JP2003156224A - Air conditioner, clogging inspecting method of drain pipe of air conditioner, and cleaning method of drain pipe or the like of air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To sufficiently inspect clogging of a drain pipe without man power. SOLUTION: In an air conditioner 10, an indoor unit 12 has an indoor refrigerant heat exchanger 23 and an indoor hot water heat exchanger 24, and drain from heat exchangers of them is received by a front drain pan 41 connected to a drain pipe 42 and discharged through the drain pipe 42. Part of feed water supplied to a heat source machine 27 for circulating hot water between it and the indoor hot water heat exchanger can guided to the front drain pan through a drain pan feed water pipe 50 and a flow dividing valve 52. An accumulating amount of the feed water in the front drain pan is detected by a drain detecting sensor 49, thereby inspecting clogging in the drain pipe.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioner having an indoor unit equipped with a refrigerant heat exchanger and a hot water heat exchanger.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an indoor unit is provided with a refrigerant heat exchanger and a hot water heat exchanger, and the refrigerant heat exchanger and the hot water heat exchanger are made to function together during heating operation to improve heating capacity. Harmonic devices are known. The drain from the refrigerant heat exchanger and the hot water heat exchanger is received by a drain pan to which a drain pipe is connected, and drained through the drain pipe.

[0003]

In the air conditioner as described above, the test operation after installation is automatically carried out, but the inspection of whether or not the drain pipe is clogged is performed by injecting water into the drain pan. It is carried out by the operator confirming whether or not water is satisfactorily discharged from the drain port of the drain pan through the drain pipe.

Further, cleaning of the refrigerant heat exchanger, the hot water heat exchanger, the blower and the like in the indoor unit is often carried out by using a cleaning agent. After this cleaning, the cleaning agent may remain in the drain pan or the drain pipe, and the drain pan made of resin may deteriorate or be damaged.

The object of the invention described in claim 1 or 2 is
An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner capable of satisfactorily inspecting a clogging of a drain pipe without human intervention.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner capable of satisfactorily cleaning drain pipes and drain pans.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a drain pipe blockage inspection method for an air conditioner, which is capable of satisfactorily inspecting the drain pipe for blockages without manual intervention.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for cleaning a drain pipe and drain pan of an air conditioner, which is capable of satisfactorily cleaning the drain pipe and drain pan.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an indoor unit includes a refrigerant heat exchanger and a hot water heat exchanger, and drains from these heat exchangers are connected to a drain pan. Received in, in the air conditioner configured to drain through the drain pipe, a part of the feed water supplied to the heat source unit that circulates hot water between the hot water heat exchanger and the hot water heat exchanger can be introduced to the drain pan, It is characterized in that the detector is capable of inspecting for clogging in the drain pipe by detecting the accumulated amount of feed water in the drain pan with a detector.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the inspection of the drain pipe is performed during an automatic test operation or when an operation switch of a remote controller capable of transmitting a command signal to an indoor unit is operated. It is characterized in that it is configured to be implemented.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the indoor unit includes a refrigerant heat exchanger and a hot water heat exchanger, and drains from these heat exchangers are received by a drain pan to which a drain pipe is connected. In the air conditioner configured to be drained through the above, a part of the water supply supplied to the heat source device that circulates hot water between the hot water heat exchanger and the hot water heat exchanger is configured to be able to conduct water to the drain pan. It is what

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the invention, the cleaning of the drain pan and the drain pipe is performed when an operation switch of a remote controller capable of transmitting a command signal to an indoor unit is operated. It is characterized by being configured as follows.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the indoor unit includes a refrigerant heat exchanger and a hot water heat exchanger, and drains from these heat exchangers are received by a drain pan to which a drain pipe is connected. In the drain pipe blockage inspection method of the air conditioner for inspecting for clogging of the drain pipe, a part of the feed water supplied to the heat source device for circulating hot water between the hot water heat exchanger and the drain pan is used. The clogging in the drain pipe is inspected by detecting the stored amount of feed water in the drain pan with a detector.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the present invention, the clog inspection of the drain pipe is performed during automatic test operation or operation of an operation switch of a remote controller capable of transmitting a command signal to an indoor unit. It is characterized by being carried out from time to time.

According to a seventh aspect of the invention, the indoor unit includes a refrigerant heat exchanger and a hot water heat exchanger, and drains from these heat exchangers are received by a drain pan to which a drain pipe is connected. In the method for cleaning the drain pipe of the air conditioner for cleaning the drain pipe and the drain pan, a part of the feed water supplied to the heat source device that circulates hot water between the hot water heat exchanger and The present invention is characterized in that the drain pan and the drain pipe are guided to a drain pan and washed.

According to the invention described in claim 8, in the invention described in claim 7, the cleaning of the drain pan and the drain pipe is carried out when an operation switch of a remote controller capable of transmitting a command signal to an indoor unit is operated. It is characterized by.

The invention described in claim 1, 2, 5 or 6 has the following effects.

A part of the feed water supplied to the heat source device that circulates the hot water between the hot water heat exchanger and the hot water heat exchanger can be guided to the drain pan, and the detector stores the amount of the feed water stored in the drain pan. Since it is configured to be able to inspect the clogging in the pipe, if the drain pipe is clogged, the water supply will be stored in the drain pan,
Since the detector detects the amount of water supply stored in the drain pan, the clogging of the drain pipe can be satisfactorily inspected without human intervention.

The invention described in claim 3, 4, 7 or 8 has the following effects.

Since a part of the feed water supplied to the heat source device that circulates hot water between the hot water heat exchanger and the hot water heat exchanger can be introduced to the drain pan, the refrigerant heat exchanger and the hot water heat exchanger in the indoor unit Alternatively, after cleaning the blower with the cleaning agent, the feed water is guided to the drain pan, whereby the cleaning agent remaining in the drain pan and the drain pipe can be discharged by the water supply, and good cleaning can be performed.

[0021]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing an embodiment of an air conditioner according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioner 10
Has an outdoor unit 11, an indoor unit 12, and a hot water supply unit 13, and an outdoor refrigerant pipe 14 of the outdoor unit 11 and an indoor refrigerant pipe 15 of the indoor unit 12 are connected via connecting pipes 16 and 17. .

The outdoor unit 11 is arranged outdoors,
A compressor 18 is arranged in the outdoor refrigerant pipe 14, and an accumulator 19 and a muffler 20 are sequentially arranged on the suction side of the compressor 18 in the outdoor refrigerant pipe 14 from the compressor 18 side. The outdoor heat exchanger 21 and the electric expansion valve 22 are sequentially arranged on the discharge side of the compressor 18 from the compressor 18 side. An outdoor fan (not shown) that blows air toward the outdoor heat exchanger 21 is disposed adjacent to the outdoor heat exchanger 21.

The indoor unit 12 is installed indoors,
The indoor refrigerant pipe 15 is provided with an indoor refrigerant heat exchanger 23 and an indoor hot water heat exchanger 24.
These indoor refrigerant heat exchanger 23 and indoor hot water heat exchanger 2
The indoor heat exchanger 25 is constituted by 4. In the indoor unit 12, a blower (cross flow fan) 26 that blows indoor air to the indoor heat exchanger 25 is arranged near the indoor heat exchanger 25 (see FIG. 2).

The hot water supply unit 13 has a heat source device 27, which heats the water supplied from the heat source device water supply pipe 28 to produce hot water. The hot water can be discharged to the outside from a faucet (not shown) and can be circulated between the indoor hot water heat exchanger 24 of the indoor unit 12 and the heat source device 27.

That is, the heat source unit 27 and the indoor hot water heat exchanger 2
4 is connected by a hot water outgoing pipe 29 for sending hot water from the heat source device 27 to the indoor hot water heat exchanger 24, and a hot water return pipe 30 for returning hot water from the indoor hot water heat exchanger 24 to the heat source device 27.

A flow rate variable valve 31 for adjusting the flow rate of hot water flowing through the hot water going pipe 29 is provided in the hot water going pipe 29. By supplying hot water from the heat source device 27 to the indoor hot water heat exchanger 24, the indoor air passing through the indoor hot water heat exchanger 24 is heated by heat exchange.

When a cooling operation is selected and commanded by a remote controller (not shown) or the like, the control device (not shown) closes the variable flow rate valve 31 and operates the compressor 18 and the outdoor fan of the outdoor unit 11. And the cross flow fan 26 is started. As a result, the indoor refrigerant heat exchanger 23 of the indoor unit 12 functions as an evaporator, and the indoor refrigerant heat exchanger 23 cools the indoor air introduced into the indoor unit 12 to cool the room.

When a heating operation is selected and instructed by a remote controller (not shown) or the like, as described above, the refrigerant from the compressor 18 is guided to the indoor refrigerant heat exchanger 23, and the indoor refrigerant heat exchange is performed. The room 23 is condensed to heat the room, and the variable flow rate valve 31 connected to the hot water outgoing pipe 29 is opened to circulate the hot water from the heat source device 27 with the indoor hot water heat exchanger 24. Then, the indoor hot water heat exchanger 24 heats the indoor air introduced into the indoor unit 12 by the cross flow fan 26 to heat the room.

Here, in the above-described cooling operation or heating operation, the control device causes the room temperature detected by the room temperature sensor (not shown) installed in the indoor unit 12 to be the set temperature set by the remote controller or the like. The cooling operation or the heating operation is controlled so that they substantially match.

As shown in FIG. 2, the indoor unit 12 is attached to the wall of the room or the like. This indoor unit 12
The rear casing 35 mainly covers the back side, and the front casing 36 mainly covers the front side. The rear casing 35 and the front casing 36 form a casing, and the indoor refrigerant heat exchanger 23, the indoor hot water heat exchanger 24, and the crossflow fan 26 are housed in a space surrounded by the casing. Air suction ports 37A, 37B and 37C are formed in the front casing 36, and
The front casing 36 is configured to be attachable / detachable to / from the rear casing 35. An air outlet 38 is formed between the rear casing 35 and the front casing 36.

The indoor refrigerant heat exchanger 23 includes a first refrigerant heat exchanger 23A and a second refrigerant heat exchanger 23B which are connected to each other.
And both are arranged in the front side space A formed inside the casing. In addition, the indoor hot water heat exchanger 24
Is a first hot water heat exchanger 24A and a second hot water heat exchanger connected to each other.
The hot water heat exchanger 24B is provided, and both are arranged in the upper surface side space B formed inside the casing. The first of these
The hot water heat exchanger 24A is installed adjacent to the upper part of the second refrigerant heat exchanger 23B, and a gap is formed between the hot water heat exchanger 24A and the second hot water heat exchanger 24B.

A cross flow fan 26 is disposed inside the indoor refrigerant heat exchanger 23 and the indoor hot water heat exchanger 24. The drains of the first refrigerant heat exchanger 23A, the second refrigerant heat exchanger 23B and the first hot water heat exchanger 24A are received by the front drain pan 41, and the drains of the second hot water heat exchanger 24B are received by the rear drain pan 43. . The rear drain pan 43 communicates with the front drain pan 41 via a drainage channel (not shown) having a downward slope.

In the indoor hot water heat exchanger 24, in the gap between the first hot water heat exchanger 24A and the second hot water heat exchanger 24B, an evaporative humidifier is provided along the flow direction of the air sucked by the cross flow fan 26. 45 is inserted and arranged. The vaporization type humidifier 45 includes a case 46 that extends the full width of the first hot water heat exchanger 24A, and a humidification filter 47 that is detachably inserted into the case 46.

The humidifying filter 47 is made of a material such as sponge which easily contains water. When the air passes through the humidifying filter 47, the water in the humidifying filter 47 is naturally evaporated, and the air blown into the room from the air outlet 38 is humidified. This humidification is mainly performed during the heating operation of the air conditioner 10.

The humidification water supply pipe 40 for supplying water to the humidification filter 47 is branched from the heat source device water supply pipe 28 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, and the heat source device water supply pipe 28 is provided.
The clean water before being supplied to the humidification filter 47 of the vaporization type humidifier 45 is introduced. Further, the humidifying water supply pipe 40 is provided with a thermal valve 44 for adjusting the flow rate of water flowing through the humidifying water supply pipe 40. The amount of water supplied to the humidification filter 47 is controlled by adjusting the opening degree of the thermal valve 44.

By the way, the front drain pan 41 has a structure as shown in FIG.
The drain pipe 42 is connected as shown in FIG. The drain generated in the indoor refrigerant heat exchanger 23 and the first hot water heat exchanger 24A shown in FIG. 2 and stored in the front drain pan 41, and the second drain
The drain generated in the hot water heat exchanger 24B and stored in the front drain pan 41 via the rear drain pan 43 is drained to the outside through the drain pipe 42.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in the front drain pan 41, there is a drain detector equipped with a drain detector 48 for detecting that the drain storage amount in the front drain pan 41 has reached a predetermined level. A sensor 49 is installed.

The drain detector 48 incorporates a photo coupler diode (not shown). When the drain detector 48 is submerged in the drain stored in the front drain pan 41, the light from the photocoupler diode is refracted in water, and the change in the refraction angle causes an abnormality in the light detection. Detects that a fixed amount of water is stored. Further, when the drain detector 48 is exposed to the air, the change in the refraction angle of the light from the photocoupler diode returns to a normal angle, the light detection is normalized, and the drain storage amount of the front drain pan 41 is a predetermined amount. The following is detected.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a heat source unit water supply pipe 28 for supplying tap water to the heat source unit 27 as feed water.
A drain pan water supply pipe 50 is connected to this. The tip of the drain pan water supply pipe 50 is positioned near the drain port 51 of the front drain pan 41. Further, a diversion valve 52 is arranged in the drain pan water supply pipe 50. This shunt valve 52
When the opening operation is performed, a part of the tap water supplied to the heat source device 27 via the drain pan water supply pipe 50 is partially discharged to the front drain pan 41.
It is possible to conduct water to.

The control device opens the diversion valve 52 for a predetermined time, for example, 3 minutes during an automatic test run or when operating an operation switch of a remote controller (not shown) capable of transmitting a command signal to the indoor unit 12. (Almost half open) to supply tap water into the front drain pan 41 and the drain pipe 42. At this time, when a predetermined amount or more of water is stored in the front drain pan 41, this amount of water is measured by the drain detection sensor 4
9 is detected and an alarm indicating that the drain pipe 42 is clogged can be output.

Here, the operation switch of the remote controller is a switch dedicated to the inspection provided on the remote controller or a combination of a plurality of switches for executing the inspection without erroneous operation.

Further, the control unit is the indoor unit 12
Indoor refrigerant heat exchanger 23 (first refrigerant heat exchanger 23
A and second refrigerant heat exchanger 23B), indoor hot water heat exchanger 2
4 (first hot water heat exchanger 24A and second hot water heat exchanger 24
B) After cleaning the cross flow fan 26 and the like with a cleaning agent, when the operation switch is operated by the remote controller, the diversion valve 52 is opened (fully opened) for a certain period of time so that the front drain pan 41 and the drain pipe 42 The tap water is introduced into the inside, and the front drain pan 41 and the drain pipe 42 are washed by the pressure of the tap water so that the cleaning agent and the like remaining in the front drain pan 41 and the drain pipe 42 can be removed.

Here, the operation switch of the remote controller is a combination of a plurality of switches for executing the above-mentioned cleaning without erroneous operation, in addition to the operation switch dedicated to cleaning.

Therefore, according to the above embodiment, the following effects and advantages can be obtained.

A part of the water supply (tap water) supplied through the heat source device water supply pipe 28 to the heat source device 27 which circulates hot water between the indoor hot water heat exchanger 24 is connected to the heat source device water supply pipe 28. It is possible to introduce water to the front drain pan 41 through the drain pan water supply pipe 50, and the drain detection sensor 49 detects the amount of tap water stored in the front drain pan 41.
Since the inside of the front drain pan 41 can be inspected, tap water is stored in the front drain pan 41 when the drain pipe 42 is clogged. When the drain detection sensor 49 detects the amount of stored tap water, the clogging of the drain pipe 42 can be satisfactorily inspected during automatic test operation without human intervention.

Since part of the tap water supplied to the heat source unit 27 that circulates hot water between the indoor hot water heat exchanger 24 and the indoor hot water heat exchanger 24 can be introduced to the front drain pan 41 through the drain pan water supply pipe 50. After cleaning the indoor refrigerant heat exchanger 23, the indoor hot water heat exchanger 24 or the cross flow fan 26 in the indoor unit 12 with a cleaning agent, the branch valve 52 is fully opened to guide the tap water to the front drain pan 41. As a result, the cleaning agent remaining on the front drain pan 41 and the drain pipe 42 can be drained by the tap water and cleaned well.

Although the present invention has been described based on the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this.

For example, the drain detection sensor may be a float sensor. Further, at the time of inspecting for clogging of the drain pipe 42, or at the time of cleaning the front drain pan 41 and the drain pipe 42, the heat source device 27 and the indoor hot water heat exchanger 24.
It is also possible to guide the hot water circulating between and to the front drain pan 41 or the like.

[0051]

According to the air conditioner of the first or second aspect of the present invention, the clogging of the drain pipe can be satisfactorily inspected without human intervention.

According to the air conditioner of the third or fourth aspect of the present invention, the drain pipe and the drain pan can be washed well.

According to the drain pipe clogging inspection method for the air conditioner of the fifth or sixth aspect of the present invention, the clogging of the drain pipe can be satisfactorily inspected without human intervention.

According to the method for cleaning the drain pipe and the like of the air conditioner according to the invention of claim 7 or 8, the drain pipe and the drain pan can be satisfactorily cleaned.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing an embodiment of an air conditioner according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing an indoor unit in the air conditioner of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a part of FIG. 1 in detail.

[Explanation of symbols] 10 Air conditioner 12 indoor units 23 Indoor Refrigerant Heat Exchanger 24 Indoor hot water heat exchanger 27 heat source machine 28 Heat source machine water supply piping 41 Front drain pan 42 Drain piping 43 Rear drain pan 49 Drain detection sensor (detector) 50 Drain pan water supply piping 52 shunt valve

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F term (reference) 3B116 AA13 AA21 BB62 CD42 CD43                 3L050 BB09 BD05 BE00 BF04                 3L060 AA02 AA04 CC15 DD08 EE01

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An indoor unit is provided with a refrigerant heat exchanger and a hot water heat exchanger, and the drain from these heat exchangers is received by a drain pan to which a drain pipe is connected, and is drained through the drain pipe. In the air conditioner, part of the feed water supplied to the heat source device that circulates hot water between the hot water heat exchanger and the hot water heat exchanger can be introduced to the drain pan, and the amount of stored water in the drain pan can be detected by the detector. By doing so, an air conditioner characterized in that it can be inspected for clogging in the drain pipe. 2. The inspection of the drain pipe is configured to be performed during an automatic test operation or when an operation switch of a remote controller capable of transmitting a command signal to an indoor unit is operated. The air conditioner described. 3. The indoor unit is provided with a refrigerant heat exchanger and a hot water heat exchanger, and the drain from these heat exchangers is received by a drain pan to which a drain pipe is connected, and is drained through the drain pipe. In the air conditioner, the air conditioner is configured such that a part of the water supplied to the heat source device that circulates hot water between the hot water heat exchanger and the hot water heat exchanger can be guided to the drain pan. 4. The air according to claim 3, wherein the drain pan and the drain pipe are washed when an operation switch of a remote controller capable of transmitting a command signal to an indoor unit is operated. Harmony device. 5. The indoor unit includes a refrigerant heat exchanger and a hot water heat exchanger, the drain from these heat exchangers is received by a drain pan to which a drain pipe is connected, and drained through the drain pipe. In the drain pipe blockage inspection method of the air conditioner for inspecting the blockage of the pipe, in the drain pan, a part of the water supply supplied to the heat source device that circulates hot water between the hot water heat exchanger is introduced. By detecting the accumulated amount of water supply with a detector,
A method for inspecting a drain pipe for an air conditioner, which comprises inspecting the inside of the drain pipe for clogging. 6. The air conditioner according to claim 5, wherein the clogging inspection of the drain pipe is performed during an automatic test operation or when an operation switch of a remote controller capable of transmitting a command signal to an indoor unit is operated. Drain pipe blockage inspection method for equipment. 7. The indoor unit comprises a refrigerant heat exchanger and a hot water heat exchanger, the drain from these heat exchangers is received by a drain pan to which a drain pipe is connected, drained through the drain pipe, and the drain is drained. In the method for cleaning the drain pipe of an air conditioner for cleaning the pipe and the drain pan, a part of the feed water supplied to a heat source device that circulates hot water between the hot water heat exchanger is guided to the drain pan, and the drain pan And a method for cleaning a drain pipe or the like of an air conditioner, which comprises cleaning the drain pipe. 8. The drain pipe for an air conditioner according to claim 7, wherein the drain pan and the drain pipe are washed when an operation switch of a remote controller capable of transmitting a command signal to the indoor unit is operated. Etc. cleaning method.