EP4083524A1 - Heat medium circulation device - Google Patents

Heat medium circulation device Download PDF

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Publication number
EP4083524A1
EP4083524A1 EP22169798.0A EP22169798A EP4083524A1 EP 4083524 A1 EP4083524 A1 EP 4083524A1 EP 22169798 A EP22169798 A EP 22169798A EP 4083524 A1 EP4083524 A1 EP 4083524A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
refrigerant
heat medium
medium circulation
mechanical chamber
circulation device
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
EP22169798.0A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Yasuaki BANDO
Shunji Moriwaki
Yuki YAMAOKA
Kazuhiko Machida
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 EP4083524A1 publication Critical patent/EP4083524A1/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
    • 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
    • F24F1/00—Room units for air-conditioning, e.g. separate or self-contained units or units receiving primary air from a central station
    • F24F1/06—Separate outdoor units, e.g. outdoor unit to be linked to a separate room comprising a compressor and a heat exchanger
    • F24F1/46—Component arrangements in separate outdoor 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
    • F24F1/06—Separate outdoor units, e.g. outdoor unit to be linked to a separate room comprising a compressor and a heat exchanger
    • F24F1/46—Component arrangements in separate outdoor units
    • F24F1/48—Component arrangements in separate outdoor units characterised by air airflow, e.g. inlet or outlet airflow
    • 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
    • F24F11/0001—Control or safety arrangements for ventilation
    • 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
    • F24F11/89—Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
    • 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
    • F24F2140/00—Control inputs relating to system states

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates to a heat medium circulation device.
  • Patent document 1 discloses a heat medium circulation device in which flammable refrigerant which leaks out from a refrigeration cycle circuit is easily discharged out from a casing.
  • This heat medium circulation device includes a refrigeration circuit, a mechanical chamber, an induction hole through which outside air is introduced, and a blowing hole which is brought into communication with a blowing circuit from the mechanical chamber.
  • Patent Document 1 Specification of European Patent No.2896897
  • the present disclosure provides a heat medium circulation device which enhances safety when flammable refrigerant leaks while securing energy saving performance and noise barrier performance.
  • a heat medium circulation device of the disclosure includes a refrigerant circuit in which a compressor, a use-side heat exchanger, an expanding device and a heat source-side heat exchanger are annularly connected to one another, and a mechanical chamber in which at least a portion of the refrigerant circuit and a control device are accommodated, flammable refrigerant is used as working fluid, and the heat medium circulation device further includes an open/close mechanism which opens such that an interior of the mechanical chamber is vented into the outdoor atmosphere when flammable refrigerant leaks into the mechanical chamber.
  • the heat medium circulation device of the disclosure safety when flammable refrigerant leaks into the mechanical chamber is enhanced.
  • refrigerant does not leak, since the open/close mechanism is closed, it is possible to prevent outside air from entering the mechanical chamber. Therefore, heat radiation from the refrigerant circuit when the system is operated is suppressed, and it is possible to expect enhancement of the energy saving performance.
  • the open/close mechanism is always opened, noise in the mechanical chamber leaks outside, but when refrigerant does not leak, the open/close mechanism is closed. Therefore, the noise barrier performance is enhanced, and it is possible to secure air permeability while suppressing, to the minimum, increase in noise according to the present invention.
  • a heat medium circulation device 100 includes a refrigerant circuit 110, a control device 120, a mechanical chamber 130 in which at least a portion of the refrigerant circuit 110 and the control device 120 are accommodated, and an open/close mechanism 140.
  • the refrigerant circuit will be described using Fig. 2 .
  • the refrigerant circuit 110 is a vapor compression type refrigeration cycle.
  • the refrigerant circuit 110 is formed by sequentially connecting a compressor 111, a use-side heat exchanger 112, an expanding device 113 and a heat source-side heat exchanger 114 to one another through a pipe 116.
  • propane which is flammable refrigerant is used as refrigerant.
  • a four-way valve 115 is provided in the refrigerant circuit 110.
  • the four-way valve 115 switches between heating operation for producing warm water and cooling operation for producing cold water.
  • Heat medium using water or antifreeze liquid which is transferred out from a heat medium circuit placed indoors flows into the use-side heat exchanger 112.
  • the heat medium is heated and cooled by exchanging heat with refrigerant.
  • high pressure refrigerant (point a) discharged out from the compressor 111 flows into the use-side heat exchanger 112 through the four-way valve 115, and the high pressure refrigerant radiates heat to heat medium which flows through the use-side heat exchanger 112.
  • the high pressure refrigerant (point b) after it radiates heat in the use-side heat exchanger 112 is decompressed and expanded by the expanding device 113 and then, the refrigerant flows into the heat source-side heat exchanger 114.
  • high pressure refrigerant (point a) discharged out from the compressor 111 flows into the heat source-side heat exchanger 114 through the four-way valve 115 and radiates heat to outside air in the heat source-side heat exchanger 114.
  • the high pressure refrigerant (point b) after it radiates heat in the heat source-side heat exchanger 114 is decompressed and expanded by the expanding device 113 and then, the high pressure refrigerant flows into the use-side heat exchanger 112.
  • the low pressure refrigerant (point c) which flows into the use-side heat exchanger 112 absorbs heat from heat medium which flows through the use-side heat exchanger 112 and is vaporized, and again returns to the suction side (point d) of the compressor 111 through the four-way valve 115.
  • the control device 120 is provided in a casing of the heat medium circulation device 100.
  • the control device 120 controls the number of rotations of the compressor 111, a throttling amount of the expanding device 113, the switching operation of the four-way valve 115 and the like such that efficiency of the vapor compression type refrigeration cycle is enhanced.
  • the control device 120 also performs control to operate the open/close mechanism 140 when flammable refrigerant in the mechanical chamber 130 leaks.
  • the control device 120 is composed of a controller 121, a user interface 122 and a refrigerant concentration sensor 123.
  • the controller 121 is provided with a microcomputer, a memory and the like. Operation and shutdown of the device and setting of temperature of heat medium which is produced are input through the user interface 122.
  • the refrigerant concentration sensor 123 detects concentration of flammable gas in the mechanical chamber.
  • the open/close mechanism 140 is composed of an opening 141, a flap 142 and a driving device 143.
  • the flap 142 closes the opening 141.
  • the driving device 143 opens and closes the flap 142.
  • the open/close mechanism 140 is placed in the mechanical chamber 130 at a position lower than the control device 120.
  • the driving device 143 is connected to the control device 120.
  • the controller 121 carries out the heating operation or the cooling operation based on input information of the user interface 122.
  • Flammable refrigerant which leaks into the mechanical chamber 130 is discharged out into outdoor atmosphere from the open/close mechanism 140, and Fig. 6 schematically shows this flow of the flammable refrigerant.
  • the pipe 116 in the refrigerant circuit 110 is cracking and flammable refrigerant leaks into the mechanical chamber 130.
  • a servomotor in the driving device 143 is driven by instructions of the controller 121. If the flap 142 is operated in its opening direction by the servomotor, the interior of the mechanical chamber 130 is vented into the outdoor atmosphere.
  • flammable refrigerant having density greater than that of air moves downward due to a density difference between itself and air, and the flammable refrigerant is gradually discharged out from the open/close mechanism 140 which is placed at a low position in the mechanical chamber 130.
  • step S1 By a user's operation of the user interface 122, start of the heating operation or the cooling operation is instructed (step S1).
  • the control device 120 operates the compressor 111, controls the number of rotation of the compressor 111, and adjust an opening degree of the expanding device 113 (step S2).
  • the control device 120 detects refrigerant concentration Cr in the mechanical chamber 130 by the refrigerant concentration sensor 123 (step S3).
  • the control device 120 compares preset refrigerant concentrations Ca and Cr with each other, and determines whether the refrigerant concentration Cr is equal to or greater than the refrigerant concentration Ca (step S4).
  • the control device 120 determines that refrigerant does not leak into the mechanical chamber 130, and continues the operation.
  • the control device 120 determines that refrigerant gas leaks into the mechanical chamber 130, and stops the operation of the compressor 111 (step S5) .
  • the servomotor in the driving device 143 is driven by the instruction of the controller 121, the flap 142 is operated in the opening direction and the open/close mechanism 140 is opened. According to this, the interior of the mechanical chamber 130 is vented into the outdoor atmosphere (step S6).
  • the heat medium circulation device 100 includes the refrigerant circuit 110, the control device 120, the mechanical chamber 130 and the open/close mechanism 140.
  • the refrigerant circuit 110 is a vapor compression type refrigeration cycle of flammable refrigerant.
  • the refrigerant circuit 110 is formed by annularly connecting the compressor 111, the use-side heat exchanger 112, the expanding device 113 and the heat source-side heat exchanger 114 to one another.
  • the heat medium circulation 100 device includes the open/close mechanism 140 which opens such that the interior of the mechanical chamber 130 is vented into the outdoor atmosphere when the flammable refrigerant leaks into the mechanical chamber 130.
  • the flammable refrigerant having density greater than that of air moves downward due to a density difference between the flammable refrigerant and air, and the flammable refrigerant is discharged out from the open/close mechanism 140. Doing so, refrigerant density in the mechanical chamber 130 is lowered. Since the flammable refrigerant is discharged into the outdoor atmosphere, the inner pressure in the mechanical chamber 130 is lowered, outside air is incorporated due to the pressure difference between the inner pressure and the outdoor atmosphere, and the discharging action of the flammable refrigerant is promoted. Doing so, the refrigerant density in the mechanical chamber 130 is further lowered.
  • the open/close mechanism 140 closes when refrigerant does not leak, it is possible to prevent outside air from entering into the mechanical chamber 130. Further, heat radiation from the refrigerant circuit 110 when the system is operated is suppressed, and enhancement of energy saving performance can be expected.
  • the open/close mechanism 140 is always opened, noise in the mechanical chamber 130 leaks out, but when refrigerant does not leak, the open/close mechanism 140 is closed. Hence, the noise barrier performance is enhanced, and it is possible to suppress the increase of noise to the minimum while securing the air permeability by the present invention.
  • the open/close mechanism 140 may be placed at a position lower than the control device 120 in the casing including at least the mechanical chamber 130 as in the embodiment.
  • the flammable refrigerant having specific gravity greater than that of air moves to a position lower than the leakage location, the flammable refrigerant is discharged by the open/close mechanism 140 located at a position lower than the control device 120 without staying in the control device 120 and according to this, density of the flammable refrigerant in the vicinity of the control device 120 is lowered. Hence, safety when flammable refrigerant leaks is enhanced.
  • the refrigerant concentration sensor 123 and the control device 120 may be provided in the mechanical chamber 130, and when a detection value of the refrigerant concentration sensor 123 becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined value, the control device 120 may determine that refrigerant leaks from the refrigerant circuit 110 as in the embodiment.
  • the flammable refrigerant may be R32, mixed refrigerant including 70% or more R32 by weight, propane or mixed refrigerant including propane.
  • a cooling and heating hot water supply system was described as one example of the heat medium circulation device 100.
  • the heat medium circulation device 100 is not limited only if it can cool or heat the heat medium. Therefore, the heat medium circulation device 100 is not limited to the cooling and heating hot water supply system.
  • the cooling and heating hot water supply system is used as the heat medium circulation device 100, it is possible to meet the annual heat demand of housing.
  • a cold/warm water chiller may be used as the heat medium circulation device 100. If the cold/warm water chiller is used as the heat medium circulation device 100, it is possible to cope with heating/cooling thermal load used in a factory. Hence, it is possible to enhance the energy saving performance of a factory.
  • the refrigerant concentration sensor 123 was described as one example of a leakage detecting sensor.
  • the leakage detecting sensor is not limited only if it can determine that refrigerant leaks into the mechanical chamber 130 from the refrigerant circuit 110. Therefore, the leakage detecting sensor is not limited to the refrigerant concentration sensor 123.
  • the refrigerant concentration sensor 123 is used as the leakage detecting sensor, it is possible to detect the leakage of refrigerant with a simple configuration. It is also possible that a sensor used for controlling the refrigerant circuit 110 is used as the leakage detecting sensor, and to estimate leakage of flammable refrigerant from a value of the sensor. If the refrigerant leakage is estimated by the value of the sensor used for controlling the refrigerant circuit 110, it is possible to detect the leakage only by an existing sensor, and it is unnecessary to newly provide a sensor.
  • the flap 142 was described as one example of the open/close mechanism 140.
  • the open/close mechanism 140 is not limited only if it closes when leakage of flammable refrigerant is not detected, and it opens when leakage of the refrigerant is detected. Therefore, the open/close mechanism 140 is not limited to the flap 142. However, if the flap 142 is used as the open/close mechanism 140, it is possible to detect the leakage of refrigerant with a simple configuration.
  • the open/close mechanism 140 may be a blind composed of a plurality of slats. If the blind is employed as the open/close mechanism 140, it is possible to reduce a motion range in size with respect to an opening area, and it is unnecessary to limit an installation position of the system.
  • the servomotor was described as one example of the driving device 143.
  • the driving device 143 it is only necessary that the driving device 143 can operate the flap 142 in its opening direction. Therefore, the driving device 143 is not limited to the servomotor.
  • the servomotor is excellent in terms of position-controlling performance, and the servomotor can be driven in an electricity-saving manner. Therefore, it is possible to satisfy both the controlling performance and the energy saving performance.
  • the present disclosure can be applied to a heat medium circulation device in which flammable refrigerant may leak into a heat medium circuit. More specifically, the present disclosure can be applied to a warm water supply heater, a professional-use chiller and the like.

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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)
  • Other Air-Conditioning Systems (AREA)
EP22169798.0A 2021-04-27 2022-04-25 Heat medium circulation device Pending EP4083524A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2021074719A JP2022168986A (ja) 2021-04-27 2021-04-27 熱媒体循環装置

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4083524A1 true EP4083524A1 (en) 2022-11-02

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ID=81386687

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP22169798.0A Pending EP4083524A1 (en) 2021-04-27 2022-04-25 Heat medium circulation device

Country Status (2)

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EP (1) EP4083524A1 (ja)
JP (1) JP2022168986A (ja)

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH08200904A (ja) * 1995-01-31 1996-08-09 Sanyo Electric Co Ltd 冷房装置
JP2002115939A (ja) * 2000-10-12 2002-04-19 Hitachi Industries Co Ltd ヒートポンプシステム
JP5208100B2 (ja) * 2009-12-18 2013-06-12 三菱電機株式会社 空気調和機
WO2015058450A1 (zh) * 2013-10-25 2015-04-30 广东美的制冷设备有限公司 空调器
EP2896897A1 (en) 2012-09-12 2015-07-22 Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Refrigeration cycle device
CN109357325A (zh) * 2018-09-27 2019-02-19 海信（山东）空调有限公司 一种防爆空调器及其防爆控制方法

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH08200904A (ja) * 1995-01-31 1996-08-09 Sanyo Electric Co Ltd 冷房装置
JP2002115939A (ja) * 2000-10-12 2002-04-19 Hitachi Industries Co Ltd ヒートポンプシステム
JP5208100B2 (ja) * 2009-12-18 2013-06-12 三菱電機株式会社 空気調和機
EP2896897A1 (en) 2012-09-12 2015-07-22 Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Refrigeration cycle device
WO2015058450A1 (zh) * 2013-10-25 2015-04-30 广东美的制冷设备有限公司 空调器
CN109357325A (zh) * 2018-09-27 2019-02-19 海信（山东）空调有限公司 一种防爆空调器及其防爆控制方法

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Publication number Publication date
JP2022168986A (ja) 2022-11-09

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