JP2003227664A - Air conditioner and operation method of air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem where an improvement in transfer work is required since there is a possibility of refrigerant leakage caused by many erroneous works such as forgetfulness of closing a valve as closing a ball valve or a stop valve in pump-down work in a conventional air conditioner is performed manually. <P>SOLUTION: This air conditioner has a refrigerating cycle for successively connecting a compressor 4, a condenser 6, an orifice device 7, and an evaporator 8 by a refrigerant pipe by straddling an indoor machine and an outdoor machine, and has a liquid side motor-driven ball valve 1 and a gas side motor-driven ball valve 2 arranged in a pipe connecting part for connecting the outdoor machine and the indoor machine, a pump-down switch 11 for indicating pump- down, and a control part 20 for controlling so as to perform pump-down operation on the basis of indication input from the pump-down switch 11, and controlling so as to close the respective motor-driven ball valves after finishing the pump-down 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 reduction of refrigerant discharge into the atmosphere and improvement of construction work by automating valve opening and closing during construction of an air conditioner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 6 is a refrigerant circuit diagram showing opening and closing of valves in a conventional air conditioner. In FIG. 6, the right side from the one-dot chain line on the right side shows the internal components of the outdoor unit, and the left side from the one-dot chain line on the left side shows the internal components of the indoor unit. 3 is a refrigerant storage tank provided inside the outdoor unit, 4 is also a compressor, 5 is also a four-way valve, 6 is a heat exchanger, 7 is a throttle device, and 8 is a heat provided inside the indoor unit. An exchanger, 9a is a liquid side extension pipe connecting the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, 9b is a gas side extension pipe connecting the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, and 12 is a liquid side ball valve or a stop valve provided inside the outdoor unit. , 13 are also gas side ball valves or stop valves.

When the air conditioner is relocated, a work (pump down) is performed to collect the refrigerant into the outdoor unit of the air conditioner so as not to release the refrigerant to the atmosphere. This operation will be described. After manually closing the liquid side ball valve or stop valve 12, the cooling operation (compressor 4 ON) is performed. Refrigerant is collected in the refrigerant storage tank 3 and the heat exchanger 6 etc. on the outdoor unit side, and when the refrigerant can be completely collected on the outdoor unit side, the cooling operation is stopped (compressor 4 OFF) and the gas side ball valve or Manually close the stop valve 13.

Further, in the construction of an air conditioner, after connecting the indoor unit and the outdoor unit with the liquid side extension pipe 9a and the gas side extension pipe 9b, evacuation is performed and the liquid side ball valve or stop valve 12 and the gas side ball are connected. The air conditioner was operated after the valve or the stop valve 13 was manually opened.

[0005]

Since the conventional work of pump down of the air conditioner involves manually closing the ball valve or the stop valve as described above, there are many erroneous operations such as forgetting to close the valve and refrigerant leakage. There was a fear of this and there was a need to improve the relocation work.

Further, in the construction work of the air conditioner, since the ball valve or the stop valve is manually opened as described above, after connecting the indoor unit and the outdoor unit with the liquid side extension pipe 9a and the gas side extension pipe 9b. However, there is a risk of malfunction due to many mistaken operations such as forgetting to open the liquid and gas valves when the air conditioner is evacuated and the air conditioner is operating. It was being done.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to obtain an air conditioner capable of easily and reliably performing pump down work.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an air conditioner which can prevent forgetting to open the valve when operating after the air conditioner is put into operation, and can perform normal operation.

[0009]

An air conditioner according to the present invention is provided with a refrigeration cycle in which a compressor, a condenser, a throttle device and an evaporator are sequentially connected by a refrigerant pipe across an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. In the air conditioner, an electric valve provided at a pipe connecting portion connecting the outdoor unit and the indoor unit, a pump down switch for instructing pump down, and a pump down operation based on an instruction input from the pump down switch. And a control means for controlling to close the electric valve after the pump down operation is completed.

Further, the display means for displaying the end of the pump down operation is provided, and the control means controls to display the end of the pump down operation on the display means after the end of the pump down.

Further, there is provided display means for displaying the electric valve closure, and the control means controls to display the electric valve closure on the display means after the electric valve is closed.

Further, in an air conditioner provided with a refrigeration cycle in which a compressor, a condenser, a throttle device and an evaporator are sequentially connected by a refrigerant pipe, the refrigeration cycle is provided between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, the outdoor unit and the indoor unit. An electric valve provided at a pipe connecting portion connecting the electric valve and a control means for controlling the electric valve to an open state by an operation signal.

Further, it is provided with display means for displaying the electric valve open state, and the control means controls to display the electric valve open state on the display means after the electric valve is opened.

A flammable refrigerant is used as the refrigerant.

The operating method of the air conditioner according to the present invention is the operating method of an air conditioner in which a refrigeration cycle is provided across an indoor unit and an outdoor unit via gas extension pipes and liquid extension pipes, The step of closing the liquid side electric valve based on the instruction input of the pump down operation, the step of operating the compressor to perform the pump down operation, and the gas side electric operation after the operation of the compressor has passed a predetermined time. Closing the valve.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiment 1. Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a refrigerant circuit diagram of an air conditioner showing an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1
In the figure, the right side from the one-dot chain line on the right shows the internal components of the outdoor unit, and the left side from the one-dot chain line on the left shows the internal components of the indoor unit. 1 is a liquid side electric ball valve mounted inside the outdoor unit, 2 is a gas side electric ball valve,
3 is also a refrigerant storage tank, 4 is also a compressor, 5 is also a 4-way valve, 6 is also a heat exchanger, 7 is also a throttle device such as a capillary tube, 8 is a heat exchanger mounted inside the indoor unit, and 9a. Is the liquid side extension pipe connecting the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, 9
Reference numeral b is a gas side extension pipe connecting the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, and 20 is a control unit for controlling the opening / closing of the liquid side electric ball valve 1 and the gas side electric ball valve 2 and the rotation frequency of the compressor 4.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the air conditioner shown in FIG.
It is a perspective view which shows the structure arrangement of an outdoor unit. 2, the same components as those shown in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. In the figure, 10 is a substrate provided in an electrical component box that stores electrical components including a control unit, and 11 is a pump down switch provided on the substrate 10 and exposed outside the electrical component box. Further, in the present embodiment, the HFC-based R407c refrigerant is used as the refrigerant. The refrigerant is R410
Other HFC refrigerants such as A may be used, or HC such as R22
It can be realized even with an FC type refrigerant. Also, a combustible refrigerant such as R32 may be used, and R600a or R29 may be used.
It is also possible to use an HC-based combustible refrigerant such as 0.

Next, the operation will be described with reference to the operation flowchart of the air conditioner shown in FIG. Pump down switch 1 for substrate 10 provided inside the outdoor unit
When 1 is turned on (S1), in response to this, the control unit 20 controls to automatically close the liquid side electric ball valve 1 of the outdoor unit (S2), turns on the compressor 4 and starts the cooling operation. Control (S3). Liquid side electric ball valve 1
By closing the, the refrigerant is stored in the refrigerant storage tank 3 on the outdoor unit side.
And heat exchanger 6 and the like. When the control unit 20 measures the operating time with the built-in clock and determines that 3 minutes of the time when most of the refrigerant can be collected in the outdoor unit side has passed (S4), the control unit 20 automatically turns off the compressor 4. Then, the cooling operation is controlled to stop (S5), and at the same time, the gas side electric ball valve 2 is controlled to close (S6).

Although not shown, for example, an indicator provided in the outdoor unit displays the completion of the pump down operation or sounds a buzzer (S7) to complete the pump down operation. By providing a display device such as a display or a buzzer, the operator can be notified of the completion of the pump down work. With this work, even a beginner can easily perform pump down work. After that, the liquid side extension pipe 9a and the gas side extension pipe 9
Even if b is removed from the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, the refrigerant piping is closed by the liquid side electric ball valve 1 and the gas side electric ball valve 2, so there is no risk of refrigerant leaking from the outdoor unit. Further, the liquid-side electric ball valve 1 and the gas-side electric ball valve 2 are provided with detection means such as a photocoupler capable of detecting the closed state, and the control unit 20 displays the closure of each valve on the display means based on the detection result from the detection means. You may control so that it may be performed. In this way, the pump down operation and the closing control of the liquid side electric ball valve 1 and the gas side electric ball valve 2 are automatically linked by the control unit 20, so that the refrigerant leakage at the time of pump down can be prevented and the environment can be reduced. An adapted air conditioner can be obtained. Although the electric ball valve has been described in the above embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and the same effect can be obtained with an LEV or a solenoid valve. Further, the expansion device 7 may be an LEV so that it also serves as the liquid-side electric ball valve 1. Furthermore, when a flammable refrigerant is used as the refrigerant, ignition due to refrigerant leakage can be reliably prevented.

Embodiment 2. Hereinafter, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The refrigerant circuit diagram and the perspective view of the outdoor unit are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 shown in the first embodiment.
And its description is omitted. The operation of the pump down operation is also the same as the operation flow shown in FIG. 3, and the description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the operation of starting the operation after the installation of the air conditioner will be described with reference to the operation flowchart shown in FIG. After the indoor unit and the outdoor unit of the air conditioner are connected to each other by the liquid side extension pipe 9a and the gas side extension pipe 9b to obtain the state as shown in FIG. 1, the indoor unit and each extension pipe are evacuated. When an instruction is input to start the air conditioning operation from a remote controller (not shown) (S11), the control unit 20 controls the liquid side electric ball valve 1 and the gas side electric ball valve 2 to be in the open state based on the operation signal ( S12,
S13). This ensures that the electric ball valves on the liquid side and the gas side are not forgotten to open. Therefore, when the air conditioner is operated, the operation of the compressor 4 is surely turned on (S14) without operating the protective device, and the normal operation is continued. When the photocoupler detects the open state of the liquid-side and gas-side electric ball valves by using the detection unit and the display unit that can detect the open state such as the photocoupler used in the first embodiment, the control unit 20 detects the open state. You may control so that it may be displayed on a display means.

In the present embodiment, after the vacuuming is performed and the construction is completed, the liquid-side electric ball valve 1 and the gas-side electric ball valve 2 are opened by the operation instruction input. There is no need to open the valve inside,
It is possible to prevent the valve from being opened accidentally before vacuuming during construction. Therefore, when the refrigerant is a flammable refrigerant, it is possible to reliably prevent air from remaining in the pipe and igniting when the valve is opened. Further, the control unit 20 controls the liquid-side electric ball valve 1 and the gas-side electric ball valve 2 to the closed state based on an operation end instruction input from a remote controller or the like, not limited to the non-combustible refrigerant and the combustible refrigerant. By doing so, even if the liquid side extension pipe 9a and the gas side extension pipe 9b are accidentally disconnected during the operation stop, it is possible to prevent the refrigerant in the outdoor unit from being released into the atmosphere. In particular, with a flammable refrigerant, the possibility of ignition due to a leaking refrigerant can be reduced.

Embodiment 3. Hereinafter, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The refrigerant circuit diagram and the perspective perspective view of the outdoor unit are the same as those shown in FIGS. Further, the operation of the pump down operation, the operation at the time of installation and installation, and the operation operation after the installation are also the same as the operation flows shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, and the description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the operation of starting the operation after the installation of the air conditioner will be described with reference to the operation flowchart shown in FIG. When an instruction is input to terminate the air conditioning operation from a remote controller (not shown) (S21), the control unit 20 receives the instruction and controls the liquid side electric ball valve 1 of the outdoor unit to automatically close (S22), and the compressor Control is performed by turning on the 4th operation to start the cooling operation (S23). By closing the liquid-side electric ball valve 1, the refrigerant accumulates in the refrigerant storage tank 3 and the heat exchanger 6 on the outdoor unit side. The control unit 20 measures the operating time with a built-in clock and can collect most of the refrigerant in the outdoor unit for 3 minutes (or if the refrigerant is a flammable refrigerant, the indoor unit and the side extension pipe 9a and the gas side extension pipe). When it is determined that the time period during which the amount of the refrigerant in 9b can be reduced to such a level that the refrigerant does not ignite even if the refrigerant is discharged to the atmosphere (S24), the control unit 20 automatically sets the compressor 4
Is turned off to control the cooling operation (S2
5) At the same time, control is performed to close the gas side electric ball valve 2 (S26). Thus, the air conditioning operation is completed.

With the configuration and control operation as described above,
Even if the liquid-side extension pipe 9a and the gas-side extension pipe 9b are accidentally disconnected during the operation stop, the refrigerant in the outdoor unit can be prevented from being released into the atmosphere. In addition, the indoor unit and side extension pipe 9
Since almost no refrigerant remains in a and the gas side extension pipe 9b, it is possible to prevent the refrigerant from being released into the atmosphere. In particular, flammable refrigerant can prevent ignition due to leaking refrigerant.

[0026]

As described above, according to the air conditioner of the present invention, the refrigeration cycle in which the compressor, the condenser, the expansion device, and the evaporator are sequentially connected by the refrigerant pipe is provided across the indoor unit and the outdoor unit. In an air conditioner provided with, an electric valve provided in a pipe connecting portion connecting the outdoor unit and the indoor unit, a pump down switch for instructing pump down, and a pump based on an instruction input from the pump down switch. Since a control means for controlling the down operation and for controlling the electric valve to be closed after the pump down operation is completed is provided, by automating the pump down at the time of relocation work, even a beginner can easily and reliably pump the pump. An air conditioner adapted to the environment can be obtained which can perform down work and can prevent refrigerant leakage when the pump is down.

Further, the display means for displaying the end of the pump down operation is provided, and the control means controls to display the end of the pump down operation on the display means after the end of the pump down, so that the completion of the pump down operation can be easily known. be able to.

Further, the display means for displaying the electric valve closure is provided, and the control means controls to display the electric valve closure on the display means after the electric valve closure, so that it is confirmed that the electric valve is closed. It is possible to remove the extension pipe from, and it is possible to prevent the refrigerant from leaking into the atmosphere.

Further, in an air conditioner provided with a refrigeration cycle in which a compressor, a condenser, a throttle device and an evaporator are sequentially connected by a refrigerant pipe, the refrigerating cycle is provided between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, the outdoor unit and the indoor unit. Since the electric valve provided in the pipe connecting portion connecting the two and the control means for controlling the electric valve to the open state by the operation signal are provided, it is possible to prevent forgetting to open the valve for liquid and gas, and to operate the air conditioner. The operation can be performed normally without the protective device operating.

Further, the display means for displaying the electric valve open state is provided, and the control means controls the display means to display the electric valve open state after the electric valve is opened. You can check.

Even when a flammable refrigerant is used as the refrigerant, it is possible to prevent the refrigerant from being released into the atmosphere in a large amount.

Further, in the operation method of the air conditioner in which the refrigeration cycle is provided across the indoor unit and the outdoor unit via the gas extension pipe and the liquid extension pipe, the liquid side electric drive is performed based on the instruction input of the pump down operation. Since the step of closing the valve, the step of operating the compressor to perform the pump down operation, and the step of closing the gas side electric valve after the operation of the compressor has elapsed for a predetermined time are provided. By automating the pump down at the time of relocation work, even a beginner can easily and surely perform the pump down work, and can prevent the refrigerant leakage at the time of the pump down, and obtain an air conditioner adapted to the environment.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a refrigerant circuit diagram showing an air conditioner according to first to third embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a structural layout diagram showing an outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to Embodiments 1 to 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an operation flowchart of the air conditioner according to Embodiments 1 to 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an operation flowchart of the air conditioner according to Embodiments 2 and 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an operation flowchart of the air conditioner according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a refrigerant circuit diagram showing a conventional air conditioner.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, liquid side electric ball valve, 2 gas side electric ball valve, 3 refrigerant storage tank, 4 compressor, 5
Four-way valve, 6 outdoor heat exchanger, 7 throttling device, 8
Indoor heat exchanger, 9a liquid side extension pipe, 9b gas side extension pipe, 10 substrate, 11 pump down switch, 12 liquid side ball valve or stop valve,
13 Gas side ball valve or stop valve,
20 Control unit.

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An air conditioner comprising a refrigeration cycle in which a compressor, a condenser, a throttle device, and an evaporator are sequentially connected by a refrigerant pipe across an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, the outdoor unit and the indoor unit. An electric valve provided in a pipe connecting portion connecting the two, a pump down switch for instructing pump down,
An air conditioner comprising: control means for performing pump down operation based on an instruction input from the pump down switch, and for controlling to close the electric valve after the pump down operation is completed. 2. The air according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying the end of the pump down operation, and the control means controls to display the end of the pump down operation on the display means after the end of the pump down. Harmony machine. 3. The air according to claim 1, further comprising display means for displaying electric valve closure, wherein the control means controls the display means to display electric valve closure after the electric valve is closed. Harmony machine. 4. An air conditioner comprising a refrigeration cycle in which a compressor, a condenser, a throttle device and an evaporator are sequentially connected by a refrigerant pipe across an indoor unit and an outdoor unit, the outdoor unit and the indoor unit. An air conditioner comprising: an electric valve provided at a pipe connecting portion connecting the electric valve and a control unit that controls the electric valve to an open state by an operation signal. 5. The air according to claim 4, further comprising display means for displaying an electric valve open state, wherein the control means controls the display means to display the electric valve open state after the electric valve is opened. Harmony machine. 6. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein a flammable refrigerant is used as the refrigerant. 7. A method for operating an air conditioner in which a refrigeration cycle is provided across an indoor unit and an outdoor unit via gas extension pipes and liquid extension pipes, and liquid side electric drive is performed based on a pump down operation instruction input. A step of closing the valve, a step of operating the compressor to perform a pump down operation, and a step of closing the gas side electric valve after the operation of the compressor has passed a predetermined time. A method for operating an air conditioner characterized by the above.