JP4703201B2 - Anomaly detection device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a communication line abnormality detection apparatus in which a first device and a second device communicate information with each other.

  The conventional outdoor unit and indoor unit connection state inspection apparatus in an air conditioner is provided with a plurality of outdoor units installed in the same place and the same number of indoor units in each outdoor unit and indoor unit. By connecting the refrigerant gas pipe and the refrigerant liquid pipe of the refrigerant pipe to the connecting pipe that is connected in a one-to-one manner, the refrigerant pipe is evacuated or airtight is checked, and the pressure of the refrigerant gas pipe and the refrigerant liquid pipe at this time The change is detected by a pressure sensor, and both pressure change values are compared by a control panel. When the two pressure change values do not match, it is determined that the refrigerant pipe is erroneously connected (for example, Patent Document 1). reference).

  Further, the connection check method of the multi-type air conditioner includes a pre-operation temperature input stage in which pre-operation temperatures of pipes connected to a plurality of indoor heat exchangers are input, Select and open only one of the pipes and open the pipe selection open stage, and operate the compressor for a certain time to circulate the refrigerant to the indoor heat exchanger via the pipe opened from the outdoor heat exchanger Compare the operation stage, the post-operation temperature input stage where the post-operation temperature of each pipe connected to each of the indoor heat exchangers is input, the pre-operation temperature and the post-operation temperature of each pipe, and the temperature change It was comprised so that the connection state of piping might be judged by the presence or absence (for example, refer patent document 2).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-26744 (page 4, FIG. 1) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-257806 (page 4, FIG. 2)

  The connection state inspection device for the outdoor unit and the indoor unit in the air conditioner described above is a refrigerant pipe that connects a plurality of outdoor units and the same number of indoor units before the refrigerant cycle operation for the trial operation. The object is to easily and reliably detect erroneous connection of transmission lines. However, this connection state inspection device is intended for an air conditioner in which a plurality of outdoor units and the same number of indoor units are connected on a one-to-one basis, and a plurality of indoor units are connected to one outdoor unit. It was not intended to be.

  Further, the above-described multi-type air conditioner connection state inspection method compares the temperature before operation of the multi-type air conditioner with the temperature after operation, and pipes that connect the outdoor unit and the indoor unit according to the temperature change. The purpose of this is to quickly and easily determine the connected state. However, the connection state inspection method assumes a case where the multi-type air conditioner is actually operated, and there is a problem that the connection state cannot be determined at a stage before the operation.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an abnormality detection device capable of easily detecting an abnormality of a pipe by measuring an electric signal transmitted through an existing metal pipe. The purpose is to provide.

An abnormality detection device according to the present invention is an abnormality detection device for refrigerant pipes that transmits and receives signals using a metal refrigerant pipe that connects an outdoor unit and an indoor unit as a communication line, and includes the outdoor unit and the indoor unit. And the refrigerant pipe are connected by a coupling clamp including a cylindrical core made of a magnetic material, and an impedance calculated from the number of the coupling clamps and an averaging process of transmission / reception signals of the refrigerant pipe And determining means for determining normality / abnormality of the refrigerant pipe by comparing the measured impedance with the measured impedance .

An abnormality detection device according to the present invention is an abnormality detection device for refrigerant pipes that transmits and receives signals using a metal refrigerant pipe that connects an outdoor unit and an indoor unit as a communication line, and includes the outdoor unit and the indoor unit. And the refrigerant pipe are connected by a coupling clamp including a cylindrical core made of a magnetic material, and an impedance calculated from the number of the coupling clamps and an averaging process of transmission / reception signals of the refrigerant pipe By comparing the measured impedance with the measured impedance, the determination means for determining the normality / abnormality of the refrigerant pipe is provided, so that the normality / abnormality of the pipe can be easily determined.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic electrical configuration of an abnormality detection apparatus 10 according to the present invention. In the embodiment, a case where terminals (terminal 15 and terminal 16) detect transmission / reception signals will be described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as long as a transmission / reception signal can be detected, it may be other than a terminal or may be non-contact with a communication line.

  The abnormality detection device 10 is a control unit 11 that controls the entire abnormality detection device 10, a storage unit 12 that stores frequency characteristics indicating a normal state of the communication line, and a signal that is attached to the communication line and transmits and receives signals. A terminal 15 and a terminal 16 are provided. In addition, display means (not shown) for notifying the user of the state of the communication line is provided.

  The control means 11 compares the frequency characteristic of the transmission / reception signal transmitted through the communication line with the frequency characteristic indicating the state of the communication line stored in the storage means 12 to determine whether the communication line is normal or abnormal. 13 is provided. The control means 11 may be constituted by a microcomputer or the like.

  The memory | storage means 12 should just be able to memorize | store the frequency characteristic which shows the normal state of a communication line. Further, it is preferable that frequency characteristics indicating a specific abnormal state of the communication line can be stored in advance or stored at any time. For example, the storage unit 12 may be configured by an HDD (hard disk drive), a nonvolatile memory, or the like. If a characteristic part of the frequency characteristic is extracted and converted into a predetermined parameter (variable) and stored, it can be efficiently used as a material for comparison and determination. Further, if a plurality of frequency characteristics indicating abnormality are stored in the storage means 12, it is possible to detect abnormality and specify the type of abnormality.

  The determination unit 13 has a function of comparing the frequency characteristic of the transmission / reception signal transmitted through the communication line with the frequency characteristic stored in the storage unit 12 to determine whether the communication line is normal or abnormal. The determination unit 13 has a function of extracting a characteristic part of the frequency characteristic of the transmission / reception signal transmitted through the communication line and converting it into a predetermined parameter (variable). Further, the determination means 13 preferably has a function of learning the determination result as indicating the normal / abnormal state of the communication line. The terminals 15 and 16 are electrically attached to the communication line in order to transmit an electric signal to the communication line.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
In Embodiment 1, the case where the terminal 15 and the terminal 16 of the abnormality detection apparatus 10 are attached to the gas-side refrigerant pipe 25 and the liquid-side refrigerant pipe 26 of the air conditioner 1 is shown as an example.

FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a connection state of the abnormality detection device 10.
The abnormality detection device 10 is obtained from the electric signal by attaching the terminal 15 and the terminal 16 to the gas side refrigerant pipe 25 and the liquid side refrigerant pipe 26 of the air conditioner 1 and transmitting an electric signal between the terminals. By comparing the frequency characteristic with the stored frequency characteristic, it is determined whether or not there is an abnormality in the function of the gas side refrigerant pipe 25 and the liquid side refrigerant pipe 26 as a communication line.

  The air conditioner 1 is configured by connecting an outdoor unit 20 and indoor units 21 to 24 by a gas-side refrigerant pipe 25 and a liquid-side refrigerant pipe 26. The outdoor unit 20 includes a compressor (not shown) that compresses the refrigerant, an outdoor heat exchanger (refrigerant circuit) (not shown) that exchanges heat between the refrigerant and the outside air, and the like. The outdoor unit 20 is installed outdoors, and may be arranged on the rooftop of a building.

  The indoor units 21 to 24 include a blower (not shown) that sends the heat exchanged indoors to an indoor heat exchanger (refrigerant circuit) (not shown) in which the refrigerant sent from the outdoor unit 20 exchanges heat with indoor air. It is configured to include. The indoor units 21 to 24 may be arranged so as to be incorporated in the ceiling of the room, or may be arranged so as to be directly installed on the floor surface. The outdoor unit 20 and the indoor units 21 to 24 are provided with a ground 40 in order to ensure the safety of the user.

  The gas side refrigerant pipe 25 and the liquid side refrigerant pipe 26 are configured to conduct refrigerant (carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbon, etc.) and are generally covered with a heat insulating material made of an insulating material such as urethane foam. Here, the gas-side refrigerant pipe 25 and the liquid-side refrigerant pipe 26 serve as a communication line for transmitting an electrical signal.

  For example, since the material of the gas side refrigerant pipe 25 and the liquid side refrigerant pipe 26 is generally copper, the gas side refrigerant pipe 25 and the liquid side refrigerant pipe 26 function as an antenna element according to the same principle as an antenna used wirelessly. When a high-frequency current is passed through a part of the pipe, radio waves are radiated from the entire pipe, and when the pipe receives an electromagnetic field, a high-frequency current flows. The electrical signal can be transmitted by taking it out as a signal.

  Each device (the outdoor unit 20 and the indoor unit 21 to the indoor unit 24) and each refrigerant pipe (the gas side refrigerant pipe 25 and the liquid side refrigerant pipe 26) may be connected by a coupling clamp 30 that is a metal part. The coupling clamp 30 preferably includes a cylindrical core made of a magnetic material. In addition, what is necessary is just to be able to attach the terminal 15 and the terminal 16.

  The abnormality detection device 10 has terminals 15 and 16 attached to the gas-side refrigerant pipe 25 and the liquid-side refrigerant pipe 26, transmits an electric signal between the terminals, and stores the frequency characteristics of the electric signal in the storage means 12. Compare the frequency characteristics. Based on the comparison result, the normal / abnormal communication line is determined. Therefore, it is possible to detect an abnormality in a communication line without being affected by an outer wall or the like of an electrical signal transmitted through each device and without requiring a dedicated communication line.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a state in which the terminal 15 and the terminal 16 are attached to the coupling clamp 30. As described above, the coupling clamp 30 preferably includes a cylindrical core made of a magnetic material. This is because the gas-side refrigerant pipe 25 and the liquid-side refrigerant pipe 26 are short-circuited by a refrigerant circuit (not shown), and a predetermined inductance can be obtained by penetrating through the core. That is, the impedance (ZL) when such a core is attached to the gas-side refrigerant pipe 25 and the liquid-side refrigerant pipe 26 can be calculated as a constant inductance by specifying the permeability of the core. .

  Therefore, the impedance (Zall) when the coupling clamps 30 are attached to all of the gas-side refrigerant pipe 25 and the liquid-side refrigerant pipe 26 can be expressed as Zall = 2 × ZL / N, where N is the number of coupling clamps 30. it can. For example, when calculating using FIG. 2 as an example, Zall = 2 × ZL / 10. Then, an AC signal source having a predetermined output impedance is connected to the coupling clamp 30, and the voltage between the terminals can be measured with several kinds of frequencies. That is, if an AC power source having a predetermined output impedance is transmitted from one of the terminal 15 and the terminal 16 attached to the coupling clamp 30, the AC power source transmits the gas side refrigerant pipe 25 and the liquid side refrigerant pipe 26, and the other side. Received at the terminal.

Next, the operation of the abnormality detection device 10 will be described.
First, the impedance (Zall) is calculated in advance from the number of coupling clamps 30 attached to the gas-side refrigerant pipe 25 and the liquid-side refrigerant pipe 26 and stored in the storage unit 12. And the averaging process of the signal frequency which transmits the gas side refrigerant | coolant piping 25 and the liquid side refrigerant | coolant piping 26 is performed. At this time, it is assumed that the voltage between the terminals is extremely lowered or increased at a specific frequency due to the resonance phenomenon caused by the distribution constant between the gas side refrigerant pipe 25 and the liquid side refrigerant pipe 26. The averaging process may be performed by omitting the inter-terminal voltage (see FIG. 4). When this averaging process is performed, the impedance of the entire air conditioner 1 can be obtained. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a measured value of the impedance of the signal frequency.

  The determination unit 13 compares this measured value with Zall stored in the storage unit 12. As a result of the comparison, the determination means 13 determines that there is no deterioration if it is within a predetermined error, and determines that there is deterioration if it is not within the predetermined error. For example, when the gas side refrigerant pipe 25 and the liquid side refrigerant pipe 26 are short-circuited in the middle of the path due to heat insulation deterioration or the like, the impedance approaches zero ohms, so that it can be easily determined.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In the second embodiment, a case where the terminal 15 of the abnormality detection apparatus 10 is attached to the ground 40 and the terminal 16 is attached to the liquid side refrigerant pipe 26 is shown as an example.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a connection state of the abnormality detection device 10.
The basic configuration of the air conditioner 1a is the same as that of the air conditioner 1, and the description of the same reference numerals is omitted, and only different portions are described. In the air conditioner 1a, the coupling clamp 30 is provided only in the liquid side refrigerant pipe 26. For example, the terminal 15 is attached to the ground 40 of the outdoor unit 20 without providing the coupling clamp 30 in the gas side refrigerant pipe 25. That is, the abnormality detection device 10 uses the frequency characteristic of the electrical signal transmitted through the communication line as a criterion for determining the normality / abnormality of the communication line, so that if the frequency characteristic of the electrical signal transmitted through the communication line can be obtained, the terminal 15 And that the terminal 16 need not be attached to the communication line itself.

  FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a state in which the terminal 15 is attached to the ground 40 and the terminal 16 is attached to the coupling clamp 30 of the liquid side refrigerant pipe 26. In this way, by measuring the impedance between the liquid side refrigerant pipe 26 and the earth 40, a short circuit to the earth 40 can be easily detected (impedance is zero ohms), and the pipe is abnormal (insulation material cut, deteriorated, etc.). It can be judged that there is.

Next, the operation of the abnormality detection device 10 will be described.
First, the impedance (Zall) is calculated in advance from the number of coupling clamps 30 attached to the liquid-side refrigerant pipe 26 and stored in the storage means 12. Then, an averaging process of the signal frequency transmitted between the liquid side refrigerant pipe 26 and the earth 40 is performed. The averaging process is performed as shown in the first embodiment. When this averaging process is performed, the impedance of the entire air conditioner 1a can be obtained.

  The determination unit 13 compares this measured value with Zall stored in the storage unit 12. As a result of the comparison, the determination means 13 determines that there is no deterioration if it is within a predetermined error, and determines that there is deterioration if it is not within the predetermined error. For example, when the liquid side refrigerant pipe 26 and the earth 40 are short-circuited due to heat insulation deterioration or the like in the middle of the path, the impedance approaches zero ohms, so that it can be easily determined.

  In the said embodiment, although the case where the abnormality detection apparatus 10 which concerns on this invention was connected to the air conditioner (the air conditioner 1 and the air conditioner 1a) was demonstrated to the example, it is not limited to this. That is, as long as it can be connected to a communication line capable of transmitting an electric signal, the communication line itself may be used, or a pipe that functions as a communication line may be used. For example, a refrigerator and a showcase, a refrigerator and a refrigerator warehouse, a heat source and a fan coil unit, an outdoor unit and an indoor unit of a housing air conditioner may be connected to a refrigerant pipe that also functions as a communication line.

  In the embodiment, the case where there are two terminals has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and two or more terminals may be provided. Further, one terminal may be fixed to the electric signal transmitting side and the other terminal to the electric signal receiving side. Note that the abnormality detection device according to the present invention may be incorporated in an air conditioner or the like. Furthermore, it is preferable that the coupling clamp 30 includes a cylindrical core made of a magnetic material. However, the present invention is not limited to this, as long as the coupling clamp 30 includes a material having an impedance with respect to an AC electric signal. Good.

  In the embodiment, the case where the storage unit 12 is included in the abnormality detection apparatus 10 has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the normal / abnormal judgment criterion is whether the impedance is zero ohms or any other impedance, the storage unit 12 may be omitted. Furthermore, in the embodiment, the case where the state of the communication line is displayed on the display unit (not shown) has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the state of the communication line may be indicated by any one of voice, warning sound, color, or a combination thereof.

It is a block diagram which shows the electrical schematic structure of the abnormality detection apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the connection state of the abnormality detection apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of attachment of terminals according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the value of the impedance which performed the averaging process. It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the connection state of the abnormality detection apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of attaching terminals according to the second embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air conditioner, 10 abnormality detection apparatus, 10a abnormality detection apparatus, 11 control means, 12 memory | storage means, 13 judgment means, 15 terminals, 16 terminals, 20 outdoor units, 21 indoor units, 22 indoor units, 23 indoor units, 24 Indoor unit, 25 gas side refrigerant piping, 26 liquid side refrigerant piping, 30 coupling clamp, 40 ground.

Claims (1)

A refrigerant pipe abnormality detection device that transmits and receives signals using a metal refrigerant pipe connecting an outdoor unit and an indoor unit as a communication line,
The outdoor unit and the indoor unit and the refrigerant pipe are connected by a coupling clamp including a cylindrical core made of a magnetic material,
A determination means for determining normality / abnormality of the refrigerant pipe by comparing the impedance calculated from the number of the coupling clamps with the impedance measured by averaging the transmission / reception signals of the refrigerant pipe; An abnormality detection device characterized by the above.

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