JP2023060225A - air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve safety of an air conditioner.

SOLUTION: A compressor 3 stores refrigerator oil, and discharges the refrigerator oil together with a refrigerant. The refrigerator oil circulates together with the refrigerant through the compressor 3, a first heat exchanger 1, an expansion valve 5, and a second heat exchanger 6 in this order. An air conditioner 100 comprises a first sensor s1, a second sensor s2, and a control device 8. The first sensor s1 detects the refrigerant in a first space. The second sensor s2 detects the odor of the refrigerator oil in the first space. The control device 8 detects leakage of the refrigerant by using a first detection signal from the first sensor s1 and a second detection signal from the second sensor s2.

SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

COPYRIGHT: (C)2023,JPO&INPIT

Description

The present invention relates to an air conditioner having a leak detection function for combustible refrigerant.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an air conditioner having a leak detection function for combustible refrigerant is known. For example, International Publication No. 2017/187618 pamphlet (Patent Document 1) discloses an air conditioner provided with refrigerant detection means for detecting the concentration of a combustible refrigerant in a room. In the air conditioner, when the refrigerant concentration detected by the refrigerant detection means is equal to or higher than the threshold value, the indoor blower fan is operated at a preset air volume. As a result, when the refrigerant leaks, it is possible to suppress the formation of a combustible concentration region in the room.

International Publication No. 2017/187618 pamphlet

Refrigerant oil stored in the compressor is normally discharged from the compressor together with the refrigerant and circulated through the air conditioner. Therefore, when refrigerant is leaking, refrigerating machine oil is also leaking in most cases. However, in Patent Literature 1, no consideration is given to the leakage of refrigerating machine oil together with the refrigerant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the problems described above, and an object of the present invention is to improve the safety of air conditioners.

In the air conditioner according to one aspect of the present invention, combustible refrigerant circulates through the compressor, the first heat exchanger, the expansion valve, and the second heat exchanger in this order. The compressor stores refrigerating machine oil and discharges the refrigerating machine oil together with the refrigerant. Refrigerating machine oil circulates through the compressor, the first heat exchanger, the expansion valve, and the second heat exchanger in this order together with the refrigerant. The first heat exchanger is arranged in the first space. A second heat exchanger is disposed in the second space. An air conditioner includes a first sensor, a second sensor, and a control device. A first sensor senses the refrigerant in the first space. The second sensor detects the odor of the refrigerator oil in the first space. The control device detects refrigerant leakage using the first detection signal from the first sensor and the second detection signal from the second sensor.

In the air conditioner according to another aspect of the present invention, combustible refrigerant circulates through the compressor, the first heat exchanger, the expansion valve, and the second heat exchanger in this order. The compressor stores refrigerating machine oil and discharges the refrigerating machine oil together with the refrigerant. Refrigerating machine oil circulates through the compressor, the first heat exchanger, the expansion valve, and the second heat exchanger in this order together with the refrigerant. The first heat exchanger is arranged in the first space. A second heat exchanger is disposed in the second space. An air conditioner includes a sensor, a sample container, and a controller. A sensor senses the refrigerant in the first space. The sample storage unit stores a sample of refrigerating machine oil and can release the odor of the sample to the outside. The control device detects refrigerant leakage using the detection signal from the sensor.

An air conditioner packaging set according to another aspect of the present invention is an air conditioner packaging set in which combustible refrigerant circulates in the order of a compressor, a first heat exchanger, an expansion valve, and a second heat exchanger. is. During operation of the air conditioner, the compressor stores refrigerating machine oil and discharges the refrigerating machine oil together with the refrigerant. Refrigerating machine oil circulates through the compressor, the first heat exchanger, the expansion valve, and the second heat exchanger in this order together with the refrigerant. The first heat exchanger is arranged in the first space. A second heat exchanger is disposed in the second space. An air conditioner includes a sensor and a control device. A sensor senses the refrigerant in the first space. The control device detects refrigerant leakage using the detection signal from the sensor. The packing set includes a sample container in which odor is sealed and a packing box. A packaging box houses at least one of a compressor, a first heat exchanger, an expansion valve, a second heat exchanger, a sensor, a controller, and a sample container.

According to the air conditioner and the air conditioner packaging set according to the present invention, the refrigerant leaked into the first space can be detected even by the odor of the refrigerator oil, so the detection accuracy of the refrigerant leakage in the first space is improved. be able to. As a result, the safety of the air conditioner can be improved.

1 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of an air conditioner according to Embodiment 1; FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic external view of an indoor unit of the air conditioner of FIG. 1; 4 is a flow chart showing the flow of refrigerant leakage detection processing performed by the control device; 8 is a flowchart showing another example of the flow of coolant leakage detection processing performed by the control device; It is a coordinate plane showing the relationship between the detection level of the refrigerant sensor and the detection level of the odor sensor, with the detection level of the refrigerant sensor on the X axis and the detection level of the odor sensor on the Y axis. 4 is a flow chart showing a flow of processing for judging coolant leakage based on whether or not it is included in a coolant leakage region; FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of an air conditioner according to Embodiment 2; FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of an air conditioner according to Embodiment 3; FIG. 9 is a schematic external view of the indoor unit of the air conditioner of FIG. 8; FIG. 10 is a schematic external view of the sample container of FIG. 9; FIG. 11 is a diagram showing how an indoor unit is packed by a packing set for an air conditioner according to Embodiment 4; It is a figure which shows a mode that the packing set of FIG. 11 was unpacked.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated in principle.

Embodiment 1.
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of an air conditioner 100 according to Embodiment 1. As shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic external view of the indoor unit 10 of the air conditioner 100 of FIG. Air conditioner 100 uses a refrigerant containing combustible R290 (propane). Air conditioner 100 includes a heating mode, a cooling mode, and a defrosting mode as operation modes. As shown in FIG. 1 , an air conditioner 100 includes an indoor unit 10 and an outdoor unit 11 . Both the indoor unit 10 and the outdoor unit 11 are supplied with power from a main power supply Ps1 (first power supply).

The indoor unit 10 is arranged indoors (first space). The indoor unit 10 includes an indoor heat exchanger 1 (first heat exchanger), an indoor fan 2, a refrigerant sensor s1 (first sensor), and an odor sensor s2 (second sensor). The outdoor unit 11 is arranged outdoors (second space). The outdoor unit 11 includes a compressor 3 , a four-way valve 4 , an expansion valve 5 , an outdoor heat exchanger 6 (second heat exchanger), an outdoor fan 7 and a controller 8 . The compressor 3 stores refrigerating machine oil for lubricating the compression mechanism. The refrigerating machine oil has a unique odor, and includes PAG (PolyAlkylene Glycol) oil, for example.

In the heating mode, the controller 8 controls the four-way valve 4 to form a flow path so that the refrigerant circulates in the order of the compressor 3, the indoor heat exchanger 1, the expansion valve 5, and the outdoor heat exchanger 6. . In the heating mode, the indoor heat exchanger 1 functions as a condenser, and the outdoor heat exchanger 6 functions as an evaporator.

In the cooling mode and the defrosting mode, the controller 8 controls the four-way valve 4 so that the refrigerant circulates through the compressor 3, the outdoor heat exchanger 6, the expansion valve 5, and the indoor heat exchanger 1 in this order. form a path. In the cooling mode and defrosting mode, the indoor heat exchanger 1 functions as an evaporator, and the outdoor heat exchanger 6 functions as a condenser.

The control device 8 controls the amount of refrigerant discharged by the compressor 3 per unit time by controlling the driving frequency of the compressor 3 . A control device 8 adjusts the degree of opening of the expansion valve 5 . The controller 8 controls the amount of air blown by the indoor fan 2 and the outdoor fan 7 per unit time.

In the indoor unit 10, the refrigerant sensor s1 and the odor sensor s2 are arranged downwind of the indoor heat exchanger 1 with respect to the air blowing direction of the indoor fan 2. As shown in FIG. The refrigerant sensor s1 outputs a detection signal (first detection signal) representing the refrigerant concentration to the control device 8 . The odor sensor s2 outputs to the control device 8 a detection signal (second detection signal) representing the odor of the refrigerator oil.

The refrigerating machine oil stored in the compressor 3 is normally discharged from the compressor 3 together with the refrigerant and circulates through the air conditioner 100 . Therefore, when refrigerant is leaking, refrigerating machine oil is also leaking in most cases.

Therefore, in Embodiment 1, refrigerant leakage in the room is detected using the refrigerant concentration and the odor of the refrigerating machine oil. To improve the safety of an air conditioner by using the odor of refrigerating machine oil in addition to the refrigerant concentration, since it is possible to improve the detection accuracy of refrigerant leakage compared to the case of detecting refrigerant leakage using only the refrigerant concentration. can be done.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the flow of refrigerant leakage detection processing performed by the control device 8. As shown in FIG. The processing shown in FIG. 3 is periodically or irregularly called by a main routine (not shown) that controls the operation of the air conditioner 100 . The step is also described as S below. Further, the detection level L1 represents the level of the detection signal of the refrigerant sensor s1, and the detection level L2 represents the level of the detection signal of the odor sensor s2.

As shown in FIG. 3, in S11, the control device 8 determines whether or not the indoor refrigerant concentration detection level L1 is greater than a threshold A1 (first threshold). If detection level L1 is greater than threshold A1 (YES in S11), control device 8 performs safety assurance processing in S14, and then returns the processing to the main routine. In the safety assurance process, for example, the indoor fan 2 agitates the air in the room to homogenize the refrigerant distribution in the room to reduce the concentration of the refrigerant, generate an alarm sound, flash a lamp, and display a message.

If the indoor refrigerant concentration detection level L1 is equal to or less than the threshold A1 (NO in S11), the controller 8 determines in S12 whether the indoor refrigerant oil detection level L2 is greater than the threshold B1 (second threshold). judge. If detection level L2 of indoor refrigerating machine oil is greater than threshold value B1 (YES in S12), control device 8 performs safety assurance processing in S14 and then returns the processing to the main routine. If detection level L2 of indoor refrigerating machine oil is equal to or lower than threshold value B1 (NO in S12), control device 8 returns the process to the main routine.

In FIG. 3, the determination of refrigerant leakage (S11) using the refrigerant concentration and the determination of refrigerant leakage (S12) using the odor of the refrigerating machine oil are performed in different steps. Both the refrigerant concentration and the odor of the refrigerating machine oil may be used in the same step to determine refrigerant leakage. For example, instead of the process shown in FIG. 3, the process shown in FIG. 4 may be performed. In FIG. 4, the detection level L1 is equal to or less than the threshold A1 (NO in S11) in the refrigerant leakage determination using the refrigerant concentration, and the detection level L2 is equal to or less than the threshold B1 (NO in S11) in the refrigerant leakage determination using the odor of the refrigerating machine oil. If NO in S12), refrigerant leakage determination (S13) is performed using both the refrigerant concentration and the odor of the refrigerating machine oil.

At the time when S13 is performed, the detection level L1 is equal to or less than the threshold A1 and the detection level L2 is equal to or less than the threshold B1. Therefore, in S13, the detection level L1 is equal to or less than the threshold A1 and the detection level L2 is equal to or less than the threshold B1. It is necessary to set conditions for judging refrigerant leakage within the following range. Therefore, in FIG. 4, threshold A2 (third threshold) is smaller than threshold A1, and threshold B2 (fourth threshold) is smaller than threshold B1.

As shown in FIG. 4, when neither of the conditions of S11 and S12 is satisfied (NO in S11 and NO in S12), the controller 8 determines in S13 that the detection level L1 is greater than the threshold value A2 and the detection It is determined whether level L2 is greater than threshold B2. If detection level L1 is greater than threshold A2 and detection level L2 is greater than threshold B2 (YES in S13), control device 8 performs safety assurance processing in S14 and returns the processing to the main routine. If detection level L1 is equal to or less than threshold A2 or detection level L2 is equal to or less than threshold B2 (NO in S13), control device 8 returns the process to the main routine.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, the refrigerant leakage determination condition is whether or not the refrigerant concentration detection level L1 or the refrigerating machine oil detection level L2 is greater than a threshold. The refrigerant leakage determination condition is whether the point specified by the detection level L1 and the detection level L2 is included in the refrigerant leakage region to be determined as the refrigerant leakage on the coordinate plane showing the relationship between the detection level L1 and the detection level L2. You may judge by whether or not.

FIG. 5 is a coordinate plane showing the relationship between the detection level L1 and the detection level L2, with the detection level L1 of the refrigerant concentration on the X axis and the detection level L2 of the refrigerating machine oil on the Y axis. The refrigerant leakage region shown in FIG. 5 is represented by the following formula (1). Detection level L1 and detection level L2 that satisfy expression (1) are included in the refrigerant leakage region. Note that the threshold A2 of the detection level L1 and the threshold B2 of the detection level L2 in FIG. 4 are, for example, the boundary line (point P1 (A1, 0 ) and a straight line connecting points P2 (0, B1)), respectively.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing the flow of processing for determining refrigerant leakage using equation (1). The flowchart shown in FIG. 6 is a flowchart in which S11 and S12 in FIG. 3 are replaced with S10. As shown in FIG. 6, control device 8 determines whether or not detection level L1 and detection level L2 satisfy equation (1). If detection level L1 and detection level L2 satisfy expression (1) (YES in S10), control device 8 performs a safety ensuring process in S14 and returns the process to the main routine. If detection level L1 and detection level L2 do not satisfy expression (1) (NO in S10), control device 8 returns the process to the main routine.

As described above, according to the air conditioners according to Embodiment 1 and Modifications 1 and 2, the safety of the air conditioner can be improved.

Embodiment 2.
In Embodiment 1, the case where power is supplied to the refrigerant sensor and the odor sensor from the power supply of the air conditioner has been described. In Embodiment 2, a case where at least one of the refrigerant sensor and the odor sensor is supplied with power from a power supply other than the power supply of the air conditioner will be described. With such a configuration, even when power is not supplied to the air conditioner (when the air conditioner is not connected to the power supply or when there is a power failure), at least one of the refrigerant sensor and the odor sensor Since it is in operation, refrigerant leakage can be detected.

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of air conditioner 200 according to Embodiment 2. As shown in FIG. The configuration of air conditioner 200 is the configuration of air conditioner 100 in FIG. configuration. Since other configurations are the same, the description will not be repeated.

As shown in FIG. 7, the auxiliary power supply Ps2 powers the odor sensor s22. Auxiliary power supply Ps2 includes, for example, a battery. When the detection level L2 exceeds the threshold value B1, the odor sensor s22 notifies refrigerant leakage by, for example, alarm sound, blinking of a lamp, or display of a message. When the power supply from the main power supply Ps1 is stopped (for example, when the outlet of the air conditioner 200 is unplugged from the main power supply Ps1 or when there is a power failure), the sensor supplied with power from the auxiliary power supply Ps2 is the refrigerant It may be the sensor s21. In this case, when the detection level L1 exceeds the threshold value A1, the refrigerant sensor s21 notifies the refrigerant leakage by, for example, alarm sound, blinking of the lamp, or display of a message. Even when the power supply from the main power supply Ps1 is stopped, at least one of the refrigerant sensor s1 and the odor sensor s22 is in operation, so refrigerant leakage can be detected by the operating sensor.

In order to reliably secure the power of the auxiliary power supply Ps2 in an emergency when the power supply from the main power supply Ps1 is stopped, the sensors to which the power is supplied from the auxiliary power supply Ps2 normally receive power from the main power supply Ps1 and the auxiliary power supply. It is preferable to adopt a configuration in which the power of Ps2 is not consumed and power is received from the auxiliary power supply Ps2 in an emergency. In addition, in order to improve the detection accuracy of refrigerant leakage, both the refrigerant sensor s1 and the odor sensor s2 are designed to operate even when the power supply from the main power supply Ps1 is stopped. It is more preferable to supply power from the auxiliary power supply Ps2.

As described above, according to the air conditioner according to Embodiment 2, refrigerant leakage can be detected even when power is not supplied to the air conditioner. It can be improved further.

Embodiments 3 and 4.
In Embodiments 1 and 2, the configuration in which the odor of the refrigerator oil is detected by the sensor has been described. In Embodiments 3 and 4, configurations will be described that allow the user to perceive that the refrigerator oil is leaking into the room by making the user recognize the odor of the cooling machine oil.

It is known that R290 contained in the refrigerant used in the air conditioner according to Embodiment 1 is almost odorless. In addition, since the refrigerant circulating in the air conditioner is required to have chemical stability, the refrigerant is usually not mixed with an odorant. Therefore, it is often difficult for the user to notice the odor of the refrigerant that has leaked into the room.

On the other hand, refrigerating machine oil such as PAG oil has a unique odor. can be noticed. However, in many cases, users do not recognize that the odor is the odor of refrigerating machine oil.

Therefore, in Embodiments 3 and 4, a sample of refrigerating machine oil used for lubrication of the compressor of the air conditioner is used to make the user recognize the odor of the refrigerating machine oil in advance. When the user senses the odor indoors, the user can notice that the refrigerator oil is leaking indoors. In addition to the refrigerant leakage determination using the refrigerant concentration by the air conditioner, the user himself can notice the odor of the refrigerator oil in the room, so the safety of the air conditioner is higher than when the user does not know the odor of the refrigerator oil. can be improved. Moreover, even when power is not supplied to the air conditioner, the user himself/herself can notice refrigerant leakage. Furthermore, according to Embodiments 3 and 4, since an odor sensor is not required, Embodiments 3 and 4 can reduce the manufacturing cost more than Embodiments 1 and 2.

In Embodiment 3, an air conditioner in which an indoor unit is provided with a sample storage section for refrigerating machine oil will be described. In Embodiment 4, an air conditioner packing set in which a sample container of refrigerator oil separate from the air conditioner is packed together with the air conditioner will be described.

Embodiment 3.
FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of air conditioner 300 according to Embodiment 3. As shown in FIG. The configuration of the air conditioner 300 is such that the indoor unit 10 of the air conditioner 100 in FIG. The configuration of the indoor unit 30 is such that the odor sensor s2 is removed from the configuration of the indoor unit 10, and the sample container 31 (sample container) is detachably attached as shown in FIG. The control device 38 receives the detection signal from the refrigerant sensor s1 and performs refrigerant leakage determination using the refrigerant concentration, but does not perform refrigerant leakage determination using the odor of the refrigerating machine oil. The control device 38 performs safety assurance processing when the detection level L1 of the refrigerant concentration is greater than the threshold value A1. Since the configuration other than these is the same, the description will not be repeated.

FIG. 10 is a schematic external view of the sample container 31 of FIG. As shown in FIG. 10, the sample container 31 includes a main body 311 made of resin and a lid 312 made of resin. The main body 311 accommodates a sponge Spg impregnated with a sample of refrigerating machine oil used for lubricating the compressor 3 of FIG. When the lid 312 is attached to the main body 311 ( FIG. 10( a )), the odor of the refrigerator oil is sealed inside the sample container 31 and hardly leaks outside the sample container 31 . It is attached to the air conditioner 300 in the state shown in FIG. 10(a). The sample container 31 can release the sample odor of the refrigerator oil to the outside when the lid 312 is removed from the main body 311 (FIG. 10(b)). The user removes the sample container 31 from the air conditioner 300, removes the lid 312 from the main body 311 as shown in FIG. 10(b), and checks the odor of the refrigerator oil.

As described above, according to the air conditioner according to Embodiment 3, the safety of the air conditioner can be improved, and the manufacturing cost of the air conditioner can be reduced more than those of Embodiments 1 and 2.

Embodiment 4.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing how the indoor unit 40 is packed by the air conditioner packing set 400 according to the fourth embodiment. The appearance of the indoor unit 40 is similar to that of the indoor unit 10 shown in FIG. Also, the indoor unit 40 does not include an odor sensor like the indoor unit 30 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 11 , the indoor unit 40 is housed in a packing box 41 with both ends covered with buffers 42 and 43 . The packing set 400 is unpacked by sliding the packing box 41 in the longitudinal direction of the indoor unit 40 .

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing how the packing set 400 of FIG. 11 is unpacked. As shown in FIG. 12, attached to the back of the indoor unit 40 are a remote controller Rm, an instruction manual, and a refrigerator oil sample container 31 packaged together. The sample container 31 is similar to that shown in FIG. 10, and contains a sponge impregnated with refrigerating machine oil. A user can use the sample container 31 to check the odor of the refrigerator oil.

As described above, according to the air conditioner packaging set according to Embodiment 4, the safety of the air conditioner can be improved, and the manufacturing cost of the air conditioner can be reduced as compared with Embodiments 1 and 2. can be done.

It is also planned that the embodiments disclosed this time will be combined as appropriate within a non-contradictory range. Each embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as an illustration and not restrictive in all respects. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the scope of the claims rather than the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and range of equivalents of the scope of the claims.

1 indoor heat exchanger, 2 indoor fan, 3 compressor, 4 four-way valve, 5 expansion valve, 6 outdoor heat exchanger, 7 outdoor fan, 8, 38 control device, 10, 30, 40 indoor unit, 11 outdoor unit, 31 sample container, 41 packing box, 42,43 buffer, 100,200,300 air conditioner, 311 body, 312 lid, 400 packing set, A1, A2, B1, B2 threshold, Ps1 main power supply, Ps2 auxiliary power supply, Rm remote controller, Spg sponge, s1, s21 refrigerant sensor, s2, s22 odor sensor.

Claims (4)

An air conditioner in which a combustible refrigerant circulates in the order of a compressor, a first heat exchanger, an expansion valve, and a second heat exchanger,
The compressor stores refrigerating machine oil and discharges the refrigerating machine oil together with the refrigerant,
The refrigerating machine oil circulates in the order of the compressor, the first heat exchanger, the expansion valve, and the second heat exchanger together with the refrigerant,
The first heat exchanger is arranged in a first space where the second heat exchanger is not arranged,
The second heat exchanger is arranged in the second space,
The air conditioner is
a first sensor that detects the refrigerant in the first space;
a second sensor that detects the odor of the refrigerator oil in the first space;
and a control device that detects leakage of the refrigerant using a first detection signal from the first sensor and a second detection signal from the second sensor. When the first detection signal is greater than a first threshold, when the second detection signal is greater than a second threshold, and when the first detection signal is greater than a third threshold and the second detection signal The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein leakage of the refrigerant is detected when is larger than a fourth threshold. The third threshold is smaller than the first threshold,
The air conditioner according to claim 2, wherein said fourth threshold is smaller than said second threshold. the first sensor is powered by a first power supply;
the second sensor is powered by a second power supply;
The control device is powered by the first power supply,
The air conditioner according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said second sensor notifies leakage of said refrigerant when said second detection signal exceeds said second threshold.

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