JP4474455B2 - Refrigerant filling apparatus for refrigeration air conditioner and refrigerant filling method for refrigeration air conditioner - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a refrigerant charging device for a refrigeration air conditioner and a refrigerant charging method for a refrigeration air conditioning device.

  A refrigerating and air-conditioning apparatus constituting a refrigeration cycle is generally composed of an indoor unit, an outdoor unit, and a pipe connecting between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit. The indoor unit includes an indoor heat exchanger and the like. The outdoor unit includes an outdoor heat exchanger, a compressor, a pressure reducing electromagnetic valve, and the like, and each is connected by piping inside the outdoor unit. The indoor unit constituted by these and the outdoor unit are connected by piping at the installation site and function as a refrigeration air conditioner.

  There are many different installation environments for refrigeration air conditioners. Connect a connection pipe with a length appropriate for the installation environment. Therefore, the volume in the refrigeration cycle differs depending on the length of the connecting pipe. Moreover, since the indoor side heat exchanger 3 also has different volumes depending on the installed indoor unit B, the refrigerant circuit volume varies depending on the installation environment.

  In order for the refrigeration air conditioner to function, a refrigerant circulating in the refrigerant circuit is necessary. Since the required amount of refrigerant differs due to the difference in the refrigerant circuit volume depending on the installation environment, it is difficult to preliminarily fill the refrigerant circuit with the necessary total amount of refrigerant according to the volume.

  Conventionally, an outdoor unit having a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, a pressure reducing device, and a liquid receiver in order to automatically fill an additional refrigerant amount appropriate for the installation state of the refrigeration air conditioner and ensure the reliability of the refrigeration cycle. In a refrigerant charging apparatus for filling a predetermined amount of refrigerant into an outdoor unit or additionally charging a refrigerant with respect to a refrigeration cycle in which the unit, an indoor heat exchanger, and an indoor unit having a decompression device are connected by piping, the indoor unit The main flow part of the supercooling heat exchanger having a secondary flow part is arranged between the liquid receiver and the indoor unit, and one of the secondary flow parts is placed in the refrigerant cylinder via the refrigerant filling electromagnetic valve, and the other is in the compressor. A refrigerant charging device and a refrigerant charging method that are connected to the suction side and control the opening and closing of the refrigerant charging electromagnetic valve in relation to the degree of refrigerant supercooling on the outlet side of the main flow portion have been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1).

In addition, in order to provide a refrigerant charging method for a refrigeration cycle that can appropriately and automatically adjust the amount of refrigerant to be additionally charged during on-site installation of the refrigeration cycle, after connecting the outdoor unit and the indoor unit with a connecting pipe During the test operation, the refrigerant circulation system is replenished with refrigerant and the predetermined operating parameters for regulating the refrigerant pressure and temperature at each point of the refrigerant circulation are monitored to determine the degree of superheat and / or supercooling of the refrigerant. A refrigerant charging method and apparatus for a refrigeration cycle that detect and detect that the superheating degree and / or supercooling degree have been reached and automatically replenish the refrigerant as the appropriate amount of refrigerant has been filled has been proposed. (For example, refer to Patent Document 2).
JP 2005-114184 A JP-A-2005-241172

  However, in the refrigerant filling method of Patent Documents 1 and 2, the refrigerant circuit of the refrigeration air conditioner is automatically filled with the refrigerant, and after the appropriate amount is filled, the refrigerant is not charged between the refrigerant circuit and the refrigerant cylinder. Must have an automatic control valve. This limits not only cost and resource issues, but also the range of refrigeration air conditioners that can be used.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. Between the refrigeration air conditioner and a refrigerant cylinder necessary for charging the refrigerant, a valve other than the valve provided in the refrigerant cylinder is provided. An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerant charging device for a refrigeration air conditioner and a refrigerant charging method for the refrigeration air conditioning device that can automatically end the refrigerant charging after charging with an appropriate amount of refrigerant without providing it.

A refrigerant charging device according to the present invention is a refrigerant charging device for a refrigerating and air-conditioning device, a refrigerant circuit having a compressor, a four-way valve, an indoor heat exchanger, a pressure reducing device, an outdoor heat exchanger, a liquid reservoir, and a refrigerant A refrigerant cylinder connected without providing a valve other than a valve provided on the low pressure side of the circuit, and an indoor unit provided with an indoor heat exchanger when determining the appropriate refrigerant charging amount of the refrigerant circuit; Control is performed to determine a filling state as an operation mode existing in a liquid refrigerant state in a liquid side pipe of a connection pipe connecting an outdoor unit provided with an outdoor heat exchanger, and to fill the refrigerant circuit with the refrigerant from the refrigerant cylinder. A control device for performing the operation, and a display device provided in the control device for displaying a refrigerant charging state. While operating the refrigerating and air-conditioning apparatus, the refrigerant circuit is filled with the refrigerant from the refrigerant cylinder so that the refrigerant amount is appropriate. Compressor automatically when judged And it switches the four-way valve to stop.

  The refrigerant filling device for the refrigeration air-conditioning apparatus according to the present invention provides a refrigerant without providing a valve other than the valve provided in the refrigerant cylinder between the connection of the refrigeration air-conditioning apparatus and the refrigerant cylinder necessary for charging the refrigerant. The refrigerant can be charged from the cylinder to the refrigeration air conditioner.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
Hereinafter, an air conditioner which is an example of a refrigeration air conditioner will be described as an example. As a refrigerating and air-conditioning apparatus, for example, there is a refrigerated showcase in addition to an air conditioner.

  1 to 8 are diagrams showing Embodiment 1, FIG. 1 is a refrigerant circuit diagram when refrigerant is charged in an air conditioner, FIG. 2 is a refrigerant charging flowchart showing a refrigerant charging method, and FIG. 3 is a refrigerant charging amount determination operation. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the outside air temperature and the time until the refrigeration cycle is stabilized, and FIG. 5 is a graph showing the rotational speed of the compressor 1 during refrigerant charging. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a control method, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a control method of the four-way valve 2 during refrigerant charging, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a refrigerant charging method during refrigerant charging, and FIG. 8 is a modification of the air conditioner during refrigerant charging. It is a refrigerant circuit diagram of an example.

  In FIG. 1, the air conditioner includes an outdoor unit A and an indoor unit B. The outdoor unit A includes a compressor 1, a four-way valve 2, a pressure reducing electromagnetic valve 4 (an example of a pressure reducing device), an outdoor heat exchanger 5, an accumulator 6 (an example of a liquid storage device), and the like. In addition, the indoor unit B has a built-in indoor heat exchanger 3 and the like.

  One end of the outdoor unit A and one end of the indoor unit B are connected by a gas side connection pipe C. On the other hand, the other end of the outdoor unit A and the other end of the indoor unit B are connected by a liquid side connection pipe D. Thereby, a refrigerant circuit is formed.

  In the formed refrigerant circuit, the four-way valve 2 built in the outdoor unit A has a role of changing the course direction of the refrigerant circuit. Usually, the refrigerating and air-conditioning apparatus having both functions of cooling and heating performs a cooling operation when the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor 1 is sent to the outdoor heat exchanger 5, and the indoor heat exchanger When it is sent to 3, heating operation is performed. The four-way valve 2 has a role of switching the operation cycle, and the operation cycle can be freely switched by switching the slide valve in the four-way valve 2.

  On the other hand, the pressure reducing solenoid valve 4 built in the outdoor unit A has a role of reducing the pressure of the low-temperature and high-pressure liquid refrigerant condensed by the heat exchanger to a pressure at which it is easily evaporated. That is, after being discharged from the compressor 1, the refrigerant maintains a high pressure until it passes through a predetermined flow path of the refrigerant circuit corresponding to the cooling or heating operation cycle and reaches the pressure reducing solenoid valve 4. In the refrigerant circuit that passes from the time when the pressure reducing electromagnetic valve 4 passes until it reaches the suction port of the compressor 1, the pressure becomes low.

  In order for an apparatus having a refrigerant circuit formed as described above to function as an air conditioner, it is necessary to fill the refrigerant circuit with a refrigerant. In general, a refrigerant circuit of an air conditioner is filled with a refrigerant by connecting a refrigerant cylinder 10 to a low-pressure side charge port 7 in the refrigerant circuit via a hose 8 and a refrigerant cylinder valve provided in the refrigerant cylinder 10. By opening 9, the circuit is filled with refrigerant.

  Also in the refrigerant filling method of the present embodiment, the same connection is performed as preparation before filling the refrigerant. That is, the refrigerant filling method provided in the present embodiment includes connecting the refrigerant cylinder 10 having the refrigerant cylinder valve 9 to the refrigerant circuit (the suction side of the compressor 1 on the low pressure side) via the hose 8. And

  The refrigerant filling method for the air conditioner after the above preparation is completed will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a refrigerant charging flowchart showing a refrigerant charging method.

  First, when a predetermined switch (not shown) provided in the control device 30 of the outdoor unit A is turned on in advance, the refrigerant charging amount determination operation mode is selected (S1).

  When the refrigerant charging amount determination operation mode is selected, the heating operation is started when the pressure reducing electromagnetic valve 4 is built in the outdoor unit A as shown in FIG. 1 (S2). In the heating operation, the refrigerant, which is enclosed in the accumulator 6 built in the outdoor unit A, is circulated through the refrigerant circuit in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. The reason for determining the refrigerant charge amount in the heating operation is as follows. The outdoor unit A is filled with a minimum amount of refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit (accumulator 6) at the time of factory shipment. The indoor unit B is not filled with the refrigerant. Therefore, when the air conditioner is installed, the outdoor unit A and the indoor unit B are first connected in a state where the refrigerant circuit is shut off. After releasing the air from the indoor unit B, vacuuming is performed. In this state, the outdoor unit A and the indoor unit B are released (opened) from the state where the refrigerant circuit is blocked. Then, the necessary minimum refrigerant filled in the outdoor unit A in advance flows into the indoor unit B, and the air conditioner can be operated.

  The length of the connection pipe (extended pipe) that connects the outdoor unit A and the indoor unit B varies depending on the installation status. The determination accuracy is improved by performing the refrigerant filling amount determination in a state where the liquid refrigerant is present in the connection pipe (extension pipe). As shown in FIG. 1, when the pressure reducing solenoid valve 4 is in the outdoor unit A, the liquid refrigerant is present in the liquid side connection pipe D, which is one of the connection pipes (extension pipes), by performing the heating operation. can do. When this is in cooling operation, the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flows through the liquid side connection pipe D, the outdoor heat exchanger 5 becomes a condenser, and the liquid refrigerant is between the outdoor heat exchanger 5 and the pressure reducing solenoid valve 4. Exists. Therefore, in the cooling operation, it is difficult to determine the refrigerant charge amount according to the length of the connection pipe (extension pipe).

  FIG. 3 shows a control target when the refrigerant charging amount determination operation mode is selected. The air conditioner controls the outdoor unit A and the indoor unit B in order to select an optimal operating state depending on the environment.

What is shown below is provided as a temperature detection device for grasping the refrigerant temperature in the refrigerant circuit.
(1) A compressor discharge pipe temperature detection device 21 that detects the temperature of the discharge pipe of the compressor 1 of the outdoor unit A;
(2) Indoor heat exchanger temperature detection device 22 for detecting the temperature of the indoor heat exchanger of indoor unit B;
(3) The indoor side heat exchanger outlet temperature detection device 23 for detecting the temperature of the indoor side heat exchanger outlet of the indoor unit B;
(4) The indoor side outlet temperature detecting device 24 for detecting the temperature of the air temperature at the outlet of the indoor unit B;
(5) an outdoor heat exchanger inlet temperature detection device 25 that detects the temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger inlet of the outdoor unit A;
(6) The outdoor heat exchanger temperature detection device 26 that detects the temperature of the outdoor heat exchanger of the outdoor unit A;
(7) The outdoor air outlet temperature detection device 27 that detects the temperature of the air temperature at the air outlet of the outdoor unit A.

  Further, a temperature detection device that detects the ambient temperature of the indoor unit B and a temperature detection device that detects the ambient temperature of the outdoor unit A are provided on the air suction side of the indoor unit B and the outdoor unit A, respectively.

  The control device 30 detects the temperature detection devices (1) to (7) and the like in real time, and controls the compressor 1, the pressure reducing electromagnetic valve 4, the indoor side fan 11, and the outdoor side fan 12 according to the situation. This ensures a stable operating state and plays a role as an air conditioner.

  The control device 30 includes a display device 40 (for example, an LED (light emitting diode)) that displays a refrigerant charging state and the like. The control device 30 is configured by mounting a microcomputer (microcomputer) or the like on a board mounted on the outdoor unit A. The control device 30 performs control when at least the refrigerant is charged into the refrigerant circuit from the refrigerant cylinder 10.

  The refrigerant charging method according to the present embodiment also uses each temperature detected by the temperature detection devices (1) to (7) that control the air conditioner to determine whether an appropriate heating operation state can be secured. Thus, the state of the refrigerant amount in the refrigerant circuit is determined.

  By the heating operation of S2, the compressor 1 starts operation, and the refrigerant circulates in the circuit. Here, when the outside air temperature is low, the gas side connection pipe C and the liquid side connection pipe D are long, and the amount of refrigerant sealed in the accumulator 6 is extremely insufficient, the operation is performed in a state where the refrigerant amount is excessively small.

  In this case, the refrigerant circuit does not satisfy the minimum required filling amount, and the compressor 1 discharges the refrigerant while the refrigerant to be sucked is not circulated, so that the piping path leading from the accumulator 6 to the compressor 1 Becomes a vacuum. Since the above operation state may lead to the failure of the compressor 1, when the amount of the refrigerant is too small, it is immediately notified that the refrigerant is extremely short and prompts quick refrigerant charging. The display device 40 displays that the refrigerant is too low (X = 1, which will be described later) (S4). The display device 40 (LED) that receives the signal from the control device 30 notifies the operator by blinking, for example, and prompts quick refrigerant charging.

  If the refrigerant amount is not too small in S3, the operation is performed without adding the refrigerant amount until the refrigeration cycle is stabilized and an appropriate refrigerant amount state is determined (S5).

  The operation of S5 is not only necessary for determining whether the amount of refrigerant currently circulating in the refrigerant circuit is appropriate, but is also important for ensuring the reliability of the refrigeration cycle itself.

  The operation time until the refrigeration cycle is stabilized depends on the outside air temperature.

  In S6, the outside air temperature is compared with a predetermined value α ° C. The predetermined value α ° C. is, for example, 10 ° C.

  When the outside air temperature is low, the high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant discharged from the compressor 1 is cooled by the outside air in the process of passing through the piping leading to the indoor heat exchanger 3 (condenser). And the supercooling degree is almost zero. In this case, since it is necessary to increase the frequency of the compressor 1 in order to increase the refrigerant temperature without being affected by the outside air temperature, it takes time for the refrigeration cycle to stabilize and the condensation temperature to increase.

  When the outside air temperature is lower than the predetermined value α ° C. in S6, the process proceeds to S7 and it is determined whether a predetermined time F (minute) has elapsed. When the predetermined time F (minutes) has not elapsed in S7, it is determined that the refrigerant charging amount is being determined, and the operation is further performed while the refrigerant is not charged. The predetermined time F (minutes) is a time until the refrigeration cycle is stabilized and the condensation temperature rises, and is, for example, 20 minutes. The determination of the predetermined time F (minutes) is a numerical value obtained experimentally by determining the time required for stable operation of the refrigeration air conditioner under each outside air temperature condition. FIG. 4 shows the relationship between the outside air temperature and the time required to stabilize the refrigeration cycle. As shown in FIG. 4, when the outside air temperature is within the guaranteed operating temperature range, when the outside air temperature is low, the time until stable operation of the refrigeration air conditioner is longer than when the outside air temperature is high.

  On the other hand, when the outside air temperature is high, the condensation temperature is high from a low frequency of the compressor 1 compared to when the outside air temperature is low, so the time until the refrigeration cycle is stabilized is shortened.

  When the outside air temperature is higher than the predetermined value α ° C. in S6, the process proceeds to S8 and it is determined whether a predetermined time E (minute) has elapsed. The predetermined time E (minute) is shorter than F (minute) in S7. The predetermined time E (minutes) is a time until the refrigeration cycle is stabilized and the condensation temperature rises, and is, for example, 12 minutes. If the predetermined time E (minutes) has not elapsed in S8, it is determined that the refrigerant charging amount is being determined, and the operation is further performed while the refrigerant is not charged.

  In this way, in consideration of the difference in the stabilization time of the refrigeration cycle, the operation time is changed without adding the refrigerant amount depending on the outside air temperature.

  Next, the display method of the refrigerant quantity state determination value X in S9 of the refrigerant charging method flowchart shown in FIG. 2 will be described.

  When the standby time (E, F (minutes)) specified by the outside air temperature has elapsed, among the factors indicating the refrigeration cycle state, the refrigerant quantity state determination value X calculated by the subcooling degree and the condensation temperature parameter is output. The The refrigerant quantity state determination value X is calculated in real time according to the refrigeration cycle state that changes every moment, and as a parameter to be calculated, the degree of supercooling after transition to the refrigeration cycle stable state and the difference between the condensation temperature and room temperature are used. The refrigerant quantity state determination value X is determined by the range of the value obtained by dividing the degree of cooling by the difference between the condensation temperature and room temperature.

  The display of the result is performed by the display device 40 (LED) installed on the control device 30 (substrate) of the outdoor unit A. As an LED display method, various signals are clearly transmitted by changing the blinking pattern of one LED. For example, if 6 seconds is considered as one set, the amount of refrigerant existing in the refrigerant circuit is too small, small, appropriate or overfilled by allocating blinking once, twice, three times, and four times. Is transmitted in real time.

That is, when the operation time is F (min) or more in S7, and when the operation time is E (min) or more in S8, the process proceeds to S9 and the refrigerant amount state determination value X calculated by the subcooling degree and the condensation temperature parameter is set. Output. The refrigerant quantity state determination value X is divided into the following four levels.
X = 1 (Insufficient amount of refrigerant)
X = 2 (small amount of refrigerant)
X = 3 (the amount of refrigerant is appropriate)
X = 4 (overflow of refrigerant)

  The refrigerant quantity state determination value X is calculated by the control device 30 in real time according to the refrigeration cycle state that changes every moment. The calculation result of the control device 30 is displayed on a display device 40 (for example, LED (light emitting diode)) installed on the substrate (not shown) of the outdoor unit A.

  Next, the refrigerant charging method when it is determined that the refrigerant is insufficient as a result of the refrigerant amount determination in S10 of the refrigerant charging method flowchart shown in FIG. 2 will be described.

  As a result of the determination, when it is determined that the amount of the refrigerant is small, the operation shifts to an operation for charging the refrigerant.

  In S10, it is determined whether X = 1 or X = 2. In the case of X = 1 or X = 2, it progresses to S11 and is filled with a refrigerant | coolant.

  If the amount of refrigerant is too small (X = 1), the amount of refrigerant (X = 1) is displayed on the display device 40 (S11).

  And the refrigerant | coolant within 3% of the refrigerant | coolant amount with which the refrigerant | coolant circuit (for example, accumulator 6) was filled minimum required previously is filled (S13). This is done about every minute. The reason why the amount of refrigerant charged at one time is within 3% of the amount of refrigerant charged in advance is as follows.

  That is, when the refrigerating and air-conditioning apparatus has shifted to a stable operating state, the distribution of the refrigerant circulating in the refrigerant circuit is in a diffuse state although there is a difference depending on the location. In this operation state, when the refrigerant charging of 3% or more with respect to the initial refrigerant amount is performed, the refrigeration cycle operation with a high refrigerant density is locally performed and deviates from the stable operation state as the refrigeration cycle. In this state, it is difficult to make an accurate determination, resulting in a demerit that takes time until the operating state is stably shifted. From the above, the maximum value per minute when charging the refrigerant is regulated.

  When the refrigerant quantity is small (X = 2), the refrigerant quantity is small (X = 2) is displayed on the display device 40, and is within 1% of the refrigerant quantity charged in the refrigerant circuit (for example, the accumulator 6) in advance. (S12).

  There is a time difference from the addition until the refrigerant quantity is added and the refrigeration cycle is in a stable state reflecting the additional refrigerant quantity. For this reason, if the refrigerant amount is kept small (X = 2) and charging is continued with a refrigerant within 1% of the minimum refrigerant amount that has been charged in the refrigerant circuit in advance, the refrigerant amount is regarded as appropriate. There is a possibility that the actual refrigerant amount is excessive at the time of determination. Therefore, it is necessary to sequentially reduce the additional refrigerant amount as the determination value approximates the appropriate refrigerant amount.

  Next, when determining the refrigerant charging amount in S14 of the refrigerant charging method flowchart shown in FIG. 2, it is determined that the refrigerant amount is appropriate (X = 3) or the refrigerant amount is overfilled (X = 4), and the refrigerant charging amount determination operation mode is set. The step of stopping will be described.

  If it is determined in S14 that the refrigerant amount is appropriate (X = 3) or the refrigerant amount is overfilled (X = 4) as a result of the first determination or repeated additional refrigerant filling in S14 by the refrigerant filling method, Transition to the mode to stop the operation to judge.

  That is, if X is determined in S14 and X = 3 or X = 4 in S14, the process proceeds to S15 and the refrigerant amount is appropriate, so that the operation is shifted to the operation stop mode and the refrigerant charging amount determination operation is stopped (S15). When shifting to the operation stop mode, the compressor 1 automatically stops. At the same time as the compressor 1 stops, the appropriateness determination result is displayed on the display device 40 (LED) installed on the substrate of the outdoor unit A (S16). Thereby, the operator can grasp that the refrigerant filling operation is completed.

  Further, when the refrigerant charging amount determination operation is stopped, the compressor 1 is stopped and the four-way valve 2 is switched. Further, the pressure reducing solenoid valve 4 is fully opened (S15). In the case of the refrigerant circuit as shown in FIG. 1, a high-temperature and high-pressure refrigerant flowing from the discharge side of the compressor 1 and a normal temperature flowing from the outdoor heat exchanger 5 sandwiching a partition provided inside the four-way valve 2. A low-pressure refrigerant in a different state passes.

  The refrigerant filling method of the present embodiment uses the pressure drop of the piping in the connected refrigerant circuit that occurs when the refrigerant cylinder 10 is connected to the low pressure side of the refrigerant circuit via the hose 8 and the air conditioner is operated. The refrigerant is smoothly filled in the circuit from the pressure difference.

  However, even after the refrigerant is properly filled, there is no control valve between the refrigerant cylinder 10 and the refrigerant circuit, so that the refrigerant may continue to be filled as it is.

  Thus, the pressure in the refrigerant circuit becomes uniform by switching the four-way valve 2 through which the refrigerants in different states pass as described above and bypassing the refrigerants. As a result, the pressure difference between the refrigerant circuit and the refrigerant cylinder 10 is eliminated, and the refrigerant filling more than necessary after the refrigerant filling operation is completed can be suppressed.

  Further, as a device for generating a pressure difference, there is a pressure reducing electromagnetic valve 4 in the refrigerant circuit. In the heating operation as shown in FIG. 1, the pressure reducing solenoid valve 4 is a low-temperature and high-pressure gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant that adjusts the cross-sectional area of the low-temperature and high-pressure liquid refrigerant flowing from the indoor heat exchanger 3. Have a role to convert to.

  That is, a pressure difference is generated before and after the pressure reducing solenoid valve 4 during operation of the air conditioner. The pressure reducing solenoid valve 4 is fully opened at the same time as the refrigerant charging operation is completed. That is, by making the cross-sectional area of the flow path on the circuit uniform, there is no pressure difference, and the pressure in the refrigerant circuit can be made uniform as in the four-way valve 2. This also plays a role of suppressing unnecessary refrigerant charging after completion of the refrigerant charging operation.

  Next, the recording of the operation history after the end of the refrigerant amount determination operation mode of S17 in the refrigerant charging method flowchart shown in FIG. 2 will be described.

  After completing the refrigerant charging operation, the operation history is recorded on the substrate of the outdoor unit A (S17). By recording the status of the previous refrigerant charging operation, it is possible to determine how the refrigerant charging operation was performed, such as when checking the air conditioner. You can instantly examine whether the cycle was operating. This can reduce the burden on the maintenance of the air conditioner and can help improve the system.

  In carrying out the refrigerant charging method in the present embodiment, the refrigerant charging process and the operations of the compressor 1 and the four-way valve 2 that are controlled during operation will be described in the refrigerant quantity state determination operation mode.

  An example of frequency control performed by the compressor 1 during the refrigerant quantity state determination operation mode is shown in FIG. 5, an example of switching control performed by the four-way valve 2 is shown in FIG. 6, and a refrigerant charging situation is shown in FIG.

  As shown in S1 and S2 on the flowchart shown in FIG. 2, the heating operation starts when the refrigerant charging determination operation mode is selected. At the same time, the compressor 1 that has received the signal from the control device 30 also starts operation, and the four-way valve 2 is also switched to ensure the refrigerant flow direction in the refrigerant circuit as the heating operation.

  The compressor 1 tries to ensure a stable refrigeration cycle operation in the placed temperature environment by increasing the frequency with the passage of time from the start of operation and promoting the circulation of the refrigerant. At this time, as elements for determining whether or not a stable state of the refrigeration cycle has been secured, each temperature detection device, compressor discharge pipe temperature detection device 21, indoor heat exchanger temperature detection device 22, indoor heat exchange shown in FIG. An outdoor outlet temperature detector 23, an indoor outlet temperature detector 24, an outdoor heat exchanger inlet temperature detector 25, an outdoor heat exchanger temperature detector 26, and an outdoor outlet temperature detector 27 are used. The compressor 1 changes the frequency every moment according to the detection status.

  After the refrigeration cycle is stabilized and the predetermined operation time selected in S7 and S8 in FIG. 2 has elapsed, the determination result is output as in S9. When it is determined that the refrigerant is insufficient (X = 1), this stage corresponds to the operation time A in FIGS. 5 to 7, and refrigerant charging starts from that stage as shown in FIG. 7.

  After filling the instructed refrigerant, the operation time a in FIGS. 5 to 7 is reached, and after confirming the display of changing the refrigerant filling amount per minute, the refrigerant amount as indicated is further increased as shown in FIG. Fill.

  When this refrigerant charging operation is repeated and it is determined that the refrigerant charging amount is appropriate, as shown in S15 of the flowchart of FIG.

  This stage corresponds to the operation time c shown in FIG. 5 to FIG. 7. When the compressor 1 receives the signal for shifting to the operation stop mode, the compressor 1 stops almost simultaneously, and the four-way valve 2 also immediately switches. Thereby, charging exceeding the current amount of refrigerant is suppressed.

  Furthermore, the refrigerant circuit diagram of the 1st modification at the time of the refrigerant | coolant filling of an air conditioner is shown in FIG. The refrigerant circuit shown in FIG. 8 is a receiver circuit having a power receiver 13. And compared with the refrigerant circuit shown in FIG. 1, the power receiver 13 attached instead of the accumulator 6 takes in the connection piping between the indoor side heat exchanger 3 and the outdoor side heat exchanger 5 in the inside. In this configuration, the pressure reducing solenoid valve 4 and the secondary pressure reducing solenoid valve 14 are provided at the front and rear.

  The power receiver 13 attached instead of the accumulator 6 has a role of a storage tank for surplus refrigerant that the accumulator 6 has. Further, the gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant that has become low temperature and low pressure by the pressure reducing solenoid valve 4 is put into the power receiver 13, and only the liquid is recovered at the outlet and further decompressed by the secondary pressure reducing solenoid valve 14. It has the role of efficiently reducing the pressure in two stages and increasing the operating efficiency.

  Even in the refrigerant circuit having the configuration shown in FIG. 8, since the refrigeration cycle very similar to the accumulator circuit shown in FIG. 1 is obtained by fully opening the secondary pressure reducing solenoid valve 14, the same refrigerant as in the first embodiment. It goes without saying that a filling method can be used.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the second embodiment and is a refrigerant circuit diagram when the air conditioner is filled with refrigerant. The difference from FIG. 1 is that the pressure reducing electromagnetic valve 4 is built in the indoor unit B side.

  When the decompression electromagnetic valve 4 is built in the indoor unit B, a refrigerant charging method similar to that shown in Embodiment 1 is possible by circulating the refrigerant circuit in the direction of the arrow in FIG. That is, in order to grasp the refrigerant amount state, when the pressure reducing electromagnetic valve 4 is on the outdoor unit A side, it is necessary to perform a heating operation, but when it is on the indoor unit B side, it is necessary to perform a cooling operation. It is shown that.

  This is the passage from the condenser (outdoor heat exchanger 5) to the liquid side connection pipe D in the section on the refrigerant circuit where the density of the refrigerant is the highest, that is, the amount of refrigerant most required. This is due to the liquefaction of the refrigerant in the above section. Needless to say, there is a big difference between the density of the gas state and the liquid state. In the refrigerant circuit, the portion that passes through in the gas state is mostly, but when considered as the refrigerant quantity, the liquefaction section is the section that holds the refrigerant quantity most. Therefore, when applying the refrigerant charging method of the present invention in which the refrigerant amount state is examined by adjusting the pressure reducing electromagnetic valve 4, it is appropriate to use a refrigeration cycle (cooling operation) that can grasp the density of the section.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
On the other hand, even in the refrigerant charging method as shown in FIG. 10 which has the same refrigerant circuit as in FIG. 1 and has an automatic control valve 15 which can be opened and closed between the refrigerant cylinder 10 and the refrigerant circuit, the operation up to the above is performed. The method is available.

  FIG. 10 shows the third embodiment, and is a refrigerant circuit diagram when the air conditioner is charged with refrigerant.

  In the refrigerant charging method according to the present invention, when the refrigerant amount is determined to be appropriate, the heating operation mode is stopped, the compressor 1 is stopped, the four-way valve 2 is switched at the same time, and the pressure reducing electromagnetic valve 4 is fully opened. The pressure difference in the refrigerant circuit caused by performing the heating operation is eliminated, and excessive refrigerant charging after the result is suppressed.

  On the other hand, the circuit shown in FIG. 10 in which an automatic control valve 15 that enables switching between opening and closing by the outdoor unit operation control is added between the refrigerant cylinder 10 and the refrigerant circuit is in a stage where the refrigerant filling amount determination operation is performed. The automatic control valve 15 is opened to fill the refrigerant, and the refrigerant charging after the operation stop can be immediately stopped by closing the automatic control valve 15 when the automatic control valve 15 is stopped by the refrigerant amount appropriateness determination.

  The most important advantage of the refrigerant circuit of FIG. 10 is that it is possible to completely stop the refrigerant charging after the refrigerant charging amount determination operation stop by closing the automatic control valve 15. Therefore, the amount of refrigerant can be filled more accurately, and the reliability of the product can be improved.

FIG. 5 shows the first embodiment and is a refrigerant circuit diagram at the time of refrigerant filling of the air conditioner. FIG. 5 shows the first embodiment, and is a refrigerant charging flowchart showing a refrigerant charging method. FIG. 5 shows the first embodiment, and shows a control target of the control device 30 when a refrigerant charging amount determination operation mode is selected. FIG. 5 shows the first embodiment, and shows the relationship between the outside air temperature and the time required to stabilize the refrigeration cycle. Fig. 5 shows the first embodiment, and is a diagram showing a method for controlling the rotational speed of the compressor 1 at the time of refrigerant charging. Fig. 5 shows the first embodiment and is a diagram showing a control method of the four-way valve 2 at the time of refrigerant filling. FIG. 5 shows the first embodiment, and shows a refrigerant charging method at the time of refrigerant charging. FIG. 5 shows the first embodiment, and is a refrigerant circuit diagram of a modified example when the air conditioner is filled with refrigerant. It is a figure which shows Embodiment 2, and is a refrigerant circuit figure at the time of refrigerant | coolant filling of an air conditioner. It is a figure which shows Embodiment 3, and is a refrigerant circuit figure at the time of refrigerant | coolant filling of an air conditioner.

Explanation of symbols

  A outdoor unit, B indoor unit, C gas side connection piping, D liquid side connection piping, 1 compressor, 2 4-way valve, 3 indoor heat exchanger, 4 pressure reducing solenoid valve, 5 outdoor heat exchanger, 6 accumulator, 7 Low pressure side charge port, 8 hose, 9 refrigerant cylinder valve, 10 refrigerant cylinder, 11 indoor fan, 12 outdoor fan, 13 power receiver, 14 secondary pressure reducing solenoid valve, 15 automatic control valve, 21 compressor discharge pipe temperature Detection device, 22 Indoor heat exchanger temperature detection device, 23 Indoor heat exchanger outlet temperature detection device, 24 Indoor air outlet temperature detection device, 25 Outdoor heat exchanger inlet temperature detection device, 26 Outdoor heat exchanger Temperature detection device, 27 outdoor air outlet temperature detection device, 30 control device, 40 display device.

Claims (11)

In the refrigerant filling device to the refrigeration air conditioner,
A refrigerant circuit having a compressor, a four-way valve, an indoor heat exchanger, a pressure reducing device, an outdoor heat exchanger, a liquid reservoir, and
A refrigerant cylinder connected without providing a valve other than a valve provided in the cylinder on the low pressure side of the refrigerant circuit;
When determining the appropriateness of the refrigerant charge amount in the refrigerant circuit, the liquid side pipe of the connecting pipe that connects the indoor unit with the indoor heat exchanger and the outdoor unit with the outdoor heat exchanger A control device that determines a charging state as an operation mode that exists in a liquid refrigerant state, and performs control for charging the refrigerant into the refrigerant circuit from the refrigerant cylinder;
A display device that is provided in the control device and displays a charging state of the refrigerant ;
While operating the refrigerating and air-conditioning apparatus, the refrigerant circuit is filled with refrigerant from the refrigerant cylinder, and when it is determined that the amount of refrigerant is appropriate, the compressor is automatically stopped and the four-way valve is switched. Refrigerant filling equipment for refrigeration air conditioners. A refrigerant circuit having a compressor, a four-way valve, an indoor heat exchanger, a decompression device, an outdoor heat exchanger, a liquid storage device, and the indoor heat serving as at least room temperature, outside air temperature, condensation temperature, evaporation temperature, and condenser A temperature detecting device for detecting an outlet temperature of the exchanger or the outdoor heat exchanger, a refrigerant cylinder connected to the low pressure side of the refrigerant circuit when the refrigerant is charged, and charging the refrigerant from the refrigerant cylinder to the refrigerant circuit In the refrigerant charging method to the refrigerating and air-conditioning apparatus having the control device for performing the control at the time and determining the charging state,
When the refrigerant quantity state determination value is calculated from the temperature detected by the temperature detection device and the value is appropriate, the compressor is stopped and the four-way valve is switched to make the pressure in the refrigerant circuit uniform, and the refrigerant charge amount A refrigerant charging method for a refrigerating and air-conditioning apparatus, wherein the determination operation is stopped. 3. The refrigerant charging method for a refrigerating and air-conditioning apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the refrigerant amount state determination value is appropriate, the refrigerant filling amount determination operation is stopped by further fully opening the decompression device. The control device has a display device,
The refrigerant air conditioning apparatus according to claim 2 or 3 , wherein when the amount of the refrigerant is too small, the display device displays that the refrigerant is extremely insufficient, and the refrigerant is quickly charged. Refrigerant filling method. An indoor unit and an outdoor unit,
5. The refrigerant charging method for a refrigeration air conditioner according to any one of claims 2 to 4 , wherein when the decompression device is provided in the outdoor unit, the operation of the refrigeration air conditioner is a heating operation. An indoor unit and an outdoor unit,
The refrigerant charging method for a refrigerating and air-conditioning apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4 , wherein when the decompression device is provided in the indoor unit, the operation of the refrigerating and air-conditioning apparatus is a cooling operation. The method for charging refrigerant into a refrigeration air conditioner according to any one of claims 2 to 6 , wherein the operation time is changed without adding an amount of refrigerant according to the outside air temperature. The refrigerating and air-conditioning system according to claim 7 , wherein when the outside air temperature is higher than a predetermined value, the operation time without adding the refrigerant from the refrigerant cylinder is shorter than when the outside air temperature is lower than the predetermined value. A method for filling the apparatus with refrigerant. The control device has a display device,
The refrigerating and air-conditioning apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 8 , wherein the control device calculates the refrigerant quantity state determination value in real time, and a calculation result of the control device is displayed on the display device. Refrigerant filling method. In the charging of the refrigerant when the refrigerant amount state determination value is too small or small, the maximum amount that the refrigerant is charged in a predetermined time is within 3% of the refrigerant amount sealed in advance in the refrigerant circuit. The refrigerant charging method for the refrigeration air conditioner according to any one of claims 2 to 9 . The refrigerant control method according to any one of claims 2 to 10 , wherein the control device records an operation history after completing the refrigerant charge amount determination operation.

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