the air passing through the dust sensor is discharged from the air guide duct in parallel to the movement direction of air.   
     
     
         3 . The outdoor unit of an air conditioner of  claim 1 , wherein
 the air guide duct is disposed parallel to the lower surface of the internal cabinet.   
     
     
         4 . The outdoor unit of an air conditioner of  claim 1 , wherein
 the air guide duct is disposed at an angle with respect to the lower surface of the internal cabinet.   
     
     
         5 . The outdoor unit of an air conditioner of  claim 1 , wherein
 the dust sensor comprises:   an air flow path including an entrance and an exit;   a sensing unit including a sensor disposed in the air flow path and configured to detect dust concentration of air flowing through the air flow path; and   a sensor fan configured to cause the air to flow in the air flow path.   
     
     
         6 . The outdoor unit of an air conditioner of  claim 5 , wherein
 the dust sensor is disposed inside the air guide duct.   
     
     
         7 . The outdoor unit of an air conditioner of  claim 6 , wherein
 the air guide duct comprises:   an inflow portion connected to the entrance of the air flow path of the dust sensor;   a discharge portion connected to the exit of the air flow path; and   an inner partition wall configured to divide the inflow portion and the discharge portion.   
     
     
         8 . The outdoor unit of an air conditioner of  claim 7 , wherein
 the discharge portion includes a chimney protruding beyond the inflow portion.   
     
     
         9 . The outdoor unit of an air conditioner of  claim 5 , wherein
 the dust sensor is disposed on an outer surface of the air guide duct.   
     
     
         10 . The outdoor unit of an air conditioner of  claim 9 , wherein
 the air guide duct comprises:   an inflow hole provided on one surface of the air guide duct and corresponding to the entrance of the air flow path of the dust sensor;   a discharge hole provided on the one surface of the air guide duct and corresponding to the exit of the air flow path and spaced a specified distance from the inflow hole; and   an inner partition wall blocking an inside of the air guide duct between the inflow hole and the discharge hole.   
     
     
         11 . An air conditioner comprises:
 an indoor unit; and   an outdoor unit of  claim 1  connected to the indoor unit.   
     
     
         12 . A ventilation method using an air conditioner including an outdoor unit equipped with a dust sensor, the ventilation method comprising:
 transmitting, by an air monitor, indoor air quality information;   transmitting, by the air conditioner, outdoor air information measured by the dust sensor and temperature sensor of the outdoor unit; and   identifying, by a ventilation device, indoor air quality using the indoor air quality information, and based on the indoor air quality being less than a specified level, performing ventilation using the outdoor air information.   
     
     
         13 . The ventilation method of  claim 12 , wherein
 the performing ventilation using the outdoor air information comprises:   based on an indoor and outdoor temperature difference being less than a reference temperature and the outdoor air quality being less that the specified level, performing, by the ventilation device, the ventilation by allowing the outdoor air to bypass an energy recovery ventilator and to pass through an air purifier.   
     
     
         14 . The ventilation method of  claim 12 , wherein
 the performing ventilation using the outdoor air information comprises:   based on an indoor and outdoor temperature difference being greater than a reference temperature and the outdoor air quality being less than the specified level, performing, by the ventilation device, the ventilation by allowing the outdoor air to pass through an energy recovery ventilator and an air purifier.   
     
     
         15 . The ventilation method of  claim 12 , wherein
 the performing ventilation using the outdoor air information comprises:   based on an indoor and outdoor temperature difference being less than a reference temperature and the outdoor air quality being greater than the specified level, performing, by the ventilation device, the ventilation by allowing the outdoor air to bypass an energy recovery ventilator and an air purifier.