EP2559959B1 - Klimaanlage - Google Patents

Klimaanlage Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP2559959B1
EP2559959B1 EP12179938.1A EP12179938A EP2559959B1 EP 2559959 B1 EP2559959 B1 EP 2559959B1 EP 12179938 A EP12179938 A EP 12179938A EP 2559959 B1 EP2559959 B1 EP 2559959B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
refrigerant
outdoor unit
valve
unit
indoor
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP12179938.1A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2559959A3 (de
EP2559959A2 (de
Inventor
Yasuhiro Suzuki
Kazuya Kubo
Hiroaki Makino
Katsuyuki Amano
Naoya Matsunaga
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Original Assignee
Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Mitsubishi Electric Corp filed Critical Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Publication of EP2559959A2 publication Critical patent/EP2559959A2/de
Publication of EP2559959A3 publication Critical patent/EP2559959A3/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2559959B1 publication Critical patent/EP2559959B1/de
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Classifications

    • 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
    • F25B49/02—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices for compression type machines, plants or systems
    • 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
    • F25B13/00—Compression machines, plants or systems, with reversible cycle
    • 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
    • F25B2313/00—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for
    • F25B2313/023—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for using multiple indoor units
    • F25B2313/0233—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for using multiple indoor units in parallel arrangements
    • 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
    • F25B2313/00—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for
    • F25B2313/025—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for using multiple outdoor units
    • F25B2313/0253—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for using multiple outdoor units in parallel arrangements
    • 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
    • F25B2400/00—General features or devices for refrigeration machines, plants or systems, combined heating and refrigeration systems or heat-pump systems, i.e. not limited to a particular subgroup of F25B
    • F25B2400/12—Inflammable refrigerants
    • 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
    • F25B2600/25—Control of valves
    • F25B2600/2519—On-off valves
    • 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
    • F25B45/00—Arrangements for charging or discharging refrigerant

Definitions

  • the present invention intends to secure the safety of inflammable refrigerant of the air-conditioning apparatus.
  • HCFC, HFC or others gases that might destroy the ozone layer or provoke global warming when they are released in the air were used as refrigerant of devises using heat pump cycle such as air-conditioning apparatus.
  • HCFC or HFC refrigerants are high in load to the environment or in global warming potential, recently, it is expected to change to other refrigerants presenting low ozone layer destruction potential or low global warming potential such as butane, propane or other natural refrigerants(HC).
  • HFC refrigerants those refrigerants showing a global warming potential similar to the natural refrigerant such as R32 are desired.
  • the outdoor unit and the indoor unit confirm if the refrigerant kind compatible with the outdoor unit are the same with the refrigerant kind compatible with the indoor unit by communicating when they are started and comparing the records in their memories and if they are different, the device is stopped and an alert is emitted.
  • the Patent Document 1 For instance, refer to the Patent Document 1).
  • Certain device detects the refrigerant kind from the operating status, and if the detected refrigerant kind is unsuitable for the refrigeration cycle, the operation is stopped an alert is emitted. (For instance, refer to the Patent Document 2).
  • EP 0 961 086 A2 is directed to a method for taking custody of, transporting and installing air conditioner having an outdoor unit which uses a flammable refrigerant and includes a refrigeration cycle comprising a compressor, an expansion device and an outdoor heat exchanger which are connected to one another through pipes, wherein the outdoor unit is shipped from a factory while the refrigeration cycle is evacuated to produce a vacuum, the outdoor unit is kept in custody and transported in a state in which the vacuum in the refrigeration cycle is maintained, and when the outdoor unit is installed, the flammable refrigerant is charged into the refrigeration cycle.
  • a refrigeration cycle comprising a compressor, an expansion device and an outdoor heat exchanger which are connected to one another through pipes
  • the conventional air-conditioning apparatus limited the scope of unit connection, because a perfect agreement of refrigerant kind was required between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit, while required unit specifications may be compatible actually even if the refrigerants are different. Especially, it was impossible to use an inflammable refrigerant for the indoor unit even if the unit is sufficiently fireproof.
  • the present invention devised to solve the problems mentioned above, has an object to provide an air-conditioning apparatus securing the connection flexibility between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit and, at the same time, improving the safety of inflammable refrigerant and especially preventing an inflammable refrigerant being used for an indoor unit not sufficiently fireproof.
  • the present invention provides an air-conditioning apparatus according to claim 1.
  • the dependent claims disclose preferred embodiments of the air-conditioning apparatus of claim 1.
  • Fig. 1 shows the composition of an air-conditioning apparatus 100 of the First Embodiment of the present invention. Now an outdoor unit 1 and an indoor unit 2 of the air-conditioning apparatus 100 used as direct dilatation type air-conditioning system of the first embodiment shall be described.
  • the outdoor unit 1 and the indoor unit 2 of the air-conditioning apparatus 100 are connected by a gas pipe 3 for flowing a gas refrigerant and a liquid pipe 4 for flowing a liquid refrigerant, and a heat pomp cycle is composed by the circulation of a refrigerant in the outdoor unit 1, the indoor unit 2, the gas pipe3 and the liquid pipe 4.
  • the outdoor unit 1 corresponds to the heat source device in the heat pump cycle, while the indoor unit 2 to the load device.
  • the indoor unit 2 is installed in a space to be air-conditioned, while the outdoor unit 1 is installed outside the space to be air-conditioned.
  • the outdoor unit 1 includes a compressor 5 for compressing and discharging the refrigerant, a four-way valve 6 for changing the flow direction of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 5 according to the heating operation and the cooling operation, an expansion valve 7 for depressing the refrigerant returning from the indoor unit 2 through a liquid pipe 4, a heat source side heat exchanger 8 for receiving the refrigerant depressed by the expansion valve 7, a first valve 51 disposed on the connection unit between the four-way valve 6 and the gas pipe 3, a second valve 71 disposed on between the expansion valve 7 and the connection unit of the liquid pipe4, an outdoor fan 9 for sending outdoor air to the heat source side heat exchanger 8 and a control board 10 composing a control unit for controlling the operation of actuators such as compressor 5, four-way valve 6, expansion valve, outdoor fan 9, first valve 51 and second valve 71.
  • actuators such as compressor 5, four-way valve 6, expansion valve, outdoor fan 9, first valve 51 and second valve 71.
  • the control board 10 is provided with a memory 11 for storing various information concerning the operation of the air-conditioning apparatus 100 and a display 12 for indicating anomalies during the operation.
  • the display 12 is provided with LEDs allowing the user or maintenance operator to determine the nature of anomalies happening in the air-conditioning apparatus 100 from the LED lightening color, lightening place or number of lightening.
  • the indoor unit 2 includes a load side heat exchanger 13 for receiving refrigerant discharged from the four-way valve 6 through a gas pipe 3, an indoor fan 14 for sending indoor air to the load side heat exchanger 13 and a control board 15 having a control unit for controlling the operation of the indoor fan 14.
  • the control board 15 is provided with a memory 16 for storing various information concerning the operation of the air-conditioning apparatus 100.
  • the control board is provided with a display having a liquid crystal screen that can indicate the set temperature, the indoor temperature, the outdoor temperature or anomalies during the operation.
  • the display 17 may be provided with LED similarly as the display 12 of the outdoor unit 1 for allowing the user or maintenance operator to determine the nature of anomalies happening in the air-conditioning apparatus 100 from the LED lightening color, lightening place or number of lightening.
  • control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1 and the control board 15 of the indoor unit 2 are connected with an inter-device communication line 18 allowing an interactive data communication.
  • the room where the indoor unit 2 is installed is provided with a remote controller 19 allowing the communication with the control board 15 of the indoor unit 2 and the user can set operating conditions such as cooling operation, heating operation or room set temperature with the remote controller 19.
  • the remote controller 19 has a liquid crystal screen that can indicate the set temperature, the indoor temperature, the outdoor temperature or anomalies during the operation.
  • the operating conditions set by the remote controller 19 are output to the control board 15 of the indoor unit 2 and also to the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1 from the control board 15 through the inter-device communication line 18.
  • the communication between the control board 10 and the control board 15 or the remote controller 19 and the control board 15 may respectively be wired or wireless.
  • the outdoor unit 1 is provided with a plurality of (not shown) temperature sensors and a plurality of (not shown) pressure sensors, and the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1 reads also data output from these sensors.
  • the control board 10 reads data such as outdoor air temperature, evaporating temperature of refrigerant during heating operation, condensing temperature of refrigerant during cooling operation, temperature of refrigerant discharged from the compressor 5 or pressure of refrigerant discharged from the compressor 5 and pressure value of refrigerant sucked by the compressor 5. Moreover, the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1 can read sensor detection data loaded in the control board 15 of the indoor unit 2 through the inter-device communication line 18 and can read operating conditions set by the remote controller 19 through the control board 15 of the indoor unit 2 and the inter-device communication line 18.
  • the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1 control actuators in the outdoor unit 1 such as rotation speed of the compressor 5, switchover of the four-way valve 6, opening of the expansion valve 7 or the rotation speed of the outdoor fan 9 based on data such as loaded operating conditions, indoor air temperature or outdoor air temperature.
  • the indoor unit 2 is provided with a plurality of (not shown) temperature sensors and one or a plurality of refrigerant leakage sensor 81, the control board 15 of the indoor unit 2 reads data output from these sensors and, as mentioned above, the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1 reads these data through the inter-device communication line 18.
  • These data include, for instance, the temperature of indoor air, evaporating temperature of refrigerant during cooling operation, condensing temperature of refrigerant during heating operation or leakage of refrigerant in the indoor unit 2.
  • the air-conditioning apparatus 100 can switchover the heating operation and the cooling operation by switching over the four-way valve 6 with the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1.
  • the first valve 51 and the second valve 71 are completely open during the normal operation of the air-conditioning apparatus 100.
  • the low temperature high pressure refrigerant flowed into the outdoor unit 1 from the indoor unit 2 is depressed by the expansion valve 7, becomes low temperature low pressure two-phase gas-liquid state and flows into the heat source side heat exchanger 8.
  • the low temperature low pressure refrigerant exchanges heat with outdoor air sent by the outdoor fan 9 and becomes high temperature low pressure gas refrigerant of superheated state. Then the superheated gas refrigerant is sucked into the compressor 5 from the heat source side heat exchanger 8 through the four-way valve 6.
  • the two-phase gas-liquid refrigerant flowed from the outdoor unit 1 into the indoor unit 2 exchanges heat with indoor air sent by the indoor fan 14 in the load side heat exchanger 13 installed in the indoor unit 2 and becomes high temperature low pressure gas refrigerant of superheated state. Then the superheated gas refrigerant flows into the outdoor unit 1 from the indoor unit 2 through the gas pipe 3 and is sucked into the compressor 5 through the four-way valve 6.
  • control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1 and the control board 15 of the indoor unit 2 the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1 and the control board 15 of the indoor unit 2, the memory 11 of the control board 10 and the memory 16 of the control board 15 and the first valve 51 and the second valve 71, composing characteristic elements of the present invention, shall be described.
  • the memory 11 disposed on the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1 stores anti-combustibility class CfS that can be determined from the combustibility class of refrigerants that can be used for the outdoor unit 1.
  • the memory 16 disposed on the control board 15 of the indoor unit 2 stores anti-combustibility class CfL that can be determined from the combustibility class of refrigerants that can be used for the indoor unit 2.
  • the anti-combustibility class can be determined from the combustibility class of refrigerants that can be or might be used for the concerned unit.
  • the combustibility class of refrigerant can be determined from combustion lower limit concentration (LFL), combustion speed and combustion heat under certain conditions and is defined as in Fig. 2 for instance.
  • LFL in Fig. 2 means the concentration (vol%) at which gas state refrigerant starts to burn in the air
  • burning speed means the speed (m/s) at which the refrigerant flames extend
  • combustion heat means the heat quantity (kJ/kg) generated by the combustion of the refrigerant.
  • combustion class 1 refrigerants whose combustion will not spread even if it is ignited in the air of 60°C 1 atmospheric pressure are classified as combustibility class 1.
  • R134a, R410A and carbon dioxide refrigerant can be classified into the combustibility class 1, R32 and R717 (ammonia) into the combustibility class 2,R152a into the combustibility class 3, while R170 (ethane), R290 (propane) and R600a (isobutene) into the combustibility class 4.
  • R32 and R717 ammonia
  • R2a into the combustibility class 2
  • R170 ethane
  • R290 propane
  • R600a isobutene
  • the classification of refrigerant combustibility class of the present invention is not limited to the classification of Fig. 2 ,ISO 817 or the classification of ASHRAE 34.
  • the outdoor unit 1 of class 1 in anti-combustibility class CfS or the outdoor unit 2 of class 1 in anti-combustibility class CfL are generally not provided with measures for improving the safety against the leakage of refrigerant such as double walled heat exchanger or anti-deflagration of electronic devices, so if inflammable refrigerant of class 2 or superior in combustibility class is used for these outdoor unit 1 or indoor unit 2 and leaks, the refrigerant might ignites at the contact electric.
  • outdoor unit 1 and indoor unit 2 designed to use refrigerant of class 2 or superior in combustibility class are provided with measures for improving the safety against the leakage or ignition of refrigerant, the safety will be secured even if inflammable refrigerant of class 2 or inferior in combustibility class is used for these outdoor unit 1 or indoor unit 2.
  • the anti-combustibility class CfS of an outdoor unit 1 not supposing the use of refrigerant of class 2 or superior in combustibility class and manufactured only for the use of noninflammable refrigerant of class is class 1
  • the memory 11 of the outdoor unit 1 stores the information that the anti-combustibility class CfS is class 1.
  • the anti-combustibility class CfL of an indoor unit 2 not supposing the use of inflammable refrigerant of combustibility class 2 or superior and manufactured only for the use of noninflammable refrigerant of class is class 1
  • the memory 16 of the outdoor unit 2 stores the information that the anti-combustibility class CfL is class 1.
  • the anti-combustibility class CfS of an outdoor unit 1 that allows to use natural refrigerant of combustibility class 4 such as R290 (propane) or R600a (isobutene) is class 4
  • the anti-combustibility class CfL of an indoor unit 2 that allows to use refrigerant of combustibility class 4 is class 4
  • the memory 11 stores the information that the anti-combustibility class CfS is class 4
  • the memory 16 stores the information that the anti-combustibility class CfL is class 4.
  • Fig. 3 shows the information stored in the memory 16.
  • the memory 16 stores the kind of usable refrigerant and the combustibility class of the refrigerant.
  • the information that the combustibility class of R410A is class 1, the combustibility class of R32 is class 2, the combustibility class of R290 (propane) is class 4 and the combustibility class of R717 (ammonia) is class 2 is stored.
  • the maximum value is recorded as the anti-combustibility class CfL of the indoor unit 2.
  • the memory 16 stores the kind of usable refrigerant for the indoor unit 2, the combustibility class of the refrigerant and the anti-combustibility class CfL, however, the present invention can also be executed by storing beforehand only the anti-combustibility class CfL of the indoor unit 2 in the memory 16 in the step of manufacturing, even if the kind of usable refrigerant and the combustibility class of the refrigerant are not stored in the memory 16.
  • hydrofluoroolefin family refrigerant HFO1234yf
  • R290 propane
  • these refrigerants are slightly inflammable or flammable and their combustibility class will be 2 or higher according to the aforementioned classification.
  • the anti-combustibility class CfS of the outdoor unit agrees with the combustibility class of the refrigerant.
  • the anti-combustibility class CfL of the indoor unit comes into question from the viewpoint of safety.
  • Measures should be taken in case where the anti-combustibility class CfL of the indoor unit connected to an outdoor unit filled with inflammable refrigerant is lower than the combustibility class of the refrigerant filled in the outdoor unit, namely, where the anti-combustibility class CfL of the indoor unit is lower than the anti-combustibility class CfS of the outdoor unit.
  • the anti-combustibility class CfS supposing the use of HFC refrigerant of combustibility class 1 might be used for the outdoor unit of class 1 or for the indoor unit of class 1 in terms of anti-combustibility class CfL.
  • the air-conditioning apparatus of the First Embodiment can take measures by using the information stored in the memory 11 and the memory 16 for controlling. Especially, it can prevent inflammable refrigerant of the outdoor unit from flowing into the indoor unit without supposing the use of inflammable refrigerant, when nonstandardized outdoor unit and indoor unit are connected during the execution at the installation place.
  • the contractor connects the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1 and the control board 15 of the indoor unit 2 by means of inter-device communication line 18 allowing the control board 10 and the control board 15 to communicate, and at the same time, connects the outdoor unit 1 and the indoor unit 2 to the gas pipe 3 and the liquid pipe 4.
  • the first valve 51 and the second valve 71 are stilled closed and the refrigerant filled in the outdoor unit 1 does not yet flow into the indoor unit 2.
  • first valve 51 and the second valve 71 are preferably electric valve instead of manual valve so as to prevent the contractor from opening them by mistake.
  • control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1 and the control board 15 of the indoor unit 2 connected by the inter-device communication line 18 are turned on electricity
  • the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1 and the control board 15 of the indoor unit 2 communicate automatically and the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1 sends a signal to the control board 15 of the indoor unit 2 commanding to notice the corresponding anti-combustibility class CfL.
  • the control board 15 of the indoor unit 2 informs the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1 of the anti-combustibility class CfL stored in the memory 16.
  • the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1 compares the anti-combustibility class CfS stored in the memory 11 and the anti-combustibility class CfL.
  • anti-combustibility class CfL ⁇ anti-combustibility class CfS and anti-combustibility class CfL ⁇ anti-combustibility class CfS in other words, when the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1 determines that the refrigerant usable for the outdoor unit 1 is more inflammable than the refrigerant that can be used for the indoor unit 2, the control board 10 inhibits operation of devices such as compressor 5, outdoor fan 9 or indoor fan 14, does not open valves such as expansion valve 7, first valve 51 and second valve 71 by keeping them completely closed and indicates abnormality at least on one of the display 12 of the outdoor unit 1, display 17 of the indoor unit 2 or remote controller 19. The indicated abnormality shows that the indoor unit 2 does not compatible with the inflammable refrigerant.
  • anti-combustibility class CfL anti-combustibility class CfS
  • the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1 determines that the refrigerant usable for the indoor unit 2 is equally or more inflammable than the refrigerant that can be used for the outdoor unit 1
  • the control board 10 opens completely the first valve 51 and the second valve 71 and, moreover, permits the operation of devices and the driving of actuators. In this case, any abnormality will not be indicated.
  • the indoor side safety can be secured even if the indoor unit 2 is connected by mistake, because the operation and valve opening are inhibited and the abnormality will be indicated when the corresponding anti-combustibility class CfL to the indoor unit 2 is lower than the corresponding combustibility class CfS to the outdoor unit 1.
  • connection unit with the gas pipe 3 of the outdoor unit 1 and the connection of the liquid pipe 4 are composed of a (not shown) manual valve such as ball valve or stop valve and, in some execution procedures, pipe works including the vacuuming of the indoor unit 2, the gas pipe 3 and the liquid pipe 4 after the connection of the gas pipe 3 and the liquid pipe 4 and opening manual valves such as ball valve or stop valve are performed before electric works of inter-device communication line 18 or (not shown) power source line.
  • a manual valve such as ball valve or stop valve
  • the refrigerant might be released to the indoor unit to be installed in a residential space before turning on electricity and determining permission/inhibition of device operation; however, in the air-conditioning apparatus 100 of the present invention, independently of the execution procedures, the inflammable refrigerant will not be released to the space to be air-conditioned which is a residential space, because it is inhibited to open the first valve 51 and the second valve 71.
  • the opening of valve can also be controlled automatically by comparison determination of anti-combustibility class CfS of the outdoor unit and anti-combustibility class CfL of the indoor unit in the outdoor unit 1.
  • the combination of the outdoor unit 1 and the indoor unit 2 can be more flexible so long as the safety can be secured, because the operation or the opening of valves are permitted when the corresponding combustibility class CfL to the indoor unit 2 is equal or superior to the corresponding combustibility class CfS to the outdoor unit 1. Therefore, specification modification of the indoor unit 2 following the change of used refrigerant can be made minimum, the development cost of the air-conditioning apparatus can be reduced, the time of delivery can be shortened and resources and energy can be saved.
  • the command is sent from the outdoor unit 1 to the indoor unit 2 requesting to inform the anti-combustibility class; however, on the contrary, it may also so composed that the command is sent from the indoor unit 2 to the outdoor unit 1 and the control board 15 of the indoor unit 2 determines the magnitude relation of the anti-combustibility class CfL and the anti-combustibility class CfS and when the anti-combustibility class CfL ⁇ the anti-combustibility class CfS, the indoor unit 2 sends a command to the outdoor unit 1 so as to inhibit the operation of the outdoor unit 1 and the opening of valves.
  • the remote controller 19 sends a command to the outdoor unit 1 and the indoor unit 2 for permitting/inhibition the operation or the opening of valves through the comparison of the anti-combustibility class CfL and the anti-combustibility class CfS by the remote controller 19.
  • the air-conditioning apparatus 100 of the First Embodiment can suppress further leakage to the space to be air-conditioned by automatically and completely closing the first valve 51 and the second valve 71 or by collecting refrigerant to the outdoor unit 1 side.
  • the control board 15 of the indoor unit 2 reads the refrigerant leakage information of the refrigerant leakage sensor 81, while the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1 reads the information through the inter-device communication line 18.
  • the outdoor unit 1 closes completely the first valve 51 and the second valve 71.
  • the outdoor unit 1 puts the four-way valve to the cooling operation position, completely opens the second valve 71, the expansion valve 7 and the first valve 51 operates the compressor 5 and the outdoor fan 9 and, after the operation time set beforehand or the automatic determination by the suction pressure value when the pressure value of refrigerant sucked by the compressor 5 attains by and large the atmospheric pressure, closes completely the first valve 51, stops the compressor 5 and the outdoor fan 9, collects and seals the refrigerant in the pipes of the outdoor unit 1 or in the heat source side heat exchanger 8. Such action suppresses further leakage to the space side to be air-conditioned.
  • the indoor side security can be secured by automatically collecting the refrigerant to the outdoor unit 1 side and suppressing further leakage into the space to be air-conditioned.
  • an air-conditioning apparatus where one indoor unit is connected to one outdoor unit was described.
  • an air-conditioning apparatus 200 where a plurality of indoor units are connected to one outdoor unit and an air-conditioning apparatus 300 where a plurality of indoor units are connected to a plurality of outdoor units shall be described.
  • the same components as the First Embodiment shall be represented by the same symbol and the description thereof shall be omitted.
  • Fig. 4 shows the air-conditioning apparatus 200 of the Second Embodiment.
  • three (3) indoor units 2A, 2B and 2C are connected to one outdoor unit 1.
  • the indoor units 2A, 2B and 2C are connected in parallel to the gas pipe 3 and the liquid pipe 4.
  • the indoor units 2A, 2B and 2C are provided with an expansion valve 7A, 7B and 7C respectively between the liquid pipe 4 and a load side heat exchanger 13A, 13B and 13C.
  • the indoor units 2A, 2B and 2C respectively have a control board 15A, 15B and 15C and the control board 15 is connected to the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1 through the inter-device communication line 18.
  • the control board 15A,15B and 15C are respectively connected to a remote controller 19A, 19B and 19C.
  • the user sets the operation information of the indoor units 2A, 2B and 2C by managing the respective remote controller 19A, 19B and 19C.
  • the control board 15A, 15B and 15C can control the opening of the expansion valve 7A, 7B and 7C respectively based on the set operation information and adjust the flow of refrigerant through the load side heat exchanger 13A, 13B and 13C.
  • the expansion valve 7A, 7B and 7C is disposed in the indoor units 2A, 2B and 2C, it is so composed not to provide the outdoor unit 1 with an expansion valve; otherwise, the other composition of the outdoor unit 1 is same as the First Embodiment.
  • the indoor units 2A, 2B and 2C are provided with a refrigerant leakage sensor 81A, 81B and 81C respectively and when refrigerant leaks in any one of the indoor units 2A, 2B and 2C, these refrigerant leakage sensors 81A, 81B and 81C detect leakage of refrigerant and output detection results to the control board 15A, 15B and 15C.
  • control board 15A, 15B and 15C respectively has a memory 16A, 16B and 16C and a display 17A, 17B and 17C.
  • the memory 16A, 16B and 16C respectively stores the anti-combustibility class CfLA, CfLB and CfLC of the indoor units 2A, 2B and 2C.
  • the control board 15A, the control board 15B and the control board 15C are respectively connected through a communication line and respective ones can communicate mutually.
  • High temperature high pressure gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor 5 of the outdoor unit 1 flows in the gas pipe 3 through the four-way valve 6 and then flows from the gas pipe 3 to the load side heat exchanger 13A, 13B and 13C respectively in parallel, exchanges heat with the indoor air sent by the indoor fan 14A, 14B and 14C and becomes low temperature high pressure liquid refrigerant of subcooling state.
  • the liquid refrigerant discharged from the load side heat exchanger 13A, 13B and 13C is depressed by the expansion valve 7A, 7B and 7C respectively, becomes low temperature low pressure two-phase gas-liquid state and flows from the liquid pipe 4 to the outdoor unit 1.
  • the two-phase refrigerant flowing into the heat source side heat exchanger 8 from the liquid pipe 4 exchanges heat with outdoor air sent by the outdoor fan 9 and becomes high temperature low pressure gas refrigerant of superheated state. Then the superheated gas refrigerant is sucked into the compressor 5 from the heat source side heat exchanger 8 through the four-way valve 6.
  • control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1 and the control board 15A, 15B and 15C of the indoor unit 2A, 2B and 2C, the memory 11 of the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1 and the memory 16A, 16B and 16C of the control board 15 A, 15B and 15C composing characteristic elements of the present invention shall be described.
  • the anti-combustibility class CfS of the outdoor unit 1 and the anti-combustibility class CfL of the indoor unit 2 were compared, while in the Second Embodiment, as there are a plurality of indoor units, it shall be described the anti-combustibility class of which indoor unit will be compared with the anti-combustibility class CfS of the outdoor unit 1 in the Second Embodiment.
  • the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1 and the control board 15A of the indoor unit 2A connected by the inter-device communication line 18 are turned on electricity
  • the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1 and the control board 15A of the indoor unit 2A communicate automatically and the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1 sends a signal to the control board 15A of the indoor unit 2A commanding to notice the anti-combustibility class CfL of the indoor unit.
  • the control board 15A of the indoor unit 2A sends a command to the remaining control board 15B and control board 15C asking to inform the control board 15A of respective anti-combustibility class CfLB and anti-combustibility class CfLC.
  • the control board 15A informs the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1 of the smallest of anti-combustibility class CfLA, CfLB and CfLC, in other words the anti-combustibility class of the indoor unit the least compatible with the inflammable refrigerant among the indoor units 2A, 2B and 2C, as anti-combustibility class CfLmin.
  • anti-combustibility class CfLA class 4
  • anti-combustibility class CfLA class 4
  • anti-combustibility class CfLB class 3
  • anti-combustibility class CfLC class 3
  • the anti-combustibility class CfLmin class 3.
  • control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1 Upon reception of anti-combustibility class CfLmin from the control board 15A of the indoor unit 2A, the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1 compares the anti-combustibility class CfS stored in the memory 11 and the anti-combustibility class CfLmin.
  • anti-combustibility class CfLmin ⁇ anti-combustibility class CfS in other words, when the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1 determines that the refrigerant usable for the outdoor unit 1 is more inflammable than the refrigerant that can be used for any one of the indoor unit 2A, 2B and 2C, the control board 10 inhibits operation of actuators such as compressor 5, outdoor fan 9, expansion valve 7 or indoor fan 14, indicates abnormality at least on one of the display 12 of the outdoor unit 1, display 12, 17A, 17B and 17C of the indoor unit 2A, 2B and 2C or remote controller 19A, 19B and 19C and does not open the first valve 51 and the second valve 71 of the outdoor unit 1 by keeping them completely closed.
  • the indicated abnormality shows that any one of the indoor units 2A, 2B and 2C is not compatible with the inflammable refrigerant.
  • anti-combustibility class CfLmin ⁇ anti-combustibility class CfS in other words, when the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1 determines that the refrigerant usable for all of the indoor units 2A, 2B and 2C is equally or more inflammable than the refrigerant that can be used for the outdoor unit 1, the control board 10 permits the operation, does not indicates abnormality and opens the first valve 51 and the second valve 71 without closing them completely.
  • any one of refrigerant leakage sensors 81A, 81B and 81C of the indoor units 2A, 2B and 2C detects leakage of refrigerant, receiving a command from the control board 10, the outdoor unit 1A closes completely the first valve 51 and the second valve 71.
  • the outdoor unit 1A puts the four-way valve 6 in the cooling operation position, closes completely the second valve 71, opens completely the expansion valve 7A, 7B and 7C and the first valve 51, operates the compressor 5 and the outdoor fan 9, and after the operation time set beforehand or through the automatic determination by the suction pressure value when the pressure value of refrigerant sucked by the compressor 5 attains by and large the atmospheric pressure, closes completely the first valve 51, stops the compressor 5 and the outdoor fan 9, collects and seals the refrigerant in the pipes of the outdoor unit 1 or in the heat source side heat exchanger 8. Such action suppresses further leakage to the space side to be air-conditioned.
  • the safety of inflammable refrigerant can be improved, because the smallest of anti-combustibility classes of the indoor units 2A, 2B and 2C, namely the anti-combustibility class CfLmin the least compatible with the inflammable refrigerant is compared with the anti-combustibility class CfS of the outdoor unit 1A.
  • the indoor side security can be secured by automatically collecting the refrigerant to the outdoor unit 1A side and suppressing further leakage into the space side to be air-conditioned.
  • Fig. 5 shows the air-conditioning apparatus 300 of the Second Embodiment.
  • the composition of the air-conditioning apparatus 300 shall be described based on Fig. 5 . Note that in the air-conditioning apparatus 300, the same components as the air-conditioning apparatus 200 shall be represented by the same symbol and the description thereof shall be omitted.
  • three (3) indoor units 2A, 2B and 2C are connected to two (2) outdoor units 1A and 1B.
  • the outdoor units 1A and 1B and the indoor units 2A, 2B and 2C are connected with the gas pipe 3 for gas refrigerant circulation and the liquid pipe 4 for two-phase gas-liquid circulation, and during heating operation, high temperature high pressure gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor 5 of the outdoor unit 1B joins the gas pipe 3, while two-phase refrigerant flowing in the liquid pipe 4 from the indoor units 2A, 2B and 2C bifurcates to the outdoor unit 1Aand the outdoor unit 1B at the liquid pipe 4.
  • the control board 10B of the outdoor unit 1B has a memory 11B and a display 12B same as the First Embodiment.
  • the memory 11B stores the anti-combustibility class CfSB of the outdoor unit 1B.
  • Respective outdoor unit 1A and outdoor unit 1B are provided with a first valve 51A and 51B between the connection part with the gas pipe 3 and the four-way valve 6A and 6B respectively and a second valve 71A and 71 B between the heat source side heat exchanger 8A and 8B and the connection part with the liquid pipe 4.
  • High temperature high pressure gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor 5A of the outdoor unit 1A flows in the gas pipe 3 through the four-way valve 6A.
  • high temperature high pressure gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor 5B of the outdoor unit 1B flows into the gas pipe 3 through the four-way valve 6B. Then it flows from the gas pipe 3 to the load side heat exchanger 13A, 13B and 13C respectively in parallel, exchanges heat with the indoor air sent by the indoor fan 14A, 14B and 14C and becomes low temperature high pressure liquid refrigerant of subcooling state.
  • the liquid refrigerant discharged from the load side heat exchanger 13A, 13B and 13C is depressed by the expansion valve 7A, 7B and 7C respectively, becomes low temperature low pressure two-phase gas-liquid state and flows from the liquid pipe 4 to the outdoor unit 1A and 1B.
  • the two-phase refrigerant flowing into the heat source side heat exchanger 8A from the liquid pipe 4 exchanges heat with outdoor air sent by the outdoor fan 9A and becomes high temperature low pressure gas refrigerant of superheated state. Then the superheated gas refrigerant is sucked into the compressor 5A from the heat source side heat exchanger 8A through the four-way valve 6A.
  • the two-phase refrigerant flowing into the heat source side heat exchanger 8B from the liquid pipe 4 exchanges heat with outdoor air sent by the outdoor fan 9B and becomes high temperature low pressure gas refrigerant of superheated state. Then the superheated gas refrigerant is sucked into the compressor 5B from the heat source side heat exchanger 8B through the four-way valve 6B.
  • the same refrigerant circulates in the outdoor units 1A and 1B and the indoor units 2A, 2B and 2C.
  • control board 10A of the outdoor unit 1A and the control board 10B of the outdoor unit 1B connected and the control board 15A of the indoor unit 2A and the control board 15B of the indoor unit 2B connected by the inter-device communication line 18 are turned on electricity, the control board 10A of the outdoor unit 1A and the control board 15A of the indoor unit 2A communicate automatically, Similarly as the air-conditioning apparatus 200 of Fig. 4 , the control board 10A of the outdoor unit 1A sends a signal to the control board 15A of the indoor unit 2A commanding to notice the anti-combustibility class CfL of the indoor unit.
  • the control board 15A of the indoor unit 2A Upon reception of this command, the control board 15A of the indoor unit 2A sends a command to the remaining control board 15B and control board 15C asking to inform the control board 15A of respective anti-combustibility class CfLB and anti-combustibility class CfLC. Receiving the message from the control board 15B and the control board 15C, the control board 15A informs the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1A of the smallest of anti-combustibility class CfLA, CfLB and CfLC, in other words the anti-combustibility class of the indoor unit the least compatible with the inflammable refrigerant among the indoor units 2A, 2B and 2C, as anti-combustibility class CfLmin.
  • control board 10A of the outdoor unit 1A sends also to the control board 10B a signal commanding to notice the anti-combustibility class CfSB.
  • the control board 10A of the outdoor unit 1A sends a signal commanding to notice the anti-combustibility class CfSB stored in the control board 10B of the outdoor unit 1B.
  • the control board 10B of the outdoor unit 1B informs the control board 10A of the anti-combustibility class CfSB stored in the memory 11B.
  • the control board 10A compares the anti-combustibility class CfSA stored in the memory 11A and the anti-combustibility class CfSB and adopts the higher anti-combustibility class as anti-combustibility class CfSmax.
  • control board 1A compares the magnitude relation of anti-combustibility class CfLmin and anti-combustibility class CfSmax.
  • anti-combustibility class CfLmin ⁇ anti-combustibility class CfSmax
  • the control board 10A of the outdoor unit 1A determines that the refrigerant usable for one of the outdoor units 1A or 1 B is more inflammable than the refrigerant that can be used for any one of the indoor unit 2A, 2B and 2C
  • the control board 10A inhibits operation of actuators such as compressor 5A, outdoor fan 9A, expansion valve 7A or indoor fan 14A, 14B and 14C, and at the same time, sends a command to the control board 10B in order to inhibit the operation of the actuator of the outdoor unit 1B.
  • abnormality at least on one of the display 12A, 12B, display 17A, 17B and 17C or remote controller 19A, 19B and 19C and does not open the first valve 51A, 51B and the second valve 71A, 71B of the outdoor unit 1A, 1B by keeping them completely closed.
  • the indicated abnormality shows that one of the indoor units 2A, 2B and 2C does not compatible with the inflammable refrigerant.
  • anti-combustibility class CfLmin ⁇ anti-combustibility class CfSmax
  • the control board 10A of the outdoor unit 1A determines that the refrigerant usable for all of the indoor units 2A, 2B and 2C is more inflammable than the refrigerant that can be used for the any one of the outdoor units 1A and 1 B
  • the control board 10A permits the operation, opens the first valve 51A, 51B and the second valve 71A, 71B of the outdoor unit 1A and 1B without closing them completely and does not indicate abnormality.
  • any one of refrigerant leakage sensors 81A, 81B and 81C of the indoor units 2A, 2B and 2C detects leakage of refrigerant, by receiving a command from the control board 10A, the outdoor unit 1A, 1B closes completely the first valve 51A, 51B and the second valve 71A, 71B.
  • the outdoor unit 1A, 1B puts the four-way valve 6A, 6B in the cooling operation position, closes completely the second valve 71A, 71B, opens completely the expansion valve 7A, 7B and 7C and the first valve 51A, 51B, operates the compressor 5A, 5B and the outdoor fan 9A, 9B and after an operation time set beforehand or through an automatic determination by the suction pressure value as to when the pressure value of refrigerant sucked by the compressor 5A, 5B attains by and large the atmospheric pressure, closes completely the first valve 51A, 51B, stops the compressor 5A, 5B and the outdoor fan 9A, 9B, collects and seals the refrigerant in the pipes of the outdoor unit 1A, 1B or in the heat source side heat exchanger 8A, 8B. Such action suppresses further leakage to the space side to be air-conditioned.
  • anti-combustibility class CfLmin and the anti-combustibility class CfSmax may be compared by any one of control boards 10B, 15A, 15B and 15C.
  • the safety of the air-conditioning apparatus 300 to the inflammable refrigerant can be improved, because the smallest of anti-combustibility classes of the indoor units 2A, 2A and 2C is compared with the largest of anti-combustibility classes CfS of the outdoor unit 1A, 2A, the operation is inhibited when the anti-combustibility class of any one of the indoor units and the first valve 51A, 51B and the second valve 71A, 71B are closed completely, thus preventing the inflammable refrigerant from flowing by mistake into an indoor unit incompatible with the inflammable refrigerant.
  • the indoor side security can be secured by automatically collecting the refrigerant to the outdoor unit 1A, 1B side and suppressing further leakage into the space side to be air-conditioned.
  • Fig. 6 shows the air-conditioning apparatus 400 of the Second Embodiment.
  • the composition of the air-conditioning apparatus 400 shall be described based on Fig. 6 . Note that in the air-conditioning apparatus 400, the same components as the air-conditioning apparatus 200, 300 shall be represented by the same symbol and the description thereof shall be omitted.
  • three (3) indoor units 20A, 20B and 20C are connected to a single outdoor unit 1C.
  • the outdoor unit 1C and the indoor units 20A, 20B and 20C are connected with the gas pipe 3A, 3B 3C for gas refrigerant circulation and the liquid pipe 4A, 4B, 4C for two-phase gas-liquid circulation, and during heating operation, high temperature high pressure gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor 5 of the outdoor unit 1C bifurcates in outdoor unit 1C after passing through the four-way valve 6, and flows into the indoor units 20A, 20B and 20C through the gas pipe 3A, 3B, 3C.
  • the liquid refrigerant flowing in the liquid pipe 4A, 4B, 4C prom the indoor units 20A, 20B and 20C joins after being depressed by the respective expansion valve 70A, 70B and 70C, flows into the heat source side heat exchanger 8 and returns to the compressor 5 again through the four-way valve 6.
  • the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1C has a memory 11 and a display 12 same as the First Embodiment.
  • the memory 11 stores the anti-combustibility class CfS of the outdoor unit 1C.
  • the outdoor unit 1C is provided with a first valve 52A, 52B, 52C in the vicinity of the connection part with the gas pipe 3A, 3B, 3C respectively and a second valve 72A, 72B, 72C in the vicinity of the connection with the liquid pipe 4A, 4B, 4C.
  • High temperature high pressure gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor 5 of the outdoor unit 1C bifurcates in outdoor unit 1C and flows in the gas pipe 3A, 3B, 3C through the four-way valve 6. Then it flows from the gas pipe 3A, 3B, 3C to the load side heat exchanger 13A, 13B and 13C respectively in parallel, exchanges heat with the indoor air sent by the indoor fan 14A, 14B and 14C and becomes low temperature high pressure liquid refrigerant of subcooling state.
  • the liquid refrigerant discharged from the load side heat exchanger 13A, 13B and 13C flows in the liquid pipe 4A, 4B, 4C towards the outdoor unit 1C and then is depressed by the expansion valve 70A, 70B and 70C respectively, becomes low temperature low pressure two-phase gas-liquid state and flows into the heat source side heat exchanger 8.
  • the two-phase refrigerant flowing into the heat source side heat exchanger 8 exchanges heat with outdoor air sent by the outdoor fan 9 and becomes high temperature low pressure gas refrigerant of superheated state. Then the superheated gas refrigerant is sucked into the compressor 5 from the heat source side heat exchanger 8 through the four-way valve 6. In other words, the same refrigerant circulates in the indoor units 20A, 20B and 20C respectively.
  • control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1C and the control board 15A of the indoor unit 20A connected by the inter-device communication line 18 are turned on electricity, the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1C and the control board 15A of the indoor unit 20A communicate automatically.
  • the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1C sends a signal to the control board 15A of the indoor unit 20A commanding to notice the anti-combustibility class CfL of the indoor unit.
  • the control board 15A of the indoor unit 20A Upon reception of this command, the control board 15A of the indoor unit 20A sends a command to the remaining control board 15B and control board 15C asking to inform the control board 15A of respective anti-combustibility class CfLB and anti-combustibility class CfLC.
  • the control board 15A informs the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1C of the smallest of anti-combustibility class CfLA, CfLB and CfLC, in other words the anti-combustibility class of the indoor unit the least compatible with the inflammable refrigerant among the indoor units 20A, 20B and 20C, as anti-combustibility class CfLmin.
  • control board 1 compares the magnitude relation of anti-combustibility class CfLmin and anti-combustibility class CfS.
  • anti-combustibility class CfLmin anti-combustibility class CfS
  • the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1C determines that the refrigerant usable for the outdoor unit 1C is more inflammable than the refrigerant that can be used for any one of the indoor unit 20A, 20B and 20C
  • the control board 10 inhibits the operation of actuators such as compressor 5, outdoor fan 9, expansion valve 70A, 70B, 70C and indoor fan 14A, 14B and 14C.
  • abnormality at least on one of the display 12 or 17A, 17B and 17C or remote controller 19A, 19B and 19C and does not open the first valve 52A, 52B, 52C and the second valve 72A, 72B, 72C of the outdoor unit 1C by keeping them completely closed.
  • the indicated abnormality shows that one of the indoor units 20A, 20B and 20C does not compatible with the inflammable refrigerant.
  • anti-combustibility class CfLmin anti-combustibility class CfS
  • the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1C determines that the refrigerant usable for all of the indoor units 20A, 20B and 20C is more inflammable than the refrigerant that can be used for the outdoor unit 1C
  • the control board 10 permits the operation, opens the first valve 52A, 52B, 52C and the second valve 72A, 72B, 72C without closing them completely and does not indicates abnormality.
  • anti-combustibility class CfLmin * anti-combustibility class CfS and, anti-combustibility class CfLmin ⁇ anti-combustibility class CfS in other words, when the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1C determines that the refrigerant usable for the outdoor unit 1C is more inflammable than the refrigerant that can be used for the indoor unit 20A, 20B and 20C, the control board 10 inhibits operation of devices such as compressor 5, does not open the expansion valve 70A, 70B, 70C, the first valve 52A, 52B, 52C and the second valve 72A, 72B, 72C by keeping them completely closed and indicates abnormality at least on one of the display 12 of the outdoor unit 1, the display of the indoor unit 20A, 20B, 20C or remote controller.
  • the indicated abnormality shows that one of the indoor units 20A, 20B and 20C does not compatible with the inflammable refrigerant.
  • the second valve 72A, 72B, 72C can be replaced by the expansion valve 70A, 70B, 70C, without composing them.
  • any one of refrigerant leakage sensors 81A, 81B and 81C of the indoor units 20A, 20B and 20C detects leakage of refrigerant, similarly to the action of the First Embodiment, by receiving the command from the control board 10, the outdoor unit 1C closes completely the first valve 52A, 52B, 52C and the second valve 72A, 72B, 72C.
  • the outdoor unit 1C puts the four-way valve 6 in the cooling operation position, closes completely the second valve 72A, 72B, 72C and the expansion valve 70A, 70B, 70C, opens completely the first expansion valve 52A, 52B, 52C, operates the compressor 5 and the outdoor fan 9 and after the operation time set beforehand or through an automatic determination by the suction pressure value as to when the pressure value of refrigerant sucked by the compressor 5 attains by and large the atmospheric pressure, closes completely the first valve 52A, 52B, 52C, stops the compressor 5 and the outdoor fan 9, collects and seals the refrigerant in the pipes of the outdoor unit 1C or in the heat source side heat exchanger 8. Such action suppresses further leakage to the space side to be air-conditioned.
  • the object of action of the expansion valve 70A, 70B, 70C, the first valve 52A, 52B, 52C and the second valve 72A, 72B, 72C is limited to those connected to the indoor unit where the refrigerant leakage is detected, it becomes possible to collect refrigerant only from the indoor unit where leakage happens, and after collection of refrigerant, the air-conditioning apparatus can be operated excluding the indoor unit where leakage happens.
  • anti-combustibility class CfLmin and the anti-combustibility class CfS may be compared by any one of control boards 15A, 15B and 15C.
  • the safety of the air-conditioning apparatus 400 against the inflammable refrigerant can be improved, because the smallest of anti-combustibility classes of the indoor units 20A, 20A and 20C is compared with the anti-combustibility classes CfS of the outdoor unit 1C, the operation is inhibited when the anti-combustibility class of any one of the indoor units is smaller than the anti-combustibility class of the outdoor unit and the first valve 52A, 52B, 52C and the second valve 72A, 72B, 72C are closed completely, thus preventing the inflammable refrigerant from flowing by mistake into an indoor unit incompatible with the inflammable refrigerant.
  • the indoor side security can be secured by automatically collecting the refrigerant to the outdoor unit 1C side and suppressing further leakage into the space to be air-conditioned.
  • Fig. 7 shows the air-conditioning apparatus 500 of the Second Embodiment.
  • the composition of the air-conditioning apparatus 500 shall be described based on Fig. 7 . Note that in the air-conditioning apparatus 500, the same components as the air-conditioning apparatus 200, 300, 400 shall be represented by the same symbol and the description thereof shall be omitted.
  • a branch box 30 is disposed between the outdoor unit 1D and the indoor unit 20A, 20B, 20C.
  • three (3) pipes branched from the gas pipe 3 are provided with the first valve 52A, 52B, 52C respectively, while three (3) pipes branched from the liquid pipe 4 are respectively provided with the second valve 72A, 72B, 72C and the expansion valve 70A,70B and 70C.
  • three (3) indoor units 20A, 20B and 20C are connected to a single outdoor unit 1D through a single branch box 30.
  • the outdoor unit 1D and the branch box 30 are connected with the gas pipe 3 for gas refrigerant circulation and the phase liquid pipe 4, while the branch box 30 and the indoor unit 20A, 20B, 20C are connected with the gas pipe 3A, 3B, 3C for gas refrigerant circulation and the liquid pipe 4A, 4B, 4C for liquid refrigerant circulation, and during the heating operation, high temperature high pressure gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor 5 of the outdoor unit 1D flows into the branch box 30 by the gas pipe 3 after passing through the four-way valve 6, branches in the branch box 30 and flows into the indoor units 20A, 20B and 20C through the gas pipe 3A, 3B, 3C.
  • the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1D has a memory 11 and a display 12 same as the First Embodiment.
  • the memory 11 stores the anti-combustibility class CfS of the outdoor unit 1D.
  • the branch box 30 is provided with a first valve 52A, 52B, 52C in the vicinity of the connection part with the gas pipe 3A, 3B, 3C respectively and a second valve 72A, 72B, 72C in the vicinity of the connection with the liquid pipe 4A, 4B, 4C.
  • the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1D and the control board 31 of the branch box 30, and the control board 31 of the branch box 30 and the control board 15A of the indoor unit 20A are connected with inter-device communication line 18, while the control board 15A, 15B, 15C of the indoor units 20A, 20B and 20C are connected with a communication line, allowing to communicate mutually.
  • High temperature high pressure gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor 5 of the outdoor unit 1D passes through the four-way valve 6, branches in the branch box 30 through the gas pipe 3, and flows into the indoor units 20A, 20B and 20C through the gas pipe 3A, 3B, 3C. Then it flows from the gas pipe 3A, 3B, 3C to the load side heat exchanger 13A, 13B and 13C respectively in parallel, exchanges heat with the indoor air sent by the indoor fan 14A, 14B and 14C and becomes low temperature high pressure liquid refrigerant of subcooling state.
  • the two-phase refrigerant flowing into the heat source side heat exchanger 8 exchanges heat with outdoor air sent by the outdoor fan 9 and becomes high temperature low pressure gas refrigerant of superheated state. Then the superheated gas refrigerant is sucked into the compressor 5 from the heat source side heat exchanger 8 through the four-way valve 6. In other words, the same refrigerant circulates in the indoor units 20A, 20B and 20C respectively.
  • the comparison of anti-combustibility class of the outdoor unit 1D and the indoor unit 20A, 20B, 20C of the air-conditioning apparatus 500 shall be described.
  • the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1D, the control board 31 of the branch box 30 and the control board 15A of the indoor unit 20A connected by the inter-device communication line 18 are turned on electricity, the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1D, the control board 31 of the branch box 30 and the control board 15A of the indoor unit 20A communicate automatically.
  • the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1 sends a signal commanding to notice the anti-combustibility class CfL of the indoor unit 20A.
  • the control board 15A of the indoor unit 20A Upon reception of this command, the control board 15A of the indoor unit 20A sends a command to the remaining control board 15B and control board 15C asking to inform the control board 15A of respective anti-combustibility class CfLB and anti-combustibility class CfLC.
  • the control board 15A informs the control board 31 of the branch box 30 of the smallest of the anti-combustibility classes CfLA, CfLB and CfLC, in other words the anti-combustibility class of the indoor unit the least compatible with the inflammable refrigerant among the indoor units 20A, 20B and 20C, as the anti-combustibility class CfLmin.
  • the control board 31 of the branch box 30 sends the anti-combustibility class CfLmin of the indoor unit to the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1D.
  • control board 1 compares the magnitude relation of anti-combustibility class CfLmin and anti-combustibility class CfS.
  • anti-combustibility class CfLmin anti-combustibility class CfS
  • the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1D determines that the refrigerant usable for the outdoor unit 1D is more inflammable than the refrigerant that can be used for any one of the indoor unit 20A, 20B and 20C
  • the control board 10 inhibits the operation of actuators such as compressor 5, outdoor fan 9, expansion valve 70A, 70B, 70C and indoor fan 14A, 14B and 14C.
  • abnormality at least on one of the display 12, the display 33 or the display 17A, 17B and 17C and the remote controller 19A, 19B and 19C and does not open the first valve 52A, 52B, 52C of the branch box 30 and the second valve 72A, 72B, 72C by keeping them completely closed.
  • the indicated abnormality shows that one of the indoor units 20A, 20B and 20C is not compatible with the inflammable refrigerant.
  • anti-combustibility class CfLmin anti-combustibility class CfS
  • the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1D determines that the refrigerant usable for all of the indoor units 20A, 20B and 20C is more inflammable than the refrigerant that can be used for the outdoor unit 1D
  • the control board 10 permits the operation, opens the first valve 52A, 52B, 52C and the second valve 72A, 72B, 72C of the branch box 30 without closing them completely and does not indicate abnormality.
  • any one of refrigerant leakage sensors 81A, 81B and 81D of the indoor units 20A, 20B and 20C detects leakage of refrigerant, similarly to the action of the First Embodiment, by receiving the command from the control board 10, the outdoor unit 1D closes completely the first valve 52A, 52B, 52C and the second valve 72A, 72B, 72C.
  • the outdoor unit 1D puts the four-way valve 6 in the cooling operation position, closes completely the second valve 72A, 72B, 72C and the expansion valve 70A, 70B, 70C, opens completely the first valve 52A, 52B, 52C, operates the compressor 5 and the outdoor fan 9 and after the operation time set beforehand or through an automatic determination by the suction pressure value as to when the pressure value of refrigerant sucked by the compressor 5 attains by and large the atmospheric pressure, closes completely the first valve 52A, 52B, 52C, stops the compressor 5 and the outdoor fan 9, collects and seals the refrigerant in the pipes of the outdoor unit 1D or in the heat source side heat exchanger 8.
  • Such action allows collecting automatically refrigerant in the branch box 30 and the outdoor unit 1D side so as to suppress further leakage to the space side to be air-conditioned.
  • the object of action of the expansion valve, the first valve and the second valve is limited to those connected to the indoor unit where the refrigerant leakage is detected, it becomes possible to collect refrigerant only from the indoor unit where leakage happens, and after collection of refrigerant, the air-conditioning apparatus can be operated excluding the indoor unit where leakage happens.
  • the magnitude relation between the anti-combustibility class CfLmin and the anti-combustibility class CfS may be compared by any one of control boards 31, 15A, 15B and 15C.
  • the safety of the air-conditioning apparatus 500 against the inflammable refrigerant can be improved, because the smallest of anti-combustibility classes CfL of the indoor units 20A, 20A and 20C is compared with the anti-combustibility classes CfS of the outdoor unit 1D, the operation is inhibited when the anti-combustibility class of any one of the indoor units is smaller than the anti-combustibility class of the outdoor unit and the first valve and the second valve in the branch box are closed completely, thus preventing the inflammable refrigerant from flowing by mistake into an indoor unit incompatible with the inflammable refrigerant.
  • the indoor side security can be secured by automatically collecting the refrigerant in the branch box 30 and the outdoor unit 1 side and suppressing further leakage into the space to be air-conditioned.
  • the composition where the air-conditioning apparatus is provided with both of the outdoor unit and the indoor unit has been described.
  • the control board of one unit stores the anti-combustibility class of the unit, but the control board of the other unit does not store the anti-combustibility class of the unit. In such a case, it is impossible to compare the anti-combustibility class of the outdoor unit and the indoor unit.
  • the outdoor unit when the outdoor unit is exchanged while the indoor unit is kept for the further use, supposing that the outdoor unit can respond to a case where the anti-combustibility class is not stored in the indoor unit, an indoor unit coping with the case where anti-combustibility class is not stored in the outdoor unit shall be described.
  • the same components as the First Embodiment shall be represented by the same symbol and the description thereof shall be omitted.
  • Fig 8 shows the composition on an outdoor unit of the case where the outdoor unit is exchanged while the indoor unit is kept for the further use as existing indoor unit.
  • the outdoor unit 1 shown in Fig.8 is identical to the outdoor unit 1 shown in Fig. 1
  • the indoor unit shown in Fig. 8 is an existing indoor unit 21 kept for the further use.
  • the existing indoor unit 21 is provided with a control board 22, but the control board 22 does not store the anti-combustibility class of the existing indoor unit 21.
  • control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1 when the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1 sends a signal to the control board 22 of the existing indoor unit 21, but the control board 22 cannot inform the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1 of the anti-combustibility class, because the existing indoor unit 21 does not store its own anti-combustibility class information. Therefore, the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1 cannot compare the anti-combustibility class CfS stored in the memory 11 with the anti-combustibility class of the existing indoor unit 21, determines that there is an abnormality in the existing indoor unit 21, inhibits the operation, closes completely the first valve 51 and the second valve 71 and will not open them.
  • the display 12 of the outdoor unit 1 indicates that the anti-combustibility class of the existing indoor unit 21 is unknown and refuses to send or receive control signal to and from the existing indoor unit 21 or sends an error signal from the outdoor unit 1 to the existing indoor unit 21.
  • the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1 may treat in the existing indoor unit 21 as the one corresponding only to the nonflammable refrigerant and the anti-combustibility class CfL of the existing indoor unit 21 as class 1.
  • the indoor unit of Fig. 8 is an existing unit in the Third Embodiment
  • the existing indoor unit 21 and the existing outdoor unit may be new indoor unit prepared separately at the site of execution.
  • the default conditions at the shipment of the outdoor unit 1 inhibit the operation of actuators such as the compressor 5 and, only when the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1 confirms that the anti-combustibility class CfL of the existing indoor unit 21 is equal or superior to the anti-combustibility class CfS of the outdoor unit 1, control to permit the operation of actuators of the outdoor unit 1.
  • the use of the outdoor unit 1 of the Third Embodiment can secure the safety, because when the outdoor unit 1 is to be replaced by the one coping with the inflammable refrigerant, if the anti-combustibility class is not stored in the other existing indoor units 21 kept for further use, the operation as heat pump device is inhibited as these existing indoor units 21 might not cope with the inflammable refrigerant and the first valve and the second valve are closed completely, preventing inflammable refrigerant from flowing by mistake into an indoor unit not coping with the inflammable refrigerant.
  • the indoor unit 2 may be kept for further use without replacing the indoor unit 2 at the same time as the replacement of the outdoor unit 1, allowing to save resources and energy and to shorten the term of works.
  • the security of users can be secured, because the default conditions at the shipment of the outdoor unit 1 inhibit the operation and permit the operation as air-conditioning apparatus only when the anti-combustibility class stored in the existing indoor unit 21 to be used in combination with the outdoor unit 1 is checked for confirming that the existing indoor unit 21 is suitable for the inflammable refrigerant.
  • the device wherein the anti-combustibility class of the outdoor unit and the indoor unit is compared to control the inhibition or the permission of operation has been described, while in the Fourth Embodiment, in case of using a refrigerant toxic to the human body, the control of the inhibition or the permission of operation shell be described.
  • the air-conditioning apparatus, the outdoor unit and the indoor unit of any one of the First to Third Embodiments shall be used.
  • the memory 11 of the outdoor unit 1 stores the antitoxic class CtS of the outdoor unit 1 is stored, while the memory 16 of the indoor unit 2 stores the antitoxic class CtL of the indoor unit 2 is stored.
  • the antitoxic class CtS of the outdoor unit 1 and the antitoxic class CtL of the indoor unit 2 shall be described based on the Table 9.
  • the antitoxic class can be determined from the toxic class of the refrigerant, so first, the classification of refrigerant toxic class shall be described.
  • R410A, R22, R32, R134 or other HFC refrigerants, and R290 (propane), R600a (isobutene) or other natural refrigerants are classified as toxicity class, while R717 (ammonia) or other refrigerants irritant to the human body are classified as toxicity 2.
  • Fig.9 is Fig.3 addition to toxicity of refrigerant and antitoxic class CtL of the indoor unit 2.
  • the memory 16 stores the toxicity of these refrigerants.
  • the toxicity class of R410A is class 1
  • the toxicity class of R32 is class 1
  • the toxicity class of R290 is class1
  • the toxicity class of R717 is class 2
  • the largest of the toxicity class of usable refrigerants is stored as the antitoxic class CtL of the indoor unit 2.
  • the toxicity class of R717 is the antitoxic class CtL of the indoor unit 2.
  • the memory 16 stores the kind of refrigerant usable for the indoor unit 2, the toxicity of the refrigerant and the antitoxic class CtL though, only the antitoxic class CtL of the indoor unit 2 may be stored in the memory 16 in the step of manufacturing, without storing the kind of usable refrigerant usable for the indoor unit 2 and the toxicity of the refrigerant.
  • the anti-combustibility class CfS and CfL and also the antitoxic class CtS and CtL are compared by either the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1 and the control board 15 of the indoor unit 2.
  • any one of the display 12 of the outdoor unit 1, the display 17 of the indoor unit 1 and the remote controller 19 shall indicate abnormality and the first valve 51 and the second valve 71 shall be completely closed and not opened.
  • the antitoxic class CtS > CtL it shall be indicated as abnormality that the indoor unit 2 does not cope with the toxic refrigerant.
  • the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1 determines that there is an abnormality in the existing indoor unit 21 and inhibits the operation of the air-conditioning apparatus in the respective case.
  • control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1 may treat the existing indoor unit 21 as one coping only with the atoxic refrigerant, and treat the antitoxic class CtL of the existing indoor unit 21 as class 1.
  • the security of the indoor unit 2 side space can be secured even if an outdoor unit 1 or indoor unit 2 using not only inflammable but also toxic refrigerant is connected by mistake, because not only the anti-combustibility class but also the antitoxic classes are compared.
  • the combination of the outdoor unit 1 and the indoor unit 2 can be made flexible provided that the security can be secured, because the operation is permitted when the anti-combustibility class CfL and the antitoxic class CtL of the indoor unit 2 are equal or superior to the anti-combustibility class CfS and the antitoxic class CtS of the outdoor unit 1.
  • the indoor unit 2 can be kept for further use, when a new outdoor unit 1 using a different refrigerant from the old device is introduced into a system already installed and operated, making unnecessary to renew the indoor unit 2 following the replacement of the outdoor unit 1 and contributing to save resources and energy and shorten the term of work.
  • the anti-combustibility class or antitoxic class of the outdoor unit 1 and the indoor unit 2 are compared to control the inhibition or the permission of operation.
  • refrigerant leaks at the indoor unit 2 and fills the space when the pressure of the refrigerant flowing from the outdoor unit 1 exceeds the designed pressure of the indoor unit 2, even if the anti-combustibility class CfL and the antitoxic class CtL of the indoor unit 2 are equal or superior to the anti-combustibility class CfS and the antitoxic class CtS of the outdoor unit 1 and if explosion-proof means are taken for the indoor unit 2, and this is not desirable from the viewpoint of security.
  • the permission or inhibition of the operation is controlled considering also the pressure resistance of the device.
  • the Fifth Embodiment it shall be described supposing the use of air-conditioning apparatus, outdoor unit and indoor unit of any one of the First to Fourth Embodiments.
  • the memory 11 stores the designed pressure PS of the outdoor unit 1 while the memory 16 stores the designed pressure PL of the indoor unit 2.
  • the designed pressure means a pressure value to be taken as standard in the strength design calculation for the compressor 5 or the heat side heat exchanger 8 for the outdoor unit 1, the load side heat exchanger 13 for the indoor unit 2 and the like.
  • the designed pressure PS of the outdoor unit 1 and the designed pressure PL of the indoor unit 2 are already determined respectively in the design phase of the manufacturing step. For instance, higher is the condensation pressure or evaporation pressure of the refrigerant to be used, higher is the designed pressure and, on the contrary, lower are they lower is the designed pressure.
  • the control board 10 of the outdoor unit 1 and the control board 15 of the indoor unit 2 communicate and either the control board 10 or the control board 15 compares the anti-combustibility class and the antitoxic class similarly to the First to Fourth Embodiments, for determining the permission or the inhibition of operation.
  • the designed pressure PS and the designed pressure PL are compared.
  • the operation of the air-conditioning apparatus is permitted when the designed pressure PS ⁇ designed pressure PL and the first valve 51 and the second valve 71 are opened. On the contrary, if the designed pressure PS > designed pressure PL, the operation is inhibited and the first valve 51 and the second valve 71 are completely closed and would not be opened.
  • either the control board 10 or the control board 15 permits the operation of the air-conditioning apparatus and opens the first valve 51 and the second valve 71 when the anti-combustibility class CfS ⁇ anti-combustibility class CfL and the designed pressure PS ⁇ designed pressure PL, or when the anti-combustibility class CfS ⁇ anti-combustibility class CfL, the designed pressure PS ⁇ designed pressure PL and the antitoxic class CtS ⁇ antitoxic class CtL.
  • the operation is permitted only when the comparison result of the anti-combustibility class and the designed pressure or the comparison result of the anti-combustibility class and the antitoxic class is permissible, and if any one of comparison result turns to inhibition, the operation shall be inhibited, the first valve 51 and the second valve 71 are completely closed without opening, and the abnormality will be displayed.
  • the Fifth Embodiment can secure the security of the indoor unit 2 side, because it is so controlled to inhibit the operation of the air-conditioning apparatus when any one of the anti-combustibility class CfL, the antitoxic class CtL and the designed pressure PL of the indoor unit 2 is smaller than the anti-combustibility class CfS, the antitoxic class CtS and the designed pressure PS of the outdoor unit 1.
  • the combination of the outdoor unit 1 and the indoor unit 2 can be made flexible provided that the security can be secured, because the operation is permitted when the anti-combustibility class CfL and the designed pressure of the indoor unit 2 are equal or superior to those of the outdoor unit 1.
  • the indoor unit 2 specification modification of the indoor unit 2 following the change of used refrigerant can be made minimum, the development cost of device can be reduced, the time of delivery can be shortened and resources and energy can be saved. Also, the indoor unit can be kept for further use, when a new outdoor unit using a different refrigerant from the old device is introduced into an air-conditioning apparatus already installed and operated, making unnecessary to renew the indoor unit following the replacement of the outdoor unit and contributing to save resources and energy and shorten the term of work.
  • the display disposed on either the outdoor unit 1 and the indoor unit 2 may indicate that the anti-combustibility class CfS ⁇ anti-combustibility class CfL. Such indication will help the user or the contractor to avoid erroneous connection of the outdoor unit and the indoor unit.
  • the object of the present invention can also be attained by comparing the anti-combustibility class CfL and CfS not by the control board 10 but by the contractor of the device.
  • the comparison thereof may be performed by the contractor and not by the control board 10.
  • first valve 51 and the second valve 71 might not be electric and they can be replaced by (not shown) manual valve, such as usually provided ball valve or stop valve.
  • the contractor can confirm the information of anti-combustibility class CfS and CfL stored in the memory 11, 16 respectively before connecting the outdoor unit 1 and the indoor unit 2, thus preventing an erroneous connection.
  • the anti-combustibility class CfS and CfL may not be stored in the memory 11, 16 respectively, but a seal or similar indication means indicating the information of the anti-combustibility class CfS and CfL may be affixed to the outdoor unit 1 and the indoor unit 2. Otherwise, the information of the anti-combustibility class CfS and CfL may be indicated by the display 12, 17.
  • the contractor can confirm visually the information and compare the anti-combustibility class CfS and CfL.
  • the seal or similar indication means is only required for confirming the information of the anti-combustibility class. It may be replaced by a switch or jumper line for setting the anti-combustibility class and may be set beforehand during the manufacturing of the device.
  • the present invention can be applied for the air-conditioning apparatus provided with an outdoor unit and an indoor unit.
  • Air-conditioning apparatus 1 Outdoor unit, 2 Indoor unit, 3 Gas pipe, 4 Liquid pipe, 5 Compressor, 6 Four-way valve, 7 Expansion valve, 8 Heat side heat exchanger, 9 Outdoor fan, 10 Control board, 11 Memory, 12 Display, 13 Load side heat exchanger, 14 Indoor fan, 15 Control board, 16 Memory, 17 Display, 18 Inter-device communication line, 19 Remote controller, 21 Existing indoor unit, 22 Control board, 30 Branch box, 31 Control board, 32 Memory, 33 Display, 51 First valve, 71 Second valve, 81 Refrigerant leakage sensor

Claims (8)

  1. Klimaanlage (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) umfassend:
    eine Außeneinheit (1), aufweisend einen Verdichter (5) zum Verdichten eines Kältemittels, und einen wärmequellenseitigen Wärmetauscher zum Austauschen von Wärme zwischen dem Kältemittel und Außenluft und
    eine Inneneinheit (2), aufweisend einen lastseitigen Wärmetauscher (13) zum Austauschen von Wärme zwischen dem Kältemittel und Innenluft,
    wobei die Außeneinheit (1) umfasst
    ein erstes Ventil (51), das in einer mit der Inneneinheit zu verbindenden Gasleitung (3) vorgesehen und beim Befördern verschlossen ist, und
    ein zweites Ventil (71), das in einer mit der Inneneinheit (2) zu verbindenden Flüssigkeitsleitung (4) vorgesehen und beim Befördern verschlossen ist, wobei:
    die Außeneinheit (1) eine erste Information hinsichtlich Entzündlichkeit von Kältemitteln aufweist, die für die Außeneinheit (1) verwendet werden können; und
    die Inneneinheit (2) eine zweite Information hinsichtlich Entzündlichkeit von Kältemitteln aufweist, die für die Inneneinheit (2) verwendet werden können, wobei
    die erste Information in einem ersten Speicher (11) gespeichert ist, der in der Außeneinheit (1) angeordnet ist; und
    die zweite Information in einem zweiten Speicher (16) gespeichert ist, der in der Inneneinheit (2) angeordnet ist, und wobei
    die Klimaanlage ferner umfasst
    eine Steuerungseinheit zum Vergleichen der ersten Information und der zweiten Information; und Steuern, das erste Ventil (51) und das zweite Ventil (71) nicht zu öffnen, wenn bestimmt wird, dass das für die Außeneinheit (1) verwendbare Kältemittel entzündlicher ist als das für die Inneneinheit (2) verwendbare Kältemittel.
  2. Klimaanlage (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) nach Anspruch 1, wobei
    die Steuerungseinheit das Öffnen des ersten Ventils (51) und des zweiten Ventils (71) steuert, wenn das für die Inneneinheit (2) verwendbare Kältemittel genauso entzündlich oder entzündlicher ist als das für die Außeneinheit (1) verwendbare Kältemittel.
  3. Klimaanlage (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) nach Anspruch oder 2, wobei
    die Außeneinheit (1) mit einem ersten Anzeigemittel (12) zum Anzeigen der ersten Information vorgesehen ist; und
    die Inneneinheit (2) mit einem zweiten Anzeigemittel (17) zum Anzeigen der zweiten Information vorgesehen ist.
  4. Klimaanlage (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) nach einem der Ansprüche bis 3, wobei
    eine Vielzahl der Inneneinheiten (2), die mit der Außeneinheit (1) über die Gasleitung (3) und die Flüssigkeitsleitung (4) verbunden sind, vorgesehen sind;
    das erste Ventil (51) mit der Gasleitung (3) vorgesehen ist, die die Außeneinheit (1) mit der Vielzahl von Inneneinheiten (2) verbindet;
    das zweite Ventil (71) mit der Flüssigkeitsleitung (4) vorgesehen ist, die die Außeneinheit (1) mit der Vielzahl von Inneneinheiten (2) verbindet;
    jede Inneneinheit (2) einen zweiten Speicher (16) zum Speichern einer zweiten Information hinsichtlich Entzündlichkeit von Kältemitteln aufweist, die für die Inneneinheit (2) verwendet werden können; und
    die Steuerungseinheit die erste Information und eine Vielzahl der zweiten Informationen vergleicht, um zu steuern, dass alle des ersten Ventils (51) und des zweiten Ventils (71) nicht geöffnet werden, wenn das für die Außeneinheit (1) verwendbare Kältemittel bestimmt wird, entzündlicher zu sein als das Kältemittel, das für eine der Vielzahl von Inneneinheiten (2) verwendet werden kann.
  5. Klimaanlage (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) nach Anspruch 4, wobei
    die Vielzahl der Inneneinheiten (2) mit der Außeneinheit (1) durch eine Vielzahl der Gasleitungen (3) und eine Vielzahl der Flüssigkeitsleitungen (4) verbunden sind;
    das erste Ventil (51) für jede der Gasleitungen (3) vorgesehen ist;
    das zweite Ventil (71) für jede der Flüssigkeitsleitungen (4) vorgesehen ist.
  6. Klimaanlage (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) nach einem der Ansprüche bis 3, wobei
    eine Vielzahl der Außeneinheiten (2) und eine Vielzahl der Inneneinheiten, die durch jede einer Vielzahl der Gasleitungen (3) und einer Vielzahl der Flüssigkeitsleitungen (4) verbunden sind, vorgesehen sind;
    das erste Ventil (51) für jede der Vielzahl von Gasleitungen (3) vorgesehen ist;
    das zweite Ventil (71) für jede der Vielzahl von Flüssigkeitsleitungen (4) vorgesehen ist;
    jede Außeneinheit (1) einen ersten Speicher (11) aufweist, der eine erste Information hinsichtlich Entzündlichkeit von Kältemitteln speichert, die für die Außeneinheit (1) verwendet werden können;
    jede Inneneinheit (2) einen zweiten Speicher (16) zum Speichern einer zweiten Information hinsichtlich der Entzündlichkeit von Kältemitteln aufweist, die für die Inneneinheit (2) verwendet werden können; und
    die Steuerungseinheit eine Vielzahl der ersten Informationen und eine Vielzahl der zweiten Informationen vergleicht, um zu steuern, dass alle des ersten Ventils (51) und des zweiten Ventils (71) nicht geöffnet werden, wenn das entzündlichste Kältemittel, das für die Vielzahl der Außeneinheiten (1) verwendet werden kann, bestimmt wird, entzündlicher zu sein als das Kältemittel, das für eine der Vielzahl von Inneneinheiten (2) verwendet werden kann.
  7. Klimaanlage (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) nach einem der Ansprüche bis 6, wobei
    der erste Speicher (11) die dritte Information hinsichtlich der Toxizität des für die Außeneinheit (1) verwendbaren Kältemittels speichert;
    der zweite Speicher (16) die vierte Information hinsichtlich der Toxizität des für die Inneneinheit (2) verwendbaren Kältemittels speichert; und
    die Steuerungseinheit die dritte Information und die vierte Information vergleicht und steuert das erste Ventil (51) und das zweite Ventils (71) nicht zu öffnen, wenn das für die Außeneinheit (1) verwendbare Kältemittel bestimmt wird, toxischer zu sein als das Kältemittel, das für die Inneneinheit (2) verwendet werden kann.
  8. Klimaanlage (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) nach einem der Ansprüche bis 7, wobei
    der erste Speicher (11) den vorgesehenen Druckwert der Außeneinheit (1) speichert;
    der zweite Speicher (16) den vorgesehenen Druckwert der Inneneinheit (2) speichert; und
    die Steuerungseinheit den vorgesehenen Druckwert der Außeneinheit (1) und den vorgesehenen Druckwert der Inneneinheit (2) vergleicht und steuert das erste Ventil (51) und das zweite Ventil (71) nicht zu öffnen, wenn der vorgesehene Druckwert der Außeneinheit (1) niedriger ist als der vorgesehene Druckwert der Inneneinheit (2).
EP12179938.1A 2011-08-18 2012-08-09 Klimaanlage Active EP2559959B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2011178755A JP5538329B2 (ja) 2011-08-18 2011-08-18 室外機及び空気調和装置

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2559959A2 EP2559959A2 (de) 2013-02-20
EP2559959A3 EP2559959A3 (de) 2018-07-11
EP2559959B1 true EP2559959B1 (de) 2020-10-21

Family

ID=46851290

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP12179938.1A Active EP2559959B1 (de) 2011-08-18 2012-08-09 Klimaanlage

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2559959B1 (de)
JP (1) JP5538329B2 (de)
CN (1) CN102954614B (de)

Families Citing this family (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP6221379B2 (ja) * 2013-06-14 2017-11-01 ダイキン工業株式会社 空気調和機のメンテナンス方法
AU2013101100B4 (en) * 2013-08-17 2013-11-07 Pioneer International Pty Ltd An Arrangement and Method For Retrofitting an Air Conditioning System
JP6124818B2 (ja) * 2014-03-03 2017-05-10 三菱電機株式会社 空気調和装置
CN204593592U (zh) * 2014-03-03 2015-08-26 三菱电机株式会社 空调装置
JP6277832B2 (ja) * 2014-04-03 2018-02-14 ダイキン工業株式会社 コントローラ
CN104075420B (zh) * 2014-07-02 2017-05-17 珠海格力电器股份有限公司 可燃制冷剂空调器防火系统及其应用方法、空调器
CN106662386B (zh) * 2014-07-28 2019-06-18 三菱电机株式会社 空调装置
JP6422704B2 (ja) * 2014-08-22 2018-11-14 三菱重工業株式会社 機器認証装置、空調システム、及び機器認証方法
JP6300954B2 (ja) * 2014-12-01 2018-03-28 三菱電機株式会社 空気調和装置
JP6640473B2 (ja) * 2015-05-28 2020-02-05 日立ジョンソンコントロールズ空調株式会社 空気調和機、及び空気調和機の表示制御方法
JP6213534B2 (ja) * 2015-08-13 2017-10-18 三菱電機株式会社 空気調和機
JP6274277B2 (ja) * 2015-09-30 2018-02-07 ダイキン工業株式会社 冷凍装置
JP6191671B2 (ja) * 2015-09-30 2017-09-06 ダイキン工業株式会社 冷媒漏洩箇所特定方法
JP6156528B1 (ja) * 2016-02-16 2017-07-05 ダイキン工業株式会社 冷凍装置
JP6380500B2 (ja) * 2016-10-17 2018-08-29 ダイキン工業株式会社 冷凍装置
JP6922748B2 (ja) * 2016-10-28 2021-08-18 ダイキン工業株式会社 空気調和装置
JP7152648B2 (ja) * 2016-10-28 2022-10-13 ダイキン工業株式会社 空気調和装置
JP6849021B2 (ja) * 2019-07-12 2021-03-24 ダイキン工業株式会社 冷凍サイクルシステム
US20220196271A1 (en) * 2019-09-11 2022-06-23 Carrier Corporation High flow isolation valve for air conditioning system
EP3862641A1 (de) * 2020-02-05 2021-08-11 Daikin Industries, Ltd. Wärmepumpensystem, indikator, nutzungseinheit und informationsausgabemethode

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH08254363A (ja) 1995-03-15 1996-10-01 Toshiba Corp 空調制御装置
TW330977B (en) * 1996-06-04 1998-05-01 Jinkichi Aizawa Heat exchanger, method of reusing and recovering refrigerant thereof
JPH1038354A (ja) * 1996-07-24 1998-02-13 Toshiba Corp 空気調和機
JPH10306289A (ja) * 1997-05-08 1998-11-17 Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd 冷凍サイクル装置
JP3501678B2 (ja) * 1998-05-26 2004-03-02 松下電器産業株式会社 空気調和装置の保管・運送・設置方法
JP2011094871A (ja) * 2009-10-29 2011-05-12 Mitsubishi Electric Corp 冷凍・空調装置、冷凍・空調装置の設置方法
CN101737878B (zh) * 2009-12-12 2013-05-08 广东美的电器股份有限公司 使用可燃性制冷剂的空调器及其控制方法
CN102121726B (zh) * 2010-01-11 2012-10-17 珠海格力电器股份有限公司 防止制冷剂泄漏的方法及空调器

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
None *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN102954614A (zh) 2013-03-06
EP2559959A3 (de) 2018-07-11
JP2013040730A (ja) 2013-02-28
CN102954614B (zh) 2015-01-21
EP2559959A2 (de) 2013-02-20
JP5538329B2 (ja) 2014-07-02

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP2559959B1 (de) Klimaanlage
KR101678324B1 (ko) 냉동장치
CN111902681B (zh) 空调机
AU2016284145A1 (en) Air conditioning system
JP6124818B2 (ja) 空気調和装置
JP6079061B2 (ja) 冷凍装置
US20210356154A1 (en) Heat load processing system
WO2019097620A1 (ja) 空気調和機
EP3859253A1 (de) System zur wärmelastverarbeitung
CN108779948B (zh) 制冷循环装置
AU2010364874B2 (en) Part replacement method for refrigeration cycle device and refrigeration cycle device
AU2010364872B2 (en) Part replacement method for refrigeration cycle device
JPH09264641A (ja) 冷凍サイクル装置
JP5565332B2 (ja) 室外機、室内機及び空気調和装置
EP4086539A1 (de) Klimatisierungssystem
WO2012137260A1 (ja) 冷凍サイクル装置の冷媒回収方法及び冷凍サイクル装置
EP3936788A1 (de) Kühlmittelkreislaufsystem und verfahren
WO2020250987A1 (ja) 冷媒サイクルシステム
EP3882536A1 (de) Klimaanlage
JP2021036190A (ja) 冷媒サイクル装置
AU2013310668B8 (en) Refrigeration apparatus

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A2

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: BA ME

PUAL Search report despatched

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009013

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A3

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: BA ME

RIC1 Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant

Ipc: F25B 49/02 20060101AFI20180606BHEP

Ipc: F25B 45/00 20060101ALN20180606BHEP

Ipc: F25B 13/00 20060101ALN20180606BHEP

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: REQUEST FOR EXAMINATION WAS MADE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20180924

RBV Designated contracting states (corrected)

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

GRAP Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: GRANT OF PATENT IS INTENDED

RIC1 Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant

Ipc: F25B 13/00 20060101ALN20200511BHEP

Ipc: F25B 45/00 20060101ALN20200511BHEP

Ipc: F25B 49/02 20060101AFI20200511BHEP

INTG Intention to grant announced

Effective date: 20200529

GRAS Grant fee paid

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR3

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE PATENT HAS BEEN GRANTED

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: GB

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: EP

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: IE

Ref legal event code: FG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R096

Ref document number: 602012072865

Country of ref document: DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: REF

Ref document number: 1326236

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20201115

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: MK05

Ref document number: 1326236

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20201021

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: MP

Effective date: 20201021

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20210122

Ref country code: RS

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20201021

Ref country code: FI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20201021

Ref country code: PT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20210222

Ref country code: NO

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20210121

Ref country code: NL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20201021

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: LT

Ref legal event code: MG4D

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20201021

Ref country code: LV

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20201021

Ref country code: PL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20201021

Ref country code: IS

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20210221

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20201021

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20201021

Ref country code: BG

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20210121

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: HR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20201021

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R097

Ref document number: 602012072865

Country of ref document: DE

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20201021

Ref country code: SK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20201021

Ref country code: RO

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20201021

Ref country code: SM

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20201021

Ref country code: EE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20201021

Ref country code: CZ

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20201021

PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DK

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20201021

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20210722

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: AL

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20201021

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20201021

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20201021

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: CH

Ref legal event code: PL

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: MC

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20201021

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: BE

Ref legal event code: MM

Effective date: 20210831

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: LI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20210831

Ref country code: CH

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20210831

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IS

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20210221

Ref country code: LU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20210809

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20210809

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20210831

Ref country code: BE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20210831

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20220630

Year of fee payment: 11

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20220621

Year of fee payment: 11

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: HU

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT; INVALID AB INITIO

Effective date: 20120809

Ref country code: CY

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 20201021

P01 Opt-out of the competence of the unified patent court (upc) registered

Effective date: 20230512

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R119

Ref document number: 602012072865

Country of ref document: DE

GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20230809