JP2003083636A - Air conditioning equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air conditioning equipment which enables prevention of gathering of a refrigerant in an outdoor unit in stoppage, in regard to a multiple type air conditioning equipment having a plurality of outdoor units. SOLUTION: Cooling water passages of the outdoor units are connected to each other and warm cooling water of the outdoor unit in operation is made to flow through the cooling water passage of the outdoor unit in stoppage. Thereby the temperature of the refrigerant of the unit in stoppage is raised and gathering of the refrigerant in this unit is prevented in a heating operation at a low outdoor air temperature. In a partial load operation in a cooling operation, the heat of cooling water of an engine can be radiated by radiators having wider areas. Accordingly, the temperature of each radiator is reduced and the efficiency of the refrigerant in a heat exchanger is increased. Therefore the cooling capacity in the cooling operation is also improved.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an air conditioner in which a compressor driven by the power of an internal combustion engine such as a gas engine is mounted in an outdoor unit, and a refrigerant is used for air conditioning operation for heating and cooling at low outside air temperature. The present invention relates to prevention of pooling of refrigerant during operation and improvement of capacity during partial load operation during cooling operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A compressor, which is driven by utilizing the power of an internal combustion engine such as a gas engine, is installed in an outdoor unit, the refrigerant is compressed by the compressor, and the compressed refrigerant is discharged from the outdoor unit. It is sent to multiple indoor units connected by pipes for air conditioning operation. Recently, in particular, there is a trend toward larger and larger air conditioners. The number of multi-type air conditioners that connect units to perform air conditioning operation is increasing.

In the air conditioning operation of this air conditioner, the capacity control of the outdoor unit and the increase / decrease control of the number of operating units are performed according to the air conditioning load.

[0004]

However, during heating operation at a low outside air temperature, there is no particular problem as long as all the outdoor units connected to the same system are in operation, but there is no problem. When the air conditioning load becomes lighter and the required capacity of the outdoor unit decreases, the capacity generated in the operating outdoor unit becomes an excessive capacity even if it is set as the lower limit value. A stop instruction is sent to a part of the outdoor units, and the operation is performed in a state where the operating outdoor unit and the stopped outdoor unit are mixed in the same system.

At this time, the outdoor unit in operation is operating without any problem. However, in the outdoor unit in stop, as a matter of course, the engine stops and the engine does not generate heat, so that the refrigerant has a low temperature. When left in a state, the refrigerant temperature drops in a part of the refrigerant pipe and liquefies, causing the volume to decrease, and the surrounding refrigerant may be drawn in and accumulated there, possibly leading to a pseudo-gas decision state. There is.

Also, as a matter of course, during cooling operation,
In an air conditioner, the indoor heat exchanger absorbs heat and the outdoor heat exchanger radiates heat.However, in an outdoor unit operating using power such as a gas engine, the heat generated by the engine is also radiated by a radiator. is doing.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerant pipe and an outdoor heat exchanger of an outdoor unit that is stopped among a plurality of outdoor units connected in the same refrigerant system during heating operation at a low outdoor air temperature. When the refrigerant accumulates in the outdoor unit that is stopped while preventing accumulation and out-of-gas state, this refrigerant is recovered and cooling effect in partial load operation during cooling operation An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner capable of improving the above.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a plurality of outdoor units having a compressor driven by an internal combustion engine such as a gas engine and an outdoor heat exchanger. An air conditioner having a configuration in which the outdoor unit is connected to the indoor unit by a refrigerant pipe of the same system, and the cooling water of the internal combustion engine is guided to a radiator arranged in parallel with the outdoor heat exchanger to radiate heat by the radiator. In the device, the inlet side connection ports of each radiator of different outdoor units, and the outlet side connection ports are connected by cooling water connection pipes, respectively, the cooling water of the operating outdoor unit to the radiator of the stopped outdoor unit. It is characterized by having a first means for guiding.

The invention according to claim 2 is provided with a plurality of outdoor units having a compressor driven by an internal combustion engine such as a gas engine and an outdoor heat exchanger, and the plurality of outdoor units are used as indoor units. On the other hand, in the air conditioner having a structure in which the cooling water of the internal combustion engine is guided to a radiator arranged in parallel with the outdoor heat exchanger, and is connected by refrigerant pipes of the same system, and the radiator radiates heat, different outdoor units The inlet side connection ports of each radiator of, and the outlet side connection ports are respectively connected by cooling water connection pipes,
When a shortage of refrigerant occurs in the operating outdoor unit, first means for guiding the cooling water of the operating outdoor unit to the radiator of the stopped outdoor unit, and the heat of the radiator dissipates the stopped outdoor unit. Second means for collecting the refrigerant vaporized by the outdoor heat exchanger into the operating outdoor unit.

The invention described in claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2.
In the above-mentioned one, the first means is configured by an electromagnetic valve provided on the cooling water connection pipes that connect the inlet side connection ports or the outlet side connection ports.

The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 2 or 3.
In the second aspect, the second means is constituted by an outdoor electric valve provided on the refrigerant pipe of the outdoor unit.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

First, referring to FIG. 1, FIG.
Is equipped with a plurality of outdoor units equipped with a compressor that is driven by using the power of a gas engine and the like and a plurality of indoor units connected by the same refrigerant circuit, and cooling the engine of one of the outdoor units. FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an air conditioner configured by connecting a cooling water passage to be performed to a cooling water passage of another outdoor unit. For example, the outdoor units 1 and 2 are connected in parallel to the inter-unit pipe 6 and the inter-unit pipe 6 is connected. In the extended destination, the indoor units 3 and 4 will be described as an air conditioner connected in parallel.

The outdoor unit 1 includes an engine 10 for generating power by burning fuel such as gas, a compressor 11 driven by the power, a four-way valve 12 for changing the circulation direction of the refrigerant, and a refrigerant. The outdoor electric valve (second means) 13 for adjusting the flow rate of the air conditioner, the outdoor heat exchanger 14 for exchanging heat between the refrigerant compressed by the compressor 11 and the outdoor air, and the accumulator 15 are connected by a refrigerant pipe and built-in. This refrigerant pipe is connected to the inter-unit pipe 6 via the manual valves 24 and 25.

Further, a cooling water pump 17 for circulating cooling water for cooling the engine 10 and a radiator 16 provided for the outdoor heat exchanger 14 for radiating the cooling water.
A solenoid valve (first means) 18 for connecting / disconnecting the flow of the cooling water to / from the cooling water passage of the other outdoor unit is connected and built in by a cooling water pipe, and is connected to the cooling water connection pipe 7 by the manual valves 23 and 26. It is connected.

Further, the outdoor blower 19 for blowing air to the outdoor heat exchanger 14, and the outdoor air temperature sensor 2 for detecting the outdoor air temperature.
0, a heat exchange inlet temperature sensor 21 and a heat exchange outlet temperature sensor 27 that detect the temperature of the inlet side and the outlet side of the outdoor heat exchanger 14, and the engine 10 and the four-way valve 12 are provided.
, Outdoor electric valve 13, cooling water pump 17, solenoid valve 1
8 and an outdoor blower 19 are provided with an outdoor control unit 22 for controlling ON / OFF of respective control devices and for communicating with the central control unit 5 through the communication wiring 9.

Similarly, the outdoor unit 2 also has an engine 30 for generating power by burning fuel such as gas.
A compressor 31 driven by its power, a four-way valve 32 for changing the circulation direction of the refrigerant, an outdoor electric valve (second means) 33 for adjusting the flow rate of the refrigerant, and a refrigerant compressed by the compressor 30. An outdoor heat exchanger 34 for exchanging heat with the outdoor air,
The accumulator 35 is connected to and built in by a refrigerant pipe, and this refrigerant pipe is connected to the inter-unit pipe 6 via the manual valves 44 and 45.

Further, a cooling pump 37 for circulating cooling water for cooling the engine 30, a radiator 36 provided for the outdoor heat exchanger 34 for radiating the cooling water, and a cooling water passage for other outdoor units are provided. A solenoid valve (first means) 38 for connecting and disconnecting the flow of the cooling water is connected and built in by a cooling water pipe, and is connected to the cooling water connection pipe 7 by manual valves 43 and 46.

Further, the outdoor blower 39 for blowing air to the outdoor heat exchanger 34, and the outdoor air temperature sensor 4 for detecting the outdoor air temperature.
0, a heat exchange inlet temperature sensor 41 for detecting the temperature of the inlet side and the outlet side of the outdoor heat exchanger 34, and a heat exchange outlet temperature sensor 47 are provided, and the engine 30, the four-way valve 32, and the outdoor electric motor The valve 33, the cooling water pump 37, the solenoid valve 38, and an outdoor control unit 42 that controls on / off of the outdoor blower 39 and communicates with the central control unit 5 through the communication wiring 9.

On the other hand, regarding the indoor units 3 and 4, first, the indoor unit 3 is built by connecting the indoor heat exchanger 50 and the indoor motor-operated valve 52 with a refrigerant pipe and connecting them to the inter-unit pipe 6. Cage, this indoor heat exchanger 50
An indoor blower 51 that blows air into the room and an indoor temperature sensor 53 that detects an air conditioning load are provided, and the indoor control unit 54 communicates with the central control unit 5 through the communication wiring 8 and adjusts the air volume of the indoor blower 51. The valve opening degree of the indoor electric valve 52 is adjusted.

Similarly, in the indoor unit 4, an indoor heat exchanger 55 and an indoor motor-operated valve 57 are connected by a refrigerant pipe and built in, and are connected to an inter-unit pipe 6, and this indoor heat exchanger 55 is connected to the indoor heat exchanger 55. An indoor blower 56 that blows air and an indoor temperature sensor 58 that detects an air conditioning load are provided, and the indoor control unit 59 communicates with the central control unit 5 through the communication wiring 8 and adjusts the air volume of the indoor blower 56. The valve opening degree of the indoor electric valve 57 is adjusted.

Then, the central control unit 5 receives signals from the indoor units 3 and 4 such as cooling / heating operation requests and required capacities, calculates an air conditioning load from the indoor unit side, and outputs the air conditioning load to the air conditioning load. The corresponding operating numbers and operating capacities are transmitted to the outdoor units 1 and 2. Further, the central control unit 5 receives data such as sensor temperatures and operating states from the outdoor units 1 and 2, and also gives instructions to the respective operating states.

The structure of the outdoor unit will be described with reference to FIG. 2 using a schematic view in which a part of the exterior of the outdoor unit 1 is cut away.
A machine room 60 containing the engine 10, the compressor 11, the cooling water pump 17 and the like is provided below, and an outdoor heat exchanger 14, a radiator 16 attached to the outdoor heat exchanger 14, and an outdoor blower 19 are built in. The heat exchanger chambers 61 are arranged above, and the machine chamber 60 and the heat exchanger chamber 61 are partitioned by a drain pan 62. A base member 63 is installed at the lower end of the machine room 60, and the machine room 60 is supported by the base member 63.

In the heat exchanger chamber 61, the outdoor heat exchanger 14 is installed on the opposite side surfaces, and since the radiator 16 is also attached to the outdoor heat exchanger 14, it is also installed on the opposite side surfaces. An exterior panel 64 is arranged at a position orthogonal to the outdoor heat exchanger 14 and the radiator 16.

The exterior panel 6 which constitutes the machine room 60
5 and 66 are provided such that the exterior panel 65 is positioned below the exterior panel 64, and the exterior panel 66 is positioned below the outdoor heat exchanger 14 and the radiator 16, respectively. The exterior panel 66 has a built-in engine 10
An intake port 67 for sucking in the combustion air is provided.

Next, the control means will be described with reference to the flow chart of FIG. 3. First, the central control section 5 judges whether or not the air conditioner is in operation (S1). , An instruction to close the solenoid valve is transmitted to the outdoor units 1 and 2 (S2), and the instruction to open the outdoor motor-operated valve transmitted to the stopped outdoor unit is canceled (S2).
3) Return to step 1 and execute the flowchart again from the judgment of step 1. If you are driving
It is determined whether or not the operating outdoor unit and the stopped outdoor unit are mixed in this refrigerant system (S4),
If all the outdoor units are in operation or stopped, the operations of steps 2 and 3 are performed, and the process returns to step 1.

On the other hand, when the operating outdoor unit and the stopped outdoor unit are mixed,
It is determined whether or not the air conditioner is in the cooling operation (S5), and if it is the cooling operation, an instruction to open the solenoid valves 18 and 38 is transmitted to the outdoor units 1 and 2 (S5).
6) Returning to step 1, this flowchart is repeated, and if it is not the cooling operation, it is judged whether it is the heating operation or not (S7).

If it is not the heating operation, it is judged that it is the air blowing operation, the electromagnetic valve is closed in the above step 2, the instruction of the outdoor electric valve forced opening is released in the step 3, and the process returns to step 1. In the case of heating operation, the heat exchange outlet temperature Tco and the heat exchange inlet temperature Tc of the operating outdoor unit
The temperature difference Tcdif of i is calculated (S8).

Next, it is judged whether the solenoid valves 18 and 38 are open (S9), and the solenoid valves 18 and 3 are opened.
If 8 is closed, it is determined whether the opening degree of the outdoor electric valve of the outdoor unit in operation (here, the outdoor electric valve 33 of the outdoor unit 2) is 480 steps or more (fully open state) (S10), If less than 480 steps, the solenoid valve 18
Opening and closing of 38 and 38 remain closed, and return to step 1, and if 480 steps or more, the temperature difference between the calculated inlet and outlet of the outdoor heat exchanger (here, the outdoor heat exchanger 34) of the operating outdoor unit. It is determined whether or not Tcdif is equal to or higher than the temperature difference a ° C. stored in the centralized control device in advance (S11).
It is highly possible that the refrigerant has fallen asleep.
Then, an instruction to open the solenoid valve 38 is transmitted to the outdoor units 1 and 2 (S12), and the outdoor electric valve (here, the outdoor electric valve 13 of the outdoor unit 1) is operated for 480 steps (fully open state) to the stopped outdoor unit. ), An instruction to forcibly open the outdoor electric valve is issued (S13), the process returns to step 1, and this flowchart is repeated.

In step 9, the solenoid valves 18 and 3
If 8 is open, it is determined whether or not the opening degree of the outdoor electric valve of the operating outdoor unit (here, the outdoor electric valve 33 of the outdoor unit 2) is less than 480 steps (S1).
4) If the opening degree of the outdoor electric valve is 480 steps or more, the calculated temperature difference Tcdif is the temperature difference a ° C.
It is determined whether or not it is less than (S15), and this temperature difference T
If cdif is equal to or higher than the temperature difference a ° C., it is determined that the stagnation of the refrigerant has not been eliminated yet, and the process directly returns to step 1. If the temperature difference is less than a ° C., the process proceeds to step 16.

At step 14, if the opening degree of the outdoor electric valve of the operating outdoor unit is less than 480 steps,
Assuming that the stagnation of the refrigerant has been eliminated, the solenoid valves 18 and 3
An instruction to close 8 is sent to the outdoor units 1 and 2 (S
16) Release the instruction to forcibly open the outdoor electric valve so that the outdoor electric valve of the stopped outdoor unit (here, the outdoor electric valve 13 of the outdoor unit 1) is returned to a normal step (fully closed state). (S17), the process returns to step 1 and this flowchart is repeated.

In this manner, when the outdoor unit in operation and the outdoor unit in stop coexist during the heating operation at the low outdoor air temperature and the outdoor unit in operation detects a deficiency of gas, the operation is stopped. The outdoor electric valve of the outdoor heat exchanger of the outdoor unit is fully opened, and this outdoor heat exchanger is warmed by the cooling water of the operating outdoor unit to eliminate the stagnation of the refrigerant and transfer it to the operating outdoor unit. In the cooling operation, when the operating outdoor unit and the stopped outdoor unit coexist, a part of the cooling water of the operating outdoor unit is stopped. The cooling effect is improved by circulating the cooling water in the outdoor unit and increasing the area of the radiator.

In this embodiment, the accumulation of the refrigerant in the outdoor unit is described as the accumulation in the outdoor heat exchanger, but it is not particularly limited to the outdoor heat exchanger, and the outdoor heat exchanger is not limited thereto. If there is a portion where the refrigerant accumulates on the refrigerant pipe in the unit, a cooling water passage may be provided there to circulate the cooling water from the operating outdoor unit. Then, the central controller 5 determines whether or not the refrigerant is accumulated, instructs the outdoor units 1 and 2 to turn on the solenoid valves 18 and 38, and cools the operating outdoor unit to the stopped outdoor unit. Although water is circulated, it is possible to make a judgment of the accumulation of the refrigerant or the like by a control unit other than the central control unit.

Besides, the solenoid valves 18 and 38 may not be used, and the cooling water may flow through the outdoor unit that is always operating and the outdoor unit that is stopped.

[0035]

From the above description, during heating operation at a low outdoor air temperature, the refrigerant is connected to the refrigerant pipes and the outdoor heat exchanger of the stopped outdoor unit among the plurality of outdoor units connected in the same refrigerant system. Can be prevented from accumulating and running out of gas, and during partial load operation during cooling operation,
It is possible to improve the cooling effect of the engine and also improve the cooling operation capacity.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an air conditioner showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a part of the outdoor unit of the air conditioner in a cutaway manner.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing one operation procedure for circulating the cooling water of the outdoor unit that is also operating to the outdoor unit that is stopped.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Outdoor unit (Unit 1) 2 Outdoor unit (Unit 2) 3 Indoor unit (Unit 1) 4 Indoor unit (Unit 2) 5 Central control unit 6 Unit piping 7 Cooling water connection piping 8 communication wiring 9 Communication wiring 10 engine (outdoor unit No. 1) 11 Compressor (No. 1 outdoor unit) 12 four-way valve (outdoor unit No. 1) 13 Outdoor electric valve (Outdoor unit No. 1) 14 Outdoor heat exchanger (Outdoor unit No. 1) 15 Accumulator (Outdoor unit No. 1) 16 radiator (first outdoor unit) 17 Cooling pump (Outdoor unit No. 1) 18 Solenoid valve (Outdoor unit No. 1) 19 Outdoor blower (Outdoor unit No. 1) 20 Outdoor temperature sensor (Outdoor unit No. 1) 21 Heat Exchange Inlet Temperature Sensor (Outdoor Unit No. 1) 22 Outdoor control unit (outdoor unit No. 1) 23 Cooling water manual valve (Outdoor unit No. 1) 24 Refrigerant manual valve (Outdoor unit No. 1) 25 Refrigerant manual valve (Outdoor unit No. 1) 26 Cooling water manual valve (Outdoor unit No. 1) 27 Heat Exchange Exit Temperature Sensor (Outdoor Unit No. 1) 30 engine (outdoor unit No. 2) 31 Compressor (Outdoor unit No. 2) 32 four-way valve (outdoor unit No. 2) 33 Outdoor motorized valve (Outdoor unit No. 2) 34 Outdoor Heat Exchanger (Outdoor Unit No. 2) 35 Accumulator (Outdoor unit No. 2) 36 radiator (outdoor unit No. 2) 37 Cooling pump (Outdoor unit No. 2) 38 Solenoid valve (Outdoor unit No. 2) 39 Outdoor Blower (Outdoor Unit No. 2) 40 Outdoor temperature sensor (outdoor unit No. 2) 41 Heat exchange inlet temperature sensor (outdoor unit No. 2) 42 Outdoor control unit (outdoor unit No. 2) 43 Cooling water manual valve (outdoor unit No. 2) 44 Refrigerant manual valve (Outdoor unit No. 2) 45 Refrigerant manual valve (Outdoor unit No. 2) 46 Cooling water manual valve (outdoor unit No. 2) 47 Heat exchanger outlet temperature sensor (outdoor unit No. 2) 50 Indoor heat exchanger (Indoor unit No. 1) 51 Indoor blower (1st indoor unit) 52 Indoor motorized valve (Indoor unit No. 1) 53 Indoor temperature sensor (1st indoor unit) 54 Indoor control unit (1st indoor unit) 55 Indoor heat exchanger (indoor unit No. 2) 56 Indoor blower (2nd indoor unit) 57 Indoor Motorized Valve (Indoor Unit No. 2) 58 Indoor temperature sensor (2nd indoor unit) 59 Indoor control unit (2nd indoor unit) 60 machine room 61 heat exchanger room 62 Exterior panel 67 Inlet

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of outdoor units having a compressor driven by an internal combustion engine such as a gas engine and an outdoor heat exchanger are provided, and the plurality of outdoor units are connected to the indoor unit by a refrigerant pipe of the same system. In addition to the connection, the cooling water of the internal combustion engine is guided to a radiator arranged in parallel with the outdoor heat exchanger, and in the air conditioner having a configuration in which this radiator radiates heat, the inlet side connection of each radiator of different outdoor units The air, characterized in that it comprises first means for connecting the respective ports, and the outlet side connection ports respectively with cooling water connection pipes, and for guiding the cooling water of the operating outdoor unit to the radiator of the stopped outdoor unit. Harmony device. 2. A plurality of outdoor units having a compressor driven by an internal combustion engine such as a gas engine and an outdoor heat exchanger are provided, and the plurality of outdoor units are connected to the indoor unit by a refrigerant pipe of the same system. In addition to the connection, the cooling water of the internal combustion engine is guided to a radiator arranged in parallel with the outdoor heat exchanger, and in the air conditioner having a configuration in which this radiator radiates heat, the inlet side connection of each radiator of different outdoor units The radiators of the outdoor unit in which the cooling water of the operating outdoor unit is stopped when a refrigerant shortage occurs in the operating outdoor unit by connecting the respective ports and the outlet-side connection ports to each other with cooling water connection pipes. And the first means to guide to this, and the refrigerant vaporized in the outdoor heat exchanger of the outdoor unit that is stopped by heat dissipation in this radiator is collected in the operating outdoor unit. An air conditioning apparatus characterized by comprising a second means that. 3. The electromagnetic valve provided on the cooling water connecting pipe for connecting the inlet side connecting ports or the outlet side connecting ports to each other, wherein the first means is constituted by an electromagnetic valve. The air conditioner described. 4. The air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein the second means is an outdoor electric valve provided on the refrigerant pipe of the outdoor unit.