JP2005337659A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To remove frost stacked on an outdoor heat exchanger without impairing comfortableness when nearly all or all indoor units of a cooling and heating free multitype system air conditioner are heated. <P>SOLUTION: Hot heat is stored in a heat storage material by closing a low-pressure gas opening/closing valve SV2d in the opened state of the high-pressure gas opening/closing valve SV1d of the refrigerant circuit 60 of the air conditioner 6. When indoor units 67a, 67b, and 67c are heated, the high-pressure opening/closing valve SV1d is closed and the low-pressure gas opening/closing valve SV2d is opened, an outdoor heat exchanger 612 is operated as a condensing load by using the hot heat of the heat storage material. Thus, the frost stacked in the outdoor heat exchanger 612 can be removed while maintaining the indoor units 67a, 67b, and 67c in a heated state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner for cold districts where the temperature is below freezing in winter and the like.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a multi-type air conditioner that includes a plurality of indoor units for one outdoor unit. Among them, one indoor unit can perform a cooling operation while another indoor unit can perform a heating operation. There is a so-called cooling / heating free type multi-type air conditioner (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-1862

  By the way, when such a cooling / heating free type multi-type air conditioner is installed in a cold region where the temperature is below freezing in winter, etc., and most or all indoor units are operated for heating (that is, the outdoor heat of the outdoor unit). When evaporating load is applied to the exchanger), frost accumulates on the outdoor heat exchanger of the outdoor unit, and the heat exchange rate of the outdoor heat exchanger may gradually deteriorate. In such a situation, frost removal is usually performed by controlling the air conditioner so that the outdoor heat exchanger becomes a condensing load. Since the indoor unit must be in a cooling cycle, the comfort of the air-conditioned space corresponding to the indoor unit is impaired. The indoor fan is stopped to prevent cooling).

  An object of the present invention is to remove frost accumulated on an outdoor heat exchanger without impairing comfort of an air-conditioned space when most or all indoor units of a cooling / heating-free multi-type air conditioner are heated. Is to be able to.

  The air conditioning apparatus according to the first invention includes a refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant circuit includes a compressor, a high pressure gas side refrigerant main pipe, a low pressure gas side refrigerant main pipe, a liquid side refrigerant main pipe, an indoor heat exchanger, an outdoor heat exchanger, a heat storage heat exchanger, a first switching mechanism, and a second switching mechanism. Have The high-pressure gas side refrigerant main pipe communicates with the discharge side of the compressor. The low-pressure gas side refrigerant main pipe communicates with the suction side of the compressor. The heat storage heat exchanger performs heat exchange with the heat storage material. The first switching mechanism can switch between the first state and the second state. In the first state, the refrigerant flowing in the liquid side refrigerant main pipe is evaporated in the indoor heat exchanger and then flows into the low pressure gas side refrigerant main pipe. In the second state, the refrigerant flowing in the high-pressure gas-side refrigerant main pipe is condensed in the indoor heat exchanger and then flows into the liquid-side refrigerant main pipe. The second switching mechanism can switch between the third state and the fourth state. In the third state, the refrigerant flowing in the liquid side refrigerant main pipe is evaporated in the heat storage heat exchanger and then flows into the low pressure gas side refrigerant main pipe. In the fourth state, the refrigerant flowing in the high pressure gas side refrigerant main pipe is condensed in the heat storage heat exchanger and then flows into the liquid side refrigerant main pipe.

  In this air conditioner, warm heat can be accumulated in the heat storage material by setting the second switching mechanism to the fourth state. In this air conditioner, when most or all of the first switching mechanisms are in the second state (heating state), the second switching mechanism is set to the third state and the heat storage heat exchanger then stores the heat. The first switching mechanism is maintained in the second state (heating state) if the liquid refrigerant flowing in the liquid side refrigerant main pipe can be evaporated to the extent that the outdoor heat exchanger is condensated using the heat accumulated in the material. As it is, frost accumulated on the outdoor heat exchanger can be removed. For this reason, in this air conditioning apparatus, frost accumulated in the outdoor heat exchanger can be removed without impairing the comfort of the air-conditioned space.

An air conditioner according to a second aspect of the present invention is the air conditioner according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the heat storage material is heat storage water. Further, the heat storage water accumulates cold heat when the second switching mechanism is in the fourth state.
In this air conditioner, the heat storage water accumulates cold energy when the second switching mechanism is in the fourth state. For this reason, in this air conditioner, ice heat storage operation can be performed. Therefore, in this air conditioner, the power peak can be adjusted when the outdoor heat exchanger becomes a condensation load.

An air conditioner according to a third aspect of the present invention is the air conditioner according to the second aspect of the present invention, wherein the second switching mechanism switches to the first ice heat storage cooling state in a state where cold energy is accumulated in the heat storage water. Is possible. In the first ice heat storage cooling state, the refrigerant flowing in the high pressure gas side refrigerant main pipe flows into the indoor heat exchanger via the heat storage heat exchanger.
In this air conditioning measure, the second switching mechanism can switch to the first ice storage heat-use cooling state in a state where cold heat is accumulated in the heat storage water. For this reason, in this air conditioner, when the outdoor heat exchanger becomes a condensation load, a so-called power peak cut operation can be performed.

  An air conditioner according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the air conditioner according to the second aspect of the present invention, wherein the refrigerant circuit further includes a fourth switching mechanism. A 4th switching mechanism is a switching mechanism for switching to the 2nd ice heat storage utilization cooling state in the state in which cold heat is accumulate | stored in the water for thermal storage. Note that, in the second ice heat storage utilization cooling state, the refrigerant flowing in the liquid side refrigerant main pipe flows into the indoor heat exchanger via the heat storage heat exchanger. In addition, the second switching mechanism prevents the refrigerant flowing in the liquid side refrigerant main pipe from flowing into the high pressure gas side refrigerant main pipe and the low pressure gas side refrigerant main pipe in the second ice heat storage-use cooling state.

In this air conditioner, the refrigerant circuit further includes a fourth switching mechanism, and the second switching mechanism causes the refrigerant flowing through the liquid side refrigerant main pipe in the cooling state using the second ice heat storage to flow the high pressure gas side refrigerant main pipe and the low pressure gas side refrigerant main pipe. Do not let it flow into. For this reason, in this air conditioner, when the outdoor heat exchanger becomes a condensation load, a so-called power peak shift operation can be performed.
A heat storage unit according to a fifth aspect of the invention is inserted into a refrigerant circuit having a compressor, a high pressure gas side refrigerant main pipe, a low pressure gas side refrigerant main pipe, a liquid side refrigerant main pipe, an indoor heat exchanger, an outdoor heat exchanger, and a switching unit. A possible heat storage unit, comprising a heat storage heat exchanger and an expansion mechanism. The high-pressure gas side refrigerant main pipe communicates with the discharge side of the compressor. The low-pressure gas side refrigerant main pipe communicates with the suction side of the compressor. The switching unit can be connected to a high pressure gas side refrigerant main pipe, a low pressure gas side refrigerant main pipe, a liquid side refrigerant main pipe, and an indoor heat exchanger. The switching unit can switch between the first state and the second state. In the first state, the refrigerant flowing in the liquid side refrigerant main pipe is evaporated in the indoor heat exchanger and then flows into the low pressure gas side refrigerant main pipe. In the second state, the refrigerant flowing in the high pressure gas side refrigerant main pipe is condensed in the indoor heat exchanger and then flows into the liquid side refrigerant main pipe. The heat storage heat exchanger can be connected to the switching unit. Moreover, this heat storage heat exchanger performs heat exchange with the heat storage material. The expansion mechanism is provided in the connection pipe. The connection pipe is a pipe for connecting the heat storage heat exchanger and the liquid side refrigerant main pipe. The heat storage heat exchanger can be switched between the third state and the fourth state in the state connected to the switching unit. In the third state, the refrigerant flowing in the liquid side refrigerant main pipe is evaporated and then flowed into the low pressure gas side refrigerant main pipe. In a 4th state, after condensing the refrigerant | coolant which flows into a high pressure gas side refrigerant | coolant main pipe | tube, it is made to flow in into the said liquid side refrigerant | coolant main pipe | tube.

In this heat storage unit, the heat storage heat exchanger can be connected to the switching unit. For this reason, this heat storage unit can be easily inserted into a so-called cooling / heating-free multi-type air conditioner.
And when this heat storage unit is inserted in such an air conditioner, when the heat storage heat exchanger is switched to the fourth state, heat is stored in the heat storage material. When most or all of the first switching mechanisms of the air conditioner are in the second state (heating state), the heat storage heat exchanger is switched to the third state, and the heat storage heat exchanger then stores the heat. When the liquid refrigerant flowing in the liquid-side refrigerant main pipe is evaporated to the extent that the outdoor heat exchanger is made into a condensing load using the heat accumulated in the material, the first switching mechanism is maintained in the second state (heating state) Thus, frost accumulated on the outdoor heat exchanger can be removed. Therefore, this heat storage unit provides a function of removing frost accumulated on the outdoor heat exchanger without impairing the comfort of the air-conditioned space to an air conditioner such as a so-called cooling / heating free type multi-type air conditioner. Can do.

  In the air conditioner according to the first aspect of the present invention, when most or all of the first switching mechanisms are in the second state (heating state), the second switching mechanism is brought into the third state, and at that time, the heat storage heat exchanger If the liquid refrigerant flowing in the liquid side refrigerant main pipe can be evaporated to the extent that the outdoor heat exchanger is made into a condensation load by using the heat accumulated in the heat storage material, the first switching mechanism is in the second state (heating state). The frost accumulated on the outdoor heat exchanger can be removed while maintaining the temperature. For this reason, in this air conditioning apparatus, frost accumulated in the outdoor heat exchanger can be removed without impairing the comfort of the air-conditioned space.

In the air conditioner according to the second aspect of the invention, the ice heat storage operation can be performed. Therefore, in this air conditioner, the power peak can be adjusted when the outdoor heat exchanger becomes a condensation load.
In the air conditioner according to the third aspect of the invention, when the outdoor heat exchanger becomes a condensation load, so-called power peak cut operation can be performed.

In the air conditioner according to the fourth aspect of the invention, so-called power peak shift operation can be performed when the outdoor heat exchanger becomes a condensation load.
The heat storage unit according to the fifth aspect of the present invention can be easily inserted into a so-called cooling / heating-free multi-type air conditioner or the like, and has a function of removing frost accumulated in the outdoor heat exchanger without impairing the comfort of the air-conditioned space. Can be granted.

<First Embodiment>
[Configuration of air conditioner]
A schematic refrigerant circuit 60 of an air conditioner 6 according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG.
The air conditioner 6 is an apparatus used for indoor air conditioning such as a building by performing a vapor compression refrigeration cycle operation. In addition, the air conditioner 6 has a specification capable of performing a defrost operation for removing frost adhering to the outdoor heat exchanger 612, and is in a cold region where the temperature is below freezing in winter. Suitable for installation.

  The air conditioner 6 mainly includes one outdoor unit 61, a plurality (three in this embodiment) of indoor units 67a, 67b, and 67c, a single heat storage unit 64, and each of the indoor units 67a and 67b. , 67c and connection unit 69a, 69b, 69c, 69d connected to heat storage unit 64, and outdoor unit 61, indoor units 67a, 67b, 67c, and heat storage unit 64 via connection units 69a, 69b, 69c, 69d. Refrigerant communication pipes 691, 692, and 693 are provided. For example, the indoor units 67a, 67b, and 67c are configured such that a certain air-conditioned space performs a cooling operation while another air-conditioned space performs a heating operation. It is configured to enable simultaneous cooling and heating according to the requirements of the indoor air-conditioned space where theThat is, the vapor compression refrigerant circuit 60 of the air conditioner 6 of the present embodiment includes an outdoor unit 61, indoor units 67a, 67b, 67c, a heat storage unit 64, connection units 69a, 69b, 69c, 69d, The refrigerant communication pipes 691, 692, and 693 are connected to each other.

(1) Indoor unit The indoor units 67a, 67b, and 67c are installed by being embedded or suspended in an indoor ceiling of a building or the like, or mounted on a wall surface of an indoor wall. The indoor units 67a, 67b, and 67c are connected to the outdoor unit 61 via the refrigerant communication pipes 691, 692, and 693 and the connection units 69a, 69b, and 69c, and constitute a part of the refrigerant circuit 60.

Next, the configuration of the indoor units 67a, 67b, 67c will be described. Since the indoor unit 67a and the indoor units 67b and 67c have the same configuration, only the configuration of the indoor unit 67a will be described here, and the description of each part of the configuration of the indoor units 67b and 67c will be omitted.
The indoor unit 67a mainly constitutes a part of the refrigerant circuit 60, and includes an indoor refrigerant circuit 68a (in the indoor units 67b and 67c, the indoor refrigerant circuits 68b and 68c, respectively). The indoor refrigerant circuit 68a mainly includes an indoor expansion valve EV1a and an indoor heat exchanger 671a. In the present embodiment, the indoor expansion valve EV1a is an electric expansion valve connected to the liquid side of the indoor heat exchanger 671a in order to adjust the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing in the indoor refrigerant circuit 68a. In the present embodiment, the indoor heat exchanger 671a is a fin-and-tube heat exchanger of a cross fin type constituted by a heat transfer tube and a large number of fins, and performs heat exchange between the refrigerant and indoor air. Equipment. In this embodiment, the indoor unit 67a includes a blower fan (not shown) for supplying indoor air as supply air after sucking indoor air into the unit and exchanging heat. It is possible to exchange heat with the refrigerant flowing through the heat exchanger 671a.

  The indoor unit 67a is provided with various sensors. A liquid temperature sensor (not shown) for detecting the temperature of the liquid refrigerant is provided on the liquid side of the indoor heat exchanger 671a, and a gas for detecting the temperature of the gas refrigerant is provided on the gas side of the indoor heat exchanger 671a. A side temperature sensor (not shown) is provided. Further, the indoor unit 67a is provided with an RA intake temperature sensor (not shown) for detecting the temperature of indoor air sucked into the unit. The indoor unit 67a includes an indoor side control unit (not shown) that controls the operation of each unit constituting the indoor unit 67a. The indoor control unit includes a microcomputer and a memory provided to control the indoor unit 67a, and exchanges control signals and the like with a remote controller (not shown). Control signals and the like can be exchanged with the unit 61.

(2) Heat storage unit The heat storage unit 64 is installed indoors, such as a building. The heat storage unit 64 is connected to the outdoor unit 61 via the refrigerant communication pipes 691, 692, 693 and the connection unit 69d, and constitutes a part of the refrigerant circuit 60.
Next, the configuration of the heat storage unit 64 will be described. The heat storage unit 64 mainly constitutes a part of the refrigerant circuit 60 and includes a heat storage refrigerant circuit 65. The heat storage refrigerant circuit 65 mainly includes a heat storage heat exchanger 641 and a heat storage expansion valve EV2. In the present embodiment, the heat storage expansion valve EV2 is an electric expansion valve connected to the liquid side of the heat storage heat exchanger 641 in order to adjust the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing in the heat storage refrigerant circuit 65. In the present embodiment, the heat storage heat exchanger 641 is a cross-fin type fin-and-tube heat exchanger composed of heat transfer tubes and a large number of fins, and is stored in the refrigerant and the heat storage tank 642. It is a device for performing heat exchange with a heat storage material (for example, polyethylene glycol, threitol, paraffin, sodium acetate trihydrate, sodium sulfate decahydrate, etc.).

  The heat storage unit 64 is provided with various sensors. A liquid temperature sensor (not shown) for detecting the temperature of the liquid refrigerant is provided on the liquid side of the heat storage heat exchanger 641, and the temperature of the gas refrigerant is detected on the gas side of the heat storage heat exchanger 641. A gas side temperature sensor (not shown) is provided. Furthermore, the heat storage tank 642 is provided with a heat storage temperature sensor (not shown) that detects the temperature of the heat storage material. Further, the heat storage unit 64 includes a heat storage control unit (not shown) that controls the operation of each unit constituting the heat storage unit 64. The heat storage control unit includes a microcomputer and a memory provided for controlling the heat storage unit 64, and exchanges control signals and the like with a remote controller (not shown). Control signals and the like can be exchanged with 61.

(3) Outdoor unit The outdoor unit 61 is installed on the rooftop of a building or the like, and is connected to the indoor units 67a, 67b, 67c via the connection units 69a, 69b, 69c, 69d and the refrigerant communication pipes 691, 692, 693. The refrigerant circuit 60 is configured between the indoor units 67 a, 67 b, 67 c and the heat storage unit 64.

  Next, the configuration of the outdoor unit 61 will be described. The outdoor unit 61 mainly constitutes a part of the refrigerant circuit 60 and includes an outdoor refrigerant circuit 6a. The outdoor refrigerant circuit 6a mainly includes a compressor 611, a four-way switching valve 613, an outdoor heat exchanger 612, a gas-liquid separator 614, a pressure reducing circuit 60a, a liquid side closing valve 631, a high pressure gas side closing valve 633, and A low-pressure gas side closing valve 632 is provided.

In the present embodiment, the compressor 611 is a positive displacement compressor capable of changing an operation capacity by inverter control. In the present embodiment, the number of the compressors 611 is only one. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and two or more compressors may be connected in parallel depending on the number of indoor units connected. Good.
The outdoor heat exchanger 612 is a heat exchanger that can function as a refrigerant evaporator and a refrigerant condenser. In this embodiment, the cross-fin type fin and・ Tube type heat exchanger. The outdoor heat exchanger 612 has a gas side connected to the four-way switching valve 613 and a liquid side connected to the liquid side closing valve 631.

  The liquid side shut-off valve 631, the high-pressure gas side shut-off valve 633, and the low-pressure gas side shut-off valve 632 are provided at connection ports with external devices and pipes (specifically, refrigerant communication pipes 691, 692, and 693). It is a valve. The liquid side closing valve 631 is connected to the outdoor heat exchanger 612. The high-pressure gas side closing valve 633 is connected to the discharge pipe 626 of the compressor 611. The low-pressure gas side closing valve 632 is connected to the suction side of the compressor 611 via a gas-liquid separator 614.

The decompression circuit 60 a has a capillary tube 638 and is connected to the four-way switching valve 613 and the gas-liquid separator 614.
The outdoor unit 61 is provided with various sensors. Specifically, the outdoor unit 61 includes a suction pressure sensor (not shown) that detects the suction pressure of the compressor 611, a discharge pressure sensor (not shown) that detects the discharge pressure of the compressor 611, and a compression mechanism. A discharge temperature sensor (not shown) for detecting the discharge temperature of the refrigerant on the discharge side 611 is provided. The outdoor unit 61 also includes an outdoor control unit (not shown) that controls the operation of each unit constituting the outdoor unit 61. And the outdoor side control part has the microcomputer and memory which were provided in order to control the outdoor unit 61, and is a control signal etc. between indoor unit 67a, 67b, 67c indoor side control part. You can communicate.

(4) Connection unit The connection units 69a, 69b, 69c, and 69d are installed together with the indoor units 67a, 67b, and 67c and the heat storage unit 64 inside a building or the like. The connection units 69a, 69b, 69c, and 69d are interposed between the indoor units 67a, 67b, and 67c, the heat storage unit 64, and the outdoor unit 61 together with the refrigerant communication pipes 691, 692, and 693. Part.

  Next, the configuration of the connection units 69a, 69b, 69c, and 69d will be described. Since the connection unit 69a and the connection units 69b and 69c have the same configuration, only the configuration of the connection unit 69a will be described here, and the description of each part of the configuration of the connection units 69b and 69c will be omitted. Although the connection unit 69d has the same configuration as the connection units 69a, 69b, and 69c, since the connection objects 67a and 64 are different in this embodiment, the connection unit 69d will be described together with the connection unit 69a.

  The connection units 69a and 69d mainly constitute part of the refrigerant circuit 60, and include connection-side refrigerant circuits 699a and 699d (in the connection units 69b and 69c, connection-side refrigerant circuits 699b and 699c, respectively). . The connection side refrigerant circuits 699a and 699d mainly include liquid connection pipes 691a and 691d, gas connection pipes 695a and 695d, high pressure gas on / off valves SV1a and SV1d, and low pressure gas on / off valves SV2a and SV2d.

  In the present embodiment, the liquid connection pipes 691a and 691d connect the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 691, the indoor expansion valve EV1a of the indoor refrigerant circuit 68a, and the heat storage expansion valve EV2 of the heat storage refrigerant circuit 65. The gas connection pipes 695a and 695d are high-pressure gas connection pipes 693a and 693d connected to the high-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 693, low-pressure gas connection pipes 692a and 692d connected to the low-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 692, and high-pressure gas connection pipes. 693a, 693d and low pressure gas connection pipes 692a, 692d are joined gas connection pipes 694a, 694d. The combined gas connection pipes 694a and 694d are connected to the gas side of the indoor heat exchanger 671a of the indoor refrigerant circuit 68a and the gas side of the heat storage heat exchanger 641 of the heat storage refrigerant circuit 65. In the present embodiment, the high-pressure gas on / off valves SV1a and SV1d are connected to the high-pressure gas connection pipes 693a and 693d, and are solenoid valves capable of circulating and blocking the refrigerant. In this embodiment, the low pressure gas on / off valves SV2a and SV2d are connected to the low pressure gas connection pipes 692a and 692d, and are solenoid valves capable of circulating and blocking the refrigerant. As a result, when the indoor unit 67a performs the cooling operation, the connection unit 69a closes the high-pressure gas on-off valve SV1a and opens the low-pressure gas on-off valve SV2a so that the liquid is connected through the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 691. The refrigerant flowing into the connection pipe 691a is sent to the indoor side expansion valve EV1a of the indoor side refrigerant circuit 68a, decompressed by the indoor side expansion valve EV1a and evaporated in the indoor heat exchanger 671a, and then the combined gas connection pipe 694a and the low pressure gas connection It can function to return to the low-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 692 through the pipe 692a. In addition, when the indoor unit 67a performs the heating operation, the connection unit 69a closes the low-pressure gas on-off valve SV2a and opens the high-pressure gas on-off valve SV1a so that the high pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 693 is used. The refrigerant flowing into the gas connection pipe 693a and the merged gas connection pipe 694a is sent to the gas side of the indoor heat exchanger 671a of the indoor refrigerant circuit 68a, condensed in the indoor heat exchanger 671a, and decompressed by the indoor expansion valve EV1a. It can function to return to the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 691 through the liquid connection pipe 691a. Further, the connection unit 69d closes the low-pressure gas on-off valve SV2d and opens the high-pressure gas on-off valve SV1d when the heat storage unit 64 performs the heat storage operation (described later), and communicates with the high-pressure gas refrigerant. The refrigerant flowing into the high-pressure gas connection pipe 693d and the combined gas connection pipe 694d through the pipe 693 is sent to the gas side of the heat storage heat exchanger 641 of the heat storage refrigerant circuit 65 and condensed in the heat storage heat exchanger 641 (at this time It is possible to function to return to the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 691 through the liquid connection pipe 691d after the pressure is reduced by the heat storage expansion valve EV2 (the heat is mainly accumulated as latent heat in the material). In addition, when the air conditioner 6 performs a defrost operation (described later), the connection unit 69d closes the high pressure gas on / off valve SV1d and opens the low pressure gas on / off valve SV2d to communicate with the liquid refrigerant. The refrigerant flowing into the liquid connection pipe 691d through the pipe 691 is sent to the heat storage expansion valve EV2 of the heat storage refrigerant circuit 65, decompressed by the heat storage expansion valve EV2, and evaporated in the heat storage heat exchanger 641 (at this time the heat storage material From the combined gas connection pipe 694d and the low-pressure gas connection pipe 692d, it can function to return to the low-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 692.

  Further, the connection units 69a and 69d include a connection-side control unit (not shown) that controls the operation of each unit constituting the connection units 69a and 69d. And the connection side control part has the microcomputer and memory provided in order to control connection unit 69a, 69d, and has the indoor side control part of the indoor unit 67a, and the thermal storage control part of the thermal storage unit 64. Control signals and the like can be exchanged between them.

  As described above, the indoor refrigerant circuits 68a, 68b, 68c, the heat storage refrigerant circuit 65, the outdoor refrigerant circuit 6a, the refrigerant communication pipes 691, 692, 693, and the connection refrigerant circuits 699a, 699b, 699c, 699d are connected. Thus, the refrigerant circuit 60 of the air conditioner 6 is configured. And in the air conditioning apparatus 6 of this embodiment, it becomes possible to perform what is called simultaneous cooling and heating operation, for example, indoor unit 67c performs heating operation, while indoor unit 67a, 67b performs cooling operation. Yes.

[Operation of air conditioner]
Next, operation | movement of the air conditioning apparatus 6 of this embodiment is demonstrated.
The operation of the air conditioner 6 of the present embodiment is roughly divided into a heat storage unit non-use operation that does not use the heat storage unit 64 and a heat storage unit use operation that uses the heat storage unit 64. Hereinafter, the operation of the air conditioner 6 will be described by dividing into a heat storage unit non-use operation and a heat storage unit use operation.

(1) Heat storage unit non-use operation The heat storage unit non-use operation is a heating operation in which all the indoor units 67a, 67b, 67c are heated according to the air conditioning load of each indoor unit 67a, 67b, 67c. It can be further divided into a cooling operation in which all of 67b and 67c perform a cooling operation, and a cooling and heating simultaneous operation in which some of the indoor units 67a, 67b and 67c perform a cooling operation while another indoor unit performs a heating operation. As for the simultaneous cooling and heating operation, when the outdoor heat exchanger 612 of the outdoor unit 61 functions as an evaporator due to the air conditioning load of the entire indoor units 67a, 67b and 67c (evaporation operation state), It can be divided into a case where the outdoor heat exchanger 612 of the unit 61 is operated as a condenser (condensation operation state). When the air conditioner 6 performs the heat storage unit non-use operation, the high pressure gas on / off valve SV1d and the low pressure gas on / off valve SV2d of the connection unit 69d are both closed, and the heat storage expansion valve of the heat storage unit 64 is closed. EV2 is fully opened.

(A) Heating operation During the heating operation, the four-way switching valve 613 is switched to the state indicated by the broken line in FIG. 1 so that the outdoor heat exchanger 612 functions as an evaporator and the high-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 693 is used. The high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed and discharged by the compressor 611 is supplied to the indoor units 67a, 67b, and 67c. In the connection units 69a, 69b and 69c, the low pressure gas on / off valves SV2a, SV2b and SV2c are closed and the high pressure gas on / off valves SV1a, SV1b and SV1c are opened, whereby the indoor heat exchanger 671a of the indoor units 67a, 67b and 67c is opened. , 671b, 671c are in a state of functioning as a condenser. In the indoor units 67a, 67b, 67c, the indoor side expansion valves EV1a, Ev1b, EV1c are, for example, the degree of supercooling (specifically, detected by the liquid side temperature sensor) of the indoor heat exchangers 671a, 671b, 671c. The opening degree is adjusted according to the heating load of each indoor unit, such as the opening degree is adjusted based on the temperature difference between the refrigerant temperature and the refrigerant temperature detected by the gas side temperature sensor.

In such a configuration of the refrigerant circuit 60, the high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed and discharged by the compressor 611 is sent to the high-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 693 through the high-pressure gas side closing valve 633.
The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the high-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 693 is branched into three and sent to the high-pressure gas connection pipes 693a, 693b, and 693c of the connection units 69a, 69b, and 69c. The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the high-pressure gas connection pipes 693a, 693b, 693c of the connection units 69a, 69b, 69c passes through the high-pressure gas on / off valves SV1a, SV1b, SV1c and the merged gas connection pipes 694a, 694b, 694c. It is sent to the indoor heat exchangers 671a, 671b, 671c of 67a, 67b, 67c.

  The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the indoor heat exchangers 671a, 671b, 671c is condensed by exchanging heat with indoor air in the indoor heat exchangers 671a, 671b, 671c of the indoor units 67a, 67b, 67c. Is done. On the other hand, indoor air is heated and supplied indoors. The refrigerant condensed in the indoor heat exchangers 671a, 671b, 671c passes through the indoor expansion valves EV1a, Ev1b, EV1c, and then is sent to the liquid connection pipes 691a, 691b, 691c of the connection units 69a, 69b, 69c.

Then, the refrigerant sent to the liquid connection pipes 691a, 691b, 691c is sent to the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 691 and merges.
Then, the refrigerant sent to the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 691 and merged is sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 612 through the liquid side shut-off valve 631 of the outdoor unit 61, and evaporated in the outdoor heat exchanger 612 to become low-pressure gas refrigerant. Become. This gas refrigerant is returned to the suction side of the compressor 611 via the four-way switching valve 613 and the gas-liquid separator 614. In this way, the heating operation is performed.

(B) Cooling Operation During the cooling operation, the outdoor heat exchanger 612 functions as a condenser by switching the four-way switching valve 613 to the state shown by the solid line in FIG. In the connection units 69a, 69b and 69c, the high pressure gas on / off valves SV1a, SV1b and SV1c are closed and the low pressure gas on / off valves SV2a, SV2b and SV2c are opened, whereby the indoor heat exchanger 671a of the indoor units 67a, 67b and 67c. , 671b, 671c function as an evaporator, and the indoor heat exchangers 671a, 671b, 671c of the indoor units 67a, 67b, 67c and the suction side of the compressor 611 of the outdoor unit 61 are connected via a low-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 692. Connected. In the indoor units 67a, 67b, 67c, the indoor expansion valves EV1a, Ev1b, EV1c are, for example, the degree of superheat of the indoor heat exchangers 671a, 671b, 671c (specifically, the refrigerant detected by the liquid side temperature sensor). The opening degree is adjusted according to the cooling load of each indoor unit, such as the opening degree is adjusted based on the temperature and the temperature difference between the refrigerant temperature detected by the gas side temperature sensor).

In such a configuration of the refrigerant circuit 60, the high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed and discharged by the compressor 611 is sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 612 through the four-way switching valve 613. The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 612 is condensed in the outdoor heat exchanger 612 to become a liquid refrigerant. The liquid refrigerant is sent to the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 691 through the liquid side closing valve 631.
The liquid refrigerant sent to the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 691 is branched into three and sent to the liquid connection pipes 691a, 691b, 691c of the connection units 69a, 69b, 69c. The refrigerant sent to the liquid connection pipes 691a, 691b, 691c of the connection units 69a, 69b, 69c is sent to the indoor side expansion valves EV1a, Ev1b, EV1c of the indoor units 67a, 67b, 67c.

  The refrigerant sent to the indoor expansion valves EV1a, Ev1b, EV1c is depressurized by the indoor expansion valves EV1a, Ev1b, EV1c, and then exchanges heat with indoor air in the indoor heat exchangers 671a, 671b, 671c. By performing, it is evaporated and becomes a low-pressure gas refrigerant. On the other hand, indoor air is cooled and supplied indoors. Then, the low-pressure gas refrigerant is sent to the merged gas connection pipes 694a, 694b, 694c of the connection units 69a, 69b, 69c.

The low-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the merged gas connection pipes 694a, 694b, 694c is sent to the low-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 692 through the low-pressure gas on / off valves SV2a, SV2b, SV2c and the low-pressure gas connection pipes 692a, 692b, 692c. Be merged.
Then, the low-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the low-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 692 and joined together is returned to the suction side of the compressor 611 via the low-pressure gas side closing valve 632 and the gas-liquid separator 614. In this way, the cooling operation is performed.

(C) Simultaneous cooling / heating operation (evaporation load)
Of the indoor units 67a, 67b, 67c, for example, in the cooling / heating simultaneous operation mode in which the indoor unit 67a is in cooling operation and the indoor units 67b, 67c are in heating operation, the air conditioning load of the entire indoor units 67a, 67b, 67c Accordingly, an operation (evaporation operation) for causing the outdoor heat exchanger 612 of the outdoor unit 61 to function as an evaporator will be described. At this time, as in the above-described heating operation mode, the four-way switching valve 613 is switched to the state shown by the broken line in FIG. 1 so that the outdoor heat exchanger 612 functions as an evaporator and the high-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe. The high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed and discharged by the compressor 611 is supplied to the indoor units 67b and 67c through 693. In the connection unit 69a, the high-pressure gas on-off valve SV1a is closed and the low-pressure gas on-off valve SV2a is opened, so that the indoor heat exchanger 671a of the indoor unit 67a functions as an evaporator and the indoor heat exchanger of the indoor unit 67a. 671a and the suction side of the compressor 611 of the outdoor unit 61 are connected via a low-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 692. In the indoor unit 67a, the indoor expansion valve EV1a is, for example, the degree of superheat of the indoor heat exchanger 671a (specifically, the refrigerant temperature detected by the liquid side temperature sensor and the refrigerant temperature detected by the gas side temperature sensor). The degree of opening is adjusted according to the cooling load of the indoor unit, such as the degree of opening is adjusted based on the temperature difference). In the connection units 69b and 69c, the low pressure gas on / off valves SV2b and SV2c are closed and the high pressure gas on / off valves SV1b and SV1c are opened, whereby the indoor heat exchangers 671b and 671c of the indoor units 67b and 67c function as condensers. It is like that. In the indoor units 67b and 67c, the indoor expansion valves EV1b and EV1c are, for example, the degree of supercooling of the indoor heat exchangers 671b and 671c (specifically, the refrigerant temperature and the gas temperature detected by the liquid side temperature sensor). The opening degree is adjusted according to the heating load of each indoor unit, for example, the opening degree is adjusted based on the temperature difference from the refrigerant temperature detected by the sensor).

In such a configuration of the refrigerant circuit 60, the high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed and discharged by the compressor 611 is sent to the high-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 693 through the high-pressure gas side closing valve 633.
The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the high-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 693 is branched into two and sent to the high-pressure gas connection pipes 693b and 693c of the connection units 69b and 69c. The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the high-pressure gas connection pipes 693b and 693c of the connection units 69b and 69c passes through the high-pressure gas on-off valves SV1b and SV1c and the combined gas connection pipes 694b and 694c, and the indoor heat exchanger 671b of the indoor units 67b and 67c. , 671c.

  The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the indoor heat exchangers 671b and 671c is condensed by exchanging heat with indoor air in the indoor heat exchangers 671b and 671c of the indoor units 67b and 67c. On the other hand, indoor air is heated and supplied indoors. The refrigerant condensed in the indoor heat exchangers 671b and 671c passes through the indoor expansion valves EV1b and EV1c, and then is sent to the liquid connection pipes 691b and 691c of the connection units 69b and 69c.

Then, the refrigerant sent to the liquid connection pipes 691b and 691c is sent to the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 691 and merges.
A part of the refrigerant sent to and merged with the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 691 is sent to the liquid connection pipe 691a of the connection unit 69a. Then, the refrigerant sent to the liquid connection pipe 691a of the connection unit 69a is sent to the indoor side expansion valve EV1a of the indoor unit 67a.

The refrigerant sent to the indoor expansion valve EV1a is decompressed by the indoor expansion valve EV1a and then evaporated by exchanging heat with indoor air in the indoor heat exchanger 671a to become a low-pressure gas refrigerant. . On the other hand, indoor air is cooled and supplied indoors. Then, the low-pressure gas refrigerant is sent to the merged gas connection pipe 694a of the connection unit 69a.
The low-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the merged gas connection pipe 694a is sent to and merged with the low-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 692 through the low-pressure gas on-off valve SV2a and the low-pressure gas connection pipe 692a.

Then, the low-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the low-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 692 is returned to the suction side of the compressor 611 via the low-pressure gas side closing valve 632 and the gas-liquid separator 614.
On the other hand, the remaining refrigerant excluding the refrigerant sent from the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 691 to the connection unit 69a and the indoor unit 67a is sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 612 through the liquid-side shut-off valve 631 of the outdoor unit 61 to exchange outdoor heat. In the vessel 612, it is evaporated into a low-pressure gas refrigerant. This gas refrigerant is returned to the suction side of the compression mechanism 21 via the four-way switching valve 613 and the gas-liquid separator 614. In this way, simultaneous cooling and heating operation (evaporation load) is performed.

(D) Simultaneous cooling and heating operation (condensation load)
Of the indoor units 67a, 67b, 67c, for example, in the cooling / heating simultaneous operation mode in which the indoor units 67a, 67b are in cooling operation and the indoor unit 67c is in heating operation, the air conditioning load of the entire indoor units 67a, 67b, 67c Accordingly, an operation (condensation operation) for causing the outdoor heat exchanger 612 of the outdoor unit 61 to function as a condenser will be described. At this time, the four-way switching valve 613 is switched to the state shown by the solid line in FIG. 1, whereby the outdoor heat exchanger 612 functions as a condenser and the compressor 611 is connected to the indoor unit 67c through the high-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 693. The high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed and discharged in is supplied. In the connection units 69a and 69b, the high pressure gas on / off valves SV1a and SV1b are closed and the low pressure gas on / off valves SV2a and SV2b are opened, whereby the indoor heat exchangers 671a and 671b of the indoor units 67a and 67b function as an evaporator. At the same time, the indoor heat exchangers 671 a and 671 b of the indoor units 67 a and 67 b and the suction side of the compressor 611 of the outdoor unit 61 are connected via a low-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 692. In the indoor units 67a and 67b, the indoor expansion valves EV1a and EV1b include, for example, the degree of superheat of the indoor heat exchangers 671a and 671b (specifically, the refrigerant temperature and the gas side temperature sensor detected by the liquid side temperature sensor). The degree of opening is adjusted according to the cooling load of each indoor unit, such as the degree of opening is adjusted based on the temperature difference from the refrigerant temperature detected in step 1). In the connection unit 69c, the low pressure gas on / off valve SV2c is closed and the high pressure gas on / off valve SV1c is opened so that the indoor heat exchanger 671c of the indoor unit 67c functions as a condenser. In the indoor unit 67c, the indoor expansion valve EV1c is, for example, the degree of supercooling of the indoor heat exchanger 671c (specifically, the refrigerant temperature detected by the liquid side temperature sensor and the refrigerant detected by the gas side temperature sensor). The opening degree is adjusted according to the heating load of the indoor unit, such as the opening degree is adjusted based on a temperature difference with respect to the temperature.

In such a configuration of the refrigerant circuit 60, the high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed and discharged by the compressor 611 is sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 612 through the four-way switching valve 613, and the high-pressure gas through the high-pressure gas side closing valve 633. It is also sent to the refrigerant communication pipe 693.
The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 612 is condensed in the outdoor heat exchanger 612 to become a liquid refrigerant. Then, the liquid refrigerant is sent to the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 691 through the liquid side closing valve 631.

The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the high-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 693 is sent to the high-pressure gas connection pipe 693c of the connection unit 69c. The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the high-pressure gas connection pipe 693c of the connection unit 69c is sent to the indoor heat exchanger 671c of the indoor unit 67c through the high-pressure gas on / off valve SV1c and the merged gas connection pipe 694c.
The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the indoor heat exchanger 671c is condensed by exchanging heat with indoor air in the indoor heat exchanger 671c of the indoor unit 67c. On the other hand, indoor air is heated and supplied indoors. The refrigerant condensed in the indoor heat exchanger 671c passes through the indoor expansion valve EV1c, and then is sent to the liquid connection pipe 691c of the connection unit 69c.

Then, the refrigerant sent to the liquid connection pipe 691c is sent to the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 691 and merged with the refrigerant sent to the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 691 through the liquid side shut-off valve 631.
The refrigerant flowing through the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 691 is branched into two and sent to the liquid connection pipes 691a and 691b of the connection units 69a and 69b. Then, the refrigerant sent to the liquid connection pipes 691a and 691b of the connection units 69a and 69b is sent to the indoor side expansion valves EV1a and EV1b of the indoor units 67a and 67b.

  The refrigerant sent to the indoor expansion valves EV1a and EV1b is depressurized by the indoor expansion valves EV1a and EV1b, and then evaporated by exchanging heat with indoor air in the indoor heat exchangers 671a and 671b. It becomes a low-pressure gas refrigerant. On the other hand, indoor air is cooled and supplied indoors. Then, the low-pressure gas refrigerant is sent to the merged gas connection pipes 694a and 694b of the connection units 69a and 69b.

The low-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the merged gas connection pipes 694a and 694b is sent to and merged with the low-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 692 through the low-pressure gas on-off valves SV2a and SV2b and the low-pressure gas connection pipes 692a and 692b.
Then, the low-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the low-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 692 is returned to the suction side of the compressor 611 via the low-pressure gas side closing valve 632 and the gas-liquid separator 614. In this way, simultaneous cooling and heating operation (condensation load) is performed.

(2) Thermal storage unit utilization operation The thermal storage unit utilization operation is performed for each of the indoor units 67a, 67b, and 67c using the thermal storage operation for accumulating the thermal energy in the thermal storage material and the thermal energy accumulated in the thermal storage material by the thermal thermal storage operation. It can be further divided into a defrost operation in which the outdoor heat exchanger 612 is defrosted while the operation state is maintained. The heat storage unit utilization operation is mainly used in a situation where most or all of the plurality of indoor units 67a, 67b, 67c are operated for heating (that is, a situation where a high evaporation load is applied to the outdoor heat exchanger 612). The For this reason, here, the thermal storage operation and the defrost operation will be described as a typical example in which all the indoor units 67a, 67b, and 67c are in the heating operation.

(A) Thermal storage operation At the time of thermal storage operation, the four-way switching valve 613 is switched to the state indicated by the broken line in FIG. 1 so that the outdoor heat exchanger 612 functions as an evaporator and the high-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe. The high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed and discharged by the compressor 611 is supplied to the indoor units 67a, 67b, 67c and the heat storage unit 64 through 693. In the connection units 69a, 69b, 69c, and 69d, the low pressure gas on / off valves SV2a, SV2b, SV2c, and SV2d are closed and the high pressure gas on / off valves SV1a, SV1b, SV1c, and SV1d are opened, so that the indoor units 67a, 67b, and 67c are opened. The indoor heat exchangers 671a, 671b, 671c and the heat storage heat exchanger 641 of the heat storage unit 64 are in a state of functioning as a condenser. In the indoor units 67a, 67b, and 67c, the indoor expansion valves EV1a, Ev1b, and EV1c are detected by, for example, the degree of supercooling of the indoor heat exchangers 671a, 671b, and 671c (specifically, detected by the liquid temperature sensor). The degree of opening is adjusted according to the heating load of each indoor unit, such as the degree of opening is adjusted based on the temperature difference between the refrigerant temperature and the refrigerant temperature detected by the gas side temperature sensor. Further, in the heat storage unit 64, the heat storage expansion valve EV2 is, for example, detected by the degree of supercooling of the heat storage heat exchanger 641 (specifically, the refrigerant temperature detected by the liquid side temperature sensor and the gas side temperature sensor). The opening degree is adjusted based on the temperature difference between the refrigerant temperature and the refrigerant temperature.

In such a configuration of the refrigerant circuit 60, the high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed and discharged by the compressor 611 is sent to the high-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 693 through the high-pressure gas side closing valve 633.
The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the high-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 693 is branched into four and sent to the high-pressure gas connection pipes 693a, 693b, 693c, and 693d of the connection units 69a, 69b, 69c, and 69d. . The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the high-pressure gas connection pipes 693a, 693b, 693c, and 693d of the connection units 69a, 69b, 69c, and 69d is the high-pressure gas on / off valves SV1a, SV1b, SV1c, SV1d, and the merged gas connection pipes 694a, 694b. , 694c and 694d, the heat is transferred to the indoor heat exchangers 671a, 671b and 671c of the indoor units 67a, 67b and 67c and the heat storage heat exchanger 641 of the heat storage unit 64.

  The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the indoor heat exchangers 671a, 671b, 671c is condensed by exchanging heat with indoor air in the indoor heat exchangers 671a, 671b, 671c of the indoor units 67a, 67b, 67c. Is done. On the other hand, indoor air is heated and supplied indoors. The refrigerant condensed in the indoor heat exchangers 671a, 671b, 671c passes through the indoor expansion valves EV1a, Ev1b, EV1c, and then is sent to the liquid connection pipes 691a, 691b, 691c of the connection units 69a, 69b, 69c.

  On the other hand, the high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the heat storage heat exchanger 641 is condensed while heating the heat storage material stored in the heat storage tank 642 in the heat storage heat exchanger 641 of the heat storage unit 64. At this time, the heat storage material undergoes a phase transition from the solid phase to the liquid phase, and accumulates mainly the heat supplied from the gas refrigerant as latent heat. The refrigerant condensed in the heat storage heat exchanger 641 passes through the heat storage expansion valve EV2, and then is sent to the liquid connection pipe 691d of the connection unit 69d.

The refrigerant sent to the liquid connection pipes 691a, 691b, 691c, and 691d is sent to the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 691 and merges.
Then, the refrigerant sent to the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 691 and merged is sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 612 through the liquid side shut-off valve 631 of the outdoor unit 61, and evaporated in the outdoor heat exchanger 612 to become low-pressure gas refrigerant. Become. This gas refrigerant is returned to the suction side of the compressor 611 via the four-way switching valve 613 and the gas-liquid separator 614. In this way, the heat storage operation is performed.

(B) Defrost Operation During the defrost operation, the four-way switching valve 613 is switched to the state shown by the solid line in FIG. 1 so that the outdoor heat exchanger 612 functions as a condenser, and through the high-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 693. The high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed and discharged by the compressor 611 is supplied to the indoor unit 67c. In the connection units 69a, 69b and 69c, the low pressure gas on / off valves SV2a, SV2b and SV2c are closed and the high pressure gas on / off valves SV1a, SV1b and SV1c are opened, whereby the indoor heat exchanger 671a of the indoor units 67a, 67b and 67c is opened. , 671b, 671c function as condensers. On the other hand, in the connection unit 69d, the high pressure gas on / off valve SV1d is closed and the low pressure gas on / off valve SV2d is opened, whereby the heat storage heat exchanger 641 of the heat storage unit 64 functions as an evaporator and the heat storage of the heat storage unit 64. The heat exchanger 641 for outdoor use and the suction side of the compressor 611 of the outdoor unit 61 are connected through a low-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 692. At this time, the heat storage material is given a heat storage heat exchanger 612 with an evaporation load that exceeds the sum of the maximum condensation loads in all the indoor units 67a, 67b, 67c for a predetermined period (for example, 10 minutes). Only the heat is accumulated. In the indoor units 67a, 67b, and 67c, the indoor expansion valves EV1a, Ev1b, and EV1c are detected by, for example, the degree of supercooling of the indoor heat exchangers 671a, 671b, and 671c (specifically, detected by the liquid temperature sensor). The degree of opening is adjusted according to the heating load of each indoor unit, such as the degree of opening is adjusted based on the temperature difference between the refrigerant temperature and the refrigerant temperature detected by the gas side temperature sensor. In the heat storage unit 64, the heat storage expansion valve EV2 is detected by, for example, the superheat degree of the heat storage heat exchanger 641 (specifically, the refrigerant temperature detected by the liquid side temperature sensor and the gas side temperature sensor). The degree of opening is adjusted based on the temperature difference between the refrigerant temperature and the refrigerant temperature.

In such a configuration of the refrigerant circuit 60, the high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed and discharged by the compressor 611 is sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 612 through the four-way switching valve 613, and the high-pressure gas through the high-pressure gas side closing valve 633. It is also sent to the refrigerant communication pipe 693.
The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 612 melts frost adhering to the outer surface of the outdoor heat exchanger 612 and is condensed to become a liquid refrigerant. Then, the liquid refrigerant is sent to the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 691 through the liquid side closing valve 631.

  The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the high-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 693 is sent to the high-pressure gas connection pipes 693a, 693b, and 693c of the connection units 69a, 69b, and 69c. The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the high-pressure gas connection pipes 693a, 693b, 693c of the connection units 69a, 69b, 69c passes through the high-pressure gas on / off valves SV1a, SV1b, SV1c and the merged gas connection pipes 694a, 694b, 694c. , 67b, 67c are sent to indoor heat exchangers 671a, 671b, 671c.

  The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the indoor heat exchangers 671a, 671b, 671c is condensed by exchanging heat with indoor air in the indoor heat exchangers 671a, 671b, 671c of the indoor units 67a, 67b, 67c. Is done. On the other hand, indoor air is heated and supplied indoors. The refrigerant condensed in the indoor heat exchangers 671a, 671b, 671c passes through the indoor expansion valves EV1a, EV1b, EV1c, and then is sent to the liquid connection pipes 691a, 691b, 691c of the connection units 69a, 69b, 69c.

The refrigerant sent to the liquid connection pipes 691a, 691b, and 691c is sent to the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 691 and merged with the refrigerant sent to the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 691 through the liquid-side closing valve 631.
The refrigerant flowing through the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 691 is sent to the liquid connection pipe 691d of the connection unit 69d. The refrigerant sent to the liquid connection pipe 691d of the connection unit 69d is sent to the heat storage expansion valve EV2 of the heat storage unit 64.

  Then, the refrigerant sent to the heat storage expansion valve EV2 is depressurized by the heat storage expansion valve EV2, and then is evaporated by the heat stored in the heat storage material in the heat storage heat exchanger 641 to be a low-pressure gas refrigerant. Become. At this time, the heat storage material gradually releases the stored heat, and when the temperature reaches the freezing point (when the latent heat is used up), the heat storage material undergoes a phase transition from the liquid phase to the solid phase. Then, the low-pressure gas refrigerant is sent to the merged gas connection pipe 694d of the connection unit 69d.

The low-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the merged gas connection pipe 694d is sent to the low-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 692 through the low-pressure gas on-off valve SV2d and the low-pressure gas connection pipe 692d and merges.
Then, the low-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the low-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 692 is returned to the suction side of the compressor 611 via the low-pressure gas side closing valve 632 and the gas-liquid separator 614.

The defrosting operation is switched based on parameters such as the temperature of the outer surface of the outdoor heat exchanger 612 and the outside air temperature.
[Characteristics of air conditioner]
(1)
In the air conditioner 6 according to the first embodiment, the high temperature gas on / off valve SV1d of the connection unit 69d is opened and the low pressure gas on / off valve SV2d is closed to accumulate the heat in the heat storage material. Can do. In the air conditioner 6, the high pressure gas of the connection unit 69 d is obtained in a state where most or all of the indoor units 67 a, 67 b, 67 c are in a heating state (that is, a high condensation load is applied to the outdoor heat exchanger 612). When the on-off valve SV1d is closed and the low-pressure gas on-off valve SV2d is opened, the heat storage heat exchanger 641 condenses the outdoor heat exchanger 612 using the heat accumulated in the heat storage material. The liquid refrigerant flowing in the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 691 can be evaporated to such an extent that For this reason, in this air conditioner 6, frost accumulated on the outdoor heat exchanger 612 can be removed while the indoor units 67a, 67b, and 67c are maintained in the heating state. Therefore, in this air conditioner 6, frost accumulated on the outdoor heat exchanger 612 can be removed without impairing the comfort of the air-conditioned space.

(2)
In the heat storage unit 64 according to the first embodiment, the heat storage heat exchanger 641 can be connected to the connection unit 69d. For this reason, this heat storage unit 64 can be easily inserted in the air conditioning apparatus 6 which concerns on this Embodiment.
(3)
In the state where the heat storage unit 64 according to the first embodiment is inserted into the air conditioner 6 according to the present embodiment, the high pressure gas on / off valve SV1d of the connection unit 69d is opened, and the low pressure gas on / off valve When SV2d is brought into a closed state, warm heat is accumulated in the heat storage material. In a situation where most or all of the indoor units 67a, 67b, 67c are in a heating state (that is, a situation where a high condensation load is applied to the outdoor heat exchanger 612), the high-pressure gas on-off valve SV1d of the connection unit 69d is closed. When the low-pressure gas on-off valve SV2d is opened, the heat storage heat exchanger 641 uses the heat accumulated in the heat storage material to make the outdoor heat exchanger 612 a condensation load to the liquid refrigerant communication level. The liquid refrigerant flowing in the pipe 691 can be evaporated. For this reason, this heat storage unit 64 removes frost accumulated on the outdoor heat exchanger 612 while maintaining the indoor units 67a, 67b, 67c in the heating state with respect to the air conditioner 6 according to the present embodiment. The function to do can be given.

[Modification]
In the air conditioner 6 according to the first embodiment, only one heat storage unit 64 is provided, but a plurality of heat storage units 64 may be provided.
Second Embodiment
[Configuration of air conditioner]
FIG. 2 shows a schematic refrigerant circuit 70 of the air conditioner 7 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The air conditioner 7 is an apparatus used for indoor air conditioning such as a building by performing a vapor compression refrigeration cycle operation. In addition, the air conditioner 7 has a specification capable of performing a defrost operation for removing frost adhering to the outdoor heat exchanger 712, and to a cold district where the temperature is below freezing in winter or the like. Suitable for installation.
The air conditioner 7 mainly includes one outdoor unit 71, a plurality of (in this embodiment, three) indoor units 77a, 77b, and 77c, one ice heat storage unit 74, and each indoor unit 77a, 77b, 77c and connection units 79a, 79b, 79c, 79d connected to ice heat storage unit 74, refrigerant communication pipe 798 for directly connecting outdoor unit 71 and ice heat storage unit 74, and connection units 79a, 79b, 79c, Refrigerant communication pipes 792, 793 connecting the outdoor unit 71 to the indoor units 77a, 77b, 77c and the ice heat storage unit 74 through 79d, and the indoor units 77a, 77b, 77c through the connection units 79a, 79b, 79c A refrigerant communication pipe 791 that connects the ice heat storage unit 74, for example, Cooling and heating simultaneous operation is possible according to the requirements of the indoor air conditioning space where the indoor units 77a, 77b and 77c are installed, such as performing cooling operation for the space and heating operation for the other air-conditioned space. It is comprised so that it may become. That is, the vapor compression refrigerant circuit 70 of the air conditioner 7 of this embodiment includes an outdoor unit 71, indoor units 77a, 77b, and 77c, an ice heat storage unit 74, and connection units 79a, 79b, 79c, and 79d. The refrigerant communication pipes 791, 792, 793, and 798 are connected to each other.

(1) Indoor unit The indoor units 77a, 77b, and 77c are installed by being embedded or suspended in an indoor ceiling of a building or the like, or wall-mounted on an indoor wall surface. The indoor units 77a, 77b, and 77c are connected to the outdoor unit 71 via the refrigerant communication pipes 791, 792, 793, 798, the connection units 79a, 79b, and 79c, and the ice heat storage unit 74. Part.

Next, the configuration of the indoor units 77a, 77b, 77c will be described. Since the indoor unit 77a and the indoor units 77b and 77c have the same configuration, only the configuration of the indoor unit 77a will be described here, and the description of each part of the configuration of the indoor units 77b and 77c will be omitted.
The indoor unit 77a mainly constitutes a part of the refrigerant circuit 70, and includes an indoor refrigerant circuit 78a (in the indoor units 77b and 77c, indoor refrigerant circuits 78b and 78c, respectively). The indoor refrigerant circuit 78a mainly includes an indoor expansion valve EV1a and an indoor heat exchanger 771a. In the present embodiment, the indoor expansion valve EV1a is an electric expansion valve connected to the liquid side of the indoor heat exchanger 771a in order to adjust the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing in the indoor refrigerant circuit 78a. In the present embodiment, the indoor heat exchanger 771a is a cross-fin type fin-and-tube heat exchanger composed of heat transfer tubes and a large number of fins, and performs heat exchange between the refrigerant and indoor air. Equipment. In the present embodiment, the indoor unit 77a includes a blower fan (not shown) for supplying indoor air as supply air after sucking indoor air into the unit and exchanging heat. It is possible to exchange heat with the refrigerant flowing through the heat exchanger 771a.

  Various sensors are provided in the indoor unit 77a. A liquid temperature sensor (not shown) for detecting the temperature of the liquid refrigerant is provided on the liquid side of the indoor heat exchanger 771a, and a gas for detecting the temperature of the gas refrigerant is provided on the gas side of the indoor heat exchanger 771a. A side temperature sensor (not shown) is provided. Further, the indoor unit 77a is provided with an RA intake temperature sensor (not shown) for detecting the temperature of indoor air sucked into the unit. The indoor unit 77a includes an indoor side control unit (not shown) that controls the operation of each unit constituting the indoor unit 77a. The indoor control unit includes a microcomputer and a memory provided to control the indoor unit 77a, and exchanges control signals and the like with a remote controller (not shown). It is possible to exchange control signals and the like with the unit 71.

(2) Ice heat storage unit The ice heat storage unit 74 is installed indoors, such as a building. The ice heat storage unit 74 is connected to the outdoor unit 71 via the refrigerant communication pipes 792, 793, 798 and the connection unit 79d, and constitutes a part of the refrigerant circuit 70.
Next, the configuration of the ice heat storage unit 74 will be described. The ice heat storage unit 74 mainly constitutes a part of the refrigerant circuit 70 and includes a heat storage refrigerant circuit 75. The heat storage refrigerant circuit 75 mainly includes a liquid line 75a, a heat storage line 75b, and a utilization line 75c.

  The liquid line 75a is a line connected to a liquid connection pipe 791d and a refrigerant communication pipe 798 of the connection unit 79d described later, and has a third opening / closing mechanism OC3. In the present embodiment, the third opening / closing mechanism OC3 includes a third opening / closing valve SV3 and a third check valve 763 that can be opened and closed. In the third opening / closing mechanism OC3, the third opening / closing valve SV3 and the third check valve 763 are arranged in parallel to the refrigerant flow. The third check valve 763 allows only the flow of the refrigerant from the connection port (not shown) for the liquid connection pipe 791d of the connection unit 79d toward the connection port (not shown) for the refrigerant communication pipe 798. It is attached to do. Hereinafter, the liquid line 75a located between the connection port for the refrigerant communication pipe 798 in the liquid line 75a and the third opening / closing mechanism OC3 is referred to as a first liquid line 76a, and the connection unit 79d of the liquid line 75a is connected to the connection line 79a. The liquid line 75a located between the connection port for the liquid connection pipe 791d and the third opening / closing mechanism OC3 is referred to as a second liquid line 76b.

  The heat storage line 75b is a line in which one end is connected to a merging gas connection pipe 794d of a connection unit 79d described later and the other end is connected to a second liquid line 76b, and has a heat storage heat exchanger 741 and a heat storage expansion valve EV2. doing. In the heat storage line 75d, the heat storage exchanger 741 is disposed on the connection port (not shown) side for the merged gas connection pipe 794d, and the heat storage expansion valve EV2 is disposed on the connection point side with the second liquid line 76b. ing. In the present embodiment, the heat storage expansion valve EV2 is an electric expansion valve connected to the liquid side of the heat storage heat exchanger 741 in order to adjust the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing in the heat storage refrigerant circuit 75 and the like. In the present embodiment, the heat storage heat exchanger 741 is a cross-fin type fin-and-tube heat exchanger composed of heat transfer tubes and a large number of fins, and is stored in the refrigerant and the heat storage water tank 742. This is a device for exchanging heat with heat storage water. Hereinafter, of the heat storage lines, the heat storage line 75b positioned between the connection port for the combined gas connection pipe 794d and the heat storage heat exchanger 741 is referred to as a combined gas side heat storage line 76c.

  The utilization line 75c is a line having one end connected to the combined gas side heat storage line 76c and the other end connected to the first liquid line 76a, and has a fourth opening / closing mechanism OC4. In the present embodiment, the fourth opening / closing mechanism OC4 includes a fourth opening / closing valve SV4 and a fourth check valve 764 that can be opened and closed. In the fourth opening / closing mechanism OC4, the fourth opening / closing valve SV4 and the fourth check valve 764 are arranged in series with respect to the refrigerant flow. At this time, the fourth on-off valve SV4 is disposed on the first liquid line 76a side, and the fourth check valve 764 is disposed on the combined gas side heat storage line 76c side. The fourth check valve 764 is attached so as to allow only the refrigerant flow from the first liquid line 76a toward the combined gas side heat storage line 76c.

  The ice heat storage unit 74 is provided with various sensors. A liquid temperature sensor (not shown) for detecting the temperature of the liquid refrigerant is provided on the liquid side of the heat storage heat exchanger 741, and the temperature of the gas refrigerant is detected on the gas side of the heat storage heat exchanger 741. A gas side temperature sensor (not shown) is provided. Further, the heat storage water tank 742 is provided with a heat storage temperature sensor (not shown) for detecting the temperature of the heat storage water. Further, the ice heat storage unit 74 includes an ice heat storage control unit (not shown) that controls the operation of each part constituting the ice heat storage unit 74. The ice heat storage control unit has a microcomputer and a memory provided to control the ice heat storage unit 74, and exchanges control signals and the like with a remote controller (not shown), Control signals and the like can be exchanged with the outdoor unit 71.

(3) Outdoor unit The outdoor unit 71 is installed on the rooftop of a building or the like, and is connected to the ice heat storage unit 74 via the connection unit 79d and the refrigerant communication pipes 792, 793, 798, and the connection units 79a, 79b, 79c, the refrigerant communication pipes 791, 792, 793, 798, and the heat storage unit 74 are connected to the indoor units 77a, 77b, 77c, and the refrigerant circuit is connected between the indoor units 77a, 77b, 77c and the ice heat storage unit 74. 70 is configured.

  Next, the configuration of the outdoor unit 71 will be described. The outdoor unit 71 mainly constitutes a part of the refrigerant circuit 70 and includes an outdoor refrigerant circuit 7a. The outdoor refrigerant circuit 7a mainly includes a compressor 711, a four-way switching valve 713, an outdoor heat exchanger 712, a gas-liquid separator 714, a pressure reducing circuit 70a, a liquid side closing valve 731, a high pressure gas side closing valve 733, and A low-pressure gas side closing valve 732 is provided.

In the present embodiment, the compressor 711 is a positive displacement compressor capable of changing an operation capacity by inverter control. In the present embodiment, the number of the compressors 711 is only one. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and two or more compressors may be connected in parallel depending on the number of indoor units connected. Good.
The outdoor heat exchanger 712 is a heat exchanger that can function as a refrigerant evaporator and a refrigerant condenser.・ Tube type heat exchanger. The outdoor heat exchanger 712 has a gas side connected to the four-way switching valve 713 and a liquid side connected to the liquid side closing valve 731.

  The liquid side shut-off valve 731, the high-pressure gas side shut-off valve 733, and the low-pressure gas side shut-off valve 732 are provided at connection ports with external devices / pipes (specifically, refrigerant communication pipes 792, 793, 798). It is a valve. The liquid side closing valve 731 is connected to the outdoor heat exchanger 712. The high-pressure gas side closing valve 733 is connected to the discharge pipe 726 of the compressor 711. The low-pressure gas side closing valve 732 is connected to the suction side of the compressor 711 via a gas-liquid separator 714.

The decompression circuit 70 a has a capillary tube 738 and is connected to a four-way switching valve 713 and a gas-liquid separator 714.
The outdoor unit 71 is provided with various sensors. Specifically, the outdoor unit 71 includes a suction pressure sensor (not shown) that detects the suction pressure of the compressor 711, a discharge pressure sensor (not shown) that detects the discharge pressure of the compressor 711, and a compression mechanism. A discharge temperature sensor (not shown) for detecting the discharge temperature of the refrigerant on the discharge side 711 is provided. The outdoor unit 71 includes an outdoor side control unit (not shown) that controls the operation of each unit constituting the outdoor unit 71. And the outdoor side control part has the microcomputer and memory which were provided in order to control the outdoor unit 71, control signals etc. between indoor unit 77a, 77b, 77c and the indoor side control part. You can communicate.

(4) Connection unit The connection units 79a, 79b, 79c, and 79d are installed together with the indoor units 77a, 77b, and 77c and the ice heat storage unit 74 inside a building or the like. The connection units 79a, 79b, 79c, and 79d are interposed between the indoor units 77a, 77b, and 77c, the ice heat storage unit 74, and the outdoor unit 71 together with the refrigerant communication pipes 791, 792, and 793. Part of it.

  Next, the configuration of the connection units 79a, 79b, 79c, and 79d will be described. Since the connection unit 79a and the connection units 79b and 79c have the same configuration, only the configuration of the connection unit 79a will be described here, and the description of each part of the configuration of the connection units 79b and 79c will be omitted. The connection unit 79d has the same configuration as the connection units 79a, 79b, and 79c. However, since the connection objects 77a and 74 are different in this embodiment, the connection unit 79d will be described together with the connection unit 79a.

  The connection units 79a and 79d mainly constitute part of the refrigerant circuit 70, and include connection-side refrigerant circuits 799a and 799d (in the connection units 79b and 79c, connection-side refrigerant circuits 799b and 799c, respectively). . The connection-side refrigerant circuits 799a and 799d mainly include liquid connection pipes 791a and 791d, gas connection pipes 795a and 795d, high pressure gas on / off valves SV1a and SV1d, and low pressure gas on / off valves SV2a and SV2d.

  In the present embodiment, the liquid connection pipes 791a and 791d connect the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 791, the indoor expansion valve EV1a of the indoor refrigerant circuit 78a, and the second liquid line 76b of the heat storage refrigerant circuit 75. The gas connection pipes 795a and 795d are high-pressure gas connection pipes 793a and 795d connected to the high-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 793, low-pressure gas connection pipes 792a and 792d connected to the low-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 792, and high-pressure gas connection pipes. 793a, 793d and low-pressure gas connection pipes 792a, 792d are joined gas connection pipes 794a, 794d. The combined gas connection pipes 794a and 794d are connected to the gas side of the indoor heat exchanger 771a of the indoor refrigerant circuit 78a and the combined gas side heat storage line 76c of the heat storage refrigerant circuit 75. In the present embodiment, the high-pressure gas on / off valves SV1a and SV1d are connected to the high-pressure gas connection pipes 793a and 793d, and are solenoid valves capable of circulating and blocking the refrigerant. In this embodiment, the low pressure gas on / off valves SV2a and SV2d are connected to the low pressure gas connection pipes 792a and 792d, and are solenoid valves capable of circulating and blocking the refrigerant. As a result, when the indoor unit 77a performs the cooling operation, the connection unit 79a closes the high-pressure gas on-off valve SV1a and opens the low-pressure gas on-off valve SV2a, and then connects the liquid through the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 791. The refrigerant flowing into the connection pipe 791a is sent to the indoor expansion valve EV1a of the indoor refrigerant circuit 78a, depressurized by the indoor expansion valve EV1a and evaporated in the indoor heat exchanger 771a, and then the combined gas connection pipe 794a and the low pressure gas connection It can function to return to the low-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 792 through the pipe 792a. In addition, when the indoor unit 77a performs the heating operation, the connection unit 79a closes the low-pressure gas on-off valve SV2a and opens the high-pressure gas on-off valve SV1a so that the high pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 793 is used. The refrigerant flowing into the gas connection pipe 793a and the combined gas connection pipe 794a is sent to the gas side of the indoor heat exchanger 771a of the indoor refrigerant circuit 78a, condensed in the indoor heat exchanger 771a, and decompressed by the indoor expansion valve EV1a. , And can return to the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 791 through the liquid connection pipe 791a. The connection unit 79d is configured to close the low-pressure gas on-off valve SV2d and open the high-pressure gas on-off valve SV1d when the ice heat storage unit 74 performs a heat storage operation (described later). The refrigerant flowing into the high-pressure gas connection pipe 793d and the combined gas connection pipe 794d through the communication pipe 793 is sent to the gas side of the heat storage heat exchanger 741 of the heat storage refrigerant circuit 75 and condensed in the heat storage heat exchanger 741 (at this time) It can function to be returned to the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 798 through the liquid line 75a after being depressurized by the heat storage expansion valve EV2 (heat is mainly accumulated as sensible heat in the heat storage water). In the refrigerant circuit 75, the third on-off valve SV3 and the fourth on-off valve SV4 are closed). Further, the connection unit 79d closes the high pressure gas on / off valve SV1d and opens the low pressure gas on / off valve SV2d when the air conditioner 7 performs a defrost operation (described later), and communicates with the liquid refrigerant. The refrigerant flowing into the second liquid line 76b of the heat storage refrigerant circuit 75 through the pipe 798 is sent to the heat storage expansion valve EV2, decompressed by the heat storage expansion valve EV2, and evaporated in the heat storage heat exchanger 741. It can function to return to the low-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 792 through the combined gas connection pipe 794d and the low-pressure gas connection pipe 792d (in this case, in the heat storage refrigerant circuit 75, the third heat is released from the water). The on-off valve SV3 is opened, and the fourth on-off valve SV4 is closed). Further, the connection unit 79d closes the high-pressure gas on-off valve SV1d and opens the low-pressure gas on-off valve SV2d when the ice heat storage unit 74 performs the ice heat storage operation (described later). The refrigerant flowing into the second liquid line 76b of the heat storage refrigerant circuit 75 through the pipe 798 is sent to the heat storage expansion valve EV2, decompressed by the heat storage expansion valve EV2, and evaporated in the heat storage heat exchanger 741. Cold water is accumulated mainly in the water as latent heat), and can function to return to the low-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 792 through the merged gas connection pipe 794d and the low-pressure gas connection pipe 792d (in this case, the heat storage refrigerant circuit 75 The third on-off valve SV3 is opened, and the fourth on-off valve SV4 is closed). The connection unit 79d closes the low-pressure gas on-off valve SV2d and opens the high-pressure gas on-off valve SV1d when the air conditioner 7 performs the first ice heat storage cooling operation (described later). Then, the refrigerant flowing into the high-pressure gas connection pipe 793d and the combined gas connection pipe 794d through the high-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 793 is sent to the gas side of the heat storage heat exchanger 741 of the heat storage refrigerant circuit 75 and condensed in the heat storage heat exchanger 741. (At this time, cold heat is released from the heat storage water), and can function to move to the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 791 through the heat storage expansion valve EV2 and the liquid connection pipe 791d (in this case, the heat storage refrigerant circuit 75). The third on-off valve SV3 is opened, and the fourth on-off valve SV4 is closed). In addition, when the air conditioner 7 performs the second ice heat storage cooling operation (described later), the connection unit 79d closes the high-pressure gas on-off valve SV1d and the low-pressure gas on-off valve SV2d to communicate with the liquid refrigerant. The refrigerant flowing into the use line 75c of the heat storage refrigerant circuit 75 through the pipe 798 is sent to the gas side of the heat storage heat exchanger 741 and condensed or further cooled in the heat storage heat exchanger 741 (at this time, the cold heat is It can function to move to the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 791 through the heat storage expansion valve EV2 and the liquid connection pipe 791d (in this case, in the heat storage refrigerant circuit 75, the third on-off valve SV3 is closed). And the fourth on-off valve SV4 is opened).

  In addition, the connection units 79a and 79d include a connection-side control unit (not shown) that controls the operation of each unit constituting the connection units 79a and 79d. And the connection side control part has the microcomputer and memory provided in order to control connection unit 79a, 79d, the indoor side control part of the indoor unit 77a, and the ice thermal storage control part of the ice thermal storage unit 74 It is possible to exchange control signals and the like with each other.

  As described above, the indoor side refrigerant circuits 78a, 78b, 78c, the heat storage refrigerant circuit 75, the outdoor side refrigerant circuit 7a, the refrigerant communication pipes 791, 792, 793, 798, and the connection side refrigerant circuits 799a, 799b, 799c, 799d are provided. The refrigerant circuit 70 of the air conditioner 7 is configured by being connected. And in the air conditioning apparatus 7 of this embodiment, it becomes possible to perform what is called simultaneous cooling and heating operation, for example, the indoor unit 77c performs a heating operation while the indoor units 77a and 77b perform a cooling operation. Yes.

[Operation of air conditioner]
Next, operation | movement of the air conditioning apparatus 7 of this embodiment is demonstrated.
The operation of the air conditioner 7 of the present embodiment is roughly divided into an ice heat storage unit non-use operation that does not use the ice heat storage unit 74 and an ice heat storage unit use operation that uses the ice heat storage unit 74. Hereinafter, the operation of the air conditioner 7 will be described by dividing into an ice heat storage unit non-use operation and an ice heat storage unit use operation.

(1) Ice heat storage unit non-use operation The ice heat storage unit non-use operation is a heating operation or indoor unit in which all the indoor units 77a, 77b, and 77c are heated according to the air conditioning load of each indoor unit 77a, 77b, and 77c. 77a, 77b, 77c can be further divided into a cooling operation in which the cooling operation is performed, and a cooling / heating simultaneous operation in which a part of the indoor units 77a, 77b, 77c performs the cooling operation while the other indoor units perform the heating operation. . As for the simultaneous cooling and heating operation, when the outdoor heat exchanger 712 of the outdoor unit 71 is operated as an evaporator by the air conditioning load of the entire indoor units 77a, 77b, 77c (evaporation operation state), the outdoor unit It can be divided into the case where the outdoor heat exchanger 712 of the unit 71 is operated as a condenser (condensation operation state). When the air conditioner 7 performs the ice heat storage unit non-use operation, the high pressure gas on / off valve SV1d and the low pressure gas on / off valve SV2d of the connection unit 79d are both closed. Further, the heat storage expansion valve EV2 of the ice heat storage unit 74 is fully opened, and the fourth on-off valve SV4 is closed. Further, the third on-off valve SV3 of the ice heat storage unit 74 is opened during cooling operation and simultaneous cooling / heating operation (condensing operation state), and closed during heating operation and simultaneous cooling / heating operation (evaporation operation state). It is said.

(A) Heating operation During the heating operation, the four-way switching valve 713 is switched to the state shown by the broken line in FIG. 2, whereby the outdoor heat exchanger 712 functions as an evaporator, and through the high-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 793. The high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed and discharged by the compressor 711 is supplied to the indoor units 77a, 77b, and 77c. In the connection units 79a, 79b, 79c, the low pressure gas on / off valves SV2a, SV2b, SV2c are closed and the high pressure gas on / off valves SV1a, SV1b, SV1c are opened, whereby the indoor heat exchanger 771a of the indoor units 77a, 77b, 77c is opened. , 771b and 771c are in a state of functioning as a condenser. In the indoor units 77a, 77b, 77c, the indoor side expansion valves EV1a, Ev1b, EV1c are, for example, the degree of supercooling of the indoor heat exchangers 771a, 771b, 771c (specifically, detected by the liquid side temperature sensor). The degree of opening is adjusted according to the heating load of each indoor unit, such as the degree of opening is adjusted based on the temperature difference between the refrigerant temperature and the refrigerant temperature detected by the gas side temperature sensor.

In such a configuration of the refrigerant circuit 70, the high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed and discharged by the compressor 711 is sent to the high-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 793 through the high-pressure gas side closing valve 733.
The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the high-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 793 is branched into three and sent to the high-pressure gas connection pipes 793a, 793b, 793c of the connection units 79a, 79b, 79c. The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the high-pressure gas connection pipes 793a, 793b, 793c of the connection units 79a, 79b, 79c passes through the high-pressure gas on / off valves SV1a, SV1b, SV1c and the merged gas connection pipes 794a, 794b, 794c. 77a, 77b, 77c are sent to indoor heat exchangers 771a, 771b, 771c.

  The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the indoor heat exchangers 771a, 771b, 771c is condensed by exchanging heat with indoor air in the indoor heat exchangers 771a, 771b, 771c of the indoor units 77a, 77b, 77c. Is done. On the other hand, indoor air is heated and supplied indoors. The refrigerant condensed in the indoor heat exchangers 771a, 771b, 771c passes through the indoor expansion valves EV1a, Ev1b, EV1c, and then is sent to the liquid connection pipes 791a, 791b, 791c of the connection units 79a, 79b, 79c.

Then, the refrigerant sent to the liquid connection pipes 791a, 791b, 791c is sent to the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 791 and merges.
The refrigerant sent to and merged with the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 791 is the liquid connection pipe 791d of the connection unit 79d, the liquid line 75a of the heat storage refrigerant circuit 75, the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 798, and the liquid side closing valve 731 of the outdoor unit 71. Then, it is sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 712 and evaporated in the outdoor heat exchanger 712 to become a low-pressure gas refrigerant. This gas refrigerant is returned to the suction side of the compressor 711 via the four-way switching valve 713 and the gas-liquid separator 714. In this way, the heating operation is performed.

(B) Cooling operation During the cooling operation, the outdoor heat exchanger 712 functions as a condenser by switching the four-way switching valve 713 to the state shown by the solid line in FIG. In the connection units 79a, 79b, 79c, the high pressure gas on / off valves SV1a, SV1b, SV1c are closed and the low pressure gas on / off valves SV2a, SV2b, SV2c are opened, whereby the indoor heat exchanger 771a of the indoor units 77a, 77b, 77c is opened. , 771b, 771c function as an evaporator, and the indoor heat exchangers 771a, 771b, 771c of the indoor units 77a, 77b, 77c and the suction side of the compressor 711 of the outdoor unit 71 are connected via a low-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 792. Connected. In the indoor units 77a, 77b, 77c, the indoor expansion valves EV1a, Ev1b, EV1c are, for example, the degree of superheat of the indoor heat exchangers 771a, 771b, 771c (specifically, the refrigerant detected by the liquid side temperature sensor). The opening degree is adjusted according to the cooling load of each indoor unit, such as the opening degree is adjusted based on the temperature and the temperature difference between the refrigerant temperature detected by the gas side temperature sensor).

  In such a configuration of the refrigerant circuit 70, the high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed and discharged by the compressor 711 is sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 712 through the four-way switching valve 713. The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 712 is condensed in the outdoor heat exchanger 712 and becomes liquid refrigerant. The liquid refrigerant is sent to the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 791 through the liquid side closing valve 731, the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 798, the liquid line 75a of the heat storage refrigerant circuit 75, and the liquid connection pipe 791d of the connection unit 79d.

  The liquid refrigerant sent to the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 791 is branched into three and sent to the liquid connection pipes 791a, 791b, 791c of the connection units 79a, 79b, 79c. Then, the refrigerant sent to the liquid connection pipes 791a, 791b, 791c of the connection units 79a, 79b, 79c is sent to the indoor expansion valves EV1a, Ev1b, EV1c of the indoor units 77a, 77b, 77c.

  The refrigerant sent to the indoor expansion valves EV1a, Ev1b, EV1c is depressurized by the indoor expansion valves EV1a, Ev1b, EV1c, and then exchanges heat with indoor air in the indoor heat exchangers 771a, 771b, 771c. By performing, it is evaporated and becomes a low-pressure gas refrigerant. On the other hand, indoor air is cooled and supplied indoors. Then, the low-pressure gas refrigerant is sent to the merged gas connection pipes 794a, 794b, 794c of the connection units 79a, 79b, 79c.

The low-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the merged gas connection pipes 794a, 794b, 794c is sent to the low-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 792 through the low-pressure gas on / off valves SV2a, SV2b, SV2c and the low-pressure gas connection pipes 792a, 792b, 792c. Be merged.
Then, the low-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the low-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 792 and joined together is returned to the suction side of the compressor 711 via the low-pressure gas side closing valve 732 and the gas-liquid separator 714. In this way, the cooling operation is performed.

(C) Simultaneous cooling / heating operation (evaporation load)
Of the indoor units 77a, 77b, and 77c, for example, in the cooling / heating simultaneous operation mode in which the indoor unit 77a is in a cooling operation and the indoor units 77b and 77c are in a heating operation, the air conditioning load of the entire indoor units 77a, 77b, and 77c Accordingly, an operation (evaporation operation) for causing the outdoor heat exchanger 712 of the outdoor unit 71 to function as an evaporator will be described. At this time, as in the above-described heating operation mode, the four-way switching valve 713 is switched to the state shown by the broken line in FIG. 2 so that the outdoor heat exchanger 712 functions as an evaporator and the high-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe. Through 793, the high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed and discharged by the compressor 711 is supplied to the indoor units 77b and 77c. In the connection unit 79a, the high-pressure gas on-off valve SV1a is closed and the low-pressure gas on-off valve SV2a is opened so that the indoor heat exchanger 771a of the indoor unit 77a functions as an evaporator, and the indoor heat exchanger of the indoor unit 77a. 771a and the suction side of the compressor 711 of the outdoor unit 71 are connected through a low-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 792. In the indoor unit 77a, the indoor expansion valve EV1a is, for example, the degree of superheat of the indoor heat exchanger 771a (specifically, the refrigerant temperature detected by the liquid side temperature sensor and the refrigerant temperature detected by the gas side temperature sensor). The degree of opening is adjusted in accordance with the cooling load of the indoor unit, for example, the degree of opening is adjusted based on the temperature difference). In the connection units 79b and 79c, the low pressure gas on / off valves SV2b and SV2c are closed and the high pressure gas on / off valves SV1b and SV1c are opened, whereby the indoor heat exchangers 771b and 771c of the indoor units 77b and 77c function as a condenser. It is like that. In the indoor units 77b and 77c, the indoor side expansion valves EV1b and EV1c are, for example, the degree of supercooling of the indoor heat exchangers 771b and 771c (specifically, the refrigerant temperature and the gas side temperature detected by the liquid side temperature sensor). The opening degree is adjusted according to the heating load of each indoor unit, for example, the opening degree is adjusted based on a temperature difference from the refrigerant temperature detected by the sensor).

In such a configuration of the refrigerant circuit 70, the high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed and discharged by the compressor 711 is sent to the high-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 793 through the high-pressure gas side closing valve 733.
The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the high-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 793 is branched into two and sent to the high-pressure gas connection pipes 793b and 793c of the connection units 79b and 79c. The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the high-pressure gas connection pipes 793b and 793c of the connection units 79b and 79c passes through the high-pressure gas on-off valves SV1b and SV1c and the merged gas connection pipes 794b and 794c, and the indoor heat exchanger 771b of the indoor units 77b and 77c. , 771c.

  The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the indoor heat exchangers 771b and 771c is condensed by exchanging heat with indoor air in the indoor heat exchangers 771b and 771c of the indoor units 77b and 77c. On the other hand, indoor air is heated and supplied indoors. The refrigerant condensed in the indoor heat exchangers 771b and 771c passes through the indoor expansion valves EV1b and EV1c, and then is sent to the liquid connection pipes 791b and 791c of the connection units 79b and 79c.

Then, the refrigerant sent to the liquid connection pipes 791b and 791c is sent to the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 791 and merges.
A part of the refrigerant sent to and merged with the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 791 is sent to the liquid connection pipe 791a of the connection unit 79a. Then, the refrigerant sent to the liquid connection pipe 791a of the connection unit 79a is sent to the indoor side expansion valve EV1a of the indoor unit 77a.

The refrigerant sent to the indoor expansion valve EV1a is depressurized by the indoor expansion valve EV1a and then evaporated by exchanging heat with indoor air in the indoor heat exchanger 771a to become a low-pressure gas refrigerant. . On the other hand, indoor air is cooled and supplied indoors. Then, the low-pressure gas refrigerant is sent to the merged gas connection pipe 794a of the connection unit 79a.
The low-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the merged gas connection pipe 794a is sent to and merged with the low-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 792 through the low-pressure gas on-off valve SV2a and the low-pressure gas connection pipe 792a.

Then, the low-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the low-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 792 is returned to the suction side of the compressor 711 via the low-pressure gas side closing valve 732 and the gas-liquid separator 714.
On the other hand, the remaining refrigerant excluding the refrigerant sent from the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 791 to the connection unit 79a and the indoor unit 77a is the liquid connection pipe 791d of the connection unit 79d, the liquid line 75a of the heat storage refrigerant circuit 75, and the liquid refrigerant communication pipe. 798 and the liquid side shut-off valve 731 of the outdoor unit 71, and is sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 712, where it is evaporated to become a low-pressure gas refrigerant. This gas refrigerant is returned to the suction side of the compression mechanism 21 via the four-way switching valve 713 and the gas-liquid separator 714. In this way, simultaneous cooling and heating operation (evaporation load) is performed.

(D) Simultaneous cooling and heating operation (condensation load)
Of the indoor units 77a, 77b, 77c, for example, in the cooling / heating simultaneous operation mode in which the indoor units 77a, 77b are in cooling operation and the indoor unit 77c is in heating operation, the air conditioning load of the entire indoor units 77a, 77b, 77c Accordingly, an operation (condensing operation) for causing the outdoor heat exchanger 712 of the outdoor unit 71 to function as a condenser will be described. At this time, the four-way switching valve 713 is switched to the state shown by the solid line in FIG. 2, whereby the outdoor heat exchanger 712 functions as a condenser and the compressor 711 is connected to the indoor unit 77c through the high-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 793. The high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed and discharged in is supplied. In the connection units 79a and 79b, the high pressure gas on / off valves SV1a and SV1b are closed and the low pressure gas on / off valves SV2a and SV2b are opened, whereby the indoor heat exchangers 771a and 771b of the indoor units 77a and 77b function as an evaporator. At the same time, the indoor heat exchangers 771a and 771b of the indoor units 77a and 77b and the suction side of the compressor 711 of the outdoor unit 71 are connected via a low-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 792. In the indoor units 77a and 77b, the indoor expansion valves EV1a and EV1b include, for example, the degree of superheat of the indoor heat exchangers 771a and 771b (specifically, the refrigerant temperature and the gas side temperature sensor detected by the liquid side temperature sensor). The degree of opening is adjusted in accordance with the cooling load of each indoor unit, such as the degree of opening is adjusted based on the temperature difference from the refrigerant temperature detected in step 1). In the connection unit 79c, the low pressure gas on / off valve SV2c is closed and the high pressure gas on / off valve SV1c is opened, so that the indoor heat exchanger 771c of the indoor unit 77c functions as a condenser. In the indoor unit 77c, the indoor expansion valve EV1c is, for example, the degree of supercooling of the indoor heat exchanger 771c (specifically, the refrigerant temperature detected by the liquid side temperature sensor and the refrigerant detected by the gas side temperature sensor). The opening degree is adjusted according to the heating load of the indoor unit, such as the opening degree is adjusted based on a temperature difference with respect to the temperature.

In such a configuration of the refrigerant circuit 70, the high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed and discharged by the compressor 711 is sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 712 through the four-way switching valve 713 and high-pressure gas through the high-pressure gas side closing valve 733. It is also sent to the refrigerant communication pipe 793.
The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 712 is condensed in the outdoor heat exchanger 712 and becomes a liquid refrigerant. Then, the liquid refrigerant is sent to the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 791 through the liquid side closing valve 731, the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 798, the liquid line 75a of the heat storage refrigerant circuit 75, and the liquid connection pipe 791d of the connection unit 79d.

The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the high-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 793 is sent to the high-pressure gas connection pipe 793c of the connection unit 79c. The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the high-pressure gas connection pipe 793c of the connection unit 79c is sent to the indoor heat exchanger 771c of the indoor unit 77c through the high-pressure gas on / off valve SV1c and the merged gas connection pipe 794c.
The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the indoor heat exchanger 771c is condensed by exchanging heat with indoor air in the indoor heat exchanger 771c of the indoor unit 77c. On the other hand, indoor air is heated and supplied indoors. The refrigerant condensed in the indoor heat exchanger 771c passes through the indoor expansion valve EV1c, and then is sent to the liquid connection pipe 791c of the connection unit 79c.

The refrigerant sent to the liquid connection pipe 791c is sent to the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 791, and the liquid side closing valve 731, the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 798, the liquid line 75a of the heat storage refrigerant circuit 75, and the liquid connection of the connection unit 79d. It merges with the refrigerant sent to the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 791 through the pipe 791d.
The refrigerant flowing through the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 791 is branched into two and sent to the liquid connection pipes 791a and 791b of the connection units 79a and 79b. The refrigerant sent to the liquid connection pipes 791a and 791b of the connection units 79a and 79b is sent to the indoor side expansion valves EV1a and EV1b of the indoor units 77a and 77b.

  The refrigerant sent to the indoor expansion valves EV1a and EV1b is depressurized by the indoor expansion valves EV1a and EV1b, and then evaporated by exchanging heat with indoor air in the indoor heat exchangers 771a and 771b. It becomes a low-pressure gas refrigerant. On the other hand, indoor air is cooled and supplied indoors. Then, the low-pressure gas refrigerant is sent to the merged gas connection pipes 794a and 794b of the connection units 79a and 79b.

The low-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the merged gas connection pipes 794a and 794b is sent to and merged with the low-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 792 through the low-pressure gas on-off valves SV2a and SV2b and the low-pressure gas connection pipes 792a and 792b.
Then, the low-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the low-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 792 is returned to the suction side of the compressor 711 via the low-pressure gas side closing valve 732 and the gas-liquid separator 714. In this way, simultaneous cooling and heating operation (condensation load) is performed.

(2) Ice heat storage unit utilization operation The ice heat storage unit utilization operation is performed in each of the indoor units 77a, 77b, and 77c using the heat storage operation for accumulating the heat in the heat storage water and the heat accumulated in the heat storage water by the heat storage operation. The electric power peak is adjusted using the defrost operation in which the outdoor heat exchanger 712 is defrosted while maintaining the operation state, the ice heat storage operation in which the cold energy is accumulated in the heat storage water, and the cold energy accumulated in the heat storage water by the ice heat storage operation. The operation can be further divided into a first ice storage use operation (power peak cut operation) and a second ice storage use operation (power peak shift operation). Of these operations, the heat storage operation and the defrost operation are mainly in a situation where most or all of the plurality of indoor units 77a, 77b, and 77c are operated for heating (that is, a high evaporation load is applied to the outdoor heat exchanger 712). Situation). For this reason, the heat storage operation and the defrost operation will be described by taking the situation where all of the indoor units 77a, 77b, 77c are in the heating operation as a representative. Further, the ice heat storage operation is performed mainly in a state where the indoor units 77a, 77b, and 77c are stopped, such as at midnight. For this reason, the ice heat storage operation will be described by taking a situation in which all of the indoor units 77a, 77b, and 77c are stopped as a representative. In addition, the first ice storage use operation and the second ice storage use operation are mainly in a situation where most or all of the plurality of indoor units 77a, 77b, 77c are in a cooling operation (that is, high condensation in the outdoor heat exchanger 712). It is used in situations where load is applied. For this reason, the first ice heat storage utilization operation and the second ice heat storage utilization operation will be described by taking the situation where all of the indoor units 77a, 77b, 77c are in the cooling operation as a representative.

(A) Thermal storage operation During the thermal storage operation, the outdoor heat exchanger 712 functions as an evaporator and the high-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe by switching the four-way switching valve 713 to the state shown by the broken line in FIG. Through 793, the high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed and discharged by the compressor 711 is supplied to the indoor units 77a, 77b, 77c and the heat storage unit 74. In the connection units 79a, 79b, 79c, and 79d, the low pressure gas on / off valves SV2a, SV2b, SV2c, and SV2d are closed and the high pressure gas on / off valves SV1a, SV1b, SV1c, and SV1d are opened, so that the indoor units 77a, 77b, and 77c are opened. The indoor heat exchangers 771a, 771b, 771c and the heat storage heat exchanger 741 of the heat storage unit 74 are in a state of functioning as a condenser. In the indoor units 77a, 77b, and 77c, the indoor side expansion valves EV1a, Ev1b, and EV1c are detected by, for example, the degree of supercooling of the indoor heat exchangers 771a, 771b, and 771c (specifically, a liquid side temperature sensor). The degree of opening is adjusted according to the heating load of each indoor unit, such as the degree of opening is adjusted based on the temperature difference between the refrigerant temperature and the refrigerant temperature detected by the gas side temperature sensor. Further, in the heat storage unit 74, the third on-off valve SV3 and the fourth on-off valve SV4 are closed, and the heat storage expansion valve EV2 is, for example, the degree of supercooling of the heat storage heat exchanger 741 (specifically, The degree of opening is adjusted based on the temperature difference between the refrigerant temperature detected by the liquid side temperature sensor and the refrigerant temperature detected by the gas side temperature sensor.

In such a configuration of the refrigerant circuit 70, the high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed and discharged by the compressor 711 is sent to the high-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 793 through the high-pressure gas side closing valve 733.
The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the high-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 793 is branched into four and sent to the high-pressure gas connection pipes 793a, 793b, 793c, and 793d of the connection units 79a, 79b, 79c, and 79d. . The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the high-pressure gas connection pipes 793a, 793b, 793c, and 793d of the connection units 79a, 79b, 79c, and 79d is the high-pressure gas on / off valves SV1a, SV1b, SV1c, SV1d, and the merged gas connection pipes 794a, 794b. , 794c, 794d, the heat is transferred to the indoor heat exchangers 771a, 771b, 771c of the indoor units 77a, 77b, 77c and the heat storage heat exchanger 741 of the heat storage unit 74.

  The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the indoor heat exchangers 771a, 771b, 771c is condensed by exchanging heat with indoor air in the indoor heat exchangers 771a, 771b, 771c of the indoor units 77a, 77b, 77c. Is done. On the other hand, indoor air is heated and supplied indoors. The refrigerant condensed in the indoor heat exchangers 771a, 771b, 771c passes through the indoor side expansion valves EV1a, Ev1b, EV1c and the liquid connection pipes 791a, 791b, 791c of the connection units 79a, 79b, 79c, and then communicates with the liquid refrigerant. It is sent to the pipe 791 and merges.

  On the other hand, the high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the heat storage heat exchanger 741 is condensed while heating the heat storage material stored in the heat storage tank 742 in the heat storage heat exchanger 741 of the heat storage unit 74. At this time, the heat storage material undergoes a phase transition from the solid phase to the liquid phase, and accumulates mainly the heat supplied from the gas refrigerant as latent heat. The refrigerant condensed in the heat storage heat exchanger 741 passes through the heat storage expansion valve EV2, and then is sent to the second liquid line 76b of the heat storage refrigerant circuit 75.

Then, the refrigerant sent to the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 791 and joined together joins the refrigerant sent to the second liquid line 76b of the heat storage refrigerant circuit 75 and condensed in the heat storage heat exchanger 741.
The refrigerant merged in the second liquid line 76 b of the heat storage refrigerant circuit 75 passes through the first liquid line 76 a of the heat storage refrigerant circuit 75, the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 798, and the liquid side shut-off valve 731 of the outdoor unit 71. Sent to the vessel 712 and evaporated in the outdoor heat exchanger 712 to become a low-pressure gas refrigerant. This gas refrigerant is returned to the suction side of the compressor 711 via the four-way switching valve 713 and the gas-liquid separator 714. In this way, the heat storage operation is performed.

(B) Defrost operation During the defrost operation, the four-way switching valve 713 is switched to the state shown by the solid line in FIG. 2, so that the outdoor heat exchanger 712 functions as a condenser, and through the high-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 793. The high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed and discharged by the compressor 711 is supplied to the indoor unit 77c. In the connection units 79a, 79b, 79c, the low pressure gas on / off valves SV2a, SV2b, SV2c are closed and the high pressure gas on / off valves SV1a, SV1b, SV1c are opened, whereby the indoor heat exchanger 771a of the indoor units 77a, 77b, 77c is opened. , 771b and 771c function as condensers. On the other hand, in the connection unit 79d, the high pressure gas on / off valve SV1d is closed and the low pressure gas on / off valve SV2d is opened, whereby the heat storage heat exchanger 741 of the heat storage unit 74 functions as an evaporator and the heat storage of the heat storage unit 74. The heat exchanger 741 for outdoor use and the suction side of the compressor 711 of the outdoor unit 71 are connected via a low-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 792. At this time, the heat storage material is given a heat storage heat exchanger 712 with an evaporation load that exceeds the sum of the maximum condensation loads in all the indoor units 77a, 77b, 77c for a predetermined period (for example, 10 minutes). Only the heat is accumulated. In the indoor units 77a, 77b, and 77c, the indoor side expansion valves EV1a, Ev1b, and EV1c are detected by, for example, the degree of supercooling of the indoor heat exchangers 771a, 771b, and 771c (specifically, a liquid side temperature sensor). The degree of opening is adjusted according to the heating load of each indoor unit, such as the degree of opening is adjusted based on the temperature difference between the refrigerant temperature and the refrigerant temperature detected by the gas side temperature sensor. In the heat storage unit 74, the third on-off valve SV3 is opened, the fourth on-off valve SV4 is closed, and the heat storage expansion valve EV2 is, for example, the degree of superheat of the heat storage heat exchanger 741 ( Specifically, the opening degree is adjusted based on the temperature difference between the refrigerant temperature detected by the liquid side temperature sensor and the refrigerant temperature detected by the gas side temperature sensor.

In such a configuration of the refrigerant circuit 70, the high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed and discharged by the compressor 711 is sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 712 through the four-way switching valve 713 and high-pressure gas through the high-pressure gas side closing valve 733. It is also sent to the refrigerant communication pipe 793.
The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 712 melts frost adhering to the outer surface of the outdoor heat exchanger 712 and is condensed to become a liquid refrigerant. Then, the liquid refrigerant is sent to the second liquid line 76 b of the heat storage refrigerant circuit 75 through the liquid side closing valve 731 and the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 798.

  The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the high-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 793 is sent to the high-pressure gas connection pipes 793a, 793b, and 793c of the connection units 79a, 79b, and 79c. The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the high-pressure gas connection pipes 793a, 793b, 793c of the connection units 79a, 79b, 79c passes through the high-pressure gas on-off valves SV1a, SV1b, SV1c and the merged gas connection pipes 794a, 794b, 794c. , 77b, 77c are sent to indoor heat exchangers 771a, 771b, 771c.

  The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the indoor heat exchangers 771a, 771b, 771c is condensed by exchanging heat with indoor air in the indoor heat exchangers 771a, 771b, 771c of the indoor units 77a, 77b, 77c. Is done. On the other hand, indoor air is heated and supplied indoors. The refrigerant condensed in the indoor heat exchangers 771a, 771b, 771c passes through the indoor expansion valves EV1a, EV1b, EV1c, and then is sent to the liquid connection pipes 791a, 791b, 791c of the connection units 79a, 79b, 79c.

The refrigerant sent to the liquid connection pipes 791a, 791b, and 791c is sent to the second liquid line 76b of the heat storage refrigerant circuit 75 through the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 791, and stores heat through the liquid side closing valve 731 and the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 798. The refrigerant is joined to the refrigerant sent to the second liquid line 76b of the refrigerant circuit 75.
And the refrigerant | coolant which flows through the 2nd liquid line 76b of this thermal storage refrigerant circuit 75 is sent to expansion valve EV2 for thermal storage.

  The refrigerant sent to the heat storage expansion valve EV2 is depressurized by the heat storage expansion valve EV2, and then evaporated by the heat accumulated in the heat storage material in the heat storage heat exchanger 741. Become. At this time, the heat storage material gradually releases the stored heat, and when the temperature reaches the freezing point (when the latent heat is used up), the heat storage material undergoes a phase transition from the liquid phase to the solid phase. Then, the low-pressure gas refrigerant is sent to the merged gas connection pipe 794d of the connection unit 79d.

The low-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the merged gas connection pipe 794d is sent to the low-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 792 through the low-pressure gas on-off valve SV2d and the low-pressure gas connection pipe 792d and merges.
Then, the low-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the low-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 792 is returned to the suction side of the compressor 711 via the low-pressure gas side closing valve 732 and the gas-liquid separator 714.

The defrosting operation is switched based on parameters such as the temperature of the outer surface of the outdoor heat exchanger 712 and the outside air temperature.
(C) Ice heat storage operation During the ice heat storage operation, the outdoor heat exchanger 712 functions as a condenser by switching the four-way switching valve 713 to the state shown by the solid line in FIG. In the connection units 79a, 79b, 79c, the high pressure gas on / off valves SV1a, SV1b, SV1c, SV1d and the low pressure gas on / off valves SV2a, SV2b, SV2c are closed, and the low pressure gas on / off valve SV2d is opened. The heat storage heat exchanger 741 functions as an evaporator, and the heat storage heat exchanger 741 of the ice heat storage unit 74 and the suction side of the compressor 711 of the outdoor unit 71 are connected via a low-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 792. It is in a state. In the ice heat storage unit 74, the third on-off valve SV3 is opened, the fourth on-off valve SV4 is closed, and the heat storage expansion valve EV2 is, for example, the degree of superheat (specifically) Specifically, the opening degree is adjusted based on the temperature difference between the refrigerant temperature detected by the liquid side temperature sensor and the refrigerant temperature detected by the gas side temperature sensor.

  In such a configuration of the refrigerant circuit 70, the high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed and discharged by the compressor 711 is sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 712 through the four-way switching valve 713. The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 712 is condensed in the outdoor heat exchanger 712 and becomes liquid refrigerant. The liquid refrigerant is sent to the heat storage expansion valve EV <b> 2 through the liquid side closing valve 731, the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 798, and the second liquid line 76 b of the heat storage refrigerant circuit 75.

  The liquid refrigerant sent to the heat storage expansion valve EV2 is decompressed by the heat storage expansion valve EV2, and then, in the heat storage heat exchanger 741, the heat storage water is cooled and evaporated to become a gas refrigerant. At this time, the heat storage water undergoes a phase transition from the liquid phase to the solid phase, and the cold supplied from the liquid refrigerant accumulates mainly as latent heat. Then, the low-pressure gas refrigerant is sent to the merged gas connection pipe 794d of the connection unit 79d.

The low-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the merged gas connection pipe 794d is sent to the low-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 792 through the low-pressure gas on-off valve SV2d and the low-pressure gas connection pipe 792d.
Then, the low-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the low-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 792 is returned to the suction side of the compressor 711 via the low-pressure gas side closing valve 732 and the gas-liquid separator 714. In this way, the ice heat storage operation is performed.

(D) First ice heat storage operation (power peak cut operation)
During the first ice storage use operation, the outdoor heat exchanger 712 functions as a condenser by switching the four-way switching valve 713 to the state shown by the solid line in FIG. In the connection units 79a, 79b, 79c, the high pressure gas on / off valves SV1a, SV1b, SV1c are closed and the low pressure gas on / off valves SV2a, SV2b, SV2c are opened, whereby the indoor heat exchanger 771a of the indoor units 77a, 77b, 77c is opened. , 771b, 771c function as an evaporator, and the indoor heat exchangers 771a, 771b, 771c of the indoor units 77a, 77b, 77c and the suction side of the compressor 711 of the outdoor unit 71 are connected via a low-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 792. Connected. In the indoor units 77a, 77b, 77c, the indoor expansion valves EV1a, Ev1b, EV1c are, for example, the degree of superheat of the indoor heat exchangers 771a, 771b, 771c (specifically, the refrigerant detected by the liquid side temperature sensor). The opening degree is adjusted according to the cooling load of each indoor unit, such as the opening degree is adjusted based on the temperature and the temperature difference between the refrigerant temperature detected by the gas side temperature sensor). In the connection unit 79d, the low pressure gas on / off valve SV2d is closed and the high pressure gas on / off valve SV1d is opened, so that the heat storage heat exchanger 741 of the ice heat storage unit 74 functions as a condenser. In the ice heat storage unit 74, the third on-off valve SV3 is opened, the fourth on-off valve SV4 is closed, and the heat storage expansion valve EV2 is fully opened.

In such a configuration of the refrigerant circuit 70, the high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed and discharged by the compressor 711 is sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 712 through the four-way switching valve 713 and high-pressure through the high-pressure gas side closing valve 733. It is also sent to the gas refrigerant communication pipe 793.
The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 712 is condensed in the outdoor heat exchanger 712 and becomes a liquid refrigerant. Then, the liquid refrigerant is sent to the second liquid line 76b of the heat storage refrigerant circuit 75 through the liquid side closing valve 731, the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 798, and the first liquid line 76a.

The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the high-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 793 is sent to the high-pressure gas connection pipe 793d of the connection unit 79d. The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the high-pressure gas connection pipe 793d of the connection unit 79d is sent to the heat storage heat exchanger 741 of the ice heat storage unit 74 through the high-pressure gas on-off valve SV1d and the merged gas connection pipe 794d.
The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the heat storage heat exchanger 741 is condensed by the cold heat accumulated in the heat storage water in the heat storage heat exchanger 741 of the ice heat storage unit 74 and becomes liquid refrigerant. The refrigerant condensed in the heat storage heat exchanger 741 passes through the heat storage expansion valve EV2, and then is sent to the second liquid line 76b.

Then, the refrigerant sent to the second liquid line 76b is merged with the refrigerant sent to the second liquid line 76b through the liquid side closing valve 731, the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 798, and the first liquid line 76a.
The refrigerant sent to the second liquid line 76b and merged is sent to the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 791 through the liquid connection pipe 791d of the connection unit 79d.

  The liquid refrigerant sent to the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 791 is branched into three and sent to the liquid connection pipes 791a, 791b, 791c of the connection units 79a, 79b, 79c. Then, the refrigerant sent to the liquid connection pipes 791a, 791b, 791c of the connection units 79a, 79b, 79c is sent to the indoor expansion valves EV1a, Ev1b, EV1c of the indoor units 77a, 77b, 77c.

  The refrigerant sent to the indoor expansion valves EV1a, Ev1b, EV1c is depressurized by the indoor expansion valves EV1a, Ev1b, EV1c, and then exchanges heat with indoor air in the indoor heat exchangers 771a, 771b, 771c. By performing, it is evaporated and becomes a low-pressure gas refrigerant. On the other hand, indoor air is cooled and supplied indoors. Then, the low-pressure gas refrigerant is sent to the merged gas connection pipes 794a, 794b, 794c of the connection units 79a, 79b, 79c.

The low-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the merged gas connection pipes 794a, 794b, 794c is sent to the low-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 792 through the low-pressure gas on / off valves SV2a, SV2b, SV2c and the low-pressure gas connection pipes 792a, 792b, 792c. Be merged.
Then, the low-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the low-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 792 and joined together is returned to the suction side of the compressor 711 via the low-pressure gas side closing valve 732 and the gas-liquid separator 714. In this way, the first ice storage use operation is performed.

(E) Second ice heat storage operation (power peak shift operation)
At the time of the second ice heat storage utilization operation, the outdoor heat exchanger 712 functions as a condenser by switching the four-way switching valve 713 to the state shown by the solid line in FIG. In the connection units 79a, 79b, 79c, the high pressure gas on / off valves SV1a, SV1b, SV1c are closed and the low pressure gas on / off valves SV2a, SV2b, SV2c are opened, whereby the indoor heat exchanger 771a of the indoor units 77a, 77b, 77c is opened. , 771b, 771c function as an evaporator, and the indoor heat exchangers 771a, 771b, 771c of the indoor units 77a, 77b, 77c and the suction side of the compressor 711 of the outdoor unit 71 are connected via a low-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 792. Connected. In the indoor units 77a, 77b, 77c, the indoor expansion valves EV1a, Ev1b, EV1c are, for example, the degree of superheat of the indoor heat exchangers 771a, 771b, 771c (specifically, the refrigerant detected by the liquid side temperature sensor). The opening degree is adjusted according to the cooling load of each indoor unit, such as the opening degree is adjusted based on the temperature and the temperature difference between the refrigerant temperature detected by the gas side temperature sensor). In the connection unit 79d, the high pressure gas on / off valve SV1d and the low pressure gas on / off valve SV2d are closed. In the ice heat storage unit 74, the third on-off valve SV3 is closed, the fourth on-off valve SV4 is opened, and the heat storage expansion valve EV2 is fully opened.

  In such a configuration of the refrigerant circuit 70, the high-pressure gas refrigerant compressed and discharged by the compressor 711 is sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 712 through the four-way switching valve 713. The high-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 712 is condensed in the outdoor heat exchanger 712 and becomes a refrigerant in a liquid or gas-liquid two-phase state. The liquid or gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant is sent to the heat storage heat exchanger 741 through the liquid side shut-off valve 731, the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 798, and the use line 75c.

  The liquid or gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant sent to the heat storage heat exchanger 741 is condensed by the cold heat accumulated in the heat storage water in the heat storage heat exchanger 741 to become a liquid refrigerant or further cooled. Is done. The liquid refrigerant passes through the heat storage expansion valve EV2, and then is sent to the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 791 through the second liquid line 76b and the liquid connection pipe 791d of the connection unit 79d.

  The liquid refrigerant sent to the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 791 is branched into three and sent to the liquid connection pipes 791a, 791b, 791c of the connection units 79a, 79b, 79c. Then, the refrigerant sent to the liquid connection pipes 791a, 791b, 791c of the connection units 79a, 79b, 79c is sent to the indoor expansion valves EV1a, Ev1b, EV1c of the indoor units 77a, 77b, 77c.

  The refrigerant sent to the indoor expansion valves EV1a, Ev1b, EV1c is depressurized by the indoor expansion valves EV1a, Ev1b, EV1c, and then exchanges heat with indoor air in the indoor heat exchangers 771a, 771b, 771c. By performing, it is evaporated and becomes a low-pressure gas refrigerant. On the other hand, indoor air is cooled and supplied indoors. Then, the low-pressure gas refrigerant is sent to the merged gas connection pipes 794a, 794b, 794c of the connection units 79a, 79b, 79c.

The low-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the merged gas connection pipes 794a, 794b, 794c is sent to the low-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 792 through the low-pressure gas on / off valves SV2a, SV2b, SV2c and the low-pressure gas connection pipes 792a, 792b, 792c. Be merged.
Then, the low-pressure gas refrigerant sent to the low-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe 792 and joined together is returned to the suction side of the compressor 711 via the low-pressure gas side closing valve 732 and the gas-liquid separator 714. In this way, the second ice storage use operation is performed.

[Characteristics of air conditioner]
(1)
In the air conditioner 7 according to the second embodiment, the high temperature gas on / off valve SV1d of the connection unit 79d is opened and the low pressure gas on / off valve SV2d is closed to accumulate the heat in the heat storage material. Can do. In this air conditioner 7, the high-pressure gas of the connection unit 79d is obtained in a state where most or all of the indoor units 77a, 77b, 77c are in a heating state (that is, a high condensation load is applied to the outdoor heat exchanger 712). When the on-off valve SV1d is closed and the low-pressure gas on-off valve SV2d is opened, the heat storage heat exchanger 741 condenses the outdoor heat exchanger 712 using the heat stored in the heat storage material. The liquid refrigerant flowing in the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 791 can be evaporated to such an extent that For this reason, in this air conditioning apparatus 7, the frost accumulated on the outdoor heat exchanger 712 can be removed while the indoor units 77a, 77b, and 77c are maintained in the heating state. Therefore, in this air conditioning apparatus 7, frost accumulated on the outdoor heat exchanger 712 can be removed without impairing the comfort of the air-conditioned space.

(2)
In the ice / ice heat storage unit 74 according to the second embodiment, the heat storage heat exchanger 741 can be connected to the connection unit 79d. For this reason, this ice heat storage unit 74 can be easily inserted in the air conditioning apparatus 7 which concerns on this Embodiment.
(3)
When the ice heat storage unit 74 according to the second embodiment is inserted into the air conditioner 7 according to the present embodiment, the high pressure gas on / off valve SV1d of the connection unit 79d is opened, and the low pressure gas on / off is opened. When the valve SV2d is brought into a closed state, the heat storage material accumulates heat. In a situation where most or all of the indoor units 77a, 77b, 77c are in a heating state (that is, a situation where a high condensation load is applied to the outdoor heat exchanger 712), the high-pressure gas on-off valve SV1d of the connection unit 79d is closed. When the low-pressure gas on-off valve SV2d is opened, the liquid refrigerant communicates to such an extent that the heat storage heat exchanger 741 uses the heat accumulated in the heat storage material to make the outdoor heat exchanger 712 a condensation load. The liquid refrigerant flowing in the pipe 791 can be evaporated. For this reason, this ice heat storage unit 74 is the air-conditioning apparatus 7 which concerns on this Embodiment, with the indoor units 77a, 77b, 77c being maintained in a heating state, the frost deposited on the outdoor heat exchanger 712. The function to remove can be provided.

(4)
In the air conditioner 7 according to the second embodiment, the ice heat storage unit 74 is employed as the heat storage unit, and the ice heat storage operation, the first ice heat storage cooling operation (power peak cut operation), and the second ice heat storage cooling. Operation (power peak shift operation) can be performed. For this reason, in this air conditioner 7, the power peak can be adjusted in an environment where cooling operation is required, such as in summer.

[Modification]
(A)
In the air conditioner 7 according to the second embodiment, only one ice heat storage unit 74 is provided, but a plurality of ice heat storage units 74 may be provided.
(B)
The third opening / closing mechanism OC3 disposed in the heat storage refrigerant circuit 75 of the air-conditioning apparatus 7 according to the second embodiment may be replaced with a bidirectional electromagnetic valve.

(C)
Even if an air conditioner 7A as shown in FIG. 3 is employed instead of the air conditioner 7 according to the second embodiment, the same effects as those of the present invention can be obtained.
In the air conditioner 7 according to the second embodiment, the third opening / closing mechanism OC3 is arranged in the liquid line 75a in the heat storage refrigerant circuit 75 constituting the refrigerant circuit 70, and the fourth opening / closing mechanism OC4 is arranged in the use line 75c. On the other hand, in the air conditioner 7A according to this modification, the four-way switching valve 743 and the capillary tube 744 are arranged at the connection point between the liquid line 75Aa and the use line 75c. The four-way switching valve 743 and the capillary tube 744 belong to the ice heat storage unit 74A. Further, in this refrigerant circuit 70A, the four-way switching valve 743 is shown by a broken line in FIG. And the state indicated by the solid line in FIG. 3 during the second ice heat storage cooling operation.

  The air conditioner according to the present invention has a feature that frost accumulated in an outdoor heat exchanger can be removed without impairing the comfort of an air-conditioned space, and a cold region where the temperature is below freezing in winter or the like. It is useful as an air conditioner for

The schematic refrigerant circuit of the air conditioning apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. The schematic refrigerant circuit of the air conditioning apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention. The schematic refrigerant circuit of the air conditioning apparatus which concerns on the modification (C) of 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

6, 7 Air conditioner 60, 70 Refrigerant circuit 64 Heat storage unit 74 Ice heat storage unit (heat storage unit)
69a, 69b, 69c, 79a, 79b, 79c Connection unit (switching unit)
611,711 Compressors 612,712 Outdoor heat exchangers 641,741 Heat storage heat exchangers 671a, 671b, 671c, 771a, 771b, 771c Indoor heat exchangers 691, 791 Liquid refrigerant communication pipe (liquid side refrigerant main pipe)
692, 792 Low-pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe (low-pressure gas-side refrigerant main pipe)
693,793 High pressure gas refrigerant communication pipe (high pressure gas side refrigerant main pipe)
743 Four-way switching valve (fourth switching mechanism)
EV2 thermal storage expansion valve (expansion mechanism)
OC3 Third opening / closing mechanism (fourth switching mechanism)
OC4 Fourth opening / closing mechanism (fourth switching mechanism)
SV1a, SV1b, SV1c High-pressure gas on-off valve (first switching mechanism)
SV2a, SV2b, SV2c Low pressure gas on-off valve (first switching mechanism)
SV1d High-pressure gas on-off valve (second switching mechanism)
SV2d Low-pressure gas on-off valve (second switching mechanism)

Claims (5)

Compressors (611, 711);
A high pressure gas side refrigerant main pipe (693, 793) communicating with the discharge side of the compressor;
A low-pressure gas-side refrigerant main pipe (692, 792) communicating with the suction side of the compressor;
A liquid side refrigerant main pipe (691, 791);
Indoor heat exchangers (671a, 671b, 671c, 771a, 771b, 771c);
Outdoor heat exchangers (612, 712);
A heat storage heat exchanger (641, 741) for exchanging heat with the heat storage material;
A first state in which the refrigerant flowing in the liquid side refrigerant main pipe is evaporated in the indoor heat exchanger and then flows into the low pressure gas side refrigerant main pipe, and the refrigerant flowing in the high pressure gas side refrigerant main pipe is condensed in the indoor heat exchanger. A first switching mechanism (SV1a, SV1b, SV1c, SV2a, SV2b, SV2c) capable of switching between a second state flowing into the liquid-side refrigerant main pipe after being
A third state in which the refrigerant flowing in the liquid side refrigerant main pipe is evaporated in the heat storage heat exchanger and then flows into the low pressure gas side refrigerant main pipe, and the refrigerant flowing in the high pressure gas side refrigerant main pipe is the heat storage heat exchanger. A second switching mechanism (SV1d, SV2d) capable of switching between a fourth state flowing into the liquid side refrigerant main pipe after being condensed in
An air conditioner (6, 7) comprising a refrigerant circuit (60, 70) having The heat storage material is water for heat storage,
The heat storage water accumulates cold heat when the second switching mechanism is in the fourth state.
The air conditioning apparatus according to claim 1. The second switching mechanism includes first ice in which refrigerant flowing in the high-pressure gas side refrigerant main pipe flows into the indoor heat exchanger via the heat storage heat exchanger in a state where cold heat is accumulated in the heat storage water. It is possible to switch to the cooling state using heat storage,
The air conditioning apparatus according to claim 2. The refrigerant circuit is a second ice storage cooling system in which the refrigerant flowing in the liquid refrigerant main pipe flows into the indoor heat exchanger via the heat storage heat exchanger in a state where cold heat is accumulated in the heat storage water. A fourth switching mechanism (743, OC3, OC4) for switching to a state;
The second switching mechanism prevents the refrigerant flowing in the liquid side refrigerant main pipe from flowing into the high pressure gas side refrigerant main pipe and the low pressure gas side refrigerant main pipe in the second ice heat storage utilization cooling state.
The air conditioning apparatus according to claim 2. Compressors (611, 711);
A high pressure gas side refrigerant main pipe (693, 793) communicating with the discharge side of the compressor;
A low-pressure gas-side refrigerant main pipe (692, 792) communicating with the suction side of the compressor;
A liquid side refrigerant main pipe (691, 791);
Indoor heat exchangers (671a, 671b, 671c, 771a, 771b, 771c);
Outdoor heat exchangers (612, 712);
The high pressure gas side refrigerant main pipe, the low pressure gas side refrigerant main pipe, the liquid side refrigerant main pipe, and the indoor heat exchanger can be connected, and after the refrigerant flowing in the liquid side refrigerant main pipe is evaporated in the indoor heat exchanger It is possible to switch between a first state flowing into the low-pressure gas side refrigerant main pipe and a second state flowing into the liquid-side refrigerant main pipe after the refrigerant flowing through the high-pressure gas side refrigerant main pipe is condensed in the indoor heat exchanger. A switching unit (69a, 69b, 69c, 79a, 79b, 79c);
A heat storage unit that can be inserted into the refrigerant circuit (60, 70) having
A heat storage heat exchanger (641, 741) that is connectable to the switching unit and exchanges heat with the heat storage material;
An expansion mechanism (EV2) provided in a connection pipe for connecting the heat storage heat exchanger and the liquid side refrigerant main pipe;
With
The heat storage heat exchanger includes a third state in which the refrigerant flowing in the liquid side refrigerant main pipe is evaporated and then introduced into the low pressure gas side refrigerant main pipe, and the high pressure gas side refrigerant is connected to the switching unit. It is possible to switch to a fourth state in which the refrigerant flowing in the main pipe is condensed and then flowed into the liquid side refrigerant main pipe.
Thermal storage unit (64, 74).

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