JPH08200905A - Indicator for amount of refrigerant - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To enable computing of the amount of a refrigerant to be sealed additionally without error by calculating and displaying the amount of an additional refrigerant based on a selection rule of the diameters of pipings at parts and a decision rule of the amount of the refrigerant stored previously using the capacities of an outdoor unit and room units inputted and information on connections and the length of pipings beween the outdoor unit and adjacent joints. CONSTITUTION: One outdoor unit 1 and a plurality of room units 2 are arranged and linked sequentially by pipings 4 and joints 5 at parts to form an air conditioning cycle. Then, the amount of an additional refrigerant is calculated based on a selection rule of the diameters of pipings at parts and a decision rule of the amount of the refrigerant stored previously in a microcomputer using the capacities of the outdoor unit 1 and the room units inputted, information on connections between the outdoor unit 1 and the adjacent joints 5 and information on the length of the pipings and the results are shown on a display. This enables eliminating of troublesome and time consuming manual calculation and thus, there is no errors in the computation of the amount of the additional refrigerant thereby enabling preventing of degrading in performance and accidents.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for automatically calculating the amount of additional refrigerant to be enclosed in a multi-room air conditioner and instructing the operator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a typical example of a known device for detecting the amount of refrigerant in an air conditioner during operation, determining whether the amount of refrigerant is suitable or not, and displaying the result to an operator is known. As such, there is one described in JP-A-3-186170.

In this known example, the means for detecting the amount of refrigerant in the air conditioner is compared with the detected amount of refrigerant and the amount of refrigerant required in the air conditioner to calculate the excess or deficiency of the refrigerant. And a means for quantitatively displaying the amount of excess or deficiency of the refrigerant, which can accurately provide essential information regarding the amount of the refrigerant to an operator who makes a test operation or adjusts the capacity of the air conditioner. It is said to be effective.

[0004]

The above-mentioned prior art is for determining whether or not the refrigerant that has already been enclosed in the air conditioner is judged and displayed, and is required in the air conditioner that is the basis of this. The amount of the generated refrigerant itself was not taken into consideration. Generally, in a multi-room air conditioner, according to its equipment capacity before trial operation adjustment at the installation site,
Many refrigerants are additionally enclosed. Only then will the required total amount of refrigerant be realized.
However, the calculation of the additional refrigerant amount requires a very complicated rule and complicated calculation. If this is manually calculated by the worker while looking at the service manual at the setting site, it takes time and there is a high possibility that an error will occur. By any chance
There is an error in the calculation of the additional refrigerant amount, and even if the refrigerant is additionally charged according to the error, according to the device of the previously known example, the determination display indicating that the refrigerant amount is inappropriate is made, but the refrigerant is reinserted again. It takes time and money. And, at this time, if the refrigerant amount inadequate determination display is not made by the device of the prior known example, the amount of refrigerant remains unsuitable for the air conditioner, which is preferable in terms of occupant comfort and power consumption. is not.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device capable of accurately calculating and displaying the amount of the refrigerant to be additionally enclosed in the installation site of a multi-room air conditioner without any error, and hence the labor of the worker and the cost required therefor. To save money.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, one outdoor unit and a plurality of indoor units are connected, and these are sequentially connected to form an air conditioning heating cycle. In the outdoor air conditioner, the input capacity of each of the outdoor unit and each indoor unit, and each connection information between the joints or headers adjacent to the outdoor unit and between the adjacent joints or headers and between the joints or headers and the indoor units adjacent to each other, A device for calculating the amount of additional refrigerant and displaying the calculated amount of additional refrigerant based on the pipe diameter selection rule and the refrigerant amount determination rule stored in advance using the pipe length information was provided.

[0007]

According to the present invention, at a site where a multi-room air conditioner is installed, an operator inputs information on the capacities of the outdoor unit and the indoor units and the piping connecting the outdoor unit and the indoor units to the apparatus of the present invention. To do.
At this time, the information on the pipes connecting the outdoor unit and each indoor unit should be the connection information and the pipe length information between the joints or headers adjacent to the outdoor unit, the joints or headers adjacent to each other, and the indoor units adjacent to the joints or headers. It is disassembled for easier input. In the device of the present invention, by using these information, based on the pipe thickness selection rule and the refrigerant amount determination rule stored in advance in the device, the additional refrigerant amount is automatically and accurately and quickly. calculate. Then, this result is displayed, and the worker is instructed about the work content. If the operator additionally fills the refrigerant in accordance with the instruction, it is possible to fill the proper amount of the refrigerant without fail, so that not only the labor involved in filling the refrigerant can be saved, but also the mistake can be eliminated.

[0008]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are explanatory views showing the structure and connection relationship of a basic multi-room air conditioner. 1 is called a line branching method, and FIG. 2 is called a header branching method. Although there is a form in which these methods are mixed, the present invention can be applied to these methods as well. In such a case, since it can be applied based on the handling of two basic configurations, only the basic configurations will be described.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a line branch system. 1
Is an outdoor unit, and 2 is a plurality of indoor units. The figure shows the case where six indoor units are connected. Although these are connected by a refrigerant pipe, although only one connecting pipe is shown in the figure, in reality, a gas pipe and a melting pipe are required. Reference numeral 2 is a main pipe connected to the outdoor unit 1, and 4 is a branch pipe connected to each indoor unit 3. A joint 5 is used to branch each branch pipe 4. Hereinafter, using the joint 5, the branch pipes for sending the refrigerant to each indoor unit 3 are branched and connected. Therefore, this method is suitable for buildings in which the indoor units 3 are widely distributed.

FIG. 2 shows a header branching method. As in FIG. 1, 2 is a main pipe connected to the outdoor unit 1, 4 is each indoor unit 3
Is a branch pipe connected to. A header 6 is used to branch each branch pipe 4. Hereinafter, a branch pipe for sending a refrigerant to each indoor unit 3 is connected to this header 6. Therefore, the indoor unit 3 is a method suitable for a concentrated building.

Since the amount of refrigerant required to operate the multi-room air conditioner shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 varies depending on the capacity of the air conditioner and the connection of equipment, the entire unit is previously enclosed in the outdoor unit 1. Cannot be shipped. Therefore, at the site where the air conditioner is installed, it is necessary to additionally fill in the necessary refrigerant in accordance with the capacity of the equipment and the condition of the piping during trial run adjustment. For this reason, the worker performs troublesome calculation according to a complicated rule while looking at the service manual, and calculates the required additional refrigerant amount. In the present invention, in order to automate such manual work, a refrigerant amount indicating device 7 is used as shown in FIG. FIG. 3A shows the appearance of the device. Reference numeral 8 is an input means by which a worker inputs the condition of the pipe of the capacity of the equipment according to the format described later. A keyboard is suitable for this. Reference numeral 9 is a display means for displaying the amount of additional refrigerant calculated in the device. Liquid crystal displays are suitable for this. The calculation means 10 is built in the device. An arithmetic circuit applying a microcomputer is suitable for this. With this,
By modifying and adding the program 11 that realizes the functions described below, it is possible to eliminate the limitation of the application range in any way.

FIG. 3B shows the structure of these means. The information input by the input means 8 is calculated by the calculation means 10
Sent to. Here, the additional refrigerant amount is calculated, and the result is sent to the display means 9 and displayed.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart specifically showing the processing contents of each means. First, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), the capacity or type of the multi-room air conditioner and the connection piping system as shown in FIGS.

Next, as shown in FIG. 5B, the capacity of the outdoor unit and the capacity of each indoor unit are input. This may be by entering the model.

In accordance with these, in the calculation process of the refrigerant amount described later, the one to be used is selected from the pre-stored calculation methods and rules. This widens the applicable range of the device.

Next, the connection information of each pipe and the pipe length information corresponding to each facility are input. Various input formats are conceivable, but in order to simplify the input and avoid an input error, the input is performed as shown in FIG. 5 (c) or FIG. 5 (d).

FIG. 5C shows an input format in the case of the configuration of FIG. The first line is the connection pipe information between the outdoor unit O and the adjacent joint J ₀ . The second line is
This is connection piping information between the joint J ₀ and the adjacent joint J ₁ . The third line is connection piping information between the joint J ₀ and the indoor unit I ₀ . Joint J
_2, J _3, J ₄ and the indoor unit _{I 1, I 2, I 3} , I 4, and ends by entering the pipe connection information about I _5.

On the other hand, FIG. 5D shows the input format in the case of the configuration of FIG. The first line is the outdoor unit O
And the connection pipe information between the adjacent headers H ₀ . The second line is connection piping information between the header H ₀ and the indoor unit I ₀ . Similarly, the indoor units I ₁ , I ₂ , I ₃ , I ₄ , I ₅
Enter the plumbing connection information for and exit.

Thereafter, the amount of additional refrigerant is calculated in the calculating means 10 based on this input information. First of all, there are rules on the capacity of indoor units and restrictions on pipe length, so refer to this to check whether the input information is correct and, if there is an error, instruct re-input. There are rules regarding the maximum and minimum capacity of indoor units and the total capacity. Further, the maximum allowable pipe length from the outdoor unit O to the terminal indoor unit I ₅ , the maximum allowable pipe length from the first joint J ₀ or the header H ₀ to the terminal indoor unit I ₅ , and from each joint or header to the indoor unit There are regulations on the maximum allowable pipe length, etc.

If the input information is correct, analyze it and
Based on the pre-stored rules of Tables 1 to 3, the additional refrigerant amount is calculated according to a pre-stored predetermined calculation procedure.

The additional refrigerant amount W is basically calculated by the equation 1.

[Equation 1] W (kg) = W ₁₁ + W ₁₂ + W ₁₃ + W ₁₄ + W ₂ (Equation 1) where W ₁₁ = total length of pipe diameter φ15.88 (m) ×
_{0.195 (kg / m) W 12} = total length of the pipe diameter φ12.7 (m) × 0.13 (kg
/ M) W ₁₃ = total length of pipe diameter φ9.53 (m) × 0.065
(Kg / m) W ₁₄ = total length of pipe diameter φ6.53 (m) × 0.026
(Kg / m) W ₂ = Sum of the amount of additional refrigerant of each indoor unit (kg) Since the pipe length of each part is immediately input and known, if the pipe diameter of each part is determined according to the rules, the total length of each pipe diameter Can be calculated. There are a number of exceptional rules incidental to this, but these can be easily considered by storing them in advance.

Table 1 shows rules for the relationship between the type or capacity of the outdoor unit and the pipe diameter of the main pipe.

[0025]

[Table 1]

By using this rule, the pipe diameter of the main pipe and the pipe diameter between the joints corresponding to the capacity of the outdoor unit can be determined.

Table 2 shows the rules for the relationship between the type or capacity of the indoor unit and the pipe diameter of the branch pipe.

[0028]

[Table 2]

By using this rule, the pipe diameter of the branch pipe corresponding to the capacity of the indoor unit can be determined.

Table 3 shows the rules regarding the relationship between the type or capacity of the indoor unit and the required amount of additional refrigerant. By using this rule, the sum of the additional refrigerant amounts of the indoor units can be obtained.

[0031]

[Table 3]

The results of the above calculations are displayed numerically on the display means 9. According to this, the worker may perform the work of additionally charging the amount of the refrigerant. At this time, if the numerical value of the amount of the refrigerant preliminarily enclosed in the outdoor unit 1 is also displayed, it is convenient when all the refrigerant is enclosed. This may also be stored in advance as a rule.

By adding the function of the present invention to the refrigerant amount judgment display device for judging whether the amount of refrigerant in the cycle is suitable or not, it is possible to quantitatively display the excess or deficiency of the refrigerant amount by weight. As a result, the added value becomes large.

In this embodiment, the multi-room air conditioner shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has been described, but it can be widely applied to an air conditioner based on this. As examples of this, for a simultaneous cooling / heating multi-room air conditioner, heat storage, a multi-room air conditioner having a cold storage tank, a multi-room air conditioner using water as a heat source, a multi-room air conditioner having a variable air volume unit, etc. Is also widely applicable.

[0035]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION By using the present invention, it is not necessary for an operator to read a complicated service manual at the installation site of a multi-room air conditioner and to perform a troublesome and time-consuming manual calculation. Therefore, the calculation error of the additional refrigerant amount is completely eliminated. Therefore, not only the time and cost required for charging the refrigerant can be saved, but also the performance deterioration and the accident due to the incorrect charging of the additional refrigerant amount can be prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a situation of pipe connection of a multi-room air conditioner.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a situation of pipe connection of a multi-room air conditioner.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the configuration of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the functions of the device of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an input format.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Outdoor unit, 2 ... Indoor unit, 3 ... Main pipe, 4 ... Branch pipe, 5
... Joint, 6 ... Header, 7 ... Refrigerant amount indicating device, 8 ...
Input means, 9 ... Display means, 10 ... Calculation means, 11 ... Program.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A multi-room air conditioner comprising one outdoor unit and a plurality of indoor units, which are connected in sequence to form a cooling and heating cycle, in which the input outdoor unit and indoor unit are connected. Using each connection information and pipe length information between the capacity and between the joints or headers adjacent to the outdoor unit and between the joints or the headers adjacent to each other and between the joints or the indoor units adjacent to the header,
An additional refrigerant amount indicating device characterized by calculating an additional refrigerant amount based on a pipe diameter selection rule and a refrigerant amount determination rule stored in advance and displaying the calculated amount.