JPH05164429A - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a fine variation of capability of an outdoor unit in response to an operation mode or the number of operating indoor units and further to prevent a solenoid coil from being erroneously assembled to a main body of a solenoid four-way valve. CONSTITUTION:An outdoor heat exchanger of an outdoor unit O is divided into a plurality of heat exchangers 3A, 3B. Solenoid four-way valves 2A, 2B arranged at gas side are valves in which a specification of each of the solenoid coils is made different from each other.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air conditioner having a plurality of indoor units and capable of cooling operation, heating operation and simultaneous cooling / heating operation.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A refrigerant circuit of a conventional air conditioner of this type is shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, 1 is a compressor, and 10 is a discharge pipe, which is connected to the discharge side of the compressor 1. The suction pipe 11 is connected to the suction side of the compressor 1. Reference numeral 3 denotes an outdoor heat exchanger, the gas side of which is selectively connected to the discharge pipe 10 or the suction pipe 11 via the outdoor switching valve 2. 7A,
7B and 7C are indoor heat exchangers, and their gas sides are selectively connected to the discharge pipe 10 or the suction pipe 11 via the indoor switching valves 8A, 8B and 8C, respectively. An outdoor throttling mechanism 4 is arranged on the liquid side of the outdoor heat exchanger 3. Reference numerals 6A, 6B, and 6C denote indoor throttle mechanisms, which are provided on the liquid sides of the indoor heat exchangers 7A, 7B, and 7C, respectively. Reference numeral 12 is a liquid refrigerant pipe, which is an outdoor expansion mechanism 4
Is connected to the liquid sides of the indoor throttle mechanisms 6A, 6B and 6C. Reference numeral 13 denotes an outdoor blower, which allows the outdoor heat exchanger 3 to pass the outside air. 9A, 9B and 9C are indoor blowers, which allow indoor air to flow through the indoor heat exchangers 7A, 7B and 7C. A receiver 5 is provided in the liquid refrigerant pipe 12. 14 is Accumulation
Is installed on the suction side of the compressor 1.

Reference numeral O denotes an outdoor unit, in which a compressor 1, an outdoor switching valve 2, an outdoor heat exchanger 3, an outdoor blower are provided.
13, outdoor side diaphragm mechanism 4, receiver 5, accumulator 14
Etc. are built in. A, B, and C are indoor units, and the indoor unit A includes an indoor heat exchanger 7A, an indoor switching valve 8A,
The indoor side throttle mechanism 6A and the indoor side blower 9A are built in, the indoor unit B has the indoor side heat exchanger 7B, the indoor side switching valve 8B, the indoor side throttle mechanism 6B and the indoor side blower 9B built in, and the indoor unit C. Includes an indoor heat exchanger 7C, an indoor switching valve 8C, an indoor throttle mechanism 6C, and an indoor blower 9C. The outdoor unit O and the plurality of indoor units A, B, and C are connected to each other via a discharge pipe 10, a suction pipe 11, and a liquid refrigerant pipe 12.

During cooling operation, for example, indoor units A and B
When the cooling operation is performed and the indoor unit C is stopped, the outdoor expansion mechanism 4 is fully opened, the indoor expansion mechanisms 6A and 6B are set to predetermined opening amounts, and the indoor expansion mechanism 6C is fully closed. It is said that The outdoor switching valve 2 is switched so that the outdoor heat exchanger 3 communicates with the discharge pipe 10, and the indoor switching valves 8A and 8B communicate the indoor heat exchangers 7A and 7B with the suction pipe 11. Is switched to. Then, the refrigerant gas compressed by the compressor 1 enters the outdoor heat exchanger 3 through the discharge pipe 10 and the outdoor switching valve 2, and radiates heat to the outside air blown by the outdoor blower 13 to condense and liquefy. And becomes a liquid refrigerant. Next, the liquid refrigerant passes through the fully opened outdoor side expansion mechanism 4 and enters the receiver 5, where the gas components are separated. The liquid refrigerant flowing out from the receiver 5 is the liquid refrigerant pipe 12
After that, it enters the indoor throttle mechanisms 6A and 6B, and when it is throttled there, it is adiabatically expanded into a gas-liquid two-phase. The gas-liquid two-phase refrigerant enters the indoor heat exchangers 7A and 7B, where the indoor air blown by the indoor blowers 9A and 9B is cooled and evaporated and vaporized. This gas refrigerant is used in the indoor switching valve 8
It is sucked into the compressor 1 through A, 8B, the suction pipe 11 and the accumulator 14.

During heating operation, for example, indoor units A and B
When the heating operation is performed and the indoor unit C is stopped, the outdoor expansion mechanism 4 and the indoor expansion mechanisms 6A and 6B are set to predetermined openings, and the indoor expansion mechanism 6C is fully closed. Then, the outdoor switching valve 2 and the indoor switching valves 8A and 8B are switched in the opposite manner to that during the cooling operation. Thus, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 1 is condensed and liquefied by the indoor heat exchangers 7A, 7B via the discharge pipe 10, the indoor switching valves 8A, 8B, and the indoor throttling mechanism 6A,
After being throttled by 6B, it is adiabatically expanded by the outdoor side throttle mechanism 4 via the liquid refrigerant pipe 12 and the receiver 5. Then, after evaporating and vaporizing in the outdoor heat exchanger 3, the outdoor switching valve 2, the suction pipe 11, and the accumulator 14 are returned to the compressor 1 in this order.

In the simultaneous cooling / heating operation, when the number of indoor units operated in cooling is equal to the number of indoor units operated in heating, for example, the indoor unit C is operated in cooling operation.
When the indoor unit A is in the heating operation and the indoor unit B is not operating, the outdoor expansion mechanism 4 and the indoor expansion mechanism 6B are fully closed, and the indoor expansion mechanisms 6A and 6C are set to predetermined opening degrees. Then, the indoor switching valve 8A is switched to communicate with the discharge pipe 10, and the indoor switching valve 8C is switched to communicate with the suction pipe 11. Thus, the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 1 is the discharge pipe 1
0, indoor switching valve 8A, indoor heat exchanger 7A, indoor throttle mechanism 6A, liquid refrigerant piping 12, indoor throttle mechanism 6C, indoor heat exchanger 7C, indoor switching valve 8C, suction pipe 11, accumulator -Returns to the compressor 1 after passing through the data 14 in this order.

In the simultaneous cooling and heating operation, when the number of indoor units to be cooled is larger than the number of indoor units to be heated, for example, the indoor units B and C are in cooling operation and the indoor unit A is in heating operation. When opening, the outdoor side expansion mechanism 4 and the indoor side expansion mechanisms 6A, 6B, and 6C are set to predetermined openings. Then, the outdoor switching valve 2 and the indoor switching valve 8A are switched to communicate with the discharge pipe 10, and the indoor switching valves 8B and 8C are switched to communicate with the suction pipe 11. Thus, a part of the refrigerant discharged from the compressor 1 enters the liquid refrigerant pipe 12 through the discharge pipe 10, the outdoor switching valve 2, the outdoor heat exchanger 3, the outdoor throttle mechanism 4, and the receiver 5. The remaining portion enters the liquid refrigerant pipe 12 via the discharge pipe 10, the indoor switching valve 8A, the indoor heat exchanger 7A, and the indoor throttling mechanism 6A, and joins the previously branched refrigerant. Next, this refrigerant returns to the compressor 1 through the indoor expansion mechanisms 6B and 6C, the indoor heat exchangers 7B and 7C, the indoor switching valves 8B and 8C, the suction pipe 11, and the accumulator 14 in this order.

[0008]

In the above conventional air conditioner, there is a problem that the efficiency and performance of the air conditioner deteriorate because the capacity of the outdoor unit cannot cope with the change in the number of operating indoor units. .

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been invented to solve the above problems, and its gist is to provide a compressor and a discharge pipe connected to the discharge side of the compressor. A suction pipe connected to the suction side of the compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, a plurality of indoor heat exchangers, and a gas side of the outdoor heat exchanger selected as the discharge pipe or the suction pipe. Of the outdoor heat exchanger, and an outdoor switching valve for selectively communicating the gas side of the plurality of indoor heat exchangers with the discharge pipe or the suction pipe, respectively, and a liquid of the outdoor heat exchanger. Outdoor side throttling mechanism, an indoor side throttling mechanism respectively disposed on the liquid sides of the plurality of indoor side heat exchangers, a liquid side of the outdoor side throttling mechanism and the plurality of indoor side throttling mechanisms In the air conditioner provided with a liquid refrigerant pipe connecting the liquid side of the mechanism, the outdoor side An electromagnetic four-way valve is provided which divides the exchanger into a plurality of parts and selectively connects the gas side of each of the divided outdoor heat exchangers to the discharge pipe or the suction pipe. The air conditioner is characterized by using valves having different specifications.

[0010]

In the present invention, since the above-mentioned configuration is provided, the capacity of the outdoor unit is changed in multiple stages by switching the number of operating outdoor heat exchangers in response to the change in the operating number of indoor units.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT One embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. The outdoor heat exchanger is divided into a plurality (two in the figure), and an electromagnetic four-way valve that selectively connects the gas side of the divided outdoor heat exchangers 3A and 3B to the discharge pipe 10 or the suction pipe 11. 2A and 2B are valves whose electromagnetic coil parts have different specifications.
When the electromagnetic coils of the electromagnetic four-way valves 2A and 2B are energized and excited, the outdoor heat exchangers 3A and 3B communicate with the suction pipe 11,
The discharge pipe 10 communicates with the suction pipe 11 via electromagnetic four-way valves 2A, 2B, fixed throttles 22A, 22B provided in bypass passages 20A, 20B and check valves 21A, 21B. When the electromagnetic coils of the solenoid four-way valves 2A and 2B are demagnetized, the outdoor heat exchangers 3A and 3B are solenoid four-way valves.
Communicates with the discharge pipe 10 via 2A, 2B, bypass paths 20A, 20B
Is connected to the suction pipe 11.

The outdoor side heat exchangers 3A and 3B are provided with outdoor side throttle mechanisms 4A and 4B on the liquid side, respectively.
Outdoor side solenoid valves 19A and 19B are provided on the liquid sides of 4A and 4B, respectively. A plurality of (two in the figure) outdoor blowers 13A for blowing outside air to the outdoor heat exchangers 3A and 3B.
, 13B are provided so that one outdoor blower 13A rotates at high speed and the other outdoor blower 13B can switch between high speed and low speed. Other configurations are similar to those of the conventional one shown in FIG. 2, and corresponding members are designated by the same reference numerals.

Therefore, the operating numbers and rotational speeds of the electromagnetic four-way valves 2A and 2B, the outdoor solenoid valves 19A and 19B, and the outdoor blowers 13A and 13B are set according to the operating numbers and operating modes of the indoor units A, B and C. The outdoor unit O is operated in various operation patterns by sequentially switching. Then, when the high pressure in the refrigerant circuit reaches the upper limit value, the operation pattern is switched to a lower operation pattern, and when the high pressure reaches the lower limit value, the operation pattern is increased.

The electromagnetic coils of the electromagnetic four-way valves 2A, 2B are pre-assembled in the control electric circuit, the main bodies of the electromagnetic four-way valves 2A, 2B are pre-assembled in the refrigerant circuit, and in the final assembly process, the electromagnetic four-way valves 2A, 2B are Each electromagnetic coil is assembled in the main body. Therefore, when the specifications of each solenoid four-way valve 2A, 2B, especially the specifications of its electromagnetic coil part are the same, in the final assembly process, each electromagnetic coil of the solenoid four-way valve 2A, 2B was installed in the other body due to its mounting error In many cases, the air conditioner cannot perform its normal function. However, in the present invention, a plurality of electromagnetic four-way valves are used.
Since 2A and 2B are valves with different specifications of the electromagnetic coil, it is possible to completely prevent electromagnetic coil installation mistakes in the final assembly process.

[0015]

According to the present invention, since the outdoor heat exchanger is divided into a plurality of pieces, the capacity of the outdoor unit can be changed in multiple stages by switching the operating number of the divided outdoor heat exchangers. As a result, the capacity of the outdoor unit can be made to follow the change in the capacity of the indoor unit in detail, and therefore the performance and efficiency of the air conditioner can be improved.
In addition, since an electromagnetic four-way valve that selectively connects the gas side of the divided outdoor heat exchanger to the discharge pipe or the suction pipe is provided, and these electromagnetic four-way valves have different electromagnetic coil specifications, the electromagnetic coil It is possible to surely prevent the mounting mistake of.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a refrigerant circuit diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a refrigerant circuit diagram of a conventional air conditioner.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Compressor 10 Discharge pipe 11 Suction pipe O Outdoor unit 3A, 3B Outdoor heat exchanger A, B, C Indoor unit 7A, 7B, 7C Indoor heat exchanger 12 Liquid refrigerant pipe 2A, 2B Solenoid four-way valve 8A, 8B , 8C Indoor side switching valve 4A, 4B Outdoor side throttle mechanism 6A, 6B, 6C Indoor side throttle mechanism

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Takayuki Kobayashi 3-chome, Asahi-cho, Nishibiwajima-cho, Nishi-Kasugai-gun, Aichi Prefecture Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. Air Conditioning Factory

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A compressor, a discharge pipe connected to a discharge side of the compressor, a suction pipe connected to a suction side of the compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, and a plurality of indoor heat exchanges. Unit, an outdoor switching valve for selectively communicating the gas side of the outdoor heat exchanger with the discharge pipe or the suction pipe, and the gas side of the plurality of indoor heat exchangers with the discharge pipe or the suction pipe, respectively. An indoor-side switching valve that selectively communicates with the pipe, an outdoor-side throttling mechanism arranged on the liquid side of the outdoor-side heat exchanger, and a liquid side of the plurality of indoor-side heat exchangers, respectively. In an air conditioner having an indoor throttle mechanism and a liquid refrigerant pipe connecting the liquid side of the outdoor throttle mechanism and the liquid sides of the plurality of indoor throttle mechanisms, a plurality of the outdoor heat exchangers are provided. The gas side of each of the divided outdoor heat exchangers is divided into the above discharge pipe or suction pipe. An air conditioner characterized in that electromagnetic four-way valves that selectively communicate with each other are provided, and the electromagnetic four-way valves have different specifications of their electromagnetic coil portions.