Abstract:
Disclosed herein are an air conditioner, a control device thereof, and a method of controlling the same. The air conditioner includes a control device including a plurality of indoor unit operation changers, and an indoor unit connected to any one of the plurality of indoor unit operation changers, wherein at least one of the indoor unit and the control device determines an operation mode of each of the plurality of indoor unit operation changers respectively connected to a plurality of indoor units, detects an indoor unit operation changer at an operation mode corresponding to an operation of any one of the plurality of indoor units among the plurality of indoor unit operation changers, and determines an indoor unit operation changer connected to the indoor unit among the plurality of indoor unit operation changers on based on a result of detecting at least one of the indoor unit operation changers.
Abstract:
An apparatus for detecting an oil level and a method for controlling the same, an apparatus for detecting oil flow and a method for controlling the same, and a method for controlling oil return using the detected oil level and the detected oil flow are disclosed. The level of oil stored in a compressor is measured at two or more positions. The frequency comparison scheme using two electrodes can correctly detect the level of oil stored in the compressor, a refrigerant state, and the level of mixed oils, and can determine an internal state of the compressor and a normal or abnormal state of the oil return system, such that the oil return control can be actively controlled. The flow of oil in the oil return pipe is detected so as to determine whether the oil is normally supplied in real time, such that a malfunction of the compressor is prevented and a valve state can be checked. The level of oil stored in the compressor is adjusted not only using the oil level detection result but also the oil flow detection result, and the oil return operation can be controlled.
Abstract:
An air conditioner includes an outdoor unit; a plurality of mode change devices connected to the outdoor unit, including at least one mode changer including a branch duct and a changing valve, and configured to receive a control signal from the outdoor unit to control an operation of the at least one mode changer; and a plurality of indoor units connected to the outdoor unit or the plurality of mode change devices. The outdoor unit may be configured to determine an operation mode of the plurality of mode change devices to operate the plurality of mode change devices a plurality of times. Each of the plurality of indoor units may be configured to detect a temperature change of an indoor heat exchanger in response to the operation of the plurality of mode change devices, to determine the number of connected mode changers and a connectable mode changer candidate group based on the temperature change of the indoor heat exchanger, and to extract a valid mode changer from the determined mode changer candidate group and obtain branch duct connection information.
Abstract:
An apparatus for detecting an oil level and a method for controlling the same, an apparatus for detecting oil flow and a method for controlling the same, and a method for controlling oil return using the detected oil level and the detected oil flow are disclosed. The level of oil stored in a compressor is measured at two or more positions. The frequency comparison scheme using two electrodes can correctly detect the level of oil stored in the compressor, a refrigerant state, and the level of mixed oils, and can determine an internal state of the compressor and a normal or abnormal state of the oil return system, such that the oil return control can be actively controlled. The flow of oil in the oil return pipe is detected so as to determine whether the oil is normally supplied in real time, such that a malfunction of the compressor is prevented and a valve state can be checked. The level of oil stored in the compressor is adjusted not only using the oil level detection result but also the oil flow detection result, and the oil return operation can be controlled.