EP4033165A1 - Klimaanlage - Google Patents

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Publication number
EP4033165A1
EP4033165A1 EP21203576.0A EP21203576A EP4033165A1 EP 4033165 A1 EP4033165 A1 EP 4033165A1 EP 21203576 A EP21203576 A EP 21203576A EP 4033165 A1 EP4033165 A1 EP 4033165A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
refrigerant
heat exchanger
pipe
indoor unit
air conditioner
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.)
Pending
Application number
EP21203576.0A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Masaaki Nagai
Kazuhiko Marumoto
Akira Hiwata
Kenji Takaichi
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.)
Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co 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 Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd filed Critical Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
Publication of EP4033165A1 publication Critical patent/EP4033165A1/de
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • 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
    • 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
    • F24F1/0068—Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units characterised by the arrangement of refrigerant piping outside the heat exchanger within the unit casing
    • 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
    • F24F11/30—Control or safety arrangements for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
    • F24F11/32—Responding to malfunctions or emergencies
    • F24F11/36—Responding to malfunctions or emergencies to leakage of heat-exchange fluid
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F13/00—Details common to, or for air-conditioning, air-humidification, ventilation or use of air currents for screening
    • F24F13/20—Casings or covers
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F13/00—Details common to, or for air-conditioning, air-humidification, ventilation or use of air currents for screening
    • F24F13/22—Means for preventing condensation or evacuating condensate
    • F24F13/222—Means for preventing condensation or evacuating condensate for evacuating condensate
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F13/00—Details common to, or for air-conditioning, air-humidification, ventilation or use of air currents for screening
    • F24F13/20—Casings or covers
    • F24F2013/205—Mounting a ventilator fan therein
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
    • F24F—AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING
    • F24F13/00—Details common to, or for air-conditioning, air-humidification, ventilation or use of air currents for screening
    • F24F13/22—Means for preventing condensation or evacuating condensate
    • F24F13/222—Means for preventing condensation or evacuating condensate for evacuating condensate
    • F24F2013/227—Condensate pipe for drainage of condensate from the evaporator

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to an air conditioner including a refrigeration cycle using a flammable refrigerant made of propane (R 290), isobutane (R 600a), ethane (R 170), and the like.
  • PTL 1 discloses an air conditioner including a sensor that detects a refrigerant leak, a heat exchange chamber, a machine chamber, and a drain pan extending from a lower part of the heat exchange chamber to a lower part of the machine chamber.
  • the sensor is disposed near the drain pan.
  • the refrigerant leaking from a heat exchanger flows along the drain pan and is detected by the sensor.
  • the refrigerant leaking from a refrigerant pipe disposed in the machine chamber flows toward the lower part of the machine chamber, and is similarly detected by the sensor.
  • An indoor unit of a wall-hung type includes a pipe connector that connects a refrigerant pipe attached to an indoor heat exchanger to a refrigerant pipe attached to an outdoor heat exchanger.
  • the pipe connector is located between the back of the indoor unit and the wall surface.
  • the left-hand pipe connection method is a pipe connection method by which the refrigerant pipe is led into the indoor unit through a pipe attachment hole formed on the left side of the indoor unit.
  • the present disclosure has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an air conditioner that can detect a refrigerant leak even when the refrigerant leak occurs between the back of an indoor unit and the wall surface.
  • An air conditioner includes: an indoor heat exchanger in an indoor unit; an outdoor heat exchanger in an outdoor unit; a pipe connector connecting a refrigerant pipe attached to the indoor heat exchanger to a refrigerant pipe attached to the outdoor heat exchanger; and a flammable refrigerant filling each of the refrigerant pipes.
  • the indoor unit includes: an air blow circuit housing the indoor heat exchanger; a pipe connection housing section located on a back surface of an underframe of the indoor unit, the pipe connection housing section housing the pipe connector; and a leak detection sensor that detects a leak of the flammable refrigerant, the leak detection sensor being disposed in the air blow circuit, and the indoor unit further includes a communication path communicatively connecting the air blow circuit to the pipe connection housing section.
  • the air conditioner of the present disclosure when the indoor unit of a wall-hung type is installed by a left-hand pipe connection method and the flammable refrigerant leaks from the pipe connector in such an installation condition, the flammable refrigerant flows through the communication path to reach the leak detection sensor in the air blow circuit.
  • the air conditioner is, therefore, able to detect a refrigerant leak from the pipe connector, thus offering high safety at the occurrence of a refrigerant leak.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an internal configuration of indoor unit 100 of an air conditioner according to a first exemplary embodiment.
  • the first exemplary embodiment will hereinafter be described with reference to FIG. 1 .
  • the air conditioner according to the present exemplary embodiment is an air conditioner using a flammable refrigerant gas, e.g., a flammable refrigerant made of propane (R 290), isobutane (R 600a), ethane (R 170), or the like.
  • a flammable refrigerant gas e.g., a flammable refrigerant made of propane (R 290), isobutane (R 600a), ethane (R 170), or the like.
  • Indoor unit 100 of the air conditioner according to the present exemplary embodiment includes indoor heat exchanger 101, a blower fan, machine chamber 106, underframe 103, and outer panel 104.
  • Indoor heat exchanger 101 is connected to an outdoor heat exchanger, a compressor, and a throttle device that are included in an outdoor unit, via refrigerant pipes.
  • a refrigerant pipe attached to indoor heat exchanger 101 and a refrigerant pipe attached to the outdoor heat exchanger are connected to each other by pipe connector 102.
  • the refrigerant pipe attached to the outdoor heat exchanger is connected to the outdoor unit via outdoor unit connection 109.
  • Machine chamber 106 houses a fan motor, a control board that controls indoor unit 100, and the like.
  • Underframe 103 includes air blow circuit 108 housing the blower fan and indoor heat exchanger 101, and pipe connection housing section 107 housing pipe connector 102.
  • Indoor unit 100 includes leak detection sensor 105 that detects a leak of the flammable refrigerant, leak detection sensor 105 being disposed in air blow circuit 108.
  • leak detection sensor 105 is provided near brazed portion 113 of indoor heat exchanger 101, specifically, provided below brazed portion 113 of indoor heat exchanger 101. Brazed portion 113 of indoor heat exchanger 101 is apt to be corroded or damaged. Disposing leak detection sensor 105 near brazed portion 113 of indoor heat exchanger 101 improves safety at the occurrence of a refrigerant leak.
  • Pipe connection housing section 107 is at the back of underframe 103.
  • Underframe 103 includes partition 114 that partitions air blow circuit 108 off from pipe connection housing section 107.
  • Pipe connector 102 connects the refrigerant pipe attached to indoor heat exchanger 101 to the refrigerant pipe attached to the outdoor heat exchanger.
  • pipe connection housing section 107 houses pipe connector 102 therein.
  • Indoor unit 100 includes communication path 110 provided between air blow circuit 108 and pipe connection housing section 107 to connect them to each other.
  • Communication path 110 may be provided in partition 114 between air blow circuit 108 and pipe connection housing section 107.
  • Communication path 110 may be formed in such a way as to penetrate machine chamber 106. It is preferable that an opening of communication path 110 that is closer to air blow circuit 108 be located near leak detection sensor 105.
  • Indoor unit 100 has pipe outlet hole 111 through which the refrigerant pipe emerges from indoor unit 100. It is preferable that the flow path area of communication path 110 be larger than the area of pipe outlet hole 111. In this configuration, the refrigerant leaking in pipe connection housing section 107 flows into air blow circuit 108 rather than flowing out of indoor unit 100, thus allowing leak detection sensor 105 provided in air blow circuit 108 to quickly detect the leaking refrigerant. This further improves safety at the occurrence of a refrigerant leak.
  • Outer panel 104 is formed into a shape slightly larger than underframe 103, and is installed in such a way as to cover underframe 103.
  • underframe 103 and outer panel 104 are installed with almost no gap formed therebetween.
  • the flammable refrigerant may leak from brazed portion 113 of indoor heat exchanger 101.
  • Brazed portion 113 of indoor heat exchanger 101 when corroded or damaged, tends to cause a refrigerant leak.
  • the flammable refrigerant has a specific gravity larger than that of air, the refrigerant, once it leaks out, flows downward from brazed portion 113 of indoor heat exchanger 101.
  • the refrigerant flowing downward reaches leak detection sensor 105 provided near the brazed portion 113 of indoor heat exchanger 101, specifically, provided below brazing portion 113 of indoor heat exchanger 101, and consequently leak detection sensor 105 detects the leaking refrigerant.
  • pipe connector 102 of the present exemplary embodiment connects the refrigerant pipe attached to indoor heat exchanger 101 to the refrigerant pipe attached to the outdoor heat exchanger in the air conditioner.
  • the flammable refrigerant leaks from pipe connector 102, the leaking flammable refrigerant fills pipe connection housing section 107, thus flowing through communication path 110 to reach air blow circuit 108.
  • the opening of communication path 110 that is closer to air blow circuit 108 is located near leak detection sensor 105.
  • the flammable refrigerant having passed through communication path 110 reaches leak detection sensor 105.
  • leak detection sensor 105 detects the leaking refrigerant.
  • the air conditioner according to the present exemplary embodiment allows detection of the flammable refrigerant leaking from brazed portion 113 of indoor heat exchanger 101 and detection of the flammable refrigerant leaking from pipe connector 102 as well, and therefore can further improve safety at the time of occurrence of a refrigerant leakage.
  • one leak detection sensor 105 is able to detect refrigerant leaks of both cases, the manufacturing cost of the air conditioner can be reduced.
  • the air conditioner according to the present exemplary embodiment includes indoor heat exchanger 101 in indoor unit 100, the outdoor heat exchanger in the outdoor unit, pipe connector 102 connecting the refrigerant pipe attached to indoor heat exchanger 101 to the refrigerant pipe attached to outdoor heat exchanger, and the flammable refrigerant filling each of the refrigerant pipes.
  • indoor unit 100 includes air blow circuit 108 housing indoor heat exchanger 101, pipe connection housing section 107 located on the back of the underframe 103 of indoor unit 100, pipe connection housing section 107 housing pipe connector 102, and leak detection sensor 105 that detects a leak of the flammable refrigerant, leak detection sensor 105 being disposed in air blow circuit 108, and indoor unit 100 further includes communication path 110 that communicatively connects fair blow circuit 108 to pipe connection housing section 107.
  • pipe connector 102 When indoor unit 100 is installed by a left-hand pipe connection method, pipe connector 102 is housed in pipe connection housing section 107. When the flammable refrigerant leaks from pipe connector 102, the flammable refrigerant flows through communication path 110 to reach leak detection sensor 105 in indoor unit 100. The air conditioner is thus able to detect the refrigerant leak and further improve safety at the occurrence of the refrigerant leak.
  • leak detection sensor 105 may be provided near brazed portion 113 of indoor heat exchanger 101.
  • Brazed portion 113 of indoor heat exchanger 101 is apt to be corroded or damaged. Disposing leak detection sensor 105 near brazed portion 113 of indoor heat exchanger 101 allows quick detection of a refrigerant leak, thus improving safety at the occurrence of a refrigerant leak.
  • indoor unit 100 includes pipe outlet hole 111 through which the refrigerant pipe connected to pipe connector 102 passes.
  • the flow path area of communication path 110 may be larger than the area of pipe outlet hole 111.
  • Leak detection sensor 105 provided in air blow circuit 108 is capable of quickly detecting a leak of the flammable refrigerant. This further improves safety at the occurrence of a refrigerant leakage.
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic front view of an internal configuration of indoor unit 100 of the air conditioner according to a second exemplary embodiment.
  • the second exemplary embodiment will hereinafter be described with reference to FIG. 2 .
  • Indoor unit 100 includes partition 114 that partitions air blow circuit 108 off from pipe connection housing section 107, air blow circuit 108 and pipe connection housing section 107 being included in underframe 103 of indoor unit 100.
  • An end surface of partition 114 that is closer to leak detection sensor 105 is at least partially opened.
  • indoor unit 100 has gap 112 of 1 mm or more on at least a part of a space between partition 114 and outer surface panel 104, the gap serving as communication path 110. It is preferable that gap 112 be provided on the side closer to leak detection sensor 105 in indoor unit 100.
  • gap 112 is provided on the right side of indoor unit 100 in a front view thereof.
  • the flow path area of communication path 110 i.e., gap 112 be larger than the area of pipe outlet hole 111.
  • Leak detection sensor 105 provided in air blow circuit 108 is capable of quickly detecting a leak of the flammable refrigerant. This further improves safety at the occurrence of a refrigerant leakage.
  • Pipe connector 102 connects the refrigerant pipe attached to indoor heat exchanger 101 to the refrigerant pipe attached to the outdoor heat exchanger in the air conditioner.
  • the leaking flammable refrigerant fills pipe connection housing section 107, flows through gap 112 between underframe 103 and outer panel 104 and through the end surface of partition 114 that is closer to leak detection sensor 105, and finally reaches leak detection sensor 105 in air blow circuit 108.
  • the air conditioner according to the present exemplary embodiment allows detection of the flammable refrigerant leaking from brazed portion 113 of indoor heat exchanger 101 and detection of the flammable refrigerant leaking from pipe connector 102 as well, and therefore can further improve safety at the time of occurrence of a refrigerant leakage.
  • one leak detection sensor 105 is able to detect refrigerant leaks of both cases, the manufacturing cost of the air conditioner can be reduced.
  • the technology disclosed in the present specification can be applied also to equipment having a refrigerant pipe filled with a flammable refrigerant, such as an air conditioner and a refrigerator.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Air Conditioning Control Device (AREA)
EP21203576.0A 2021-01-21 2021-10-19 Klimaanlage Pending EP4033165A1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2021007684A JP2022112061A (ja) 2021-01-21 2021-01-21 空気調和機

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4033165A1 true EP4033165A1 (de) 2022-07-27

Family

ID=78516553

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP21203576.0A Pending EP4033165A1 (de) 2021-01-21 2021-10-19 Klimaanlage

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP4033165A1 (de)
JP (1) JP2022112061A (de)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11971183B2 (en) 2019-09-05 2024-04-30 Trane International Inc. Systems and methods for refrigerant leak detection in a climate control system

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2002098346A (ja) 2000-09-26 2002-04-05 Daikin Ind Ltd 空気調和機の室内機
KR20060082458A (ko) * 2005-01-12 2006-07-18 엘지전자 주식회사 공기조화기의 응축수 배수 구조
JP2014035171A (ja) * 2012-08-10 2014-02-24 Mitsubishi Electric Corp 空気調和機、空気調和方法及びプログラム
JP2016080220A (ja) * 2014-10-14 2016-05-16 日立アプライアンス株式会社 空気調和機の室内機
JP2016217567A (ja) * 2015-05-15 2016-12-22 三菱重工業株式会社 空気調和装置および空気調和装置の制御方法
WO2018176554A1 (zh) * 2017-03-31 2018-10-04 广东美的制冷设备有限公司 空调室内机和空调器
EP3438559A1 (de) * 2017-04-28 2019-02-06 Hitachi-Johnson Controls Air Conditioning, Inc. Klimaanlageninnenraumeinheit

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2002098346A (ja) 2000-09-26 2002-04-05 Daikin Ind Ltd 空気調和機の室内機
KR20060082458A (ko) * 2005-01-12 2006-07-18 엘지전자 주식회사 공기조화기의 응축수 배수 구조
JP2014035171A (ja) * 2012-08-10 2014-02-24 Mitsubishi Electric Corp 空気調和機、空気調和方法及びプログラム
JP2016080220A (ja) * 2014-10-14 2016-05-16 日立アプライアンス株式会社 空気調和機の室内機
JP2016217567A (ja) * 2015-05-15 2016-12-22 三菱重工業株式会社 空気調和装置および空気調和装置の制御方法
WO2018176554A1 (zh) * 2017-03-31 2018-10-04 广东美的制冷设备有限公司 空调室内机和空调器
EP3438559A1 (de) * 2017-04-28 2019-02-06 Hitachi-Johnson Controls Air Conditioning, Inc. Klimaanlageninnenraumeinheit

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11971183B2 (en) 2019-09-05 2024-04-30 Trane International Inc. Systems and methods for refrigerant leak detection in a climate control system

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