Cooling system and controlling method thereof

Abstract

A cooling system including a plurality of cooling devices, and an outdoor unit configured to provide a refrigerant to each of the plurality of cooling devices, wherein each of the plurality of cooling devices includes: an evaporator configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant and air, a communication unit configured to communicate between the plurality of cooling devices, a user interface configured to obtain an input, and a controller electrically connected to the communication unit and the user interface and configured to set a defrosting group based on the user input. Based on any one of cooling devices belonging to the same defrosting group satisfying a specified defrosting entry condition, all of the cooling devices belonging to the same defrosting group are controlled to enter a defrosting operation together.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cooling system comprising:
 a plurality of cooling devices; and   an outdoor unit configured to provide a refrigerant to each of the plurality of cooling devices,   wherein each of the plurality of cooling devices comprises:
 an evaporator configured to exchange heat between the refrigerant and air; 
 a communication unit comprising communication circuitry configured to communicate between the plurality of cooling devices; 
 a user interface comprising circuitry configured to obtain an input; and 
 a controller, comprising circuitry, electrically connected to the communication unit and the user interface and configured to set a defrosting group based on the input, and 
   wherein based on any one of cooling devices belonging to the same defrosting group satisfying a specified defrosting entry condition, all of the cooling devices belonging to the same defrosting group are configured to enter a defrosting operation together.   
     
     
         2 . The cooling system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the plurality of cooling devices are configured to share information about the defrosting group.   
     
     
         3 . The cooling system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 based on each of the cooling devices belonging to the same defrosting group satisfying a specified defrosting releasing condition, all of the cooling devices belonging to the same defrosting group are configured to enter a cooling operation together.   
     
     
         4 . The cooling system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 based on a first defrosting releasing condition of a first cooling device belonging to the same defrosting group being satisfied first, the first cooling device is configured to stand by until a second defrosting releasing condition of a second cooling device belonging to the same defrosting group is satisfied.   
     
     
         5 . The cooling system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a controller of a first cooling device belonging to the same defrosting group is configured to cause the cooling system to: generate a defrosting entry signal based on the first cooling device satisfying the specified defrosting entry condition, and transmit the defrosting entry signal to a second cooling device belonging to the same defrosting group.   
     
     
         6 . The cooling system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a controller of a first cooling device belonging to the same defrosting group is configured to cause the cooling system to: generate a defrosting releasing signal based on the first cooling device satisfying a specified defrosting releasing condition, and transmit the defrosting releasing signal to a second cooling device belonging to the same defrosting group.   
     
     
         7 . The cooling system according to  claim 6 , wherein
 a controller of the second cooling device is configured to cause the cooling system to: transmit information about an operating condition of the second cooling device to the first cooling device based on receiving the defrosting releasing signal from the first cooling device.   
     
     
         8 . The cooling system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of communication lines configured to individually connect the outdoor unit and the communication unit of each of the plurality of cooling devices.   
     
     
         9 . The cooling system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first communication line configured to connect the outdoor unit and the communication unit of any one of the plurality of cooling devices; and   at least one second communication line electrically connected to the first communication line and configured to interconnect the communication units of two cooling devices among the plurality of cooling devices.   
     
     
         10 . The cooling system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one communication line configured to interconnect the communication units of two adjacent cooling devices among the plurality of cooling devices.   
     
     
         11 . The cooling system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the defrosting entry condition comprises a case in which a specified time period or a specified time approaches.   
     
     
         12 . The cooling system according to  claim 3 , wherein
 the defrosting releasing condition comprises a case in which a specified time has elapsed after defrosting operation entry or a temperature of the evaporator is higher than a specified reference temperature after defrosting operation entry.   
     
     
         13 . The cooling system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 each of the plurality of cooling devices further comprises an expansion valve configured to regulate a flow rate of the refrigerant supplied from the outdoor unit, and a defrosting heater configured to heat the evaporator, and   the controller of each of the plurality of cooling devices is configured to control opening and closing of the expansion valve and an operation of the defrosting heater.   
     
     
         14 . The cooling system according to  claim 13 , wherein
 each of the plurality of cooling devices is configured to perform:
 a defrosting operation in which the expansion valve is closed and the defrosting heater is operated, 
 a standby operation in which the expansion valve is closed and the operation of the defrosting heater is stopped, or 
 a cooling operation in which the expansion valve is opened and the operation of the defrosting heater is stopped. 
   
     
     
         15 . The cooling system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 a controller of each of the plurality of cooling devices is configured to control the user interface to visually display information about the defrosting group.