JP2015078798A - Indoor machine of air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an indoor machine of an air conditioner capable of suppressing formation of an area having a certain level or more refrigerant concentration in a room even in a case where refrigerant is leaked from a refrigerant pipeline or the like in the indoor machine in a non-electrification state, in the air conditioner using refrigerant whose average molecular weight is larger than air.SOLUTION: An indoor machine of an air conditioner includes: an outer case that stores a refrigerant pipeline 30 in which refrigerant whose average molecular weight is larger than air is encapsulated therein, and in which an air inlet and an air outlet communicating the inside and the outside are provided and at least one of the inlet and outlet is arranged close to the lower side of a front face; and a cover body 41 that is provided inside the outer case, and covers a part or the whole of the refrigerant pipeline 30 from at least a lower side and the side of the front face.

Description

  The present invention relates to an indoor unit of an air conditioner.

  In a conventional air conditioner, an indoor unit and an outdoor unit are connected by a refrigerant flow path in order to reduce the possibility of generating an explosive atmosphere due to a flammable refrigerant leaking from a welded portion of a heat exchanger. A separation-type air conditioner in which a flammable refrigerant is sealed to form a refrigeration cycle, and covers an indoor heat exchanger disposed in an indoor unit and having a welded portion in a refrigerant flow path, and a welded portion of the indoor heat exchanger A cover for receiving refrigerant leaking from the welded portion, a vent hole for taking in indoor air into the cover, a discharge channel provided at the bottom of the cover for discharging the refrigerant in the cover, and a discharge channel And a sensor that detects a combustible gas and operates a blower disposed in a discharge channel based on the output of the sensor (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2008-292066 A JP2013-0664525A

  However, since the conventional air conditioner shown in Patent Document 1 requires electric power to operate the sensor and the air blower, the air conditioner is used at the time of storage in a warehouse, repair, or relocation work. It does not work if the refrigerant leaks when the machine is not energized.

  For this reason, when the refrigerant leaks from the refrigerant pipe or the like in the indoor unit in a non-energized state and the leaked refrigerant flows out of the indoor unit into the room, a region where the refrigerant concentration becomes a certain level or more is formed in the room. There is a concern.

  This invention was made to solve such a problem, and in an air conditioner using a refrigerant having an average molecular weight larger than that of air, the refrigerant leaks from a refrigerant pipe or the like in a non-energized indoor unit. Even when a leaked refrigerant flows out of an indoor unit into the room, an indoor unit of an air conditioner that can suppress the formation of a region in which the refrigerant concentration is more than a certain level in the room is obtained. is there.

  In the indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the present invention, the refrigerant pipe in which the refrigerant having an average molecular weight larger than air is enclosed is housed inside, and both the suction port and the air outlet that communicate between the inside and the outside are provided. At least one of the two is an outer case disposed on the lower side of the front surface, and a cover body that is provided inside the outer case and covers part or all of the refrigerant pipe from at least the lower side and the front surface side. It is set as the structure provided with these.

  In the indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the present invention, in the air conditioner using a refrigerant having an average molecular weight larger than that of air, the refrigerant leaks from a refrigerant pipe or the like in the indoor unit in a non-energized state. Even when it flows out from the machine to the room, it is possible to suppress the formation of a region where the refrigerant concentration is a certain level or more in the room.

It is a figure which shows typically the structure of the indoor unit of the air conditioner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention, and an outdoor unit. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of the indoor unit of the air conditioner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a front view which shows typically the internal structure of the indoor unit of the air conditioner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a side view which shows typically the internal structure of the indoor unit of the air conditioner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the state before attaching the 1st cover body with which the indoor unit of the air conditioner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention is equipped to the joint part of refrigerant | coolant piping. It is a perspective view which shows the state which attached the 1st cover body with which the indoor unit of the air conditioner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention is provided to the joint part of refrigerant | coolant piping. It is a figure which shows the state by which the indoor unit of the air conditioner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention was placed in sealed space. It is a figure explaining the case where a refrigerant | coolant leaks from a joint part in the state from which the 1st cover body was removed from the indoor unit of the air conditioner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the state by which the indoor unit of the air conditioner of FIG. 8 was placed in sealed space. It is a figure which shows the structure of the apparatus for measuring a refrigerant | coolant density distribution when a refrigerant | coolant leaks from the joint part of the indoor unit of the air conditioner placed in the sealed space. It is a figure which shows an example of refrigerant | coolant density distribution when a refrigerant | coolant leaks from a joint part in the state which removed the 1st cover body from the indoor unit of the air conditioner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of refrigerant | coolant density distribution when a refrigerant | coolant leaks from a joint part in the state which attached the 1st cover body to the indoor unit of the air conditioner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a side view which shows typically the internal structure of the indoor unit of the air conditioner concerning Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows typically the internal structure of the indoor unit of the air conditioner which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention transparently.

  The present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Throughout the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts, and redundant description thereof will be simplified or omitted as appropriate.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
1 to 12 relate to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of an indoor unit and an outdoor unit of an air conditioner, and FIG. 2 is a diagram of the indoor unit of the air conditioner. FIG. 3 is a front view schematically showing the internal configuration of the indoor unit, FIG. 4 is a side view schematically showing the internal configuration of the indoor unit, and FIG. 5 is a first cover body provided in the indoor unit. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state before the first cover body provided in the indoor unit is attached to the joint part of the refrigerant pipe, and FIG. 7 is the indoor unit sealed. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a state where the refrigerant is leaked from the joint portion in a state where the first cover body is removed from the indoor unit, and FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the indoor unit of FIG. FIG. 10 shows a state in which the refrigerant is placed in a sealed space, and FIG. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration of an apparatus for measuring refrigerant concentration distribution in the case of leakage, and FIG. 11 shows an example of refrigerant concentration distribution when refrigerant leaks from a joint portion with the first cover body removed from the indoor unit. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a refrigerant concentration distribution when refrigerant leaks from the joint portion with the first cover body attached to the indoor unit.

  In FIG. 1, the air conditioner includes an indoor unit 10 and an outdoor unit 20. The indoor unit 10 is installed in a room that is a target of air conditioning. The outdoor unit 20 is installed outside the room. The indoor unit 10 includes an indoor unit heat exchanger 11 and an indoor unit fan 12. The outdoor unit 20 includes an outdoor unit heat exchanger 21 and an outdoor unit fan 22. The indoor unit 10 and the outdoor unit 20 are connected by a refrigerant pipe 30. The refrigerant pipe 30 is provided cyclically between the indoor unit heat exchanger 11 and the outdoor unit heat exchanger 21. A refrigerant gas is sealed in the refrigerant pipe 30.

  The refrigerant gas sealed in the refrigerant pipe 30 is a flammable (more precisely, slightly flammable) gas. Further, this refrigerant gas has an average molecular weight larger than that of air (specific gravity relative to air is greater than 1), and has a property of sinking downward in the direction of gravity in air. Specific examples of the refrigerant include difluoromethane (CH2F2: R32), tetrafluoropropane (CF3CF = CH2: HFO-1234yf), propane (R290), propylene (R1270), ethane (R170), butane (R600), Isobutane (R600a), 1.1.1.2-tetrafluoroethane (C2H2F4: R134a), pentafluoroethane (C2HF5: R125), 1.3.3.3-tetrafluoro-1-propene (CF3-CH = (Mixed) refrigerant composed of one or more refrigerants selected from among CHF: HFO-1234ze) and the like can be used. Here, the description will be continued assuming that R32 (difluoromethane: CH2F2) is sealed in the refrigerant pipe 30 as a refrigerant.

  An open / close valve 31 is inserted in the refrigerant pipe 30 on one side of the refrigerant circulation path between the indoor unit heat exchanger 11 and the outdoor unit heat exchanger 21. The refrigerant pipe 30 on the other side of the circulation path is provided with a compressor 23 and an accumulator 24 (pressure accumulator) via a four-way valve 32. The indoor unit heat exchanger 11, the outdoor unit heat exchanger 21, the compressor 23, the accumulator 24, the on-off valve 31 and the four-way valve 32, and the refrigerant pipe 30 in which the refrigerant is sealed are connected to each other. A cycle (refrigerant circuit) is configured.

  The refrigeration cycle configured as described above performs heat exchange between the refrigerant and air in each of the indoor unit heat exchanger 11 and the outdoor unit heat exchanger 21, so that the space between the indoor unit 10 and the outdoor unit 20 is changed. It works as a heat pump that transfers heat. Note that by switching the four-way valve 32, it is possible to switch between the cooling operation and the heating operation by reversing the refrigerant circulation direction in the refrigeration cycle.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the indoor unit 10 includes an outer case 13. The outer case 13 is a box having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. That is, the outer case 13 includes a front surface 13a, a back surface 13b, an upper surface 13c, a lower surface 13d, and two left and right side surfaces 13e. This indoor unit 10 is a so-called “floor type” indoor unit that is used by being placed on a floor surface in a room.

  The outer case 13 is provided with a suction port 14 a and a blower port 14 b that communicate the inside and the outside of the outer case 13. At least one of the suction port 14a and the air outlet 14b is disposed on the lower side of the front surface 13a. Here, the suction port 14 a is disposed on the lower side of the front surface 13 a of the outer case 13. The air outlet 14b is disposed on the upper side of the front surface 13a of the outer case 13. In addition, the blower outlet 14b can also be arrange | positioned in other places, for example, the upper surface 13c of the outer case 13. FIG.

  Next, the internal configuration of the indoor unit 10 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. As described above, the indoor unit 10 includes the indoor unit heat exchanger 11 and the indoor unit fan 12. The indoor unit heat exchanger 11 is disposed and accommodated at a position closer to the upper side inside the outer case 13 of the indoor unit 10. Furthermore, the indoor unit heat exchanger 11 is disposed near one side of the left and right behind the outlet 14b. Further, the indoor unit fan 12 is disposed and accommodated at a position closer to the lower side in the outer case 13 of the indoor unit 10. In addition, the indoor unit fan 12 is disposed near one side of the left and right behind the suction port 14a.

  Inside the outer case 13, an air passage is formed that passes from the suction port 14 a through the indoor unit fan 12 and the indoor unit heat exchanger 11 to the outlet 14 b. Since the indoor unit heat exchanger 11 and the indoor unit fan 12 are disposed on the left and right sides in the outer case 13, this air passage is also formed on the left and right sides in the outer case 13.

  A partition plate 15 is provided inside the outer case 13. The partition plate 15 is provided between the indoor unit heat exchanger 11 and the indoor unit fan 12 mainly for the purpose of improving the heat exchange efficiency in the indoor unit heat exchanger 11. In particular, as shown in FIG. 4, the partition plate 15 is substantially a horizontal member provided substantially horizontally from the lower end of the indoor unit heat exchanger 11 toward the front surface 13 a, and from the horizontal member to the indoor unit fan 12. And a vertical member provided vertically.

  Further, a refrigerant pipe 30 is accommodated in the outer case 13. The refrigerant pipe 30 has two pipes: a gas pipe in which the enclosed refrigerant flows as a gas, and a liquid pipe in which the enclosed refrigerant flows as a liquid. These refrigerant pipes 30 are disposed substantially along the vertical direction near the left and right other sides in the outer case 13. One end (upper side) of the refrigerant pipe 30 is connected to the indoor unit heat exchanger 11. The other end (lower side) of the refrigerant pipe 30 is connected to the outdoor unit 20. The refrigerant pipe 30 is arranged on the back side of the indoor unit heat exchanger 11 in order to shorten the pipe length.

  A joint 33 is provided in the middle of the refrigerant pipe 30 in the outer case 13. The joint 33 removably connects the refrigerant pipe 30 on the indoor unit heat exchanger 11 side and the refrigerant pipe 30 on the side continuing from the indoor unit 10 to the outdoor unit 20. The joint 33 is disposed in the vicinity of the upper side of the indoor unit fan 12 and on the lower side of the partition plate 15 for the purpose of improving workability of the installation work.

  An electronic circuit 16 is accommodated in the outer case 13 at positions on the left and right other sides and on the upper side. The electronic circuit 16 is for controlling the operation of the indoor unit 10 such as the operation of the indoor unit fan 12.

  A first cover body 41 that is a cover body that covers a part or all of the refrigerant piping 30 in the outer case 13 from at least the lower side and the front surface 13a side is provided inside the outer case 13. ing. In particular, the first cover body 41 is provided so as to cover the joint 33 portion of the refrigerant pipe 30.

  As described above, the refrigerant pipe 30 is arranged on the left and right other sides in the outer case 13. Therefore, the first cover body 41 provided at the joint 33 portion of the refrigerant pipe 30 is also arranged near the left and right other sides in the outer case 13. Near the left and right sides of the outer case 13, an air passage is formed from the suction port 14 a through the indoor unit heat exchanger 11 to the blowout port 14 b. It is arranged inside the case 13 and outside this air passage. Thus, by arranging the first cover body 41 outside the air passage, the air flow in the air passage is not obstructed (no pressure loss occurs).

  FIG. 5 shows the first cover body 41. The first cover body 41 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped member whose upper surface is open. That is, the first cover body 41 has five surfaces, that is, a lower surface, a front surface, a back surface, and both left and right side surfaces. The upper side is not provided with a surface but is an opening.

  A lower surface notch 41 a is formed on the lower surface of the first cover body 41. The size of the lower surface notch portion 41a is adjusted to such an extent that the refrigerant pipes 30 in a state where two lower surface notches are aligned enter the lower surface notch portion 41a.

  Further, a back notch 41b is formed on the back surface of the first cover body 41 in the vertical direction. The upper end side of the back notch 41 b is connected to the opening on the upper side of the first cover body 41. The lower end side of the back notch 41b is connected to the bottom notch 41a.

  FIG. 6 shows a state in which the first cover body 41 configured in this way is attached to the joint 33 portion of the refrigerant pipe 30. When attaching the first cover body 41, first, the joint 33 portion of the refrigerant pipe 30 is passed through the back notch 41 b of the first cover body 41. The upper side of the joint 33 of the refrigerant pipe 30 passes through the upper opening of the first cover body 41, and the lower side of the joint 33 of the refrigerant pipe 30 passes through the lower surface notch 41 a of the first cover body 41. To do.

  At this time, it is desirable that a gap is not generated as much as possible between the lower surface of the first cover body 41 and the refrigerant pipe 30. Therefore, the gap of the lower surface notch 41a generated between the refrigerant pipe 30 in the state of FIG. 6 may be filled with, for example, silicon rubber or putty.

  In this way, the first cover body 41 covers the joint 33 portion of the refrigerant pipe 30 from the five directions other than the upper side, that is, the lower side, the front side, the back side, and the left and right sides. It is attached.

  Here, the lower surface of the first cover body 41 is a lower surface. Further, in a state where the first cover body 41 is attached, the front surface of the first cover body 41 is a surface on the front surface 13a side of the outer case 13 when viewed from the joint 33 of the refrigerant pipe 30, The back surface of one cover body 41 is a surface opposite to the front surface 13 a side of the outer case 13 when viewed from the joint 33 of the refrigerant pipe 30.

  FIG. 7 shows a state in which the floor-mounted indoor unit 10 configured as described above is installed in a sealed space 50 assuming a room in which the indoor unit 10 is installed. The indoor unit 10 is placed on the floor surface in the sealed space 50. At this time, the back surface of the indoor unit 10 is disposed at a central portion along one inner wall of the sealed space 50. When the indoor unit 10 is operated, air in the sealed space 50 is sucked from the suction port 14a provided on the lower side of the front surface 13a of the indoor unit 10. And the air adjusted in the indoor unit 10 is ejected from the blower outlet 14b provided near the upper side of the front surface 13a of the indoor unit 10.

  Next, FIGS. 8 and 9 show that the joint 33 of the refrigerant pipe 30 is loosened for some reason when the operation of the indoor unit 10 is stopped and the first cover body 41 is removed. The refrigerant | coolant in the refrigerant | coolant piping 30 has leaked at high speed. As shown in FIG. 8, most of the refrigerant leaked from the joint 33 flows almost directly in the outer case 13 toward the suction port 14 a without almost decelerating.

  Therefore, as shown in FIG. 9, the refrigerant that has leaked into the sealed space 50 is mainly ejected from the suction port 14 a provided near the lower side of the front surface 13 a of the indoor unit 10. On the other hand, a small part of the refrigerant leaked from the joint 33 turns upward in the outer case 13 and also leaks into the sealed space 50 from the air outlet 14b provided on the upper side of the front surface 13a.

  As described above, the refrigerant in the refrigerant pipe 30 is heavier than air and has the property of sinking downward in the direction of gravity in the air. When such a refrigerant gas leaks from the indoor unit 10 into the room (in the sealed space 50), the leaked refrigerant gas flows so as to crawl on the floor surface. In particular, when the horizontal component of the outflow velocity is above a certain level, the concentration gradually increases from bottom to top while maintaining a substantially equal concentration along the horizontal direction. .

  FIG. 10 shows an example of an apparatus for examining the refrigerant concentration distribution in the sealed space 50 when the refrigerant leaks from the indoor unit 10 in this way. As in the case of FIG. 7, the indoor unit 10 is placed on the floor surface in the sealed space 50 such that the back side of the indoor unit 10 is disposed at the center along one inner wall. The sealed space 50 is made of, for example, a veneer plate having a thickness of 10 mm, and has dimensions of a floor area of 4.5 tatami and a ceiling height of 2.5 m.

  A refrigerant cylinder 51 is placed outside the sealed space 50. The refrigerant cylinder 51 is filled with the same refrigerant as that used in the indoor unit 10 (here, it is assumed that the refrigerant cylinder 51 is filled with R32 in a liquid phase). A refrigerant supply pipe extends from the refrigerant cylinder 51. This refrigerant supply pipe is connected to the refrigerant pipe 30 of the indoor unit 10. The joint 33 of the refrigerant pipe 30 is loosened in advance by a certain amount in order to make the refrigerant leakage location, the leakage amount, and the leakage speed constant.

  The refrigerant cylinder 51 is placed on the platform scale 52. The valve of the refrigerant cylinder 51 is opened and the weight of the refrigerant cylinder decreases as the refrigerant leaks from the joint 33 into the sealed space 50. By measuring the time change of the weight of the refrigerant cylinder 51 at this time with the platform scale 52, the refrigerant leakage speed (g / min) from the refrigerant cylinder 51 into the sealed space 50 can be obtained.

  A gas concentration sensor 53 is installed in the sealed space 50. A plurality of gas concentration sensors 53 are arranged side by side in the height direction at a substantially central portion in the sealed space 50. Here, the gas concentration sensor 53 is arranged at each position of 50 (mm), 300 (mm), 500 (mm), 1000 (mm), and 2000 (mm) on the floor. These gas concentration sensors 53 are oxygen concentration sensors.

  The initial state of the oxygen amount in the sealed space is 21.0 (volume%) with respect to the air in the sealed space 50. Due to the leakage of the refrigerant, the relative proportion of air to all the gas present in the sealed space 50 decreases. If the ratio of air in the sealed space 50 decreases, the oxygen concentration in the sealed space 50 decreases. However, the ratio of oxygen to the air in the sealed space 50 does not change. Therefore, the air concentration is calculated by dividing the oxygen concentration (volume%) in the sealed space measured by each oxygen sensor 25 by 0.21, and by subtracting this from 100 (volume%), the sealed space 50 is calculated. The refrigerant | coolant density | concentration in each height position can be calculated | required.

  In the state where the first cover body 41 is removed from the indoor unit 10 using the apparatus configured as described above, the main plug of the refrigerant cylinder 51 is loosened and leaked by about 1 kg, and then the main plug is closed. FIG. 11 is a plot of the maximum refrigerant concentration value measured by the gas concentration sensor 53. In addition, as a result of calculating the average leak rate in the meantime, it was about 100 g / min.

  Since R32 is heavier than air, as shown in FIG. 11, the lower the position (measurement point) of the gas concentration sensor 53, the higher the concentration of R32. When the first cover body 41 is not attached, it can be seen that the maximum refrigerant concentration is equal to or higher than CLFL (combustion lower limit concentration) at a position lower than the height hLFL. Here, LFL = 14.4 vol = 0.306 (g / m 3).

  On the other hand, when the first cover body 41 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is attached to the joint 33 portion of the refrigerant pipe 30 of the indoor unit 10, the refrigerant is leaked from the joint 33 portion in the same manner. FIG. 12 shows the distribution of the maximum refrigerant concentration.

  By attaching the first cover body 41 to the joint 33 portion, the refrigerant gas ejected from the joint 33 collides with the first cover body 41, the momentum of the refrigerant gas is killed, and the refrigerant gas leaking from the suction port 14a The horizontal component of speed can be suppressed.

  As described above, the degree of concentration of the refrigerant in the sealed space 50 at the time of refrigerant leakage depends on the horizontal component of the refrigerant gas leakage rate. For this reason, by providing the first cover body 41, it is possible to reduce the initial velocity of the refrigerant gas ejected from the joint 33 and to keep the refrigerant concentration in the sealed space 50 low.

  In the example shown in FIG. 12, by providing the first cover body 41, a result that the lower combustion limit concentration CLFL is not exceeded at any height was obtained.

  Here, as can be seen from the above description, in order to reduce the speed of the refrigerant leaking from the suction port 14a when the refrigerant leaks from the joint 33, the joint 33 is directed to the suction port 14a in the outer case 13. It is important to inhibit the flow of refrigerant that is ejected.

  As described above, the refrigerant pipe 30 and the first cover body 41 are disposed on the left and right other sides inside the outer case 13. Accordingly, when compared in the left-right direction, the other side is directed toward the center of the suction port 14a, and one side is opposite to the center of the suction port 14a. Therefore, in this case, as the first cover body 41, the joint 33 of the refrigerant pipe 30 is efficiently covered by covering at least the lower side, the front surface 13a side, and the left and right sides. It becomes possible to inhibit the flow of the refrigerant that is ejected from the joint 33 toward the suction port 14a.

  The indoor unit of the air conditioner configured as described above contains a refrigerant pipe 30 in which a refrigerant having an average molecular weight larger than that of air is enclosed, and includes an inlet 14a and an outlet 14b that communicate between the inside and the outside. Both are provided, and at least one of the two is provided inside the outer case 13 disposed on the lower side of the front surface 13a, and a part or all of the refrigerant pipe 30 is at least on the lower side and the front surface 13a. And a first cover body 41 that covers from the side.

  Therefore, even when the refrigerant leaks from the refrigerant pipe 30 or the like in the outer case 13 of the non-energized indoor unit 10 and the leaked refrigerant flows out of the indoor unit 10 into the room, It is possible to suppress the formation of a region where the concentration becomes a certain level or more.

  Further, in the refrigerant pipe 30, there is a high possibility that the refrigerant leaks from the joint 33 due to the joint 33 being loosened. Therefore, the first cover body 41 covers at least the joint 33 portion of the refrigerant pipe 30 and effectively inhibits the refrigerant from flowing out at the time of leakage to a place where the possibility of leakage is high. It can suppress that the area | region where a refrigerant | coolant density | concentration becomes more than fixed is formed in the room | chamber interior in which the machine 10 is installed.

  In the above description, the floor-mounted indoor unit of the air conditioner has been described. However, the above-described effects are not limited to the floor-mounted indoor unit, and the ceiling-mounted type, wall-mounted type indoor unit and outdoor unit, or It can also be obtained by equipment (such as a water heater) other than an air conditioner equipped with a refrigeration cycle.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIGS. 13 and 14 relate to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a side view schematically showing the internal configuration of the indoor unit of the air conditioner, and FIG. 14 is the inside of the indoor unit of the air conditioner. It is a perspective view which shows a structure transparently and shows typically.
In Embodiment 2 described here, a second cover body is provided instead of the first cover body in the configuration of Embodiment 1 described above.

  That is, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the outer case 13 is a cover body that covers a part or all of the refrigerant pipe 30 in the outer case 13 from at least the lower side and the front surface 13 a side. The second cover body 42 is provided. The second cover body 42 is provided so as to cover the indoor unit heat exchanger 11 in addition to the refrigerant pipe 30 in the outer case 13.

However, in order to suppress pressure loss in the air passage in the outer case 13, a heat exchange opening 42a is provided on the air passage on at least the front surface 13a side of the second cover body.
Since other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In the air conditioner indoor unit configured as described above, in addition to being able to achieve the same effects as those of the first embodiment, not only the joint 33 portion of the refrigerant pipe 30 but also the outer case 13 is provided. Even if it is a case where a refrigerant | coolant leaks in any location of the refrigerant | coolant piping 30 in the inside or the indoor unit heat exchanger 11, the flow of a refrigerant | coolant is inhibited by the 2nd cover body 42, and the indoor unit 10 was installed. It is possible to suppress the formation of a region where the refrigerant concentration becomes a certain level or more.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Indoor unit, 11 Indoor unit heat exchanger, 12 Indoor unit fan, 13 Outer case, 13a Front surface, 13b Back surface, 13c Upper surface, 13d Lower surface, 13e Side surface, 14a Suction port, 14b Outlet, 15 Partition plate, 16 Electronic circuit , 20 outdoor unit, 21 outdoor unit heat exchanger, 22 outdoor unit fan, 23 compressor, 24 accumulator, 30 refrigerant piping, 31 on-off valve, 32 four-way valve, 33 joint, 41 first cover body, 41a lower surface notch , 41b rear cut-out, 42 second cover body, 42a heat exchange opening, 50 sealed space, 51 refrigerant cylinder, 52 scale, 53 gas concentration sensor

In the indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the present invention, the refrigerant pipe in which the refrigerant having an average molecular weight larger than air is enclosed is housed inside, and both the suction port and the air outlet that communicate between the inside and the outside are provided. At least one of the two includes an outer case disposed near the lower side of the front surface, and a cover body provided inside the outer case, and the refrigerant pipe is located on one side of the left and right sides inside the outer case. The cover body is arranged along the up and down direction, and the cover body covers the joint portion provided in the middle of the refrigerant pipe from at least the lower side, the front side, and the left and right other sides .
Alternatively, in the indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the present invention, a refrigerant pipe filled with a refrigerant having an average molecular weight larger than air is accommodated inside, and both an inlet and an outlet that communicate between the inside and the outside are provided. And at least one of the two includes an outer case disposed near the lower side of the front surface, and a cover body provided inside the outer case, and the refrigerant pipe is formed in a vertical direction inside the outer case. The cover body covers a joint portion provided in the middle of the refrigerant pipe from five directions other than the upper side, and a cutout portion is provided in the vertical direction on the opposite side of the front surface with respect to the joint portion. The structure is formed.
Alternatively, in the indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the present invention, the refrigerant pipe in which the refrigerant having an average molecular weight larger than that of air is enclosed is housed inside, and both the suction port and the air outlet that communicate the inside and the outside And at least one of the two is provided with an outer case disposed near the lower side of the front surface, and a cover body provided inside the outer case, and the refrigerant pipe is disposed inside the outer case. The cover body is disposed on one side of the left and right sides, and the cover body covers a joint portion provided in the middle of the refrigerant pipe from the five directions other than the upper side, and vertically on the opposite side of the front surface with respect to the joint portion. A notch is formed.
Further, or in the indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the present invention, the refrigerant pipe in which the refrigerant having an average molecular weight larger than that of air is enclosed is housed inside, and both the suction port and the air outlet that communicate between the inside and the outside And at least one of the two is disposed on the lower side of the front surface, and provided inside the outer case, and a part or all of the refrigerant pipe is at least on the lower side and the front surface side. The outer case is connected to the refrigerant pipe, accommodates a heat exchanger disposed at a position closer to the upper side, and the outer case includes an inlet from the suction port. An air passage that passes through the heat exchanger and leads to the air outlet is formed, and the cover body covers the refrigerant pipe and the heat exchanger, and on the air passage at least on the front side of the cover body. A structure in which an opening is provided.

Claims (5)

A refrigerant pipe filled with a refrigerant having an average molecular weight greater than that of air is accommodated inside, and both an inlet and an outlet that communicate between the inside and the outside are provided, and at least one of the two is disposed on the lower side of the front surface. An outer case,
An indoor unit for an air conditioner, comprising: a cover body provided inside the outer case and covering a part or all of the refrigerant pipe from at least the lower side and the front side. The outer case houses a heat exchanger connected to the refrigerant pipe,
Inside the outer case, an air passage is formed from the suction port to the outlet through the heat exchanger,
The indoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the cover body is disposed inside the outer case and outside the air path. The refrigerant pipe is arranged near one side of the left and right inside the outer case,
The air according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cover body covers a joint portion provided in the middle of the refrigerant pipe from at least the lower side, the front side, and the left and right other sides. The indoor unit of the harmony machine.   The said cover body covers the said joint part from five directions sides other than the upper side, and the notch part is formed in the up-down direction on the opposite side of the said front surface with respect to the said joint part. Air conditioner indoor unit. The outer case is connected to the refrigerant pipe and houses therein a heat exchanger disposed at an upper position,
Inside the outer case, an air passage is formed from the suction port to the outlet through the heat exchanger,
The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein the cover body covers the refrigerant pipe and the heat exchanger, and an opening is provided on the air passage on at least the front surface side of the cover body. Indoor unit.

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