EP4043804A1 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Air conditioner Download PDF

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Publication number
EP4043804A1
EP4043804A1 EP21203572.9A EP21203572A EP4043804A1 EP 4043804 A1 EP4043804 A1 EP 4043804A1 EP 21203572 A EP21203572 A EP 21203572A EP 4043804 A1 EP4043804 A1 EP 4043804A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
air conditioner
air
flap
indoor unit
blower fan
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
EP21203572.9A
Other languages
German (de)
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 EP4043804A1 publication Critical patent/EP4043804A1/en
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
    • F24F1/0003—Room units for air-conditioning, e.g. separate or self-contained units or units receiving primary air from a central station characterised by a split arrangement, wherein parts of the air-conditioning system, e.g. evaporator and condenser, are in separately located units
    • 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
    • F24F11/00—Control or safety arrangements
    • F24F11/50—Control or safety arrangements characterised by user interfaces or communication
    • F24F11/52—Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
    • 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
    • F24F11/62—Control or safety arrangements characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
    • F24F11/63—Electronic processing
    • 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
    • F24F11/72—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof for controlling the supply of treated air, e.g. its pressure
    • F24F11/74—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof for controlling the supply of treated air, e.g. its pressure for controlling air flow rate or air velocity
    • F24F11/77—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof for controlling the supply of treated air, e.g. its pressure for controlling air flow rate or air velocity by controlling the speed of ventilators
    • 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
    • F24F11/72—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof for controlling the supply of treated air, e.g. its pressure
    • F24F11/79—Control systems characterised by their outputs; Constructional details thereof for controlling the supply of treated air, e.g. its pressure for controlling the direction of the supplied air

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to an air conditioner composed of a refrigeration cycle using a flammable coolant made of propane (R290), isobutane (R600a), ethane (R170) or the like.
  • PTL 1 discloses an air conditioner using a flammable coolant such as hydrocarbon as the coolant with a low GWP.
  • This air conditioner stops a flow of the coolant by a shutoff valve, and avoids danger of fire.
  • This air conditioner includes sensors, each of which detects a leak of the coolant, in a heat exchange chamber and a machine chamber in an indoor unit.
  • the air conditioner further includes, in the indoor unit, such a shutoff valve that shuts off a flow of the coolant between the indoor unit and an outdoor unit.
  • the air conditioner stops the flow of the coolant by the above-described shutoff valve, and avoids the danger of fire.
  • the present disclosure provides an air conditioner that does not form a flammable region immediately below the indoor unit even if the coolant leaks in the indoor unit during thermo OFF of the indoor unit.
  • An air conditioner in the present disclosure has a refrigeration cycle in which an indoor heat exchanger of an indoor unit and an outdoor heat exchanger of an outdoor unit, a compressor, and a throttle device are connected via pipes to one another in a closed circuit, the refrigeration cycle using a flammable coolant, the air conditioner including: a blower fan that receives air that has passed through the indoor heat exchanger and blows the air to an air outlet of the indoor unit; a flap that adjusts an orientation of the air blown out from the air outlet into a room; and a control device that controls the blower fan and the flap, wherein the control device closes the flap in an event of stopping the blower fan while the air conditioner keeps running.
  • the air conditioner in the present disclosure closes the flap when the blower fan stops.
  • the flap can suppress a phenomenon that the flammable coolant leaks into the room from the air outlet and forms a flammable region containing the flammable coolant in a high concentration.
  • the air conditioner can further enhance the safety when the flammable coolant leaks.
  • An air conditioner is an air conditioner having a refrigeration cycle in which an indoor heat exchanger of an indoor unit and an outdoor heat exchanger of an outdoor unit, a compressor, and a throttle device are connected via pipes to one another in a closed circuit, the refrigeration cycle using a flammable coolant, the air conditioner including: a blower fan that receives air that has passed through the indoor heat exchanger and blows the air to an air outlet of the indoor unit; a flap that adjusts an orientation of the air blown out from the air outlet into a room; and a control device that controls the blower fan and the flap, wherein the control device closes the flap in an event of stopping the blower fan while the air conditioner keeps running.
  • the air conditioner closes the flap when the blower fan of the indoor unit stops.
  • the air conditioner closes the flap, and can thereby suppress a phenomenon that the flammable coolant leaks into the room from the air outlet and forms a flammable region containing the flammable coolant in a high concentration.
  • the air conditioner can further enhance safety when the flammable coolant leaks.
  • the indoor unit may include a leak detection sensor, and when the control device determines that the flammable coolant has leaked based on an output of the leak detection sensor, the control device may operate the blower fan, and may control the flap to turn an orientation of the air upward with respect to a horizontal plane. The control device turns the flap upward with respect to the horizontal plane in an event where the leak detection sensor has detected the flammable coolant.
  • the air conditioner will suppress the flammable region from being formed immediately below the indoor unit, will diffuse the flammable coolant, and can further enhance the safety at the time when the flammable coolant leaks.
  • the flap may open and close downward, and the flap may be provided with a structure of completely closing the air outlet of the indoor unit in an event of closing.
  • a tip end of the flap is in contact with a bottom surface of the indoor unit. Therefore, if the air outlet cannot be completely closed, the flammable coolant with a high concentration leaks into the room from the bottom surface of the indoor unit.
  • the air conditioner includes the flap having a length to make it possible to completely close the air outlet, will be thereby able to suppress the flammable region from being formed immediately below the indoor unit, and can further enhance the safety at the time when the flammable coolant leaks.
  • the indoor unit may have a display unit, the display unit indicating that the air conditioner is under operation when the blower fan stops while the air conditioner keeps running.
  • a front panel of the indoor unit may include a display indicating that the air conditioner is under operation. The display can notify a user of a state in which the air conditioner is under operation even when the fan stops and the flap is closed while the air conditioner keeps running. The air conditioner can prevent a decrease of comfortability of the user due to safety measures at the time when the flammable coolant leaks.
  • the control device may cause a remote controller for operating the air conditioner to indicate that the air conditioner is under operation, when the blower fan stops while the air conditioner keeps running. Even when the fan stops and the flap is closed while the air conditioner keeps running, the control device causes the remote controller to indicate that the air conditioner is under operation, and can thereby notify the user of an operation state.
  • the air conditioner can prevent the decrease of comfortability of the user due to the safety measures at the time when the flammable coolant leaks.
  • the control device may cause a communication terminal other than the remote controller to display that the air conditioner is under operation when the blower fan stops while the air conditioner keeps running. Even when the fan stops and the flap is closed while the air conditioner keeps running, the control device causes, for example, a personal communication terminal to display that the air conditioner is under operation, and can thereby notify the user of an operation state.
  • the air conditioner can prevent the decrease of comfortability of the user due to the safety measures at the time when the flammable coolant leaks.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a cross section of an indoor unit of an air conditioner in a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • the air conditioner uses a coolant gas having flammability, for example, uses a flammable coolant composed of propane (R290), isobutane (R600a), ethane (R170), or the like.
  • Indoor unit 100 includes: indoor heat exchanger 101; and cross flow fan 105. Air is introduced from suction port 102, passes through indoor heat exchanger 101 and cross flow fan 105, and is blown out from air outlet 103. In order to adjust a direction of blowing out air, indoor unit 100 includes flap 104 in the vicinity of air outlet 103.
  • the air conditioner has a refrigeration cycle including: indoor heat exchanger 101 of the indoor unit; and an outdoor heat exchanger of an outdoor unit, a compressor, and a throttle device; and pipes which connect these to one another.
  • Indoor unit 100 includes a control device that stops cross flow fan 105 in a case of a thermo OFF state even while the air conditioner keeps running. In that event, the control device closes flap 104 at the same time. Even when the flammable coolant has leaked in indoor unit 100 in the event where cross flow fan 105 of indoor unit 100 stops, the air conditioner can suppress a phenomenon that the flammable coolant leaks into a room from indoor unit 100 and forms a flammable region immediately below indoor unit 100, the flammable region containing the flammable coolant in a high concentration.
  • control device always closes flap 104 in a state where cross flow fan 105 stops.
  • the flammable coolant that has leaked in indoor unit 100 is prone to be retained in indoor unit 100.
  • leak detection sensor 107 can detect the flammable coolant in a short time.
  • the control device may operate cross flow fan 105 and may turn an orientation of flap 104 upward with respect to a horizontal plane.
  • the flammable coolant will be diffused, and the flammable region is suppressed from being formed immediately below indoor unit 100.
  • the air conditioner can further enhance safety when the flammable coolant leaks.
  • indoor unit 100 may include a display on a panel surface in order to indicate that the air conditioner is under operation even when the fan stops. Indoor unit 100 may indicate, on a remote controller, that the air conditioner is under operation. Indoor unit 100 may transmit a notice that the air conditioner is under operation to a personal communication terminal (for example, a smartphone or a tablet).
  • a personal communication terminal for example, a smartphone or a tablet.
  • the air conditioner can notify a user of an operation state thereof even when the fan stops and the flap is closed while the air conditioner keeps running.
  • the air conditioner can prevent the decrease of comfortability of the user due to the safety measures at the time when the flammable coolant leaks.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a cross section of an indoor unit of an air conditioner in a second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • indoor unit 100 includes downward flap 108 that opens and closes downward.
  • Downward flap 108 is provided with a length to completely close air outlet 103 in the event of closing.
  • a tip end of flap 108 comes into contact with a bottom surface of indoor unit 100. If flap 108 cannot completely close air outlet 103, the flammable coolant with a high concentration leaks from the bottom surface of indoor unit 100.
  • Indoor unit 100 includes flap 108 with a length to make it possible to close air outlet 103.
  • the air conditioner will be able to suppress the flammable region from being formed immediately below the indoor unit, and the safety at the time when the flammable coolant leaks can be further enhanced.
  • the technology disclosed in the present specification can also be applied to an instrument filled with the flammable coolant, such as a refrigerating instrument, as well as the air conditioner.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Fuzzy Systems (AREA)
  • Mathematical Physics (AREA)
  • Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
  • Air Conditioning Control Device (AREA)
EP21203572.9A 2021-02-10 2021-10-19 Air conditioner Pending EP4043804A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2021019460A JP2022122323A (ja) 2021-02-10 2021-02-10 空気調和機

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4043804A1 true EP4043804A1 (en) 2022-08-17

Family

ID=78516552

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP21203572.9A Pending EP4043804A1 (en) 2021-02-10 2021-10-19 Air conditioner

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP4043804A1 (ja)
JP (1) JP2022122323A (ja)

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP3744330B2 (ja) 2000-09-26 2006-02-08 ダイキン工業株式会社 空気調和機の室内機
JP2011127847A (ja) * 2009-12-18 2011-06-30 Mitsubishi Electric Corp 空気調和機
EP2857771A1 (en) * 2012-06-04 2015-04-08 Daikin Industries, Ltd. Refrigeration device management system
JP2015094512A (ja) * 2013-11-12 2015-05-18 ダイキン工業株式会社 床置型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
JP2017053501A (ja) * 2015-09-07 2017-03-16 ダイキン工業株式会社 空調室内機
JP6408324B2 (ja) * 2014-09-29 2018-10-17 日立ジョンソンコントロールズ空調株式会社 空気調和機の室内機
JP2019052785A (ja) * 2017-09-13 2019-04-04 株式会社富士通ゼネラル 空気調和装置
WO2019077696A1 (ja) * 2017-10-18 2019-04-25 三菱電機株式会社 空気調和機

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP3744330B2 (ja) 2000-09-26 2006-02-08 ダイキン工業株式会社 空気調和機の室内機
JP2011127847A (ja) * 2009-12-18 2011-06-30 Mitsubishi Electric Corp 空気調和機
EP2857771A1 (en) * 2012-06-04 2015-04-08 Daikin Industries, Ltd. Refrigeration device management system
JP2015094512A (ja) * 2013-11-12 2015-05-18 ダイキン工業株式会社 床置型空気調和機の室内機
JP6408324B2 (ja) * 2014-09-29 2018-10-17 日立ジョンソンコントロールズ空調株式会社 空気調和機の室内機
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
JP2017053501A (ja) * 2015-09-07 2017-03-16 ダイキン工業株式会社 空調室内機
JP2019052785A (ja) * 2017-09-13 2019-04-04 株式会社富士通ゼネラル 空気調和装置
WO2019077696A1 (ja) * 2017-10-18 2019-04-25 三菱電機株式会社 空気調和機

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