AU2018372281B2

AU2018372281B2 - Air conditioner

Info

Publication number: AU2018372281B2
Application number: AU2018372281A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Akihiro Masutani
Original assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Thermal Systems Ltd
Current assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Thermal Systems Ltd
Priority date: 2017-11-27
Filing date: 2018-10-09
Publication date: 2022-03-03
Anticipated expiration: 2038-10-09
Also published as: WO2019102729A1; JP7030489B2; JP2019095156A; CN212457182U; DE202018006480U1; AU2018372281A1

Abstract

The purpose of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner configured so as to enable a flammable refrigerant gas staying in a machine compartment to be efficiently discharged to the outside of the machine compartment by a ventilation air flow, and so as to prevent the contact of the discharged flammable refrigerant gas with an electronic component within a control box caused by the stirring up, etc. by the ventilation air flow. This air conditioner comprises an outdoor unit (100) provided with: an outdoor fan compartment (120) having contained therein an outdoor fan (122) for supplying outside air to an outdoor heat exchanger (121); and a machine compartment (130) having contained therein a control box (131) in which an electronic component is contained. The air conditioner is characterized in that the machine compartment (130) has provided therein an air delivery opening (132) which delivers a ventilation air flow to the inside of the machine compartment (130) and which is provided at a height greater than or equal to that of the control box (131).

Description

[DESCRIPTION]

[Title of Invention]

AIR CONDITIONER

[Technical Field]

[0001]

The present invention relates to an air conditioner.

[Background Art]

[0002]

A reference herein to a patent document or any other

matter identified as prior art, is not to be taken as an

admission that the document or other matter was known or that

the information it contains was part of the common general

knowledge as at the priority date of any of the claims.

[0002a]

In recent years, influence of refrigerant used in an air

conditioner on global warming has been problematic.

Therefore, refrigerant having a low GWP (global warming

potential) value tends to be employed for the purpose of

reducing environmental load. However, low GWP refrigerant

often has combustibility. If refrigerant having

combustibility leaks out near an electronic component, there

is a risk of ignition or explosion.

[0003]

PTL 1 discloses a configuration in which ventilation air

is sent from an upstream space, in which a driving source and

an electric component are provided, to a refrigerant apparatus

installation space, in which refrigerant apparatuses such as a

compressor and a four-way valve are provided, by a ventilation

fan, as a safety measure in a case where failure of leakage of

combustible refrigerant occurs, when ventilation performance

cannot be maintained.

[Citation List]

[Patent Literature]

[0004]

[PTL 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, Publication

No. 2016-38107

[Summary of Invention]

[0005]

However, in PTL 1, there is a risk that combustible

refrigerant comes into contact with an electric component in

the electric apparatus installation space by backward flow to

the electric apparatus installation space or flying-up of

combustible refrigerant by ventilation air, for example,

depending on the installation position of the ventilation fan.

[0006]

The present disclosure has been made in view of such

circumstances. It is desirable to provide an air conditioner,

in which combustible refrigerant gas that stays in a machine

chamber can be efficiently exhausted to the outside of a

machine chamber by ventilation air, and the exhausted

combustible refrigerant gas is prevented from touching an

electronic component in a control box by flying-up or the like

by the ventilation air.

[0007]

An air conditioner of the present disclosure employs the

following solutions.

According to one form of the invention there is provided

an air conditioner comprising an outdoor unit provided with an

outdoor fan chamber housing an outdoor fan that supplies

outdoor air to an outdoor heat exchanger, and a machine

chamber housing a control box storing an electronic component,

wherein the machine chamber is provided with an air supply

port that supplies ventilation air into the machine chamber

and a discharge port that enables the ventilation air supplied

from the air supply port to directly flow outside the outdoor

unit, the air supply port is disposed at a height equal to or

higher than the control box, and the discharge port is

disposed at a lower part of the machine chamber and below the

control box.

3a

[0008]

According to the air conditioner of this aspect, the air

supply port for supplying ventilation air into the machine

chamber housing the control box is provided. According to

this, the ventilation air is supplied into the machine chamber

from the air supply port, so that gas that stays in the

machine chamber can be exhausted to the outside of the machine

chamber by the ventilation air. Consequently, in a case where

refrigerant gas leaks inside the machine chamber, the refrigerant gas that stays in a lower part of the machine chamber can be exhausted to the outside of the machine chamber. Particularly, in a case where refrigerant is combustible, it is possible to reduce a risk of ignition or explosion which may be caused by a short circuit of an electronic component. Additionally, ventilation in the machine chamber is always possible by the air supply port, and therefore a component likely to cause refrigerant leakage (for example, a joint or a valve) can be installed in the machine chamber.

The air supply port is provided at the height equal to or

higher than the control box. According to this, it is

possible to suppress a phenomenon that refrigerant gas which

leaks out is flown up by ventilation air. In a case where

refrigerant is combustible, when the refrigerant is flown up,

the refrigerant touches the electronic component in the

control box, and the risk of ignition or explosion at the time

of short circuit of the electronic component is increased.

However, the phenomenon that the refrigerant is flown up can

be suppressed by the aforementioned configuration, and

therefore it is possible to reduce the risk of ignition or

explosion.

[00091

In the air conditioner according to the aspect of the

present disclosure, a ventilation fan is connected to the air supply port.

[0010]

According to the air conditioner of this aspect, the

ventilation fan is connected to the air supply port.

According to this, ventilation air can be sent to the air

supply port of the machine chamber by the ventilation fan.

Consequently, gas that stays in the machine chamber can be

exhausted to the outside of the machine chamber by the

ventilation air.

[0011]

In the air conditioner according to the aspect of the

present disclosure, the ventilation fan is an extrusion fan

provided in the machine chamber.

[0012]

According to the air conditioner of this aspect, the

ventilation fan is the extrusion ventilation fan provided in

the machine chamber. According to this, ventilation air that

flows in from the outside of the machine chamber passes

through the ventilation fan to flow into the machine chamber.

Consequently, in a case where combustible refrigerant that

stays in the lower part of the machine chamber is exhausted by

the ventilation fan, the ventilation fan is not located on a

downstream side of refrigerant, and the ventilation fan and

the refrigerant do not come into contact with each other.

Consequently, it is possible to prevent contact between a motor that drives the ventilation fan, and the combustible refrigerant, and reduce the risk of ignition or explosion.

[0013]

In the air conditioner according to the aspect of the

present disclosure, the ventilation fan is provided in the

indoor unit, and the ventilation fan and the air supply port

are connected to each other through an air supply duct.

[0014]

According to the air conditioner of this aspect, the

ventilation fan is provided in the indoor unit, and the

ventilation fan and the air supply port are connected to each

other through the air supply duct. According to this, the

machine chamber is isolated from the ventilation fan, and

therefore it is possible to prevent contact between the motor

that drives the ventilation fan, and combustible refrigerant,

and reduce the risk of ignition or explosion.

[0015]

In the air conditioner according to the aspect of the

present disclosure, the ventilation fan is an indoor

ventilation fan provided in the indoor unit.

[0016]

According to the air conditioner of this aspect, the

ventilation fan is the indoor ventilation fan provided in the

machine chamber. According to this, in a case where the

indoor ventilation fan is originally installed in the indoor unit for the purpose of ventilation of a room, the originally provided indoor ventilation fan can be utilized as a ventilation fan without installing a new ventilation fan.

[0017]

In the air conditioner according to the aspect of the

present disclosure, a refrigerant gas leakage detecting sensor

is provided in the machine chamber.

[0018]

According to the air conditioner of this aspect, in the

machine chamber, the refrigerant gas leakage detecting sensor

is provided. According to this, it is possible to supply

ventilation air only when leakage of refrigerant is detected.

Consequently, ventilation operation does not need to be always

performed, and it is possible to reduce power consumption, and

reduce time when noise by the operation of the ventilation fan

is generated.

[Advantageous Effects of Invention]

[0019]

According to an air conditioner of the present

disclosure, combustible refrigerant gas that stays in a

machine chamber can be efficiently exhausted to the outside of

a machine chamber by ventilation air, and the exhausted

combustible refrigerant gas is prevented from touching an

electronic component in a control box by flying-up or the like by the ventilation air.

[0019a]

Where any or all of the terms "comprise", "comprises",

"comprised" or "comprising" are used in this specification

(including the claims) they are to be interpreted as

specifying the presence of the stated features, integers,

steps or components, but not precluding the presence of one or

more other features, integers, steps or components.

[Brief Description of Drawings]

[0020]

[Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an air

conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present

disclosure.

[Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating an air

conditioner according to a second embodiment of the present

disclosure.

[Description of Embodiments]

[0021]

Hereinafter, embodiments of an air conditioner according

to the present disclosure will be described with reference to

the drawings

8a

[0022]

[First Embodiment]

A configuration of an air conditioner 10 according to

this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, in an air conditioner 10

according to this embodiment, an outdoor unit 100 and an

indoor unit 200 are connected through a refrigerant pipe 310

through which refrigerant flows.

[0023]

The outdoor unit 100 includes, for example, a box-like

housing 110 made of sheet metal. The inside of the housing

110 is sectioned into an outdoor fan chamber 120 (left in Fig.

1) and a machine chamber 130 (right in Fig. 1) by a partition

plate 140.

[0024]

The outdoor fan chamber 120 houses an outdoor heat

exchanger 121 that performs heat exchange between outdoor air

and refrigerant, an outdoor fan 122 that supplies outdoor air

to the outdoor heat exchanger 121, an electric motor (not

illustrated) that drives the outdoor fan 122, and the like.

The outdoor heat exchanger 121 is formed in a substantially L

shape from a left side surface to a back surface in the

housing 110. An air suction port (not illustrated) is

provided from a left side surface to a back surface of the

housing 110 so as to correspond to the substantially L-shaped

outdoor heat exchanger 121. A substantially circular blowout

port 123 for discharging outdoor air heat-exchanged by the

outdoor heat exchanger 121 is provided in the front surface of

the housing 110 on the outdoor fan chamber 120 side.

[0025]

The machine chamber 130 houses various apparatuses

necessary for operation of the air conditioner 10, such as a

control box 131, a compressor (not illustrated) that

compresses refrigerant, and an expansion valve (not illustrated) that expands refrigerant. A controller that controls various apparatuses associated with the air conditioner 10 is provided in the control box 131. The controller is composed of a plurality of electronic components. The control box 131 is disposed on an upper part in the machine chamber 130.

[0026]

Examples of the controller include a CPU (Central

Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read

Only Memory), and a computer readable storage medium. A

series of processes for implementing various functions is

stored in a storage medium in the form of a program as an

example, and the various functions are implemented by reading

this program in the RAM or the like by the CPU by processing

information and executing arithmetic processing. A program

may be applied to a form to be previously installed in the ROM

or other storage medium, a form to be provided in a state

stored in the computer readable storage medium, a form to be

distributed through a wired or wireless communication means,

or other form. Examples of the computer readable storage

medium include a magnetic disk, a magneto-optic disk, a CD

ROM, a DVD-ROM, and a semiconductor memory.

[0027]

In the partition plate 140 that sections the outdoor fan

chamber 120 and the machine chamber 130, for example, a hole for drain discharge (not illustrated) and a hole for electric wiring (not illustrated) for communicating the outdoor fan chamber 120 with the machine chamber 130 are provided.

[0028]

The indoor unit 200 is a wall-mounted indoor unit, and is

held in a form in which a back surface of the indoor unit 200

is in contact with a wall surface on the indoor side. Inside

the indoor unit 200, an indoor heat exchanger (not

illustrated) that performs heat exchange between indoor air

and refrigerant, an indoor fan (not illustrated) that supplies

the indoor air to the indoor heat exchanger, an electric motor

(not illustrated) that drives an indoor fan, and the like are

provided.

[0029]

The machine chamber 130 of the outdoor unit 100 included

in the air conditioner 10 according to this embodiment

includes an air supply port 132 that supplies ventilation air

into the machine chamber 130, and a discharge port 133 that

enables gas to flow to the outside of the machine chamber 130,

in addition to the aforementioned configuration.

[0030]

The air supply port 132 is disposed at a height nearly

equal to the control box 131, in a right side surface of the

housing 110 in the machine chamber 130. A ventilation fan 400

disposed in the machine chamber 130 is connected to the air supply port 132. The position of the air supply port 132 is not limited to the position illustrated in Fig. 1 (height nearly equal to the control box 131), and may be a height equal to or higher than the control box 131.

[0031]

The discharge port 133 is formed in the housing 110 at a

lower part of the machine chamber 130, and communicates the

inside of the machine chamber 130 with the outside of the

machine chamber 130 (outside of the outdoor unit 100).

Consequently, gas inside the machine chamber 130 can flow out

the machine chamber 130.

[0032]

In addition to the aforementioned apparatuses and

components, various apparatuses associated with these are

properly connected by a joint, an operation valve, a

refrigerant pipe, an electric wire, and the like, which are

not illustrated, so that an air conditioner 10 is configured.

[0033]

Now, flow of gas in the machine chamber 130 of the air

conditioner 10 will be described.

In a heat exchange cycle that configures the air

conditioner 10, for example, low GWP (global warming

potential) refrigerant such as R32 is used. The low GWP

refrigerant such as R32 has combustibility.

[0034]

As illustrated in Fig. 1, an extrusion ventilation fan

400 is connected to the air supply port 132 at an upper part

of the right side surface of the housing 110 in the machine

chamber 130. The ventilation fan 400 is operated, so that air

(ventilation air) is sucked from the outside of the outdoor

unit 100 to be sent into the machine chamber 130.

[00351

The ventilation air sent into the machine chamber 130 by

the ventilation fan 400 involves gas staying inside the

machine chamber 130, flows toward the discharge port 133

formed in the housing 110 at the lower part of the machine

chamber 130, and is exhausted to the outside of the machine

chamber 130. That is, inside the machine chamber 130, no gas

stays, and ventilation is performed by the ventilation fan

400.

[00361

The ventilation fan 400 may be indirectly connected to

the air supply port 132, and may be connected through a duct

or the like, for example. At this time, the ventilation fan

400 may be disposed outside the machine chamber 130.

[0037]

When the outdoor unit 100 is operated, and the outdoor

fan 122 rotates, the pressure of the inside of the outdoor fan

chamber 120 is lower than the pressure of the inside of the

machine chamber 130. Therefore, the gas inside the machine chamber 130 flows into the outdoor fan chamber 120 from the hole for drain discharge (not illustrated), the hole for electric wiring (not illustrated), and the like provided in the partition plate 140, and the inside of the machine chamber

130 is in a ventilation state similarly to the state in which

the ventilation fan 400 is operated. Therefore, the

ventilation fan 400 does not need to be operated during

operation of the outdoor unit 100, but the ventilation fan 400

may be operated even during the operation of the outdoor unit

100.

[00381

The gas inside the machine chamber 130 and ventilation

air flows into the outdoor fan chamber 120 from the hole for

drain discharge (not illustrated), the hole for electric wire

(not illustrated) and the like provided in the partition plate

140 also by the ventilation by the ventilation fan 400.

[00391

According to the air conditioner 10 of this embodiment,

the following effects are exhibited.

The air conditioner 10 includes the air supply port 132

for supplying ventilation air into the machine chamber 130

housing the control box 131. According to this, the

ventilation air is supplied into the machine chamber 130 from

the air supply port 132, so that gas that stays in the machine

chamber 130 can be efficiently exhausted to the outside of the machine chamber 130 by the ventilation air. Consequently, in a case where refrigerant gas leaks inside the machine chamber

130, the refrigerant gas that stays in the lower part of the

machine chamber 130 can be exhausted to the outside of the

machine chamber 130. Particularly, in a case where

refrigerant is combustible, it is possible to reduce a risk of

ignition or explosion which may be caused by a short circuit

of an electronic component or the like. Additionally,

ventilation in the machine chamber 130 is always possible by

the air supply port 132, and therefore a component likely to

cause refrigerant leakage (for example, a joint or a valve)

can be installed in the machine chamber 130.

The air supply port 132 is provided at the height equal

to or higher than the control box 131. According to this, it

is possible to suppress a phenomenon that refrigerant gas

which leaks out is flown up by the ventilation air. In a case

where refrigerant is combustible, when the refrigerant is

flown up, the refrigerant touches the electronic component in

the control box 131, and the risk of ignition or explosion at

the time of short circuit of the electronic component is

increased. However, the phenomenon that the refrigerant is

flown up can be suppressed by the aforementioned

configuration, and therefore it is possible to reduce the risk

of ignition or explosion.

[0040]

In a case where the ventilation fan 400 is connected to

the air supply port 132, ventilation air can be sent to the

air supply port 132 of the machine chamber 130 by the

ventilation fan 400. Consequently, gas that stays in the

machine chamber 130 can be exhausted to the outside of the

machine chamber 130 by the ventilation air. Particularly, in

a case where the ventilation fan 400 is an extrusion fan,

ventilation air that flows in from the outside of the machine

chamber 130 passes through the ventilation fan 400 to flow

into the machine chamber 130. Consequently, in a case where

combustible refrigerant that stays in the lower part of the

machine chamber 130 is exhausted by the ventilation fan 400,

the ventilation fan 400 is not located on a downstream side of

the refrigerant, and the ventilation fan 400 and the

refrigerant do not come into contact with each other.

Consequently, it is possible to prevent contact between the

motor that drives the ventilation fan 400, and the combustible

refrigerant, and reduce the risk of ignition or explosion.

[0041]

[Second Embodiment]

A configuration of an air conditioner 12 according to

this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 2.

This embodiment is different from the aforementioned

first embodiment in the forms of the air supply port 132, the

ventilation fan 400, and the like, but is similar in other points. Accordingly, only different points from the first embodiment will be described, and description of other points will be omitted by use of the same reference numerals.

[0042]

As illustrated in Fig. 2, in the air conditioner 12

according to this embodiment, an outdoor unit 100 and an

indoor unit 200 are connected through an air supply duct 320

through which ventilation air flows.

[0043]

A first end of the air supply duct 320 is connected to

the air supply port 132 provided in a right side surface of a

housing 110 in a machine chamber 130. A second end of the air

supply duct 320 is connected to a ventilation fan 400 provided

in the indoor unit 200.

[0044]

At this time, the ventilation fan 400 may be an indoor

ventilation fan 210. The indoor ventilation fan 210 is a fan

for ventilating a room within a range of not causing trouble

in air conditioning, the fan being originally provided in the

indoor unit 200. The indoor ventilation fan 210 ventilates a

room by exhausting indoor air to the outside of the room.

[0045]

Now, flow of gas in the machine chamber 130 of the air

conditioner 12 according to this embodiment will be described.

The first end of the air supply duct 320 is connected to the air supply port 132 provided at an upper part of the right side surface of the housing 110 in the machine chamber 130.

Additionally, the second end of the air supply duct 320 is

connected to the ventilation fan 400 provided in the indoor

unit 200. The ventilation fan 400 is operated, so that air

(ventilation air) is sucked from a room to be sent into the

machine chamber 130 through the air supply duct 320.

[0046]

The ventilation air sent into the machine chamber 130 by

the ventilation fan 400 involves gas which stays inside the

machine chamber 130, flows toward the discharge port 133 bored

in the housing 110 at the lower part of the machine chamber

130, and is exhausted to the outside of the machine chamber

130. That is, inside the machine chamber 130, no gas stays,

and ventilation is performed by the ventilation fan 400.

[0047]

According to the air conditioner 12 of this embodiment,

the following effects are exhibited.

The ventilation fan 400 is provided in the indoor unit

200, and the ventilation fan 400 and the air supply port 132

are connected to each other through the air supply duct 320.

According to this, the machine chamber 130 is isolated from

the ventilation fan 400, and therefore it is possible to

prevent contact between a motor that drives the ventilation

fan 400, and combustible refrigerant, and reduce the risk of ignition or explosion.

[00481

In each of the first and second embodiments, a

refrigerant gas leakage detecting sensor may be provided in

the machine chamber 130. The refrigerant gas leakage

detecting sensor is desirably installed in a lower part inside

the machine chamber 130 so as to easily detect refrigerant gas

having heavier specific gravity than air. Additionally, the

refrigerant gas leakage detecting sensor is electrically

connected to a controller inside a control box 131. According

to this, it is possible to control the ventilation fan 400 to

operate only when leakage of the refrigerant gas is detected.

Consequently, the ventilation fan 400 does not need to be

always operated, and it is possible to reduce power

consumption, or reduce time when noise by the operation of the

ventilation fan 400 is generated.

[Reference Signs List]

[0049]

, 12 air conditioner

100 outdoor unit

110 housing

120 outdoor fan chamber

121 outdoor heat exchanger

122 outdoor fan

123 blowout port

130 machine chamber

131 control box

132 air supply port

133 discharge port

140 partition plate

200 indoor unit

210 indoor ventilation fan

310 refrigerant pipe

320 air supply duct

400 ventilation fan

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. An air conditioner comprising

an outdoor unit provided with an outdoor fan chamber

housing an outdoor fan that supplies outdoor air to an outdoor

heat exchanger, and a machine chamber housing a control box

storing an electronic component, wherein

the machine chamber is provided with an air supply port

that supplies ventilation air into the machine chamber and a

discharge port that enables the ventilation air supplied from

the air supply port to directly flow outside the outdoor unit,

the air supply port is disposed at a height equal to or

higher than the control box, and

the discharge port is disposed at a lower part of the

machine chamber and below the control box.

2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein

a ventilation fan is connected to the air supply port.

3. The air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein

the ventilation fan is an extrusion fan provided in the

machine chamber.

4. The air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein

the ventilation fan is provided in an indoor unit, and

the ventilation fan and the air supply port are connected

to each other through an air supply duct.

5. The air conditioner according to claim 4, wherein

the ventilation fan is an indoor ventilation fan provided in the indoor unit.

6. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to

, wherein

a refrigerant gas leakage detecting sensor is provided in

the machine chamber.