초록 ▼

An air conditioner is provided. The air conditioner may include a compressor to compress a refrigerant, at least one oil sensor disposed in the compressor to detect oil stored in the compressor, an oil separator to separate the oil from the refrigerant discharged from the compressor, a first collect

An air conditioner is provided. The air conditioner may include a compressor to compress a refrigerant, at least one oil sensor disposed in the compressor to detect oil stored in the compressor, an oil separator to separate the oil from the refrigerant discharged from the compressor, a first collection tube to collect the oil separated by the oil separator into the compressor, a second collection tube disposed at a height different from a height of the first collection tube, an oil valve disposed in the second collection tube, and a controller to control the oil valve on the basis of information detected by the oil sensor.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An air conditioner, comprising: a compressor to compress a refrigerant;at least one oil sensor provided in the compressor to detect a level of oil stored in the compressor;an oil separator to separate the oil from the refrigerant discharged from the compressor;a first collection tube to collect t

1. An air conditioner, comprising: a compressor to compress a refrigerant;at least one oil sensor provided in the compressor to detect a level of oil stored in the compressor;an oil separator to separate the oil from the refrigerant discharged from the compressor;a first collection tube to collect the oil separated by the oil separator into the compressor;a second collection tube provided at a height different from a height of the first collection tube;an oil valve provided in the second collection tube; anda controller to control the oil valve based on the level of the oil detected by the at least one oil sensor, wherein the oil valve includes an electronic expansion valve, an opening degree of which is adjustable, wherein the second collection tube connects the oil separator to the compressor, wherein a first side of the first collection tube is connected to the oil separator and a second side is connected to the second collection tube, and wherein a portion of the second collection tube to which the first collection tube is connected is provided higher than the first collection tube. 2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein a portion at which the first collection tube is connected to the second collection tube has a height equal to or less than a height of a portion at which the second collection tube is connected to the oil separator with respect to a bottom surface of the oil separator. 3. An air conditioner, comprising: a compressor to compress a refrigerant;at least one oil sensor provided in the compressor to detect a level of oil stored in the compressor;an oil separator to separate the oil from the refrigerant discharged from the compressor;a first collection tube to collect the oil separated by the oil separator into the compressor;a second collection tube provided at a height different from a height of the first collection tube;an oil valve provided in the second collection tube; anda controller to control the oil valve on the level of the oil detected by the at least one oil sensor, wherein the oil valve includes an electronic expansion valve, an opening degree of which is adjustable, wherein the second collection tube connects the oil separator to the compressor, wherein a first side of the first collection tube is connected to the oil separator and a second side is connected to the second collection tube, and wherein a portion at which the second collection tube is connected to the oil separator is provided higher than a portion at which the first collection tube is connected to the oil separator. 4. An air conditioner, comprising: a compressor to compress a refrigerant;at least one oil sensor provided in the compressor to detect a level of oil stored in the compressor;an oil separator to separate the oil from the refrigerant discharged from the compressor;a first collection tube to collect the oil separated by the oil separator into the compressor;a second collection tube provided at a height different from a height of the first collection tube;an oil valve provided in the second collection tube; anda controller to control the oil valve on the level of the oil detected by the at least one oil sensor, wherein the oil valve includes an electronic expansion valve, an opening degree of which is adjustable, wherein the air conditioner further includes a convergence portion connected to the first and second collection tubes and connected to the compressor, and wherein the convergence portion is provided higher than the first collection tube. 5. The air conditioner according to claim 4, wherein the convergence portion has a height equal to or less than a height of a portion at which the second collection tube is connected to the oil separator with respect to a bottom surface of the oil separator. 6. An air conditioner, comprising: a compressor to compress a refrigerant;at least one oil sensor provided in the compressor to detect a level of oil stored in the compressor;an oil separator to separate the oil from the refrigerant discharged from the compressor;a first collection tube to collect the oil separated by the oil separator into the compressor;a second collection tube provided at a height different from a height of the first collection tube;an oil valve provided in the second collection tube; anda controller to control the oil valve on the level of the oil detected by the at least one oil sensor, wherein the oil valve includes an electronic expansion valve, an opening degree of which is adjustable, wherein, when a time at which the level of the oil detected by the oil sensor is above a reference level reaches a first reference time, the controller increases a present opening degree of the oil valve to reduce a level of the oil stored in the compressor. 7. The air conditioner according to claim 6, wherein, when a time at which the at least one oil sensor does not detect the oil reaches a second reference time, the controller decreases the present opening degree of the oil valve to increase a level of the oil stored in the compressor. 8. The air conditioner according to claim 7, further comprising a memory, in which is stored information regarding whether the at least one oil sensor detects the oil when the opening degree of the oil valve is adjusted to a specific opening degree, and a time taken until the at least one oil sensor detects the oil after the opening degree is adjusted or a time taken until the at least one oil sensor does not detect the oil. 9. The air conditioner according to claim 8, wherein the controller analyzes an oil level pattern within the compressor on the basis of information stored in the memory to set a reference opening degree of the oil valve based on an analyzed result, thereby adjusting the opening of the oil valve to the reference opening degree. 10. An air conditioner, comprising: a compressor to compress a refrigerant;at least one oil sensor provided in the compressor to detect a level of oil stored in the compressor;an oil separator to separate the oil from the refrigerant discharged from the compressor;a first collection tube to collect the oil separated by the oil separator into the compressor;a second collection tube provided at a height different from a height of the first collection tube;an oil valve provided in the second collection tube; anda controller to control the oil valve on the level of the oil detected by the at least one oil sensor, wherein the oil valve includes an electronic expansion valve, an opening degree of which is adjustable, wherein the at least one oil sensor includes a first oil sensor, and a second oil sensor provided at a position higher than a position of the first oil sensor, and wherein the controller decreases a present opening degree of the oil valve when the oil is not detected by the first oil sensor and increases the present opening degree of the oil valve when the oil is detected by the second oil sensor. 11. The air conditioner according to claim 10, further comprising a memory, in which information regarding whether the first oil sensor or the second oil sensor detects the oil when the opening degree of the oil valve is adjusted to a specific opening degree, and a time taken until the first oil sensor or the second oil sensor detects the oil after the opening degree is adjusted or a time taken until the first oil sensor or the second oil sensor does not detect the oil, wherein the controller analyzes an oil level pattern within the compressor on the basis of the information stored in the memory to set a reference opening degree of the oil valve based on an analyzed result, thereby adjusting the opening of the oil valve to the reference opening degree.