JP2014081160A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air conditioner capable of promptly detecting refrigerant leakage even if a tiny or small amount of the refrigerant leaks.SOLUTION: In an air conditioner, outdoor equipment and indoor equipment 2 are connected by refrigerant pipelines (a refrigerant liquid pipe 3 and a refrigerant gas pipe 4) and a refrigerant is circulated between the outdoor equipment and the indoor equipment to form a refrigeration cycle. A refrigerant leakage detection sensor 24 for detecting a refrigerant gas is installed at a lower part of an area near a connection part which connects a refrigerant pipeline of the indoor equipment 2 with the refrigerant pipelines 3, 4. Preferably, the refrigerant leakage detection sensor is installed on any of a horizontal part or a recessed part 21a of a component of the indoor equipment and a refrigerant receiving part attached to the indoor equipment.

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner capable of detecting refrigerant leakage.

  Examples of the air conditioner that can detect the leakage of the refrigerant include those described in Japanese Patent No. 3610812 (Patent Document 1) and Japanese Patent No. 4639451 (Patent Document 2).

The thing of the said patent document 1 provides a temperature sensor in the place where a liquid refrigerant may accumulate in a refrigerant circuit, and it judges that it is a refrigerant | coolant leak when a refrigerant | coolant temperature falls over predetermined speed during a compressor stop. It is described.
Moreover, the thing of the said patent document 2 is provided with the sensor for detecting a combustible refrigerant | coolant gas in the outer surface lower part of an indoor unit.

Japanese Patent No. 3610812 Japanese Patent No. 4639451

  The thing of the said patent document 1 judges that the refrigerant | coolant has leaked, when the refrigerant | coolant temperature detected with the said temperature sensor falls over a predetermined speed during a compressor stop, In the case of refrigerant leakage, there is a problem that the temperature decrease rate of the refrigerant does not increase and cannot be detected.

  Moreover, in the thing of the said patent document 2, although the sensor for detecting combustible refrigerant | coolant gas is provided in the outer surface lower part of an indoor unit, when the installation position of a sensor and the refrigerant | coolant leak location are separated, the refrigerant | coolant which leaked Is difficult to detect with the sensor. Even if the leaked refrigerant accumulates in the back of the ceiling, the leaked refrigerant diffuses in the back of the ceiling, so that it is difficult to detect the refrigerant leak except when a large amount of refrigerant leaks. In addition, when the amount of refrigerant leakage is very small or small, it takes a long time for the refrigerant that has leaked and diffused to the sensor mounting position to accumulate, and it is difficult to quickly detect refrigerant leakage. Therefore, even the thing of this patent document 2 has the subject that a trace amount or a small amount of refrigerant | coolants leakage cannot be detected, or even if it can do it, it will take a long time to detect.

  Furthermore, in the case of a ceiling-embedded type in which the entire indoor unit is installed behind the ceiling, there is a gap between the lower surface of the indoor unit and the ceiling surface, so it is difficult to detect leaked refrigerant that accumulates on the ceiling. . In some cases, the indoor unit is installed above the indoor without providing a ceiling surface. However, it is particularly difficult to detect the leakage of the refrigerant.

  An object of the present invention is to obtain an air conditioner capable of quickly detecting refrigerant leakage even when a small amount or a small amount of refrigerant leaks.

  In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention configures a refrigeration cycle by connecting an outdoor unit and an indoor unit with refrigerant pipes (refrigerant liquid pipe and refrigerant gas pipe) and circulating refrigerant between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit. The air conditioner is characterized in that a refrigerant leakage detection sensor for detecting refrigerant gas is installed in the lower part in the vicinity of the connection part connecting the indoor unit and the refrigerant pipe.

  According to the present invention, there is an effect that it is possible to obtain an air conditioner that can quickly detect refrigerant leakage even if a small amount or a small amount of refrigerant leaks.

The refrigeration cycle system diagram which shows Example 1 of the air conditioner of this invention. The side view of the indoor unit shown in FIG. The top view which looked at the indoor unit shown in FIG. 2 from the top. It is a figure explaining Example 2 of the air conditioner of this invention, and is a front view of an indoor unit. The top view which looked at the indoor unit shown in FIG. 4 from the top.

  Hereinafter, specific examples of the air conditioner of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each figure, the part which attached | subjected the same code | symbol has shown the part which is the same or it corresponds.

  A first embodiment of an air conditioner according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a refrigeration cycle system diagram showing Embodiment 1 of an air conditioner of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of the indoor unit shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of the indoor unit shown in FIG. is there.

  The refrigeration cycle configuration of the air conditioner of Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 1, a solid line arrow indicates the cooling operation, and a broken line arrow indicates the direction of refrigerant flow in the heating operation. In FIG. 1, 1 is an outdoor unit, 2 is an indoor unit, and the outdoor unit 1 and the indoor unit 2 are connected by a refrigerant pipe, that is, a refrigerant liquid pipe 3 and a refrigerant gas pipe 4 as an air conditioner. It constitutes the refrigeration cycle.

  The outdoor unit 1 includes an outdoor heat exchanger 5, a compressor 6, an accumulator 7, a four-way valve 8, a control valve 9 composed of an electronic expansion valve and the like, and an outdoor unit for blowing external air to the outdoor heat exchanger 5. A fan 10, a fan motor 11 that drives the outdoor fan 10, a liquid blocking valve 12 provided in the vicinity of the connection with the refrigerant liquid pipe 3, and a gas provided in the vicinity of the connection with the refrigerant gas pipe 4 It consists of a blocking valve 13 and the like.

  The indoor unit 2 includes an indoor heat exchanger 14, a control valve 15 including an electronic expansion valve, an indoor fan 16 for blowing indoor air to the indoor heat exchanger 14, and a fan motor that drives the indoor fan 16. 17 or the like.

  Next, the flow of the refrigerant when the air conditioner shown in FIG. During the cooling operation, the refrigerant flows as indicated by solid line arrows in FIG. That is, the high-pressure gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor 6 flows to the outdoor heat exchanger 5 through the four-way valve 8 and is condensed by exchanging heat with the outdoor air blown by the outdoor fan 10 driven by the fan motor 11. And becomes a liquid refrigerant. The liquid refrigerant flows out to the refrigerant liquid pipe 3 through the control valve 9 whose opening degree is increased and the liquid blocking valve 12 in the open state, and is sent to the indoor unit 2.

  The liquid refrigerant that has entered the indoor unit 2 is depressurized by the control valve 15 having a reduced opening, and then enters the indoor heat exchanger 14 and is blown by the indoor fan 16 driven by the fan motor 17. Exchange heat with air. By this heat exchange, the indoor air is cooled, and the refrigerant takes heat from the indoor air and evaporates to become a low-pressure gas refrigerant and return to the outdoor unit 1 through the refrigerant gas pipe 4. The low-pressure gas refrigerant that has returned to the indoor unit 1 passes through the gas blocking valve 13 in the open state, and then enters the accumulator 7 through the four-way valve 8, from which it is sucked into the compressor 6 and compressed again. Repeat the cycle.

A specific configuration of the indoor unit 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 is a side view of the indoor unit 2 shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a plan view of the indoor unit shown in FIG.
The indoor unit 2 shown in these drawings is of a ceiling cassette type (also referred to as a ceiling fitting type) that is used by being fitted inside the ceiling surface 18, and the ceiling surface 18 has a larger ceiling surface than the indoor unit 2. An opening 18a is formed, and the indoor unit 2 is installed in the ceiling surface opening 18a.

The indoor unit 2 includes a housing 20 that houses the indoor heat exchanger 14 and the indoor fan 16, and a decorative panel 21 that is provided so as to cover a lower opening of the housing 20.
The decorative panel 21 is attached to the housing 20, and is configured to be slightly larger so as to contact the ceiling surface 18 and completely cover the ceiling surface opening 18a, as shown in FIGS. Yes. There is a horizontal portion (this horizontal portion includes a substantially horizontal portion) that does not overlap the ceiling surface 18 on the back surface (anti-design surface side) of the decorative panel 21. A recess 21a surrounded by the thick ceiling surface opening 18a and the housing 20 is formed on the back surface in the circumferential direction.

In addition, 18b shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3 is a ceiling back surface. The housing 20 is attached to a construction material 22 at the upper part of the building via suspension bolts and metal fittings (not shown).
2 and 3, 3 is a refrigerant liquid pipe, and 4 is a refrigerant gas pipe. These refrigerant pipes are, as shown in the figure, the refrigerant pipes on the indoor unit 2 side and the vicinity of the side corners of the casing 20. Thus, they are connected by a union 19a and a flare nut 19b.

  Further, the indoor heat exchanger 14, the indoor fan 16, and the fan motor 17 are disposed and installed in the housing 20 as shown in FIG. 23 is a drain pump. Note that FIG. 3 is a plan view seen from above, and the respective devices installed in the housing 20 are not visible, and are shown by broken lines.

  In recent years, in air conditioners, in order to prevent global warming due to leakage of fluorocarbon refrigerants, fires due to leakage of slightly combustible refrigerants such as R32 and ammonia (R717), It is desired to detect this at an early stage so that it can be quickly dealt with, such as repairing a leaked part.

  The air conditioner generally used has a configuration in which the outdoor unit 1 and the indoor unit 2 are separated as described with reference to FIG. 1, and the outdoor unit 1 and the indoor unit 2 are carried to the installation site. Then, the refrigerant liquid pipe 3 and the refrigerant gas pipe 4 are connected to form a refrigeration cycle.

Since the connection between the refrigerant liquid pipe 3 and the refrigerant gas pipe 4 on the indoor unit 2 side is an operation in the building, it is often difficult to weld using fire such as a burner to prevent fire. Generally, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the union 19a and the flare nut 19b are used for connection.
On the other hand, since the refrigerant pipes such as the indoor heat exchanger 14 in the indoor unit 2 are connected in the production factory, they are connected by welding, and leakage is also confirmed by an airtight test after manufacturing.

Therefore, the probability that the refrigerant leaks from the air conditioner after field installation is more likely to leak from the connection between the refrigerant pipe of the indoor unit 2 and the refrigerant pipes 3 and 4 rather than the inside of the product.
In addition, a fluorocarbon refrigerant is often used as the refrigerant. However, since the fluorocarbon refrigerant gas is heavier than air in the atmosphere, the refrigerant flows downward when refrigerant leakage occurs.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a refrigerant leakage detection sensor 24 for detecting refrigerant leakage is provided near the lower part of the refrigerant pipe near the indoor unit side connecting portion. As a result, when a refrigerant leak occurs from the connecting portion, it is possible to detect the refrigerant leak more quickly and quickly even if the refrigerant leak is small or small.

  Further, since the fluorocarbon-based refrigerant gas is heavier than air as described above, the leaked refrigerant gas flows downward, and if there is a horizontal portion below, stays there and diffuses in the horizontal direction. Therefore, if there is a horizontal portion of the component parts constituting the indoor unit in the lower part of the refrigerant pipe in the vicinity of the indoor unit side connecting portion, the refrigerant leakage detection sensor 24 is provided here, thereby providing the leakage refrigerant. Detection accuracy can be improved.

  Therefore, by installing the refrigerant leak detection sensor 24 in the horizontal part near the indoor unit side connection part of the refrigerant pipes 3 and 4, the refrigerant gas accumulated in the horizontal part has a high concentration, so that the detection accuracy is improved. Can do. In particular, in recent years, there has been an increase in construction examples in which the indoor unit 2 is simply installed on the building material 22 in the upper part of the building without installing the ceiling surface 18 in the building. Even if it is a form, since the outer peripheral part of the decorative panel 21 of the indoor unit 2 is a horizontal part, and this horizontal part usually exists in the vicinity lower part of the indoor unit side connection part of the refrigerant pipe, By providing the refrigerant leakage detection sensor 24, the detection accuracy can be improved.

  In the case of the indoor unit 2 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, as described above, the recess 21 a surrounded by the ceiling surface opening 18 a and the housing 20 is provided in the circumferential direction on the back surface of the decorative panel 21. However, when a refrigerant leak occurs at the indoor unit side connection portion of the refrigerant pipe, the leaked refrigerant flows downward and accumulates in the concave portion 21a near the lower portion of the connection portion. Therefore, by installing the refrigerant leak detection sensor 24 in the recess 21a, the accuracy of detection of the refrigerant leak can be greatly improved. Can be detected.

  In addition, in the thing of the said patent document 2, although the gas sensor is provided in the lower part which faces the ceiling back surface of an indoor unit housing | casing, consideration of installing the said gas sensor in the vicinity lower part of the indoor unit side connection part of refrigerant | coolant piping. Even if refrigerant leakage occurs, only the refrigerant that has been diffused and has a low concentration reaches the gas sensor, and the detection accuracy of refrigerant leakage is low. It is difficult to reliably and quickly detect refrigerant leakage.

  On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, since the refrigerant leakage detection sensor 24 for detecting refrigerant leakage is provided in the lower part of the refrigerant pipe near the indoor unit side connection portion, the connection with high possibility of refrigerant leakage is provided. When refrigerant leakage occurs from the section, it is possible to detect the refrigerant leakage reliably and promptly even if the amount of refrigerant leakage is small or small. Therefore, when a refrigerant leak occurs, it can be quickly performed such as repairing the leaked part or replacing parts, which is effective in preventing global warming and fire. Moreover, the performance degradation of the air conditioner due to refrigerant leakage can also be prevented.

  A second embodiment of the air conditioner of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a front view of the indoor unit for explaining the second embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a plan view of the indoor unit shown in FIG. 4 as viewed from above. In these drawings, the portions denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 1 to 3 described above indicate the same or corresponding portions.

  The indoor unit of the air conditioner shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is a ceiling-embedded type, and the indoor unit 2 is disposed on the back side of the ceiling surface 18 and is attached to the building material 22 at the upper part of the building by a hanging bolt or a hanging bracket. It is what is attached. Since such a ceiling-embedded indoor unit is installed behind the ceiling, the decorative panel as in the case of the indoor unit of the first embodiment is not provided. Further, a gap A exists between the lower surface of the indoor unit 2 and the ceiling back surface 18b. Reference numeral 20 denotes a casing of the indoor unit 2, and an indoor heat exchanger 14, an indoor fan 16, a fan motor 17 and the like are installed in the casing 20. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the indoor unit shown in FIG. 4 as viewed from above, so that the respective components installed in the housing 20 are indicated by broken lines.

  3 is a refrigerant liquid pipe, and 4 is a refrigerant gas pipe. These refrigerant pipes are composed of a refrigerant pipe on the indoor unit 2 side and a side surface of the housing 20, as shown in FIGS. It is connected by a nut 19b. In the case of the indoor unit in the present embodiment, as described above, since there is no decorative panel, the refrigerant leak detection sensor 24 cannot be installed on the decorative panel. Therefore, it is conceivable that the installation location of the refrigerant leak detection sensor 24 is the vicinity of the indoor unit side connection portion of the refrigerant pipe on the side surface of the housing 20.

  However, if the refrigerant leakage detection sensor 24 is simply installed on the side surface of the housing, the gap A also exists between the lower surface of the indoor unit 2 and the ceiling back surface 18b. After flowing down, the ceiling back surface 18b is diffused in the horizontal direction. Therefore, the leakage refrigerant concentration in the refrigerant leakage detection sensor 24 cannot be sufficiently increased.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, in order to further improve the detection accuracy of the refrigerant leakage, the refrigerant receiver 25 is attached to the lower part of the refrigerant pipe on the side surface of the casing 20 near the indoor unit side connection part of the refrigerant pipe. The refrigerant leakage detection sensor 24 is installed at 25. As a result, the same effect as in the first embodiment can be obtained. The refrigerant receiving portion 25 may have only a horizontal portion, but if it has a concave shape (box shape), it is possible to sufficiently store leaked refrigerant in the concave portion. Therefore, by installing the refrigerant leak detection sensor 24 in the concave portion, it is possible to detect the refrigerant leak more reliably and earlier even if the refrigerant leak is small or small.

  As described above, according to the second embodiment, even a ceiling-embedded indoor unit in which there is no decorative panel and there is a gap A between the lower surface of the indoor unit and the back surface 18b of the ceiling is implemented. Similar to Example 1, it is possible to detect the refrigerant leakage reliably and promptly even if the refrigerant leakage is small or small.

  The refrigerant receiving portion 25 described in the second embodiment is similarly applied to an indoor unit in which the decorative panel 21 is provided in the lower part of the indoor unit housing 20 as described in the first embodiment. Is possible.

  There is also an indoor unit 2 in which the connection between the refrigerant pipe of the indoor unit 2 and the refrigerant liquid pipe 3 and the refrigerant gas pipe 4 is provided in the casing 20 of the indoor unit. Even in the case of such an indoor unit 2, if there is a horizontal part or a concave part of the constituent parts constituting the indoor unit in the lower part of the refrigerant pipe near the indoor unit side connection part, the refrigerant leakage detection sensor 24 is provided here. The same effect can be acquired by providing.

  Further, in the case where a filter or an opening is provided in the lower part of the refrigerant pipe in the vicinity of the indoor unit side connection portion, and there is no portion where the leaked refrigerant gas is accumulated, the above-described second embodiment has been described. It is good to install the refrigerant | coolant receiving part 25. FIG. That is, a similar effect can be obtained by providing a refrigerant receiving portion 25 having a horizontal portion or a concave portion near the indoor unit side connecting portion of the refrigerant pipe, and providing the refrigerant leakage detection sensor 24 in the refrigerant receiving portion 25. be able to.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to an above-described Example, Various modifications are included. The above-described embodiments have been described in detail for easy understanding of the present invention, and are not necessarily limited to those having all the configurations described. Furthermore, a part of the configuration of one embodiment can be replaced with the configuration of another embodiment, and the configuration of another embodiment can be added to the configuration of one embodiment. Further, it is possible to add, delete, and replace other configurations for a part of the configuration of each embodiment.

1: outdoor unit, 2: indoor unit,
3, 4: Refrigerant piping (3: Refrigerant liquid pipe, 4: Refrigerant gas pipe),
5: outdoor heat exchanger, 6: compressor, 7: accumulator, 8: four-way valve,
9, 15: control valve,
10: outdoor fan, 11: fan motor,
12: Liquid blocking valve, 13: Gas blocking valve,
14: Indoor heat exchanger,
16: Indoor fan, 17: Fan motor,
18: Ceiling surface, 18a: Ceiling surface opening, 18b: Ceiling back surface,
19a: Union, 19b: Flare nut,
20: housing
21: decorative panel, 21a: recess,
22: Construction material,
23: drain pump,
24: Refrigerant gas sensor 25: Refrigerant receiving part.

Claims (5)

In an air conditioner in which an outdoor unit and an indoor unit are connected by a refrigerant pipe, and a refrigerant is circulated between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit to constitute a refrigeration cycle.
An air conditioner characterized in that a refrigerant leakage detection sensor for detecting refrigerant gas is installed in a lower part in the vicinity of a connection part connecting the indoor unit and the refrigerant pipe. In the air conditioner according to claim 1,
The air conditioner, wherein the refrigerant leakage detection sensor is installed in a horizontal portion of components constituting the indoor unit. In the air conditioner according to claim 1,
The air conditioner characterized in that the refrigerant leakage detection sensor is installed in a recess formed in the indoor unit near the lower part of the connection portion connecting the indoor unit and the refrigerant pipe. In the air conditioner according to claim 2 or 3,
The indoor unit includes a housing that houses an indoor heat exchanger and an indoor fan, and a decorative panel that is provided so as to cover a lower opening of the indoor unit housing.
The air conditioner, wherein the refrigerant leakage detection sensor is installed in a horizontal portion or a recess formed in the decorative panel. In the air conditioner according to claim 2 or 3,
The indoor unit includes a housing that houses an indoor heat exchanger and an indoor fan, and a refrigerant receiving portion having a horizontal portion or a recessed portion is attached to the indoor unit housing, and the refrigerant leakage detection sensor is installed in the refrigerant receiving portion. An air conditioner characterized by having installed.

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