JP2008304106A - Cleaning method of air conditioning device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method of cleaning an indoor unit of an air conditioner by devising the flow of conditioned air without newly using a cleaning tool. <P>SOLUTION: In a cleaning mode of the air conditioning device having two or more indoor units 2 respectively composed of heat exchangers 1A (2A) and blowers 1B (2B), only one of the indoor units 1 is operated, the air passing through one of the indoor units is guided to the other indoor unit 2 not operated, and the guided air flows in the heat exchanger 2A of the other indoor unit in the direction opposite to that in a normal mode. In the normal mode, both indoor units are operated together. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for cleaning an air conditioner, and is particularly suitable for a method for cleaning a vehicle air conditioner having two or more indoor units (fan and heat exchanger) in a large vehicle or the like.

  When an indoor unit of an air conditioner is used for many years, dust, dust, etc. accumulate inside the indoor unit, and these may be released into the room during operation of the air conditioner and the indoor air may be contaminated. Moreover, there is a possibility that corrosion of the indoor unit due to adhesion of dust, dirt, etc. is promoted. Therefore, in recent years, it has been generally performed to clean indoor units. These cleanings are performed by blowing high-pressure detergent or heated steam onto a particularly dirty heat exchanger or blower fan in the indoor unit. For this purpose, a dedicated cleaning device such as a detergent high-pressure spraying device or a steam spraying device is required, so that cleaning cannot be performed easily and the cost is increased.

  For this reason, in Patent Document 1, the length of the hair on the brush support and the brush support connected to the detergent outlet of the container containing the detergent containing the surfactant is less than 10 mm, and Proposing to clean the heat exchanger of the air conditioner using a cleaning tool provided with a brush part in which the bristles of the brush extend 30 degrees or more in the vertical direction with respect to the arrangement direction of the fins of the heat exchanger Yes.

JP 2003-161597 A

  However, the known heat exchanger cleaning method disclosed in Patent Document 1 also requires a cleaning tool for cleaning the heat exchanger. Therefore, a new space for increasing the cost and installing the cleaning tool is required. There is a problem that it is necessary to ensure, and it is not a fundamental solution of the above-described conventional technology.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the said problem, The objective is providing the method of cleaning the indoor unit of an air conditioner by devising the flow of an air conditioning wind, without newly using a cleaning tool. That is.

The present invention provides, as means for solving the above problems, a method for cleaning an air conditioner according to each claim.
The cleaning method for an air conditioner according to claim 1 is such that, in the cleaning mode of an air conditioner having two or more indoor units composed of a heat exchanger and a blower, only one of the indoor units is operated. The air that has passed through the other indoor unit is guided to the other non-operating indoor unit, and the guided air flows through the heat exchanger of the other indoor unit in the direction opposite to that in the normal mode. The indoor unit of the air conditioner can be cleaned without using tools. Further, by regularly cleaning the indoor unit (heat exchanger), the attached dust can be removed, and the corrosion resistance of the heat exchanger can be improved. In addition, since only existing components are used, a significant increase in cost can be prevented.

The cleaning method according to claim 2 is such that both the indoor units are activated in the normal mode, and air flows in the opposite direction to the cleaning mode in the heat exchanger of the other indoor unit. .
In the cleaning method according to claim 3, the air flow direction passing through the heat exchanger of the other indoor unit in the normal mode and the cleaning mode is switched by a damper. Since only a damper is added to the indoor unit, there are few space restrictions.

  Hereinafter, a cleaning method for an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. An air conditioner is generally composed of a series of devices such as a compressor (condenser), a condenser (condenser), a decompression means, an evaporator (evaporator), and a gas-liquid separator that form a refrigeration cycle, and these circulate refrigerant. To form a closed circuit. In this case, an evaporator (heat exchanger) and an air blower (blower) attached to the evaporator are arranged in the room, take in air from the room, and return the air to the room after heat exchange (cooling). A condenser (heat exchanger) and a blower (blower) attached to this are arranged outside the room, taking air from the outside and returning the air to the outside after the heat exchange (heating). It constitutes a unit. In addition, since the compressor etc. are arrange | positioned outdoors, it is good also as an outdoor unit.

  In the present invention, a vehicle air conditioner, particularly a vehicle air conditioner used for a large vehicle such as a bus, will be described as an example. A vehicle air conditioner such as a bus is installed on a flat roof such as a bus vehicle, and a condensing unit (outdoor unit) and a cooling unit (indoor unit) are separated from each other. The condensing unit (outdoor unit) is composed of a condenser, a sending machine, and the like, takes air from outside the vehicle, and discharges air outside the vehicle after heat exchange. On the other hand, the cooling unit (indoor unit) is composed of an evaporator, a blower, and the like, takes air from the passenger compartment, and returns the air to the passenger compartment after heat exchange. These two unit portions are arranged adjacent to each other via a partition wall in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining a method of cleaning an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention, and shows how air flows in (a) normal mode and (b) cleaning mode. That is, the first indoor unit 1 including the first evaporator (heat exchanger) 1A and the first blower (blower) 1B, the second evaporator (heat exchanger) 2A, and the second blower (blower) 2B. The second indoor unit 2 is arranged in parallel. In the normal mode (normal operation) of the air conditioner, both blowers 1B and 2B are turned on, and air is individually taken into the first heat exchanger 1A and the second heat exchanger 2A, respectively. 1A and 2A and blowers 1B and 2B are discharged as they are. On the other hand, in the cleaning mode (cleaning operation) of the air conditioner, the first blower 1B is turned on, the second blower 2B is turned off, and the first indoor unit 1 and the second indoor unit 2 are connected in series. Air flows as if it were placed. That is, the air taken into the first heat exchanger 1A passes through the first heat exchanger 1A and the first blower 1B and then is taken into the second blower 2B and passes through the second blower 2B and the second heat exchanger 2A. Released.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view and a side view showing the arrangement of the indoor units of the air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the left-right direction is the width direction of the vehicle, and the up-down direction in the plan view is the front-rear direction of the vehicle. A space for installing the first and second indoor units 1 and 2 is formed on the roof 3 of the vehicle by the cover body 4. This space is divided into left and right by a partition wall 5, and the first indoor unit 1 is in contact with the left side and the second indoor unit 2 is in contact with the right side.

The first indoor unit 1 includes one evaporator (heat exchanger) 1A and three blowers 1B ₁ , 1B ₂ , 1B ₃ . Similarly, the second indoor unit 2 is composed of one evaporator (heat exchanger) 2A and three blowers 2B ₁ , 2B ₂ , 2B ₃ . A first inflow port 31 </ b> A and a second inflow port 32 </ b> A for taking in air in the vehicle compartment are formed across the partition wall 5 at a substantially central portion of the roof 3 that forms a space for installing the indoor unit. A first outlet 31B is formed on the left side, and a second outlet 32B is formed on the right side. Further, an air communication path 7 that communicates the first indoor unit 1 and the second indoor unit 2 is provided in the space adjacent to the indoor units 1 and 2 in the left-right direction. An outside air introduction port 33 that communicates with outside air is provided at a substantially central portion of the air communication passage 7.

  Also, a first damper 6A that opens and closes the outside air inlet 33, a second damper 6B that opens and closes the first outlet 31B, and a third damper 6C that opens and closes the second outlet 32B are provided. The air flow can be changed between the normal mode and the cleaning mode of the air conditioner.

FIG. 2 shows the air flow in the normal mode. That is, the outside air inlet 33 is closed by the first damper 6A. Further, the first outlet 31B is opened by the second damper 6B, and the second outlet 32B is also opened by the third damper 6C. In this state, the blowers 1B ₁ , 1B ₂ , 1B ₃ of the first indoor unit ₁ and the blowers 2B ₁ , 2B ₂ , 2B _{3 of} the second indoor unit 2 operate. The three blowers of each indoor unit 1 and 2 do not need to be operated together, and the number of operating units is adjusted according to the required air conditioning capacity. Actuated. Thus, the air F ₁ introduced from the vehicle interior through the first inflow port 31A passes through the first heat exchanger 1A, which is the first indoor unit 1, and the first blower 1B ₁ , 1B ₂ , 1B ₃ . It returns to the vehicle interior from the outlet 31B. On the other hand, the air F ₂ introduced from the passenger compartment through the second inlet 32A is second through the second heat exchanger 2A, which is the second indoor unit 2, and the blowers 2B ₁ , 2B ₂ , 2B ₃ . It returns to the vehicle interior from the outflow port 32B.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view and a side view showing the arrangement of the indoor units of the air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and is a diagram for explaining the air flow in the cleaning mode. In this case, the outside air inlet 33 is opened by the first damper 6A. Further, the first outlet 31B is closed by the second damper 6B, and the second outlet 32B is closed by the third damper 6C.

In such a state of the dampers 6A, 6B and 6C, the blowers 1B ₁ , 1B ₂ and 1B ₃ on the first indoor unit 1 side are operated, and the blowers 2B ₁ , 2B ₂ and 2B ₃ on the second indoor unit 2 side are operated. Stopped. Accordingly, air introduced from the vehicle compartment through the first inlet 31A, as indicated by the air flow F _3, a first heat exchanger 1A is a first indoor unit 1 the blower 1B _1, 1B _2, After passing through 1B ₃ , the air passes through the air communication passage 7 to the second indoor unit 2 side, and from the respective blowers 2B ₁ , 2B ₂ , 2B _{3 of} the second indoor unit 2 in the opposite direction to that in the normal mode. 2 Exhaust from the outside air inlet 33 through the heat exchanger 2A. In this case, part of the air returns to the vehicle interior through the second inlet 32A.

Thus, in the cleaning mode, the blower 1B on the first indoor unit 1 side is operated, the blower 2B on the second indoor unit 2 side is not operated, and the air flow generated in the blower 1B is converted into the second heat exchanger. By letting 2A flow in the direction opposite to that in the normal mode, dust, dust, etc. on the entire surface of the second heat exchanger 2A are blown off, and the second heat exchanger 2A is cleaned.
When cleaning the first heat exchanger 1A, the first to third dampers 6A to 6C are switched to stop the blower 1B on the first indoor unit 1 side and operate the blower 2B on the second indoor unit 2 side. Then, the air introduced through the second inlet 32A may be flowed in the direction opposite to the above.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention. Steps S1 to S5 show the operation of the air conditioner in the cleaning mode, and steps S6 and S7 show the operation of the air conditioner in the normal mode. First, in step S1, the first, second, and third dampers 6A, 6B, and 6C are appropriately switched, and the flow of air flowing through the two indoor units 1 and 2 is changed to that of the other indoor unit 2 as described above. An air flow path is established so that the flow is in the cleaning mode for cleaning the heat exchanger 2A. In step S2, the blower (fan) 1B on one indoor unit 1 side is turned on, and the blower (fan) 2B on the other indoor unit 2 side is turned off.

  By continuing this state for a certain time in step S3, the heat exchanger 2A on the other indoor unit 2 side is cleaned. After a predetermined time has passed, the process proceeds to step S4, where the blower 1B on the ON side (one indoor unit 1 side) is turned off and the blower 2B on the OFF side (the other indoor unit 2 side) is turned on. In addition, when moving to step S4, the first to third dampers 6A to 6C are switched as appropriate so that the air flow becomes a flow in the cleaning mode for cleaning the heat exchanger 1A of the one indoor unit 1. The road is established. In step S5, the heat exchanger 1A on the one indoor unit 1 side is cleaned by continuing this state for a certain period of time.

  After a predetermined time has passed, the process proceeds to step S6, where the first to third dampers 6A to 6C are switched as appropriate so that the air flow through the indoor units 1 and 2 becomes the flow in the normal mode as described above. Establish an air flow path. Next, the process proceeds to step S7, where both indoor units 1, 2 are normally operated. That is, both the blowers 1B and 2B of the indoor units 1 and 2 are turned on. Thus, the original functions of the indoor units 1 and 2 are performed.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view and a side view showing the arrangement of the indoor units and the air flow of the air conditioner according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the first embodiment described above, in the cleaning mode, for example, a part of the air flow that has cleaned the second heat exchanger 2A of the second indoor unit 2 is such that the second inlet 32A is always open. There is a risk of flowing into the passenger compartment through the second inlet 32A. Therefore, in the second embodiment, the fourth damper 6D is used instead of the partition wall 5. In this case, the first inlet 31 </ b> A and the second inlet 32 </ b> A constitute one inlet 31. Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

In the operation of the second embodiment, in the normal mode, the fourth damper 6D is placed in a neutral state so that the fourth damper 6D opens the inlets 31 on both the first indoor unit 1 side and the second indoor unit 2 side. It is burned. The first damper 6A closes the outside air inlet 33, the second damper 6B opens the first outlet 31B, and the third damper 6C opens the second outlet 32B. In this state, operating the blower _{1B 1 ~1B 3, 2B 2 ~2B} 3 of both the indoor unit 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the air taken in from the vehicle flows through the indoor units 1 and 2 (F ₁ and F ₂ ) and returns to the vehicle interior from the first and second outlets 31B and 32B, respectively.

In the cleaning mode, the first damper 6A opens the outside air inlet 33, the second damper 6B closes the first outlet 31B, the third damper 6C closes the second outlet 32B, and the fourth damper 6D In the side view of FIG. 5, the second inlet is completely closed and the first inlet is fully opened. Next, the blowers 1B _{1 to} 1B ₃ on the first indoor unit 1 side are operated, and the blowers 2B _{1 to} 2B ₃ on the second indoor unit 2 side are not operated. As a result, the air introduced from the passenger compartment through the inflow port 31 is, as indicated by the air flow F ₃ , the first heat exchanger 1A as the first indoor unit 1 and the blowers 1B ₁ , 1B ₂ , 1B. ₃ passes through the air communication path 7 to the second indoor unit 2 side, and the second blower 2B ₁ , 2B ₂ , 2B _{3 of} the second indoor unit 2 in the opposite direction to that in the normal mode is It passes through the heat exchanger 2A and is discharged from the outside air inlet 33 to the outside. By performing this cleaning mode for a certain period of time, dust and dirt attached to the front surface of the second heat exchanger 2A and the like are blown away and cleaned by the air flow flowing in the opposite direction to the normal mode.

After a certain period of time, the fourth damper 6D is rotated to the left to close the first inlet, the blowers 1B _{1 to} 1B ₃ on the first indoor unit 1 side are stopped, and the second indoor unit 2 operating a blower 2B ₁ ~2B ₃ side. Accordingly, the first heat exchanger 1A on the first indoor unit 1 side is cleaned by flowing air from the second indoor unit 2 side to the first indoor unit 1 side, which is opposite to the above-described direction. .

  In the cleaning method of the air conditioner of the above embodiment, in the cleaning mode, the blower 1B of one indoor unit 1 is turned on and the blower 2B of the other indoor unit 2 is turned off. The blower 1B of one indoor unit 1 is turned on in the same manner as in the normal mode, and the blower 2B of the other indoor unit 2 is rotated in the opposite direction to that in the normal mode (reverse rotation ON of the blower 2B). Good.

  As described above, in the present invention, the heat exchanger can be cleaned more frequently by switching the air flow direction, and dust, dust, etc. adhering to the heat exchanger can be cleaned periodically. Thus, the corrosion resistance of the heat exchanger can be improved. In addition, since existing components are used, it is not necessary to significantly increase the cost of the apparatus. Furthermore, there is little space restriction because a new damper is added to the conventional indoor unit.

It is a conceptual diagram explaining the cleaning method of the air conditioner of embodiment of this invention, and shows the air flow of (a) normal mode and (b) cleaning mode. It is the schematic top view and side view which show arrangement | positioning of the indoor unit of the air conditioner of 1st Embodiment of this invention, and has shown the air flow at the time of normal mode. It is the schematic top view and side view which show arrangement | positioning of the indoor unit of the air conditioner of 1st Embodiment of this invention, and has shown the air flow at the time of cleaning mode. It is a flowchart which shows the action | operation of the air conditioner of embodiment of this invention. It is the schematic top view and side view which show arrangement | positioning of the indoor unit of the air conditioner of 2nd Embodiment of this invention, and has shown the air flow at the time of cleaning mode.

Explanation of symbols

1 1st indoor unit 1A 1st heat exchanger (evaporator: evaporator)
_{1B, 1B 1, 1B 2,} 1B 3 blower (blower fan)
2 2nd indoor unit 2A 2nd heat exchanger (evaporator: evaporator)
_{2B, 2B 1, 2B 2,} 2B 3 blower (blower fan)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Roof 31A 1st inflow port 31B 1st outflow port 32A 2nd inflow port 32B 2nd outflow port 33 Outside air introduction port 4 Cover body 5 Partition wall 6A-6D 1st-4th damper 7 Air communication path

Claims (3)

In a method for cleaning an air conditioner having two or more indoor units composed of a heat exchanger and a blower,
In the cleaning mode, only one indoor unit is operated, the air that has passed through the one indoor unit that has been operated is guided to the other indoor unit that is not operated, and the guided air is used as a heat exchanger for the other indoor unit. The method for cleaning an air conditioner is characterized by flowing in a direction opposite to that in the normal mode.   2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein both the indoor units are operated in the normal mode, and air flows through the heat exchanger of the other indoor unit in a direction opposite to that in the cleaning mode. Cleaning method.   The air conditioner cleaning according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the air flow direction switching through the heat exchanger of the other indoor unit in the normal mode and the cleaning mode is switched by a damper. Method.

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