JP2011112242A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air conditioner without requiring a complex mechanism for optimizing a lubricating oil or the amount of refrigerant for achieving optimum air conditioning adapted to an air conditioning load pattern to be changed as well as obtaining dehumidification operation without causing decrease in a room temperature. <P>SOLUTION: The air conditioner includes a plurality of independent refrigerant circulation circuits which are provided in an indoor heat exchanger 22 used for an indoor unit 24 and two or more outdoor units 33 and 34 which are connected to one of the indoor unit 24 to achieve optimum air conditioning adapted to a load pattern to be changed by independently selecting an operation mode of each outdoor unit. Moreover, dehumidification operation is obtained by cooling a part of one of the indoor heat exchanger 22 as well as heating the other parts thereof without causing decrease in a room temperature. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner that is installed in a building such as a house, a store, or an office and uses air conditioning such as cooling or heating and dehumidification.

  Conventionally, this type of air conditioner has an indoor unit provided with an indoor heat exchanger and a blower, an outdoor air intake port and an outdoor air exhaust port in an outer box provided with an indoor air intake port and an indoor air exhaust port. The outdoor box includes an outdoor unit including an outdoor heat exchanger, a blower, and a compressor. The indoor unit and the outdoor unit are connected by a refrigerant pipe. Air-conditioned indoor air is distributed from the indoor air exhaust port of the indoor unit to the house through a blower duct provided in the house (for example, see Patent Document 1). Usually, the outdoor unit is provided with one compressor, but a plurality of compressors are mounted inside the outdoor unit to change the air conditioning capacity stepwise (for example, see Patent Document 2) In some cases, the refrigerant discharge amount of one compressor in the outdoor unit is variable.

  FIG. 3 shows an indoor unit of a conventional air conditioner described in Patent Document 1. As shown in FIG. FIG. 4 shows an outdoor unit of a conventional air conditioner.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the indoor unit is provided with an indoor air intake port 2 and an indoor air exhaust port 3 in the outer box 1, and an indoor ventilation circuit 5 is formed by an indoor fan 4 inside the outer box 1. The indoor heat exchanger 6 is disposed in the interior. The indoor heat exchanger 6 includes a refrigerant pipe 7 for circulating a refrigerant and fins 8.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the outdoor unit is provided with an outdoor air intake port 10 and an outdoor air exhaust port 11 in the outer box 9, and an outdoor ventilation circuit (not shown) in the outer box 9 forms an outdoor ventilation circuit. An outdoor heat exchanger 12 is disposed in the outdoor ventilation circuit. The outdoor heat exchanger 12 includes a refrigerant pipe 13 for circulating a refrigerant and fins 14. Similarly, a compressor 16 is provided inside the outer box 9.

  A refrigerant circulation circuit including the compressor 15, the refrigerant pipe 13 of the outdoor heat exchanger 12, the connection valve 16, the connection pipe 17, the refrigerant pipe 7 of the indoor heat exchanger 6, the connection pipe 17, and the connection valve 16 is formed.

  Conventionally, in this type of air conditioner, one indoor unit corresponds to one indoor unit. Like the air conditioner described in Patent Document 2, a plurality of compressors are mounted in one outdoor unit, and refrigerants discharged from the plurality of compressors are merged inside the outdoor unit, On the other hand, the return to the compressor is a method of branching the refrigerant circulation circuit inside the outdoor unit and individually selecting the operation of a plurality of compressors according to the air conditioning load, or by changing the operation speed of the compressors. A method for making the compressor capacity variable is also proposed.

US Pat. No. 7,601,204 JP 2007-303732 A

However, in the conventional configuration, one outdoor unit needs to be combined with one indoor unit. For production and sales, for example, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3,. It is necessary to line up as individual models according to the required capacity such as 5, 4, 4.5 and 5 refrigeration tons.

  Also, in order to obtain optimal cooling or heating capacity according to the changing air conditioning load, multiple compressors are installed in one outdoor unit, and multiple compressors are operated individually according to the load. When selecting, a complicated mechanism is required for optimizing the lubricating oil of each compressor and optimizing the refrigerant amount.

  Also, in order to obtain optimum cooling or heating capacity according to the changing air conditioning load, the compressor operating speed can be changed by changing the operating speed of the compressor to change the operating speed of the compressor. The control device becomes complicated. Especially, in a large model such as 4 refrigeration tons, 4.5 refrigeration tons, or 5 refrigeration tons, the operating current of the compressor becomes large, and the device for controlling the operation speed becomes large and expensive. End up.

  Furthermore, in the configuration in which one outdoor unit is combined with one indoor unit, the operation mode can be cooling, heating operation, or dehumidifying operation applying cooling operation, but cooling operation is fundamental. In addition, there is a problem of lowering the room temperature.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described conventional problems, and to reduce the number of product models while facilitating the management of production and inventory while satisfying the capability range required for products.

  Another object of the present invention is to realize optimal air conditioning according to changing air conditioning load without requiring a complicated mechanism.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive device for controlling the operation speed of a compressor, which is used to realize optimum air conditioning according to changing air conditioning load.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a dehumidifying operation that does not cause a decrease in room temperature.

  In order to solve the conventional problem, the heat exchanger for an air conditioner of the present invention has a plurality of independent refrigerant circulation circuits.

  Thus, a plurality of refrigerant circulation circuits independent of one heat exchanger can be configured.

  In the air conditioner of the present invention, a heat exchanger having a plurality of independent refrigerant circulation circuits is mounted on one indoor unit, and a plurality of outdoor units are connected to the indoor unit.

  Thus, for example, a configuration in which a capacity of 5 refrigeration tons is generated by connecting two outdoor units having a capacity of 2.5 refrigeration tons can be employed.

  In the air conditioner of the present invention, a plurality of outdoor units connected to one indoor unit have the same cooling or heating capacity, or different cooling or heating capacities, or a plurality One of the outdoor units is variable in capacity, and the operation mode of each outdoor unit can be independently selected.

  As a result, it is possible to obtain optimum cooling or heating capacity according to the changing air conditioning load.

  The air conditioner of the present invention is one in which at least one of the plurality of outdoor units connected to one indoor unit is in a cooling operation and at least one other is in a heating operation.

  Thus, one part of one indoor heat exchanger can be cooled and the other part can be heated at the same time.

  In the heat exchanger for an air conditioner and the air conditioner of the present invention, a heat exchanger having a plurality of independent refrigerant circulation circuits is mounted in one indoor unit, and a plurality of outdoor units are connected to the indoor unit. By doing so, for example, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which a capacity of 5 refrigeration tons is generated by connecting two outdoor units having a capacity of 2.5 refrigeration tons, which is required as a product. While satisfying the capacity range, the number of product types can be reduced and production and inventory management can be facilitated.

  In the air conditioner of the present invention, a plurality of outdoor units connected to one indoor unit have the same cooling or heating capacity, or have different cooling or heating capacities, One of the outdoor units is variable in capacity, and the operation mode of each outdoor unit can be selected independently, which makes it difficult to optimize the lubricant and the amount of refrigerant. A mechanism is not required, and optimal cooling or heating capacity corresponding to the changing air conditioning load can be obtained.

  Moreover, the air conditioner of this invention can provide the apparatus which controls the operating speed of a compressor used in order to implement | achieve the optimal air conditioning according to the air-conditioning load to change at low cost.

  Further, the air conditioner of the present invention is configured such that at least one of the plurality of outdoor units connected to one indoor unit is in a cooling operation, and at least one other is in a heating operation, thereby performing one indoor unit. By cooling one part of the heat exchanger and simultaneously heating the other part, it is possible to provide a dehumidifying operation that does not cause a decrease in room temperature.

The system figure which shows the refrigerant circuit of the air conditioner in Embodiment 1 of this invention. The perspective view which shows the external appearance of the heat exchanger for air conditioners in Embodiment 1 of this invention. The perspective view which shows the indoor unit of the conventional air conditioner The perspective view which shows the outdoor unit of the conventional air conditioner

  In a first aspect of the invention, in an outer box having an indoor air inlet and an indoor air outlet, an indoor unit having an indoor heat exchanger and a blower, and an outer box having an outdoor air inlet and an outdoor air outlet. It consists of an outdoor unit equipped with an outdoor heat exchanger, a blower, and a compressor. The indoor unit and the outdoor unit are connected by a refrigerant pipe, and air-conditioned indoor air is provided in the house from the indoor air exhaust port of the indoor unit. In a heat exchanger provided to an indoor unit of a separation-type air conditioner that distributes to a house through a blow duct, a plurality of independent refrigerant circulation circuits are provided to provide a plurality of independent heat exchangers. A refrigerant circulation circuit can be configured.

  In the second invention, in particular, the heat exchanger of the first invention is mounted in one indoor unit, and a plurality of outdoor units are connected to the indoor unit, so that the capacity of, for example, 2.5 refrigeration tons can be achieved. By connecting two outdoor units that you have, you can adopt a configuration such as generating a capacity of 5 refrigeration tons, reducing the number of product models while meeting the capacity range required for products. Can facilitate production and inventory management.

  In particular, the third aspect of the invention is characterized in that the cooling or heating capacity of the plurality of outdoor units connected to the single indoor unit of the second aspect of the invention is equalized, respectively, so that the cooling according to the changing air conditioning load, or Heating capacity can be obtained.

  In the fourth aspect of the invention, in particular, the cooling or heating capacity of the plurality of outdoor units connected to the single indoor unit of the second aspect of the invention is different, so that the optimum cooling according to the changing air conditioning load is performed. Or you can get heating capacity.

  The fifth aspect of the invention is particularly suitable for changing the air conditioning load by making one of the plurality of outdoor units connected to the single indoor unit of the second aspect variable capacity. Efficient cooling or heating capability can be obtained.

  In particular, the sixth aspect of the invention provides a lubricating oil by enabling independent selection of operation modes of a plurality of outdoor units connected to one indoor unit of any one of the second to fifth aspects of the invention. Therefore, it is possible to obtain optimum cooling or heating capacity according to the changing air conditioning load without requiring a complicated mechanism for optimizing the amount of refrigerant and the amount of refrigerant.

  According to the seventh aspect of the invention, in particular, lubrication is performed by selecting an operation mode of a plurality of outdoor units connected to one indoor unit of any one of the second to sixth aspects according to the air conditioning load. It is possible to provide an air conditioner that does not require a complicated mechanism for optimizing oil or optimizing the amount of refrigerant, and that obtains optimal cooling or heating capacity according to a changing air conditioning load.

  In the eighth aspect of the invention, in particular, at least one of the plurality of outdoor units connected to one indoor unit of any one of the second to seventh aspects is in cooling operation, and at least one other unit is By performing the heating operation, it is possible to provide a dehumidifying operation that does not cause a decrease in room temperature by cooling one part of one indoor heat exchanger and simultaneously heating the other part.

  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)
FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an appearance of the heat exchanger for an air conditioner according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  1 and 2, an indoor unit 24 is configured by incorporating an indoor heat exchanger 22 and an indoor blower 23 in an indoor unit outer box 21 having an indoor air intake port 19 and an indoor air exhaust port 20. . The indoor heat exchanger 22 includes a refrigerant pipe 25 and fins 26, and a plurality of refrigerant circulation circuits constituted by the refrigerant pipe 25 of one indoor heat exchanger 22 are independent. FIG. 1 shows an example of two systems, which are referred to as a first system 27 and a second system 28, respectively. Each of the first system 27 and the second system 28 has a refrigerant inlet and a refrigerant outlet in cooling, and each system does not intersect in the indoor heat exchanger 22. A first expansion device 30 is provided at the first refrigerant inlet 29 in the cooling on the first system 27 side, and a second expansion device 32 is provided at the second refrigerant inlet 31 in the cooling on the second system 28 side. , Respectively.

An independent first outdoor unit 33 and a second outdoor unit 34 are connected to each of the first system 27 and the second system 28, thereby configuring an air conditioner system.

  Since the configuration form of the first outdoor unit 33 and the second outdoor unit 34 is the same, the first outdoor unit 33 will be described as a representative.

  The first outdoor unit 33 includes an outdoor heat exchanger 37, an outdoor blower 38, a compressor 39, and a cooling / heating model in an outdoor unit outer box 36 having an outdoor air intake port (not shown) and an outdoor air exhaust port 35. 4 incorporates a four-way valve 40. The compressor 39 and the four-way valve 40, the four-way valve 40 and the outdoor heat exchanger 37, the outdoor heat exchanger 37 and the refrigerant outlet valve 41 for cooling, and the refrigerant inlet valve 42 and the four-way valve 40 for cooling are connected by a refrigerant pipe 43, respectively. The

  The refrigerant outlet valve 41 in the cooling of the first outdoor unit 33 and the first refrigerant inlet 29 in the cooling of the indoor unit 24, the first refrigerant outlet 44 in the cooling of the indoor unit 24 and the refrigerant in the cooling of the first outdoor unit 33 The inlet valve 42, the refrigerant outlet valve 45 for cooling the second outdoor unit 34, the second refrigerant inlet 31 for cooling the indoor unit 24, the second refrigerant outlet 46 for cooling the indoor unit 24, and the second outdoor unit 34 The refrigerant inlet valves 47 in the cooling are connected by connecting pipes 48, respectively.

  As described above, an independent first outdoor unit 33 and a second outdoor unit 34 are connected to each of the first system 27 and the second system 28, whereby an air conditioner system is configured. A plurality of independent refrigerant circulation circuits are configured in one indoor heat exchanger 22, and each outdoor unit individually operates independently based on a command from a control device (not shown). be able to.

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

  By connecting multiple outdoor units to one indoor unit, the overall capacity is generated. For example, by connecting two outdoor units with the capacity of 2.5 refrigeration tons, Configurations such as generating capabilities can be employed. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the number of product models and facilitate production and inventory management while satisfying the capability range required for the product.

  Moreover, since each outdoor unit can perform an independent operation individually, it is possible to obtain optimum cooling or heating capacity according to the changing air conditioning load.

  Specifically, in a combination where the capacities of the first outdoor unit and the second outdoor unit are equal, when the air conditioning load is less than 50%, only one of the outdoor units is intermittently operated to obtain the necessary capacity. In the case where the air conditioning load is 50% or more, it is possible to balance with the air conditioning load by making one of the continuous operation and the other intermittently.

  In addition, when the first outdoor unit and the second outdoor unit have different capacities, for example, when the first outdoor unit is 60% of the whole and the second outdoor unit is 40%, the air conditioning load is less than 40%. If there is, the intermittent operation of only the second outdoor unit is performed. When the air conditioning load is 40% or more and less than 60%, the first outdoor unit and the second outdoor unit are operated alternately, and the air conditioning load is 60%. In such a case, in addition to the continuous operation of the first outdoor unit, the room temperature can be controlled more finely by the intermittent operation of the second outdoor unit.

Furthermore, if a variable capacity system using inverter control or the like is used for one of a plurality of outdoor units, a finer room temperature control can be realized. In this case, the device for controlling the operation speed of the compressor may have a smaller capacity of the outdoor unit as compared with the case where one conventional outdoor unit is used, so that the output capacity of the control device can be reduced. Can be provided inexpensively.

  In addition, when each outdoor unit is independently operated, the refrigeration cycle of each outdoor unit is independent, so that the optimization of the lubricating oil that affects the reliability of the compressor and the optimization of the refrigerant amount are performed. Therefore, the cost of such means can be reduced.

  Further, among a plurality of outdoor units connected to one indoor unit, at least one of the outdoor units is in a cooling operation, and at least one of the other outdoor units is in a heating operation. By heating other parts at the same time as cooling, a dehumidifying operation that does not cause a decrease in room temperature can be provided.

  In addition, in a conventional system in which one outdoor unit is connected to one indoor unit, the entire system cannot be operated if a problem occurs in the outdoor unit. When the outdoor units are connected, even if a failure occurs in one of the plurality of outdoor units, an effect that it is not necessary to stop the entire system can be expected.

  As described above, the heat exchanger for an air conditioner and the air conditioner according to the present invention have a heat exchanger having a plurality of independent refrigerant circulation circuits mounted in one indoor unit, and a plurality of such heat exchangers are installed in the indoor unit. By connecting the outdoor units, it is possible to reduce the number of product models while facilitating the management of production and inventory while satisfying the capacity range required for products. It does not require a complicated mechanism for optimizing the amount, and it is possible to obtain optimum cooling or heating capacity according to the changing air conditioning load, so that it can be used for refrigeration cycle applications such as heat pump water heaters. It can also be applied to applications.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 22 Indoor heat exchanger 24 Indoor unit 33 1st outdoor unit 34 2nd outdoor unit 37 Outdoor heat exchanger 39 Compressor

Claims (7)

An indoor unit that houses an indoor heat exchanger and a blower in an outer box having an indoor air inlet and an indoor air exhaust, and an outdoor heat exchanger, a blower, and a compressor in an outer box that has an outdoor air intake and an outdoor air exhaust An indoor unit, a refrigerant pipe connecting the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, and an air duct that distributes the airflow from the indoor air exhaust port of the indoor unit to the house, and is stored in the indoor unit. An air conditioner in which the indoor heat exchanger has a plurality of independent refrigerant circulation circuits. 2. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of outdoor units are connected to one indoor unit, and the plurality of outdoor units have the same cooling or heating capability. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of outdoor units are connected to one indoor unit, and the cooling or heating capabilities of the plurality of outdoor units are different from each other. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of outdoor units are connected to one indoor unit, and one of the plurality of outdoor units is a variable capacity type. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of outdoor units are connected to one indoor unit, and an operation mode of the plurality of outdoor units can be independently selected. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of outdoor units are connected to one indoor unit, and an operation mode of the plurality of outdoor units can be selected according to an air conditioning load. Machine. The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of outdoor units are connected to one indoor unit, at least one of the plurality of outdoor units is in a cooling operation, and at least one other unit is operated. Air conditioner for heating operation.