EP1970651B1 - Refrigerating/air conditioning system having refrigerant leakage detecting function, refrigerator/air conditioner and method for detecting leakage of refrigerant - Google Patents

Refrigerating/air conditioning system having refrigerant leakage detecting function, refrigerator/air conditioner and method for detecting leakage of refrigerant Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1970651B1
EP1970651B1 EP06810364.7A EP06810364A EP1970651B1 EP 1970651 B1 EP1970651 B1 EP 1970651B1 EP 06810364 A EP06810364 A EP 06810364A EP 1970651 B1 EP1970651 B1 EP 1970651B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
refrigerant
judging
liquid
refrigerating
refrigerant leakage
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EP06810364.7A
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German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
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EP1970651A4 (en
EP1970651A1 (en
Inventor
Tsuyoshi Kubota
Masaki Toyoshima
Osamu Morimoto
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Mitsubishi Electric Corp
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Mitsubishi Electric Corp
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B49/00—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
    • F25B49/005—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices of safety devices
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B2500/00—Problems to be solved
    • F25B2500/22—Preventing, detecting or repairing leaks of refrigeration fluids
    • F25B2500/222—Detecting refrigerant leaks
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B2600/00—Control issues
    • F25B2600/01—Timing

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a refrigerating air-conditioning system having a refrigerant leakage detection function, refrigerating air-conditioner, and method therefor.
  • GB 2260816 A discloses a refrigerating system, wherein the total quantity of fluid is determined by monitoring the level of the fluid in a reservoir. With these information at hand, leakage of the refrigerating cycle can be judged.
  • a refrigeration air-conditioning system according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from WO2006/090451 .
  • the temperature difference between the inlet and outlet of the evaporator varies depending on a fluctuation of the circumferential temperature or the evaporator load.
  • the temperature differences between the inlet and outlet of the respective evaporators are different. Thus it is difficult to detect the refrigerant leakage in an accurate fashion.
  • Patent Document 2 there is a problem that when the pressure in a circuit at the judgment time is assumed to be 2.0 MPa using, for example, R410A as a refrigerant, a small leakage with a pressure reducing ratio of 0.02 MPa per minute or less, can not be detected.
  • Patent Document 3 since the data is a detected value at a momentary time point, or the driving electric current reducing ratio occurred once in a brief period of time such as one minute, as described in the Patent Document 4, a so-called slow leak, in which the refrigerant gradually leaks taking a long time, can not be detected.
  • the air-conditioner when the refrigerant leakage is detected using the conventional methods.
  • the judging operation for the refrigerant volume is performed in light of deterioration of capability, or prevention of damage to the compressor.
  • the reduction of a refrigerant volume is detected using a fixed threshold value regardless of a filled up refrigerant volume. Therefore, in a case where the refrigerant is excessively filled up in an initial condition of filing up the refrigerant, there is a long time before the refrigerant volume is detected, and a large volume of the refrigerant is leaked before the refrigerant volume is detected. Accordingly, there has also been a problem in which an influence on the environment increases.
  • the present invention is made to solve the aforementioned problems and a below mentioned construction is adopted accordingly.
  • a refrigerating air-conditioning system in which a refrigerating cycle is constituted by connecting an outdoor unit including a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger and a throttling device, and one or a plurality of indoor units each including an indoor heat exchanger and a throttling device, with communication piping, is provided with a judging means for judging a refrigerant leakage in the refrigerating cycle, on the basis of a past data relating to a past refrigerant volume in the refrigerating cycle at a past time point and a new data relating to a refrigerant volume at a time point after performing a plurality of times of stopping and starting up operations of the refrigerating cycle since the past time point.
  • a refrigerating air-conditioner is provided with a judging means for judging a refrigerant leakage in the refrigerating cycle, on the basis of past data relating to a past refrigerant volume in the refrigerating cycle at a past time point and new data relating to a refrigerant volume at a time point after performing a plurality of times of stopping and starting up operations of the refrigerating cycle since the past time point.
  • a method for detecting a refrigerant leakage of the present invention is a method for detecting a refrigerant leakage of a refrigerating air-conditioning unit, in which a refrigerating cycle is constituted by connecting an outdoor unit including a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger and a throttling device, and one or a plurality of indoor units each including an indoor heat exchanger and a throttling device, with communication piping.
  • the method includes the steps of judging an elapsed time after filling up a refrigerant, judging whether all of indoor heat exchangers constituting the indoor units are performing a cooling operation or a heating operation, and judging whether there is the refrigerant leakage from the refrigerating cycle on the basis of a historical data relating to a refrigerant volume in the refrigerating cycle, when all the indoor heat exchangers are judged to be performing the cooling operation or the heating operation.
  • a refrigerating air-conditioning unit In a refrigerating air-conditioning system, a refrigerating air-conditioning unit, and a method for detecting a refrigerant leakage according to the present invention, it becomes possible to detect even a refrigerant leakage with a little leaking volume per unit time, while performing an air-conditioning operation.
  • 1 compressor, 2: four-way valve, 3: outdoor heat exchanger, 4: outdoor air blower, 5: throttling device, 6: gas-refrigerant piping, 7a and 7b: throttling device, 8a and 8b: indoor air blower, 9a and 9b: indoor heat exchanger, 10: liquid-refrigerant piping, 11: discharge temperature sensor, 12: discharge pressure sensor, 13: outdoor temperature sensor, 14: temperature sensor, 15a and 15b: temperature sensor, 16a and 16b: indoor unit intake temperature sensor, 17a and 17b: temperature sensor, 18: intake temperature sensor, 19: intake pressure sensor, 101: measurement portion, 102: operation portion, 103: control portion, 104: memory portion, 105: comparator portion, 106: judging portion, 107: reporting portion, 108: operation judging portion, 100: outdoor unit, 110: indoor unit, 120: concentration controller, 130: remote monitoring device
  • Fig. 1 is a view illustrating a construction of a refrigerant circuit of a refrigerating air-conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present invention
  • Fig. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a refrigerant leakage detection performed by the air-conditioner in Fig. 1 .
  • this refrigerating air-conditioner constructs a refrigerating cycle including an outdoor unit and an outdoor unit.
  • a compressor 1, a four-way valve 2 serving as a flow path switching device, an outdoor heat exchanger 3, and a throttling device 5 are sequentially connected, and thus, a main circuit of a refrigerant is constructed.
  • throttling devices 7a and 7b, and indoor heat exchangers 9a and 9b are sequentially connected and thus, the main circuit of the refrigerant is constructed.
  • the outdoor unit and the indoor units are connected with a liquid-refrigerant pipeline 6 and a gas-refrigerant pipeline 10.
  • a fan 4 for blowing air is provided and in the indoor heat exchangers 9a and 9b, fans 8a and 8b for sending air are similarly provided.
  • a discharge temperature sensor 11 for detecting a temperature of the refrigerant, and a discharge pressure sensor 12 for measuring a pressure in the pipeline are installed.
  • an intake temperature sensor 18 for detecting a temperature of an intake side refrigerant and an intake pressure sensor 19 for measuring a pressure in the pipeline are installed.
  • an outdoor temperature sensor 13 for detecting a surrounding air temperature of the outdoor unit, and a temperature sensor 14 for detecting a temperature of the refrigerant at an outlet of the outdoor heat exchanger 3 (during cooling operation) are provided.
  • temperature sensors 15a, 15b, 17a, and 17b are provided and the surrounding air temperature of the indoor unit is detected by the indoor unit intake temperature sensors 16a and 16b.
  • Each temperature sensor is provided in a manner so as to be in contact with, or to be inserted into the refrigerant pipeline, and the refrigerant temperature at that portion is enabled to be detected.
  • each throttling device is constituted by a pressure-adjusting valve or the like.
  • Each quantity detected by each temperature sensor and each pressure sensor is inputted to a measurement portion 101 for gathering measured results, and is utilized for an arithmetic processing at an operation portion 102 corresponding to a necessity.
  • a controller 103 is provided to control the refrigerating cycle to be within a desired control target range by controlling the compressor 1, the four-way valve 2, the air blowers 4, 8a, and 8b and the throttling devices 5, 7a, and 7b, on the basis of a computed result of the operation portion 102.
  • the control portion 103 is connected to each device constituting this refrigerating cycle by wire or wireless, and is enabled to control each of the devices.
  • the control portion 103 is also provided with an operation-confirming means for judging whether the indoor unit is in operation, an integrating means (or a timer device) for integrating an operation time of the compressor 1, a timecounting means for counting the date and hour, or the like.
  • the refrigerating air-conditioner is provided with a memory portion 104 serving as a memory means (or a memory device) for memorizing a result obtained by the operation portion 102, a predetermined constant, or the like, and is provided with a comparator portion 105 for comparing the stored result and a predetermined value in a current refrigerating cycle condition.
  • the refrigerating air-conditioner includes a judging portion 106 for judging a filled-up condition of the refrigerant of this refrigerating air-conditioner from the result compared by the comparator portion 105, and a reporting portion 107 serving as a reporting means for reporting the result that is judged by the judging portion 106 to a remote controller of the indoor unit, LED (light emitting diode) and/or a monitor or the like at a distant place.
  • the operation portion 102, the memory portion 104, the comparator portion 105, and the judging portion 106 are to be collectively called as an operation judging portion (or a judging means) 108.
  • the measurement portion 101, the control portion 103, the reporting portion 107, and the operation judging portion 108 are usually composed of a microcomputer, a personal computer, or a CPU and a program or the like.
  • the number of the indoor heat exchanger is not limited thereto, and the number of the indoor heat exchangers may be one or more than two. Further, a capacity of each indoor heat exchanger may be different, or all the indoor heat exchangers may have the same capacity. Furthermore, as for the outdoor heat exchanger, a construction, in which a plurality of the outdoor heat exchangers are connected, may also be adopted in a similar manner.
  • a gas-refrigerant at high temperature and high pressure discharged from the compressor 1 reaches the outdoor heat exchanger 3 via the four-way valve 2 and is condensed (at this time, the outdoor heat exchanger 3 functions as a condenser).
  • the condensing temperature at this moment can be found as a saturation temperature of a pressure of the pressure sensor 12 attached to the discharge side of the compressor 1.
  • a super-cooling rate of the refrigerant at the outlet of the outdoor heat exchanger 3 is found by a difference between the condensing temperature and the temperature sensor 14.
  • the condensed refrigerant passes the fully open throttling device 5 of the outdoor unit and the liquid-refrigerant pipeline 6, and is depressurized by the throttling devices 7a and 7b of the indoor unit. This results in a two-phase condition.
  • the refrigerant discharged from the throttling devices 7a and 7b evaporates at the indoor heat exchangers 9a and 9b (at the time, the indoor heat exchangers 9a and 9b function as evaporators). Thereafter, the refrigerant returns to the compressor 1 via the gas-refrigerant pipeline 10 and the four-way valve 2.
  • a superheating rate of the refrigerant at the outlet of the outdoor heat exchanger 3 is found by a difference between the temperature sensors 17a and 15a, or a difference between the temperature sensors 17b and 15b.
  • the gas-refrigerant at high temperature and high pressure discharged from the compressor 1 reaches the indoor heat exchangers 9a and 9b via the four-way valve 2 and the gas-refrigerant pipeline 10 and is condensed (at this time, the indoor heat exchangers 9a and 9b function as condensers).
  • the condensing temperature at this moment can be found as the saturation temperature of the pressure of the pressure sensor 12 attached to the discharge side of the compressor 1.
  • super-cooling rates of the refrigerant at the outlets of respective indoor heat exchangers 9a and 9b are found as differences between the condensing temperature and the respective temperature sensors 15a and 15b.
  • the condensed refrigerant passes the fully open throttling devices 15a and 15b of the indoor unit and a liquid-refrigerant pipeline 6, and is depressurized by the throttling device 5 of the outdoor unit. This results in the two-phase condition.
  • the refrigerant discharged from the throttling device 5 evaporates at the outdoor heat exchanger 3 (at this time, the outdoor heat exchanger 3 functions as an evaporator). Thereafter, the refrigerant returns to the compressor 1 via the four-way valve 2.
  • the superheating rates of the refrigerant at the outlets of the indoor heat exchangers 9a and 9b are found by a difference between the temperature sensor 18 and the temperature sensor 14.
  • the operation judging portion 108 previously stores the amount of the refrigerant (or an operating condition data) at that time, as an initial value of the sealed refrigerant.
  • the operation judging portion 108 performs a judging operation of a refrigerant volume, and stores the result (AL% value, temperature, and the like, described later) at that time by performing a calculation by the operation portion 102.
  • the judging operation of the initial value can be performed in an ordinary operation. However an appropriate condition for the judging operation of the refrigerant volume can easily be made at the time of the test run. This is because an installation worker can set a condition regardless of a using condition of a user.
  • a caution such as "under refrigerant leakage detecting operation”, "under refrigerant volume judging operation", or the like, on a remote controller or an indicator of the indoor unit so as to indicate this condition. This is because a user of the air-conditioner or a maintenance worker can thereby easily figure out an operating condition of the air-conditioner.
  • the controller judges whether a time (integrated operating time) elapses over a predetermined time (for example, 100 hours) after a previous judging operation for a refrigerant leakage of the compressor 1 was performed (Step S1).
  • a time integrated operating time
  • the program proceeds to the next step, and when the time does not elapse, the program returns to an ordinary air-conditioning operation.
  • the measurement of the integrated operating time is performed by memorizing a time, when the control portion 103 (integrating means) is outputting an operating command (outputting a command frequency) to the compressor 1, as an integrated time, in a memory every one hour, for example.
  • the integrated time may be calculated by the controller 103 by providing an electric current sensor in a wire to the compressor, and detecting a time, when the electric current is flowing in the wire to drive the compressor, with the electric current sensor, instead of the time when the operating command is outputting.
  • the judging operation for the refrigerant leakage may be performed at a predetermined date and hour using a built-in timekeeping device (including date-and-hour outputting function).
  • a built-in timekeeping device including date-and-hour outputting function.
  • an existing timer circuit or the like can be used.
  • the controller 103 resets this timer circuit when the refrigerating air-conditioner is installed, and the timer counts the elapsing time from the time of the installation.
  • the controller 103 obtains time information from the timer at regular intervals or irregular intervals, and judges whether a predetermined set time has elapsed.
  • the controller 103 resets the timer circuit or newly set a set time, and thereby prepares to perform the next leakage detection at a predetermined timing.
  • the judging operation can be performed at a condition of an outdoor air temperature close to each other.
  • the pressure or the temperature of the refrigerant at the time when the air-conditioner is operated becomes approximately equal at each judging timing, and the density of the refrigerant in each portion of the refrigerant piping becomes approximately equal at the judging timing. Therefore, the error occurring due to a difference between the densities of the refrigerant is decreased and the . judging operation with good accuracy can be performed.
  • the judging operation for the refrigerant leakage is performed after the end of the Step S1 only when the control portion 103 judges that the outdoor air temperature in the outdoor air temperature information detected by the outdoor temperature sensor 13 is within a predetermined area (for example, the temperature at the time of the initial run ⁇ 5°C).
  • the control portion 103 stores the outdoor temperature detected at the time of previous judging operation for the refrigerant leakage, such as the outdoor temperature detected at the time of the test run, in the memory portion 104 or other memory device.
  • Operation for the refrigerant leakage is performed when the control portion 103 judges that the difference between the stored outdoor temperature and a current outdoor temperature is within the predetermined area ( ⁇ 5°C).
  • the controller 103 waits until the outdoor temperature reaches the predetermined area, and then proceeds to perform the judging operation for the refrigerant leakage.
  • the pressure or the temperature of the refrigerant during operation of the refrigerating air-conditioner becomes approximately equal at every timing of the judging operation, so that the density of the refrigerant in each portion of the refrigerant piping becomes approximately equal at the judging timing. Therefore, the error occurring due to a difference between the densities of the refrigerant is decreased and the judging operation with good accuracy can be performed.
  • the judging operation for the refrigerant leakage can be performed, after the control portion 103 corrects a judging parameter to a predetermined correction value of the judging parameter for judging the refrigerant leakage (for example, the AL% or the like, described later) corresponding to the difference of the outdoor temperature.
  • the correction value is found by previous measurement performed corresponding to the difference of the outdoor temperature and stored in the memory or the like. Or it is determined in the way that the controller 103 founds the same by a calculation as a function of the difference of the outdoor temperature or the outdoor temperature.
  • the refrigerant leakage detection by the correction may be performed in a case that the outdoor temperature does not reach the predetermined area whereas the predetermined time has elapsed, or may be performed without waiting for elapse of the time.
  • step S2 the stability of the operation on the refrigerating cycle is judged (step S2).
  • This judging operation is performed by the way that the control portion 103 judges whether predetermined variation values of a physical quantities on the refrigerating cycle, are within the predetermined area.
  • the control portion 103 judges whether the variation value of the temperature or the pressure of the refrigerant in the predetermined time period is equal to or less than the previously determined quantity or not, utilizing the temperature sensor or the pressure sensor as a physical quantity detecting device. For example, the control portion 103 monitors the temperature detected by the discharge temperature sensor 11, and judges that the refrigerating cycle is stable when the difference between an upper limit value and a lower limit value in 3 minutes is within 2 centigrade.
  • the controller 103 monitors the detected value of the pressure sensor provided in a discharge piping of the compressor 1 or an intake piping of the same as a parameter for judging the stability, and the control portion 103 can also judge that the refrigerating cycle is stabilized when the difference of an upper limit value and a lower limit value of the detected value in 3 minutes is 1 kgf/cm 2 . It is preferable that these condition values are determined to an appropriate value, while previously performing an examination, and considering an allowable value of an error for judging the refrigerant volume.
  • the refrigerating cycle may be judged whether the refrigerating cycle is stabilized, on the basis of stability of a frequency of the compressor 1, an opening extent of the throttling devices 5, 7a, and 7b, super-cooling rate and the superheating rate of the outlet of each of the heat exchangers 3, 9a, and 9b, and so forth.
  • the refrigerating cycle is unstable, the refrigerant leakage cannot be detected accurately, and therefore the program proceeds to the next step only when a condition of the refrigerating cycle is judged to be stable.
  • the program returns to an ordinary operation.
  • the controller 103 judges whether all the indoor heat exchangers 9a and 9b being connected are performing the cooling operation or the heating operation.
  • Step S3 When all the indoor heat exchangers 9a and 9b are performing the cooling operation or all the indoor heat exchangers are performing the heating operation, the program proceeds to the next step (Step S3). When not all the indoor heat exchangers are in operation, the program proceeds to the next step after operating all the indoor heat exchangers (Step S3'). Incidentally, when not all the indoor heat exchangers are in operation, the program may return to the ordinary air-conditioning operation, while suspending the judging operation.
  • the judging operation for the refrigerant leakage may always be performed regardless of the integrated operating time of the compressor 1 or the date.
  • the controller 103 controls the superheating rate of the refrigerant at the outlet of the evaporator to become the predetermined value or more (Step S4) by the throttling device at the evaporator inlet (the throttling devices 7a and 7b correspond thereto in the cooling operation and the throttling device 5 corresponds thereto in the heating operation).
  • the gas-refrigerant piping 10 is configured to be in a condition in which no liquid-refrigerant is accumulated, so that the judging operation can be performed with a liquid-phase area ratio AL% of the condenser as an indicator, under a condition where the liquid-refrigerant is accumulated only in the liquid-refrigerant pipeline 6 and the condenser.
  • the operation judging portion 108 performs the judging operation to judge whether the refrigerant volume is appropriate (Steps S5 and S6).
  • the operation portion 102 performs the arithmetic processing utilizing the following formula (1).
  • AL ⁇ % ⁇ Ln 1 ⁇ SC / dTc ⁇ dTc ⁇ Cpr / ⁇ ⁇ hcon
  • the comparator portion 105 compares the result with the past result of the arithmetic processing AL% saved as a history data, and the judging portion 106 performs the judging operation for the refrigerant leakage on the basis of the compared result.
  • the AL% is a ratio of the liquid-phase volume to an entire volume of the condenser, and is an indicator which is the super-cooling rate of the condenser corrected with an outdoor temperature, discharge enthalpy of the compressor, and liquid-specific heat at low pressure of the refrigerant.
  • SC is defined as the super-cooling rate of the refrigerant at an outlet of the condenser
  • dTc is defined as a difference between the outdoor temperature and a condensing temperature
  • Cpr is defined as liquid-specific heat at constant pressure of the refrigerant
  • ⁇ hcon is defined as a difference of the enthalpies at an inlet of the condenser and the outlet of the condenser.
  • the outdoor heat exchanger serves as the condenser
  • the indoor heat exchanger serves as the condenser.
  • the indoor heat exchangers 9a and 9b are plural in number, and therefore the formula (2) is to be applied for the heating operation.
  • the AL% is also calculated by the formula (2) in this case.
  • the judging portion 106 judges that the refrigerant is lacking, and a reporting portion 107 reports an abnormality to a display device such as the remote controller of the indoor unit, the LED of the outdoor unit, or the like (Step S7).
  • the controller 103 receives a transmission of the judged result of the judging portion 106 indicating the abnormality, and stops the operation of the refrigerating cycle (Step S8).
  • the judging portion 106 judges that the refrigerant volume is within an appropriate range. Then, the program proceeds to the ordinary air-conditioning operation, after the controller 103 resets the integrated operating time of the compressor 1 upon this judged result (Step S6'). Namely, the program returns to the operating condition before performing the judging operation.
  • a judging operation for the refrigerant leakage at the time of the test run is performed by comparing with an appropriate AL% value, which is previously determined by an examination or the like.
  • the refrigerant volume in the refrigerating cycle is not judged only by a single operating-condition quantity such as the superheating rate or the super-cooling rate of the refrigerating air-conditioner, but by calculating the liquid-phase area ratio of the condenser based on a plurality of parameters. Accordingly, stable accuracy can also be obtained against a variation of an environmental condition such as the outdoor temperature.
  • the refrigerant leakage is detected by calculating the refrigerant volume in the entire circuit, the judging accuracy does not depend on a leaking speed of the refrigerant, and thereby the refrigerant leakage can be detected even in a case that the refrigerant is leaking little by little. Furthermore, by judging the refrigerant volume at a time in which a operation mode of the refrigerating cycle, the outdoor temperature, and the driving condition of the indoor unit are in similar conditions, the refrigerant volume can be judged each time at a timing when the pressure or the temperature of the refrigerant is close to each other. Accordingly, the density of the refrigerant in the refrigerant piping becomes approximately equal, so that an estimation error is reduced, and the accuracy of the judging operation can be raised.
  • the refrigerating air-conditioner according to this embodiment, a specific sensor or the like is not used, and the judging operation is performed using only the temperature sensor and the pressure sensor. Accordingly, refrigerant leakage detection can be performed at low cost. Further, since the physical quantities (reference quantities) to judge the stability of the refrigerating cycle are the temperature of the refrigerating cycle and the pressure of the same, or the super-cooling rate and the superheating rate of the refrigerant calculated from these temperature and the pressure, the stable judging operation can be performed with a construction at a low cost in the judging timing as well.
  • the refrigerating air-conditioner it is possible to detect the refrigerant leakage, while performing a cooling air-conditioning operation or a heating air-conditioning operation.
  • the Steps S1 through S3 shown in Fig. 2 have the similar effect even when the order thereof is counterchanged.
  • the indicator referring to AL% is used to judge the refrigerant volume
  • the refrigerant leakage may be judged by grasping a correlation between the refrigerant volume and parameters having correlation with the refrigerant volume, such as the super-cooling rate of the refrigerant at the outlet of the condenser in operation, the superheating rate of the refrigerant at the outlet of the evaporator in operation, or the temperature of the refrigerant at the discharge side of the compressor, in advance, reading a variation of the parameters regarding the refrigerant volume at the above-described judging timing to detect the refrigerant volume.
  • the refrigerant leakage may be judged by providing a liquid reservoir at the outlet of the condenser or the outlet of the evaporator, providing a device for judging the liquid volume inside the liquid reservoir on the basis of the liquid surface height of an inside of the liquid reservoir, and judging the refrigerant volume at the aforementioned judging timing so as to detect the refrigerant volume.
  • the judging operation utilizing the liquid reservoir will be explained in detail in the third embodiment.
  • the operation judging portion 108 judges the initial value of the refrigerant during the test run of the refrigerating air-conditioner
  • the operation judging portion 108 can also judge the initial value of the refrigerant volume in the ordinary operation as far as it is before the refrigerant volume is changed, namely when the refrigerant is judged at an initial stage after filing up the refrigerant.
  • the judging operation may be performed at any timing.
  • the initial value of the refrigerant volume can be judged during the ordinary operation in the integrated time of the compressor within 10 hours, under preferable measurement conditions (aforementioned condition, in which all the indoor units are operated, and the stability of the refrigerating cycle, or the like).
  • Fig. 3 is a view illustrating a construction of a refrigerant circuit of a refrigerating air-conditioner according to the second preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing part to be added to the flowchart in Fig. 2 , illustrating an operation that is specific to the refrigerating air-conditioner in Fig. 3 .
  • this refrigerating air-conditioner is different from the refrigerating air-conditioner in Fig. 1 in a point of providing an accumulator 20 at the intake side of the compressor. Further, at the exit of the accumulator 20, a temperature sensor 21 for measuring the refrigerant temperature is installed.
  • Step S4 judges that the liquid-refrigerant is not accumulated in the accumulator 20 (Step S4' in Fig. 4 ), and the judging operation for the refrigerant leakage is performed (Step S5 in Fig. 4 ).
  • the Step S4 and the Step S5 shown in Fig. 4 corresponds to those shown in Fig. 2 .
  • the liquid-refrigerant in the accumulator 20 is gradually evaporated, and therefor it may be judged whether the liquid-refrigerant is accumulated in the accumulator 20 utilizing an elapsing of time of operation in which the superheating ratio of the outlet of the evaporator is fully high.
  • FIG. 5 is a view illustrating the construction of the refrigerant circuit of the refrigerating air-conditioner according to the third example not part of the claimed invention.
  • the same numerals are attached to the same elements as the second embodiment in Fig. 3 , and hereinafter, explanation is centered on a different point from Fig. 3 .
  • the refrigerating air-conditioner in Fig. 5 is provided with a liquid reservoir 28 connected between the throttling device 5 of the outdoor unit and the liquid-refrigerant piping 6, to accumulate a refrigerant liquid, and a refrigerant heat exchanger 30 connected in series to the liquid reservoir 28, to remove the super-cooling rate of the refrigerant. Further, one end of the refrigerant heat exchanger 30 is connected to a refrigerant piping between the refrigerant heat exchanger 30 and the liquid-refrigerant pipeline 6 via a bypass throttling device 26 for use of super-cooling rate, and the other end is connected to an entrance pipeline of the accumulator 20.
  • a bypass pipeline connected to a low pressure part such as the entrance of the accumulator 20, via throttling devices 25a and 25b for judging the refrigerant volume, is connected.
  • the bypass pipeline is provided for detecting the liquid surface in the liquid reservoir 28, and two bypass pipings are disposed here in an inside of the liquid reservoir 28 with a predetermined vertical height difference.
  • the number of the bypass pipeline for detecting the liquid surface taken out from the liquid reservoir 28 is not limited to two, but the number may appropriately be increased and decreased corresponding to a level to be judged.
  • the numerals 27a and 27b denote temperature sensors for use in a liquid surface detection provided in the bypass pipeline
  • the numeral 31 denotes a temperature sensor for detecting the super-cooling rate, which is provided between the refrigerant heat exchanger 30 and the liquid-refrigerant pipeline 6
  • the numeral 32 denotes a temperature sensor for the bypass circuit provided in the bypass circuit.
  • numerals 33a and 33b denote a refrigerant heating devices used at the time when the liquid surface of the liquid reservoir 28 is detected.
  • the refrigerant heating device an outside heat source such as an electric heater may also be utilized and a heating structure to bring the refrigerant in contact with a high-temperature portion on the refrigerant circuit, such as a hot gas or the like may be adopted.
  • the liquid surface is raised, and when the liquid reservoir 28 is approximately filled with the liquid, the liquid refrigerant flows into the refrigerant heat exchanger 30, and when the throttling device 25a for judging the refrigerant volume is opened, the liquid refrigerant starts to flow into the bypass pipeline via the throttling device 25a for judging the refrigerant volume, as well.
  • the liquid refrigerant that flows into the refrigerant heat exchanger 30 bypasses from the liquid refrigerant piping 6 in the refrigerant heat exchanger 30, and exchanges heat with the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant that is caused to have low temperature, via the bypass throttling device 26 for use in the super-cooling rate.
  • the liquid refrigerant flows into the indoor heat exchangers 9a and 9b, while increasing the super-cooling rate.
  • the refrigerant is evaporated, vaporized, and used for the cooling operation.
  • the vaporized refrigerant returns to the compressor 1 via the gas-refrigerant piping 10, the four-way valve 2, and the accumulator 20.
  • the superheating ratio of the refrigerant at the outlet of the indoor heat exchanger is found by a difference between the temperature sensors 17a and 15a, or 17b and 15b, and a flowing amount is controlled by the throttling devices 7a and 7b of the indoor unit so that the superheating ratio is brought to a predetermined value or more.
  • the liquid-refrigerant which flows out from an upper part of the liquid reservoir 28 filled with the liquid is brought to a gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant having low temperature, which is throttled up to low pressure by the throttling device 25a for judging the refrigerant volume.
  • the refrigerant is then heated by the heating device 33a.
  • a heated amount by the heating device 33a is previously adjusted to be an amount of heat to evaporate only part of the refrigerant liquid.
  • the temperature of the refrigerant still remains at a low temperature, even when the refrigerant passes through the heating device 33a.
  • the temperature of the refrigerant rises corresponding to a heating amount when the same is heated by the heating device 33a. Utilizing this fact, it is judged whether a sufficient amount of liquid is accumulated in the liquid reservoir 28 by detecting the temperature with the temperature sensor 27a for detecting the liquid surface, which is installed on a downstream side of the heating device 33a.
  • the throttling device 25b for judging the refrigerant volume is opened, and the temperature is detected by the temperature sensor 27b for detecting the liquid surface, while utilizing the heating device 33b. Thereby, it is judged whether the liquid exists up to a low end position of the corresponding bypass pipeline in the liquid reservoir 28.
  • the gas-refrigerant at high temperature and high pressure discharged from the compressor 1 flows through the gas-refrigerant pipeline 10, and condensed and liquefied in the indoor heat exchangers 9a and 9b.
  • the gas-refrigerant is slightly throttled in the throttling devices 15a and 15b, and flows into the liquid reservoir 28.
  • the liquid surface is raised in the liquid reservoir 28 and the liquid reservoir 28 is filled with a liquid
  • the liquid-refrigerant flowing out from an upper part of the liquid reservoir is evaporated in the outdoor heat exchanger 3.
  • the vaporized refrigerant returns to the compressor 1 through the four-way valve 2 and the accumulator 20.
  • the superheating ratio of the refrigerant at the outlet of the outdoor heat exchanger 3 is found from a difference between the temperature sensor 14 and the temperature sensor 32, and the flowing amount is controlled by the throttling device 5 of the outdoor unit, so that the superheating ratio is brought to a predetermined value or more.
  • the liquid-refrigerant flowing out from the upper part of the liquid reservoir 28 filled with a liquid is brought to a gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant having low temperature, which is throttled up to low pressure by the throttling device 25a for judging the refrigerant volume, and heated by the heating device 33a.
  • the heating amount of the heating device 33a is previously adjusted to a heat quantity for evaporating only part of the refrigerant liquid.
  • the temperature of the refrigerant still remains at a low temperature, even when the refrigerant passes through the heating device 33a.
  • the temperature of the refrigerant rises corresponding to a heating amount when the same is heated by the heating device 33a. Utilizing this fact, it is judged whether a sufficient amount of liquid is accumulated in the liquid reservoir 28 by detecting the temperature with the temperature sensor 27a for detecting the liquid surface, which is installed on a downstream side of the heating device 33a.
  • the throttling device 25b for judging the refrigerant volume is opened, and the temperature is detected by the temperature sensor 27b for detecting the liquid surface, while utilizing the heating device 33b. Thereby, it is judged whether the liquid exists up to a low end position of the corresponding bypass pipeline in the liquid reservoir 28.
  • a liquid surface level of the liquid reservoir 28 is detected by two steps, while utilizing the two bypass pipelines.
  • the detection for the liquid surface level may be performed by only one step, or may be performed by three steps or more.
  • FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of an operation for the refrigerant leakage detection in the refrigerating air-conditioner in Fig. 5 and the explanation will be made along the flowchart.
  • Step S1 After installation or replacement of the refrigerating air-conditioner is completed, a test run of the refrigerating air-conditioner is performed in Step S1.
  • the controller 103 transmits control signals to each device of the indoor unit and the outdoor unit after judging that either the cooling operation or the heating operation is appropriate, corresponding to an outdoor air temperature, room temperature or an air-conditioner's load, so as to start the refrigerating air-conditioner in the test run mode, and control the operation thereof.
  • This judging operation may either be automatically performed on a previously determined judging basis, or be performed manually by an operator to operate the refrigerating air-conditioner.
  • the volume of the liquid refrigerant accumulated in the liquid reservoir 28 varies at the time of the judging operation for the refrigerant. This is because a condition of an inside of the indoor heat exchanger being turned off is brought into a liquid-sealing condition or into a gaseous condition. Accordingly, in light of keeping the condition of insides of the indoor heat exchangers equal, all the plurality of the indoor units (indoor heat exchanger) is operated.
  • a timing for detecting the refrigerant volume is the time after waiting until the time when the liquid refrigerant is accumulated in the liquid reservoir 28, or the high and low pressure of the refrigerating cycle is stabilized and the density of the refrigerant in the refrigerant pipeline is stabilized is preferable.
  • movement of the high pressure and the low pressure from a start of the operation is, as shown in Fig. 7 , stabilized toward a target, after once overshooting or undershooting against the target.
  • the time until a variation width of the pressure, the temperature, the superheating ratio, the super-cooling rate, or the like of the refrigerant reaches within a predetermined value is used.
  • step S2 the control portion 103 controls the throttling devices 25a and 25b for judging the refrigerant volume and opens the throttling. Then, the measurement portion 101 reads a temperature detection signal of the temperature sensors 27a and 27b for detecting the liquid surface.
  • the control portion 103 stores a condition of the test run in the memory portion 104.
  • operating conditions such as the detected temperature of the temperature sensors 27a and 27b for detecting each liquid surface (liquid surface level of the liquid reservoir 28), the operation mode of the cooling operation or the heating operation, the high pressure of the refrigerant, the low pressure of the refrigerant, a discharge temperature of the compressor, super-cooling rate of the outlet of the condenser, or an evaporation temperature of the outlet of the evaporator, are stored.
  • Step S3 the controller 103 starts an ordinary air-conditioning operation control.
  • the controller 103 controls the temperature sensors 27a and 27b for detecting the liquid surface to be in a closed condition.
  • Step S4 the control portion 103 judges whether a predetermined time has elapsed from the first test run or a previous leakage judging operation, and when the predetermined time has elapsed, the program proceeds to the next Step S5.
  • Step S5 the control portion 103 waits until the refrigerating cycle becomes stable.
  • Step S6 the control portion 103 confirms whether all the indoor heat exchangers of the indoor units are performing the heating operation or the cooling operation.
  • Step S7 it is preferable to perform a judging operation only in a case that the outdoor air temperature is within the predetermined temperature area, after judging whether the outdoor air temperature has a value close to the temperature at the time of judging the initial liquid surface level (for example, within ⁇ 5°C). However, in a case that it is impossible to cause the outdoor air temperature to be within the predetermined temperature area, the Step S7 may be skipped.
  • Step S4 After performing the Steps S4 through S7, in a case that the operating condition of the refrigerating air-conditioner is brought into approximately the same outdoor air temperature, the same operation mode, and the same operating condition of the indoor unit as those stored in Step S2, the operation judging portion 108 performs the judging operation for the refrigerant leakage in Step S8.
  • Step S9 existence or nonexistence of the refrigerant leakage is judged on the basis of whether the refrigerant volume is appropriate or inappropriate.
  • Step S8 in a case that the detected temperature of the temperature sensors 27a and 27b for detecting the liquid surface is confirmed to be higher by the predetermined value or more than the temperature, stored at the time of the test run, while opening the throttling devices 25a and 25b for judging the refrigerant volume, it is judged that the liquid surface of the liquid reservoir 28 is lowered and the refrigerant leakage has occurred. In that case, the program proceeds to Step S10, and the reporting portion 107 causes the remote controller, the indicator, or the like to display such a notice that the refrigerant leakage has occurred. The operation of the air-conditioner is turned off in Step S11.
  • Step S9 the program proceeds to the ordinary air-conditioning operation after resetting the integrated operating time of the compressor 1 (Step S9').
  • the density of the liquid and the gas of the refrigerant varies corresponding to pressure or a temperature in the refrigerant circuit. Therefore, in consideration of a density variation of the refrigerant in each element of the refrigerant circuit caused by the pressure and the temperature in the refrigerant circuit, in a case that the value measured at the time of judging operation differs from the pressure and the temperature initially stored, it is preferable to perform a correction.
  • the difference between the refrigerant volumes in the condenser is corrected corresponding to a difference between the measured super-cooling rates of the outlet of the condenser while, for example, previously grasping a relationship between the super-cooling rate of the outlet of the condenser and the volume of the refrigerant in the condenser.
  • the correction can be similarly dealt with by utilizing the superheating ratio of the outlet of the evaporator, or the superheating ratio of the discharge of the compressor as well.
  • the leakage of the refrigerant may be judged by inputting a length of the piping in the memory portion 104 at the time of the test run, calculating the density of the refrigerant from the temperature and the pressure of the piping, and calculating the refrigerant volume in the piping from the stored length of the piping and the calculated density of the refrigerant.
  • the initial value of the refrigerant is reset at timing when the refrigerant is drained for maintenance of the refrigerant circuit or the like, a test run is performed again at the next operation, and an initial value is stored again.
  • the way how to reset is that the worker may operate a reset switch manually, or the controller may automatically reset by judging that the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit is withdrawn when the detected value of the pressure sensor reaches a predetermined value or less.
  • the condition of the liquid surface of the liquid reservoir 28 at the initial stage is detected as the temperature of a bypass-refrigerant at the upper part of the liquid reservoir 28, and is stored.
  • a rise of the temperature of the bypass-refrigerant is detected in refrigerant leakage detection performed thereafter. Thereby, an increase and a decrease of the refrigerant volume in the circuit are judged and the resultant leakage of the refrigerant is detected.
  • the leakage of the refrigerant can easily be detected.
  • the operating condition of the refrigerating cycle is stored in the memory portion 104. Therefore, it becomes possible to estimate the refrigerant volume (including a condition of the excessive filling-up) at the initial stage from the super-cooling rate at the outlet of the condenser or the superheating ratio at the outlet of the evaporator. Thereby, a slight amount of the refrigerant leakage can be detected even when the same occurs, by comparing the refrigerant volume at the initial stage and the refrigerant volume at the time of judging for the leakage. Consequently, a correction for the place where the refrigerant has leaked can be performed earlier, by reporting the detected refrigerant leakage to the remote controller or the like. Furthermore, the air-conditioner is turned off when the refrigerant leakage occurs, and therefore an overheated operation of the compressor due to continuing the operation in a less volume condition of the refrigerant is prevented, and a damage of the compressor can be prevented.
  • the operating mode and the outdoor air temperature at the initial stage are stored, and the leakage detection is performed in the same operating mode and a similar outdoor air temperature.
  • an influence of the density variation in the refrigerant pipeline, due to differences of the operating mode and the outdoor air temperature can be reduced, and it becomes possible to detect the refrigerant leakage with good accuracy by simple algorithm.
  • the operating condition of the indoor unit can always be monitored, and the refrigerant volume can be judged during the time when the air-conditioning operation is performed by the user of the air-conditioner as needed. Accordingly, there is no need to perform a useless air-conditioning operation for the judging operation, and therefore the air-conditioner can contribute to an energy saving. In addition, there is no possibility to give an uncomfortable feeling to the user due to performing the needless air-conditioning operation for the judging operation for the refrigerant leakage.
  • Fig. 8 is a constructional view illustrating an air-conditioning system for comprehensively managing the refrigerating air-conditioner in the first to the third embodiments described above.
  • Refrigerating air-conditioner including indoor units 110 and an outdoor unit 100 is connected to a centralized controller 120, through communication lines 121 which are laid down in a building.
  • the centralized controller 120 is typically provided in the same building as the refrigerating air-conditioner that is an object to be controlled and is a control device for controlling one or a plurality of refrigerating air-conditioner.
  • the centralized controller 120 performs a plurality of control operations such as starting up or stopping operations for the indoor units 110 or the outdoor unit 100, a set-temperature control operation, an air volume or a wind direction control operation, and further, a monitoring operation for an operating condition of the refrigerating air-conditioner and a detecting operation for an abnormality, and so fourth.
  • the indoor units 100 and the outdoor unit 110 transmit operating condition data as described below at regular intervals or irregular intervals.
  • the centralized controller 120 Inidentally, there is no need for the centralized controller 120 to collect all the information, and the centralized controller 120 appropriately makes a choice on the basis of a sort or a property of the refrigerating air-conditioner, the control operation corresponding to a demand of a user, and so forth and thus, the necessary information is set.
  • a remote monitoring device 130 is connected to one or more centralized controllers 120 via communication lines 131, and monitors an operating condition of the refrigerating air-conditioner of each building.
  • the centralized controller 120 collects information necessary for performing maintenance in case of occurrence of an abnormality. Further, the remote monitoring device 130 has a function to perform an energy saving control or the like to the centralized controller 120, corresponding to a demand of the user.
  • the remote monitoring device 130 is provided in a remote monitoring center that controls equipment of each building from a remote place outside each building.
  • the communication line 131 is a wired/wireless phone line, a communication line by internet protocol, or the like, and is called as a public circuit.
  • the control portion 103 of the refrigerating air-conditioner starts up and drives the outdoor unit 100 and all the indoor units 110 in a test run mode when the refrigerant is filled up in the refrigerating air-conditioner (Step S21).
  • the test run is performed when the refrigerating air-conditioner is newly installed in a building.
  • this process is performed in a case that the outdoor unit 100 or the indoor unit 110 is replaced, or that the refrigerant is exchanged or additionally filled up, or in the like case.
  • the control portion 103 performs a judging operation for the stability of the operation (Step S22).
  • the judging operation for the stability is performed in the similar manner as in Step S2 in Fig. 2 .
  • the control portion 103 continues driving until the refrigerating cycle becomes stable, and after the stability is confirmed, the control portion 103 performs the judging operation for the refrigerant volume (Step S25).
  • the judging operation for the refrigerant volume is performed by the operation portion 102 or the controller 103 of the refrigerating air-conditioner by a similar method to that in the first to the third embodiments described above, any method may be used as far as the method can substantially specify the refrigerant volume.
  • the control portion 103 saves the judged refrigerant volume as a historical data in the memory portion 104 together with a judged time (Step S26).
  • the historical data may be only an initial data, or a plurality of data being saved in time series manner while adding at each refrigerant volume judging time, as well.
  • the initial data at the time of filling up the refrigerant is important for judging a total amount of the refrigerant leakage.
  • the aforementioned initial judging operation and a saved data of the refrigerant volume are not limited to the time of the test run, and the same may be performed at the time of ordinary operation during the time when the refrigerant volume does not differ very much by the slow leak after the refrigerant is filled up.
  • the refrigerating air-conditioner repeats the starting up and stopping operations thereafter, along the ON/OFF operations of the power by the user, or the starting up/stopping commands of the centralized controller 120 or the remote monitoring device 130.
  • the control portion 103 is monitoring the elapsed time from the time stored in the memory portion 104 at regular intervals or irregular intervals (Step S27). Further, when the control portion 103 judges that a predetermined time (for example, one month, three months, six months, one year, or the like) has elapsed, the refrigerating air-conditioner performs the refrigerant leakage judging operation.
  • the predetermined time is set to be a sufficiently long time so that the slow leak, in which the leaking volume of the refrigerant per unit time is extremely small, can be detected, after the starting up and stopping operations for the refrigerating cycle are repeated.
  • the control portion 103 transmits a starting up signal to the outdoor unit 100 and all the indoor units 110, and starts up these devices (Step S21a).
  • the reason why all the indoor units 110 are caused to operate is to raise measuring accuracy of the refrigerant volume as described above. However, in a case to avoid driving the indoor unit 110 at a time when the user does not anticipate, the judging time for the refrigerant can be shifted.
  • control portion 103 judges whether all the indoor units 110 are in operation after a predetermined time has elapsed, on the basis of own control data or an operating signal from each indoor unit 110.
  • the control portion 103 postpones a refrigerant volume judging operation until all the indoor units 110 are driven. Further, the control portion 103 may proceed to the next step after confirming that all the indoor units 110 starts up.
  • the control portion 103 performs the judging operation for the stability of the operation (Step S22), and judges the refrigerant volume (Step S25).
  • the judged refrigerant volume is stored in the memory portion 104 (Step S26).
  • this step may be omitted.
  • the operation judging portion 108 of the refrigerating air-conditioner compares the data of the refrigerant volume at the time of filling up the refrigerant, stored in the memory portion 104 (namely, the past data regarding the past refrigerant volume) and the data of the current refrigerant volume (namely, a new data regarding the refrigerant volume obtained after performing the stopping and starting up operations of the refrigerating cycle once or a plurality of times from a past time point), and judges whether a difference between both of the refrigerant volumes is within a predetermined area (Step S29). When the difference does not exist within the predetermined area, the operation judging portion 108 judges that the refrigerant leakage occurs.
  • the reporting portion 107 receives the judged result and transmits the judged result to the centralized controller 120 and the remote monitoring device 130 (Step S30).
  • the centralized controller 120 and the remote monitoring device 130 are enabled to recognize the judged result by transmitting the judged result, even in a case that the refrigerant leakage does not exist.
  • the data to be transmitted includes the time when the judging operation is performed, the judged result, the historical data of the refrigerant volume, the data of the current refrigerant volume, and so forth.
  • the remote monitoring device 130 that receives the judged result via the communication line 121, the centralized controller 120, and the communication line 131 automatically generates a leakage-examination document on the basis of the judged result.
  • document data in a fixed format is stored in a memory device of the remote monitoring device 130.
  • a control portion of the remote monitoring device 130 adds the received time when the judging operation is performed, the judged result, the historical data of the refrigerant volume, the data of the current refrigerant volume to the document data in the fixed format, and automatically generates the leakage-examination document.
  • the control portion of the remote monitoring device 130 prints out the leakage-examination document using a printer. Thereby, the leakage-examination document can be sent to a manager that manages the building.
  • the embodiment of the refrigerating air-conditioning system having a leakage detection function for the refrigerant leakage is explained. According to this embodiment, since the refrigerant leakage is detected by a difference after repeating the starting up and stopping operations, the slow leak of the refrigerant that cannot be conventionally detected can be detected. In addition, since a refrigerant leakage examination is automatically performed at a predetermined timing, the examination is not forgotten to be performed and the slow leak can assuredly be detected.
  • the refrigerant leakage detection is performed by the refrigerating air-conditioner itself in the fourth embodiment, the embodiment in which the refrigerant leakage detection is performed by the centralized controller 120 will be explained next.
  • the refrigerant leakage is detected by the centralized controller 120, there is an advantage that the refrigerant leakage can be detected even when the detection function capable of detecting the slow leak is not provided in the refrigerating air-conditioner itself.
  • the controller 103 and the operation judging portion 108 are provided in the centralized controller 120.
  • the control portion for performing the operation control of the refrigerating air-conditioner is provided in the refrigerating air-conditioner
  • the control portion 103 and the operation judging portion 108 that control the judging operation for the refrigerant leakage are provided in the centralized controller 120.
  • the controller 103 controls the judging timing for the refrigerant leakage, or the operation of the refrigerating air-conditioner via the communication line 121.
  • the operation judging portion 108 performs the operation for judging the refrigerant volume, and the judging operation for judging the refrigerant leakage.
  • controller 103 and the operation judging portion 108 are also provided in the remote monitoring device 130 in Fig. 10 , these devices are used in a case that the refrigerant leakage judging operation is performed by the remote monitoring device 130, as in an embodiment described later, and are not essential.
  • Fig. 11 is a sequential view explaining an operation of the refrigerating air-conditioning system according to the fifth preferred embodiment.
  • the same numeral in Fig. 9 denotes the same or corresponding processing as that in Fig. 9 , and hereinafter the explanation will be made focusing on the part different from the processing in Fig. 9 .
  • the controller 103 of the refrigerating air-conditioner transmits a signal indicating that the refrigerant is filled up, to the centralized controller 120 (Step S20).
  • a notice for notifying that the refrigerant is filled up in this step is not necessary to be automatically performed, and can also be judged on the basis of a signal inputted by the maintenance worker, while providing an inputting device in the centralized controller 120.
  • the controller 103 of the refrigerating air-conditioner judges whether the refrigerating cycle is stabilized (Step S22).
  • the judging operation for judging whether the refrigerating cycle is stabilized may be performed by the refrigerating air-conditioner itself as explained in the above-described first embodiment or the second embodiment.
  • the judging operation may be performed by the centralized controller 120 by the similar algorithm (Step S22), while receiving the operating condition data from the refrigerating air-conditioner once or at a plurality of times in advance (Step S23).
  • the centralized controller 120 receives the operating condition data transmitted by the refrigerating air-conditioner, and the operation judging portion 108 of the centralized controller 120 judges the refrigerant volume on the basis of the operating condition data (Step S24).
  • the refrigerant temperature such as the super-cooling rate of the refrigerant at an outlet of the condenser SC, the difference between the outdoor temperature and a condensing temperature dTc, the liquid-specific heat at constant pressure of the refrigerant Cpr, or a difference of the enthalpies between inlet and the outlet of the condenser ⁇ hcon, the outside air temperature, and the pressure data in the refrigerating cycle are received as the operating condition data.
  • the refrigerant volume is judged by receiving temperature information of the temperature sensor for detecting the liquid surface.
  • the present embodiment is connected to the existing refrigerating air-conditioner, there is a possibility that a type of the operating condition data being transmitted by the refrigerating air-conditioner is different. Therefore, it is preferable for the centralized controller 120 to prepare algorithm for judging the refrigerant volume corresponding to a plurality of types of the operating condition data, respectively, and select the algorithm for judging the refrigerant to be used, while matching the received operating condition data with a data necessary for the refrigerant judging algorithm.
  • the selecting operation for the algorithm for judging the refrigerant volume may also be performed to select corresponding to a model number of the refrigerating air-conditioner.
  • the centralized controller 120 saves the refrigerant volume and the time in the memory (Step S26), and transmits a starting up command to the refrigerating air-conditioner after a predetermined time elapses (Step S31).
  • the starting up command is a command for starting up the outdoor unit 100 and all the indoor units 110. However, in a case that all the indoor units 110 are already in operation, there is no need to say that the transmission of the command is not necessary. Further, the centralized controller 120 manages the starting up operation, the operating mode, the set temperature, or the like for one or a plurality of refrigerating air-conditioner. However, the starting up command for all the indoor units 110 may be transmitted upon waiting until the time when all the indoor units 110 are operated along a starting up program previously stored in the centralized controller 120.
  • the centralized controller 120 receives the operating condition data from the refrigerating air-conditioner, and judges the refrigerant volume (Step S24). The judged refrigerant volume is stored in the memory (Step S26). Furthermore, the centralized controller 120 judges the refrigerant leakage on the basis of a difference between a data regarding the past refrigerant volume and a data regarding the current refrigerant volume (Step S29), and transmits the same to the remote monitoring device 130 (Step S30).
  • the refrigerant leakage can be detected, even in a case that the refrigerating air-conditioner is not provided with a function to detect the slow leak of the refrigerant.
  • the centralized controller 120 that manages an operation schedule of the refrigerating air-conditioner performs the refrigerant leakage detection, the detection of the refrigerant leakage can be performed, while keeping the previously determined operation schedule.
  • Fig. 12 is a sequential view explaining an operation of the refrigerating air-conditioning system according to the fifth embodiment.
  • the same numeral in Fig. 11 denotes the same or corresponding processing as that in Fig. 11 , and hereinafter the explanation will be made focusing on the part different from the processing in Fig. 11 .
  • a characteristic of this embodiment is the point that the judging operation for the refrigerant leakage is performed with the remote monitoring device 130.
  • the centralized controller 120 performs the refrigerant volume judging operation, and transmits the data regarding the refrigerant volume to the remote monitoring device 130 via the communication line 131 (Steps S24 and 25).
  • the remote monitoring device 130 When receiving the data regarding the refrigerant volume and the time data, together with the data indicating that the refrigerant is filled up (transmission of these data is an option), from the centralized controller 120, the remote monitoring device 130 stores the data (Step S26). The remote monitoring device 130 then starts counting the elapsing time. Further, when a predetermined time has elapsed, the remote monitoring device 130 transmits a refrigerant volume transmission request, requesting the transmission of the refrigerant volume to the centralized controller 120 (Step S28). However, this request is not essential. The remote monitoring device 130 may judge the refrigerant leakage on the basis of the data regarding the refrigerant volume that is sent by the centralized controller 120 at regular intervals.
  • the centralized controller 120 may promptly perform the refrigerant volume judging operation, or may collect the operating condition data while controlling the refrigerating air-conditioner on the predetermined operation schedule (Step S23). However, the centralized controller 120 controls the operation of the refrigerating air-conditioner, so that a previously determined maximum delay time does not elapse after receiving the refrigerant volume transmission request. That is, when it is anticipated to exceed the maximum delay time from the operation schedule, or the elapsing time after receiving the request, the centralized controller 120 transmits a signal to request the transmission of the starting up signal for all the indoor units 110 and the operating condition data to the refrigerating air-conditioner before a predetermined time elapses. Further, the centralized controller 120 is operated to transmit the data regarding the refrigerant volume to the remote monitoring device 130 within the maximum delay time.
  • the centralized controller 120 When receiving the operating condition data from the refrigerating air-conditioner, the centralized controller 120 performs the refrigerant volume judging operation (Step S24), and transmits the data regarding the refrigerant volume (new data) to the remote monitoring device 130 (Step S25) .
  • the remote monitoring device 130 compares the data regarding the past refrigerant volume received by the comparator portion 105 of the operation judging portion 108 with the data regarding the new refrigerant volume, and the judging portion 106 judges the refrigerant leakage (Step S29). After this judging operation, the remote monitoring device 130 transmits the judged result to the centralized controller 120 (Step S30).
  • the refrigerant leakage detection can be stably performed without the setting of the local centralized controller 120. Furthermore, a change of the schedule for the refrigerant leakage detection can also be concurrently performed from the remote monitoring device 130. In addition, the change of the schedule for the refrigerant leakage detection can be immediately rapidly and assuredly performed in comparison with a case of setting the schedule while making a tour of the buildings where the refrigerating air-conditioners are provided.
  • This seventh embodiment is an embodiment in which the refrigerant volume judging operation and the refrigerant leakage judging operation are performed by the remote monitoring device 130. Since the refrigerant volume is judged by the remote monitoring device 130, there is a characteristic in which the refrigerant leakage judging operation can be performed even when the centralized controller 120 is not provided with a refrigerant volume judging function.
  • Fig. 13 is a sequential view explaining an operation of the refrigerating air-conditioning system according to this fifth embodiment.
  • the same numeral in Fig. 12 denotes the same or corresponding processing as that in Fig. 12 , and hereinafter the explanation will be made focusing on the part different from the processing in Fig. 12 .
  • the controller 103 for controlling the refrigerant leakage judging operation and the operation judging portion 108 for judging are provided in the remote monitoring device 130.
  • the refrigerating air-conditioner transmits the operating condition data to the remote monitoring device 130 via the centralized controller 120 (Step S23).
  • the remote monitoring device 130 judges the refrigerant volume on the basis of the operating condition data (Step S24), and stores the refrigerant volume and the time (Step S26).
  • the remote monitoring device 130 selects an algorithm for judging the refrigerant volume conforming to the transmitted operating condition data, from a plurality of algorithms for judging the refrigerant volume, and judges the refrigerant volume, similarly to the concentration controller 120 in the fifth embodiment.
  • the remote monitoring device 130 judges the elapsing time (Step S27), while the refrigerating air-conditioner is repeating the starting up/stopping operations.
  • the remote monitoring device 130 transmits an operating condition transmission request for requesting the transmission of the operating condition to the refrigerating air-conditioner via the centralized controller 120, after a predetermined time has elapsed (Step S28a).
  • the operating condition transmission request is not necessary in a case that the operating condition is transmitted from the refrigerating air-conditioner at regular intervals.
  • Steps S21 and S22 when the remote monitoring device 130 judges whether all the indoor units 110 are in operation or the refrigerating cycle is stabilized, on the basis of the operating condition data transmitted at regular intervals, an accuracy of the refrigerant volume detection is improved (Steps S21 and S22).
  • the remote monitoring device 130 performs the operation for judging the refrigerant volume on the basis of the received operating condition data (Step S24).
  • the remote monitoring device 130 performs the refrigerant leakage judging operation on the basis of the past data regarding the refrigerant volume and the new data (Step S29).
  • the remote monitoring device 130 generates a refrigerant leakage-examination document (Step S32).
  • the centralized controller 120 accepts an indicating data from the remote monitoring device 130, it is also possible to transmit the data of the refrigerant leakage-examination document to the centralized controller 120 as a judged result (Step S30). Further, it is also possible to directly transmit the data to a terminal of the building's manager via a public circuit (communication line 131) without interposing the centralized controller 120 while encoding the data so that the third person or the like cannot freely browse.
  • the refrigerating air-conditioning system of this embodiment there is an advantage that even in a case that the refrigerating air-conditioner and the centralized controller 120 are not provided with a function to detect the slow leak of the refrigerant, the refrigerant leakage can be detected. Further, by selecting/changing the refrigerant judging algorithm of the remote monitoring device 130, this embodiment can be applied to the refrigerant leakage detection of various types of the refrigerating air-conditioner.
  • the judging operation for the refrigerant leakage may be performed not after repeating the starting up or stopping operation of the refrigerating cycle of the refrigerating air-conditioner once or a plurality of numbers of times, but on the basis of the operating condition data in one operation.
  • the judging device for the refrigerant leakage is provided in the centralized controller 120 or the remote monitoring device 130, there is an advantage that the refrigerant leakage detection can be performed for the refrigerating air-conditioner which is not provided with the refrigerant leakage detecting function.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Air Conditioning Control Device (AREA)
EP06810364.7A 2006-09-21 2006-09-21 Refrigerating/air conditioning system having refrigerant leakage detecting function, refrigerator/air conditioner and method for detecting leakage of refrigerant Active EP1970651B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/JP2006/318704 WO2008035418A1 (fr) 2006-09-21 2006-09-21 SystÈme de rÉFRIGÉration/de climatisation de l'air ayant une fonction de dÉtection de fuite de rÉFRIGÉrant, rÉFRIGÉrateur/climatiseur d'air et procÉDÉ de dÉtection d'une fuite de rÉFRIGÉrant

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1970651A1 EP1970651A1 (en) 2008-09-17
EP1970651A4 EP1970651A4 (en) 2012-08-22
EP1970651B1 true EP1970651B1 (en) 2019-07-31

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EP06810364.7A Active EP1970651B1 (en) 2006-09-21 2006-09-21 Refrigerating/air conditioning system having refrigerant leakage detecting function, refrigerator/air conditioner and method for detecting leakage of refrigerant

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1970651B1 (ja)
JP (1) JP5063346B2 (ja)
ES (1) ES2742529T3 (ja)
WO (1) WO2008035418A1 (ja)

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Also Published As

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JPWO2008035418A1 (ja) 2010-01-28
EP1970651A4 (en) 2012-08-22
EP1970651A1 (en) 2008-09-17
ES2742529T3 (es) 2020-02-14
JP5063346B2 (ja) 2012-10-31
WO2008035418A1 (fr) 2008-03-27

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