Air conditioner and control method therefor

Abstract

An air conditioner may include: at least one indoor unit including an indoor temperature sensor configured to detect an indoor temperature; an outdoor unit including a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant, an outdoor heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant and outdoor air, and an outdoor temperature sensor configured to detect an outdoor temperature; an expansion valve configured to adjust a flow rate of the refrigerant; and at least one processor, comprising processing circuitry, individually and/or collectively, configured to determine whether a refrigerant amount is normal based on the outdoor temperature, the indoor temperature, and an opening/closing rate of the at least one expansion valve.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air conditioner, comprising:
 at least one indoor unit comprising an indoor temperature sensor configured to detect an indoor temperature;   an outdoor unit comprising a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant, an outdoor heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant and outdoor air, and an outdoor temperature sensor configured to detect an outdoor temperature;   at least one expansion valve configured to adjust a flow rate of the refrigerant; and   at least one processor, comprising processing circuitry, individually and/or collectively, configured to determine whether a refrigerant amount is normal based on the outdoor temperature, the indoor temperature, and an opening/closing rate of the at least one expansion valve.   
     
     
         2 . The air conditioner of  claim 1 , wherein the outdoor unit further comprises an outdoor heat exchanger outlet temperature sensor configured to detect an outlet temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger, and
 at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, is configured to determine whether the refrigerant amount is normal based on the outlet temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger.   
     
     
         3 . The air conditioner of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one indoor heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant and indoor air,   wherein at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, is configured to determine whether the refrigerant amount is normal based on an average superheat of the at least one indoor heat exchanger.   
     
     
         4 . The air conditioner of  claim 3 , wherein at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, is configured to determine that the refrigerant amount is insufficient based on the average superheat of the at least one indoor heat exchanger being greater than or equal to a specified value. 
     
     
         5 . The air conditioner of  claim 3 , wherein at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, is configured to determine whether the refrigerant amount is normal based on an operating frequency of the compressor being greater than or equal to a specified reference value and the average superheat being less than or equal to a specified value. 
     
     
         6 . The air conditioner of  claim 1 , wherein at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, is configured to determine that the refrigerant amount is not identifiable based on an operating frequency of the compressor being less than or equal to a specified reference value. 
     
     
         7 . The air conditioner of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a low pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure of the refrigerant flowing in a flow path connected to an inlet of the compressor; and   a high pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure of the refrigerant flowing in a flow path connected to an outlet of the compressor.   
     
     
         8 . The air conditioner of  claim 7 , wherein at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, is configured to determine whether the refrigerant amount is normal based on an output value of the low pressure sensor, an output value of the high pressure sensor, and the opening/closing rate of the at least one expansion valve. 
     
     
         9 . The air conditioner of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one indoor heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant and indoor air;   an evaporation temperature sensor configured to detect an evaporation temperature of the at least one indoor heat exchanger; and   a condensation temperature sensor configured to detect a condensation temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger.   
     
     
         10 . The air conditioner of  claim 9 , wherein at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, is configured to determine whether the refrigerant amount is normal based on the evaporation temperature, the condensation temperature and the opening/closing rate of the at least one expansion valve. 
     
     
         11 . The air conditioner of  claim 1 , wherein at least one processor, individually and/or collectively, is configured to determine the refrigerant amount to determine whether the refrigerant amount is normal, and determine that the refrigerant amount is insufficient based on the refrigerant amount being below a specified reference range. 
     
     
         12 . A method for controlling an air conditioner comprising a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant, an outdoor heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant and outdoor air, at least one expansion valve configured to adjust a flow rate of the refrigerant, and at least one indoor heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant and indoor air, the method comprising:
 detecting an outdoor temperature;   detecting an indoor temperature; and   determining whether a refrigerant amount is normal based on the outdoor temperature, the indoor temperature, and an opening/closing rate of the at least one expansion valve.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 detecting an outlet temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger; and   determining whether the refrigerant amount is normal based on the outlet temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 determining whether the refrigerant amount is normal based on an average superheat of the at least one indoor heat exchanger.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 determining that the refrigerant amount is insufficient based on the average superheat of the at least one indoor heat exchanger being greater than or equal to a specified value.