JPH0297847A - Separate type air conditioner designed for multi chambers - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to carry out cooling/heating operation under low cost, efficient and optimum working conditions by installing a main decompression device designed to reduce the pressure of refrigerant to refrigerant piping designed to connect an outdoor heat exchanger wit an indoor heat exchanger and a liquid tank for refrigerant storage where an auxiliary decompression device is laid out before and after the tank in parallel with the main decompression device. CONSTITUTION:A plurality of indoor heat exchangers 4a and 4b are laid out in parallel with a single unit of an outdoor heat exchanger 3. A main decompression device 10 designed to reduce the pressure of refrigerant is installed to refrigerant piping which connects the outdoor heat exchanger 3 with the indoor heat exchangers 4a and 4b while auxiliary decompression devices 17 and 18 are laid out before and after a liquid tank for refrigerant storage 8 which is installed in parallel to the main decompression device 10. This construction makes it possible to store a proper amount of refrigerant out of not required refrigerant present in the refrigerant piping in the liquid tank 8 in conformity with each operating condition, and carry out cooling/heating operation under the most efficient and optimum condition when an attempt is made to carry out cooling/heating operation where the indoor heat exchangers 4a and 4b are used or one of them is only used.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] This invention relates to an air conditioner, and in particular, an air conditioner in which a plurality of indoor heat exchangers are arranged in parallel with one outdoor heat exchanger. [Prior art] Figure 2 is a refrigerant piping diagram showing the refrigerant circulation path of a conventional multi-room separated air conditioner disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 140751/1983. be.

In the figure, (1) is a compressor that compresses gaseous refrigerant;
(2) is a four-way valve that changes the refrigerant flow path between cooling and heating operation; (3) is an outdoor heat exchanger that exchanges heat between outdoor air and refrigerant; (4a) and ( 4b) is an indoor heat exchanger that exchanges heat between indoor air and refrigerant indoors. In this figure, two indoor heat exchangers (4a) and (4b) are piped in parallel to one outdoor heat exchanger (3). (5a) and (5b) are both on-off valves (refrigerant inflow prevention mechanism) made of solenoid valves, etc., (6a) and (6b) are on-off valves also made of solenoid valves, etc., and (7) is an on-off valve for refrigerant storage. , (8) is a liquid tank in which refrigerant is stored by opening and closing operations of the on-off valve (7).

(9) and (10) are main pressure reducers that reduce refrigerant pressure, and include an outdoor heat exchanger (3) and both indoor heat exchangers (4a),
(4b) are interposed in series in the refrigerant pipes connecting the two. (11a) and (11b> are indoor heat exchangers (
A dedicated auxiliary pressure reducer for each of 4a) and (4b), (
12a) and (12b) are both indoor heat exchangers (4a>,
This is a branch pipe that is a refrigerant pipe to (4b), and both of these branch pipes (12a) and (12-bit branch pipe confluence section <X>-C) are integrated and connected to the main pressure reducer (10).

(13) is connected between both the auxiliary pressure reducers (11a), (11b) and the branch pipe junction (X>).
2b), and this bypass pipe (
13) and the branch pipe junction (X> is the on-off valve (7)
and a liquid tank (8). (14)
is a check valve installed in parallel with the main pressure reducer (9), and the main pressure reducer (9),
The ability of (10) is changing. (15a> and (15b) are branch pipes that are refrigerant pipes to both indoor heat exchangers (4a) and (4b), and both branch pipes (15a)
, (15b) is connected to each indoor heat exchanger (4a>, (4
Both branch pipes (12a) of b).

(12b) is connected to the side opposite to the connection side, and the other end is integrated at the branch pipe junction (Y) and connected to the four-way valve (2). (16) is an accumulator located on the refrigerant suction side of the compressor (1), and the refrigerant is supplied to this accumulator (1).
6) into the compressor (1).

A conventional multi-room separated air conditioner is configured as described above, with multiple indoor heat exchangers (4a>, (4b)) for one outdoor heat exchanger (3). The refrigerant pipes are arranged in parallel, and cooling or heating operation is performed by circulating the refrigerant through the refrigerant pipes.

The cooling and heating operations of this conventional multi-room separated air conditioner will be described below.

First, the cooling operation will be described. Gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor (1) flows into the outdoor heat exchanger (3) via the four-way valve (2). In this outdoor heat exchanger (3), the high pressure gas refrigerant is cooled and condensed to become liquid. After this,
This liquid refrigerant (liquid refrigerant) passes through the check valve (14), is depressurized by the main pressure reducer (10), and is branched from the branch pipe confluence part (X) to both branch pipes (12a>, (12b)). Auxiliary pressure reducer (
11a>, (11b>, the pressure is roughly reduced to low pressure,
It flows into the indoor heat exchangers (4a) and (4b). And this indoor heat exchanger (4a).

(4b), it evaporates and becomes gaseous, and both branch pipes (15
a>, (15b) through the on-off valves (6a), (6b),
After merging at the branch pipe merging section (Y), it passes through the four-way valve (2) and returns to the compressor (1) via the accumulator (16).

This series of refrigerant flows are performed continuously. During this cooling operation, the outdoor heat exchanger (3) radiates heat by exchanging heat between the outdoor air and the refrigerant. In addition, indoor heat exchanger (4
In a) and (4b), cooling is performed by heat exchange between indoor air and refrigerant.

From the above cooling operation, the indoor heat exchanger (4a), (4
In the case of cooling operation using both b), the pressure reduction resistance is a composite value of the auxiliary pressure reducers (11a>, (11b) and the main pressure reducer (10).On the other hand, the indoor heat exchanger (4a>) , (4
Only one of b), for example, indoor heat exchanger (4
In the case of cooling operation using only a), the on-off valve (5b) corresponding to the indoor heat exchanger (4b) that is inactive is closed, and the indoor heat exchanger (4b) is supplied with refrigerant. does not flow. In this case, the refrigerant flows from the branch pipe confluence (X) through the auxiliary pressure reducer (11a), the on-off valve (5a), and the indoor heat exchanger (4a).

Further, at this time, the on-off valve (7) is also closed, and unnecessary refrigerant in the refrigerant pipe is stored in the liquid tank (8).

Next, the heating operation will be described.

The gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor (1) passes through the four-way valve (2) from the branch pipe junction (Y) to both the branch pipes (15a>, (
15b), and passes through the on-off valves (6a) and (6b>) to the indoor heat exchanger (4a).

(4b). This indoor heat exchanger (4a), (
In step 4b), the high pressure gas refrigerant is cooled and condensed into liquid form. This refrigerant that has become a high-pressure liquid is auxiliary pressure reducing fi (11a),
(11b) r are each reduced by ffE6, merge at the branch pipe junction (X), pass through the main pressure reducers (9) and (10), become a low-pressure liquid, and flow into the outdoor heat exchanger (3). Then, it is evaporated into a gaseous state in the outdoor heat exchanger (3), passed through the four-way valve (2), and then passed through the accumulator (16) to the compressor (
Return to 1). This series of refrigerant flows are performed continuously.

During this heating operation, heating is performed by heat exchange between indoor air and refrigerant in the indoor heat exchangers (4a) and (4b). Moreover, in the outdoor heat exchanger (3), heat is absorbed by heat exchange between outdoor air and the refrigerant.

From the above heating operation, the indoor heat exchanger (4a) (4b
) in case of cooling operation using both auxiliary pressure reducer (11a), (11bl: main pressure reducer (9), (1
0). On the other hand, the indoor heat exchanger (4a>
, (4b), for example, in the case of heating operation using only the indoor heat exchanger (4a), the on-off valve (6b) corresponding to the indoor heat exchanger (4b) that is inactive
) is closed and no refrigerant flows into the indoor heat exchanger (4b). At this time, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor (1) is supplied only to the indoor heat exchanger (4a) via the on-off valve (6a). The refrigerant flow passes through the on-off valve (5a) and the auxiliary pressure reducer (11a), from the branch pipe confluence (X), through the main pressure reducer (9) and (10), and then to the outdoor heat exchanger (3).
flows into. Further, at this time as well, by closing the on-off valve (7), unnecessary refrigerant is stored in the liquid tank (8).

[Problems to be solved by the invention] In the conventional multi-room separated air conditioner as described above, 1
It had a plurality of indoor heat exchangers (4a) and (4b) for one outdoor heat exchanger (3). When performing cooling or heating operation using several of the indoor heat exchangers (4a) and (4b), unnecessary refrigerant, which is surplus refrigerant in the refrigerant circulation system, is transferred to the liquid tank ( 8), the on-off valve (7) was controlled to open and close. Therefore, in order to adjust the amount of refrigerant circulation depending on the number of indoor heat exchangers (4a) and (4b) used, it was necessary to control the opening and closing of the on-off valve (7).

Also, depending on the temperature conditions of the refrigeration cycle, the liquid tank (
Although the amount of refrigerant stored in 8) changes arbitrarily, the on-off valve (7) always closes the indoor heat exchangers (4a) and (4b).
) were controlled to a certain degree depending on the number of units in use, and the operating conditions were not necessarily efficient and optimal. For this reason, it was necessary to improve these.

Therefore, the object of this invention is to provide a multi-room separated air conditioner that can store an appropriate amount of unnecessary refrigerant according to operating conditions without controlling the opening and closing of on-off valves, and that can perform cooling and heating operations under optimal conditions. That is.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The multi-room separated air conditioner according to the present invention includes a plurality of indoor heat exchangers arranged in parallel to one outdoor heat exchanger (3). (4a), (4b), and a main pressure reducer that reduces the refrigerant pressure, which is installed in the refrigerant piping that connects the outdoor heat exchanger (3) and the indoor heat exchanger (4a), (4b). (10), and a liquid tank (8) for refrigerant storage, which is interposed in parallel with the main pressure reducer (10) and has auxiliary pressure reducers (17) and (18) arranged before and after it. .

[Function] In the multi-room separated air conditioner of the present invention, a plurality of indoor heat exchangers (4a>, (4b)) are arranged in parallel with one outdoor heat exchanger (3). A main pressure reducer (10) is installed to reduce the refrigerant pressure in the refrigerant piping that connects the outdoor heat exchanger (3) and the indoor heat exchanger (4a>, (4b)). A liquid tank (8) for refrigerant storage, equipped with auxiliary pressure reducers (17) and (18), is installed in parallel with the main pressure reducer (10). An amount of liquid refrigerant corresponding to the inflow amount of liquid refrigerant is stored, and even during cooling or heating operation in which all or part of the indoor heat exchangers (4a) and (4b) are used, each operation Depending on the situation, an appropriate amount of unnecessary refrigerant in the refrigerant distribution is stored in the liquid tank (8).

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a refrigerant piping diagram showing a refrigerant circulation path of a multi-room separated air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention. In addition,
In the figure, (1) to (16) are the same or equivalent components to those of the conventional example, so redundant explanation will be omitted here.

In the figure, (17) and (18) are auxiliary pressure reducers that reduce the refrigerant pressure, and are disposed before and after the liquid tank (8) for refrigerant storage, respectively. These are integrally piped in parallel to the main pressure reducer (10) and interposed between the one outdoor heat exchanger (3) and the branch pipe merging section (X).

The multi-room separated air conditioner of this embodiment is configured as described above, with one outdoor heat exchanger (3) and two indoor heat exchangers (4a).

(4b) are piped in parallel, and cooling or heating operation is performed by circulating the refrigerant through these refrigerant pipes.

The cooling and heating operations of the multi-room separated air conditioner of this embodiment will be described below.

First, the cooling operation will be described.

Gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor (1) flows into the outdoor heat exchanger (3) via the four-way valve (2).

The high-pressure gas refrigerant that has flowed into the outdoor heat exchanger (3) is cooled and condensed to become liquid. One side of this liquid refrigerant (liquid refrigerant) flows into the main pressure reducer (10) and is brought to an intermediate pressure, and the other side flows into a liquid tank (8) with auxiliary pressure reducers (17) and (18) arranged before and after it. Inflow. This liquid tank (8)
The larger the amount of liquid refrigerant flowing into the tank (8), the larger the amount of liquid refrigerant stored in the liquid tank (8). After that, the liquid refrigerant is transferred from the branch pipe confluence (X> to both branch pipes (12a
), (12b), and the auxiliary pressure reducer (11a), (
11b>, the pressure is roughly reduced to low pressure, and the on-off valve (5
a>, (5b) to the indoor heat exchanger (4a), (4b)
). The liquid refrigerant that has flowed into the indoor heat exchangers (4a) and (4b) evaporates and becomes gaseous, and both branch pipes (
After passing through the on-off valves (6a) and (6b) of 15a> and (15b) and merging at the branch pipe junction (Y), the compressor (1) passes through the four-way valve (2) and the accumulator (16). Return to This series of refrigerant flows are performed continuously. During this cooling operation, the outdoor heat exchanger (3) radiates heat by exchanging heat between the outdoor air and the refrigerant. In addition, the indoor heat exchangers (4a>, (4b)) perform cooling by exchanging heat between indoor air and refrigerant.

From the above cooling operation, the indoor heat exchanger (4a), (4
In the case of cooling operation using both of b), refrigerant flows through both indoor heat exchangers (4a) and (4b), so a large amount of liquid refrigerant flows through the main pressure reducer (10), and the liquid tank ( Only a small amount of liquid refrigerant flows into 8). For this reason, the liquid tank (8
), a small amount of liquid refrigerant is stored as unnecessary refrigerant. On the other hand, in the case of cooling operation in which only one of the indoor heat exchangers (4a>, (4b)) is used, for example, only the indoor heat exchanger (4a), the indoor heat exchanger that is inactive (4b
) is closed, and no refrigerant flows into the indoor heat exchanger (4b). Therefore, a small amount of liquid refrigerant flows through the main pressure reducer (10), and a large amount of liquid refrigerant flows into the liquid tank (8). And this liquid tank (8
), a large amount of liquid refrigerant is stored as unnecessary refrigerant.

As mentioned above, in the cooling operation of this embodiment,
Even during cooling operation using two or one indoor heat exchanger (4a>, (4b)), an appropriate amount of unnecessary refrigerant in the refrigerant piping is stored in the liquid tank (8) according to each operating condition. Therefore, the indoor heat exchanger (4a>,
Since the amount of refrigerant circulation is adjusted according to the number of units in use (4b), there is no need to control the opening and closing of the on-off valve (7).
) The amount of liquid refrigerant stored in the refrigerant can also be changed arbitrarily, and since the appropriate amount of liquid refrigerant is always stored, efficient cooling operation is possible under optimal conditions.

Next, the heating operation will be described.

The gas refrigerant discharged from the compressor (1) passes through the four-way valve (2) from the branch pipe junction (Y) to both the branch pipes (15a), (
15b), one of which flows into the indoor heat exchanger (4a) via the on-off valve (6a), and the other flows into the indoor heat exchanger (4b) via the on-off valve (6b). This indoor heat exchanger (4a).

At (4b), the high pressure gas refrigerant is cooled and condensed to become liquid. This high-pressure liquid refrigerant is transferred to the on-off valves (5a) and (5b).
) to the auxiliary pressure reducer (11a).

(1l b>), each is depressurized to intermediate pressure, and the branch pipe confluence part (
X), passes through the main pressure reducer (10), and becomes a low pressure liquid.
It flows into the outdoor heat exchanger (3). At this time, the liquid refrigerant also flows into the liquid tank (8) in which the auxiliary pressure reducers (17) and (18) are arranged in the front. The larger the amount of liquid refrigerant flowing into the liquid tank (8), the more the liquid refrigerant flows into the liquid tank (8).
The amount of liquid refrigerant stored in the tank also increases. Then, the liquid refrigerant that has flowed into the outdoor heat exchanger (3) is transferred to the outdoor heat exchanger (3).
It evaporates and becomes gaseous, and returns to the compressor (1) via the four-way valve (2) and the accumulator (16). This series of refrigerant flows are performed continuously. During this heating operation, the indoor heat exchanger (4a).

In (4b), heating is performed by heat exchange between indoor air and refrigerant. Moreover, in the outdoor heat exchanger (3), heat is absorbed by heat exchange between outdoor air and the refrigerant.

From the heating operation described above, the indoor heat exchanger (4a), (4
In the case of heating operation using both of b), since refrigerant flows through both indoor heat exchangers (4a) and (4Ly), a large amount of liquid refrigerant flows through the main pressure reducer (1,0''), Liquid tank (8
) only a small amount of liquid refrigerant flows into the refrigerant. Therefore, a small amount of liquid refrigerant is stored in the liquid tank (8). On the other hand, an indoor heat exchanger (4a).

(4b), for example, in the case of heating operation using only the indoor heat exchanger (4a), the on-off valve (5b) corresponding to the indoor heat exchanger (4b) that is inactive
is closed, and no refrigerant flows into the indoor heat exchanger (4b). Therefore, a small amount of liquid refrigerant flows through the main pressure reducer (10) and a large amount of liquid refrigerant flows into the liquid tank (8), so a large amount of liquid refrigerant is stored as unnecessary refrigerant in the liquid tank (8). Ru.

As mentioned above, in this embodiment, the indoor heat exchanger (4a), (
Also during heating operation using two or one unit of 4b), an appropriate amount of unnecessary refrigerant in the refrigerant piping is stored in the liquid tank (8) depending on each operating state. Therefore, the heating operation has the same effect as the cooling operation, and there is no need to control the opening and closing of the #1m valve (7) according to the operating condition.
Since an appropriate amount of liquid refrigerant is always stored, efficient heating operation is possible under optimal conditions.

By the way, in the above embodiment, the indoor heat exchanger (4a), (
4b), but the number of indoor heat exchangers (
4a>, (4b) can also be used as a multi-room separated air conditioner.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, the multi-room separated air conditioner of the present invention has a plurality of indoor heat exchangers arranged in parallel with one outdoor heat exchanger. A main pressure reducer is installed in the refrigerant pipe connecting the outside heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger to reduce the refrigerant pressure, and a liquid tank for refrigerant storage with an auxiliary pressure reducer placed in front of the main pressure reducer With a simple configuration in which the liquid refrigerant is installed in parallel with the tank, an amount of liquid refrigerant corresponding to the inflow amount of the liquid refrigerant is stored in this liquid tank, and the cooling system uses all or part of the indoor heat exchanger. Also, during heating operation, the appropriate amount of unnecessary refrigerant in the refrigerant piping is stored in the liquid tank depending on the operating status, so the on-off valves etc. can be opened and closed depending on the number of indoor heat exchangers used. No need to control. In addition, depending on the temperature conditions of the refrigeration cycle, the amount of refrigerant stored in the liquid tank changes arbitrarily, and the appropriate amount of liquid refrigerant is always stored, so cooling and heating can be performed under optimal conditions at low cost and efficiency. It becomes possible to drive both.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

10 is a refrigerant piping diagram showing the refrigerant circulation path of a multi-room separated air conditioner which is an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a refrigerant piping diagram showing the refrigerant circulation path of a conventional multi-room separated air conditioner. It is a piping diagram. Figure (3: Outdoor heat exchanger 4a: Indoor heat exchanger 4b 2 Indoor heat exchanger 8: Liquid tank 10: Main pressure reducer
17: Auxiliary pressure reducer 18: Auxiliary pressure reducer. In the drawings, the same reference numerals and the same symbols indicate the same or equivalent parts. Agent: Patent attorney Masuo Odai and 2 others

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An indoor heat exchanger in which a plurality of heat exchangers are arranged in parallel to one outdoor heat exchanger, and refrigerant piping that connects the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger. It is characterized by comprising a main pressure reducer that reduces refrigerant pressure interposed therein, and a liquid tank for refrigerant storage, which is arranged in parallel with the main pressure reducer and has auxiliary pressure reducers arranged before and after the main pressure reducer. Separate air conditioner for multiple rooms.