JP2016191506A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the emergence of such a situation that power supply to a refrigerator is cut off to make it impossible to detect refrigerant leakage.SOLUTION: In a refrigerant circuit 11, inflammable refrigerant is circulated. A compressor 21 receives power supply from the outside for circulating the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 11. A refrigerant gas sensor 31 and an outdoor side control device 37, and a refrigerant gas sensor 45 and an indoor side control device 47 receive power supply from the outside for detecting refrigerant leakage from the refrigerant circuit 11. A liquid crystal display device of a remote controller 48 visibly displays transmission information that it is impossible to detect the refrigerant leakage when power supply is stopped.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigeration apparatus, and more particularly to a refrigeration apparatus including a refrigerant circuit in which a flammable refrigerant circulates.

  As described in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent No. 3744330), for example, a flammable refrigerant is used in the refrigeration apparatus. If the flammable refrigerant leaks, the refrigerant gas sensor detects the leak. There is a refrigeration system to do.

  Incidentally, as described in Patent Document 1, in order to detect refrigerant leakage by the refrigerant gas sensor, it is necessary to supply power to the refrigerant gas sensor and a control device that controls the refrigerant gas sensor. For example, when it is planned to stop the operation of the refrigeration unit for a long period of time, the power supply to the refrigeration unit may be cut off by dropping the breaker or removing the plug, and the refrigerant gas sensor and its control When the power supply to the apparatus is turned on, leakage of the refrigerant cannot be detected.

  Therefore, it is conceivable to provide a backup power source for the refrigerant gas sensor and the control device, but long-term backup with a backup power source is difficult, and even if long-term backup is possible, a backup power source with a long backup period is expensive. The manufacturing cost of the refrigeration apparatus will increase.

  The subject of this invention is reducing generation | occurrence | production of the condition where the leakage of a refrigerant | coolant cannot be detected because the electric power supply to a refrigerating device is cut off.

  A refrigeration apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a refrigerant circuit in which a flammable refrigerant circulates, driving means for receiving external power supply and circulating the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit, and external power supply. Refrigerant leakage detection means for detecting refrigerant leakage from the refrigerant circuit, and display means for visibly displaying transmission information indicating that refrigerant leakage cannot be detected when power supply is stopped.

  In the refrigeration apparatus according to the first aspect, the transmission information that the refrigerant leakage cannot be detected when the power supply is stopped is displayed by the display means so that the refrigerant leakage cannot be detected when the power supply is stopped. The transmission information to the effect is transmitted to the user through the display means, and an erroneous operation in which the user accidentally cuts off the power supply to the refrigeration apparatus can be suppressed.

  The refrigeration apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention is the refrigeration apparatus according to the first aspect, further comprising a remote controller for instructing the operation of the drive means, and the display means is a display unit of the remote controller. is there.

  In the refrigeration apparatus of the second aspect, since the transmission information is displayed on the display unit of the remote controller, the user can visually recognize the transmission information with the remote controller at hand, and the user accidentally supplies power to the refrigeration apparatus. The effect which prevents cutting can be improved.

  The refrigeration apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention is the refrigeration apparatus according to the first aspect or the second aspect, wherein the display means displays the transmission information when the supply of power to the refrigerant leakage detection means is stopped.

  In the refrigeration apparatus according to the third aspect, since the transmission information can be displayed to the user when the external power supply to the refrigeration apparatus is stopped, a warning is given in advance that the power supply to the refrigeration apparatus must not be cut off. Not only can it be alerted even after the power supply is cut off.

  The refrigeration apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the refrigeration apparatus according to the third aspect, further comprising a built-in power supply in addition to the power supplied from the outside, and the display means supplies power from the outside using the built-in power supply. Is detected and the transmission information is displayed.

  In the refrigeration apparatus of the fourth aspect, since the display means uses the built-in power supply to detect that the power supply is stopped and displays the transmission information, the display means only displays the transmission information when the power supply is stopped. Therefore, the built-in power supply is also inexpensive, and an increase in the manufacturing cost of the refrigeration apparatus can be suppressed.

  The refrigeration apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the present invention is the refrigeration apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the display means is arranged in the vicinity of the breaker, in the vicinity of the outlet, and in at least one place in the apparatus. Including at least one of a display device and a print medium.

  In the refrigeration apparatus according to the fifth aspect, the display means includes at least one of the display apparatus and the print medium arranged in the vicinity of the breaker, in the vicinity of the outlet, and in the apparatus. Attention can be realized at low cost.

  In the refrigeration apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, the occurrence of a situation in which the supply of power to the refrigeration apparatus is interrupted and refrigerant leakage cannot be detected is reduced.

  In the refrigeration apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to improve the effect of reducing the occurrence of a situation in which the supply of power to the refrigeration apparatus is cut off and refrigerant leakage cannot be detected.

  In the refrigeration apparatus according to the third aspect of the present invention, the correction of the erroneous operation of restarting the power supply after the user accidentally cuts off the power supply to the refrigeration apparatus is prompted, the power supply to the refrigeration apparatus is cut off, and the refrigerant It is possible to improve the effect of reducing the occurrence of a situation in which leakage detection cannot be performed.

  In the refrigeration apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to improve the effect of reducing the occurrence of a situation where the supply of power to the refrigeration apparatus is interrupted and refrigerant leakage detection cannot be performed at low cost.

  In the refrigeration apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a refrigeration apparatus with reduced occurrence of a situation in which refrigerant leakage detection cannot be performed at low cost.

The refrigerant circuit figure which shows schematic structure of the air conditioner which concerns on embodiment. The conceptual diagram for demonstrating the relationship between arrangement | positioning of an indoor unit, and a power supply. The front view for demonstrating the breaker and paper medium in a breaker box. The front view of a wired remote controller. The block diagram for demonstrating the structure concept of the indoor side control apparatus and remote controller for displaying transmission information. The flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the remote controller which displays transmission information. The perspective view which shows the external appearance of the air conditioner which concerns on a modification. The perspective view which shows an example of the apparatus internal structure of an outdoor unit. The block diagram which shows the concept of a structure of the indoor side control apparatus for displaying transmission information, a remote controller, and a smart phone.

(1) Outline of Configuration of Air Conditioner Hereinafter, an air conditioner will be described as a refrigeration apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a refrigerant circuit diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram for explaining the relationship between the arrangement of the indoor units and the power source. The air conditioner 10 is an apparatus used for air conditioning in a room such as a building by performing a vapor compression refrigeration cycle operation. The air conditioner 10 described in the present embodiment includes an outdoor unit 20 as one heat source unit, and an indoor unit 40A as a plurality of (three in this embodiment) usage units connected to the outdoor unit 20. , 40B, 40C, and a liquid refrigerant communication pipe 71 and a gas refrigerant communication pipe 72 as refrigerant communication pipes connecting the outdoor unit 20 and the indoor units 40A, 40B, 40C. That is, in the vapor compression refrigerant circuit 11 of the air conditioner 10 of the present embodiment, the outdoor unit 20, the indoor units 40A, 40B, and 40C, the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 71, and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 72 are connected. Is made up of.

(1-1) Indoor units The indoor units 40A, 40B, and 40C are installed in a plurality of rooms such as a conference room by being embedded or suspended in a ceiling of a room 200 of a building 200 such as a building or hanging on a wall surface of a room. Yes. The indoor units 40A, 40B, and 40C are connected to the outdoor unit 20 via the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 71 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 72, and constitute a part of the refrigerant circuit 11.

  The indoor units 40A, 40B, and 40C have indoor refrigerant circuits 11a, 11b, and 11c that constitute a part of the refrigerant circuit 11, respectively. A flammable refrigerant circulates in the refrigerant circuits 11a, 11b, and 11c. The concept of flammability includes slight flammability. Examples of the flammable refrigerant include R32 refrigerant, HFO-1234yf refrigerant, and HFO-1234ze refrigerant. Each of the indoor refrigerant circuits 11a, 11b, and 11c has an indoor expansion valve 41 as an expansion mechanism and an indoor heat exchanger 42 as a use side heat exchanger. The indoor expansion valve 41 is an electric expansion valve connected to the liquid side of the indoor heat exchanger 42 in order to adjust the flow rate of the refrigerant flowing in the indoor refrigerant circuits 11a, 11b, and 11c. It is also possible to shut off. The indoor heat exchanger 42 is, for example, a cross fin type fin-and-tube heat exchanger composed of heat transfer tubes and a large number of fins, and functions as a refrigerant evaporator during cooling operation to cool indoor air. In the heating operation, the heat exchanger functions as a refrigerant condenser and heats indoor air. Each of the indoor units 40A, 40B, and 40C is a blower for supplying indoor air after heat exchange into the apparatus after sucking indoor air into the apparatus and exchanging heat with the refrigerant in the indoor heat exchanger 42. The indoor fan 43 is provided.

  The indoor units 40A, 40B, and 40C having such a configuration are provided with various sensors for controlling the refrigeration cycle. The indoor units 40A, 40B, and 40C include a refrigerant gas sensor 45. The refrigerant gas sensor 45 detects the gas refrigerant leaked when the refrigerant circulating in the refrigerant circuit 11 leaks into the atmosphere in each of the indoor units 40A, 40B, and 40C. The refrigerant gas sensor 45 is connected to the indoor side control device 47. In addition, description about other sensors, such as a temperature sensor and a pressure sensor, is abbreviate | omitted here.

  Moreover, indoor unit 40A, 40B, 40C has the indoor side control apparatus 47 which controls operation | movement of each part which comprises indoor unit 40A, 40B, 40C, respectively. The indoor control device 47 includes a microcomputer (not shown), a memory (not shown), and the like provided for controlling the indoor units 40A, 40B, and 40C. Control signals and the like may be exchanged with the remote controller 48 for individually operating 40B and 40C, and control signals and the like may be exchanged with the outdoor unit 20 via the transmission line 80. It can be done. The remote controller 48 is a wired remote controller connected to the indoor control device 47 with an electric wire. As shown in FIG. 2, the remote controller 48 is attached to a relatively easily visible place such as the walls of the rooms 210 and 220 of the building 200. The room 210 is an office room, for example, and the room 220 is an electric room, for example.

  In the indoor units 40A, 40B, and 40C, the refrigerant gas sensor 45 and the indoor side control device 47 constitute refrigerant leakage detection means for detecting refrigerant leakage from the indoor side refrigerant circuits 11a, 11b, and 11c of the refrigerant circuit 11. The indoor side control device 47 is connected to an external power supply 100 by a power supply wiring 101 and operates by receiving power supply from the outside of the air conditioner 10. Therefore, when the air conditioner 10 is connected to the power supply 100 via the breaker 150 shown in FIG. 1 or an outlet 350 described later, the air conditioner is turned off or the plug is removed. When the power supply to 10 is cut off, the refrigerant leak detection means including the refrigerant gas sensor 45 and the indoor side control device 47 stops the detection operation.

(1-2) Outdoor unit The outdoor unit 20 is installed outside the building 200 and is connected to the indoor units 40A, 40B, and 40C via the liquid refrigerant communication pipe 71 and the gas refrigerant communication pipe 72. The refrigerant circuit 11 is configured together with the machines 40A, 40B, and 40C. The outdoor unit 20 has an outdoor refrigerant circuit 11 d that constitutes a part of the refrigerant circuit 11. The outdoor refrigerant circuit 11d includes a compressor 21, a four-way switching valve 22, an outdoor heat exchanger 23 as a heat source side heat exchanger, an outdoor expansion valve 24 as an expansion mechanism, and an accumulator 25. ing.

  The compressor 21 is a compressor whose operating capacity can be varied, and is a positive displacement compressor driven by a motor whose rotation speed is controlled by an inverter. In addition, although the outdoor unit 20 shown here has one compressor 21, the number of compressors may be two or more when the number of indoor units connected is large. The compressor 21 is connected to an external power supply 100 by a power supply wiring 101. The compressor 21 is a driving means that circulates the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 11 in response to external power supply.

  The outdoor unit 20 having such a configuration is provided with various sensors for controlling the refrigeration cycle. The outdoor unit 20 includes a refrigerant gas sensor 31. The refrigerant gas sensor 31 detects the gas refrigerant leaked when the refrigerant circulating in the refrigerant circuit 11 leaks into the atmosphere in the outdoor unit 20. The refrigerant gas sensor 31 is connected to the outdoor side control device 37. In addition, description about other sensors, such as a temperature sensor and a pressure sensor, is abbreviate | omitted here.

  In addition, the outdoor unit 20 includes an outdoor control device 37 that controls the operation of each unit constituting the outdoor unit 20. The outdoor control device 37 is an inverter circuit that controls a microcomputer (not shown), a memory (not shown), a compressor 21 and a motor of the outdoor fan 28 provided to control the outdoor unit 20. The control signals and the like can be exchanged with the indoor side control devices 47 of the indoor units 40A, 40B, and 40C via the transmission line 80.

  In the outdoor unit 20, the refrigerant gas sensor 31 and the outdoor side control device 37 constitute refrigerant leakage detection means for detecting refrigerant leakage from the outdoor side refrigerant circuit 11 d of the refrigerant circuit 11. The outdoor side control device 37 is connected to an external power source 100 by a power supply wiring 101 and operates by receiving power supply from the outside of the air conditioner 10. Therefore, when the air conditioner 10 is connected to the power source 100 via the breaker 150 or the outlet 350, the power supply to the air conditioner 10 is interrupted by turning off the breaker 150 or disconnecting the outlet. Then, the refrigerant leak detection means including the refrigerant gas sensor 31 and the outdoor side control device 37 stops the detection operation.

(1-3) Breaker The breaker box 151 is arrange | positioned in the electrical room 230 of the building 200, for example. As shown in FIG. 3, the breaker 150 is accommodated in the breaker box 151. As shown in FIG. 1, the breaker 150 is wired so that power supply to the indoor units 40A, 40B, 40C and the outdoor unit 20 can be stopped simultaneously. Here, the electric power supply of the indoor units 40A, 40B, 40C and the outdoor unit 20 is wired so as to be cut by the single breaker 150, but to the indoor units 40A, 40B, 40C and the outdoor unit 20 by a plurality of breakers. The power supply may be wired so that it can be individually disconnected. The breaker 150 is, for example, an earth leakage breaker.

(2) Display means The display means includes a display device and / or a print medium provided in the vicinity of the breaker 150, the vicinity of the outlet 350 (see FIG. 7), and at least one place in the apparatus of the air conditioner 10. The display means includes a print medium that displays transmission information indicating that refrigerant leakage cannot be detected when power supply is stopped. The print medium includes, for example, a paper medium 152 on which the transmission information shown in FIG. 3 is displayed, a nameplate 360 (see FIG. 7), and a plastic member 390 (see FIG. 8) in the apparatus to which the transmission information is transferred. It is. Further, the display means includes a display device that displays transmission information indicating that refrigerant leakage cannot be detected when power supply is stopped. The display device is, for example, a display device such as a liquid crystal display device 48a (see FIG. 4) of a wired remote controller 48 or a liquid crystal display device 348a of a wireless remote controller 348 (see FIG. 7). It is placed either near the outlet or in the device. For example, “Turn on the power at all times. Cannot detect refrigerant leakage. Do not turn it off even if it is not used for a long time.” Or “Turn on the power. Cannot detect refrigerant leakage. "".

  When the breaker 150 is in a dim place, it is printed with, for example, a fluorescent paint in order to make the transmission information of a print medium such as the paper medium 152 visible. Note that the paper medium 152 is preferably bound by an elastic string 153 so that the paper medium 152 is easily shaken by an airflow generated when the door of the breaker box 151 is opened. If the breaker 150 is a dedicated breaker 150 for the air conditioner 10, the paper medium 152 may be attached to the lever 154.

(2-1) Display Method on Remote Controller The wired remote controller 48 shown in FIG. 4 has two display methods as methods for displaying the above transmission information. The first is a method for displaying transmission information before the power is turned off, and the second is a method for displaying transmission information after the power is turned off.

  The first display method is, for example, when the air conditioner 10 remains stopped for a long period of time, for example, one week continuously, the outdoor side control device 37 of the outdoor unit 20 instructs the indoor side control device 47. The transmission information is displayed on the liquid crystal display device 48a of the remote controller 48 for a certain period. Since the outdoor control device 37 stores the operation information of the air conditioner 10, the display method described above can be configured by measuring the operation information and a period during which the counter function is not continuously used. Can be implemented.

  A second display method will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a block diagram for explaining the concept of the configuration of the indoor side control device 47 and the remote controller 48 for displaying the transmission information. When the indoor unit 40 is supplied with power, a DC voltage is supplied from the power supply 47 a to the remote controller 48 from the indoor control device 47. The remote controller 48 includes a liquid crystal display device 48a, a control circuit 48b, a detector 48c, a switch 48d, a built-in power supply 48e, and a speaker 48f.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the detection unit 48c detects that the power supply 47a of the indoor control device 47 is turned off (step ST1). When the detection unit 48c detects that the supply from the power supply 47a of the indoor control device 47 has been stopped, the detection unit 48c notifies the control circuit 48b that the supply from the power supply 47a has been stopped, and switches the switch 48d (step ST2). ). The switch 48d connects the control circuit 48b and the liquid crystal display device 43a to the built-in power supply 48e. The control circuit 48b has, for example, a non-volatile memory, and retains information before switching of the power supply even after switching. In response to the supply stop from the power supply 47a of the indoor side control device 47, the control circuit 48b displays character information such as “Turn on the power supply. Cannot detect refrigerant leakage” on the liquid crystal display device 48a. (Step ST3). Then, the control circuit 48b instructs the speaker 48f to generate a warning sound. Note that when the detection unit 48c detects that the power supply 47a is turned on, the power supply from the built-in power supply 48e may be stopped by turning off the switch 48d. Alternatively, the detection unit 48c may be configured to turn off the switch 48d by measuring the elapse of a predetermined time from the start of power supply from the built-in power supply 48e with a timer built in the detection unit 48c. For example, backflow prevention means (in order to prevent the current from flowing back to the power supply 47a before the connection point where the switch 48d (built-in power supply 48e), the power supply 47a and the liquid crystal display device 48a are connected, and to prevent the current from flowing back to the built-in power supply 48e) For example, a diode) may be provided.

  Transmission information that warns that the power has been turned off accidentally is displayed on the liquid crystal display device 48a, and a warning sound is generated from the remote controller 48. Therefore, the liquid crystal display device 48a is seen or a warning sound is heard. The user can perform an operation of turning on the power again after knowing that the power has been turned off by mistake.

  The built-in power supply 48e may be one that generates power itself, such as a battery, or may be one that temporarily stores electric power supplied from the outside, such as a capacitor.

(3) Modification (3-1) Modification 1A
In the above embodiment, the case where the power source of the air conditioner 10 is turned on and off using the breaker 150 in the electric chamber 230 has been described. However, the air conditioner 310 is inserted into the outlet 350 as in the air conditioner 310 shown in FIG. The power supply of the air conditioner 10 may be turned on and off using the plug 351 to be used.

  The air conditioner 310 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 includes a refrigerant circuit, and the vapor compression refrigeration cycle is performed by circulating the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit 11 in the above embodiment. This is the same as the air conditioner 10. While the air conditioner 10 has a configuration in which a plurality of indoor units 40 are connected to one outdoor unit 20, the air conditioner 310 communicates with one outdoor unit 320 to one indoor unit 340. They are connected by a pipe 312. The indoor unit 340 is connected to a power source through a plug 351 inserted into the outlet 350. The power obtained from the outlet 350 is also supplied to the outdoor unit 320 from the indoor unit 340 through the connection pipe 312.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of the internal structure of the outdoor unit 320. As with the outdoor unit 20, the outdoor unit 320 includes a compressor 321, a four-way switching valve (not shown), an outdoor heat exchanger 323, an accumulator 3254, an outdoor fan 328, an electric valve (not shown), and an outdoor control. A device 337 is provided. The air conditioner 310 includes a wireless remote controller 348 for controlling the indoor unit 340.

  The air conditioner 310 includes a plastic seal 380 attached to the outlet 350 and the plug 351 as display means. The plastic seal 380 is a printing medium on which transmission information is printed. Since the user has to peel off the plastic seal 380 when removing the plug 351, the user always sees the transmitted information. As a result, it is possible to prevent the user from accidentally leaving the plug 351 unplugged. In addition, the air conditioner 310 includes a name plate 360 as a display unit on the side where the outlet 350 into which the plug 351 is inserted is present. Further, the air conditioner 310 includes a plastic member 390 in the apparatus to which the transmission information is transferred as a printing medium. The print medium disposed in the apparatus may be an accessory housed in the apparatus in addition to the equipment in the apparatus. The accessory is, for example, an instruction stored in the apparatus.

  The remote controller 348 described in FIG. 7 and FIG. 9 is a wireless remote controller. Like the wired remote controller 48 described above, a method for displaying transmission information before the power supply 100 is turned off. The above-mentioned transmission information can be displayed in two ways: displaying the transmission information after the power is turned off.

  FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the concept of the configuration of the indoor side control device 347 and the remote controller 348 for displaying the transmission information. For example, when the air conditioner 310 has been stopped for a long period of time, for example, one week continuously, the indoor side control device 347 of the indoor unit 340 issues a command to the remote controller 48 and the liquid crystal display of the remote controller 48 is displayed. In this method, the transmission information is displayed on the device 48a for a certain period. Since the operation information of the air conditioner 310 is stored in the indoor side control device 347 of the indoor unit 340, the above-described operation information and the counter function can be used to measure a period that is not continuously used. Can be displayed.

  When the indoor unit 340 is supplied with power, a DC voltage is supplied from the indoor unit 340 to the indoor control device 347. The indoor unit 340 includes a built-in power supply 344, and the indoor control device 347 is configured to operate with the built-in power supply 344 when the power supply to the indoor unit 340 is stopped. Such a configuration can be configured by adding, for example, the same configuration as that of the detection unit 48c and the switch 48d of the remote controller 48, and therefore, description and description thereof are omitted here. The indoor unit 340 includes a power information transmission unit 346, and the power information transmission unit 346 is configured to operate with the built-in power source 344 when power supply to the indoor unit 340 is stopped. Then, when the power supply to the indoor unit 340 is stopped, a command for transmitting a signal for displaying the transmission information on the remote controller 348 is output from the indoor control device 347 to the power supply information transmission unit 346. In response to this command, the power information transmission unit 346 transmits a signal indicating that the transmission information is displayed on the remote controller 348. Signal transmission is performed using, for example, electromagnetic waves or infrared rays.

  The remote controller 348 includes a liquid crystal display device 348a, a control circuit 348b, a power information receiving unit 348c, a built-in power source 348e, and a speaker 348f. The power information receiving unit 348c receives an instruction from the power information transmitting unit 346 and notifies the control circuit 348b that power supply to the indoor unit 340 has been stopped. The control circuit 348b and the liquid crystal display device 348a are supplied with power from the built-in power supply 348e, and the control circuit 348b receives, for example, the power supply to the indoor unit 340 being stopped. Is displayed on the liquid crystal display device 348a. Then, the control circuit 348b instructs the speaker 348f to generate a warning sound.

  Transmission information that warns that the power has been turned off accidentally is displayed on the liquid crystal display device 348a, and a warning sound is generated from the remote controller 348, so that the liquid crystal display device 348a is seen or heard. The user can perform an operation of turning on the power again after knowing that the power has been turned off by mistake.

(3-2) Modification 1B
In the above embodiment, the case where the display device is the liquid crystal display device 48a of the remote controller 48 or the liquid crystal display device 348a of the remote controller 348 has been described as an example, but the display device is not limited to the display device of the remote controller. Alternatively, it may be a display device of another device, for example, a display screen of a smartphone.

  As shown in FIG. 9, a signal is transmitted to the smartphone 448 via a public line 402 such as the Internet. The smartphone 448 includes a liquid crystal display device 448a corresponding to each component of the remote controller 348, a control circuit 448b, a power information receiving unit 448c, a built-in power source 448e, and a speaker 448f. Regarding the operations of the liquid crystal display device 448a, the control circuit 448b, the power supply information receiving unit 448c, the built-in power supply 448e, and the speaker 448f of each component of the smartphone 448, the liquid crystal display device 348a and the control circuit 348b described in Modification 1A, respectively. Since the power supply information receiving unit 348c, the built-in power supply 348e, and the speaker 348f are the same, the description thereof is omitted. Then, transmission of a signal from the indoor unit 340 to the power information receiving unit 448c will be briefly described.

  An adapter 401 for establishing communication with the public line is connected to the indoor unit 340. When the power supply to the indoor unit 340 is stopped, a command for transmitting a signal for displaying the transmission information on the smartphone 448 is output from the indoor control device 347 to the adapter 401. In response to this command, the adapter 401 transmits a signal for displaying the transmission information on the smartphone 448. The adapter 401 has a built-in battery, for example, and is configured to receive power from a separate system from the indoor unit 340. Even if power supply to the indoor unit 340 is stopped, power to the adapter 401 is not supplied. Supply is maintained. An application that enables communication between the smartphone 448 and the air conditioner 310 so that the air conditioner 310 and the remote controller 348 communicate with each other is stored in the smartphone 448. In this case, the air conditioner 310, the adapter 401, and the smartphone 448 constitute a refrigeration apparatus.

(4) Features (4-1)
As described above, the liquid crystal display devices 48a and 348a of the remote controllers 48 and 348 that are display means, the paper medium 152, the nameplate 360, the display information that the refrigerant leakage cannot be detected when the power supply is stopped is visible. It is displayed on at least one of the plastic seal 380, the plastic member 390, and the liquid crystal display device 448a of the smartphone 448. The paper medium 152, the nameplate 360, the plastic seal 380, and the plastic member 390 are examples of print media disposed in the vicinity of the breaker, the vicinity of the outlet, and at least one place in the apparatus. Instead of the paper medium 152, the nameplate 360, the plastic seal 380, and the plastic member 390, a display device such as a liquid crystal display device may be disposed.

  Through these display means, transmission information that the refrigerant leakage cannot be detected when the power supply is stopped is transmitted to the user, and the user accidentally cuts off the power supply to the air conditioners 10 and 310 (example of the refrigeration apparatus). Incorrect operation can be suppressed. As a result, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of a situation in which the supply of power to the air conditioners 10 and 310 is cut off and the refrigerant leakage cannot be detected. In the embodiment and the modification example 1A, the driving means are the compressors 21 and 321.

(4-2)
In the above embodiment and modification 1A, since the transmission information is displayed by the liquid crystal display devices 48a and 348a of the remote controllers 48 and 348, the user can visually recognize the transmission information with the remote controllers 48 and 348 at hand. However, it is possible to improve the effect of preventing the power supply to the air conditioners 10 and 310 from being cut off by mistake. In the above-described embodiment and Modification 1A, the liquid crystal display devices 48a and 348a are shown as examples of the display unit. However, the display unit may be other types, for example, an electroluminescence display device.

(4-3)
The liquid crystal display devices 48a and 348a of the remote controllers 48 and 348 and the liquid crystal display device 448a of the smartphone 448, which are the display means in the above-described embodiment and modifications 1A and 1B, respectively, include the refrigerant gas sensors 31 and 45, the outdoor control device 37, and the indoor side. The transmission information is displayed when power supply to the control device 47 is stopped. As the refrigerant leakage detection means, the refrigerant gas sensor 31 and the outdoor side control device 37, and the refrigerant gas sensor 45 and the indoor side control device 47 are illustrated, but the refrigerant leakage detection means may be other than these, What is necessary is just to detect the refrigerant leakage from the refrigerant circuit in response to the power supply from the refrigerant circuit. When the power supply from the outside to the air conditioners 10 and 310 is stopped, the transmission information can be displayed to the user so that the power supply to the air conditioners 10 and 310 should not be cut off. Not only can you warn after the power supply is cut off. As a result, correction of an erroneous operation of restarting the power supply after the user accidentally cuts off the power supply to the air conditioners 10 and 310 is prompted, and the power supply to the air conditioners 10 and 310 is cut off and the refrigerant leaks. It is possible to improve the effect of reducing the occurrence of a situation where detection cannot be performed.

(4-4)
In the above-described embodiment and modifications 1A and 1B, the remote controllers 48 and 348 and the smartphone 448 detect that the power supply has been stopped using the built-in power supplies 48e and 344, and display the transmission information. Since the liquid crystal display devices 48a and 348a and the liquid crystal display device 448a only display the transmission information when the supply is stopped, the built-in power supplies 48e and 344 are also inexpensive, and an increase in the manufacturing cost of the air conditioners 10 and 310 is suppressed. Can do. As a result, it is possible to improve the effect of reducing the occurrence of a situation where the power supply to the air conditioners 10 and 310 is cut off and the refrigerant leakage detection cannot be performed at low cost.

(4-5)
The display means includes a display device disposed in the vicinity of the breaker 150 illustrated in FIG. 3, the vicinity of the outlet 350 illustrated in FIG. 7, and at least one place in the air conditioners 10 and 310. Includes at least one of print media and nameplate. The print medium is, for example, a paper medium 152 on which the transmission information shown in FIG. 3 is displayed, a nameplate 360 (see FIG. 7), a plastic seal 380, or a plastic member 390 in the apparatus to which the transmission information is transferred (see FIG. Therefore, it is possible to provide the air conditioners 10 and 310 at a low cost in which the alerting by the display means can be realized at a low cost and the occurrence of the situation where the refrigerant leakage cannot be detected is reduced.

10,310 Air conditioner 11 Refrigerant circuit 21,321 Compressor (example of drive means)
31, 45 Refrigerant gas sensor (example of refrigerant leakage detection means)
37 Outdoor control device (example of refrigerant leakage detection means)
47 Indoor control device (example of refrigerant leakage detection means)
48, 348 Remote controller 48a, 348a Liquid crystal display device 48e, 344, 348e, 448e Built-in power supply 152 Paper medium 360 Name plate 380 Plastic seal 390 Plastic member

Japanese Patent No. 3744330

Claims (5)

A refrigerant circuit (11) through which a flammable refrigerant circulates;
Drive means (21, 321) for receiving a power supply from the outside and circulating the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit;
Refrigerant leakage detection means (31, 37, 45, 47) for detecting refrigerant leakage from the refrigerant circuit in response to external power supply;
Display means (48a, 152, 348a, 360, 380, 390) for visibly displaying transmission information indicating that refrigerant leakage cannot be detected when power supply is stopped;
A refrigeration apparatus comprising: A remote controller (48, 348) for instructing the operation of the drive means;
The display means is a display unit (48a, 348a) of the remote controller.
The refrigeration apparatus according to claim 1. The display means displays the transmission information when power supply to the refrigerant leakage detection means is stopped.
The refrigeration apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. In addition to the power supplied from the outside, a built-in power supply (48e, 344, 348e, 448e) is further provided,
The display means uses the built-in power supply to detect that the external power supply has been stopped and displays the transmission information.
The refrigeration apparatus according to claim 3. The display means includes at least one of a display device and a print medium (152, 360, 380, 390) disposed in the vicinity of the breaker, the vicinity of the outlet, and at least one place in the device.
The refrigeration apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

Images