Air conditioner and controlling method thereof

Abstract

An air conditioner may include: a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant; an expansion valve configured to expand the compressed refrigerant; and a controller, comprising circuitry, configured to: based on receiving a command to execute a low-power mode, change an operating frequency of the compressor to an operating frequency corresponding to the low-power mode, and change an opening degree of the expansion valve to a temporary stabilization opening degree, and change from the temporary stabilization opening degree to a final stabilization opening degree.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air conditioner, comprising:
 a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant;   an expansion valve configured to expand the compressed refrigerant; and   a controller, comprising circuitry, configured to:   based on receiving a command to execute a low-power mode, change an operating frequency of the compressor to an operating frequency corresponding to the low-power mode, and   change an opening degree of the expansion valve to a temporary stabilization opening degree, and change from the temporary stabilization opening degree to a final stabilization opening degree.   
     
     
         2 . The air conditioner of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a temperature sensor configured to detect a discharge temperature of the compressor,   wherein the controller is configured to compare the detected discharge temperature with a reference temperature after changing the opening degree of the expansion valve to the temporary stabilization opening degree.   
     
     
         3 . The air conditioner of  claim 2 , wherein the final stabilization opening degree includes an opening degree of the expansion valve configured to allow the discharge temperature to become equal to the reference temperature. 
     
     
         4 . The air conditioner of  claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to decrease the opening degree of the expansion valve, in response to the detected discharge temperature being lower than the reference temperature. 
     
     
         5 . The air conditioner of  claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to increase the opening degree of the expansion valve, in response to the detected discharge temperature being higher than the reference temperature. 
     
     
         6 . The air conditioner of  claim 1 , wherein the operating frequency of the compressor corresponding to the low-power mode is 22 Hz or 24 Hz. 
     
     
         7 . The air conditioner of  claim 1 , wherein the low-power mode includes a low-noise operation mode and/or a wind-free operation mode. 
     
     
         8 . The air conditioner of  claim 2 , wherein the reference temperature is determined based on the operating frequency of the compressor, an ambient temperature, and a specified constant. 
     
     
         9 . A method for controlling an air conditioner, the method comprising:
 receiving a command to execute a low-power mode;   changing an operating frequency of a compressor to an operating frequency corresponding to the low-power mode;   changing an opening degree of an expansion valve to a temporary stabilization opening degree; and   changing the opening degree of the expansion valve from the temporary stabilization opening degree to a final stabilization opening degree.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 detecting a discharge temperature of the compressor; and   comparing the detected discharge temperature with a reference temperature after changing the opening degree of the expansion valve to the temporary stabilization opening degree.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the final stabilization opening degree includes an opening degree of the expansion valve configured to allow the discharge temperature to become equal to the reference temperature. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the changing of the opening degree of the expansion valve to the final stabilization opening degree comprises decreasing the opening degree of the expansion valve, in response to the detected discharge temperature being lower than the reference temperature. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the changing of the opening degree of the expansion valve to the final stabilization opening degree comprises increasing the opening degree of the expansion valve, in response to the detected discharge temperature being higher than the reference temperature. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the operating frequency of the compressor corresponding to the low-power mode is 22 Hz or 24 Hz. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the low-power mode includes a low-noise operation mode and/or a wind-free operation mode.