JP2021081139A - Air conditioning system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a circulator that can restrain accumulation of a leaked refrigerant in a room.SOLUTION: An air conditioning system comprises an air conditioner 1 for performing air conditioning of an indoor space A, and a circulator 12 for forcibly circulating air in the indoor space A. An indoor unit 2 is provided with a first refrigerant leakage detection sensor 11 for detecting refrigerant leakage. The indoor unit 2 and the circulator 12 are provided with first and second radio communication units 10a and 10b for communicating information of an operation state to each other. When the first refrigerant leakage detection sensor 11 detects an abnormality, the circulator 12 can be operated by the first and second radio communication units 10a and 10b.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to an indoor air conditioning system.

Conventionally, in order to improve the air conditioning environment in a room, the air conditioner is provided with an air conditioner, an air conditioner, and a communication means for communicating with each other in the room, and the interaction between the air conditioner and the air conditioner is used. The direction and strength of the airflow are controlled in detail by subdividing the presence and position of people with multiple human body detection sensors mounted on the air conditioner for the circulating airflow generated in the living room. ..

In addition, negative ions are placed at the outlet of the airflow control device, and an electrostatic atomizer is placed inside to circulate the sterilized airflow in the room to improve the feeling of airflow in the room and the improvement of air quality. A technique for an air conditioner is disclosed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2005-121316

However, in recent years, from the viewpoint of preventing global warming, the refrigerant used in the air conditioner is shifting to a refrigerant having a small global warming potential (for example, R32), and conversion to a chlorofluorocarbon-based refrigerant is required. ing. In addition, such a refrigerant tends to be flammable, and it is necessary to consider safety especially when a large amount of refrigerant is sealed as in an air conditioner.

In the case of Patent Document 1, when the flammable refrigerant sealed in the air conditioner leaks from the indoor unit (for example, a heat exchanger), the indoor unit generally leaks the refrigerant by the refrigerant leakage sensor mounted inside. However, if the leakage of all the refrigerant cannot be detected, the refrigerant accumulates in the indoor unit, and in particular, in the case of R32, since it is heavier than the air, it may further accumulate on the floor surface below the indoor unit.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to efficiently prevent the leaked refrigerant from staying in the lower part of the room when the refrigerant leaks from the indoor unit.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention includes an indoor unit that air-conditions the room and a circulator that agitates the air in the room. The indoor unit has a first blower fan and a first blower fan and a refrigerant leak detection unit. 1 It has a refrigerant leakage detecting means and a first wireless communication unit that communicates with the circulator, and the circulator has a second blower fan and a second wireless communication unit that communicates with the first wireless communication unit. In the air conditioning system, when the first refrigerant leakage detecting means detects a refrigerant leakage, the indoor unit operates the first blower fan in the first refrigerant leakage mode, and the circulator operates the second wireless communication. The unit operates the second blower fan in the second refrigerant leakage mode based on the information regarding the refrigerant leakage received from the first wireless communication unit.

Further, when the first refrigerant leakage detecting means detects a refrigerant leakage, the first blower fan and the second blower fan are operated in a low rotation mode.

Further, after a lapse of a predetermined time, the second blower fan is operated in a high rotation mode.

Further, based on the information regarding the refrigerant leakage received by the second wireless communication unit from the first wireless communication unit, the circulator invalidates the operation stop operation for stopping the operation of the second blower fan. It is a feature.

Further, the circulator further includes a display unit, and the display unit lights up or blinks based on the information regarding the refrigerant leakage received from the first wireless communication unit by the second wireless communication unit.

According to the present invention, when the refrigerant leakage detecting means of the indoor unit detects the refrigerant leakage, the circulator is interlocked by the communication means to efficiently agitate the leaked refrigerant in the room and suppress the retention. Can be done.

It is a schematic diagram which installed the air conditioner and a circulator of this invention. It is the schematic of the indoor unit and a circulator of this invention. It is the schematic when the circulator of this invention is placed vertically. It is a figure which showed the flowchart at the time of the refrigerant leakage of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the air conditioning system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, the air conditioning system is composed of at least the indoor unit 2 of the air conditioner 1 provided in the indoor space A and the circulator 12, and the circulator 12 assists the airflow discharged from the indoor unit 2 to assist the indoor space A. It is an air conditioning system that makes the inside comfortable.

(Composition of air conditioner)
In FIG. 1, the air conditioner 1 is composed of an indoor unit 2, an outdoor unit 3, and a pipe 4 connecting the indoor unit 2 and the outdoor unit 3. The indoor unit 2 provided on the side wall of the indoor space A includes an outlet 5 for blowing air forward from a blower circuit on the indoor side and a suction port 6 for sucking air circulating in the room.

The air conditioner 1 is controlled according to the operation mode (cooling, heating, etc.) of the indoor unit 2 or the air flow control state (for example, the air volume is set to strong, medium, or weak), and the refrigerant flow path of the refrigeration cycle is controlled. It is switched by a four-way valve (not shown), and during cooling, the indoor heat exchanger 7 acts as an evaporator to enter the cooling operation mode, and during heating, the indoor heat exchanger 7 acts as a condenser to enter the heating operation mode.

A combustible refrigerant such as R32 is sealed in a compressor (not shown) arranged inside the outdoor unit 3, and a four-way valve, an outdoor heat exchanger, an expansion valve (not shown), and an indoor heat exchanger 7 are piped. It is connected by 4 to form a refrigeration cycle.

Further, inside the indoor unit 2, an indoor heat exchanger 7 and a cross flow fan, which is a first blower fan 8 for forcibly ventilating the air exchanged by the indoor heat exchanger 7, are provided. A fan motor 8a for rotating and driving the fan motor 8a is connected.

The first blower fan 8 controls the rotation speed of the fan motor 8a so that the air volume is set to high (maximum air volume), medium rotation, or low rotation (minimum air volume) according to the setting of strong, medium, or weak air volume. The air volume can be changed. Although the case where the air volume setting is three is shown here, it may be four or more. That is, the largest setting means the maximum air volume, and the smallest setting means the minimum air volume. When the air volume setting changes continuously, the range above the largest setting may be the maximum air volume, and the range above the smallest setting may be the minimum air volume.

Further, the indoor unit 2 is controlled by connecting the control device 9 to the fan motor 8a and the first refrigerant leakage detection sensor 11, and is wirelessly connected to the second wireless communication unit 10b of the circulator 12. It is provided with a wireless communication unit 10a. The control device 9 is composed of a CPU and a memory, and unless otherwise specified, each configuration of the indoor unit 2 is controlled by a command of the control device 9.

Further, the first refrigerant leakage detection sensor 11 is installed in the indoor unit 2, detects that the refrigerant has leaked from the indoor heat exchanger 7, and specifically, welds the pipes constituting the indoor heat exchanger 7. The first refrigerant leakage detection sensor 11 is arranged near the connection portion.

(Circulator configuration)
Next, the configuration of the circulator 12 will be described.
The circulator 12 includes a circulator outer portion 12a made of resin and formed in a substantially square columnar shape, a second blower fan 12b, a fan motor 12c for driving the second fan 12b, and a display unit 12d that displays when a refrigerant leak is detected. And a control device 12e that controls these. The control device 12e is composed of a CPU and a memory, and unless otherwise specified, each configuration of the circulator 12 is controlled by an instruction of the control device 12e.

Like the indoor unit 2, the circulator 12 is also controlled according to the setting of the airflow control state (for example, the air volume is set to strong, medium, weak, etc.). The second blower fan 12b controls the rotation speed of the fan motor 12c so that the air volume is set to high (maximum air volume), medium rotation, or low rotation (minimum air volume) according to the setting of strong, medium, or weak air volume. The air volume can be changed. Although the case where the air volume setting is three is shown here, it may be four or more. That is, the largest setting means the maximum air volume, and the smallest setting means the minimum air volume. When the air volume setting changes continuously, the range above the largest setting may be the maximum air volume, and the range above the smallest setting may be the minimum air volume. The second blower fan 12b is a cross-flow fan similar to the first blower fan 8 mounted on the indoor unit 2, and the fan motor 12c is arranged at one end of the second blower fan 12b in the rotation axis direction. The circulator outer shell portion 12a is formed with opening holes for an air suction port 12f and a discharge port 12g at predetermined positions.

Further, the circulator outer shell portion 12a is provided with a display unit 12d, and an LED substrate (not shown) is mounted inside the display unit 12d, has a plurality of LEDs, and is lit or blinked to cover the air in the indoor space A. Notify the status.

Further, the circulator 12 has a second wireless communication unit 10b capable of communicating with an external terminal, and the second wireless communication unit 10b is a fan motor 12c with respect to the second blower fan 12b in the circulator outer portion 12a. It is installed on the other side.

Further, a second refrigerant leakage detection sensor 14 is provided in the vicinity of the suction port 12f of the circulator outer shell portion 12a.

Further, the fan motor 12c, the display unit 12d, and the second refrigerant leakage detection sensor 14 are connected to and controlled by the control device 12e.

When the circulator 12 is installed on the side wall A1 of the indoor space A, the surface of the circulator outer portion 12a facing the discharge port 12g is fixed to the side wall A1, and the suction port 12f is formed on the bottom surface of the circulator outer portion 12a.

Therefore, the second refrigerant leakage detection sensor 14 is arranged above the circulator outer shell portion 12a.

The air blown from the indoor unit 2 installed on the opposite surface of the side wall A1 is driven by the fan motor 12c of the circulator 12 to rotate the second blower fan 12b, which promotes convection in the indoor space and improves the temperature distribution. Can be planned.

Further, when the circulator 12 is installed upright on the floor surface A2 of the indoor space A so that the longitudinal direction of the circulator 12 is the vertical direction, the installation base 13 is detachably configured at one end of the circulator outer shell portion 12a in the longitudinal direction. The second blower fan 12b is installed so that the direction of rotation axis is perpendicular to the floor surface A2.

As shown in FIG. 3, one end side of the circulator outer shell portion 12a in the lateral direction is fixed to the installation base 13, and the other end side in the lateral direction becomes a free end and extends in the vertical direction. The display unit 12d is formed so as to be arranged on the other end side.
Further, the installation table 13 is fixed to the circulator outer shell portion 12a so that the fan motor 12c of the second blower fan 12b is on the installation table 13 side.

The second refrigerant leakage detection sensor 14 of the circulator 12 is arranged in the projection plane of the cross flow fan of the second blower fan 8 on the control device 12e side from the center of the cross flow fan of the second blower fan 8 in the longitudinal direction.

Further, when the circulator 12 is installed on the ceiling surface A3 of the indoor space A, neither the discharge port nor the suction port is formed on the top surface portion of the circulator outer shell portion 12a, so that the top surface portion may be installed in contact with the ceiling surface A3. it can.

The operation and operation of the air conditioning system configured as described above will be described below.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the blower fan 8 of the indoor unit 2 and the second blower fan 12b of the circulator 12 when the refrigerant leaks from the indoor unit 2 of the air conditioner 1.

While the air conditioner 1 is in the cooling operation (step ST1), the first refrigerant leakage detection sensor 11 arranged in the indoor unit 2 detects the refrigerant leakage from the indoor heat exchanger 7 (step ST2), and the electric expansion valve (step ST2) A so-called pump-down operation is performed in which the compressor (not shown) is closed and the compressor (not shown) is operated. Then, the first blower fan 8 of the indoor unit 2 enters the refrigerant leakage mode, and the following steps are performed. First, the fan motor 8a is operated at a low speed so that the first blower fan 8 of the indoor unit 2 has the minimum air volume (step ST3). As a result, it is possible to both prevent the leaking refrigerant from suddenly heading into the indoor space A and suppress the refrigerant from accumulating in the indoor unit 2. After continuing the pump down operation for a predetermined time, the compressor is stopped, but the first blower fan 8 continues the operation while maintaining the minimum air volume.

Based on the refrigerant leakage detection information by the first refrigerant leakage detection sensor 11, the control device 9 transmits the refrigerant leakage information (for example, a detection signal indicating that the refrigerant has leaked) via the first wireless communication unit 10a. Send to unit 10b (step ST4).

Refrigerant leakage information is input to the control device 12e of the circulator 12 via the second wireless communication unit 10b, and the circulator 12 enters the refrigerant leakage mode to control the fan motor 12c and start the operation of the second blower fan 12b ( Step ST5). The second blower fan 12b of the circulator 12 enters the refrigerant leakage mode, and the following steps are performed.

The circulator 12 controls the fan motor 12c to operate the second blower fan 12b with the minimum air volume (step ST6). Immediately after the refrigerant leaks, the amount of refrigerant leaking into the indoor space A is small, so even if the second blower fan 12b is operated with the minimum air volume, the possibility of reaching the combustion limit (LFL) is low. On the other hand, if the air volume of the second blower fan 12b is rapidly increased, there is a risk that noise and temperature decrease may cause discomfort to surrounding people. Therefore, by operating the second blower fan 12b with the minimum air volume, it is possible to suppress the arrival of the combustion limit (LFL) by stirring the refrigerant leaked into the indoor space A and to suppress the discomfort to the surrounding people. can do.

When a predetermined time elapses after starting the operation with the minimum air volume (step ST7), the second blower fan 12b operates in the high rotation mode. In the high rotation mode, the fan motor 12c of the circulator 12 is controlled to increase the air volume of the second blower fan 12b and operate at the maximum air volume. Further, the blower fan 8 of the indoor unit 2 continues to operate at the minimum air volume (step ST8). As a result, it is possible to suppress the accumulation of the refrigerant in the indoor unit 2 and to suppress the arrival of the combustion limit (LFL) by stirring the refrigerant leaking into the indoor space A at the same time.

After a further predetermined time elapses (step ST9), the first blower fan 8 of the indoor unit 2 is stopped, and the circulator 12 controls the fan motor 12c to operate the second blower fan 12b at the maximum air volume (step ST10). If the amount of refrigerant leaked into the indoor space A increases, the combustion limit (LFL) is likely to be reached even if the second blower fan 12b is operated at the maximum air volume, and the risk of ignition increases. Therefore, when the predetermined time elapses, the first blower fan 8 is stopped to prevent the leaking refrigerant from heading to the indoor space A, and the second blower fan 12b is operated at the maximum air volume to reach the combustion limit in the indoor space A. It is possible to prevent the arrival at (LFL). At this time, control may be performed to close the flaps and the like (not shown) of the outlet 5 and the suction port 6 so that the leaking refrigerant does not flow from the indoor unit 2 toward the indoor space A.

In the refrigerant leakage mode, the circulator 12 remains operating at the maximum air volume, the operation of stopping the operation of the second blower fan 12b is invalidated, and the second blower fan 12b of the circulator 12 does not operate unless the power is removed from the outlet. It is controlled not to stop.

Therefore, by forcibly operating the circulator 12 and controlling it so that it does not stop easily, it is possible to prevent the refrigerant leaking into the room from staying and suppress ignition.

The installation position of the circulator 12 will be described.

When the circulator 12 is installed on the side wall A1 facing the indoor unit 2, the operation of the cross-flow fan of the first blower fan 8 of the indoor unit 2 causes a flammable refrigerant having a specific gravity larger than that of air to be generated in the indoor space A. The refrigerant accumulated near the floor surface from the suction port formed on the lower surface of the circulator outer shell portion 12a by operating the second blower fan 12b of the circulator 12 in conjunction with the floor surface. The air containing the above can be sucked in and discharged from the discharge port formed on the front surface or the upper surface of the circulator outer shell portion 12a to be agitated in the room, and the refrigerant concentration can be reduced.

Further, when the circulator 12 is interlocked by the refrigerant leakage detection, the second blower fan 12b of the circulator 12 is operated in the stop prohibition mode, so that even if the user presses a switch (not shown) to turn it off. Since the operation is forcibly continued unless the power supply of the circulator 12 is unplugged from the outlet, the decrease in the refrigerant concentration in the room can be maintained.

At the time of refrigerant leakage, the operation control of the circulator 12 was performed only by communication between the first wireless communication unit 10a and the second wireless communication unit 10b, but the circulator 12 may be further provided with the second refrigerant leakage detection sensor 14, as described above. The second wireless communication unit 10b receives the refrigerant leakage information from the first wireless communication unit 10a from the first refrigerant leakage detection sensor 11, and after the second refrigerant leakage detection sensor 14 detects that the refrigerant is leaking, the circulator Twelve operations may be started. As a result, it is possible to prevent the circulator 12 from malfunctioning due to erroneous detection, and it is possible to perform the stop prohibition operation of the circulator 12 only when the refrigerant leaks.

Further, when the second blower fan 12b of the circulator 12 was forcibly operated due to the refrigerant leakage, the LED of the display unit 12d was blinked, or the LED of a color different from that during the normal operation was turned on or blinked, and an abnormality was detected. Notify that.

If the circulator 12 is operating before the first refrigerant leakage detection sensor 11 detects the refrigerant leakage, after detecting the refrigerant leakage, the operation is continued in the refrigerant leakage mode, and the LED of the display unit 12d is set to the normal state. Lights or blinks in a different color to notify the user that an abnormality has been detected.

In addition, the first wireless communication unit 10a or the second wireless communication unit 10b can communicate with the user's mobile terminal and notify that the refrigerant is leaking from the indoor unit 2.

Next, when the circulator 12 is installed on the floor surface A2, when the refrigerant leaks from the indoor unit 2, the first blower fan 8 and the circulator of the indoor unit 2 are installed in the same manner as when the circulator 12 is installed on the side wall A1. The second blower fan 12b of 12 operates.

The second blower fan 12b is a cross-flow fan, and one end of the circulator outer shell portion 12a covering the second blower fan 12b in the longitudinal direction is supported by the installation base 13 so that the axial direction of the fan 12b is in the vertical direction. It is installed on the floor A2.

The fan motor 12c is located on one end side of the fan 12b in the axial direction between the fan 12b and the installation base 13. Since the fan motor 12c is located on the installation table 13 side, the center of gravity of the circulator 12 can be set to a lower position on the installation table 13 side in the height direction, and even if the fan 12b is rotated by operation, it operates stably. This can prevent the circulator 12 from tipping over.

Further, the second wireless communication unit 10b is arranged on the side opposite to the fan motor 12c with respect to the fan 12b, and is located at a free end on the non-support side of the circulator outer portion 12a supported by the installation base 13. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the communication failure with the first wireless communication unit 10a and the external terminal, and when the refrigerant of the indoor unit 2 leaks, wireless communication is performed with the first wireless communication unit 10a and the refrigerant is in the indoor space A. It is possible to prevent the accumulation near the floor surface.

Further, when the refrigerant leaked, the operation control of the circulator 12 was performed only by the communication between the first wireless communication unit 10a and the second wireless communication unit 10b, but the communication between the communication units was performed, and the circulator 12 was provided. 2. After the refrigerant leakage detection sensor 14 detects that the refrigerant is leaking, the display unit 12d may be turned on or blinked to start the operation of the circulator 12.

This makes it possible to prevent erroneous determination of refrigerant leakage due to erroneous detection or erroneous communication.

When the circulator 12 is installed on the ceiling surface A3, the circulator outer portion 12a is fixed to the ceiling surface A3 via a mounting member (not shown), and air is sucked from the suction port 12f provided on the bottom surface of the circulator outer portion 12a. It sucks in and discharges air from a discharge port 12g provided on the front surface of the circulator 12.

The operations of the circulator 12 and the indoor unit 2 are the same as described above.

As described above, the circulator 12 can be installed on the side wall, ceiling, and floor of the room according to the preference of the user, and in the unlikely event that the refrigerant leaks from the indoor unit 2, the circulator 12 can be installed in the indoor space A. It can be prevented from staying and diffused.

When the circulator 12 is installed on the ceiling surface A3, the operation of the circulator 12 is controlled only by the communication between the first wireless communication unit 10a and the second wireless communication unit 10b, but the communication between the wireless communication units is performed. Further, after the second refrigerant leakage detection sensor 14 provided in the circulator 12 detects that the refrigerant is leaking, the display unit 12d may be turned on or blinked to start the operation of the circulator 12.

This makes it possible to prevent erroneous determination of refrigerant leakage due to erroneous detection or erroneous communication.

Further, although the indoor unit 2 is a wall-mounted indoor unit, it may be a ceiling-embedded indoor unit.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be modified without departing from the gist of the invention.

The air conditioning system of the present invention is useful when a flammable refrigerant such as R32 is used in a commercial air conditioner having a particularly large amount of refrigerant.

1 Air conditioner 2 Indoor unit 11 1st refrigerant leakage detection sensor 12 Circulator 10a 1st wireless communication unit 10b 2nd wireless communication unit

Claims (5)

An indoor unit that air-conditions the room and a circulator that agitates the air in the room are provided, and the indoor unit communicates with the first blower fan, the first refrigerant leakage detecting means for detecting the refrigerant leakage, and the circulator. The circulator is an air conditioning system having a second blower fan and a second wireless communication unit that communicates with the first wireless communication unit. When the indoor unit detects the refrigerant leakage, the indoor unit operates the first blower fan in the first refrigerant leakage mode, and the circulator receives the circulator from the first wireless communication unit by the second wireless communication unit. An air conditioning system characterized in that the second blower fan is operated in a second refrigerant leakage mode based on information on refrigerant leakage. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein when the first refrigerant leakage detecting means detects a refrigerant leakage, the first blower fan and the second blower fan operate in a low rotation mode. The air conditioning system according to claim 2, wherein the second blower fan operates in a high rotation mode after a lapse of a predetermined time. Based on the information regarding the refrigerant leakage received by the second wireless communication unit from the first wireless communication unit, the circulator is characterized in that the operation stop operation for stopping the operation of the second blower fan is invalidated. The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The circulator further includes a display unit, and the display unit lights up or blinks based on information regarding refrigerant leakage received from the first wireless communication unit by the second wireless communication unit. The air conditioning system according to any one of 4.

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