JP2015215111A - Heat pump device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To early discover leakage of coolant comprising combustible 1,1,2-trifluoroethylene.SOLUTION: A heat pump device uses coolant comprising 1,1,2-trifluoroethylene and comprises an indoor unit, an outdoor unit, and piping that connects between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit. The heat pump device also comprises CO2 detection means that mixes the coolant with CO2 and detects CO2 concentration. As a result, leakage of 1,1,2-trifluoroethylene from the heat pump device can be detected.

Description

  The present invention relates to a heat pump device using a refrigerant containing R1123.

  In general, a heat pump device comprises a compressor, a four-way valve if necessary, a radiator (or a condenser), a decompressor such as a capillary tube or an expansion valve, an evaporator, etc. to configure a refrigeration cycle. Cooling or heating is performed by circulating a refrigerant inside.

  As the refrigerant in these heat pump devices, chlorofluorocarbons (the chlorofluorocarbons are described by RASH or RXX as defined by the US ASHRAE 34 standard, hereinafter referred to as RXX or RXX). Halogenated hydrocarbons derived from methane or ethane are known.

  R410A is often used as the refrigerant for the heat pump device as described above, but the global warming potential (GWP) of the R410A refrigerant is as large as 1730, which is problematic from the viewpoint of preventing global warming.

  Thus, from the viewpoint of preventing global warming, for example, R1123 (1,1,2-trifluoroethylene) and R1132 (1,2-difluoroethylene) have been proposed as refrigerants having a small GWP (for example, patents). Document 1 or Patent document 2).

International Publication No. 2012/157774 International Publication No. 2012/157765

  The flammability of the refrigerant is classified according to the rank of the flammability classification defined by the US ASHRAE 34 standard. In this standard, non-toxic substances are classified as A, A1, A2, and A3 according to the degree of flammability.

  Conventionally used refrigerants such as R410A are classified as substantially incombustible A1, while R1123 is classified as weakly flammable A2.

  However, when a flammable refrigerant is used in a heat pump device, in order to improve safety, it is required to find a leakage point at an early stage even if the refrigerant leaks.

  In consideration of the above-described conventional problems, the present invention makes it possible to detect leakage of refrigerant including R1123 in a heat pump device used for an application such as an air conditioner. In addition, R1123 inside the heat pump device This is to prevent exceeding a predetermined concentration.

In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the present invention includes an indoor unit, an outdoor unit, and a pipe that connects the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, using a refrigerant containing 1,1,2-trifluoroethylene. The heat pump device includes CO2 detection means for mixing the refrigerant with CO2 and detecting the concentration of the CO2. Alternatively, it is further provided with ventilation means for discharging the air inside the heat pump device to the outside.

  By mixing CO2 with the refrigerant containing R1123 and providing CO2 detection means for detecting the concentration of CO2, leakage of the refrigerant from the heat pump device can be detected.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a heat pump device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  A first invention is a heat pump device that uses a refrigerant containing 1,1,2-trifluoroethylene, and includes an indoor unit, an outdoor unit, and a pipe that connects the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, CO2 detection means for detecting CO2 concentration by mixing CO2 into the refrigerant is provided.

  As a result, when the mixed refrigerant leaks from the heat pump device, the mixed refrigerant leaked regardless of the liquid or gas contains the CO2 component. Therefore, by installing the CO2 detection means, the mixing including R1123 from the heat pump device is performed. It can be detected that the refrigerant has leaked.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the heat pump device of the first aspect, the CO2 detection means is provided in at least one lower part of the interior of the indoor unit or the interior of the outdoor unit.

  Thereby, since the specific gravity of CO2 is heavier than air, when the refrigerant leaks from the heat pump device, the leaked CO2 refrigerant accumulates in the lower part of the indoor unit or the outdoor unit. Therefore, in the present invention, in addition to the effects of the first invention In particular, it is possible to quickly detect that the mixed refrigerant has leaked from the heat pump device by installing the CO2 detection means in the lower part of the indoor unit or in the outdoor unit.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the heat pump device according to the first or second aspect of the invention, the outdoor unit includes a ventilation unit that exhausts the air inside the outdoor unit to the outside, and the CO2 concentration detected by the CO2 detection unit is a predetermined value. When the air pressure exceeds the value, the ventilation means is driven.

  Thereby, when the CO2 detection means detects the leakage of the refrigerant, the ventilation means starts to discharge the leaked refrigerant outside the outdoor unit before the flammable R1123 leaks in earnest. In addition to the effects of the first or second invention, it is possible to prevent R1123 from exceeding a predetermined concentration in the outdoor unit.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited by this embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
The structure of the heat pump apparatus of this Embodiment is shown in FIG. The heat pump device shown in FIG. 1 is, for example, an air conditioner, and has a configuration of a so-called multi-type air conditioner in which two indoor units (indoor units) are connected to one outdoor unit (outdoor unit) 100. Yes. The configuration of the heat pump device (refrigeration cycle) is not limited to that shown in FIG. For example, two or more outdoor units and three or more indoor units can be connected in parallel.

  The outdoor unit 100 and the indoor units 300 and 310 are connected by a connection pipe 200 through which a refrigerant flows.

Inside the refrigeration cycle, two or more mixed refrigerants containing R1123 (1,1,2-trifluoroethylene) and CO2 are enclosed as refrigerants.

  In the outdoor unit 100, a power source driven compressor that is driven by electric power such as a commercial power source is mounted. As the compressor mounted on the outdoor unit 100, a non-power source driven compressor driven by an engine may be mounted.

  Reference numeral 101 denotes CO2 detection means capable of measuring the CO2 concentration, and is installed at the lower part inside the outdoor unit 100. Reference numeral 102 denotes ventilation means for discharging the air of the outdoor unit 100 to the outside, and is installed at the lower part of the side surface of the outdoor unit 100.

  Here, the CO2 detection means 101 is preferably a detector that transmits a signal to the outside when the CO2 concentration exceeds 1000 PPM, for example.

  In the indoor unit 300, reference numeral 301 denotes CO2 detection means that can measure the CO2 concentration, and is installed in the lower part of the indoor unit 300. Similarly, in the indoor unit 310, 311 is a CO 2 detection means capable of measuring the CO 2 concentration, and is installed in the lower part inside the indoor unit 310.

  At this time, when the indoor units 300 and 310 are installed in different rooms, the smaller the room volume, the higher the concentration when the refrigerant leaks. Therefore, the indoor unit installed in a room with a small space volume. It is preferable to install the CO2 detection means preferentially.

  Next, the refrigerant composition when refrigerant leaks from the outdoor unit 100 and the indoor units 300 and 310 will be described.

  The refrigerant sealed in the air conditioner is in various states of a liquid single phase, a gas single phase, and a gas-liquid two phase in the outdoor unit 100, the indoor units 300 and 310, and the connection pipe 200 depending on the operation state. Two or more kinds of mixed refrigerants including R1123 and CO2 have different composition ratios between the liquid phase and the gas phase in the gas-liquid two-phase state, but both the liquid phase and the gas phase contain a CO2 component. Therefore, when the refrigerant leaks from any of the outdoor unit 100 and the indoor units 300 and 310, the CO2 component even if the leaking refrigerant is in a liquid single phase, a gas single phase, or a gas-liquid two phase state. The refrigerant containing will leak.

  As is clear from the above description, in the present embodiment, since the CO2 detecting means 101 is installed in the lower part of the outdoor unit 100, when the refrigerant leaks from the outdoor unit 100, it is included in the leaked refrigerant. By detecting the CO2 component, it is possible to detect that the refrigerant has leaked. Further, since the specific gravity of CO2 is heavier than that of air, when the refrigerant leaks from the outdoor unit 100, the CO2 component contained in the leaked refrigerant has a property of accumulating in the lower part of the outdoor unit 100. By installing in the lower part of 100, it can detect rapidly that the refrigerant | coolant containing a CO2 component leaked from the air conditioner.

  Similarly, when the refrigerant leaks from the indoor unit 300, the CO2 component contained in the leaked refrigerant has a property of accumulating in the lower part of the indoor unit 300. Therefore, by the CO2 detection unit 301 installed in the lower part of the indoor unit 300, It is possible to quickly detect that the refrigerant containing the CO2 component has leaked from the air conditioner.

  Similarly, when the refrigerant leaks from the indoor unit 310, the CO2 component contained in the leaked refrigerant has a property of accumulating in the lower part of the indoor unit 310. Therefore, by the CO2 detection means 311 installed in the lower part of the indoor unit 310, It is possible to quickly detect that the refrigerant containing the CO2 component has leaked from the air conditioner.

  Moreover, since the outdoor unit 100 is provided with the ventilation means 102 which discharges | emits the air of the outdoor unit 100 outside, when the density | concentration of CO2 which the CO2 detection means 101 detected exceeds predetermined value, the ventilation means 102 is provided. By driving the refrigerant, the refrigerant containing the CO2 component accumulated in the outdoor unit 100 is discharged to the outside. Thereby, when the CO2 detection means detects the leakage of the refrigerant, before the concentration of flammable R1123 becomes high, the ventilation means 102 starts to discharge the leaked refrigerant to the outside of the outdoor unit, and within the outdoor unit, R1123 Can be prevented from exceeding a predetermined concentration.

  Further, when the outdoor unit 100 is installed in a room that is separated from the outside air such as a machine room, for example, the machine room is provided with a ventilation means 103 (not shown) for discharging the air in the machine room to the outside. When at least the CO2 concentration detected by the CO2 detection means 101 exceeds a predetermined value, the ventilation means 103 (not shown) is driven. Thereby, when the CO2 detection means 101 detects the leakage of the refrigerant, the ventilation means 103 (not shown) removes the leaked refrigerant outside the machine room before the concentration of flammable R1123 increases in the machine room. It is possible to prevent R1123 from exceeding a predetermined concentration in the machine room.

  Further, when a non-power source driven compressor driven by an engine is used as a compressor mounted on the outdoor unit 100, combustible gas is supplied to the compressor, and the combustible gas burns to compress the compressor power. Therefore, it is desirable to manage the concentration of the combustible refrigerant around the engine so that it does not exceed a predetermined concentration. However, as described above, when the CO2 detection means detects the leakage of the refrigerant, the ventilation means 102 discharges the leaked refrigerant out of the outdoor unit 100 before the concentration of flammable R1123 increases. In addition, R1123 can be prevented from exceeding a predetermined concentration in the outdoor unit.

  As described above, the heat pump device according to the present invention can detect a leak point at an early stage even if a refrigerant leak occurs, so that not only an air conditioner but also a water heater, a car air conditioner, a refrigerator-freezer, a dehumidifier, etc. Suitable for use.

100 Outdoor unit (outdoor unit)
101, 301, 311 CO2 detection means 102, 103 Ventilation means 300, 310 Indoor unit (indoor unit)

Claims (3)

A heat pump device using a refrigerant containing 1,1,2-trifluoroethylene, comprising an indoor unit, an outdoor unit, and a pipe connecting the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, wherein CO2 is mixed with the refrigerant. A heat pump device comprising CO2 detecting means for detecting the CO2 concentration. 2. The heat pump device according to claim 1, wherein the CO2 detection unit is provided in at least one lower part of the interior of the indoor unit or the interior of the outdoor unit. The outdoor unit includes a ventilation unit that discharges air inside the outdoor unit to the outside, and drives the ventilation unit when the CO2 concentration detected by the CO2 detection unit exceeds a predetermined value. The heat pump device according to claim 1, wherein the heat pump device is a heat pump device.