VENTILATION DEVICE AND AIR CONDITIONER COMPRISING SAME

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation application, claiming priority under 35 U.S.C. § 365(c), of an International application No. PCT/KR2024/005199, filed on Apr. 18, 2024, which is based on and claims the benefit of a Korean patent application number 10-2023-0051482, filed on Apr. 19, 2023, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The disclosure relates to a ventilation device and an air conditioner comprising the same. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a ventilation device for increasing operating rate and energy efficiency when performing heat exchange, and an air conditioner comprising the same.

2. Description of Related Art

A ventilation device may be a device capable of ventilating an indoor space by exchanging outdoor air with indoor air.

The ventilation device may recover a portion of energy included in the indoor air being exhausted through heat exchange by passing the outdoor air being flowed in and the indoor air being exhausted through a heat exchange device.

The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the disclosure.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the disclosure are to address at least the above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the disclosure is to provide a ventilation device and an air conditioner comprising the same.

Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the presented embodiments.

In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, a ventilation device is provided. The ventilation device includes a heat exchange device through which heat is exchanged while outdoor air introduced through an inlet and indoor air exhausted through an exhaust port passes therethrough, a heater, disposed between the heat exchange device and the inlet, configured to heat the outdoor air before the outdoor air passes through the heat exchange device, a first temperature sensor for identifying a temperature of the outdoor air, a memory storing information on a plurality of temperature ranges and instructions, and at least one processor communicatively coupled to the heater, the first temperature sensor, and the memory, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor individually or collectively, cause the ventilation device to identify the temperature of the outdoor air through the first temperature sensor, identify a temperature range to which the temperature of the outdoor air belongs from among the plurality of temperature ranges, identify a target output of the heater for heating the outdoor air to a target temperature corresponding to the temperature range, and drive the heater based on the identified target output.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a method performed by a ventilation device including a heat exchange device through which heat is exchanged while outdoor air introduced through an inlet and indoor air exhausted through an exhaust port passes therethrough, a heater, disposed between the heat exchange device and the inlet, configured to heat the outdoor air before the outdoor air passes through the heat exchange device, and a first temperature sensor for identifying a temperature of the outdoor air, is provided. The method includes identifying the temperature of the outdoor air through the first temperature sensor, identifying a temperature range to which the temperature of outdoor air belongs from among a plurality of temperature ranges stored in the ventilation device, identifying a target output of a heater for heating the outdoor air to a target temperature corresponding to the temperature range, and driving the heater based on the identified target output.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media storing instructions, that when executed by at least one processor individually or collectively of a ventilation device including a heat exchange device through which heat is exchanged while outdoor air introduced through an inlet and indoor air exhausted through an exhaust port passes therethrough, a heater, disposed between the heat exchange device and the inlet, configured to heat the outdoor air before the outdoor air passes through the heat exchange device, and a first temperature sensor for identifying a temperature of the outdoor air, cause the ventilation device to perform operations. The operations include identifying the temperature of the outdoor air through the first temperature sensor, identifying a temperature range to which the temperature of outdoor air belongs from among a plurality of temperature ranges stored in the ventilation device, identifying a target output of a heater for heating the outdoor air to a target temperature corresponding to the temperature range, and driving the heater based on the identified target output.

Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses various embodiments of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain embodiments of the disclosure will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a ventilation device according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a ventilation device according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a ventilation device according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating an output of a heater that varies based on outdoor temperature according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating a heat exchange operating rate of a ventilation device that varies based on outdoor temperature according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 5C is a diagram illustrating energy loss when ventilating a ventilation device according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a ventilation device according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating an output of a heater that varies based on outdoor temperature according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating a heat exchange operating rate of a ventilation device that varies based on outdoor temperature according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method of a ventilation device identifying whether a heater is malfunctioning according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling a heater by a ventilation device according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling an output of a heater according to whether a ventilation device satisfies a pre-set condition according to an embodiment of the disclosure; and

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a control method of a ventilation device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

The same reference numerals are used to represent the same elements throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of various embodiments of the disclosure as defined by the claims and their equivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the various embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions may be omitted for clarity and conciseness.

Terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the disclosure. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of various embodiments of the disclosure is provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the disclosure as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a component surface” includes reference to one or more of such surfaces.

In the disclosure, expressions such as “have”, “may have”, “include”, and “may include” are used to designate a presence of a corresponding characteristic (e.g., elements such as numerical value, function, operation, or component), and not to preclude a presence or a possibility of additional characteristics.

In the disclosure, expressions such as “A or B”, “at least one of A and/or B”, or “one or more of A and/or B” may include all possible combinations of the items listed together. For example, “A or B”, “at least one of A and B”, or “at least one of A or B” may refer to all cases including (1) at least one A, (2) at least one B, or (3) both of at least one A and at least one B.

Expressions such as “1st”, “2nd”, “first”, or “second” used in the disclosure may limit various elements regardless of order and/or importance, and may be used merely to distinguish one element from another element and not limit the relevant element.

When a certain element (e.g., a first element) is indicated as being “(operatively or communicatively) coupled with/to” or “connected to” another element (e.g., a second element), it may be understood as the certain element being directly coupled with/to the another element or as being coupled through other element (e.g., a third element).

Conversely, when a certain element (e.g., first element) is indicated as “directly coupled with/to” or “directly connected to” another element (e.g., second element), it may be understood as the other element (e.g., third element) not being present between the certain element and the another element.

The expression “configured to . . . (or set up to)” used in the disclosure may be used interchangeably with, for example, “suitable for . . . ”, “having the capacity to . . . ”, “designed to . . . ”, “adapted to . . . ”, “made to . . . ”, or “capable of . . . ” based on circumstance. The term “configured to . . . (or set up to)” may not necessarily mean “specifically designed to” in terms of hardware.

Rather, in a certain circumstance, the expression “a device configured to . . . ” may mean something that the device “may perform . . . ” together with another device or components. For example, a phrase “a sub-processor configured to (or set up to) perform A, B, or C” may mean a dedicated processor for performing a relevant operation (e.g., an embedded processor), or a generic-purpose processor (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU) or an application processor (AP)) capable of performing the relevant operations by executing one or more software programs stored in a memory device.

The term ‘module’ or ‘part’ used in the embodiments herein perform at least one function or operation, and may be implemented with hardware or software, or implemented with a combination of hardware and software. In addition, a plurality of ‘modules’ or a plurality of ‘parts’, except for a ‘module’ or a ‘part’ which needs to be implemented with a specific hardware, may be integrated in at least one module and implemented as at least one processor.

Meanwhile, the various elements and areas of the drawings have been schematically illustrated. Accordingly, the technical spirit of the disclosure is not limited by relative sizes and distances illustrated in the accompanied drawings.

An embodiment of the disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanied drawings to aid in the understanding of those of ordinary skill in the art.

It should be appreciated that the blocks in each flowchart and combinations of the flowcharts may be performed by one or more computer programs which include instructions. The entirety of the one or more computer programs may be stored in a single memory device or the one or more computer programs may be divided with different portions stored in different multiple memory devices.

Any of the functions or operations described herein can be processed by one processor or a combination of processors. The one processor or the combination of processors is circuitry performing processing and includes circuitry like an application processor (AP, e.g. a central processing unit (CPU)), a communication processor (CP, e.g., a modem), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a neural processing unit (NPU) (e.g., an artificial intelligence (AI) chip), a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) chip, a Bluetooth® chip, a global positioning system (GPS) chip, a near field communication (NFC) chip, connectivity chips, a sensor controller, a touch controller, a finger-print sensor controller, a display driver integrated circuit (IC), an audio CODEC chip, a universal serial bus (USB) controller, a camera controller, an image processing IC, a microprocessor unit (MPU), a system on chip (SoC), an IC, or the like.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a ventilation device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

A ventilation device 100 may include an outdoor air inlet 105, an exhaust port 110, an indoor air inlet 115, a supply port 120, a heat exchange device 125, a heater 140, a filter 130, a first temperature sensor 145, a second temperature sensor 150, a humidity sensor 155, a memory 165, and a processor 170. A portion from among the elements of the ventilation device 100 may be omitted, and other elements may be further included.

At this time, outdoor air may be introduced through the outdoor air inlet 105, and supplied indoors through the supply port 120.

Further, indoor air may be introduced through the indoor air inlet 115, and exhausted outdoors through the exhaust port 110.

The heat exchange device 125 may be disposed at a point where a supply flow path of outdoor air and an exhaust flow path of indoor air cross, and heat exchange of the outdoor air and indoor air may be carried out in the heat exchange device 125.

That is, the outdoor air introduced from outside to the ventilation device 100 and the indoor air introduced from inside to the ventilation device 100 may exchange energy while simultaneously passing through the heat exchange device 125.

At this time, the heat exchange device 125 may be a stacked structure with a layer which forms a flow path of the outdoor air introduced from the outside to the inside and a layer which forms a flow path of the indoor air discharged from the inside to the outside being alternately disposed. Accordingly, energy may be exchanged as the air introduced inside and the air discharged outside are not mixed through the heat exchange device 125.

The heater 140 may heat the outdoor air introduced through the outdoor air inlet 105. At this time, the heater 140 may be disposed between the outdoor air inlet 105 and the heat exchange device 125. Then, the heater 140 may heat the outdoor air before the outdoor air introduced through the outdoor air inlet 105 passes the heat exchange device 125. Accordingly, the outdoor air heated by the heater 140 may be introduced into the heat exchange device 125.

The filter 130 may filter pollutants (e.g., dust) included in the outdoor air that is being introduced through the outdoor air inlet 105. At this time, the filter 130 may be disposed between the outdoor air inlet 105 and the heater 140. The filter 130 may be a pre-filter or a HEPA filter, but is not limited thereto, and may be a filter in which a plurality of filters is simultaneously combined.

The first temperature sensor 145 may be a sensor for detecting outdoor temperature. At this time, the first temperature sensor 145 may detect the outdoor temperature by being disposed toward the outdoor air inlet 105, but is not limited thereto, and the first temperature sensor 145 may be disposed at a random part at which the ventilation device 100 is in contact with the outdoor air and detect the outdoor temperature.

The second temperature sensor 150 may be a sensor for detecting the outdoor temperature heated by the heater 140. At this time, the second temperature sensor 150 may detect the outdoor temperature heated by the heater 140 by being disposed between the heater 140 and the heat exchange device 125, but is not limited thereto.

The humidity sensor 155 may be a sensor for detecting humidity of the indoor air. At this time, the humidity sensor 155 may detect the humidity of the indoor air by being disposed toward the indoor air inlet 115, but is not limited thereto, and the humidity sensor 155 may detect the indoor humidify by being disposed at a random part at which the ventilation device 100 is in contact with the indoor air.

A fan 135 blow the outdoor air from the outside to the inside, and blow the indoor air from the inside to the outside. In addition, the fan may blow the outdoor air which has been heat exchanged in the heat exchange device to a heating and cooling device connected with the ventilation device 100.

Further, a motor 160 may drive the fan 135 for the fan 135 to blow the outdoor air and the indoor air.

The memory 165 may store at least one instruction associated with the ventilation device 100. The memory 165 may store an operating system (O/S) for driving the ventilation device 100. In addition, the memory 165 may store various software programs or applications for the ventilation device 100 to operate according to various embodiments of the disclosure. Further, the memory 165 may include a semiconductor memory such as a flash memory, a magnetic storage medium such as a hard disk, or the like.

Specifically, the memory 165 may store various software modules for the ventilation device 100 to operate according to the various embodiments of the disclosure, and the processor 170 may control an operation of the ventilation device 100 by executing the various software modules stored in the memory 165. That is, the memory 165 may be accessed by the processor 170, and reading, writing, modifying, deleting, updating, and the like of data may be performed by the processor 170.

Meanwhile, the term memory 165 in the disclosure may be used as a meaning that includes a storage, a read only memory (ROM; not shown) in the processor 170, a random access memory (RAM; not shown), or a memory card (not shown; e.g., a micro secure digital (SD) card, a memory stick) mounted to the ventilation device 100.

The processor 170 may control an overall operation and function of the ventilation device 100. Specifically, the processor 170 may be connected with a configuration of the ventilation device 100 including the memory 165, and by executing the at least one instruction stored in the memory 165 as described above, control the overall operation of the ventilation device 100.

The processor 170 may be implemented in various methods. For example, the processor 170 may be implemented as at least one from among an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a logic integrated circuit, an embedded processor, a microprocessor, a hardware control logic, a hardware finite state machine (FSM), and a digital signal processor (DSP). Meanwhile, in the disclosure, the term processor 170 may be used as a meaning that includes a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a main processing unit (MPU), and the like.

Specifically, the processor 170 may include one or more processors. Specifically, the one or more processors may include one or more from among the CPU, the GPU, an accelerated processing unit (APU), a many integrated core (MIC), a digital signal processor (DSP), a neural processing unit (NPU), a hardware accelerator, or a machine learning accelerator. The one or more processors may control one from among other elements of the ventilation device or control a random combination thereof, and may perform an operation associated with communication or data processing. The one or more processors may execute one or more programs or instructions stored in the memory. For example, the one or more processors may perform, by executing the one or more instruction stored in the memory, a method according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

When a method according to various embodiments of the disclosure includes a plurality of operations, the plurality of operations may be performed by one processor, or performed by a plurality of processors. That is, when a first operation, a second operation, and a third operation are performed by a method according to various embodiments, the first operation, the second operation, and the third operation may all be performed by a first processor, or the first operation and the second operation may be performed by the first processor (e.g., a generic-purpose processor) and the third operation may be performed by a second processor (e.g., an artificial intelligence dedicated processor).

The one or more processors may be implemented as a single core processor that includes one core, or implemented as one or more multicore processors that includes a plurality of cores (e.g., a homogeneous multicore or a heterogeneous multicore). If the one or more processors are implemented as multicore processors, each of the plurality of cores included in the multicore processors may include a memory inside the processor such as a cache memory and an on-chip memory, and a common cache shared by the plurality of cores may be included in the multicore processor. In addition, each of the plurality of cores (or a portion from among the plurality of cores) included in the multicore processors may independently read and perform a program command for implementing a method according to various embodiments of the disclosure, or read and perform a program command for implementing a method according to various embodiments of the disclosure due to a whole (or a portion) of the plurality of cores being interconnected.

When a method according to various embodiments of the disclosure includes a plurality of operations, the plurality of operations may be performed by one core from among the plurality of cores or performed by the plurality of cores included in the multicore processors. For example, when a first operation, a second operation, and a third operation are performed by a method according to various embodiments, the first operation, the second operation, and the third operation may all be performed by a first core included in the multicore processors, or the first operation and the second operation may be performed by the first core included in the multicore processors and the third operation may be performed by a second core included in the multicore processors.

In the embodiments of the disclosure, the processor 170 may refer to a system on chip (SoC), the single core processor, or the multicore processors in which the one or more processors and other electronic components are integrated or a core included in the single core processor or the multicore processors, and the core herein may be implemented as the CPU, the GPU, the APU, the MIC, the DSP, the NPU, the hardware accelerator, the machine learning accelerator, or the like, but the embodiments of the disclosure are not limited thereto.

An operation of the processor 170 for implementing various embodiments of the disclosure may be implemented through a plurality of modules.

Specifically, data on the plurality of modules according to the disclosure may be stored in the memory 165, and the processor 170 may implement the various embodiments according to the disclosure using the plurality of modules after loading the data on the plurality of modules in the memory or a buffer inside the processor 170 by accessing the memory 165.

However, at least one from among the plurality of modules according to the disclosure may be included in the processor 170 in a form of the system on chip by being implemented as hardware.

Alternatively, at least one from among the plurality of modules according to the disclosure may be implemented as a separate external device, and the ventilation device 100 and each module may perform an operation according to the disclosure while performing communication.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a ventilation device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

The ventilation device 100 may receive fresh outdoor air from the outside through the outdoor air inlet 105 and supply the outdoor air which has been heat exchanged in the heat exchange device 125 through the supply port 120. At this time, the heat exchanged outdoor air may be supplied to the inside, or supplied to the heating and cooling device.

Then, the ventilation device 100 may receive polluted indoor air from the inside through the indoor air inlet 115 and exhaust the indoor air which has been energy exchanged in the heat exchange device 125 to the outside through the exhaust port 110.

The heater 140 may be disposed between the outdoor air inlet 105 and the heat exchange device 125, and heat the outdoor air before the outdoor air introduced through the outdoor air inlet 105 passes the heat exchange device 125.

Then, the filter 130 may filter the pollutants included in the outdoor air introduced through the outdoor air inlet 105 by being disposed between the outdoor air inlet 105 and the heater 140.

Then, the first temperature sensor 145 may detect the outdoor temperature by being disposed toward the outdoor air inlet 105.

Then, the second temperature sensor 150 may detect the outdoor temperature heated by the heater 140 by being disposed between the heater 140 and the heat exchange device 125.

Then, the humidity sensor 155 may detect the humidity of the indoor air by being disposed toward the indoor air inlet 115.

Then, the motor 160 may drive the fan 135 blowing the outdoor air from the outside to the inside, and blowing the indoor air from the inside to the outside.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 3, an air conditioner 200 may include the ventilation device 100 and a heating and cooling device 10.

At this time, the heating and cooling device 10 may be a device for adjusting a temperature of air. For example, the heating and cooling device 10 may include a compressor which circulates refrigerant for adjusting the temperature of air, a condenser which compresses the refrigerant, an evaporator which evaporates the refrigerant, and the like, and may adjust the temperature of air introduced into the heating and cooling device 10.

At this time, the indoor air may be exhausted to the outside through the ventilation device 100, and the outdoor air heat exchanged through the ventilation device 100 may be transported to the heating and cooling device 10. Then, the outdoor air transported to the heating and cooling device 10 may be cooled or heated by the heating and cooling device 10. The cooled or heated outdoor air may be supplied inside by the heating and cooling device 10.

An operation of the ventilation device 100 according to the disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanied drawing.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the ventilation device 100 according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 4, the processor 170 may identify the outdoor temperature at operation S410. At this time, the processor 170 may identify the outdoor temperature through the first temperature sensor 145, but this is merely one embodiment, and the processor 170 may obtain information on the outdoor temperature from an external device.

Then, the processor 170 may identify a temperature range to which the identified outdoor temperature belongs from among a plurality of temperature ranges stored in the memory 165 at operation S420.

Specifically, the memory 165 may store information on the plurality of temperature ranges.

For example, the plurality of temperature ranges stored in the memory 165 may include a first temperature range (exceeding 0 degrees Celsius), a second temperature range (less than or equal to 0 degrees Celsius, exceeding −5 degrees Celsius), a third temperature range (less than or equal to −5 degrees Celsius, exceeding −10 degrees Celsius), a fourth temperature range (less than or equal to −10 degrees Celsius, exceeding −15 degrees Celsius), and a fifth temperature range (less than or equal to −15 degrees Celsius). At this time, if the identified outdoor temperature is −7 degrees Celsius, the processor 1710 may identify as the outdoor temperature belonging to the third temperature range.

If the temperature range to which the outdoor temperature belongs is identified, the processor 170 may identify a target output of the heater for heating to a target temperature corresponding to the identified temperature range.

Specifically, the processor 170 may identify the target temperature corresponding to the identified temperature range.

Here, the target temperature corresponding to the identified temperature range may mean a temperature which added with a pre-set temperature to a maximum temperature from among the identified temperature range. For example, the outdoor temperature may be −7 degrees Celsius, the temperature range to which the outdoor temperature belongs may be the third temperature range (less than or equal to −5 degrees Celsius, exceeding −10 degrees Celsius), and the pre-set temperature may be 1 degree Celsius. At this time, the target temperature may be −4 degrees Celsius which added the pre-set temperature to −5 degrees Celsius which is the maximum temperature of the third temperature range.

Alternatively, the target temperature corresponding to the identified temperature range may be a temperature belonging to a temperature range adjacent with the identified temperature range. At this time, the temperature range adjacent with the identified temperature range may be a temperature range with a higher temperature than the identified temperature range. For example, if the identified temperature range is the third temperature range (less than or equal to −5 degrees Celsius, exceeding −10 degrees Celsius), the temperature range adjacent with the third temperature range may be the second temperature range (less than or equal to 0 degrees Celsius, exceeding −5 degrees Celsius) with a higher temperature than the third temperature range. At this time, the target temperature may mean a random temperature belonging in the second temperature range.

Alternatively, the target temperature corresponding to the identified temperature range may mean a maximum temperature from among the identified temperature range. For example, if the identified temperature range is the third temperature range (less than or equal to −5 degrees Celsius, exceeding −10 degrees Celsius), the target temperature may be −5 degrees Celsius which is the maximum temperature from among the third temperature range.

When the target temperature is identified, the processor 170 may identify a target output of the heater 140 at operation S430 by using Equation 1 below.

target ⁢ output ⁢ of ⁢ heater = 
 ( target ⁢ temperature - outdoor ⁢ temperature ) × 
 specific ⁢ heat ⁢ of ⁢ air × density ⁢ of ⁢ air × 
 air ⁢ volume × efficiency ⁢ of ⁢ heater Equation ⁢ 1

Here, the efficiency of the heater may be a pre-set value. For example, the efficiency of the heater may be 30%.

When the target output of the heater 140 is identified, the processor 170 may drive the heater 140 based on the identified target output at operation S440.

As the heater 140 is driven based on the target output of the heater 140 corresponding to the temperature range to which the outdoor temperature belongs, a heat exchange operating rate of the ventilation device 100 and energy efficiency when ventilating may be improved.

FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating an output of the heater 140 that varies based on outdoor temperature according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 5A, when the outdoor temperature is less than −10 degrees Celsius, −5 degrees Celsius, or 0 degrees Celsius, the target output of the heater 140 may be 27 W.

Further, when the outdoor temperature is −9 degrees Celsius or −4 degrees Celsius, the identified target output of the heater 140 may be 135 W.

FIG. 5B is a diagram illustrating a heat exchange operating rate of the ventilation device 100 that varies based on outdoor temperature according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Here, the heat exchange operating rate may mean a rate of time by which heat is exchange by the outdoor air and the indoor air through the heat exchange device 125 during an operating time of the ventilation device 100.

For example, if the operating time of the ventilation device 100 is 1 hour, and the time by which heat is exchanged by the outdoor air and the indoor air through the heat exchange device 125 is 30 minutes, the heat exchange operating rate may be 50%.

If the outdoor temperature is below zero, frost may be formed in the heat exchange device through which the outdoor air and the indoor air exchanges heat, and efficiency in heat exchange may be decreased.

Ventilation devices of related art have performed, in order to solve the problem of frost being formed in the heat exchange device, a ventilation operation by decreasing the heat exchange operating rate as the outdoor temperature is lowered. Then, the ventilation devices of related art performed an exhaust operation decreasing the heat exchange operating rate, and discharging the indoor air outside. In this case, when performing the exhaust operation, there has been a problem of the outdoor air being introduced inside through a gap between the ventilation device and a building.

Alternatively, the ventilation devices of related art have heated, in order to solve the problem of frost being formed in the heat exchange device, the outdoor air through a heater disposed at an outdoor air inlet when performing the ventilation operation. In this case, energy consumption increased due to use of the heater with a fixed output, and there has been a problem of smell, or the like occurring due to a temperature of a heater surface increasing when dust is attached to the heater surface.

Referring to FIG. 5B, a ventilation device of related art performing the exhaust operation for frost to not be formed in the heat exchange device may have a heat exchange operating rate of 0% in a range that is less than or equal to −10 degrees Celsius, a heat exchange operating rate of 71% in a range that exceeds −10 degrees Celsius and is less than or equal to −5 degrees Celsius, and a heat exchange operating rate of 80% in a range that exceeds −5 degrees Celsius and is less than or equal to 0 degrees Celsius.

Conversely, the ventilation device 100 according to various embodiments of the disclosure may variably control an output of the heater 140 according to the outdoor temperature, and increase the heat exchange operating rate greater than that of the ventilation devices of related art.

Referring to FIG. 5B, the ventilation device 100 may have a heat exchange operating rate of 71% in a range that is less than or equal to −10 degrees Celsius, a heat exchange operating rate of 80% in a range that exceeds −10 degrees Celsius and is less than or equal to −5 degrees Celsius, and a heat exchange operating rate of 100% in a range that exceeds −5 degrees Celsius and is less than or equal to 0 degrees Celsius.

That is, when compared with the ventilation device of related art, the ventilation device 100 may have a heat exchange operating rate that is increased by 71% in a range that is less than or equal to −10 degrees Celsius, a heat exchange operating rate that is increased by 9% in a range that exceeds −10 degrees Celsius and is less than or equal to −5 degrees Celsius, and a heat exchange operating rate that is increased by 20% in a range that exceeds −5 degrees Celsius and is less than or equal to 0 degrees Celsius.

FIG. 5C is a diagram illustrating energy loss when ventilating a ventilation device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 5C, a ventilation device of related art may have an energy loss of 196 kWh when ventilating in a range that is less than or equal to −10 degrees Celsius, an energy loss of 92 kWh when ventilating in a range that exceeds −10 degrees Celsius and is less than or equal to −5 degrees Celsius, and an energy loss of 163 kWh when ventilating in a range that exceeds −5 degrees Celsius and is less than or equal to 0 degrees Celsius.

Then, the ventilation device 100 according to various embodiments of the disclosure may have an energy loss of 101 kWh when ventilating in a range that is less than or equal to −10 degrees Celsius, an energy loss of 89 kWh when ventilating in a range that exceeds −10 degrees Celsius and is less than or equal to −5 degrees Celsius, and an energy loss of 140 kWh when ventilating in a range that exceeds −5 degrees Celsius and is less than or equal to 0 degrees Celsius.

That is, when compared with the ventilation device of related art, the ventilation device 100 may have an energy loss decreased by 48% when ventilating in a range that is less than or equal to −10 degrees Celsius, an energy loss decreased by 3% when ventilating in a range that exceeds −10 degrees Celsius and is less than or equal to −5 degrees Celsius, and an energy loss decreased by 14% when ventilating in a range that exceeds −5 degrees Celsius and is less than or equal to 0 degrees Celsius.

Meanwhile, the ventilation device 100 according to various embodiments of the disclosure may variably control an output of the heater 140 to maintain 100% of the heat exchange operating rate regardless of the outdoor temperature.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the ventilation device 100 according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 6, the processor 170 may identify the outdoor temperature at operation S610.

Then, the processor 170 may identify a target output of the heater 140 for heating the outdoor air to a target temperature at operation S620.

At this time, the target temperature may be a temperature at which frost is not formed in the heat exchange device 125 while the ventilation device 100 is operating. For example, the target temperature may be +1 degree Celsius. Here, the target temperature may be a pre-set temperature stored in the memory 165.

Specifically, the processor 170 may identify the target output of the heater 140 for heating the outdoor air to the target temperature using the above-described Equation 1.

When the target output of the heater 140 is identified, the processor 170 may drive the heater 140 based on the identified target output at operation S630.

As the heater 140 is driven based on the target output of the heater 140 for heating to the target temperature, the heat exchange operating rate of the ventilation device 100 and energy efficiency when ventilating may be improved.

FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating an output of the heater 140 that varies based on outdoor temperature according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 7A, when the outdoor temperature is 0 degrees Celsius, the target output of the heater 140 may be 27 W. Further, when the outdoor temperature is −10 degrees Celsius, the target output of the heater 140 may be 135 W. Further, when the outdoor temperature is −20 degrees Celsius, the target output of the heater 140 may be 135 W.

FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating a heat exchange operating rate of the ventilation device 100 that varies based on outdoor temperature according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 7B, a ventilation device of related art may have a heat exchange operating rate of 0% in a range that is less than or equal to −10 degrees Celsius, a heat exchange operating rate of 71% in a range that exceeds −10 degrees Celsius and is less than or equal to −5 degrees Celsius, and a heat exchange operating rate of 80% in a range that exceeds −5 degrees Celsius and is less than or equal to 0 degrees Celsius.

Conversely, the ventilation device 100 according to various embodiments of the disclosure may variably control the output of the heater 140 according to the outdoor temperature, and maintain the heat exchange operating rate at 100%.

Referring to FIG. 7B, regardless of the outdoor temperature, the heat exchange operating rate of the ventilation device 100 may be 100%.

Meanwhile, as described above with reference to FIGS. 4 and 6, if the heater 140 is driven based on the target output, the ventilation device 100 may compare the target output of the heater 140 and an actual output of the heater 140, and identify whether the heater 140 is malfunctioning. Then, if the heater is identified as malfunctioning, the ventilation device 100 may stop the driving of the heater 140.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method of the ventilation device 100 identifying whether the heater 140 is malfunctioning according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 8, the processor 170 may identify a target output of the heater 140 at operation S810, and drive the heater 140 based on the identified target output at operation S820.

Then, when the heater 140 is driven based on the target output, the processor 170 may identify whether the target output of the heater 140 and the actual output of the heater 140 is different by greater than or equal to a pre-set degree at operation S830.

Specifically, if a difference between a target output value of the heater 140 and an actual output value of the heater 140 is different by greater than or equal to a pre-set value, the processor 170 may identify that the target output of the heater 140 and the actual output of the heater 140 is different by greater than or equal to the pre-set degree.

Alternatively, if the range in which the difference between the target output value of the heater 140 and the actual output value of the heater 140 is different by greater than or equal to the pre-set value is continued for greater than or equal to a pre-set time, the processor 170 may identify as the target output of the heater 140 and the actual output of the heater 140 being different by greater than or equal to the pre-set degree.

Here, the processor 170 may identify voltage and current applied to the heater 140, and obtain the actual output value of the heater 140 using the identified voltage and current values.

Alternatively, the processor 170 may identify the outdoor temperature heated by the heater 140 through the second temperature sensor 150. Then, if the outdoor temperature heated by the heater 140 and the target temperature is different by greater than or equal to the pre-set value, the processor 170 may identify as the target output of the heater 140 and the actual output of the heater 140 being different by greater than or equal to the pre-set degree.

If the target output of the heater 140 and the actual output of the heater 140 are identified as not being different by greater than or equal to the pre-set degree at operation S830-N, the processor 170 may continuously drive the heater 140 based on the identified target output at operation S820.

Further, if the target output of the heater 140 and the actual output of the heater 140 are identified as being different by greater than or equal to the pre-set degree at operation S830-Y, the processor 170 may stop the driving of the heater 140 at operation S840.

Meanwhile, according to various embodiments of the disclosure, the ventilation device 100 may control an output of the heater 140 while comparing the target temperature or a threshold temperature with the outdoor temperature heated by the heater 140.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling the heater 140 by the ventilation device 100 according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 9, the processor 170 may drive the heater 140 at operation S910. At this time, the processor 170 may drive the heater 140 based on a pre-set output, but is not limited thereto, and may drive the heater 140 based on the target output as described above.

Then, the processor 170 may increase or decrease an output of the heater 140 by comparing the outdoor temperature heated by the heater 140 with the target temperature.

Specifically, the processor 170 may identify whether the outdoor temperature heated by the heater 140 is greater than or equal to the target temperature at operation S920.

At this time, the processor 170 may identify the outdoor temperature heated by the heater 140 through the second temperature sensor 150.

If the outdoor temperature heated by the heater 140 is greater than or equal to the target temperature at operation S920-Y, the processor 170 may decrease an output of the heater 140 at operation S930.

Then, if the outdoor temperature heated by the heater 140 is less than the target temperature at operation S920-N, the processor 170 may increase an output of the heater at operation S940.

Accordingly, the processor 170 may drive the heater 140 based on the decreased or increased output, and control an output of the heater 140 by repeatedly performing operations S920, S930, and S940.

Meanwhile, the ventilation device 100 may differently control a method for controlling an output of the heater 140 according to whether a pre-set condition is satisfied.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling an output of the heater 140 according to whether the ventilation device 100 satisfies a pre-set condition according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 10, the processor 170 may identify whether the pre-set condition is satisfied at operation S1010.

For example, the pre-set condition may be a condition in which the humidity of the indoor air is greater than or equal to a pre-set humidity. At this time, the processor 170 may identify the humidity of the indoor air through the humidity sensor 155. If the humidity of the indoor air is greater than or equal to a pre-set humidity, the processor 170 may identify as the pre-set condition being satisfied. Further, if the humidity of the indoor air is less than the pre-set humidity, the processor 170 may identify as the pre-set condition not being satisfied.

Alternatively, the pre-set condition may be a condition of a user input for operating the ventilation device 100 in a first mode being obtained. At this time, the processor 170 may obtain the user input through a user interface included in the ventilation device 100. If the user input for operating the ventilation device 100 in the first mode is obtained, the processor 170 may identify that the pre-set condition is satisfied. Then, if a user input for operating the ventilation device 100 in a second mode is obtained, the processor 170 may identify that the pre-set condition is not satisfied.

If the pre-set condition is satisfied at operation S1010-Y, the processor 170 may control the heater 140 to operate in the first mode at operation S1020. At this time, the first mode may be a mode for driving the heater 140 based on the target output for the ventilation device 100 to heat the outdoor air to the target temperature corresponding to the temperature range to which the outdoor temperature belongs. Specifically, if the pre-set condition is satisfied, the processor 170 may control an output of the heater 140 as described above with reference to FIG. 4.

If the pre-set condition is not satisfied at operation S1010-N, the processor 170 may control the heater 140 to operate in the second mode at operation S1030. At this time, the second mode may be a mode for driving the heater 140 based on the target output for the ventilation device 100 to heat the outdoor air to the target temperature which is the pre-set value stored in the memory 165. Specifically, if the pre-set condition is not satisfied, the processor 170 may control an output of the heater 140 as described above with reference to FIG. 6.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a control method of the ventilation device 100 according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 11, the ventilation device 100 may identify the outdoor temperature through the first temperature sensor 145 at operation S1110.

Then, the ventilation device 100 may identify the temperature range to which the outdoor temperature belongs from among the plurality of temperature ranges stored in the memory 165 at operation S1120.

Then, the ventilation device 100 may identify the target output of the heater 140 for heating the outdoor air to the target temperature corresponding to the temperature range at operation S1130.

Then, the ventilation device 100 may drive the heater 140 based on the identified target output at operation S1140.

The term “part” or “module” used in the disclosure may include a unit configured as hardware, software, or firmware, and may be used interchangeably with terms such as, for example, and without limitation, logic, logic blocks, components, circuits, or the like. “Part” or “module” may be a component integrally formed or a minimum unit or a part of the component performing one or more functions. For example, a module may be configured with an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

Various embodiments of the disclosure may be implemented with software including instructions stored in a machine-readable storage media (e.g., computer). The machine may call a stored instruction from a storage medium, and as a device operable according to the called instruction, may include the ventilation device 100 according to the above-mentioned embodiments. Based on the instruction being executed by the processor, the processor may directly or using other elements under the control of the processor perform a function corresponding to the instruction. The instruction may include a code generated by a compiler or executed by an interpreter. A machine-readable storage medium may be provided in a form of a non-transitory storage medium. Herein, ‘non-transitory’ merely means that the storage medium is tangible and does not include a signal, and the term does not differentiate data being semi-permanently stored or being temporarily stored in the storage medium.

According to various embodiments, a method according to the various embodiments described in the disclosure may be provided included a computer program product. The computer program product may be exchanged between a seller and a purchaser as a commodity. The computer program product may be distributed in a form of the machine-readable storage medium (e.g., a compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM)), or distributed online through an application store (e.g., PLAYSTORE™). In the case of online distribution, at least a portion of the computer program product may be stored at least temporarily in the machine-readable storage medium such as a server of a manufacturer, a server of an application store, or a memory of a relay server, or temporarily generated.

Each of the elements (e.g., a module or a program) according to the various embodiments may be configured as a single entity or a plurality of entities, and a portion of sub-elements from among the above-mentioned sub-elements may be omitted, or other sub-elements may be further included in the various embodiments. Alternatively or additionally, a portion of the elements (e.g., modules or programs) may be integrated into one entity to perform the same or similar functions performed by each of the relevant elements prior to integration. Operations performed by a module, a program, or another element, in accordance with various embodiments, may be executed sequentially, in a parallel, repetitively, or in a heuristic manner, or at least a portion of the operations may be executed in a different order, omitted or a different operation may be added.

While the disclosure has been shown and described with reference to various embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.