JP6399238B2 - Air conditioner floor-standing indoor unit - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner floor-standing indoor unit in which a refrigerant circuit is filled with a combustible refrigerant.

  Until now, the refrigerant filled in the refrigerant circuit of the air conditioner was mainly HFC refrigerant R410A, but R410A has the property of having a high global warming potential GWP, which is part of the prevention of global warming. In recent years, the refrigerant has been changed to a refrigerant having a low GWP.

  As such a low GWP refrigerant, there are halogenated hydrocarbons having a carbon double bond in the composition, and representative examples thereof include HFO-1234yf (CF3CF = CH2; tetrafluoropropane) and HFO-1234ze (CF3). There are refrigerants such as -CH = CHF) and HFO-1123 (CF2 = CHF). Although these are a kind of HFC refrigerants, unsaturated hydrocarbons having a carbon double bond are called olefins and are often expressed as HFO using O of olefins. Therefore, in the present specification, these are referred to as HFO refrigerants and have a carbon double bond in the composition such as R32 (CH2F2; difluoromethane) and R125 (CHF2-CF3; pentafluoroethane) constituting R410A. Shall be distinguished from no HFC refrigerant.

  Such a low GWP HFO refrigerant may be used as a single refrigerant, but for an air conditioner, a mixed refrigerant using different HFO refrigerants and other HFC refrigerants represented by R32 It is going to be used as a mixed refrigerant. These HFO refrigerants (single or mixed) or mixed refrigerants of HFO refrigerants and HFC refrigerants are not as flammable as HC refrigerants such as R290 (C3H8; propane), which is also a low GWP refrigerant, but are nonflammable. Unlike R410A, it has a slightly flammable level. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to the leakage of the refrigerant. Hereinafter, the refrigerant having flammability including the slight flammability to the strong flammability is referred to as a flammable refrigerant. In addition, since R32 exhibits a slight flammability as a single refrigerant, that is, a flammable refrigerant, a mixed refrigerant of HFO refrigerant and R32 is also a flammable refrigerant. R410A in which R125 is mixed with R125 is nonflammable due to the characteristics of R125.

  When such flammable refrigerant leaks into the room, if the leaked refrigerant gas heavier than air stays within a certain range without diffusing, there is a possibility that a flammable gas phase will be formed there. There is. And if there is any ignition source in the flammable gas phase, there is a risk of the refrigerant igniting, and such a situation must be avoided.

  If the indoor unit of the air conditioner in which the refrigerant circuit is filled with the flammable refrigerant is a wall-mounted type installed at the upper part of the wall surface of the air-conditioned room, even if the refrigerant leaks from the indoor unit to the room, Leakage refrigerant gas heavier than air does not stay at a high concentration due to the diffusion effect until it descends to the floor of the room. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

JP 2000-234797 A (paragraphs 0029 to 0030)

  When the indoor unit is a wall-mounted type as described above, the installation location is close to the ceiling and is high with respect to the floor surface. Even if it flows out to the floor, when the refrigerant gas that is heavier than air descends to the floor surface, it is mixed with the indoor air, and a diffusion effect is obtained. It is unlikely that a gas phase having a flammable concentration of refrigerant will be formed in the room.

  However, some air conditioner indoor units are placed on the floor with the wall of the air-conditioned room on the back, such floor mounted indoor units are floor surfaces like wall mounted indoor units. Does not have a height against.

  The floor-standing indoor unit has a heat exchanger room and a piping room divided in the left-right direction inside the housing, and is connected to the indoor heat exchanger located in the heat exchanger room inside the piping room The connecting piping that is being arranged. Then, the other end of the connection pipe, one end of which is connected to the outdoor outdoor unit and penetrates the wall of the room and led into the room, is connected to the connection pipe in the pipe room. The connecting piping enters the piping chamber through a piping port formed on the back surface or the lower portion of the side surface of the housing.

  In such a floor-standing indoor unit, particularly when refrigerant leakage occurs in the piping chamber, the leaked refrigerant gas tends to leak into the room through a gap generated between the connection piping and the piping passage port. Since the pipe passage port is formed in the lower part of the housing, the gap between the connection pipe and the pipe port is close to the floor surface, and if leaked refrigerant gas flows out of the pipe chamber into the indoor space through this, the outflow location Since there is almost no difference in height between the floor and the floor surface, it is not possible to obtain a diffusion effect caused by descending while mixing with air as in the case of a wall-mounted indoor unit. For this reason, there is a possibility that a high concentration of gas stays on the floor surface around the indoor unit and a gas phase having a flammable concentration of the refrigerant is formed there.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. Even if the refrigerant leaks inside the indoor unit and the leaked refrigerant flows into the indoor space, the combustible refrigerant leaks around the indoor unit. An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner floor-standing indoor unit that is excellent in safety and can prevent the formation of a gas phase having a concentration.

An air conditioner floor-standing indoor unit according to the present invention is a floor-standing indoor unit of an air conditioner that is installed in a room to be air-conditioned, in which a refrigerant circuit is filled with a flammable refrigerant, A housing having an air outlet, a blower fan that generates an air flow from the suction port to the air outlet, a heat exchanger that forms part of the refrigerant circuit and through which the air flow generated by the blower fan passes A heat exchanger chamber provided in the housing, in which the blower fan and the heat exchanger are disposed, a communication pipe that forms part of the refrigerant circuit and is connected to the heat exchanger, An external connection pipe that forms part of the refrigerant circuit and is taken into the room from the outside of the room; and is provided in the housing so as to be horizontally separated from the heat exchanger chamber, and the communication pipe and the external connection pipe Before the piping chamber where the connecting part is located and the piping chamber Is formed by opening the upper surface or top of the housing, the pipe chamber and the vent leading to the indoor space of the room in which the floor-mount-type indoor unit is installed, the vent comprises a side wall and a roof portion And a guide cover having a discharge port that opens into the indoor space .

  According to this invention, even if refrigerant leakage occurs inside the indoor unit and the leaked refrigerant flows into the indoor space, it is possible to prevent the formation of a flammable gas phase of the leakage refrigerant around the indoor unit. It is possible to provide an air conditioner floor-standing indoor unit that is excellent in performance.

It is an external appearance perspective view from the front side of the floor-standing type indoor unit in Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is an external appearance perspective view from the back side of the floor-standing indoor unit shown in FIG. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the indoor unit of the air conditioner of the floor-standing indoor unit shown in FIG. It is the schematic diagram which looked at the state which removed the front side part of the indoor unit of the air conditioner shown in FIG. 1 from the front. It is a schematic diagram explaining the management state of the connection piping and connection piping of the indoor unit of the air conditioner shown in FIG. It is a perspective view of the guard of the indoor unit of the air conditioner shown in FIG. It is a principal part external appearance perspective view of the floor-standing indoor unit in Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the longitudinal cross-sectional view of the principal part of the indoor unit of the air conditioner shown in FIG. It is a principal part external appearance perspective view which shows the example where the guard was attached to the vent hole of the indoor unit of the air conditioner shown in FIG. It is an external appearance perspective view of the principal part of the floor-standing indoor unit in Embodiment 3 of this invention.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is an external perspective view from the front side of a floor-standing indoor unit 100 (hereinafter referred to as an indoor unit 100) of an air conditioner according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. It is an external appearance perspective view from the side. A part of FIG. 1 is an exploded view. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the heat exchanger chamber 1 portion of the indoor unit 100, and FIG. 4 is a front view of the front panel 7 and the air filter 15 that are the front side portion of the indoor unit 100. It is a schematic diagram. This indoor unit 100 constitutes an air conditioner together with an outdoor unit (not shown) installed outdoors.

  The indoor unit 100 and an outdoor unit (not shown) are connected via a connection pipe 20 including a liquid pipe and a gas pipe to form a refrigerant circuit filled with a refrigerant. During the operation of the air conditioner, a vapor compression refrigeration cycle operates in this refrigerant circuit. As the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit, a mixed refrigerant of HFO-1234yf, which is a kind of HFO refrigerant, and R32, which is a kind of HFC refrigerant, is used here. Both HFO-1234yf and R32 have a slightly flammable level, and this mixed refrigerant is a flammable refrigerant.

  As shown in FIG. 1, this indoor unit 100 has a rectangular parallelepiped appearance as a whole, and is a floor-standing type installed on a floor surface with a wall surface of an air-conditioned room as a back. As shown in FIG. 4, the indoor unit 100 has a heat exchanger chamber 1 and a piping chamber 2 that are divided in the left-right direction inside the housing 5. In the heat exchanger chamber 1 located on the left side when viewed from the front, a heat exchanger 3 and a blower fan 4 that circulates room air through the heat exchanger 3 are arranged. The heat exchanger 3 is one component of the refrigerant circuit, and the refrigerant flows inside the indoor unit 100 during operation.

  In the piping chamber 2 located on the right side, an electrical component unit 9 in which an electrical board including a control device 8 that controls the operation of the indoor unit 100 is accommodated is disposed at the top. In the piping chamber 2, two connecting pipes 10 each including a gas pipe and a liquid pipe connected to the heat exchanger 3 are arranged.

  The casing 5 includes a casing 6 and a front panel 7 attached to the front surface of the casing 6. The front panel 7 can be attached to and detached from the casing 6. The casing 6 includes a top plate 6a serving as a top surface of the housing 5, a back plate 6b covering the back surface, a side plate 6c serving as left and right side walls, and a bottom plate 6d serving as a bottom surface. A front panel 7 covers the front opening of the casing 6. Note that the casing 6 may be configured by combining those divided in the front-rear direction on the back side and the front side.

  During the operation of the indoor unit 100, the indoor fan that sucks indoor air from the lower part of the housing 5 through the heat exchanger 3 by the rotation of the blower fan 4 and exchanges heat with the refrigerant flowing in the heat exchanger 3 at that time. Air (conditioned air) is blown out from the top of the housing 5 and returned to the room. A suction port 11 serving as an inlet for room air sucked into the housing 5 is formed in the lower front portion of the housing 5. A suction grill 13 formed integrally with the front panel 7 is installed in the suction port 11. The suction grill 13 has a plurality of rectangular plates arranged with a predetermined gap in the vertical direction, and serves as a passage for indoor air into which the gap flows.

  And the blower outlet 12 which blows off the conditioned air after heat exchange is formed in the front side corner | angular part of the housing 5 upper part. The air outlet 12 is formed in the upper part of the casing 6 so as to open. An up-and-down air direction plate 14 that can adjust the direction of the air flow that is blown out is disposed at the air outlet 12. As shown in FIG. 1, the air outlet 12 is closed by the up-and-down air direction plate 14 when the indoor unit 100 is stopped, and during operation, the up-and-down air direction plate 14 is rotated and opened as shown in FIG. Is done.

  An air filter 15 is attached to the front side of the casing 6. The air filter 15 is installed at a position downstream of the suction port 11 and upstream of the heat exchanger 3 in the air flow generated by the rotation of the blower fan 4.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the inside of the housing 5 is partitioned into a heat exchanger chamber 1 and a piping chamber 2 by a partition plate 16 in the horizontal direction, here, in the left-right direction. A heat exchanger 3 and a blower fan 4 are arranged in the heat exchanger chamber 1 located on the left side of the partition plate 16. As shown in FIG. 3, the heat exchanger 3 includes a front heat exchanger 3 a and a back heat exchanger 3 b, and is configured so as to exhibit an upward V shape in a side view. The heat exchanger 3 is a fin-and-tube type. Here, the fins 31 are made of aluminum, and the heat transfer tubes 32 are made of an oxygen-free copper tube having high corrosion resistance.

  One end of the liquid pipe of the communication pipe 10 is provided at the inlet of the heat transfer pipe 32 during the cooling operation (the outlet during the heating operation), and one end of the gas pipe of the communication pipe 10 is provided at the outlet of the heat transfer pipe 32 during the cooling operation. Each is connected by brazing.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the heat exchanger chamber 1, the blower fan 4 is installed at a position on the downstream side of the heat exchanger 3 in the air flow. Here, the blower fan 4 is an elongated cylindrical cross-flow fan, and is installed sideways behind the upper part of the front heat exchanger 3a so that the rotational axis direction coincides with the left-right direction. In the heat exchanger chamber 1, an air passage is formed in which an air flow from the inlet 12 to the outlet 13 is generated by the rotation of the blower fan 4.

  On the other hand, in the piping chamber 2 positioned on the right side of the partition plate 16, the connecting pipe 10 is led from the heat exchanger 3 so that the other end side of the connecting pipe 10 is positioned below the electrical unit 9 positioned at the top. It is. The other end of each of the connection pipes 10 is connected to the outdoor outdoor unit (not shown) and connected to the other end of the connection pipe 20 taken into the room (air-conditioning target) where the indoor unit 100 is installed. Will be connected.

  The connecting pipe 20 is also composed of a gas pipe and a liquid pipe, and the connecting pipe 10 and the connecting pipe 20 are connected to each other between the gas pipes and the liquid pipes. In both the cooling operation and the heating operation, gas refrigerant flows through the gas pipe, and liquid refrigerant or gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant flows through the liquid pipe. Since the volume flow rate of the gas refrigerant is large, the pipe diameter (inner diameter) is larger in the gas pipe. The heat exchanger 3, the communication pipe 10, and the connection pipe 20 all form part of the refrigerant circuit filled with the refrigerant, and the refrigerant circulating in the refrigerant circuit flows when the indoor unit 100 is operated.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the connection portion G between the communication pipe 10 and the connection pipe 20 is positioned below the electrical unit 9 in the vertical direction in the pipe chamber 2. Both pipes are flared at the position of the connecting portion G. A flare joint union (hereinafter referred to as a flare joint union) is brazed and fixed to the connecting portion 10a at the other end of the connecting pipe 10. And in the connection part 20a used as the front-end | tip at the side of the indoor unit 100 of the connection piping 20, the trumpet-like flare part is formed in the pipe end surface, and the flare nut is attached so that the circumference | surroundings of the flare part may be enclosed.

  In the connection part G between the connection pipe 10 and the connection pipe 20, the flare joint union of one connection part 10a and the flare nut of the other connection part 20a are screw-coupled. The flare joint union is a male thread and the flare nut is a female thread. By this screw connection, the front end surface of the flare joint union of the connection portion 10a and the inner surface of the pipe flare portion of the connection portion 20a are in close contact with each other, and the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit whose pressure is higher than the atmospheric pressure is sealed including when stopped.

  FIG. 5 illustrates a handling state of the connection pipe 10 and the connection pipe 20 in the pipe chamber 2 of the indoor unit 100. The front end portion (including the connection portion 20a) of the connection pipe 20 on the indoor unit 100 side enters the pipe chamber 2 through a pipe passage port 17 that is cut out and opened at a part of the lower portion of the back plate 6a of the casing 6. It can enter. The pipe passage port 17 is provided at a position in the casing 6 which is the lower back of the pipe chamber 2. In at least a portion of the connection pipe 20 led into the room, the liquid pipe and the gas pipe except for the connection part 20a at the tip cover the outer side of the copper pipe through which the refrigerant flows, and to the outer surface of the copper pipe This prevents the condensation of water. In this specification, the connection pipe 20 includes a copper pipe through which the refrigerant flows and a heat insulating material covering the copper pipe.

  The pipe passage port 17 may be provided not on the back surface of the casing 6 but on the side plate 6c facing the pipe chamber 2 (in the indoor unit 100, the side plate 6c located on the right side). In the lower part of the piping chamber 2 (below the electrical unit 9), a space is secured in advance so that a part of the connection piping 20 on the indoor unit 100 side can enter.

  In the installation work of the indoor unit 100, the operator passes the pipe passage port 17 and draws the connection portion 20 a side portion of the connection pipe 20 into the pipe chamber 2 to perform the connection work with the connection pipe 10. The opening dimension of 17 is formed larger than the external dimension of the connection pipe 20 so that the connection pipe 20 composed of two liquid pipes and gas pipes can be smoothly drawn into the pipe chamber 2. Therefore, a gap is generated between the connection pipe 20 and the pipe passage port 17. By this gap, the internal space of the piping chamber 2 and the indoor space outside the indoor unit 100 are communicated. Here, since the heat insulating material covers the outer side of the copper pipe in the connection pipe 20 at the position of the pipe passage opening 17, here, the gap between the connection pipe 20 and the pipe passage opening 17 is the outside of the heat insulating material. It is formed between the surface and the opening surface of the pipe passage port 17.

  In the heat exchanger chamber 1, a drain pan 18 that receives condensed water adhering to the heat exchanger 3 during cooling operation is located below the heat exchanger 3. The drain pan 18 is a groove-like container having an upper surface opened, and is installed by extending the opening on the upper surface in the left-right direction toward the heat exchanger 3 side. The drain pan 18 receives the condensed water dripped through the heat exchanger 3 by gravity at the upper surface opening. The drain water received by the drain pan 18 is drained outdoors through a drain hose (not shown) connected to the drain pan 18.

  Next, the basic operation of the indoor unit 100 will be described. The control device 10 controls the operation of the indoor unit 100 based on an operation signal from a remote controller by a user, detection signals of various sensors, a predetermined program, or the like. When the user instructs the start of cooling operation or heating operation from the remote controller, the control device 10 communicates with the outdoor unit to drive the compressor installed in the outdoor unit and circulates the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit. Operate the refrigeration cycle. The compressor is also a component of the refrigerant circuit. And as shown in FIG. 3, while rotating the up-and-down wind direction board 16 and opening the blower outlet 13, the ventilation fan 4 is rotationally driven.

  As the blower fan 4 rotates, the room air is sucked from the suction port 11 below the housing 5 and passes through the air filter 15 and the heat exchanger 3 in order. Since the dust contained in the room air is captured by the air filter 15 when passing through the air filter 15, the room air guided to the heat exchanger 3 is removed, and the dust is removed from the heat exchanger 3. It is prevented from adhering.

  When the indoor air passes through the heat exchanger 3, it exchanges heat with the refrigerant flowing in the heat transfer pipe 32 of the heat exchanger 3, and in the cooling operation, the amount of heat of the indoor air is taken away as the heat of evaporation of the refrigerant. If it is a heating operation, the heat of condensation of the refrigerant is given to the room air to warm it up, and each becomes conditioned air. The air flow that has become conditioned air after passing through the heat exchanger 3 then crosses the blower fan 4 that is a cross flow fan, proceeds to the downstream side of the blower fan 4, and is blown out from the blower outlet 13 into the room. The At that time, the blowing direction of the blown air flow is adjusted by the up / down wind direction plate 16 and the left / right wind direction plate (not shown).

  Although the indoor unit 100 has such a basic configuration and function, as described above, a combustible refrigerant is used as the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit. If a refrigerant leak occurs in the indoor unit 100, the weight per unit time of the refrigerant that leaks in a slow leak such as a so-called slow leak from the pinhole of the heat transfer tube 32 (hereinafter referred to as a leak rate) When the refrigerant gas is small, even if leaked refrigerant gas heavier than air flows out from the indoor unit 100 into the indoor space, it naturally diffuses and does not stay. Here, natural diffusion means that the refrigerant spontaneously moves from the high concentration region to the low concentration region (hereinafter referred to as natural diffusion).

  In a slow leak such as a leak from a pinhole, the weight per unit time of the leaked refrigerant gas flowing out from the indoor unit 100 into the indoor space (hereinafter referred to as the indoor outflow speed) Since the weight per unit time of the refrigerant that naturally diffuses in the indoor space (hereinafter referred to as the natural diffusion rate) is small, there is a possibility that the refrigerant gas concentration will rise to the flammable range in the room without stagnating the leaked refrigerant. Is low.

  Further, during operation, the indoor air is disturbed by the influence of the air flow generated by the blower fan 4, and the leaked refrigerant gas flowing out into the indoor space is forcibly diffused accordingly, so that the concentration of the refrigerant gas is also reduced. Is unlikely to reach the flammable range. Thus, in the case of a slow leak such as from a pinhole of the heat transfer tube 32, it is unlikely that a gas phase with a flammable concentration will be formed even during stoppage or during operation. It is unlikely that the refrigerant will ignite. Here, the leakage of the refrigerant means that the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit leaks out of the refrigerant circuit.

  Therefore, a situation in which the leakage of the leaked refrigerant is a concern is not a slow leak as described above, but a refrigerant leak with a high leak rate. Such rapid refrigerant leakage may occur, for example, when the flare connection is disconnected at the connection portion G. In the connecting portion 20a of the connecting pipe 20, the size of the trumpet-shaped flare formed on the end face of the pipe is too small, that is, the outer diameter of the trumpet-shaped flare is small, or the flare nut 2 is tightened too much to cause flare. When the thickness of the connecting portion is reduced, the flare portion of the connecting pipe 20 is pushed out of the flare nut or the flare portion is cut by the pressure of the refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit higher than the atmospheric pressure. Can happen.

  Then, with only the flare nut of the connection part 20a of the connection pipe 20 being fastened to the flare joint union of the connection part 10a of the connection pipe 10, the connection pipe 20 comes out of the connection part G, that is, the flare connection is released. In other words, the refrigerant leaks so rapidly as to be incomparable with the leak from the pinhole of the heat transfer tube 32, that is, the refrigerant leaks at a high leak rate. For example, in the case of refrigerant leakage from a pinhole, the leakage rate is about 0.1 kg / min. However, in the case of refrigerant leakage due to a flare disconnection, the leakage rate is about 1.25 kg / min, which is 10 times larger.

  Especially when the indoor unit 100 is stopped, when such a rapid refrigerant leakage occurs, the pressure in the piping chamber 2 is increased by the leaked refrigerant gas that is vaporized immediately after the leakage, and the leaked refrigerant gas is pushed out. It flows out into the room through a gap between the pipe 20 and the pipe passage port 17. At this time, if the leaking refrigerant gas outflow rate is larger than the natural diffusion rate, the natural diffusion of the leaking refrigerant gas does not catch up, and the leaking refrigerant gas stays around the indoor unit 100, particularly in the vicinity of the pipe passage port 17. There is a risk of forming a combustible gas phase. Since the pipe passage port 17 is provided at a position close to the floor surface in the lower part of the indoor unit 100, the leaked refrigerant gas flowing out from the gap between the connection pipe 20 and the pipe passage port 17 flows out along the floor surface. And easily stay on the floor.

  In addition, the combustible range of the refrigerant gas concentration (vs. air) is 6.2 to 12.3 vol% for HFO1234yf, and 14.4 to 29.3 vol% for R32, and here, these mixed refrigerants are used. Therefore, the lower limit of the flammable concentration range is larger than 6.2 vol% and the upper limit is smaller than 29.3 vol% depending on the mixing ratio.

  When the flare connection disconnection occurs at the connecting portion G located in the piping chamber 2 and the connecting pipe 20 is removed from the connecting portion G, the atmospheric pressure in the refrigerant circuit is obtained from the disconnected connecting pipe 20 and the connecting pipe 10. A refrigerant having a pressure higher than that of the pressure chamber is released into the piping chamber 2 under atmospheric pressure. Since the pressure of the leaked refrigerant released into the piping chamber 2 is reduced at once, it is vaporized immediately after the leak. As a result, the pressure in the piping chamber 2 temporarily rises to a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure as the leaked refrigerant vaporizes, and the refrigerant gas is rich in the piping chamber 2.

  Therefore, the indoor unit 100 positively leaks the refrigerant gas temporarily filled in the piping chamber 2 due to rapid refrigerant leakage in the piping chamber 2 to the outside of the indoor unit 100, that is, to the indoor space. In order to discharge, a vent hole 19 opened on the upper surface of the piping chamber 2 is provided. The vent hole 19 communicates with the piping chamber 2 and the indoor space outside the outdoor unit 100, and has an opening area sufficiently larger than the ventilation area due to the gap between the connection pipe 20 and the pipe passage port 17. Yes.

  The ventilation hole 19 is formed to open at a position facing the piping chamber 2 of the upper surface plate 6 a of the casing 6 that is the upper surface of the housing 5. In order to prevent foreign matter from entering the piping chamber 2 from the vent hole 19, a guard 21 as an attachment part is attached to the vent hole 19. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the guard 21, which has a vertical beam 21 b and a horizontal beam 21 c inside a substantially rectangular outer frame 21 a, and a plurality of openings 21 d are formed in a lattice shape. The lattice-shaped opening 21d of the guard 21 is covered with a filter 21e fixed to the outer frame 21a, the vertical beam 21b, and the horizontal beam 21c, and also prevents dust from entering the piping chamber 2.

  The opening area by the plurality of lattice-shaped openings 21d is sufficiently larger than the area communicating the inside and outside of the piping chamber 2 by the gap between the connection pipe 20 and the pipe passage port 17, and the ventilation resistance of the plurality of openings 21d is also through the filter 21e. The passage resistance of the gap between the connection pipe 20 and the pipe passage port 17 is sufficiently smaller.

  Here, the guard 21 is fitted in and attached to the ventilation hole 19 and is detachable from the casing 6. When dust accumulates on the filter 21 e, the user removes the guide 21 and rinses it with water. be able to. Both the casing 6 and the guard 21 (except for the filter 21e) are resin molded products.

  In the indoor unit 100, since the vent hole 19 is formed on the upper surface of the piping chamber 2, a rapid refrigerant leakage occurs in the piping chamber 2 due to the disconnection of the connecting portion G, and the inside of the piping chamber 2 temporarily leaks refrigerant. Even when the gas becomes rich, the leaked refrigerant gas actively passes through the vent hole 19 having a small ventilation resistance, and more specifically passes through the plurality of openings 21d of the guard 21 and flows out into the indoor space. .

  The ventilation hole 19 is formed in the upper surface of the casing 5, that is, the upper surface plate 6a of the casing 6 that is the highest position with respect to the floor surface in the indoor unit 100, and the leaked refrigerant gas flowing out from the ventilation hole 19 is from air. Is too heavy to descend toward the floor. And when it descends to the floor, it is avoided that it stays at a high concentration by the diffusion effect obtained by descending while mixing with indoor air. For this reason, the situation where the combustible gas phase of the refrigerant is formed in the room can be prevented.

  Compared with the above-described wall-mounted indoor unit of Patent Document 1, the height from the floor where leaked refrigerant gas flows out from the indoor unit is low, but the pressure temporarily rises due to sudden vaporization of the leaked refrigerant In this state, the pipe chamber 2 flows out from the vent hole 19 with a flow velocity, so that it is easy to obtain a diffusion effect when descending to the floor surface, and it is possible to avoid a high concentration stay.

  Since the leaked refrigerant gas actively flows out from the vent hole 19 having a smaller ventilation resistance (large outflow area) than the other outflow paths, the connection pipe 20 and the pipe passage port 17 which are one of the other outflow paths. The amount of outflow from the gap is significantly reduced compared to a conventional floor-standing indoor unit that does not have the vent hole 19. Since the gap between the connection pipe 20 and the pipe passage port 17 exists in the indoor unit 100 as well as the conventional machine, the leakage refrigerant gas from the gap cannot be made zero. However, since the outflow amount can be greatly reduced, the leaking refrigerant gas has an indoor outflow speed smaller than the natural diffusion speed, and the leaking refrigerant flowing out from the gap between the connection pipe 20 and the pipe passage port 17 is not stored in the indoor unit 100. It does not stay at high concentration in the vicinity.

  As described above, the indoor unit 100 is opened to a portion of the upper surface plate 6a of the casing 6 covering the piping chamber 2, that is, the upper surface of the piping chamber 2, and the piping chamber 2 and the indoor unit 100 are installed. Since the vent hole 19 leading to the indoor space of the room is provided, the leaked refrigerant gas is vented in the pipe chamber 2 even if a sudden refrigerant leak occurs, such as the flare connection of the connecting portion G in the piping chamber 2. It flows out to indoor space through 19. And since the leaked refrigerant gas is heavier than air and falls to the floor surface, the leaked refrigerant gas descends while mixing with the indoor air at the time of this descent, and a diffusion effect is obtained. It is possible to avoid staying at a high concentration on the surface. For this reason, it is possible to prevent a combustible gas phase of the leaked refrigerant from being formed around the indoor unit 100.

  The opening position of the vent hole 19 is not necessarily limited to the upper surface of the piping chamber 2. Even if it is provided in the upper part near the upper surface of the back surface, side surface, or front surface of the piping chamber 2, that is, it opens to the upper back surface, upper side surface, or upper front surface of the piping chamber 2, the leaked refrigerant gas flowing out of the piping chamber 2 The diffusion effect can be obtained, and staying at a high concentration can be avoided.

  Moreover, you may make it provide the vent hole 19 in each of two or more surfaces selected from the upper surface of a piping chamber 2, a side surface, a back surface, and a front surface, or two or more vent holes 19 in one surface. May be provided. The vent hole 19 itself may be constituted by a plurality of openings arranged like a guard 21 in a lattice shape. Here, the back and side surfaces of the piping chamber 2 are the back plate 6 b and the right side plate 6 c of the casing 6, and the front surface of the piping chamber 2 is the front panel 7.

  When the vent hole 19 is provided on the upper surface of the piping chamber 2, the leaked refrigerant gas flowing out from the vent hole 19 has an upward velocity component, so that the distance by which the refrigerant gas descends is at the upper back or upper side. There is an advantage that the diffusion effect becomes large when descending because it becomes larger than the case where it is provided.

  On the other hand, when the vent hole 19 is provided in any one of the upper rear surface, the upper side surface, and the upper front surface of the piping chamber 2, it opens in the horizontal direction. Dust hardly accumulates on the filter 21e, and the frequency of cleaning of the guard 21 by the user can be reduced. Further, in the case of being provided on the upper part of the back surface, it becomes difficult for the user to visually recognize the vent hole 19 and the guard 21 as compared with the case of providing on the other surface, which is advantageous from the viewpoint of design.

  In this way, on the upper surface of the housing 5 facing the piping chamber 2 or the upper portion of the housing 5 facing the piping chamber 2, the air vent 19 communicates with the piping chamber 2 and the indoor space of the room where the indoor unit 100 is installed. Even if a sudden refrigerant leak occurs in the piping chamber 2 such as the flare connection of the connecting portion G is leaked, the leaked refrigerant gas flows out into the indoor space through the vent hole 19 and flows into the floor surface. Therefore, it is possible to avoid diffusing and staying at a high concentration on the floor surface, and it is possible to prevent a combustible gas phase of the leakage refrigerant from being formed around the indoor unit 100.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The basic configuration of an air conditioner floor-standing indoor unit 200 (hereinafter referred to as an indoor unit 200) according to Embodiment 2 is the same as that of the indoor unit 100 of Embodiment 1, and the same components are the same. Reference numerals are assigned and detailed description is omitted. FIG. 7 is an external perspective view of the vicinity of the vent hole 19 in the indoor unit 200, and FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a longitudinal section of that portion. The portion not shown in the figure has the same form as the indoor unit 100 of the first embodiment. This indoor unit 200 is structurally different from the indoor unit 100 of the first embodiment in that it includes a guide cover 22 that has an opening serving as a leakage refrigerant discharge port and covers the vent hole 19.

  The ventilation hole 19 is provided in the position which faces the piping chamber 2 in the upper surface board 6a of the casing 6, and has penetrated the upper surface board 6a. The guide cover 22 bulges from the upper surface plate 6 a and covers the upper side of the vent hole 19. The guide cover 22 includes a discharge port 22a that opens into the indoor space of the room where the indoor unit 200 is installed. The discharge port 22a is an opening for discharging the leaked refrigerant gas that has passed through the vent hole 19 into the indoor space. Here, there is one discharge port 22a, which opens toward the back side of the indoor unit 200, that is, the wall surface side of the room. The guide cover 22 is in contact with the upper end of the side wall portion 22b in three directions (front and left and right sides) other than the back side where the discharge port 22a is open, and the upper end of the side wall portion 22b in the three directions. A roof portion 22c located above the air holes 19 is provided to cover the air holes 19.

  In this manner, the guide cover 22 has a function of a cover that prevents foreign matter and dust from entering the piping chamber 2 from the vent hole 19 because the roof portion 22c is located above the vent hole 19 in particular. By opening the discharge port 22a in a specific direction, the leakage refrigerant gas flowing out from the indoor unit 200 into the indoor space is guided to the discharge port 22a by the side wall portion 22b and the roof portion 22c, and the discharge port 22a. It has the function of a guide that flows out in a specific direction.

  The guide cover 22 of the indoor unit 200 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is opened with the discharge port 22a facing the back side, and the function and effect of such a configuration will be described below. By directing the discharge port 22a to the back side, first, there is an effect that it becomes difficult for the user to visually recognize the discharge port 22a. Although a part of the piping chamber 2 is exposed through the discharge port 22a and the vent hole 19, if the discharge port 22a is opened in the back direction, the discharge port 22a is difficult to be visually recognized. A situation in which a part of the indoor unit body is seen is avoided, and a design effect that the deterioration of the design of the indoor unit body can be prevented is obtained.

  Subsequently, since the discharge port 22a opens toward the back side, the flow of the leaked refrigerant gas flowing from the piping chamber 2 through the discharge port 22a to the indoor space is directed to the back side. . Here, the indoor unit 200 is often installed with the wall surface of the room in the back, and in particular, the back surface of the housing 5 (here, the back plate 6b of the casing 6) and the wall surface of the room facing this back surface. Often in close proximity.

  If a wall surface is present close to the back side of the indoor unit 200 and the discharge port 22a is open toward the wall surface, rapid refrigerant leakage due to disconnection of the connection portion G in the piping chamber 2 occurs. When the leaked refrigerant gas generated and vaporized at a stroke flows out from the discharge port 22 to the indoor space through the vent hole 19, the leaked refrigerant gas flow collides with the wall surface of the room facing the discharge port 22a. Will do.

  Since the leaked refrigerant gas flow is dispersed due to such a collision with the wall surface of the room, it will descend to the floor surface in a wide range in the horizontal direction, and the diffusion effect until it descends to the floor surface will be It is possible to obtain a functional effect that the size is larger than the case where it does not collide. Thereby, it is possible to avoid a high concentration of leaked refrigerant gas from staying on the floor surface and prevent a gas phase having a flammable concentration of the leaked refrigerant from being formed around the indoor unit 200.

  Further, the guide cover 22 is configured by an inclined surface in which the surface on the air vent 19 side, that is, the lower surface side of the roof portion 22c is inclined upward from the front side to the rear side of the housing 5, and the discharge port 22a of the roof portion 22c. The edge is at the highest position. In the form shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the entire plate-like roof portion 22c is inclined upward toward the back side, and the upper surface and the lower surface are parallel and inclined in the same manner. It is sufficient that only the lower surface to be in contact is inclined. That is, the roof portion 22c of the guide cover 22 only needs to be an inclined surface in which at least the surface on the air vent 19 side is inclined upward at least toward the back surface side. Here, it is inclined 20 degrees upward (clockwise in FIG. 8) from the upper surface plate 6a.

  Thus, by inclining the roof portion 22c of the guide cover 22 upward, the flow direction of the leaked refrigerant gas flowing out from the discharge port 22a can be made obliquely upward. As a result, the position where the leaked refrigerant gas that has flowed out and begins to descend to the floor surface can be set higher than when the roof portion 22 is configured in parallel with the casing upper surface plate 6a. The distance until the leaked refrigerant gas reaches the floor surface is increased, and the diffusion effect at the time of descending can be increased.

  Further, as described above, when the leaked refrigerant gas flowing out from the discharge port 22a collides with the adjacent room wall surface, it collides with the wall surface than when the roof portion 22 is configured in parallel with the casing upper surface plate 6a. Since the position can be increased, the distance until the leaked refrigerant gas dispersed by the collision reaches the floor surface can be increased, and the effect of increasing the diffusion effect can be obtained.

  The guide cover 22 is formed integrally with the casing 6 of the casing 5 which is a resin molded product, that is, continuously formed on the upper surface plate 6a. It is good also as a structure attached so that the ventilation hole 19 may be covered using the fastener using a flexible elastic deformation, and it is good also as a structure fitted and attached to the ventilation hole 19. FIG.

  FIG. 9 is an external perspective view of the main part of the configuration in which the guard 21 shown in Embodiment 1 is attached to the vent hole 19 of the indoor unit 200, and is compared with FIG. As shown in FIG. 9, if both the guard 21 and the guide cover 22 are configured to be attached, both effects are exhibited.

  As described above, the indoor unit 200 has a portion that covers the piping chamber 2 of the upper surface plate 6 a of the casing 6, that is, an upper surface of the piping chamber 2, and an indoor space that is outside the piping chamber 2 and the indoor unit 200. And a guide cover 22 that has a discharge port 22a for discharging the leaked refrigerant gas that has passed through the vent hole 19 into the indoor space and covers the top of the vent hole 19. Since the discharge port 22a of the opening 22 opens toward the back side of the indoor unit 200, even if a sudden refrigerant leak occurs in the piping chamber 2 such as the flare connection disconnection of the connection portion G, the leaked refrigerant When the gas flows out from the discharge port 22a to the indoor space through the vent hole 19, the leaked refrigerant gas flow that collides with the wall surface of the room facing the discharge port 22a is dispersed and descends in a wide range. Because the floor Diffusion effect when descends increases. Therefore, it can avoid staying at a high concentration on the floor surface, and it can be prevented that a gas phase having a flammable concentration of the leakage refrigerant is formed around the indoor unit 200.

  Moreover, by opening the discharge port 22a of the guide cover 22 toward the back side, the user can hardly see the discharge port 22a, and the user in the room can pass through the discharge port 22a and the vent hole 19 to the inside of the piping chamber 2. It is possible to avoid the occurrence of a situation in which a part is seen, and to obtain an effect of preventing the design of the indoor unit body from being deteriorated.

  Furthermore, the flow direction of the leaked refrigerant gas flowing out from the discharge port 22a by inclining the roof portion 22c of the guide cover 22 upward so that the discharge port 22a side becomes higher from the front side to the back side of the housing 5 When the leaked refrigerant gas that has flowed out begins to descend to the floor surface, or the room wall surface is close to the back side of the indoor unit 200, the wall surface and the leaked refrigerant gas flow The collision position can be increased. Therefore, the distance until the leaked refrigerant gas reaches the floor surface can be lengthened, and the effect of increasing the diffusion effect when descending to the floor surface can be obtained.

  In the indoor unit 200, the vent hole 19 is formed in the upper surface plate 6a of the portion facing the piping chamber 2, but the vent hole 19 faces the piping chamber 2 as described in the first embodiment. You may provide in the back upper part, side surface upper part, or front upper part of the partial housing 5. The vent hole 19 formed in such a position is oriented horizontally, but if this is the case, the guide cover 22 attached to such a vent hole 19 has a discharge port 22a facing upward, and the leaked leakage. This is effective in increasing the position where the refrigerant gas descends to the floor. However, if the discharge port 22a is opened upward, dust in the room air easily enters the piping chamber 2. Therefore, it is possible to prevent dust from entering the guard 21 or covering the discharge port 22a with a filter. This measure is necessary.

  Further, when the vent hole 19 is formed in the upper part of the side surface of the casing 5, that is, in the upper part of the side plate 6c facing the piping chamber 2, the discharge port 22a of the guide cover 22 attached thereto is opened so as to face the back side. By doing so, the leaked refrigerant gas flow that has flowed out of the discharge port 22a can be collided with the room wall surface close to the back side, and the diffusion effect due to the dispersion of the leaked refrigerant gas as described above can be obtained.

  However, in the case where the vent hole 19 is provided on any one of the upper rear portion, the upper side surface, and the upper front portion of the housing 5, the vent hole 22a is formed even if the roof portion 22c of the guide cover 22 is inclined so that the end of the discharge port 22a is the highest. The above-described effects that can be obtained in the configuration in which 19 is opened in the upper surface plate 6a are not particularly obtained here.

  The discharge port 22a may be formed across two directions. Moreover, although it may be formed across three directions, in that case, the action of guiding the leakage refrigerant gas flow is hardly performed. In the case where the discharge ports 22a are opened in two directions and three directions, the discharge ports 22a that are not connected to each other in each direction are formed individually without forming the two or three directions. The strength of the guide cover 22 can be increased. Even when the discharge port 22 is provided only in one direction, the strength of the guide cover 22 is increased by adopting a configuration in which the plurality of discharge ports 22a are opened in that direction.

Embodiment 3
Subsequently, Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The basic configuration of an air conditioner floor-standing indoor unit 300 (hereinafter referred to as an indoor unit 300) according to Embodiment 3 is the same as that of the indoor unit 200 of Embodiment 2, and the same components are the same. Reference numerals are assigned and detailed description is omitted. FIG. 9 is an external perspective view around the vent hole 19 in the indoor unit 300, which is compared with FIG. 7 of the second embodiment. The indoor unit 300 is different from the indoor unit 200 of the second embodiment in the configuration of the guide cover 23 that covers the vent hole 19.

  In the guide cover 22 in the indoor unit 200 according to the second embodiment, the opposite side walls 22b and the back end of the roof 22c and the back side edge of the air vent 19, that is, the edge on the discharge port 22a side. It was substantially the same position in the front-rear direction of the indoor unit 200. In other words, the discharge port 22a and the rear side edge portion of the vent hole 19 were at substantially the same position in the front-rear direction. On the other hand, the guide cover 23 of the indoor unit 300 has its rear end positioned further to the rear side than the rear side edge of the vent hole 19, and the two opposite side wall portions 23 b and the upper roof portion. 23c extends to the back side beyond the back side edge of the vent hole 19. As described above, the guide cover 23 covers not only the vent hole 19 but also the portion outside the vent hole 19, so that the position where the discharge port 23 a is outside the vent hole 19, in detail, from the rear side edge portion. Is also located on the back side.

  Thus, since the roof part 23c and the side wall part 23b of the guide cover 23 exist also in the position beyond the ventilation hole 19, compared with the case where the guide cover 22 of Embodiment 2 is attached, the discharge port. The flow direction of the leaked refrigerant gas flow flowing out from 23a is specified. In the indoor unit 200 according to the second embodiment, the leaked refrigerant gas that has passed through the back side of the vent hole 19, that is, near the discharge port 22a, is guided to the discharge port 22a by the roof portion 22c and the side wall portion 22b. Because of the short distance, the leaked refrigerant gas flow flowing out from the discharge port 22a includes not only the back surface direction but also an upward velocity component.

  However, in this indoor unit 300 including the guide cover 23, the distance by which the roof portion 23c and the side wall 23b guide the leaked refrigerant gas to the discharge port 23a can be longer than the guide cover 22 of the indoor unit 200. The upward speed component of the leaked refrigerant gas flow flowing out from the indoor unit 200 can be reduced as compared with the indoor unit 200. Therefore, in the case where the discharge port 23a is formed toward the back side and the leaked refrigerant gas flow that has flowed out of the discharge port 23a collides with the wall surface of the room located on the back side of the indoor unit 300, the dispersion effect of the leaked refrigerant gas flow due to the collision is reduced. Can be bigger.

  Further, the discharge port 23a and the vent hole 19 are separated in the front-rear direction by the length of the guide cover 23 exceeding the vent hole 19, so that it is difficult for dust to enter the piping chamber 2 from the vent hole 19. Can also be obtained.

  In the indoor unit 300, the vent hole 19 is formed in the upper surface plate 6a of the portion facing the piping chamber 2. However, as described in the first and second embodiments, the vent hole 19 is provided in the piping chamber 2. It may be provided on any of the rear upper portion, side surface upper portion, and front upper portion of the housing 5 of the facing portion, and covers such a vent hole 19 to the portion where the roof portion 23c and the side wall portion 23b exceed the vent hole 19, You may attach the guide cover 23 in which the discharge port 23a is located in the outer side of the vent hole 19. FIG.

  The guide cover 23 may be formed integrally with the casing 6 of the housing 5 that is a resin molded product, or as a separate body from the casing 6, a fastener that uses elastic deformation such as claw fixing to the casing 6. It is possible to adopt a configuration in which the vent hole 19 is attached using the above or a configuration in which a part of the vent hole 19 is fitted. Moreover, you may comprise so that the guard 21 in Embodiment 1 may be attached to the ventilation hole 19 together.

  As described in the first to third embodiments, the present invention is a floor-standing indoor unit of an air conditioner in which the inside of the casing 5 is partitioned into the heat exchanger chamber 1 and the piping chamber 2 by the partition plate 16. In this case, a situation in which the refrigerant pipe is disconnected in the piping chamber 2 by providing a vent hole 19 that allows ventilation between the piping chamber 2 and the indoor space on the upper surface or the upper portion of the housing 5 facing the piping chamber 2. Even if a rapid refrigerant leak occurs with a large leak weight per unit time, that is, a high leak rate, the leaked refrigerant gas passes from the piping chamber 2 through the vent hole 19 having a low ventilation resistance and a high position in the indoor unit body. Since the refrigerant flows out into the indoor space, it is possible to avoid the high-concentration stagnation of the refrigerant in the indoor space due to the diffusion effect caused by mixing with the air when the refrigerant leaks down toward the floor surface. Combustible concentration of refrigerant It is possible to provide a floor standing indoor unit with excellent safety can prevent the gas phase are formed.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Heat exchanger room, 2 Piping room, 3 Heat exchanger, 4 Fan, 5 Housing, 10 Connection piping, 11 Inlet, 12 Outlet, 19 Vent, 20 Connection piping, 21 Guard (attachment part), 21d Opening 21e Filter 22 Guide cover, 22a Discharge port, 22b Side wall portion, 22c Roof portion, 23 Guide cover, 23a Discharge port, 23b Side wall portion, 23c Roof portion, 100 floor-standing indoor unit, 200 floor-standing indoor unit, 300 Floor-standing indoor unit.

Claims (5)

A floor-standing indoor unit of an air conditioner installed in a room to be air-conditioned, in which a refrigerant circuit is filled with a combustible refrigerant,
A housing having an inlet and an outlet;
A blower fan that generates an air flow from the inlet to the outlet;
A heat exchanger that forms part of the refrigerant circuit and through which the airflow generated by the blower fan passes;
A heat exchanger chamber provided in the housing and in which the blower fan and the heat exchanger are disposed;
A communication pipe that forms part of the refrigerant circuit and is connected to the heat exchanger;
A part of the refrigerant circuit, connecting piping that is taken into the room from outside the room;
A piping chamber that is provided in the housing and horizontally spaced from the heat exchanger chamber, and in which a connection portion between the communication pipe and the connection pipe is located;
An opening formed in an upper surface or an upper portion of the housing facing the piping chamber, and communicating with the piping chamber and an indoor space of a room in which the floor-standing indoor unit is installed;
A guide cover having a discharge port that opens to the indoor space, and includes a side wall portion and a roof portion to cover the vent hole;
An air conditioner floor-standing indoor unit equipped with The floor-standing indoor unit for an air conditioner according to claim 1 , wherein the guide cover covers up to a portion outside the vent hole, and the discharge port is located outside the vent hole. The said vent hole is formed in the upper surface of the said housing which faces the said piping chamber, The discharge port of the said guide cover is opening toward the back side of the said floor-standing type indoor unit. The floor-standing indoor unit of the air conditioner described. The floor-standing type of the air conditioner according to claim 3 , wherein the roof portion of the guide cover is an inclined surface in which at least a surface on the vent hole side is inclined upward toward the back side of the floor-standing indoor unit. Indoor unit. The floor-standing indoor unit for an air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , further comprising an attachment component that includes a plurality of openings and a filter that covers these openings and is detachably attached to the vent hole.

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