JP2003262437A - Refrigerant oxidation determining device and refrigeration unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerant oxidation determining device and a refrigeration unit using the refrigerant oxidation determining device that can maintain the long-term reliability of the refrigeration unit or the like by determining the oxidation degree of a refrigerant with simple constitution. <P>SOLUTION: A coloring matter such as a pH indicator changed in color according to the oxidation degree of the refrigerant is applied into a position visible through windowpane 31b in a container body 31a, and the color of the applied coloring matter is compared with the color of a determination table to determine the oxidation degree of the refrigerant. <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 a refrigerant oxidation judging device and a refrigerating device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a heat pump type refrigeration system using a refrigerant, an HCFC refrigerant having a large ozone depletion coefficient has been subject to CFC regulation. Is used (for example, see Patent Document 1). In the refrigerating apparatus using this HFC refrigerant, since the mutual solubility between the refrigerating machine oil and the HFC refrigerant is one of the important characteristics, synthetic oil such as ether oil or ester oil is used as the refrigerating machine oil.

[0003]

[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-110101

[0004]

However, in the above refrigeration system, there is no means for judging the amount of decomposition products (harmful substances such as hydrofluoric acid and phosgene) generated by the oxidation of the refrigerant, so that the replacement of the deteriorated refrigerant can be prevented. There is a problem that the time cannot be determined and long-term reliability cannot be secured.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerant oxidation judging device capable of judging the degree of refrigerant oxidation with a simple structure and maintaining long-term reliability of a refrigerating device and the like, and a refrigerating device using the same. Especially.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the refrigerant oxidation judging device according to claim 1 is characterized by comprising a simple judging portion coated with a dye capable of judging the oxidation of the refrigerant.

According to the refrigerant oxidation judging device of the above-mentioned claim 1, the degree of oxidation of the refrigerant is judged by the color of the simple judging section coated with the dye whose color changes depending on the degree of oxidation of the refrigerant. For example, using a pH indicator as a dye,
The change in the color of the indicator makes it possible to easily determine the degree of oxidation of the refrigerant. Therefore, it is possible to determine the degree of oxidation of the refrigerant with a simple configuration, and by exchanging the working medium (refrigerant including refrigerating machine oil) as necessary based on the result of the determination, the harmful substances that are decomposition products of the refrigerant can be used. It is possible to prevent defects and maintain long-term reliability.

Further, the refrigerant oxidation judgment device of claim 2 is characterized in that, in the refrigerant oxidation judgment device of claim 1, a judgment table for judging the degree of oxidation of the refrigerant is provided.

According to the refrigerant oxidation judging device of the second aspect, by providing a judgment table for judging the degree of refrigerant oxidation by comparing the colors of the dyes, the degree of refrigerant deterioration can be easily performed on the spot. You can judge.

A refrigerating apparatus according to a third aspect is characterized by using the refrigerant oxidation determining apparatus according to the first or second aspect.

According to the refrigeration system of the third aspect, the degree of oxidation of the refrigerant is judged by the refrigerant oxidation judging device, and the working medium (refrigerant containing the refrigerating machine oil) is supplied as necessary based on the judgment result. By exchanging them, the decomposition products of the refrigerant, such as hydrofluoric acid and phosgene, can be removed, and long-term reliability can be maintained.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The refrigerant oxidation determining apparatus and the refrigerating apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a schematic structure of a heat pump type air conditioner as a refrigerating apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein 1 is a compressor and 2 is the above compressor. A four-way switching valve having one end connected to the discharge side of 1, an outdoor heat exchanger 3 having one end connected to the other end of the four-way switching valve 2, and 4 an end to the other end of the outdoor heat exchanger 3. Is connected to the electric expansion valve 5, 5 is an indoor heat exchanger whose one end is connected to the other end of the electric expansion valve 4, and 6 is one end to the other end of the indoor heat exchanger 5 via the four-way switching valve 2. Are connected, and the other end is the compressor 1
Is an accumulator connected to the suction side of the.

In the air conditioner, the temperature sensor 11 for detecting the discharge pipe temperature of the compressor 1, the temperature sensor 12 for detecting the refrigerant temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger 3, and the temperature sensor 13 for detecting the outside air temperature. A temperature sensor 14 for detecting the refrigerant temperature of the indoor heat exchanger 5, a temperature sensor 15 for detecting the indoor temperature, a temperature sensor 16 for detecting the refrigerant temperature on the suction side of the compressor 1, and the temperature sensor 11 The control device 7 controls the compressor 1, the electric expansion valve 4 and the like in response to the signals from 16 to 16. Further, the closing valve 21 is arranged between the electric expansion valve 4 and the indoor heat exchanger 5, and the closing valve 24 is arranged between the indoor heat exchanger 5 and the four-way switching valve 2. . An oil deterioration determination device 31 is arranged between the four-way switching valve 2 and the closing valve 24 on the gas side during the heating operation.

The compressor 1, the four-way switching valve 2, the outdoor heat exchanger 3, the electric expansion valve 4, the accumulator 6, the control device 7, the closing valve 21, the closing valve 24, the temperature sensors 11 to 13, the temperature sensor 16 and The outdoor fan (not shown) constitutes the outdoor unit 10, and the indoor heat exchanger 5, the temperature sensor 14, the temperature sensor 15 and the indoor fan (not shown) constitute the indoor unit 20.

As shown in FIG. 1, the oil deterioration determining device 3 is used.
Reference numeral 1 is a sight glass in which a window glass 31b is provided on a container body 31a with pipes connected to both ends, and the degree of oil deterioration is visually determined from the window glass 31b inside the container body 31a.
The blackened resinous compound or polymer such as sludge adhering to the inside of the window glass 31b is visually judged.

FIGS. 4A to 4D show a judgment table provided in the oil deterioration judging device 31.

In FIG. 4 (A), the degree of oil deterioration is judged by comparing the color of the oil adhering to the inside of the window glass 31b with the color of the judgment table 51. For example, as the color of the oil adhering to the inside of the window glass 31b changes from brown to black, the oil is deteriorated.

Further, in FIG. 4 (B), a chemical substance (cobalt or the like) whose color changes according to the water content is applied to a position visible through the window glass 31b in the container body 31a, and the application is performed. The color of the chemical substance and the color of the judgment table 52 are compared to judge the degree of water content. For example, it shows that as the color of the chemical substance changes from yellow to green, the water content increases and the oil deteriorates.

In FIG. 4C, a dye such as a pH indicator whose color changes depending on the degree of oxidation of oil is applied to a position visible through the window glass 31b in the container body 31a, and the applied dye is The degree of oil deterioration is judged by comparing the color with the color in the judgment table 53. For example, as the color of the pigment changes from blue to red, the degree of oxidation increases, indicating that the oil is deteriorated.

Further, FIG. 4 (D) shows that the chemical substance whose color changes depending on the air content is the degree to which air is contained.
It is applied to a position visible through the inner window glass 31b, and the applied chemical substance is compared with the color of the judgment table 54 to judge the degree of containing air. For example, it is shown that the air content rate increases as the color of the chemical substance changes.

Each judgment table 51-54 shown in FIGS. 4 (A)-(D)
Is attached near both ends of the container body 40, as shown in FIG. Note that FIG. 5 shows the window glass 45 and the simple determination unit 46 (coated chemical substance, fixed magnet, etc.) visible through the window glass 45.

In the air conditioner having the above-mentioned structure, by attaching the oil deterioration determining device 31 to the gas side pipe during the heating operation, the gas refrigerant containing a large amount of refrigerating machine oil is discharged to the gas side pipe. It is possible to easily judge.

In this way, the degree of deterioration of the refrigerating machine oil can be judged with a simple structure, and the working medium (refrigerant containing the refrigerating machine oil) is exchanged if necessary based on the judgment result, so that long-term reliability can be improved. Can be kept.

A judgment table 5 is provided near the container body 31a.
By providing 1 to 54, the degree of oil deterioration can be easily judged on the spot.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a schematic structure of a heat pump type air conditioner as a refrigerating apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The air conditioner has the same configuration, and the same components are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. In this air conditioner, as shown in FIG. 2, an oil deterioration determination device 32 is provided in the communication pipe 23 on the gas side during the heating operation.

FIG. 3 shows a connecting pipe provided with the oil deterioration judging device. One end of the oil deterioration judging device 40 is connected to one end of a pipe 41, which is an outdoor unit by a flare joint. It may be connected to the connection of the indoor unit, or the other end of the pipe 43, one end of which is connected to the other end of the oil deterioration determination device 40, is connected to the outdoor unit and the indoor unit by a high pressure joint (sedge lock, double lock, etc.). May be connected to the connection.

Also in the case of the second embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the degree of deterioration of the refrigerating machine oil can be judged with a simple structure, and the working medium (including the refrigerating machine oil is included if necessary) based on the judgment result. By exchanging the (refrigerant), long-term reliability can be maintained. Further, the present invention can be applied with a simple configuration without changing the design of the outdoor unit and the indoor unit, and in the existing air conditioner, by replacing the communication pipe with a communication pipe with an oil deterioration determination device, The invention can be easily applied.

In the first and second embodiments described above, the HFC system cooling is used.
At least 70 weight of R32 refrigerant or R32 as a medium
% Mixed refrigerant is used. In addition, with R32 refrigerant
CO ₂A mixed refrigerant of CO,₂Against R32 refrigerant
May be a mixed refrigerant of 70 wt% or more and 90 wt% or less.
Is a mixed refrigerant of R32 refrigerant and R22 refrigerant,
70% by weight or more of R32 refrigerant and 90% of 22 refrigerant
A mixed refrigerant of up to wt% may be used.

In the first and second embodiments described above, the air conditioner as the refrigerating device provided with the oil deterioration determination device 31 has been described, but an abrasion powder determination device may be provided separately from the oil deterioration determination device. Good. This wear debris determination device embeds a magnet in a position visible through the window glass 31b in the container body 31a (shown in FIG. 1), and determines the color of the wear debris adhering to the magnet and the determination table 55 (see FIG. 4). (E)) to determine the degree of inclusion of abrasion powder. For example, the greater the amount of wear powder adhered, the darker the color, and the more wear powder is shown. In this case, it is possible to determine the amount of wear powder contained in the refrigerant by the amount of wear powder attached to the magnet, and it is possible to determine the degree of wear powder in the refrigerant circuit with a simple configuration. By replacing the working medium (refrigerant containing refrigerating machine oil) as necessary based on the result, it is possible to prevent clogging of the pressure reducing mechanism and maintain long-term reliability. Further, by providing the judgment table 55 in the vicinity of the container body 31a, the degree of deterioration of the refrigerant can be easily judged on the spot.

Further, a refrigerant oxidation judging device may be provided separately from the oil deterioration judging device and the abrasion powder judging device. This refrigerant oxidation judging device applies a dye such as a pH indicator whose color changes depending on the degree of oxidation of the refrigerant to a position visible through the window glass 31b in the container body 31a (shown in FIG. 1), and the applied dye. And the color of the judgment table (similar to FIG. 4C) are compared to judge the degree of oxidation of the refrigerant. In this case, HFC
The amount of harmful substances such as hydrofluoric acid, which is a decomposition product of the refrigerant, and phosgene, which is a decomposition product of the HCFC refrigerant, can be judged, and by changing the working medium as necessary based on the judgment result, It is possible to prevent deterioration of each part and maintain long-term reliability. Further, by providing a judgment table near the container body 31a, the degree of deterioration of the refrigerant can be easily judged on the spot.

[0032]

As is apparent from the above, according to the refrigerant oxidation judging device of the invention of claim 1, since the simple judging portion coated with the dye capable of judging the refrigerant oxidation is provided, the refrigerant oxidation judgment is made. The degree of oxidation of the refrigerant can be judged by the color of the simple judgment part coated with a dye that changes in color depending on the degree, the degree of oxidation of the refrigerant can be easily judged with a simple configuration, and if necessary, based on the judgment result. By exchanging the working medium, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of defects due to the decomposition products of the refrigerant, and to maintain long-term reliability.

Further, in the refrigerant oxidation judging device of the invention of claim 2, in the refrigerant oxidation judging device of claim 1, by providing a judgment table for judging the degree of refrigerant oxidation by comparing the colors of the pigments, The degree of deterioration of the refrigerant can be easily judged on the spot.

Further, since the refrigerating apparatus of the invention of claim 3 uses the refrigerant oxidation judging device of claim 1 or 2, the refrigerant oxidation judging device judges the degree of oxidation of the refrigerant, and the judgment result is judged. Based on this, by exchanging the working medium (refrigerant containing refrigerating machine oil) as needed, decomposition products of the refrigerant such as hydrofluoric acid and phosgene can be removed, and long-term reliability can be maintained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a refrigerating apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of a refrigerating apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an oil deterioration determination device arranged in a communication pipe of the refrigeration system.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a judgment table for a simple judgment unit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a pasting position of the judgment table.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Compressor, 2 ... Four-way switching valve, 3 ... Outdoor heat exchanger, 4 ...
Electric expansion valve, 5 ... outdoor heat exchanger, 6 ... accumulator, 7 ... control device, 10 ... outdoor unit, 20 ... indoor unit, 21,24 ... closed valve, 22,23 ... communication pipe, 3
1, 32 ... Oil deterioration determination device.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A refrigerant oxidation judging device comprising a simple judging section coated with a dye capable of judging the refrigerant oxidation. 2. The refrigerant oxidation judgment device according to claim 1, further comprising a judgment table for judging the degree of oxidation of the refrigerant. 3. A refrigeration system using the refrigerant oxidation determination device according to claim 1.