EP2667109B1 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Air conditioner Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP2667109B1
EP2667109B1 EP12736171.5A EP12736171A EP2667109B1 EP 2667109 B1 EP2667109 B1 EP 2667109B1 EP 12736171 A EP12736171 A EP 12736171A EP 2667109 B1 EP2667109 B1 EP 2667109B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
indoor
heat exchanger
panel
temperature
indoor heat
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
EP12736171.5A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2667109A1 (en
EP2667109A4 (en
Inventor
Yuuki Fujioka
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.)
Daikin Industries Ltd
Original Assignee
Daikin Industries Ltd
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 Daikin Industries Ltd filed Critical Daikin Industries Ltd
Publication of EP2667109A1 publication Critical patent/EP2667109A1/en
Publication of EP2667109A4 publication Critical patent/EP2667109A4/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2667109B1 publication Critical patent/EP2667109B1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Images

Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F5/00—Air-conditioning systems or apparatus not covered by F24F1/00 or F24F3/00, e.g. using solar heat or combined with household units such as an oven or water heater
    • F24F5/0089—Systems using radiation from walls or panels
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F1/00—Room units for air-conditioning, e.g. separate or self-contained units or units receiving primary air from a central station
    • F24F1/0007—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units
    • F24F1/0043—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units characterised by mounting arrangements
    • F24F1/0047—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units characterised by mounting arrangements mounted in the ceiling or at the ceiling
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
    • F24F11/70—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof
    • F24F11/80—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof for controlling the temperature of the supplied air
    • F24F11/83—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof for controlling the temperature of the supplied air by controlling the supply of heat-exchange fluids to heat-exchangers
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
    • F24F11/70—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof
    • F24F11/80—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof for controlling the temperature of the supplied air
    • F24F11/83—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof for controlling the temperature of the supplied air by controlling the supply of heat-exchange fluids to heat-exchangers
    • F24F11/84—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof for controlling the temperature of the supplied air by controlling the supply of heat-exchange fluids to heat-exchangers using 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
    • 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
    • F25B41/00—Fluid-circulation arrangements
    • F25B41/20—Disposition of valves, e.g. of on-off valves or flow control 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
    • F25B41/00—Fluid-circulation arrangements
    • F25B41/20—Disposition of valves, e.g. of on-off valves or flow control valves
    • F25B41/24—Arrangement of shut-off valves for disconnecting a part of the refrigerant cycle, e.g. an outdoor part
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B49/00—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
    • F25B49/005—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices of safety devices
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25B—REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS
    • F25B2313/00—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for
    • F25B2313/006—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for two pipes connecting the outdoor side to the indoor side with multiple indoor units
    • 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
    • F25B2313/021—Indoor unit or outdoor unit with auxiliary heat exchanger not forming part of the indoor or outdoor unit
    • F25B2313/0213—Indoor unit or outdoor unit with auxiliary heat exchanger not forming part of the indoor or outdoor unit the auxiliary heat exchanger being only used during heating
    • 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
    • F25B2313/027—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for characterised by the reversing means
    • F25B2313/02741—Compression machines, plants or systems with reversible cycle not otherwise provided for characterised by the reversing means using one four-way valve
    • 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
    • F25B2313/031—Sensor arrangements
    • F25B2313/0314—Temperature sensors near the indoor heat exchanger

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an air conditioner including an indoor unit having an indoor heat exchanger and a radiation panel.
  • an air conditioner there has been known one which is connected to an outdoor unit through a refrigerant circuit, and which includes an indoor unit having therein an indoor heat exchanger, and a radiation panel provided to a surface of the indoor unit (e.g., see PTL 1) .
  • the indoor heat exchanger and the radiation panel are connected in parallel with each other.
  • JP 2010 216767 A discloses an air conditioner in which a first check valve is provided between the radiation heat exchanger and the opening/closing valve. When the opening/closing valve is closed, a small volume of a liquid coolant exists between the opening/closing valve and the first check valve. Even if the liquid coolant is naturally evaporated and internal pressure rises, the pressure does not become so high to push and open the opening/closing valve, thus preventing the generation of chattering.
  • JP 2001 090977 A discloses an air-conditioner comprising a compressor; an outdoor heat-exchanger; a pressure reducer; a refrigerating cycle formed such that indoor heat-exchanger each having an on-off valve to close at least flow passage of a plurality of flow passages; an indoor machine body to contain the indoor heat-exchanger at an internal part and having an air inlet and an air outlet; a blower situated at the body and effecting service entrance of indoor air to the indoor heat-exchanger; and a heating source situated at a body and in the air passage of the blower extending from the air inlet, effecting service entrance of indoor air to the indoor heat-exchanger, to the air outlet.
  • JP 2007 333219 A discloses a multi-type air-conditioning system connects the plurality of indoor units each having the electronic expansion valve expanding a refrigerant, an evaporator evaporating the expanded refrigerant, and a refrigerant passage allowing the refrigerant to flow through them, to an outdoor unit.
  • the multi-type air-conditioning system comprises an inlet side temperature sensor measuring an inlet side refrigerant temperature t1 of the evaporator of each indoor unit; an outlet side temperature sensor measuring an outlet side refrigerant temperature t2 of the evaporator of each indoor unit 10; an indoor temperature sensor measuring the suction air temperature t3 of each indoor unit; and an expansion valve detecting means detecting the abnormal state of the electronic expansion valve considering the suction air temperature t3 of the indoor unit in addition to t1 and t2 when the indoor unit is in a blowing operation state.
  • valve structure for adjusting the flow rate of a refrigerant supplied to the radiation panel, on a downstream side of the radiation panel, during a heating operation.
  • the valve structure is closed during a cooling operation, so that the refrigerant does not flow in the radiation panel, but flows only in the indoor heat exchanger.
  • the valve structure is closed so that the refrigerant does not flow in the radiation panel and flows only in the indoor heat exchanger.
  • the valve structure is opened and the refrigerant flows both in the radiation panel and the indoor heat exchanger.
  • valve structure is closed, or if the opening degree falls short of a required opening degree, the temperature of the radiation panel which is supposed to increase does not increase.
  • an objective of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner capable of detecting occurrence of a defect in the valve structure.
  • occurrence of a defect in the valve structure is detectable by the defect detector based on the temperature of the radiation panel. This restrains dew condensation on the radiation panel during the cooling operation and inappropriate radiation panel temperatures during the warm-air heating operation and the radiation heating operation, which are attributed to a defect in the valve structure.
  • the refrigerant circuit includes: a principal channel in which a decompression structure, an outdoor heat exchanger, and a compressor are provided in this order; a first channel provided with the indoor heat exchanger, which connects a branching section provided to the downstream side of the compressor in the principal channel with a merging section provided to the upstream side of the decompression structure during the heating operation; and a second channel provided with the radiation panel, which connects the branching section and the merging section with the first channel in parallel; and wherein the valve structure is provided between the radiation panel and the merging section in the refrigerant circuit.
  • valve structure is provided between the radiation panel and the merging section in the refrigerant circuit.
  • the defect detector may detect occurrence of a defect in the valve structure, if the refrigerant flows in the radiation panel while the valve structure is in a state in which the refrigerant does not flow in the radiation panel.
  • occurrence of a defect in the valve structure is detectable by the defect detector, if the refrigerant flows in the radiation panel while the valve structure is in the state where the refrigerant does not flow in the radiation panel.
  • the panel temperature sensor may be provided between the radiator of the radiation panel and the valve structure, wherein the defect detector detects occurrence of a defect in the valve structure, based on a temperature detected by the panel temperature sensor and a temperature detected by the indoor heat exchanger temperature sensor.
  • the open/close state of the valve structure is detectable by comparing the temperature detected by the panel temperature sensor with the temperature detected by the indoor heat exchanger temperature sensor.
  • occurrence of a defect in the valve structure is detectable, if the valve structure is opened and the refrigerant flows in the radiation panel while the valve structure is supposed to be in the state where the refrigerant does not flow in the radiation panel, or if the valve structure is closed and the refrigerant does not flow in the radiation panel while the valve structure is supposed to be in the state where the refrigerant flows in the radiation panel.
  • the defect detector may detect occurrence of a defect in the valve structure, when a pressure in the indoor heat exchanger is at or lower than a predetermined value.
  • This air conditioner brings about the following effect. Namely, when the pressure (low pressure) in the indoor heat exchanger is not sufficiently lowered during the cooling operation, the difference between the indoor temperature and the temperature detected by the indoor heat exchanger temperature sensor is small. In such a case, the temperature detected by the panel temperature sensor and the temperature detected by the indoor heat exchanger temperature sensor are close to each other, even when the valve structure is properly closed and the refrigerant does not flow in the radiation panel. Therefore, even though there is no defect in the valve structure, there is a possibility of misdetection that the refrigerant is flowing in the radiation panel due to a defect in the valve structure. In view of this, misdetection of defect in the valve structure is restrained by excluding such a case.
  • the air conditioner preferably includes an indoor temperature sensor configured to detect an indoor temperature, wherein the defect detector detects occurrence of a defect in the valve structure, when a difference between a temperature detected by the indoor temperature sensor and a temperature detected by the indoor heat exchanger temperature sensor is a predetermined value or greater.
  • misdetection of a defect in the valve structure is restrained by excluding cases where the difference between the temperature detected by the indoor temperature sensor and the temperature detected by the indoor heat exchanger temperature sensor is small.
  • occurrence of a defect in the valve structure is detectable by the defect detector based on the temperature of the radiation panel. This restrains problems such as dew condensation on the radiation panel during the cooling operation and inappropriate radiation panel temperatures during the warm-air heating operation and the radiation heating operation, which are attributed to a defect in the valve structure.
  • occurrence of a defect in the valve structure is detectable in an air conditioner in which the first channel having the indoor heat exchanger and the second channel having the radiation panel are connected in parallel with each other.
  • occurrence of a defect in the valve structure is detectable by the defect detector, if the refrigerant flows in the radiation panel while the valve structure is in the state where the refrigerant does not flow in the radiation panel.
  • the open/close state of the valve structure is detectable by comparing the temperature detected by the panel temperature sensor with the temperature detected by the indoor heat exchanger temperature sensor.
  • occurrence of a defect in the valve structure is detectable, if the valve structure is opened and the refrigerant flows in the radiation panel while the valve structure is supposed to be in the state where the refrigerant does not flow in the radiation panel, or if the valve structure is closed and the refrigerant does not flow in the radiation panel while the valve structure is supposed to be in the state where the refrigerant flows in the radiation panel.
  • the difference between the indoor temperature and the temperature detected by the indoor heat exchanger temperature sensor is small.
  • the temperature detected by the panel temperature sensor and the temperature detected by the indoor heat exchanger temperature sensor are close to each other, even when the valve structure is properly closed and the refrigerant does not flow in the radiation panel. Therefore, even though there is no defect in the valve structure, there is a possibility of misdetection that the refrigerant is flowing in the radiation panel due to a defect in the valve structure. In view of this, misdetection of defect in the valve structure is restrained by excluding such a case.
  • misdetection of a defect in the valve structure is restrained by excluding cases where the difference between the temperature detected by the indoor temperature sensor and the temperature detected by the indoor heat exchanger temperature sensor is small.
  • the air conditioner 1 of the embodiment includes an indoor unit 2 that is installed in a room, an outdoor unit 6 that is installed out of the room, and a remote controller 9 (see FIG. 5 ) .
  • the indoor unit 2 includes an indoor heat exchanger 20 disposed to oppose to an indoor fan 21, a radiation panel 30, an indoor motor-operated valve 23, and an indoor temperature sensor 24 that detects an indoor temperature.
  • the outdoor unit 6 includes a compressor 60, a four-way valve 61, an outdoor heat exchanger 62, an outdoor fan 63 that is disposed near the outdoor heat exchanger 62, and an outdoor motor-operated valve 64 (a decompression structure).
  • the air conditioner 1 includes a refrigerant circuit 10 that connects the indoor unit 2 and the outdoor unit 6 to each other.
  • the refrigerant circuit 10 includes a principal channel 11 in which the outdoor motor-operated valve 64, the outdoor heat exchanger 62, and the compressor 60 are provided in this order.
  • An intake-side pipe fitting and a discharge-side pipe fitting of the compressor 60 are connected to the four-way valve 61.
  • a branching section 10a is provided in a portion that becomes a downstream side of the compressor 60 in the principal channel 11 during a heating operation (as described later, when a refrigerant is flowing in a direction indicated by a solid-line arrow in FIG.
  • the refrigerant circuit 10 also includes a first channel 12 and a second channel 13.
  • the first channel 12 connects the branching section 10a and the merging section 10b to each other, and the indoor heat exchanger 20 is provided in the first channel 12.
  • the second channel 13 is connected in parallel with the first channel 12 between the branching section 10a and merging section 10b, and the radiation panel 30 is provided in the second channel 13.
  • An indoor motor-operated valve (valve structure) 23 is provided between the radiation panel 30 and the merging section 10b in the second channel 13.
  • a panel incoming temperature sensor 25 and a panel outgoing temperature sensor 26 are attached to both sides of the radiation panel 30 in the second channel 13. More specifically, the panel incoming temperature sensor 25 is provided in a pipe fitting and is on the upstream side of a radiator 35, which will be described later, (see FIG. 4 ) of the radiation panel 30 during the heating operation.
  • the panel outgoing temperature sensor 26 is provided in the pipe fitting and is on the downstream side of the radiator 35 of the radiation panel 30 and upstream side of the indoor motor-operated valve 23, during the heating operation.
  • an accumulator 65 is interposed between an intake side of the compressor 60 and the four-way valve 61, and a discharge temperature sensor 66 is attached between a discharge side of the compressor 60 and the four-way valve 61.
  • An outdoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 68 is attached to the outdoor heat exchanger 62.
  • the indoor heat exchanger 20 includes the pipe fitting, which constitutes a part of the refrigerant circuit 10, and an indoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 27 is attached to the indoor heat exchanger 20.
  • the indoor heat exchanger 20 is disposed on a windward side of the indoor fan 21. Air heated or cooled by heat exchange with the indoor heat exchanger 20 is blown as warm wind or cool wind into the room by the indoor fan 21, thereby performing warm-air heating or cooling.
  • the radiation panel 30 is disposed on a surface side of the indoor unit 2, and includes a panel pipe fitting 36 which is a pipe fitting constituting a part of the refrigerant circuit 10. Heat of the refrigerant flowing in the panel pipe fitting 36 is radiated into the room to perform radiation heating.
  • the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is provided in order to adjust a flow rate of the refrigerant supplied to the radiation panel 30. Controlling opening and closing of the indoor motor-operated valve 23 enables switching over between a state where the refrigerant flows in the panel pipe fitting 36 of the radiation panel 30 and a state where the refrigerant does not flow in the panel pipe fitting 36 of the radiation panel 30.
  • the air conditioner 1 of the embodiment is capable of performing a cooling operation, a warm-air heating operation, and a radiation heating operation.
  • the cooling operation is an operation which performs cooling by causing the refrigerant to flow not in the radiation panel 30, but in the indoor heat exchanger 20
  • the warm-air heating operation is an operation which performs warm-air heating by causing the refrigerant to flow not in the radiation panel 30, but in the indoor heat exchanger 20.
  • the radiation heating operation is an operation which performs radiation heating by causing the refrigerant to flow in the radiation panel 30, while performing warm-air heating by causing the refrigerant to flow in the indoor heat exchanger 20.
  • FIG. 1 A flow of the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 10 during each operation will be described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 .
  • the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is closed, and the four-way valve 61 is switched to a state indicated by a broken line in FIG. 1 . Therefore, as indicated by a broken-line arrow in FIG. 1 , the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor 60 flows in the outdoor heat exchanger 62 through the four-way valve 61.
  • the refrigerant condensed by the outdoor heat exchanger 62 flows in the indoor heat exchanger 20 after being decompressed by the outdoor motor-operated valve 64.
  • the refrigerant vaporized by the indoor heat exchanger 20 flows in the compressor 60 through the four-way valve 61 and accumulator 65. Note that, with the indoor motor-operated valve 23 being closed, the refrigerant decompressed by the outdoor motor-operated valve 64 is kept from flowing towards the radiation panel 30 beyond the indoor motor-operated valve 23 in the second channel 13.
  • the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is closed, and the four-way valve 61 is switched to the state indicated by the solid line in FIG. 1 . Therefore, as indicated by the solid-line arrow in FIG. 1 , the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor 60 flows in the indoor heat exchanger 20 through the four-way valve 61.
  • the refrigerant condensed by the indoor heat exchanger 20 flows in the outdoor heat exchanger 62 after being decompressed by the outdoor motor-operated valve 64.
  • the refrigerant vaporized by the outdoor heat exchanger 62 flows in the compressor 60 through the four-way valve 61 and accumulator 65.
  • the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 60 does not flow onto the side of the merging section 10b beyond the indoor motor-operated valve 23 in the second channel 13. That is, in the second channel 13, the refrigerant is accumulated on the upstream side of the indoor motor-operated valve 23.
  • the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is opened, and the four-way valve 61 is switched to a state indicated by a solid line in FIG. 2 . Therefore, as indicated by a solid-line arrow in FIG. 2 , the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor 60 flows in the indoor heat exchanger 20 and radiation panel 30 through the four-way valve 61.
  • the refrigerant condensed by the indoor heat exchanger 20 and radiation panel 30 flows in the outdoor heat exchanger 62 after being decompressed by the outdoor motor-operated valve 64.
  • the refrigerant vaporized by the outdoor heat exchanger 62 flows in the compressor 60 through the four-way valve 61 and accumulator 65.
  • the indoor unit 2 of the embodiment has a rectangular solid shape as a whole, and is installed near a floor surface in the room.
  • the indoor unit 2 is attached to a wall surface while floating from the floor surface by about 10 cm.
  • a direction in which the indoor unit 2 projects from the attached wall is referred to as a "front”, and the opposite direction is referred to as a "rear”.
  • a right-left direction in FIG. 3 is simply referred to as a "horizontal direction”
  • an up-down direction is simply referred to as a "vertical direction”.
  • the indoor unit 2 mainly includes a casing 4, internal devices, such as the indoor fan 21, the indoor heat exchanger 20, an outlet unit 46, and an electric component unit 47, which are accommodated in the casing 4, and a front grill 42.
  • the casing 4 includes a principal inlet 4a that is formed in a lower wall of the casing 4 and auxiliary inlets 4b and 4c that are formed in a front wall of the casing 4.
  • An outlet 4d is formed in an upper wall of the casing 4.
  • the indoor heat exchanger 20 heats or cools the drawn air to perform conditioning. Then the post-conditioning air is blown from the outlet 4d and returned to the room.
  • the casing 4 includes a body frame 41, an outlet cover 51, the radiation panel 30, and an opening-closing panel 52.
  • the outlet cover 51 includes a front panel section 51a
  • the radiation panel 30 includes a radiation plate 31.
  • the front panel section 51a of the outlet cover 51, the radiation plate 31 of the radiation panel 30, and the opening-closing panel 52 are disposed so as to be flush with one another in a front surface of the casing 4, and the front panel section 51a, the radiation plate 31, and the opening-closing panel 52 constitute a front panel 5.
  • a power button 48 and an emission display section 49 that indicates an operation status are provided in an upper right end portion of the front panel 5, namely, a right end portion of the front panel section 51a of the outlet cover 51.
  • the body frame 41 is one that is attached to a wall surface, and the body frame 41 supports various internal devices described above.
  • the front grill 42, the outlet cover 51, the radiation panel 30, and the opening-closing panel 52 are attached to the front surface of the body frame 41 while the body frame 41 supports the internal devices.
  • the outlet cover 51 is attached to an upper end portion of the body frame 41, and the outlet 4d that is of a horizontally long rectangular opening is formed on the upper wall of the outlet cover 51.
  • the radiation panel 30 is attached below the outlet cover 51, and the opening-closing panel 52 is attached below the radiation panel 30.
  • the principal inlet 4a that is the horizontally long opening is formed between a lower front end of the body frame 41 and a lower end of the opening-closing panel 52.
  • the indoor fan 21 is disposed slightly above a central portion in a height direction of the casing 4 such that an axial direction of the indoor fan 21 is aligned with the horizontal direction.
  • the indoor fan 21 draws the air from the lower front and flows the air to the upper rear.
  • the indoor heat exchanger 20 is disposed in substantially parallel with the front panel 5.
  • the indoor heat exchanger 20 includes a front heat exchanger 20a that is opposed to the rear surface of the front panel 5 and a rear heat exchanger 20b that is upwardly inclined toward the rear surface from a vicinity of the lower end portion of the front heat exchanger 20a.
  • the front heat exchanger 20a is disposed in front of the indoor fan 21, and its upper half is opposed to the indoor fan 21.
  • the rear heat exchanger 20b is disposed below the indoor fan 21 and is opposed to the indoor fan 21. That is, the indoor heat exchanger 20 as a whole has a substantially V-shape, and is disposed in such a manner as to oppose to the front and lower side of the indoor fan 21.
  • a horizontally extending drain pan 22 is disposed below the indoor heat exchanger 20. Further, below the drain pan 22 is arranged an electric component unit 47.
  • the outlet unit 46 is disposed above the indoor fan 21, and guides the air blown from the indoor fan 21 to the outlet 4d formed in the upper wall of the casing 4.
  • the outlet unit 46 has a horizontal flap 46a disposed nearby the outlet 4d.
  • the horizontal flap 46a changes the direction of an air flow from the outlet 4d relative to the vertical direction, and open or closes the outlet 4d.
  • the front grill 42 is attached to the body frame 41 so as to cover the body frame 41 to which such internal devices as the indoor heat exchanger 20, the indoor fan 21, the outlet unit 46, and the electric component unit 47 are attached. More specifically, the front grill 42 is attached to the body frame 41 so as to cover a range from the substantially central portion in the vertical direction of the front heat exchanger 20a to the lower end of the body frame 41.
  • the front grill 42 includes a filter retaining section 42a and an inlet grill 42b disposed in the principal inlet 4a.
  • the lower filter 43 held by the filter retaining section 42a extends downward from substantially the central portion of the front heat exchanger 20a relative to the vertical direction, and its lower end portion is tilted in a direction obliquely backside.
  • the lower end of the lower filter 43 is positioned nearby the rear end of the principal inlet 4a.
  • the upper filter 44 extends upwards from the substantially central portion of the front heat exchanger 20a relative to the vertical direction.
  • the outlet cover 51 covers the outlet unit 46. As described above, the outlet 4d is formed in the upper wall of the outlet cover 51.
  • the front panel section 51a is provided in the front surface of the outlet cover 51.
  • the front panel section 51a has the horizontally long rectangular shape.
  • the radiation panel 30 has the horizontally long, substantially rectangular shape.
  • the radiation panel 30 mainly includes an aluminum radiation plate 31 and a resin heat-insulating cover 32 attached to the rear surface of the radiation plate 31.
  • the radiation plate 31 is positioned below the front panel section 51a of the outlet cover 51.
  • the panel pipe fitting 36 that is of the part of the pipe fitting constituting the refrigerant circuit 10 is attached to the rear surface of the radiation plate 31.
  • the portion of the radiation panel 30 where the radiation plate 31 and the panel pipe fitting 36 are in contact with each other, are the portions serving as the radiator 35.
  • the opening-closing panel 52 is detachably attached to the lower portion of the radiation plate 31 of the radiation panel 30.
  • the opening-closing panel 52 has the horizontally long rectangular shape. As illustrated in FIG. 4 , the vertical position at the upper end of the opening-closing panel 52 has the substantially same level as the upper end of the front grill 42. As described above, the lower end of the opening-closing panel 52 constitutes the part of the principal inlet 4a. Accordingly, the front grill 42 is exposed by detaching the opening-closing panel 52, so that the lower filter 43 and upper filter 44, which are attached to the filter retaining section 42a of the front grill 42, can be detached.
  • a user is able to start or stop the operation of the air conditioner 1, set the operation mode, set the target indoor temperature (indoor setting temperature), or set the blowing air quantity, or the like.
  • the controller 7 for controlling the air conditioner 1 is described with reference to FIG. 5 .
  • the controller 7 has a storage 70, an indoor motor-operated valve controller 72, a defect detector 73, an indoor fan controller 74, a compressor controller 75, and an outdoor motor-operated valve controller 76.
  • the storage 70 stores various operation settings related to the air conditioner 1, a control program, a data table necessary for running the control program, or the like.
  • the operation settings include user-setting set by a user operating the remote controller 9, such as target indoor temperature (indoor setting temperature), and a presetting which is set in advance in the air conditioner 1.
  • the target temperature range of the radiation panel 30 is set to a predetermined temperature range (e.g., 50 to 55°C) .
  • the target temperature range of the radiation panel 30 however may be set by operating the remote controller 9.
  • the indoor motor-operated valve controller 72 controls the opening degree of the indoor motor-operated valve 23. During the cooling operation or the warm-air heating operation, the indoor motor-operated valve controller 72 closes the indoor motor-operated valve 23. Further, during the radiation heating operation, the indoor motor-operated valve controller 72 controls the opening degree of the indoor motor-operated valve 23 based on the temperature of the radiation panel 30. Specifically, a surface temperature (predicted value) of the radiation panel 30 is calculated based on a calculated value of temperatures detected by the panel incoming temperature sensor 25 and the panel outgoing temperature sensor 26.
  • the opening degree of the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is controlled so that this surface temperature of the radiation panel 30 (hereinafter, simply referred to as radiation panel temperature) is within a panel target temperature range (e.g. 50 to 55°C). Note that when the value detected by the panel incoming temperature sensor 25 is a predetermined value (e.g., 80°C) or more, the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is closed.
  • the defect detector 73 detects occurrence of a defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23, based on the temperature of the radiation panel 30. That is, during the cooling operation and during the warm-air heating operation, the defect detector 73 detects occurrence of a defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23, if the refrigerant flows out of the indoor motor-operated valve 23 which is supposed to be closed and flows in the panel pipe fitting 36 of the radiation panel 30. Further, during the radiation heating operation, occurrence of a defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is detected when the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is completely closed, and the refrigerant does not flow in the panel pipe fitting 36 of the radiation panel 30.
  • the defect detector 73 detects occurrence of a defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23, based on a temperature (hereinafter, simply referred to as indoor temperature Ta) detected by the indoor temperature sensor 24, a temperature (hereinafter, simply referred to as panel pipe fitting temperature TP) detected by the panel outgoing temperature sensor 26, and a temperature (hereinafter, simply referred to as indoor heat exchanger temperature Te) detected by the indoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 27. Further, during the warm-air heating operation and during the radiation heating operation, occurrence of a defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is detected based on the panel pipe fitting temperature TP and the indoor heat exchanger temperature Te.
  • the panel pipe fitting temperature TP detected by the panel outgoing temperature sensor 26 drops to a temperature at or below the indoor heat exchanger temperature Te detected by the indoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 27 provided in the indoor heat exchanger 20 where heat exchanging takes place.
  • a defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is detected by the defect detector 73 on condition that the following (Formula 1) is satisfied. TP ⁇ Te ⁇ 0 deg .
  • the defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is detected only in cases where the temperature of the refrigerant flowing out of the outdoor motor-operated valve 64 is sufficiently low and where such a refrigerant, when flowing into the pipe fitting of the radiation panel 30, may cause dew condensation on the radiation panel 30. Therefore, a defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is detected by the defect detector 73 on condition that the following (Formula 2) and (Formula 3) are satisfied, in addition to (Formula 1). TP ⁇ 32 ° C Te ⁇ 32 ° C
  • the outdoor unit 6 is a multi-connectable outdoor unit which is connectable with a plurality of indoor units
  • the pressure (low pressure) in the indoor heat exchanger 20 may not sufficiently drop.
  • the indoor temperature Ta, the panel pipe fitting temperature TP, and the indoor heat exchanger temperature Te are substantially the same temperature in such a case, the above (Formula 1) may be satisfied even though no defect takes place in the indoor motor-operated valve 23.
  • the following (Formula 4) is added to the above (Formula 1) to (Formula 3) as a condition for the defect detector 73 to detect that the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is abnormal.
  • a defect detectable area of the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is only an area (I) shown in FIG. 6 . That is, a defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is not detected in an area (an area indicated by (II) in the figure) where the indoor heat exchanger temperature Te is higher than the indoor temperature Ta (i.e., Ta-Te ⁇ 0 deg.) and where detection of defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is not necessary, and in an area (area indicated by (III) in the figure) where the difference between the indoor temperature Ta and the indoor heat exchanger temperature Te is relatively small (i.e., 0 deg. ⁇ Ta-Te ⁇ 5 deg.) and misdetection of a defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23 may take place.
  • the defect detector 73 detects that the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is abnormal.
  • the defect occurs in the indoor motor-operated valve 23 and the refrigerant flows out of the indoor motor-operated valve 23 which is supposed to be closed, the high-temperature refrigerant having flown from the branching section 10a into the second channel 13 flows out of the second channel 13 via the pipe fitting of the radiation panel 30 and the indoor motor-operated valve 23. Therefore, the panel pipe fitting temperature TP detected by the panel outgoing temperature sensor 26 increases and becomes equal to or higher than the indoor heat exchanger temperature Te detected by the indoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 27 provided in the indoor heat exchanger 20. That is, a defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is detected by the defect detector 73 on condition that the following (Formula 5) is satisfied. Te ⁇ TP ⁇ 0 deg .
  • a defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is detected only in cases where the temperature of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 60 is relatively high and where the radiation panel 30 has a high temperature of a certain extent as the refrigerant passes through the pipe fitting in the radiation panel 30. Therefore, a defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is detected by the defect detector 73 on condition that the following (Formula 6) and (Formula 7) are satisfied, in addition to (Formula 5) .
  • a defect detectable area of the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is only an area (an area indicated by (I) in the figure) shown in FIG. 7 , where the panel temperature TP0 is 40°C or higher and where the indoor heat exchanger temperature Te is 43°C or higher.
  • a defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is not detected in an area (an area indicated by (II) in the figure) which does not possibly occur in an actual operation, in which area the panel temperature TP0 is 40°C or higher and the indoor heat exchanger temperature Te is lower than 43°C, or in an area (an area indicated by (III) in the figure) where the panel temperature TP0 is lower than 40°C, in which case if a defect is to be detected, there would be a chance of misdetection of a defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23.
  • the defect detector 73 detects that the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is abnormal.
  • the indoor motor-operated valve 23 When the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is closed, and there is a defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23 during the radiation heating operation, the high-temperature refrigerant having flowing from the branching section 10a into the second channel 13 is accumulated in the pipe fitting on the upstream side (the side of the radiation panel 30) of the indoor motor-operated valve 23. Therefore, the panel pipe fitting temperature TP detected by the panel outgoing temperature sensor 26 does not increase and the difference between the indoor heat exchanger temperature Te and the panel pipe fitting temperature TP is increased. That is, a defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is detected by the defect detector 73 on condition that the following (Formula 8) is satisfied. Te ⁇ TP ⁇ 35 deg .
  • the indoor temperature is 10°C
  • the indoor heat exchanger temperature is 55°C
  • the difference between the indoor heat exchanger temperature Te and the panel pipe fitting temperature TP is 35 deg.
  • a defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is not detected if the temperature of the radiation panel 30 shows a certain increase even though the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is closed.
  • a defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is detected only if there seems to be no increase in the temperature of the radiation panel 30. Therefore, a defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is detected by the defect detector 73 on condition that the following (Formula 9) and (Formula 10) are satisfied, in addition to (Formula 8).
  • a defect detectable area of the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is only an area (I) shown in FIG. 8 .
  • a defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is not detected in an area (an area indicated by (II) in the figure) which does not possibly occur in an actual operation, in which area the panel temperature TP0 is higher than the indoor heat exchanger temperature Te (i.e., Te - TP0 ⁇ 0 deg.), or in an area (an area indicated by (III) in the figure) where the difference between the indoor heat exchanger temperature Te and the panel temperature TP0 is relatively small (i.e., 0 deg. ⁇ Te - TP0 ⁇ 35 deg.) and where a defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is not detectable.
  • the defect detector 73 detects that the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is abnormal.
  • the indoor fan controller 74 controls the rotational frequency of the indoor fan 21 according to the operation mode, the indoor setting temperature, the blowing air quantity set by the remote controller 9, and the indoor temperature detected by the indoor temperature sensor 24.
  • the compressor controller 75 controls the operation frequency of the compressor 60, based on the indoor temperature, the indoor setting temperature, the heat exchanger temperature detected by the indoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 27, and the like.
  • the outdoor motor-operated valve controller 76 controls the opening degree of the outdoor motor-operated valve 64. More specifically, the outdoor motor-operated valve controller 76 controls the opening degree of the outdoor motor-operated valve 64 so that the temperature detected by the discharge temperature sensor 66 becomes an optimal temperature in the operation status.
  • the optimal temperature is determined based on a calculated value using the indoor heat exchanger temperature and an outdoor heat exchanger temperature.
  • the following describes the steps of a defect detecting process executed by the defect detector 73 for detecting a defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23.
  • step S11 the indoor temperature Ta detected by the indoor temperature sensor 24, the panel pipe fitting temperature TP detected by the panel outgoing temperature sensor 26, and the Te detected by the indoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 27 are first obtained (step S11).
  • step S12 there is determined whether or not the difference between the indoor temperature Ta and the indoor heat exchanger temperature Te is 5 deg. or more (step S12).
  • step S12 NO
  • step S12 NO
  • step S12 when the difference between the indoor temperature Ta and the indoor heat exchanger temperature Te is at least 5 deg. (step S12: YES), there is determined whether or not the difference between the panel pipe fitting temperature TP and the indoor heat exchanger temperature Te is at most 0 deg. (step S13).
  • step S13 NO
  • step S14 there is determined whether the panel pipe fitting temperature TP is at most 32°C, and there is determined in step S15 whether the indoor heat exchanger temperature Te is at most 32°C.
  • step S14: NO the panel pipe fitting temperature TP is determined as to be higher than the 32°C in step S14
  • step S15 the indoor heat exchanger temperature Te is determined as to be higher than 32°C in step S15
  • step S14 when the panel pipe fitting temperature TP is determined as to be 32°C or lower in step S14 (step S14: YES), or when the indoor heat exchanger temperature Te is determined as to be 32°C or lower in step S15 (step S15: YES), occurrence of a defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is detected (step S16).
  • step S21 the panel pipe fitting temperature TP detected by the panel outgoing temperature sensor 26, the Te detected by the indoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 27 are first obtained (step S21).
  • step S22 there is determined whether the difference between the indoor heat exchanger temperature Te and the panel pipe fitting temperature TP is at most 0 deg.
  • step S22: NO it is considered that the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is properly closed, and there is no refrigerant flowing out. Therefore, the process does not proceed to the next step and returns to step S21.
  • step S22 when the difference between the indoor heat exchanger temperature Te and the panel pipe fitting temperature TP is at most 0 deg. (step S22: YES), it is considered that the refrigerant is flowing out of the indoor motor-operated valve 23 which is supposed to be closed.
  • step S23 there is determined whether the panel pipe fitting temperature TP is 43°C or higher in step S23, and there is determined whether the indoor heat exchanger temperature Te is 43°C or higher in step S24.
  • step S23 NO
  • step S24 NO
  • the process does not proceed to the next step and returns to step S21.
  • step S23 when the panel pipe fitting temperature TP is determined as to be 43°C or higher in step S23 (step S23: YES), or when the indoor heat exchanger temperature Te is determined as to be 43°C or higher in step S24 (step S24: YES), occurrence of a defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is detected (step S25) .
  • step S31 the panel pipe fitting temperature TP detected by the panel outgoing temperature sensor 26, the Te detected by the indoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 27 are first obtained (step S31).
  • step S32 there is determined whether the difference between the indoor heat exchanger temperature Te and the panel pipe fitting temperature TP is 35 deg. or greater (step S32).
  • step S22: NO it is considered that the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is opened. Therefore, the process does not proceed to the next step and returns to step S31.
  • step S32: YES when the difference between the indoor heat exchanger temperature Te and the panel pipe fitting temperature TP is 35 deg. or greater (step S32: YES), it is considered that the indoor motor-operated valve 23 which is supposed to be opened is closed.
  • step S33: NO there is determined whether the panel pipe fitting temperature TP is at most 60°C in step S33, and there is determined whether the indoor heat exchanger temperature Te is at most 60°C or lower in step S34.
  • step S33: NO when the indoor heat exchanger temperature Te is determined as to be higher than 60°C in step S34 (step S34: NO)
  • the process does not proceed to the next step and returns to step S31.
  • step S33 when the panel pipe fitting temperature TP is determined as to be 60°C or lower in step S33 (step S33: YES), or when the indoor heat exchanger temperature Te is determined as to be 60°C or lower in step S34 (step S34: YES), occurrence of a defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is detected (step S35).
  • the occurrence of a defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is detected in the defect detecting process, for example, the occurrence of a defect is reported to the user by means of indication on the emission display section 49 or the like.
  • the controller 7 has the defect detector 73 which detects occurrence of a defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23 which is configured to switch over between a state where the refrigerant flows in the panel pipe fitting 36 of the radiation panel 30 and a state where the refrigerant does not flow in the panel pipe fitting 36 of the radiation panel 30. Therefore, it is possible to detect occurrence of a defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23 by the defect detector 73. This restrains dew condensation on the radiation panel 30 during the cooling operation, and a defect in the surface temperature of the radiation panel 30 during the indoor motor-operated valve 23 during the warm-air heating operation and radiation heating operation, which are attributed to the defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23.
  • the refrigerant circuit 10 has: the principal channel 11 in which the outdoor motor-operated valve 64, the outdoor heat exchanger 62, and the compressor 60 are provided in this order; the first channel 12 having the indoor heat exchanger 20, which, during the heating operation, connects the branching section 10a provided on the downstream side of the compressor 60 in the principal channel 11 with the merging section 10b provided on the upstream side of the outdoor motor-operated valve 64; and a second channel 13 having the radiation panel 30, which connects the branching section 10a and the merging section 10b in parallel with the first channel 12.
  • the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is provided between the radiation panel 30 and the merging section 10b in the refrigerant circuit 10. Therefore, it is possible to detect occurrence of a defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23 in the air conditioner 1 in which the first channel 12 having the indoor heat exchanger 20 and the second channel 13 having the radiation panel 30 are connected in parallel with each other.
  • the defect detector 73 detects occurrence of a defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23, based on the panel pipe fitting temperature TP detected by the panel outgoing temperature sensor 26 between the radiator 35 of the radiation panel 30 and the indoor motor-operated valve 23, and the indoor heat exchanger temperature Te detected by the indoor heat exchanger temperature sensor 27 provided to the indoor heat exchanger 20. Therefore, it is possible to detect the open/close state of the indoor motor-operated valve 23 by comparing the panel pipe fitting temperature TP with the indoor heat exchanger temperature Te.
  • the defect detector 73 detects occurrence of a defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23 only when the difference between the indoor temperature Ta detected by the indoor temperature sensor 24 and the indoor heat exchanger temperature Te is 5 deg. or greater. Excluding the cases where the difference between the indoor temperature Ta and the indoor heat exchanger temperature Te is small, misdetection of a defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is restrained.
  • the refrigerant circuit 10 that connects the indoor unit 2 and the outdoor unit 6 to each other includes the second channel 13 that is connected in parallel with the first channel 12 in which the indoor heat exchanger 20 is provided, and the radiation panel 30 is provided in the second channel 13.
  • the indoor heat exchanger 20 and the radiation panel 30 may be connected in series with each other.
  • a refrigerant circuit 110 of an air conditioner 101 includes a circular principal channel 111 in which the outdoor motor-operated valve 64, the outdoor heat exchanger 62, the compressor 60, the radiation panel 30, and the indoor heat exchanger 20 are connected in this order.
  • the discharge-side pipe fitting and intake-side pipe fitting of the compressor 60 are connected to the four-way valve 61.
  • Branching sections 101a and 101b are respectively provided on both sides of the radiation panel 30, and both ends of a branching channel 112 are connected to the branching sections 101a and 101b.
  • the branching section 101a is located between the indoor heat exchanger 20 and the radiation panel 30, and the branching section 101b is located on the opposite side to the branching section 101a with respect to the radiation panel 30. Further, the branching section 101a is provided with a three-way valve 123.
  • a panel incoming temperature sensor 25 Between the branching section 101b and the radiator 35 of the radiation panel 30 is a panel incoming temperature sensor 25. Between the branching section 101a and the radiator 35 of the radiation panel 30 is a panel outgoing temperature sensor 26.
  • the four-way valve 61 is switched to a state indicated by a broken line in FIG. 12 during the cooling operation. Further, the three-way valve 123 is switched to a state in which the refrigerant from the indoor heat exchanger 20 flows in the branching channel 112 but not in the radiation panel 30. Therefore, as indicated by a broken-line arrow in FIG. 12 , the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor 60 flows in the outdoor heat exchanger 62 through the four-way valve 61. The refrigerant condensed by the outdoor heat exchanger 62 flows in the indoor heat exchanger 20 after being decompressed by the outdoor motor-operated valve 64. The refrigerant vaporized by the indoor heat exchanger 20 flows in the compressor 60 through the branching channel 112, four-way valve 61, and accumulator 65.
  • the four-way valve 61 is switched to a state indicated by a solid line in FIG. 12 . Further, the three-way valve 123 is switched to a state in which the refrigerant ejected from the compressor 60 flows in the branching channel 112 but not in the radiation panel 30. Therefore, the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor 60 flows into the indoor heat exchanger 20, through the four-way valve 61 and the branching channel 112, as shown by the solid-line arrow in FIG. 12 .
  • the refrigerant condensed by the indoor heat exchanger 20 flows in the outdoor heat exchanger 62 after being decompressed by the outdoor motor-operated valve 64.
  • the refrigerant vaporized by the outdoor heat exchanger 62 flows in the compressor 60 through the four-way valve 61 and accumulator 65.
  • the four-way valve 61 is switched to the state indicated by a solid line in FIG. 12 . Further, the three-way valve 123 is switched to a state in which the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 60 flows in the radiation panel 30 and in the branching channel 112. Therefore, the high-temperature, high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor 60 flows into the radiation panel 30 through the four-way valve 61, and then flows into the indoor heat exchanger 20, as shown by the bold-line arrow in FIG. 12 .
  • the refrigerant condensed by the radiation panel 30 and indoor heat exchanger 20 flows in the outdoor heat exchanger 62 after being decompressed by the outdoor motor-operated valve 64.
  • the refrigerant vaporized by the outdoor heat exchanger 62 flows in the compressor 60 through the four-way valve 61 and accumulator 65.
  • the defect detector 73 of the controller 7 detects occurrence of a defect in the three-way valve 123 configured to switch over between a state where the refrigerant flows in the panel pipe fitting 36 of the radiation panel 30 and a state where the refrigerant does not flow in the panel pipe fitting 36 of the radiation panel 30, as in the case of the embodiment described above.
  • the outdoor motor-operated valve 64, the outdoor heat exchanger 62, the compressor 60, the radiation panel 30, and the indoor heat exchanger 20 are connected in this order in the annular principal channel 111 of the refrigerant circuit 110; however, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the positions of the radiation panel 30 and the indoor heat exchanger 20 may be other way around; i.e., the outdoor motor-operated valve 64, the outdoor heat exchanger 62, the compressor 60, the indoor heat exchanger 20, and the radiation panel 30 may be connected in this order.
  • the both ends of the branching channel 112 are connected to the branching sections provided to both ends of the radiation panel 30.0 Further, the three-way valve 123 configured to switch over between a state where the refrigerant flows in the panel pipe fitting 36 of the radiation panel 30 and a state where the refrigerant does not flow in the panel pipe fitting 36 of the radiation panel 30 may be provided to the branching section positioned on the opposite side of the indoor heat exchanger 20 over the radiation panel 30.
  • the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is provided between the radiation panel 30 and the merging section 10b in the refrigerant circuit 10; however, the present invention is not limited to this.
  • the three-way valve may be provided to the merging section 10b, and this three-way valve may be used as the indoor motor-operated valve 23.
  • the defect detector 73 detects occurrence of a defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23 based on the panel pipe fitting temperature TP detected by the panel outgoing temperature sensor 26 provided between the radiator 35 of the radiation panel 30 and the indoor motor-operated valve 23 and the indoor heat exchanger temperature Te; however, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, for example, it is possible to configure the defect detector 73 so as to detect occurrence of a defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23 based on the temperature detected by the panel incoming temperature sensor 25 provided on the opposite side to the indoor motor-operated valve 23 over the radiator 35 of the radiation panel 30 and the indoor heat exchanger temperature Te.
  • the defect detector 73 during the cooling operation detects occurrence of a defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23, when the difference between the indoor temperature Ta and the indoor heat exchanger temperature Te is a predetermined value or greater; however, the present invention is not limited to this. Misdetection is prevented by having the defect detector 73 detect a defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23 when the pressure (low pressure) in the indoor heat exchanger 20 is at a predetermined value or lower. Therefore, it is possible to configure the defect detector 73 so as to detect occurrence of a defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23, when the difference between the indoor temperature Ta and the panel pipe fitting temperature TP is a predetermined difference or greater.
  • the defect detector 73 during the radiation heating operation detects occurrence of a defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23 when the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is completely closed; however, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, occurrence of a defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23 may be detected, not only in cases where the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is completely closed, but also in cases where the opening degree of the indoor motor-operated valve 23 falls short of a required opening degree (an opening degree to cause the surface temperature of the radiation panel 30 to fall within a panel target temperature range).
  • occurrence of a defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23 is detected when (Formula 1) to (Formula 4) are all satisfied during the cooling operation, when (Formula 5) to (Formula 7) are all satisfied during the warm-air heating operation, and when (Formula 8) to (Formula 10) are all satisfied during the radiation heating operation; however, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, occurrence of a defect in the indoor motor-operated valve 23 may be detected when at least (Formula 1) is satisfied during the cooling operation, when at least (Formula 5) is satisfied during the warm-air heating operation, and when at least (Formula 8) is satisfied during the radiation heating operation. Further, numerical values given in (Formula 1) to (Formula 8) are no more than examples, and are variable as needed.
  • the present invention allows detection of a defect in a valve structure.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Sustainable Development (AREA)
  • Air Conditioning Control Device (AREA)
  • Devices For Blowing Cold Air, Devices For Blowing Warm Air, And Means For Preventing Water Condensation In Air Conditioning Units (AREA)
EP12736171.5A 2011-01-17 2012-01-17 Air conditioner Active EP2667109B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2011006806 2011-01-17
PCT/JP2012/050871 WO2012099128A1 (ja) 2011-01-17 2012-01-17 空気調和機

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2667109A1 EP2667109A1 (en) 2013-11-27
EP2667109A4 EP2667109A4 (en) 2017-09-27
EP2667109B1 true EP2667109B1 (en) 2020-05-06

Family

ID=46515751

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP12736171.5A Active EP2667109B1 (en) 2011-01-17 2012-01-17 Air conditioner

Country Status (6)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2667109B1 (ja)
JP (1) JP5115667B2 (ja)
CN (1) CN103314261B (ja)
AU (1) AU2012207956B2 (ja)
ES (1) ES2806647T3 (ja)
WO (1) WO2012099128A1 (ja)

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP5927500B2 (ja) * 2012-10-02 2016-06-01 パナソニックＩｐマネジメント株式会社 冷凍サイクル装置およびそれを備えた空気調和機
JP5927502B2 (ja) * 2012-10-10 2016-06-01 パナソニックＩｐマネジメント株式会社 冷凍サイクル装置およびそれを備えた空気調和機
JP6604051B2 (ja) * 2015-06-26 2019-11-13 ダイキン工業株式会社 空気調和システム
CN110226070B (zh) * 2017-04-26 2020-12-04 松下知识产权经营株式会社 空气调节机
CN107894121A (zh) * 2017-10-27 2018-04-10 广东美的暖通设备有限公司 压缩机温度传感器的检测方法、压缩机和电器设备
EP3712533B1 (en) * 2017-11-16 2023-09-20 Hitachi-Johnson Controls Air Conditioning, Inc. Air conditioner
CN111473487B (zh) * 2020-04-07 2021-07-23 广东美的制冷设备有限公司 空调器及其空调控制方法、控制装置和可读存储介质
FR3116594B1 (fr) * 2020-11-26 2022-12-30 Muller Et Cie Appareil monobloc de traitement climatique à panneau rayonnant

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN87101888A (zh) * 1987-02-10 1988-08-24 密西西比电力公司 三部分组合的热泵系统
JPH05280762A (ja) 1992-03-30 1993-10-26 Toshiba Corp 輻射パネル付室内ユニット
JP2001090977A (ja) * 1999-09-24 2001-04-03 Mitsubishi Electric Corp 空気調和機
JP2002071188A (ja) * 2000-08-30 2002-03-08 Mitsubishi Electric Building Techno Service Co Ltd 熱媒供給異常検出装置
JP2003322388A (ja) * 2002-05-02 2003-11-14 Toshiba Kyaria Kk 空気調和機
KR100546616B1 (ko) * 2004-01-19 2006-01-26 엘지전자 주식회사 멀티공기조화기의 제어방법
JP4762797B2 (ja) * 2006-06-12 2011-08-31 三菱電機ビルテクノサービス株式会社 マルチ式空気調和システム
JP4959800B2 (ja) * 2007-07-18 2012-06-27 三菱電機株式会社 冷凍サイクル装置の運転制御方法
JP5229031B2 (ja) * 2009-03-18 2013-07-03 ダイキン工業株式会社 空調機

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2012099128A1 (ja) 2012-07-26
CN103314261B (zh) 2015-12-09
ES2806647T3 (es) 2021-02-18
EP2667109A1 (en) 2013-11-27
JP2012163314A (ja) 2012-08-30
AU2012207956A1 (en) 2013-09-05
EP2667109A4 (en) 2017-09-27
AU2012207956B2 (en) 2015-04-30
JP5115667B2 (ja) 2013-01-09
CN103314261A (zh) 2013-09-18

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP2667109B1 (en) Air conditioner
EP2636961B1 (en) Air conditioner
US10168066B2 (en) Air conditioner with outdoor fan control in accordance with suction pressure and suction superheating degree of a compressor
EP2320151B1 (en) Air-conditioning device
CN103542456B (zh) 空调
EP3214391B1 (en) Air conditioner
EP3306237B1 (en) Refrigeration cycle device and method for detecting coolant leakage
CN110402360B (zh) 冷冻装置的室内单元
KR20120010106A (ko) 공기조화장치
JP2013036716A (ja) 室外機及びその室外機を備えた冷凍サイクル装置
JP2010281492A (ja) 空気調和機
EP2881685B1 (en) Container refrigeration device and control method thereof
EP2631560B1 (en) Air conditioner
JP2011144996A (ja) 空調機
JP2008039388A (ja) マルチ式空気調和機
EP2623872B1 (en) Heat exchanger and air conditioner comprising the same
JP2016020784A (ja) 空気調和装置
JP4105413B2 (ja) マルチ式空気調和機
KR20110029446A (ko) 히터 유닛 및 이를 포함하는 공기 조화기
JP5619492B2 (ja) 空気調和装置
CN111712674B (zh) 空调机
CN101858632A (zh) 空调器不停机下四通阀除霜备份方法
JP7042927B2 (ja) 室外機
JP7071613B2 (ja) 冷凍装置
CN107062529A (zh) 多联机系统及其的模式切换控制方法

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

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20130812

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

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

DAX Request for extension of the european patent (deleted)
RA4 Supplementary search report drawn up and despatched (corrected)

Effective date: 20170829

RIC1 Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant

Ipc: F25B 13/00 20060101ALI20170823BHEP

Ipc: F25B 49/02 20060101ALI20170823BHEP

Ipc: F24F 11/02 20060101AFI20170823BHEP

Ipc: F24F 1/00 20110101ALI20170823BHEP

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

Free format text: STATUS: EXAMINATION IS IN PROGRESS

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20190219

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R079

Ref document number: 602012069895

Country of ref document: DE

Free format text: PREVIOUS MAIN CLASS: F24F0011020000

Ipc: F24F0001000000

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 49/02 20060101ALI20191209BHEP

Ipc: F24F 1/00 20190101AFI20191209BHEP

Ipc: F25B 13/00 20060101ALI20191209BHEP

INTG Intention to grant announced

Effective date: 20200107

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: AT

Ref legal event code: REF

Ref document number: 1267392

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20200515

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: 602012069895

Country of ref document: DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: LT

Ref legal event code: MG4D

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: NL

Ref legal event code: MP

Effective date: 20200506

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: 20200807

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: 20200506

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: 20200806

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: 20200506

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: 20200907

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: 20200506

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: 20200906

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: 20200506

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: 20200506

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: 20200506

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: 20200806

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: AT

Ref legal event code: MK05

Ref document number: 1267392

Country of ref document: AT

Kind code of ref document: T

Effective date: 20200506

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

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: 20200506

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: 20200506

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

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: 20200506

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: 20200506

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: 20200506

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: 20200506

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: 20200506

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: 20200506

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: R097

Ref document number: 602012069895

Country of ref document: DE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FG2A

Ref document number: 2806647

Country of ref document: ES

Kind code of ref document: T3

Effective date: 20210218

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

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: 20200506

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: 20200506

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

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20210209

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: 20200506

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: 20200506

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: LU

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

Effective date: 20210117

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: BE

Ref legal event code: MM

Effective date: 20210131

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

Ref country code: CH

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

Effective date: 20210131

Ref country code: LI

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

Effective date: 20210131

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: 20210117

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

Ref country code: BE

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

Effective date: 20210131

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: 20120117

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: 20200506

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

Ref country code: IT

Payment date: 20221213

Year of fee payment: 12

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

Effective date: 20230525

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

Ref country code: GB

Payment date: 20231130

Year of fee payment: 13

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

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20231212

Year of fee payment: 13

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

Ref country code: ES

Payment date: 20240202

Year of fee payment: 13

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

Ref country code: MK

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: 20200506

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

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20231128

Year of fee payment: 13