Air conditioner and controlling method thereof

Abstract

An air conditioner may include: an evaporator; a base disposed below the evaporator; a scattering wheel configured to scatter water stored in the base; a wheel drive motor configured to rotate the scattering wheel; a first water level sensor and a second water level sensor configured to detect a water level of the water stored in the base; and a controller configured to control a rotational speed of the wheel drive motor based on detection results of the first water level sensor and the second water level sensor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air conditioner, comprising:
 an evaporator;   a base disposed below the evaporator;   a scattering wheel configured to scatter water stored in the base;   a wheel drive motor configured to rotate the scattering wheel;   a first water level sensor and a second water level sensor configured to detect a water level of the water stored in the base; and   a controller, comprising circuitry, configured to control a rotational speed of the wheel drive motor based on detection results of the first water level sensor and the second water level sensor.   
     
     
         2 . The air conditioner of  claim 1 , wherein the second water level sensor is configured to detect water at a higher level than the first water level sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The air conditioner of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to control the rotational speed of the wheel drive motor to a first speed, based on water not being detected by the first water level sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The air conditioner of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to control the rotational speed of the wheel drive motor to a second speed higher than the first speed, based on water being detected by the first water level sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The air conditioner of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is configured to stop an operation of the compressor, based on water being detected by the second water level sensor for a reference number of times or more or a reference period of time or more. 
     
     
         6 . The air conditioner of  claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to control the wheel drive motor to maintain rotation at the second speed, based on water being detected by the second water level sensor for the reference number of times or more or the reference period of time or more. 
     
     
         7 . A method for controlling an air conditioner comprising an evaporator, a base disposed below the evaporator, a scattering wheel configured to scatter water stored in the base, and a wheel drive motor configured to rotate the scattering wheel, the method comprising:
 detecting, by a first water level sensor, a water level of the water stored in the base;   detecting, by a second water level sensor, a water level of the water stored in the base; and   controlling a rotational speed of the wheel drive motor based on detection results of the first water level sensor and the second water level sensor.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the second water level sensor is configured to detect water at a higher level than the first water level sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the controlling of the rotational speed of the wheel drive motor comprises controlling the rotational speed of the wheel drive motor to a first speed, based on water not being detected by the first water level sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the controlling of the rotational speed of the wheel drive motor comprises controlling the rotational speed of the wheel drive motor to a second speed higher than the first speed, based on water being detected by the first water level sensor. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 stopping an operation of the compressor, based on water being detected by the second water level sensor for a reference number of times or more or a reference period of time or more.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the controlling of the rotational speed of the wheel drive motor comprises controlling the wheel drive motor to maintain rotation at the second speed, based on water being detected by the second water level sensor for the reference number of times or more of the reference period of time or more.