JPH11337235A - Outdoor unit for air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To ensure safety of a refrigerating device and reuse the refrigerant at the time of repairing and disposal, by providing a pressure-indicating device for indicating pressure during refrigeration cycle where a compressor, a decompressor and an outdoor heat exchanger are connected through pipings. SOLUTION: An outdoor unit 10 comprises a compressor 1, a four-way valve 2, an outdoor heat exchanger 3, a throttling device 4 as a decompressor and an accumulator 6, while being provided with connection valves 10A, 10B for connecting connection pipings 11A, 11B. Further, a bomb 9 for recovering refrigerant is detachably connected between the compressor 1 and the four-way valve 2 through a valve 9A. The refrigerant recovering bomb 9 has a volume and pressure tightness with which the amount of refrigerant required at the time of operating an air conditioning device can be recovered. Furthermore, a pressure gauge 20 for serving as a pressure indicating device is provided between the connection valve 10A and the throttling device 4. Thus, when a refrigerating device is repaired or disposed, safety is ensured and the refrigerant can be reused.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigeration apparatus using a flammable refrigerant mainly containing propane, isobutane or ethane alone or a mixture of two or more of them as a refrigerant. The present invention relates to an outdoor unit of the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art R2 currently used in a refrigeration cycle
It is said that the HCFC-based refrigerant represented by No. 2 destroys the ozone layer due to the stability of its physical properties. In recent years,
HFC-based refrigerants have begun to be used as substitutes for HCFC-based refrigerants, but these HFC-based refrigerants have properties that promote the warming phenomenon. Therefore, recently, the use of an HC-based refrigerant that does not significantly affect the destruction of the ozone layer and the global warming phenomenon has begun to be studied.

[0003]

However, since the HC-based refrigerant is a flammable refrigerant, it is necessary to prevent explosion and ignition and to ensure safety. In particular, when the refrigeration system is repaired or disposed of, if a large amount of flammable refrigerant leaks, an explosion or fire may occur.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to ensure the safety of a refrigeration system at the time of repair or disposal, and to make it possible to reuse a refrigerant.

[0005]

An outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to the present invention according to the first aspect of the present invention is an outdoor unit of an air conditioner provided with a refrigeration cycle to which a compressor, a pressure reducing device, and an outdoor heat exchanger are connected by piping. A pressure display device for displaying a pressure in the refrigeration cycle. According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to the first aspect, the pressure display device displays a pressure sensor that detects a pressure in the refrigeration cycle and a pressure detected by the pressure sensor. The display is characterized by comprising: According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to the first aspect, a pressure gauge or a diaphragm is used as the pressure display device. The outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to the present invention according to claim 4, wherein the outdoor unit of the air conditioner includes a refrigeration cycle in which a compressor, a decompression device, and an outdoor heat exchanger are connected by piping. In addition, a refrigerant recovery cylinder is detachably provided via a valve. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to the fourth aspect, the refrigerant recovery cylinder is a discharge-side pipe of the compressor, and the outdoor heat is provided between the refrigerant recovery cylinder and the compressor. It is characterized in that it is provided in a place where no exchanger is arranged. According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to the fifth aspect, in the refrigeration cycle having a four-way valve, the refrigerant recovery cylinder is a discharge-side pipe of the compressor, and It is characterized by being provided before reaching the valve. According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, a flammable refrigerant is used as a refrigerant. According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to the seventh aspect, as the lubricating oil used for the compressor, a lubricating oil that is incompatible or hardly compatible with the flammable refrigerant is used. Features.
The refrigeration apparatus of the present invention according to claim 9 includes a compressor, a condenser,
A refrigerating apparatus comprising a refrigerating cycle in which a pressure reducing device and an evaporator are connected by piping, wherein a pressure display device for displaying a pressure in the refrigerating cycle is provided. Claim 10
According to the present invention, in the refrigeration apparatus according to claim 9, the pressure display device includes a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure in the refrigeration cycle and a display for displaying the pressure detected by the pressure sensor. It is characterized by. Claim 1
The present invention according to claim 1 provides the refrigeration apparatus according to claim 9,
A pressure gauge or a diaphragm is used as the pressure display device. The refrigeration apparatus according to the present invention is a refrigeration apparatus including a refrigeration cycle in which a compressor, a condenser, a decompression device, and an evaporator are connected by piping, wherein refrigerant is recovered through a valve during the refrigeration cycle. It is characterized by the fact that a cylinder for water is provided detachably. According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the refrigeration system according to the twelfth aspect, the refrigerant recovery cylinder is provided on a discharge side pipe of the compressor and up to the condenser. And According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the refrigeration apparatus according to any of the ninth to thirteenth aspects, a flammable refrigerant is used as a refrigerant. According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the refrigeration apparatus according to the fourteenth aspect, as the lubricating oil used for the compressor, a lubricating oil that is incompatible or hardly compatible with the combustible refrigerant is used.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The first and ninth embodiments of the present invention are provided with a pressure display device for displaying a pressure in a refrigeration cycle. By providing the pressure display device in this way, it is possible to confirm the remaining refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle at the time of repair or disposal.

[0007] The second and tenth embodiments of the present invention are as follows.
This pressure display device comprises a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure in the refrigeration cycle and a display for displaying the pressure detected by the pressure sensor. With the configuration using the pressure sensor and the display as described above, it is possible to confirm the remaining refrigerant at a location remote from the detection location.

[0008] The third and eleventh embodiments of the present invention are as follows.
A pressure gauge or a diaphragm is used as a pressure display device. By using the pressure gauge and the diaphragm as described above, the remaining refrigerant can be confirmed even when the refrigerant is not connected to the power supply. Therefore, it is possible to confirm after removal from the installation location or at the disposal site.

The fourth and twelfth embodiments of the present invention are:
In the refrigeration cycle, a refrigerant recovery cylinder is provided detachably via a valve. By providing the refrigerant recovery cylinder in this way, the refrigerant can be easily recovered, and by removing the refrigerant recovery cylinder after the recovery, the refrigerant can be removed from the outdoor unit or the refrigeration apparatus.

In a fifth embodiment of the present invention, a refrigerant recovery cylinder is provided in a discharge pipe of a compressor at a place where an outdoor heat exchanger is not disposed between the cylinder and the compressor. .
By providing the refrigerant recovery cylinder at such a location, the amount of refrigerant remaining in the refrigeration cycle during refrigerant recovery can be further reduced.

According to a sixth embodiment of the present invention, in a refrigeration cycle having a four-way valve, a refrigerant recovery cylinder is provided on a discharge side pipe of the compressor and up to the four-way valve. Also in this case, the amount of refrigerant remaining in the refrigeration cycle during refrigerant recovery can be further reduced.

The seventh and fourteenth embodiments of the present invention are as follows.
A flammable refrigerant is used as the refrigerant. In the case where a flammable refrigerant is used in this manner, repair or disposal in a state where a large amount of the refrigerant remains has a risk of ignition or explosion. Also, it is necessary to recover the remaining refrigerant.

The eighth and fifteenth embodiments of the present invention are as follows.
As the lubricating oil used for the compressor, a lubricating oil that is incompatible or hardly compatible with the combustible refrigerant is used. When a flammable refrigerant is used, by using such a lubricating oil, the refrigerant does not substantially dissolve into the lubricating oil. Since there is little fluctuation in the remaining refrigerant, the remaining refrigerant can be reliably confirmed, and the remaining refrigerant can be reliably recovered.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A refrigeration cycle of an air conditioner according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a refrigeration cycle diagram showing an installation state in which piping is connected. As shown in the figure, a compressor 1, a four-way valve 2, an outdoor heat exchanger 3, a throttle device 4, an indoor heat exchanger 5, an accumulator 6
Are connected to each other in an annular shape through piping. Here, the outdoor heat exchanger 3 functions as a condenser during the cooling operation, and functions as an evaporator during the heating operation. The indoor heat exchanger 5 functions as an evaporator during the cooling operation, and functions as a condenser during the heating operation. The outdoor unit 10 includes a compressor 1, a four-way valve 2, an outdoor heat exchanger 3, a throttle device 4, and an accumulator 6, and includes connection valves 10A and 10B for connecting the connection pipes 11A and 11B. The indoor unit 12 has the indoor heat exchanger 5, and has connection pipes 11A, 11A.
Connection valves 12A and 12B for connecting B are provided. A refrigerant recovery cylinder 9 is detachably connected between the compressor 1 and the four-way valve 2 via a valve 9A. The refrigerant recovery cylinder 9 has a capacity capable of recovering a required amount of refrigerant during operation of the air conditioner, and has a pressure resistance. Further, a pressure gauge 20 as a pressure display device is provided between the connection valve 10A and the expansion device 4.

Next, a refrigerant recovery method in the air conditioner will be described. This refrigerant recovery operation is performed at the time of maintenance and inspection, repair, relocation, or disposal of the air conditioner. First, the refrigeration cycle is set to a cooling operation state as shown in the figure, and the compressor 1 and the refrigerant recovery cylinder 9 are operated by the valve 9A.
And the compressor 1 and the four-way valve 2 are shut off. In this state, the compressor 1 is operated to perform a pump-down operation. After the operation for a predetermined time, the refrigerant in the outdoor heat exchanger 3, the expansion device 4, the indoor heat exchanger 5, and the pipes connecting them is collected in the refrigerant collection cylinder 9, so that the valve 9 is operated to collect the refrigerant. The gas cylinder 9 is closed. In particular, at the time of disposal, the refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle is collected in the refrigerant collection cylinder 9, and then the refrigerant collection cylinder 9 is removed. Note that the above-described refrigerant recovery operation can be performed while visually observing the pressure gauge 20.

By collecting the refrigerant in the refrigerant collection cylinder 9 as described above, the refrigerant can be removed from the air conditioner. Further, by providing the pressure gauge 20, it is possible to easily confirm whether or not the refrigerant remains in the air conditioner, particularly in the outdoor unit 10, at the time of disposal or repair. Further, by providing the pressure gauge 20 in the liquid-side pipe, it is possible to prevent a decrease in performance due to a pressure loss during operation.

Next, a refrigeration cycle of a refrigeration apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. As a refrigerating apparatus using such a refrigerating cycle, there are, for example, a refrigerator, a freezer, a showcase, a vending machine, and the like, in addition to an air conditioner. As shown in the figure, the refrigeration cycle is configured by connecting a compressor 1, a condenser 8, a throttle device 4, and an evaporator 9 in a ring shape through respective pipes. In a pipe between the compressor 1 and the condenser 8 in this refrigeration cycle, a refrigerant charging cylinder 9 is provided detachably via a valve 9A. Further, a pressure gauge 20 as a pressure display device is provided in a pipe between the evaporator 9 and the compressor 1. As for the refrigerant recovery operation, as in the above embodiment, the compressor 1 and the refrigerant recovery cylinder 9 are communicated with each other by the valve 9A, and the compressor 1 and the condenser 8 are shut off to perform the pump-down operation. Do. Also in the present embodiment, by providing the pressure gauge 20, it is possible to easily confirm whether or not the refrigerant remains in the refrigeration apparatus at the time of disposal or repair. Therefore, safety at the time of repair or disposal can be ensured.

As the refrigerant used in the refrigeration cycle as described above, a HC-based flammable refrigerant mainly containing propane, isobutane, or ethane alone or a mixture of two or more of these is used. As the lubricating oil in the compressor 1, a lubricating oil that is incompatible with or less soluble in the HC-based refrigerant is used. As such a lubricating oil, one composed of a carbonate compound is effective, and more preferably, one in which the number of carbon atoms constituting a carbonate bond structurally accounts for 10 atomic% or more of the total number of carbon atoms constituting a carbonate compound. Mutual solubility of HC-based refrigerant and lubricating oil is 25 ° C
It is preferable that the solubility is 5 wt% or less under the above conditions.

In the above embodiment, the pressure gauge 20 is used as the pressure display device. However, a diaphragm that changes a change in pressure into a change in position may be used. As described above, by using the pressure gauge and the diaphragm, the pressure in the refrigeration cycle can be visually recognized without a power supply. Therefore, for example, it is possible to confirm whether or not the refrigerant remains in the refrigeration system that has already been removed or the refrigeration system that has been brought to the disposal site. In the case where an ionic refrigerant is used, safety can be ensured. Further, as another embodiment of the pressure display device, the display device may be configured by a pressure sensor for detecting the pressure in the refrigeration cycle and a display device for displaying the pressure detected by the pressure sensor. By configuring the pressure display device with the pressure sensor and the display as described above, it is possible to install the display in a place that is easy to see. For example, even if pressure detection is performed by an outdoor unit, it can be displayed by an indoor unit.

Although the pressure display device 20 is provided between the expansion device 4 and the connection valve 10A in the embodiment of FIG. 1, it may be provided in another pipe in the outdoor unit 10. . Moreover, you may provide in several places. Further, by providing the indoor unit 12, the pump-down operation to the outdoor unit 10 can be confirmed. In the case of the embodiment of FIG. 2, the pressure indicating device 20 is provided between the evaporator 8 and the compressor 1,
It may be in another pipe. Further, in the above-described embodiments, the description has been given of the case where the refrigerant recovery cylinder 9 is provided. However, in the operation and effect provided by the pressure display device, the refrigerant recovery cylinder 20 may not be necessarily provided. Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the flammable refrigerant is used has been described. However, even if the non-flammable refrigerant has no danger of ignition or explosion, it is possible to prevent the natural destruction by recovering the refrigerant and to effectively use the resources by reusing the refrigerant. It can be used.

[0021]

As described above, the present invention secures the safety of the air conditioner or the refrigeration system during transportation and storage, enhances the workability during installation, and causes problems such as performance degradation. There is no.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a refrigeration cycle diagram according to an embodiment of an air conditioner of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a refrigeration cycle diagram according to an embodiment of the refrigeration apparatus of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Compressor 2 Four-way valve 3 Outdoor heat exchanger 4 Throttle device 7 Condenser 8 Evaporator 9 Cylinder 9A valve 10 Outdoor unit 20 Pressure display device

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (72) Kanji Haneda 1006 Kadoma Kadoma, Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Inside Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shigehiro Sato 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Inside Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Yukio Watanabe 1006 Odaka, Kazuma, Kadoma, Osaka Pref.

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. An outdoor unit of an air conditioner having a refrigeration cycle to which a compressor, a decompression device, and an outdoor heat exchanger are connected by piping, wherein a pressure display device for displaying a pressure in the refrigeration cycle is provided. An outdoor unit for an air conditioner, comprising: 2. The air according to claim 1, wherein the pressure display device comprises a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure in the refrigeration cycle, and a display for displaying the pressure detected by the pressure sensor. Harmonic equipment outdoor unit. 3. The outdoor unit according to claim 1, wherein a pressure gauge or a diaphragm is used as the pressure display device. 4. An outdoor unit of an air conditioner having a refrigeration cycle to which a compressor, a decompression device, and an outdoor heat exchanger are connected by piping, wherein a refrigerant recovery cylinder is provided via a valve during the refrigeration cycle. An outdoor unit for an air conditioner, which is detachably provided. 5. The refrigerant recovery cylinder is provided on a discharge side pipe of the compressor, at a location where the outdoor heat exchanger is not arranged between the refrigerant recovery cylinder and the compressor. An outdoor unit of the air conditioner according to the above. 6. A refrigeration cycle having a four-way valve,
The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 5, wherein the refrigerant recovery cylinder is provided on a discharge side pipe of the compressor and up to the four-way valve. 7. The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein a flammable refrigerant is used as the refrigerant. 8. The outdoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 7, wherein a lubricating oil that is incompatible or hardly compatible with the flammable refrigerant is used as the lubricating oil used for the compressor. 9. A refrigeration system having a refrigeration cycle in which a compressor, a condenser, a decompression device, and an evaporator are connected by piping, wherein a pressure display device for displaying a pressure in the refrigeration cycle is provided. Refrigeration equipment. 10. The refrigeration system according to claim 9, wherein the pressure display device comprises a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure in the refrigeration cycle, and a display for displaying the pressure detected by the pressure sensor. apparatus. 11. The refrigeration system according to claim 9, wherein a pressure gauge or a diaphragm is used as said pressure display device. 12. A refrigeration apparatus having a refrigeration cycle in which a compressor, a condenser, a decompression device, and an evaporator are connected by piping,
A refrigeration apparatus, wherein a refrigerant recovery cylinder is detachably provided via a valve during the refrigeration cycle. 13. The refrigerating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the refrigerant recovery cylinder is provided on a discharge side pipe of the compressor and up to the condenser. 14. The refrigeration apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a flammable refrigerant is used as the refrigerant. 15. The refrigeration apparatus according to claim 14, wherein a lubricating oil that is incompatible or hardly compatible with the flammable refrigerant is used as the lubricating oil used for the compressor.