JP2007051821A - Air-conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air-conditioner with a refrigerant heater, which performs defrosting operation even if an abnormality has occurred at the refrigerant heater. <P>SOLUTION: A refrigerant heater temperature sensor 21 is provided as a heater abnormality detecting means for detecting any abnormality at the refrigerant heater 8. When the refrigerant heater temperature sensor 21 detects an abnormality at the refrigerant heater 8 and an outdoor heat exchanger 5 is defrosted, a four-way valve defrosting method is adopted whereby the defrosting operation is made possible even if there is an abnormality at the refrigerant heater 8. Thus, the outdoor heat exchanger 5 can be defrosted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner capable of performing a defrosting operation for defrosting frost adhering to an outdoor heat exchanger while heating is continued during a heating operation by a heat pump operation.

  Conventionally, this type of heat pump air conditioner defrosting method generally employs a defrosting method (hereinafter referred to as a four-way valve defrosting method) in which a four-way valve is switched and a refrigerant in a refrigeration cycle is flowed in the reverse direction.

  That is, in the defrosting operation, the flow direction of the refrigerant is the same as that during cooling, and a high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant is passed through the outdoor heat exchanger to melt frost adhering to the heat exchanger.

  In this defrosting method, since the indoor heat exchanger becomes an evaporator during defrosting, there is a basic problem that the temperature of the room in the room is lowered and a feeling of cold air is felt.

  As a countermeasure to this basic problem, an invention for performing a defrosting operation while continuing heating has been considered.

  FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a refrigeration cycle of a conventional air conditioner.

  As shown in the figure, in a heat pump refrigeration cycle in which a compressor, a four-way valve, an indoor heat exchanger, an expansion mechanism, and an outdoor heat exchanger are connected by a refrigerant circuit, the expansion mechanism and the outdoor heat in the refrigeration cycle Between the exchangers and between the suction side of the compressor, a refrigerant heating circuit having a refrigerant heater, and between the discharge side of the compressor, the outdoor heat exchanger and the four-way valve in the refrigeration cycle. A defrosting circuit to be connected, and when defrosting the outdoor heat exchanger during the heat pump operation of the refrigeration cycle, after the refrigerant heated by the refrigerant heater passes through the compressor, The flow through the indoor heat exchanger and the flow from the defrosting circuit to the flow through the outdoor heat exchanger are branched, and the flow of the branched refrigerant merges at the inlet of the refrigerant heating circuit, and again the refrigerant heater Thus the invention is configured is disclosed to be heated.

  As taken up as a problem in the above invention, when performing a defrosting operation of the outdoor unit when performing a heat pump operation, it is possible to perform the defrosting operation while continuing the heating if conditions are determined. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  However, this refrigeration cycle system has the following problems.

  In this refrigeration cycle, when the defrosting operation is performed, the two-way valve 109a is opened, and the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 101 flows between the outdoor heat exchanger 103 and the four-way valve 102. The two-way valve 106 is necessary so that the hot gas refrigerant to be defrosted does not flow to the compressor suction side.

  The two-way valve 106 is connected to the suction side of the compressor 101, and in order to reduce the pressure loss during cooling and heating operation, the two-way valve 106 having a large diameter is adopted, which makes the two-way valve very expensive. End up.

In addition, the two-way valve 108 is opened from the heat pump operation to switch to the refrigerant heating operation, and the refrigerant flow in the outdoor heat exchanger 103 is reversed in the method of performing the defrosting operation. Must be closed at one end, and a two-way valve 107 is required at the inlet of the outdoor heat exchanger 103.

  Therefore, this refrigeration cycle requires as many as four two-way valves, which is a complicated and expensive method.

In contrast, a heat pump refrigeration cycle in which a compressor, a four-way valve, an indoor heat exchanger, a decompressor, and an outdoor heat exchanger are connected by a refrigerant circuit, and an indoor heat exchanger and a decompressor connected to the refrigeration cycle. A first bypass circuit that connects between the four-way valve and the outdoor heat exchanger is provided, a two-way valve and a refrigerant heater are provided in the first bypass circuit, and further between the four-way valve and the indoor heat exchanger. A second bypass circuit that connects between the compressor and the outdoor heat exchanger, or between the compressor and the four-way valve, and between the pressure reducer and the outdoor heat exchanger is provided. A first bypass operation in which when the outdoor heat exchanger is defrosted, the two-way valve of the first bypass circuit is opened and the refrigerant heated by the refrigerant heater is caused to flow to the suction side of the compressor. , Open the two-way valve of the second bypass circuit and allow the refrigerant to pass through the outdoor heat exchanger Invention that is configured to perform a second bypass operation has been disclosed (for example, see Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-318985 unpublished its application).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-182994

  However, in the above defrosting operation, when an abnormality occurs in the refrigerant heater, it is difficult to defrost the outdoor heat exchanger.

  This invention solves the said conventional subject, and it aims at providing the air conditioning apparatus which can implement a defrost driving | operation even when abnormality arises in a refrigerant | coolant heater.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the air conditioning apparatus of the present invention includes a heater abnormality detection unit that detects an abnormality of the refrigerant heater, and when the heater abnormality detection unit detects an abnormality of the refrigerant heater, the outdoor unit When performing defrosting of the heat exchanger, a four-way valve defrosting system is performed.

  This makes it possible to perform a defrosting operation even when there is an abnormality in the refrigerant heater, so that the outdoor heat exchanger can be defrosted.

  In the air conditioner of the present invention, even when the heater abnormality detection unit detects an abnormality of the refrigerant heater, the operation is not stopped due to a function abnormality during the cooling operation.

  As a result, it is possible to perform air conditioning operation and to ensure comfort.

  In the air conditioner of the present invention, even when the heater abnormality detection means detects an abnormality of the refrigerant heater, the operation is not stopped due to a function abnormality during the heating operation.

  As a result, it is possible to perform air conditioning operation and to ensure comfort.

  In the air conditioner of the present invention, even when the heater abnormality detection means detects an abnormality of the refrigerant heater, the operation is not stopped due to a function abnormality during the dehumidifying operation.

  As a result, it is possible to perform air conditioning operation and to ensure comfort.

  In addition, the air conditioner of the present invention stops operation due to functional abnormality even when the heater abnormality detecting means detects abnormality of the refrigerant heater during operation in a mode in which the compressor represented by air blowing operation does not operate. It is something that does not do.

  As a result, the functions required by the user can be implemented, and comfort can be ensured.

  Moreover, the air conditioning apparatus of this invention performs a four-way valve defrost system, when performing the defrosting of the said outdoor heat exchanger, when the said heater abnormality detection means fails.

  Thereby, even when the heater abnormality detecting means fails, it is possible to perform the defrosting operation, and the outdoor heat exchanger can be defrosted.

  In addition, the air conditioner of the present invention does not stop the operation due to the function abnormality during the cooling operation even when the heater abnormality detecting means fails.

  As a result, it is possible to perform air conditioning operation and to ensure comfort.

  Further, the air conditioner of the present invention does not stop the operation due to the function abnormality during the heating operation even when the heater abnormality detecting means fails.

  As a result, it is possible to perform air conditioning operation and to ensure comfort.

  In addition, the air conditioner of the present invention does not stop the operation due to the function abnormality during the dehumidifying operation even when the heater abnormality detecting means fails.

  As a result, it is possible to perform air conditioning operation and to ensure comfort.

  In addition, the air conditioner of the present invention does not stop the operation due to the function abnormality during the operation in the mode in which the compressor represented by the air blowing operation does not operate even when the heater abnormality detecting means fails.

  As a result, the functions required by the user can be implemented, and comfort can be ensured.

  In the air conditioner of the present invention, a refrigerant heater temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the refrigerant heater is provided as the heater abnormality detecting means.

  Thereby, the abnormality of the heater can be detected by an inexpensive system.

  In the air conditioner of the present invention, a refrigerant heater current sensor that detects a current of the refrigerant heater is provided as the heater abnormality detection means.

  As a result, the electrical abnormality of the heater can be directly detected and high detection accuracy can be obtained.

  The air conditioning apparatus of the present invention can perform the defrosting operation even when the refrigerant heater has an abnormality.

A first invention includes a heat pump refrigeration cycle in which a compressor, a four-way valve, an indoor heat exchanger, a decompressor, and an outdoor heat exchanger are connected by a refrigerant circuit, the indoor heat exchanger connected to the refrigeration cycle, and the A first bypass circuit that connects between the pressure reducer and the four-way valve and the outdoor heat exchanger is provided, a two-way valve and a refrigerant heater are provided in the first bypass circuit, and further connected to the refrigeration cycle Between the four-way valve and the indoor heat exchanger, between the decompressor and the outdoor heat exchanger, or between the compressor and the four-way valve connected to the refrigeration cycle, and the decompressor. A second bypass circuit for connecting between the outdoor heat exchangers, a two-way valve in the second bypass circuit, a heater abnormality detecting means for detecting abnormality of the refrigerant heater, and An abnormality detector for the refrigerant heater When the outdoor heat exchanger is defrosted when normal is detected, a four-way valve defrosting method is performed, so that it is possible to perform a defrosting operation even when there is an abnormality in the refrigerant heater, and the outdoor heat exchange The vessel can be defrosted.

  In particular, in the air conditioner according to the first aspect of the present invention, the air conditioner according to the first aspect of the present invention does not stop operation due to functional abnormality during cooling operation even when the heater abnormality detecting means detects abnormality of the refrigerant heater. As a result, the air conditioning operation can be continued and the comfort can be maintained.

  According to a third aspect of the invention, in particular, in the air conditioner of the first or second aspect of the invention, even when the heater abnormality detecting means detects an abnormality of the refrigerant heater, the operation stop due to the function abnormality is performed during the heating operation. By not performing it, air-conditioning operation can be performed and comfort can be secured.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in particular, in the air conditioner according to any one of the first to third aspects, even when the heater abnormality detecting means detects an abnormality of the refrigerant heater, a malfunction is caused during the dehumidifying operation. By not stopping the operation, it is possible to perform an air-conditioning operation and to ensure comfort.

  According to a fifth aspect of the invention, in particular, in the air conditioner according to any one of the first to fourth aspects of the invention, even when the heater abnormality detecting means detects an abnormality of the refrigerant heater, the compression represented by the air blowing operation During operation in a mode in which the machine does not operate, the operation required by the user can be performed and comfort can be ensured by not stopping the operation due to function abnormality.

  In the air conditioner according to any one of the first to fifth inventions, the sixth aspect of the invention relates to the four-way valve removal when the outdoor heat exchanger is defrosted when the heater abnormality detecting means fails. By performing the frost method, it is possible to perform the defrosting operation even when the heater abnormality detecting means fails, and the outdoor heat exchanger can be defrosted.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in particular, in the air conditioner according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, even when the heater abnormality detecting means fails, the operation is not stopped due to a functional abnormality during the cooling operation. This makes it possible to carry out air conditioning operation and ensure comfort.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in particular, in the air conditioner of any one of the first to seventh aspects, even when the heater abnormality detecting means has failed, the operation is not stopped due to a functional abnormality during the heating operation. This makes it possible to carry out air conditioning operation and ensure comfort.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in particular, in the air conditioner according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, even when the heater abnormality detection unit fails, the operation is not stopped due to a functional abnormality during the dehumidifying operation. This makes it possible to carry out air conditioning operation and ensure comfort.

  According to a tenth aspect of the invention, in particular, in the air conditioner according to any one of the first to ninth aspects of the invention, even when the heater abnormality detecting means has failed, the compressor is operative in a mode in which the compressor represented by the air blowing operation does not operate. When the operation is not stopped due to an abnormal function, the functions required by the user can be implemented and comfort can be ensured.

In an eleventh aspect of the invention, in particular, in the air conditioner of any one of the first to tenth aspects, by providing a refrigerant heater temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the refrigerant heater as the heater abnormality detection means, An inexpensive system can detect abnormalities in the heater.

  In a twelfth aspect of the invention, in particular, in the air conditioner according to any one of the first to eleventh aspects of the present invention, by providing a refrigerant heater current sensor for detecting a refrigerant heater current as the heater abnormality detection means, The electrical abnormality of the heater can be directly detected and high detection accuracy can be obtained.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
1 is a configuration diagram of an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, an outdoor unit 20 includes a compressor 1, a four-way valve 2, a decompressor 4, an outdoor heat exchanger 5, a first bypass circuit 6, a refrigerant heating two-way valve 7, a refrigerant heater 8, a second Bypass circuit 9, defrosting two-way valve 10, second bypass circuit two-way valve 11, first bypass circuit two-way valve 12, heater heater 13, refrigerant passage tube portion 14, heat storage portion 15, A check valve 16 and an outdoor fan 19 are provided.

  The indoor unit 18 is provided with the indoor heat exchanger 3 and the indoor blower 17.

  Moreover, the refrigerant | coolant heater temperature sensor 21 is provided as a heater abnormality detection means.

  About the air conditioning apparatus comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below.

  When the detected temperature T of the refrigerant heater temperature sensor 21 is T> T1 or T2> T, it is determined that the refrigerant heater 8 is abnormal, and when the outdoor heat exchanger 5 is defrosted, the four-way valve defrost method is used. Do.

  Here, T1> T2.

  Further, when the detected temperature T of the refrigerant heater temperature sensor 21 is T> T3 or T4> T, it is determined that the refrigerant heater temperature sensor 21 is out of order, and in this case as well, the outdoor heat exchanger 5 is defrosted. At the time, a four-way valve defrosting method is performed.

  Here, T3> T1> T2> T4.

  That is, when the heater abnormality detection means detects an abnormality in the refrigerant heater 8 and when the heater abnormality detection means fails, the defrosting operation is performed with the same refrigerant flow direction as in cooling, and the outdoor heat exchanger By flowing a high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant through 5, frost adhering to the outdoor heat exchanger 5 is melted.

  Also, when the heater abnormality detecting means detects abnormality of the refrigerant heater 8, and when the heater abnormality detecting means fails, it is represented by cooling operation, heating operation, dehumidifying operation, and air blowing operation. During operation in a mode in which the compressor does not operate, the operation is not stopped due to a malfunction.

  Therefore, the air conditioning operation and functions required by the user are performed.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the refrigerant heater temperature sensor 21 which is a heater abnormality detection means for detecting abnormality of the refrigerant heater 8 is provided, and the refrigerant heater temperature sensor 21 detects abnormality of the refrigerant heater 8. When the defrosting of the outdoor heat exchanger 5 is performed, the defrosting operation can be performed even if the refrigerant heater 8 is abnormal by performing the four-way valve defrosting method. Defrosting can be performed.

  Further, in the present embodiment, even when the refrigerant heater temperature sensor 21 serving as the heater abnormality detection means detects an abnormality in the refrigerant heater 8, the air conditioning is not performed during the cooling operation by stopping the operation due to the function abnormality. Driving can be continued and comfort can be maintained.

  Further, in the present embodiment, even when the refrigerant heater temperature sensor 21 serving as the heater abnormality detection means detects an abnormality of the refrigerant heater 8, by not performing an operation stop due to a functional abnormality during the heating operation, Air-conditioning operation can be performed and comfort can be secured.

  Further, in the present embodiment, even when the refrigerant heater temperature sensor 21 serving as the heater abnormality detection means detects an abnormality of the refrigerant heater 8, by not performing operation stop due to functional abnormality during the dehumidifying operation, Air-conditioning operation can be performed and comfort can be secured.

  Further, in the present embodiment, even when the refrigerant heater temperature sensor 21 serving as the heater abnormality detection means detects an abnormality of the refrigerant heater 8, the operation in a mode in which the compressor 1 typified by the air blowing operation does not operate. When the operation is not stopped due to an abnormal function, the functions required by the user can be implemented and comfort can be ensured.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when the refrigerant heater temperature sensor 21 serving as the heater abnormality detection unit fails, when performing defrosting of the outdoor heat exchanger, by performing a four-way valve defrosting method, Even when the heater abnormality detection means fails, the defrosting operation can be performed, and the outdoor heat exchanger can be defrosted.

  Further, in the present embodiment, even if the refrigerant heater temperature sensor 21 serving as the heater abnormality detection means fails, the air conditioning operation can be performed by not stopping the operation due to the function abnormality during the cooling operation. Comfort can be secured.

  Further, in the present embodiment, even when the refrigerant heater temperature sensor 21 serving as the heater abnormality detection means fails, the air conditioning operation can be performed by not stopping the operation due to the function abnormality during the heating operation. Comfort can be secured.

  Further, in the present embodiment, even when the refrigerant heater temperature sensor 21 serving as the heater abnormality detection means fails, the air conditioning operation can be performed by not stopping the operation due to the function abnormality during the dehumidifying operation. Comfort can be secured.

  Further, in the present embodiment, even when the refrigerant heater temperature sensor 21 serving as the heater abnormality detecting means fails, the operation is stopped due to a function abnormality during the operation in the mode in which the compressor 1 represented by the air blowing operation does not operate. By not performing the function, it is possible to perform functions required by the user and to ensure comfort.

  Moreover, in this Embodiment, the refrigerant | coolant heater temperature sensor 21 which detects the temperature of the refrigerant | coolant heater 8 is provided as the said heater abnormality detection means, Therefore The abnormality of the refrigerant | coolant heater 8 can be detected with an inexpensive system.

  Further, a refrigerant heater current sensor 22 for detecting the current of the refrigerant heater 8 is provided instead of or in addition to the refrigerant heater temperature sensor 21 which is the heater abnormality detection means of the present embodiment, and the refrigerant heater is provided. By detecting the current input to, an electrical abnormality of the heater can be directly detected, and high detection accuracy can be obtained.

  As described above, the air-conditioning apparatus of the present invention can perform the defrosting operation even when an abnormality occurs in the refrigerant heater, and thus can be applied to an air-conditioning apparatus that performs a refrigerant-heating heating operation.

The block diagram of the air conditioning apparatus of embodiment of this invention Configuration diagram of conventional air conditioner

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Compressor 2 Four-way valve 3 Indoor heat exchanger 4 Pressure reducer 5 Outdoor heat exchanger 6 First bypass circuit 7 Two-way valve for refrigerant heating 8 Refrigerant heater 9 Second bypass circuit 10 Two-way valve for defrosting 11 Defrosting decompressor 12 Refrigerant heating decompressor 13 Heater 14 Refrigerant passage pipe part 15 Heat storage part 16 Check valve 17 Indoor fan 18 Indoor unit 19 Outdoor fan 20 Outdoor unit 21 Refrigerant heater temperature sensor 22 Refrigerant heater current sensor

Claims (12)

A heat pump refrigeration cycle in which a compressor, a four-way valve, an indoor heat exchanger, a decompressor, and an outdoor heat exchanger are connected by a refrigerant circuit; and between the indoor heat exchanger and the decompressor connected to the refrigeration cycle, and A first bypass circuit connecting between the four-way valve and the outdoor heat exchanger; a two-way valve and a refrigerant heater provided in the first bypass circuit; and the four-way valve connected to the refrigeration cycle; Between the indoor heat exchanger, between the decompressor and the outdoor heat exchanger, or between the compressor and the four-way valve connected to the refrigeration cycle, and between the decompressor and the outdoor heat exchanger. A second bypass circuit is provided for connecting the two, a two-way valve is provided in the second bypass circuit, and the two-way valve of the first bypass circuit is opened when defrosting the outdoor heat exchanger. The refrigerant heated by the refrigerant heater is used as the compressor. In the air conditioner for performing the first bypass operation for flowing to the suction side and the second bypass operation for opening the two-way valve of the second bypass circuit and allowing the refrigerant to pass through the outdoor heat exchanger, the refrigerant heating A heater abnormality detecting means for detecting an abnormality of the heater, and when the heater abnormality detecting means detects an abnormality of the refrigerant heater, when performing defrosting of the outdoor heat exchanger, the four-way valve is switched, and the refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle An air conditioner that performs a defrosting system that flows in the opposite direction. 2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein even when the heater abnormality detecting means detects abnormality of the refrigerant heater, the operation is not stopped due to the function abnormality during the cooling operation. 3. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein even when the heater abnormality detection means detects an abnormality of the refrigerant heater, the operation is not stopped due to the function abnormality during the heating operation. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein even if the heater abnormality detection means detects an abnormality of the refrigerant heater, the operation is not stopped due to the function abnormality during the dehumidifying operation. 2. Even if the heater abnormality detecting means detects an abnormality of the refrigerant heater, the operation is not stopped due to the function abnormality during the operation in the mode in which the compressor represented by the air blowing operation does not operate. The air conditioning apparatus in any one of -4. 2. The defrosting method of switching the four-way valve and flowing the refrigerant of the refrigeration cycle in the reverse direction when defrosting the outdoor heat exchanger when the heater abnormality detection means fails is performed. The air conditioning apparatus in any one of -5. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein even if the heater abnormality detection means is out of order, the operation is not stopped due to a function abnormality during the cooling operation. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein even if the heater abnormality detection means fails, the operation is not stopped due to a function abnormality during the heating operation. The air conditioning apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein even if the heater abnormality detection means fails, the operation is not stopped due to a function abnormality during the dehumidifying operation. Even if the heater abnormality detection means fails, the operation stop due to the function abnormality is not performed during the operation in the mode in which the compressor represented by the air blowing operation does not operate. The air conditioning apparatus described. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein a refrigerant heater temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of the refrigerant heater is provided as a heater abnormality detection means. The air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein a refrigerant heater current sensor that detects a current of the refrigerant heater is provided as a heater abnormality detection means.

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