JP2001227841A - Multi-room type air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multi-room type air conditioner for dehumidifying (drying) a specified chamber. SOLUTION: In the case where a specified room is dehumidified (dried), one indoor heat exchanger 6b of an indoor device 5b for dehumidifying (drying) the specified room is set to its cooling state and the other indoor heat exchanger 6c is set to its heating state, resulting in that a part of the refrigerant discharged out of a compressor 2 flows to an outdoor heat exchanger 3 and the residual refrigerant passes through a high pressure gas pipe 11, flows to the other indoor heat exchanger 6c of the indoor device 5b and the refrigerant is condensed and liquefied by the other indoor heat exchanger 6c and the outdoor heat exchanger 3. Then, the refrigerant condensed and liquefied by these heat exchangers passes through a liquid pipe 12, is evaporated and gasified by the indoor heat exchanger 6b and finally sucked into the compressor 2. In this way, the room is dehumidified (dried) by one indoor heat exchanger 6b acting as the evaporator and the other indoor heat exchanger 6c acting as the condenser.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-type air conditioner comprising an outdoor unit and a plurality of indoor units for simultaneously cooling and heating a plurality of rooms and dehumidifying (drying) a specific room.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in Japanese Patent No. 2692856, a multi-air conditioning system receives a supply of refrigerant from one (or a plurality of) outdoor units and distributes the plurality of units in the same room (or different rooms). A system that enables mixed operation of cooling and heating, simultaneous cooling operation or simultaneous heating operation, and dehumidification (drying) of a specific room by using the indoor unit of (1).

[0003]

The above-mentioned Patent No. 26928
The apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 56 requires a four-way switching valve and an outdoor heat exchanger by the number of indoor units, which complicates the piping circuit configuration, increases manufacturing costs, and requires two units for each indoor unit. Since the inter-unit piping must be drawn out of the outdoor unit, the number of inter-unit piping is increased, and there is a disadvantage that the piping work is troublesome.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a multi-type air conditioner for dehumidifying (drying) a specific chamber.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 is directed to an outdoor unit having a compressor and an outdoor heat exchanger, and a plurality of indoor units having an indoor heat exchanger. In a multi-type air conditioner in which units are connected by inter-unit piping, an outdoor heat exchanger is branched and connected to a refrigerant discharge pipe and a refrigerant suction pipe of a compressor via a switching valve, while the inter-unit pipe is connected to the discharge pipe. A high-pressure gas pipe branched and connected, and a low-pressure gas pipe branched and connected to the suction pipe,
It consists of an indoor heat exchanger and a connected liquid tube,
The indoor unit for dehumidifying a specific chamber is provided with a plurality of heat exchangers in the same ventilation path, and one of the heat exchangers is connected to the high-pressure gas pipe and the liquid pipe, and the other is connected to the high-pressure gas pipe and the liquid pipe. The heat exchanger is connected to the low-pressure gas pipe and the liquid pipe.

Accordingly, the first aspect of the present invention has the following effects.

When dehumidifying (drying) a specific room, if one indoor heat exchanger of the indoor unit to be dehumidified (dried) is set to a cooling state and the other indoor heat exchanger is set to a heating state, the compressor A part of the refrigerant discharged from the indoor heat exchanger flows to the outdoor heat exchanger, and the remaining refrigerant flows to one indoor heat exchanger of the indoor unit for dehumidifying (drying) through the high-pressure gas pipe. It is condensed and liquefied with a heat exchanger. And the refrigerant condensed and liquefied by these heat exchangers is distributed to the respective refrigerant decompressors of the indoor unit and the other indoor units to be dehumidified (dried) through the liquid pipes, and then evaporated and vaporized in each indoor heat exchanger, Thereafter, the refrigerant is sucked into the compressor through the low-pressure gas pipe and the refrigerant suction pipe sequentially. Thus, one room is cooled by the indoor heat exchanger acting as an evaporator, and the other room is dehumidified (dried) by one indoor heat exchanger acting as an evaporator and the other indoor heat exchanger acting as a condenser. ) Is done.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 is an outdoor unit having a compressor 2, an outdoor heat exchanger 3, and a gas-liquid separator 4, and 5a is an indoor heat exchanger 6a.
Indoor units having the same, 5b are indoor heat exchangers 6b, 6c
The outdoor heat exchanger 3 is branched and connected to the refrigerant discharge pipe 7 and the refrigerant suction pipe 8 of the compressor 2 via the switching valves 9a and 9b, while the outdoor unit 1 is connected to the indoor units 5a and 5b. A high-pressure gas pipe 11 branch-connected to a refrigerant discharge pipe 7 and a refrigerant suction pipe 8
Each of the indoor heat exchangers 6 includes a low-pressure gas pipe 12 branched and connected to a liquid pipe 13 connected to the outdoor heat exchanger 3.
a, 6b, and 6c are connected to the high-pressure gas pipe 11 and the low-pressure gas pipe 12 via switching valves 14a and 15a, respectively, and the liquid pipe 13 is connected to a refrigerant decompressor 16a, 1 such as an electric expansion valve.
6b and 16c.

Reference numeral 19 denotes an evaporation pressure regulating valve interposed in the low-pressure gas pipe 12, 20 an auxiliary refrigerant decompressor such as an electric expansion valve interposed in the liquid pipe 13, 21 an outdoor fan, 22 and 23 indoor fans, 24 is a room where the indoor unit 5a is installed, 2
Reference numeral 5 denotes a room in which the indoor unit 5b is installed. The room where the indoor unit 5b is installed is a room that also enables dehumidification (drying), and an indoor unit 5b having a structure different from that of the indoor unit 5a is installed. That is, the indoor unit 5b includes an outside air inlet 26 for taking in outside air, a return inlet 27 for sucking air in the chamber 25, and the two inlets 2.
A mixing box 28 for mixing the outside air and the indoor air from the air conditioners 6 and 27 is provided.
8 is supplied to the indoor heat exchanger 6 provided in the same ventilation path.
b, the indoor heat exchanger 6c and the indoor fan 23 are sequentially blown out from the outlet 29 into the room 25.

Next, the driving operation will be described. When cooling all the rooms simultaneously, one switching valve 9a of the outdoor heat exchanger 3 is opened, the other switching valve 9b is closed, and the indoor heat exchanger 6 is cooled.
a one switching valve 14a is closed and the other switching valve 1 is closed.
By opening 5a, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 2 flows sequentially through the discharge pipe 7, the switching valve 9a and the outdoor heat exchanger 3 and condenses and liquefies there.
a and 5b are distributed to the refrigerant decompressors 16a and 16b (16c is closed), where the pressure is reduced. Then, after being evaporated and vaporized in each indoor heat exchanger 6a, 6b, the switching valve 15
a, it is sucked into the compressor 2 through the low-pressure gas pipe 12, the suction pipe 8, and the gas-liquid separator 4 sequentially. Thus, one room 24 is cooled simultaneously by the indoor heat exchanger 6a acting as an evaporator, and the other room 25 is cooled by the indoor heat exchanger 6b acting as an evaporator.

Conversely, when heating all the rooms at the same time, one switching valve 9a of the outdoor heat exchanger 3 is closed and the other switching valve 9b is opened, and one switching valve 1 of the indoor heat exchanger 6a is opened.
By opening the switching valve 4a and closing the other switching valve 15a, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 2 passes through the discharge pipe 7 and the high-pressure gas pipe 11 in order, the switching valve 14a, and the indoor heat exchangers 6a and 6a.
After being condensed and liquefied, the pressure is reduced by each of the refrigerant decompressors 16a and 16c (16b is closed) and merged in the liquid pipe 13. Thereafter, the refrigerant is evaporated and vaporized in the outdoor heat exchanger 3. Thereafter, the refrigerant is sucked into the compressor 2 through the switching valve 9b, the suction pipe 8, and the gas-liquid separator 4 in this order. Thus, one room 24 is heated simultaneously by the indoor heat exchanger 6a acting as a condenser, and the other room 25 is heated by the indoor heat exchanger 6c acting as a condenser.

When simultaneously cooling an arbitrary room 25 and heating the other room 24 at the same time, for example, one switching valve 9a of the outdoor heat exchanger 3 is opened and the other switching valve 9b is closed, and the room for heating is heated. When one switching valve 14a of the unit 5a is opened and the other switching valve 15a is closed, a part of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 2 flows to the outdoor heat exchanger 3 through the discharge pipe 7 and the switching valve 9a in order. The remaining refrigerant is high-pressure gas pipe 1
1 and flows to the switching valve 14a of the indoor unit 5a to be heated and to the indoor heat exchanger 6a, and is condensed and liquefied by the indoor heat exchanger 6a and the outdoor heat exchanger 3. The refrigerant condensed and liquefied by the heat exchangers 6a and 3 is decompressed by the refrigerant pressure reducer 16b (close 16c) of the indoor unit 5b through the liquid pipe 13, and then evaporated and vaporized by the respective indoor heat exchangers 6b. After that, they are merged by the low-pressure gas pipe 12 and are sucked into the compressor 2 through the suction pipe 8 and the gas-liquid separator 4 in order. Thus, the room 24 is heated by the indoor heat exchanger 6a acting as a condenser, and the other indoor heat exchanger 6b acting as an evaporator is provided.
The other room 25 is cooled.

At the time of such simultaneous cooling and heating operation, the indoor unit 5
Although the refrigerant decompressor 16a does not cause the refrigerant pressure loss due to being fully opened, the pressure is adjusted by the auxiliary refrigerant decompressor 20 so that the liquid refrigerant pressure in the liquid pipe 13 does not become unbalanced.

Further, when the simultaneous cooling and heating operation is performed in winter, the pressure of the refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger 6b of the indoor unit 5b which is being cooled decreases to 4 kg / cm 2 or less because the low-pressure refrigerant pressure is affected by the outside air temperature. However, this pressure drop is prevented by the function of the evaporation pressure regulating valve 19, and the indoor heat exchanger 6b does not freeze.

When the refrigerant pressure in the indoor heat exchanger 6b drops to 4 kg / cm2 or less instead of providing the evaporation pressure adjusting valve 19, the opening degree of the refrigerant decompressor 16b is reduced. The opening of the pressure reducer 16b may be returned to the original degree.

In the simultaneous cooling and heating operation, the number of revolutions of the outdoor fan 21 for cooling the outdoor heat exchanger 3 is reduced to prevent the high pressure from lowering, so that the heating capacity of the indoor unit 5b does not decrease.

As described above, each of the indoor units 5a and 5b can be arbitrarily operated for cooling and heating by opening and closing the respective switching valves 14a, 15a and 16b and 16c.

Conversely, when cooling by the indoor unit 5a and heating by the indoor unit 5b, one switching valve 9a of the outdoor heat exchanger 3 is closed, and the other switching valve 9b is opened, and one of the indoor units 5a to be cooled. Is closed and the other switching valve 15a is opened, and the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 2 is condensed and liquefied in the respective indoor heat exchangers 6c through the discharge pipe 7 and the high-pressure gas pipe 11 in order. The liquefied refrigerant flows into the liquid pipe 13 via the refrigerant decompressor 16c which is fully opened, respectively, and a part of the liquid refrigerant in the liquid pipe is converted into the refrigerant decompressor 1
After being decompressed in 6a, the remaining liquid refrigerant is decompressed in the auxiliary refrigerant decompressor 20 after being decompressed in the indoor heat exchanger 6a, and then evaporated and vaporized in the outdoor heat exchanger 3, respectively. The refrigerant is sucked into the compressor 2 sequentially. Thus, the room 25 is heated by the indoor heat exchanger 6c acting as a condenser, and the room 24 is cooled by the other indoor heat exchanger 6a acting as an evaporator.

When simultaneously cooling the one chamber 24 and dehumidifying the other chamber 25, the indoor unit 5b for opening the one switching valve 9a and closing the other switching valve 9b of the outdoor heat exchanger 3 and dehumidifying. Is opened, a part of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 2 flows to the outdoor heat exchanger 3 through the discharge pipe 7 and the switching valve 9a sequentially, and the remaining refrigerant is dehumidified through the high-pressure gas pipe 11. 5b, flows into the indoor heat exchanger 6c, and is condensed and liquefied by the indoor heat exchanger 6c and the outdoor heat exchanger 3. Then, the refrigerant condensed and liquefied in the heat exchangers 6c and 3 passes through the liquid pipe 13 to the refrigerant decompressors 16a and 16
After being decompressed in b, it is evaporated and vaporized in each of the indoor heat exchangers 6a and 6b, and then merged in the low-pressure gas pipe 12 and sucked into the compressor 2 through the suction pipe 8 and the gas-liquid separator 4 in order. Is done.
Thus, the room 24 is cooled by the indoor heat exchanger 6a acting as an evaporator, and the air cooled by the indoor heat exchanger 6b acting as an evaporator is cooled by the indoor heat exchanger 6c acting as a condenser. Room 25 with indoor unit 5b to be heated
The inside is dehumidified.

The dehumidifying operation is performed when humid fresh air is introduced from the outside air inlet 26 and during the rainy season.

The chamber 25 can be used as a drying chamber for drying wood and fish.

[0022]

According to the present invention, since the piping between units connecting the outdoor unit and the plurality of indoor units is constituted by three refrigerant pipes of a high-pressure gas pipe, a low-pressure gas pipe, and a liquid pipe, the indoor unit can be used. Any number of indoor units can be combined simply by branch connection to the piping between the units, and simultaneous cooling and heating operation of multiple indoor units as well as simultaneous cooling and heating operation can be freely selected for any indoor unit. Can be done.

In addition, since a plurality of indoor heat exchangers are provided in at least one indoor unit, the dehumidification (drying) operation can be performed simultaneously with the cooling and heating operations of other rooms.

In addition, during simultaneous operation of cooling, heating and dehumidification, the indoor heat exchanger acting as a condenser and the indoor heat exchanger acting as an evaporator are connected in series, so that efficient operation by heat recovery is achieved. Can do it.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a refrigerant circuit diagram of a multi-room air conditioner showing an embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Outdoor unit 2 Compressor 3 Outdoor heat exchanger 5a, 5b Indoor unit 6a, 6b, 6c Indoor heat exchanger 7 Refrigerant discharge pipe 8 Refrigerant suction pipe 9a, 9b, 14a, 15a Switching valve 10 Unit piping 11 High pressure gas pipe 12 Low pressure gas pipe 13 Liquid pipe 16a, 16b, 16c Refrigerant decompressor

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A multi-type air conditioner in which an outdoor unit having a compressor and an outdoor heat exchanger and a plurality of indoor units having an indoor heat exchanger are connected by unit piping. A branch pipe is connected to a refrigerant discharge pipe and a refrigerant suction pipe of a compressor via a switching valve, and a high-pressure gas pipe branch-connected to the discharge pipe, and a low-pressure gas pipe branch-connected to the suction pipe. And a liquid pipe connected to the indoor heat exchanger, and the indoor unit for dehumidifying a specific room is provided with a plurality of heat exchangers in the same ventilation path. A multi-type air conditioner, wherein one heat exchanger is connected to the high-pressure gas pipe and the liquid pipe, and the other heat exchanger is connected to the low-pressure gas pipe and the liquid pipe.