JP2003185130A - Air conditioning system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a comfortable air conditioning system with a high operating efficiency. <P>SOLUTION: In this air conditioning system, a heater 12 comprises a carburetor 23 having a carburetor heating heater 24, a liquid fuel feed means 17 for feeding liquid fuel to the carburetor 23, an air feed means 16 for feeding air to the carburetor 23, a catalyst heating element 26 directly disposed in the carburetor 23 and having a mixture passing port 27 and an air passing part 28, a catalyst combustion part 30 disposed on the downstream side of the catalyst heating element and having a plurality of communication holes, a straightening board 29 disposed on the downstream side of the air passing port 28, and an ignition means 31 disposed between the catalyst heating element 26 and the catalyst combustion part 30 and apart a specified distance from straightening board 29. The ignition means 31 discharges toward the straightening board 29 near the position of the straightening board 29 opposed to the mixture passing port 27 to form a flame near the catalyst heating element 26 or between the catalyst heating element 26 and the catalyst combustion part 30 so as to preheat the catalyst combustion part 30 for heating operation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioning system for supplying hot water or heating for domestic or commercial use, and more specifically, it is provided with a heater for performing catalytic combustion by a catalytic combustion reaction using liquid fuel. Regarding air conditioning system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the start-up control of an air conditioning system using a heater, which is a catalytic combustion device incorporating a catalyst having an oxidizing activity for various fuels, many proposals have hitherto been made on a method for starting catalytic combustion. Has been done. Of these, the catalyst is heated by the flame formed upstream of the catalyst,
First, the temperature near the upstream surface of the catalyst is raised, and the upstream temperature rises above the activation temperature before transitioning to catalytic combustion, or an electric heater is installed facing the upstream surface of the catalyst. The temperature near the upstream surface is raised by radiant heating, and when the upstream temperature rises above the activation temperature, fuel supply is started, catalytic combustion is started near the upstream surface, and this heat source is used as a medium for heating operation. Those that do are well known.

[0003]

Among the conventional air conditioning systems described above, in the case where the catalyst is heated by the flame formed upstream of the catalyst, it is difficult to uniformly raise the temperature of the catalyst to the activation temperature or higher to control it. Therefore, when transitioning from preheating to catalytic combustion, combustion exhaust gas containing unburned fuel is instantaneously generated, and there is a problem that combustion exhaust gas characteristics are not good.

On the other hand, in the case of radiant heating by an electric heater installed so as to face the upstream surface of the catalyst, it takes time for the upstream temperature to rise above the activation temperature, which requires a large amount of electric input to the electric heater. , Heating starts up late,
There was also the problem of affecting comfort.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems of the prior art, and an object thereof is to provide an air conditioning system which is comfortable and has high operating efficiency.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is an air conditioning system having a heater, wherein the heater is a vaporizer heating device. A vaporizer equipped with a heater, a liquid fuel supply means for supplying a liquid fuel to the vaporizer, an air supply means for supplying air to the vaporizer, a mixture passage port and an air passage arranged in contact with the vaporizer. A catalyst heating element having a port, a catalyst combustion part disposed downstream of the catalyst heating element and having a plurality of communication holes, a straightening plate disposed downstream of the air passage opening, and the catalyst heating element. An igniting unit is provided between the rectifying plate and the catalytic combustion unit and is separated from the rectifying plate by a predetermined distance. The igniting unit is provided near the position of the rectifying plate facing the air-fuel mixture passing port. By discharging toward the Flame is formed between the body near or the catalyst heating element and said catalytic combustion unit, characterized in that to carry out the heating operation by preheating the catalytic combustion portion.

The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the ignition means is arranged at a central position or below the central position with respect to the current plate.

Further, the invention according to claim 3 is further provided with a controller, and the controller controls the fuel supply amount from the liquid fuel supply means and the air supply amount from the air supply means to obtain air. The ratio (supply air amount / theoretical air amount) is 1.
After starting the supply of the air-fuel mixture of less than 5, a flame is formed by the ignition means, control is performed to preheat the catalyst combustion portion, the catalyst combustion is performed, and the heating operation is started. To do.

Further, the invention according to claim 4 further comprises an upstream temperature detector provided on the upstream side of the catalytic combustion unit, and an output value from the upstream temperature detector after the flame is formed by the ignition means. Exceeds a first predetermined temperature, the amount of air supplied from the air supply means is increased to a first predetermined air amount, and then the output value of the upstream temperature detector is changed to the first predetermined value.
When the temperature becomes equal to or lower than a second predetermined temperature lower than the predetermined temperature of, the controller controls the fuel supply amount from the liquid fuel supply unit and the supply air amount from the air supply unit to set the air ratio (supply air amount / supply air amount / It is characterized in that the supply of an air-fuel mixture having a theoretical air amount of 1.5 or more is started to shift to catalytic combustion.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, when the output value from the upstream temperature detector is lower than a third predetermined temperature lower than the second predetermined temperature, the controller supplies the air supply means. Is reduced, the air ratio is made lower than the stored output value of the air ratio at the time of the previous preheating control, and the supply of the air-fuel mixture is restarted.

Further, the invention according to claim 6 further comprises an upstream temperature detector provided on the upstream side of the catalytic combustion section, and a timer for detecting a control time by the ignition means, and the timer has a predetermined time. When the output value from the upstream temperature detector exceeds a predetermined temperature after the discharge from the ignition means and the fuel supply from the liquid fuel supply means are stopped once, the fuel is supplied again by the liquid fuel supply means. Is started to shift to catalytic combustion, and when the temperature is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature, the fuel supply by the liquid fuel supply means is stopped and the preheating control is restarted.

Further, according to a seventh aspect of the present invention, when the output value from the upstream temperature detector is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature, the controller reduces the amount of air supplied from the air supply means to reduce the air ratio. Is decreased from the stored output value of the air ratio at the time of the previous preheating control, and the supply of the air-fuel mixture is restarted.

The invention according to claim 8 includes an upstream temperature detector provided on the upstream side of the catalytic combustion section, and flame detection means for detecting a flame provided on the upstream side of the catalytic combustion section. Further, when the output value output from the flame detection means becomes a predetermined value or more, the supply of fuel by the liquid fuel supply means is temporarily stopped, and then the output value from the upstream temperature detector becomes a predetermined temperature or more, It is characterized in that the liquid fuel supply means starts the fuel supply again to shift to catalytic combustion.

[0014]

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

(Embodiment 1) As a configuration of an air conditioning system capable of heating operation, here, first, the configuration and operation of a refrigeration cycle of a refrigerant heating type air conditioner for heating a refrigerant to obtain a heat source will be described. To do. However, the medium used in the air conditioning system may be any other medium such as brine, water or gas regardless of the refrigerant, and is not limited to the refrigerant.

FIG. 1 is a refrigeration cycle diagram of a refrigerant heating type air conditioner using a refrigerant heater by catalytic combustion that enables heating operation.

In this refrigeration cycle, as shown in FIG. 1, the compressor 1, the four-way valve 2, the indoor unit 3, the expansion valve 6, and the outdoor unit 9 of the outdoor unit are sequentially connected via a refrigerant pipe. There is. The indoor unit 3 is provided with an indoor heat exchanger 4 and an indoor fan 5, and the outdoor unit 9 is also provided with an outdoor heat exchanger 10 and an outdoor fan 11. Outdoor unit 9
Further, a microcomputer (controller) 18 that outputs arithmetic processing and control signals from temperature information of each part is mounted on the microcomputer 1.
A memory 19 in which set values for determining operating conditions, a control algorithm and the like are stored, and a timer 20 for detecting a time when each control signal is output are built in the inside of the unit 8.
The outdoor unit 9 used for cooling has a four-way valve 2 at one end.
And the other end is connected via a check valve 8 to a partial conduit between the expansion valve 6 for controlling the refrigerant flow rate and the two-way valve 7.

The gas passage of the indoor heat exchanger 4 is provided with a three-way valve 14, while the liquid passage is provided with a two-way valve 15. The two-way valve 15 has a heating function. A refrigerant heater 12 is connected through a two-way electromagnetic valve 7 that is opened during operation and closed during cooling operation. Refrigerant heater 12
A burner motor 16 as an air supply means for supplying the combustion air and an electromagnetic pump 17 as a liquid fuel supply means for supplying the combustion fuel are provided therein.
The refrigerant heater 12 is connected to the suction pipe of the compressor 1 to form a refrigeration cycle for heating operation.

Further, FIG. 2 shows the structure of FIG. 1 using the catalyst of the present invention.
3 is a partial cross-sectional configuration diagram of a refrigerant heater incorporated in the refrigeration cycle of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 2, the electromagnetic pump 17 is in communication with the carburetor 23 via the fuel supply path 21, and the burner motor 16 is in communication with the carburetor 23 via the air supply path 22. Inside the vaporizer 23, a vaporizer heater 24,
A carburetor temperature detector 25 attached near the carburetor heater 24 is provided, and a catalyst heating element 26 in which a platinum group noble metal is supported on a metal base material is arranged so as to come into contact with the carburetor 23. Has been done.

The air sent from the burner motor 16 for sending air is mixed with the fuel supplied by the electromagnetic pump 17 to form an air-fuel mixture, which passes through the air-fuel mixture passage port 27 formed in the catalyst heating element 26. Further, an air passage port 28 through which air passes is opened in the central portion of the catalyst heating element 26, a rectifying plate 29 is provided on the downstream side thereof, and a ceramic honeycomb having a plurality of communication holes further on the downstream side thereof. A catalytic combustion unit 30 supporting a precious metal of the platinum group is attached to. Further, a piezoelectric igniter 31 as an ignition means is attached to a portion between the catalyst heating element 26 and the rectifying plate 29, which is separated from the rectifying plate 29 by a predetermined distance, and is provided on the upstream side and the downstream side of the catalytic combustion unit 30. An upstream temperature detector 32 and a downstream temperature detector 33 are attached respectively. In addition, 34 is a combustion chamber and 35 is a combustion gas discharge port.

In the refrigerant heater 12 having the above structure, the liquid fuel (kerosene is used here) supplied is the electromagnetic pump 1.
7 and is ejected toward the vaporizer 23 via the fuel supply path 21. In the vaporizer 23, the temperature is detected by the vaporizer temperature detector 25, and the vaporizer heater 2
The temperature is controlled to 250 ° C. or higher by ON-OFF of No. 4, and the liquid fuel colliding with the inside of the vaporizer 23 is vaporized.

After that, the piezoelectric igniter 31 discharges toward the rectifying plate 29 in the vicinity of the position of the rectifying plate 29 facing the air-fuel mixture passing port 27 of the catalyst heating element 26, and the air-fuel mixture passing port 27 becomes a flame port. The generated flame is formed near the catalyst heating element 26 or between the catalyst heating element 26 and the catalyst combustion section 30 to preheat the catalyst combustion section 30. In addition, the upstream temperature detector 32
After the temperature reaches or exceeds a predetermined temperature, the energization to the piezoelectric igniter 31 is stopped and the steady combustion is performed. Then, the air supply path 22
A part of the air supplied via the air collides with the catalyst heating element 26, circulates inside, is mixed with the vaporized liquid fuel, and is then jetted from the air-fuel mixture passage port 27, while the remaining The air is ejected from the air passage port 28, collides with the straightening vane 29, is mixed with the air-fuel mixture ejected from the air-fuel mixture passage port 27, and then is supplied to the catalytic combustion unit 30 to enable catalytic combustion operation. .

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the positional relationship when the piezoelectric igniter 31 is installed at a position lower than the center position with respect to the current plate 29.

At the start of the combustion operation, the air ratio λ (supply air amount / theoretical air amount) is, for example, 1.5 or less, the fuel concentration is very high, and the flow velocity is slow. To
High-concentration fuel stays in the lower part of the combustion chamber 34, and conversely in the upper part, because the concentration is low, even if the piezoelectric igniter 31 arranged at the central position of the refrigerant heater 12 is energized, the flame Is difficult to generate. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, by installing the piezoelectric igniter 31 below,
Emission of combustion exhaust gas containing unburned fuel at the time of combustion start can be suppressed.

Here, the flow of the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle during cooling will be described. At the time of cooling, the two-way valve 7 is closed so that the refrigerant does not flow into the refrigerant heater 12. And
The four-way valve 2 is switched so that the refrigerant flows in the direction of the dashed arrow when the coil is energized (ON), and the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 1 flows into the outdoor heat exchanger 10 via the four-way valve 2 and the outdoor fan. Heat is radiated by the air blown from 11, and the radiated refrigerant is throttled as a two-phase gas by the expansion valve 6 that adjusts the refrigerant flow rate through the check valve 8. The gas refrigerant absorbs heat from the atmosphere (indoor air) in the indoor heat exchanger 4 by the action of the indoor fan 5, and circulates through the four-way valve 2 and the check valve 13 to the suction of the compressor 1 to form a refrigeration cycle.

Next, the flow of the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle during heating will be described. At the time of heating, the four-way valve 2 is switched so that the refrigerant flows in the direction of the solid line arrow while the coil energization is OFF, the two-way valve 7 is controlled to be opened, and the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 1 passes through the four-way valve 2 to the interior of the room. It flows into the heat exchanger 4. The liquid refrigerant radiated by the air blown from the indoor fan 5 passes through the expansion valve 6 that controls the flow rate of the refrigerant for distributing the refrigerant, passes through the open two-way valve 7, and flows into the refrigerant heater 12. The refrigerant heater 12 receives the heat of combustion and circulates it to the suction of the compressor 1 to form a refrigeration cycle.

Further, a series of control operations at the time of starting the heating operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. In the control at the time of starting the heating operation, in order to prevent a rapid temperature rise at the time of starting and perform a comfortable operation, first, the refrigerant recovery operation is performed, and then the heating operation is started in earnest.

First, referring to the refrigerant recovery operation control, as shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.

In step S101, when the indoor unit 3 receives a heating operation signal by a remote controller or forced operation, etc., in step S102, the coil energization of the four-way valve 2 is turned off according to the instruction of the microcomputer 18, and the heating circuit is opened. , The two-way valve 7 is closed. Next step S103
At step S104, the microcomputer 18 instructs a set opening degree for controlling the amount of refrigerant required for the expansion valve 6 for controlling the refrigerant flow rate. At step S104, the compressor 1 is operated at a predetermined frequency (for example, 50H).
A signal for driving in z) is output from the microcomputer 18, and control is performed to recover the refrigerant in the pipeline from the check valve 8 to the check valve 13 via the outdoor heat exchanger 10 through the refrigerant heater 12.

Further, in step S105, the time tr required for the refrigerant recovery is set to the timer 2 built in the microcomputer 18.
The measurement is started by 0, a signal is output, and step S106
Then, the output value tr is compared with a predetermined value ts (for example, 2 minutes) stored in advance in the microcomputer 18. Step S
When the output value tr> the predetermined value ts is determined in 106, it is determined in step S107 that the outdoor heat exchanger 10 has a negative pressure and the refrigerant recovery is completed, and a signal is output from the microcomputer 18, and the process proceeds to step S108. move on. Step S
At 108, the drive of the compressor 1 is stopped by this output signal, the open control of the two-way valve 7 is performed, and the refrigerant recovery operation control is completed. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S106 that the output value tr ≦ the predetermined value ts, the process returns to step S105, and the time tr is continuously counted.

Next, the heating operation start activation control will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step S110, the suction temperature detector (not shown) provided in the indoor unit 3 detects the indoor suction temperature Ta and outputs a signal, and in step S111, the calculation processing of the memory 19 is performed. The output value difference Tm (= Tr-Ta) is detected by comparing the set value Tr of the remote controller with the output of the suction temperature Ta, and a signal is output. In step S112, the output value difference Tm and the memory 19
When the output value difference Tm ≦ Ts1 is compared with the set value Ts1 (for example, 3 ° C.) stored in step S111, NO is determined, and the process returns to step S111 while the output value difference Tm> T
If s1, a YES determination is made, a signal that requires capability is output, and the process proceeds to step S113. In step S113, the required capacity is calculated by the microcomputer 18, and a predetermined value (for example, 40 Hz) stored in the memory 19 of the microcomputer 18 is selected as the operating frequency of the compressor 1, and in step S114, the compressor 1 Is started at a predetermined value to start the operation, and the refrigerant is circulated to the heating / refrigeration cycle. Further, step S115
In the above, the microcomputer 18 outputs a signal for starting combustion preparation to the refrigerant heater 12, and the combustion control of the refrigerant heater 12 is started.

Next, the combustion control of the heater will be described. With reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6, the start control of the refrigerant heater 12 after the control for starting the heating operation is completed,
First, it explains.

In step S115 of FIG. 5, the microcomputer 1
In response to the combustion preparation signal output according to the instruction No. 8, control for feeding the combustion fuel from the electromagnetic pump 17 and the combustion air from the burner motor 16 to start catalytic combustion of the refrigerant heater 12 is started.

In step S210, in order to start the catalytic combustion, the control signal for starting the energization ON of the carburetor heating heater 24 is first output from the microcomputer 18 with the supply of fuel and air stopped, and the carburetor 23 is turned on. Raise the temperature. next,
In step S211, the temperature Tb of the vaporizer 23 is detected by the vaporizer temperature detector 25 such as a thermistor, and a signal is output. At the next step S212, the carburetor temperature Tb is the set value T stored in the memory 19 of the microcomputer.
s2 (eg, 250 ° C.), and if Tb> Ts2, a YES determination is made and a signal is output, and the process proceeds to step S213. If Tb ≦ Ts2, a NO determination is made and step S211 is performed. Return to carburetor 2 again
The temperature of 3 is detected.

In step S213, the supply of air and fuel is started in this order, but the air ratio of the air-fuel mixture supplied is smaller than that of steady combustion in order to improve the starting speed by early flame formation and to prevent abnormal noise during fuel ignition. It is set at λ = 1.5 or less (for example, in the range of 0.5 to 1.5). Therefore, in step S213, in order to supply the air-fuel mixture and start combustion, the set value λs (for example, 1.0) of the air ratio λ at startup stored in the memory 19 is selected and a signal is output. In step S214, the amount of combustion from the electromagnetic pump 17 is a predetermined value W (for example, about 2000 kcal / hr).
Fuel is supplied so that
Then, in order to deliver the air so that the air ratio of the air-fuel mixture becomes λ = 1.0, the rotational speed set value Nb of the burner motor 16 is set.
A control signal for controlling at 1 (for example, 100 rpm) is output from the microcomputer 18, and the burner motor 16 starts rotating.

Then, in step S216, a control signal for starting energization ON is output from the microcomputer 18 to the piezoelectric igniter 31 to start discharging toward the rectifying plate 29. A flame is formed which uses the discharged spark as an ignition source and the air-fuel mixture passage port 27 of the catalyst heating element 26 as a flame port. Step S21
In step 7, the upstream temperature detector 32 such as a thermistor detects the ambient temperature Tj of the catalyst upstream portion and outputs a signal. In step S218, the output value Tj and the set value Ts3 (stored in the memory 19 of the microcomputer 18 ( (Eg 400 ° C)
And are compared. In step S218, Tj> T
If s3, YES is determined, it is determined that flame is formed and a signal is output, and the process proceeds to step S219, while if Tj ≦ Ts3, NO is determined and it is determined that flame is not formed. Then, the process returns to step S217 and Tj is measured again.

After detecting and confirming the formation of flame in step S218, the amount of air supply is temporarily increased to temporarily extinguish the flame in step S219.
Then, the preset value Nb2 (for example, 600 rp) of the rotation speed of the burner motor 16 at the time of preheating control stored in the memory.
m) to select the burner motor 16 rotation speed setting value N
By outputting and controlling the control signal for operating at b2, the air having a high air ratio λ is delivered to extinguish the flame. In the next step S220, the upstream temperature detector 32 detects the catalyst upstream temperature Tj and outputs a signal, and in step S221, the output value Tj and the set value Ts4 (for example, Ts3 stored in the memory 19 of the microcomputer 18).
Lower 350 ° C.). Step S221
In Tj <350 ° C., a YES determination is made, it is determined that the flame has extinguished, a signal is output, and the process proceeds to step S222. If Tj ≧ 350 ° C., a NO determination is made, indicating that the fire has not been extinguished. Judge and return to step S220 T
Remeasure j.

In step S222, the upstream temperature detector 32 detects the catalyst upstream temperature Tj again and outputs a signal. In step S223, the output value Tj and the set value Ts5 (for example, the set value Ts5 stored in the memory 19 of the microcomputer 18 are stored). , Ts4
Lower 200 ° C). Step S223
In the case of Tj> Ts5, a YES determination is made, it is determined that the catalyst is in the active state even after the flame is extinguished, a signal is output, and the routine proceeds to step S224, while Tj ≦
If the temperature is 200 ° C., NO is determined, the catalyst is determined to be inactive, and the process proceeds to step S228. Step S2
At 28, the value of the burner motor speed Nb2 at the previous step S219 stored in the memory 19 is extracted, and at step S229, when the step S219 is passed again, the burner motor 16 at step S219 is extracted.
Is 1 from the previous value Nb2 (for example, 600 rpm)
The signal of the new rotation speed is output so as to control the rotation speed at 0% lower rotation speed (for example, 540 rpm), and step S21
Returning to 0, the remeasurement heating start control is started.

In step S223, the control for shifting to catalytic combustion is started, but heating upstream improvement and flame formation occur again, and the catalyst upstream temperature is heat resistant (about 1000 ° C.).
For the purpose of preventing the above and improving reliability, a larger amount of air is supplied during the catalytic combustion transition than during the preheating control. Therefore, the air ratio λ of the air-fuel mixture is set in the range of 1.5 to 2.5, for example. Therefore, step S224
Then, the air ratio λ (for example, λs = 1.8) at the time of catalytic combustion transition stored in the memory 19 is selected and a signal is output, and in step S225, the combustion amount from the electromagnetic pump 17 is set to a predetermined value (for example, 5000 kcal). The fuel is supplied so as to be about (/ hr). In step S226, a control signal for rotating the burner motor 16 at the rotation speed setting value Nb3 (for example, 300 rpm) is output to control the air so that the air ratio λ of the air-fuel mixture becomes λ = 1.8. As a result, the air having the optimum air ratio λ = 1.8 can be delivered to enable the steady combustion operation. In step S227, the operating frequency f of the compressor 1 (for example, 5
0 Hz) is instructed and a comfortable steady heating operation is started according to the load of the indoor unit 3. In addition, after starting the steady heating operation,
If a flame should occur, the catalyst upstream temperature Tj> 10
A safe, comfortable, and highly reliable air conditioning system can be provided by determining that a flame has occurred at 00 ° C. and restarting the heater activation control.

(Second Embodiment) A second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The configuration of the present embodiment is exactly the same as that of FIGS. 1 and 2, but the heating operation start control is started after the refrigerant recovery operation is started, and the heating operation start control is started. . However,
A feature of the present embodiment is that a control by a timer is introduced as a part of the activation control of the heater. Therefore,
In the startup control of the heater, the description will be focused on the control in which the mixed air is sent out, the piezoelectric igniter 31 is energized (ON), and a flame is formed.

The starting control of the refrigerant heater 12 after the control for starting the heating operation is completed will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

First, in step S310, the microcomputer 1
The control for starting the catalytic combustion of the refrigerant heater 12 by sending the combustion fuel from the electromagnetic pump 17 and the combustion air from the burner motor 16 by the signal of the combustion preparation output by the instruction of 8 starts.

In step S310, in order to start the catalytic combustion, a control signal for starting energization ON is first output to the carburetor heating heater 24 while the supply of fuel and air is stopped, and the carburetor 23 is heated. . Next, step S311.
Then, the carburetor temperature detector 25 such as a thermistor detects the temperature Tb of the carburetor 23 and outputs a signal. In the next step S312, the carburetor temperature Tb is set to the set value Ts2 (eg 25
(0 ° C.), and if Tb> Ts2, a YES determination is made and a signal is output, and the process proceeds to step S313, while if Tb ≦ Ts2, a NO determination is made and the process returns to step S311. The temperature of the vaporizer 23 is detected again.

In step S313, the supply of air and fuel is started in this order, but the air ratio of the air-fuel mixture supplied is smaller than that of steady combustion in order to improve the starting speed by early flame formation and to prevent abnormal noise during fuel ignition. It is set at λ = 1.5 or less (for example, in the range of 0.5 to 1.5). Therefore, in step S313, in order to start the combustion by supplying the air-fuel mixture, the set value λs (for example, 1.0) of the air ratio λ at the time of startup stored in the memory 19 is selected and the signal is output. In step S314, the amount of combustion from the electromagnetic pump 17 is a predetermined value W (for example, about 2000 kcal / hr).
Fuel is supplied so that
Then, in order to deliver the air so that the air ratio of the air-fuel mixture becomes λ = 1.0, the rotational speed set value Nb of the burner motor 16 is set.
A control signal for controlling at 1 (for example, 100 rpm) is output from the microcomputer 18, and the burner motor 16 starts rotating.

Subsequently, in step S316, the microcomputer 18 outputs a control signal to the piezoelectric igniter 31 to turn on the energization to start discharging toward the rectifying plate 29. A flame is formed which uses the discharged spark as an ignition source and the air-fuel mixture passage port 27 of the catalyst heating element 26 as a flame port.

In the next step S317, step S3
16 is the time t from the start of the energization ON control of the piezoelectric igniter 31.
When h is detected and a signal is output, the output value th is compared with the set value ts (for example, 10 seconds) stored in the memory 19 of the microcomputer 18 in step S318. In step S318, if th> ts, the determination is YES, it is determined that a flame is formed and a signal is output, and in step S319, the energization of the piezoelectric igniter 31 is OF.
F, and in step S320, the microcomputer 1
8, a control signal for forcibly turning off the electromagnetic pump 17 is output, and the fuel supply is stopped. On the other hand, if th ≦ ts is determined in step S318, NO is determined, it is determined that the flame is not yet formed, and the process returns to step S317.

In step S321, the upstream temperature detector 3
2 detects the catalyst upstream temperature Tj and outputs a signal. In step S322, the output value Tj and the set value Ts6 stored in the memory 19 of the microcomputer 18 (for example, 1000
C) and Ts7 (e.g. 300 C) are compared. In step S322, if Ts6>Tj> Ts7, a YES determination is made, a flame is not generated, the catalyst is determined to be in an active state, and a signal is output.
Go to 3. On the other hand, if Tj ≦ Ts7 or Ts6 ≦ Tj, NO is determined, and it is determined that the catalyst is in an inactive state, that is, misfire or abnormal combustion, and the process proceeds to step S327.

In step S327, the previous value of the starting air ratio λ stored in the memory 19 is selected, and in step S328, when passing through step S315 again,
The value of the previous startup air ratio λ is extracted, and the signal of the new rotation speed (for example, 90 rpm) in which the rotation speed of the burner motor 16 in step S315 is 10% lower than the previous value Nb1 (for example, 100 rpm) is output, and step S310. Then, the remeasurement heating start control is started.

In step S323, the control for shifting to catalytic combustion is started. However, heating start-up is improved, flame formation occurs again, and the catalyst upstream temperature becomes a heat resistant temperature (about 1000 ° C.).
For the purpose of preventing the above and improving reliability, a larger amount of air is supplied during the catalytic combustion transition than during the preheating control. Therefore, the air ratio λ of the air-fuel mixture is set in the range of 1.5 to 2.5, for example. Therefore, step S323
Then, the air ratio λ (for example, λs = 1.8) at the time of transition to catalytic combustion stored in the memory 19 is selected and a signal is output, and in step S324, the combustion amount from the electromagnetic pump 17 is set to a predetermined value (for example, 5000 kcal). The fuel is supplied so as to be about (/ hr). In step S325, the microcomputer 18 outputs a control signal for rotating the burner motor 16 at the rotational speed setting value Nb3 (for example, 300 rpm) in order to deliver the air so that the air ratio λ of the air-fuel mixture becomes λ = 1.8. By controlling, the optimum air ratio λ =
By sending out air of 1.8, steady combustion operation becomes possible.
In step S326, the operating frequency f (for example, 50 Hz) of the compressor 1 is instructed from the memory 19, and a comfortable steady heating operation is started according to the load of the indoor unit 3. If a flame should occur after the start of the steady heating operation, it is determined that a flame has occurred at the catalyst upstream temperature Tj> 1000 ° C.
By restarting the heater activation control, a safe, comfortable and highly reliable air conditioning system can be provided.

Further, steps S317 to S318 of FIG.
The control by the timer 20 (outputting a signal when it is determined that a flame has been formed) can be replaced by flame detection means such as a flame rod that can detect the flame state by outputting a current value.

That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the frame rod 36 is installed at a position where the flame is formed on the upstream side of the piezoelectric igniter 31, and when the flame is formed, the current value Ik> is increased by the frame rod 36. Is (for example, 100 μA) is output, and it can be determined that the flame is being formed, and the current value Ik
If ≦ Is, it can be immediately determined that the engine is in a misfire or unburned state, the control by the timer 20 can be used as a substitute, and the control response is quick, and a more comfortable heating operation can be performed.

Refrigerant heater 12 used in the above embodiment
The catalytic combustion unit 30 may be a honeycomb carrier made of metal or ceramic, a braided body of ceramic fibers, a porous sintered body, or the like carrying an active component containing a noble metal such as platinum or palladium as a main component. .

Further, a manual needle valve, an electric solenoid valve or the like is used for controlling the flow rate of air, and in the case of liquid fuel, a manual lever operation or a pump or the like which is automatically driven by a motor drive is used. It is also possible to use any one, and any one may be used as long as it has the same effect. Further, an electric heater, a discharge igniter or the like can be used as the ignition device, and a sensor other than those used in the above-described embodiment can be used as a sensor for detecting temperature, flame, and time.

[0056]

Since the present invention is constructed as described above, it has the following effects. According to the invention described in claim 1 of the present invention, in the preheating operation of the heating, by performing discharge toward the vicinity of the position facing the air-fuel mixture passage port of the catalyst heating element in the current plate, the combustion chamber There is no wasteful discharge to the upper and lower side surfaces inside, and stable pre-ignition control by flame ignition becomes possible.
Therefore, since the flame can be formed early after the fuel reaches the vicinity of the baffle plate, it is possible to start the combustion control comfortably and to realize the optimal heating operation. It is possible to provide a high air conditioning system.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the ignition means is arranged at the lower position with respect to the current plate, it is possible to discharge the high-concentration fuel staying below the combustion chamber by gravity. It is possible to start the preheating control by forming a flame early and easily without being affected by the disturbance. Therefore, the emission of combustion exhaust gas containing unburned fuel due to ignition delay is suppressed, and comfortable combustion control start-up becomes possible.

Further, according to the invention of claim 3,
The combustion amount during preheat control is reduced below the steady combustion amount, the air ratio is set to a value smaller than the air ratio during steady combustion, and high-concentration fuel is delivered to instantly form a flame for preheat control. It will be possible to start. Therefore, the ignition delay is reduced, the emission of combustion exhaust gas containing unburned fuel due to the ignition delay is further suppressed, and a more comfortable combustion control start-up becomes possible.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 4, the catalyst is exposed to a high temperature state and reliability is lowered by temporarily increasing the amount of air to extinguish the flame during preheating control. Can be prevented. Also, after digestion,
By increasing the combustion amount to the steady combustion amount, comfortable combustion control start-up becomes possible.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the preheat control is performed, the catalyst becomes inactive, and the unburned state occurs. When the preheat control is performed again, the stored air ratio at the time of the previous preheat control is used. By reducing the air ratio, it is possible to reduce white smoke, odor, etc., which are continuously generated due to unburned fuel, to enable comfortable combustion control startup, and to realize a heating operation with a quick start.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, during the preheat control, the fuel supply is temporarily stopped to temporarily extinguish the flame under the time control, and then the combustion amount becomes steady. By setting the combustion amount, it is possible to prevent the catalyst from being exposed to a high temperature state and lowering the reliability, and it is possible to start the combustion control with excellent responsiveness and without waste.

According to the seventh aspect of the invention, when the preheating control is performed, the catalyst becomes inactive and the unburned state occurs, and when the preheating control is performed again, the stored air ratio at the time of the previous preheating control is used. By reducing the air ratio, it is possible to reduce white smoke, odor, etc., which are continuously generated due to unburned fuel, to enable comfortable combustion control startup, and to realize a heating operation with a quick start.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 8, by providing the flame detecting means capable of detecting the flame state by the output of the current value, it is possible to immediately judge the misfire or the unburned state. It is possible to significantly shorten the preheating time, to start combustion control comfortably and economically, and to realize a heating operation with a quick start-up.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a refrigeration cycle diagram of a refrigerant heating type air conditioning system according to the present invention.

2 is a partial cross-sectional configuration diagram of the refrigerant heater shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic partial cross-sectional configuration diagram of a modified example of the refrigerant heater of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of refrigerant recovery operation control in the air conditioning system of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of start control for starting heating operation in the air conditioning system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of heater control in the air conditioning system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing a modified example of heater control.

FIG. 8 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view showing an installation position of a frame rod arranged in the refrigerant heater.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 compressor, 2 4-way valve, 3 indoor unit, 4 indoor heat exchanger, 5 indoor fan, 6 expansion valve, 7 electromagnetic two-way valve, 8 check valve, 9 outdoor unit, 10 outdoor heat exchanger, 11 outdoor fan, 12 Refrigerant heater, 13
Check valve, 14 3-way valve, 15 2-way valve, 16 burner motor, 17 electromagnetic pump, 18 microcomputer,
19 memory, 20 timer, 21 fuel supply path, 22 air supply path, 23 vaporization part, 24 vaporizer heating heater, 25 vaporizer temperature detector, 26 catalyst heating element, 27 catalyst mixture passage port, 28 air passage port, 28 air passage port,
29 current plate, 30 catalytic combustion part, 31 piezoelectric igniter, 32 upstream temperature detector, 33 downstream temperature detector, 34 combustion chamber, 35 combustion gas exhaust port, 36
Frame rod,

Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) F25B 13/00 341 F25B 13/00 341D (72) Inventor Tomoaki Ando 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tatsuo Fujita 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Motohiro Suzuki, 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka F Term (Reference) 3K003, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. AA01 AB03 AB06 AC01 BB05 CA04 CA07 CB03 CB04 CC02 DA04 3K052 AA01 AB12 AB14 AB15 FA01 FA08 3L092 MA01 NA03 PA11

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An air conditioning system having a heater, wherein the heater includes a vaporizer having a vaporizer heating heater, liquid fuel supply means for supplying liquid fuel to the vaporizer, and the vaporizer. A catalyst heating element having air supply means for supplying air to the carburetor, a mixture gas passage opening and an air passage opening arranged in contact with the vaporizer, and a catalyst having a plurality of communication holes arranged on the downstream side of the catalyst heating element. A combustor, a rectifying plate arranged on the downstream side of the air passage opening, and an ignition means arranged between the catalyst heating element and the catalyst combusting part and separated from the rectifying plate by a predetermined distance, The ignition means discharges toward the rectifying plate near a position of the rectifying plate facing the air-fuel mixture passing port, thereby causing the rectifying plate to discharge in the vicinity of the catalyst heating element or between the catalyst heating element and the catalyst combustion section. A flame is formed in the Air conditioning system, characterized in that to carry out the heating operation by preheating the part. 2. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the ignition means is arranged at a central position or below the central position with respect to the current plate. 3. A controller is further provided, and the controller controls the fuel supply amount from the liquid fuel supply unit and the supply air amount from the air supply unit to obtain an air ratio (supply air amount / theoretical air amount). ) Starts to supply the air-fuel mixture smaller than 1.5, flame is formed by the ignition means, control is performed to preheat the catalytic combustion portion, transition to catalytic combustion, and heating operation is started. The air conditioning system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that. 4. An upstream temperature detector provided on the upstream side of the catalytic combustion unit is further provided, and when an output value from the upstream temperature detector exceeds a first predetermined temperature after flame formation by the ignition means. When the amount of air supplied from the air supply unit is increased to a first predetermined air amount and then the output value of the upstream temperature detector becomes equal to or lower than a second predetermined temperature lower than the first predetermined temperature, the control is performed. Control the amount of fuel supplied from the liquid fuel supply means and the amount of air supplied from the air supply means by means of an air ratio (air supply amount / theoretical air amount)
3. The air conditioning system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the supply of an air-fuel mixture of 1.5 or more is started to shift to catalytic combustion. 5. When the output value from the upstream temperature detector is lower than a third predetermined temperature lower than the second predetermined temperature, the controller reduces the amount of air supplied from the air supply means, The air conditioning system according to claim 4, wherein the air ratio is made lower than the stored output value of the air ratio at the time of the previous preheating control, and the supply of the air-fuel mixture is restarted. 6. An upstream temperature detector provided on the upstream side of the catalytic combustion section, and a timer for detecting a control time by the ignition means, and when the timer exceeds a predetermined time, discharge from the ignition means When the fuel supply by the liquid fuel supply means is temporarily stopped, and then the output value from the upstream temperature detector exceeds a predetermined temperature, the liquid fuel supply means restarts the fuel supply to the catalytic combustion. 3. The air conditioning system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein while the temperature shifts, when the temperature is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature, the fuel supply by the liquid fuel supply means is stopped and the preheating control is started again. 7. When the output value from the upstream temperature detector is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature, the controller reduces the amount of air supplied from the air supply means to adjust the air ratio to the air ratio at the previous preheating control. 7. The air conditioning system according to claim 6, wherein the supply of the air-fuel mixture is restarted after the air-fuel ratio is lowered below the stored output value of. 8. An upstream temperature detector provided on the upstream side of the catalytic combustion section, and a flame detection means provided on the upstream side of the catalytic combustion section for detecting a flame, and output from the flame detection means. When the output value becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined value, the supply of fuel by the liquid fuel supply means is temporarily stopped, and when the output value from the upstream temperature detector becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature, the liquid fuel supply means supplies the fuel again. The air conditioning system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the supply is started to shift to catalytic combustion.