JPWO2017199345A1 - Air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

  The air conditioner 100 includes a first pipe 4a and a second pipe 4b that connect the indoor unit 1 and the indoor unit 2, a first gas sensor 5 provided near the first pipe 4a, and a second pipe. 4b, a second gas sensor 6 provided near 4b, a first refrigerant discharge port 7 for discharging the refrigerant controlled by the first gas sensor 5, and a second gas sensor 6 for discharging the refrigerant controlled by the second gas sensor 6. When the refrigerant is detected by the first gas sensor 5, the refrigerant is discharged from the first refrigerant discharge port 7, and when the refrigerant is detected by the second gas sensor 6, The refrigerant is discharged from the second refrigerant discharge port 8.

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner capable of smoothly dealing with refrigerant leakage.

  The fluorocarbon refrigerants used in air conditioners are stable in physical properties and easy to handle, but they are said to destroy the ozone layer, and they will be banned from being used in the future because they adversely affect the global environment. Since hydrocarbon-based refrigerants used as an alternative to fluorocarbon refrigerants are flammable, it is necessary to prevent explosions and ignition.

  Since conventional air conditioners are not provided with means for notifying abnormality when flammable hydrocarbon refrigerant leaks indoors, the operation of the air conditioner is stopped when the user notices refrigerant leakage. Also, it was necessary to take measures such as opening the window of the room and ventilating. In the air conditioner shown in Patent Document 1 below, when refrigerant leakage occurs in the room, the refrigerant is detected by a gas sensor that detects refrigerant gas, and the refrigerant is discharged to the outside from an electric discharge valve provided in the outdoor unit. It is configured.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-304226

  However, in the conventional air conditioner shown in Patent Document 1, since one refrigerant discharge port is provided, when the refrigerant leaks in the vicinity of the gas sensor, the compressor is turned using the pressure in the pipe to When the refrigerant is discharged from the refrigerant discharge port provided in the machine, all the refrigerant remaining in the compressor is released, so that a large amount of refrigerant is lost. For this reason, there is a problem that the time required for refilling the refrigerant is long and the response at the time of refrigerant leakage is delayed.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the above, Comprising: It aims at obtaining the air conditioner which can respond quickly at the time of a refrigerant | coolant leak.

  In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, an air conditioner according to the present invention is an air conditioner including an indoor unit, an outdoor unit, and a compressor provided in the outdoor unit, Two pipes that connect each of the indoor unit and the indoor unit, and a refrigerant flows; and a first gas sensor that is provided in the indoor unit and that is provided near a first pipe that is one of the two pipes; A second gas sensor provided in the indoor unit and provided near a second pipe which is the other of the two pipes; and the first pipe and the compressor provided in the outdoor unit. Provided in the outdoor unit, and provided between the second pipe and the compressor. The first refrigerant discharge port that is controlled by the first gas sensor and discharges the refrigerant is provided between the second pipe and the compressor. Controlled by the second gas sensor to discharge the refrigerant. A second refrigerant discharge port, and when the refrigerant is detected by the first gas sensor, the refrigerant is discharged from the first refrigerant discharge port, and the refrigerant is detected by the second gas sensor. In this case, the refrigerant is discharged from the second refrigerant discharge port.

  The air conditioner according to the present invention has an effect of being able to quickly cope with a refrigerant leak.

The block diagram of the air conditioner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. The flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement by the air conditioner which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. The block diagram of the air conditioner which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. The flowchart for demonstrating the operation | movement by the air conditioner which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention.

  Hereinafter, an air conditioner according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an air conditioner according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The air conditioner 100 according to Embodiment 1 includes an indoor unit 1, an outdoor unit 2, and a compressor 3 provided in the outdoor unit 2.

  In addition, the air conditioner 100 connects the indoor unit 1 and the indoor unit 1 to each other, and the first pipe 4a that is one pipe through which the refrigerant flows, and the other pipe through which the refrigerant flows through the indoor unit 1 and the indoor unit 1 are connected. The second pipe 4b and the first gas sensor 5 provided in the indoor unit 1 near the first pipe 4a, and provided in the indoor unit 1 near the second pipe 4b. The second gas sensor 6 is provided.

  The air conditioner 100 includes a first refrigerant discharge port 7 and a second refrigerant discharge port 8. The first refrigerant discharge port 7 is provided in the outdoor unit 2, is provided between the first pipe 4 a and the compressor 3, and is controlled by the first gas sensor 5 to discharge the refrigerant. The second refrigerant discharge port 8 is provided in the outdoor unit 2, is provided between the second pipe 4b and the compressor 3, and is controlled by the second gas sensor 6 to discharge the refrigerant. The air conditioner 100 also includes an internal battery 9 that supplies power to the first refrigerant outlet 7 and the second refrigerant outlet 8.

  The indoor unit 1 and the first pipe 4a are connected to each other by a pipe connection portion 10 that is a union joint. Similarly, the indoor unit 1 and the 2nd piping 4b are mutually connected by the piping connection part 11 which is a union joint. The outdoor unit 2 and the first pipe 4a are connected to each other by a pipe connecting portion 12 that is a union joint. The outdoor unit 2 and the second pipe 4b are connected to each other by a pipe connecting portion 13 that is a union joint.

  Each of the first gas sensor 5 and the second gas sensor 6 is composed of a thermistor that is a temperature-sensitive variable resistance element or a piezoelectric sensor that is a pressure-sensitive power generation element, and detects a flammable refrigerant gas having a certain concentration. A detection signal is output. The first gas sensor 5 is disposed at a position where the refrigerant leaking from the joint portion of the pipe connection portion 10 can be detected. The second gas sensor 6 is disposed at a position where the refrigerant leaking from the joint portion of the pipe connection portion 11 can be detected. By disposing the first gas sensor 5 and the second gas sensor 6 in this way, the refrigerant gas in the vicinity of the pipe connection part 10 and the pipe connection part 11 that is highly likely to leak from the indoor unit 1 side is quickly removed. Can be detected.

  The first refrigerant discharge port 7 is disposed on a pipe path between the pipe connection part 12 and the pipe connection part 13. In addition, the second refrigerant discharge port 8 is disposed on a pipe path between the pipe connection portion 13 and the compressor 3.

  The first refrigerant discharge port 7 and the second refrigerant discharge port 8 are supplied with the power of the internal battery 9 or the commercial power supply to the solenoids provided respectively, so that the electromagnetic valves provided for the first gas sensor 5 and the second refrigerant discharge port 8 respectively. The opening / closing operation is performed by the detection signal of the second gas sensor 6.

  Hereinafter, operation | movement of the air conditioner 100 is demonstrated using FIG.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the air conditioner according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. When the first gas sensor 5 detects the refrigerant (S1, Yes), the detection signal output from the first gas sensor 5 is transmitted to the first refrigerant discharge port 7. Thereby, in the air conditioner 100, the normal operation mode is canceled and the refrigerant is discharged from the first refrigerant discharge port 7 (S2).

  When the first gas sensor 5 does not detect the refrigerant (S1, No) and the second gas sensor 6 detects the refrigerant (S3, Yes), the detection signal output from the second gas sensor 6 is the second. To the refrigerant outlet 8. Thereby, in the air conditioner 100, the normal operation mode is canceled and the refrigerant is discharged from the second refrigerant discharge port 8 (S4).

  When the first gas sensor 5 does not detect the refrigerant (S1, No) and the second gas sensor 6 does not detect the refrigerant (S3, No), the processes after S1 are repeatedly executed. As described above, in the air conditioner 100 according to the present embodiment, when the refrigerant is detected by the first gas sensor 5, the refrigerant is discharged from the first refrigerant discharge port 7 close to the first gas sensor 5, and the second When the refrigerant is detected by the gas sensor 6, the refrigerant is discharged from the second refrigerant discharge port 8 close to the second gas sensor 6.

  If there is a person on the 6th floor of the building and the refrigerant leaks during operation of the air conditioner 100 installed on this floor, if it is a conventional product, open the window when the person in the spot notices. If it is ventilated, it cannot enter the room until the refrigerant concentration decreases. According to the air conditioner 100 according to the present embodiment, when the refrigerant leaks in the vicinity of the gas sensor during operation, the gas sensor detects the refrigerant, cancels the normal operation mode, and removes the refrigerant remaining in the indoor unit 1 in the pipe. The compressor 3 is rotated using the pressure of the refrigerant, and the refrigerant can be discharged to the outside from the refrigerant discharge port on the side close to the refrigerant leakage point. When the gas sensor detects the refrigerant, an alarm sound from an alarm device represented by a buzzer sounds.

  Further, even when a commercial power supply that supplies power to the air conditioner 100 immediately after the refrigerant leaks, the refrigerant is supplied from the first refrigerant discharge port 7 and the second refrigerant discharge port 8 by the power supplied from the internal battery 9. Can be discharged.

  On the other hand, when one gas sensor and one refrigerant discharge port are provided, when the refrigerant leaks in the vicinity of the gas sensor, the compressor is turned using the pressure in the pipe, and the refrigerant discharge port provided in the outdoor unit If the refrigerant is discharged to the outside from the room, all the refrigerant remaining in the compressor is also discharged to the outside from the refrigerant outlet, and a large amount of the refrigerant is lost.

  The air conditioner 100 according to the present embodiment is provided with two gas sensors and two refrigerant discharge ports, so that when the refrigerant leaks in the vicinity of the first gas sensor 5, the compressor 3 is used by utilizing the pressure in the pipe. The refrigerant remaining in the indoor unit 1 is discharged from the first refrigerant discharge port 7 which is the shortest route for refrigerant discharge. When the refrigerant leaks in the vicinity of the second gas sensor 6, the compressor 3 is turned using the pressure in the pipe, and the refrigerant remains in the indoor unit 1 from the second refrigerant discharge port 8 which is the shortest route for refrigerant discharge. The refrigerant is discharged outside the room. By discharging the refrigerant in this way, the refrigerant existing in the compressor 3 is not discharged outside the room, and only the refrigerant remaining in the indoor unit 1 can be discharged outside the room, Without losing, damage caused by refrigerant leakage can be minimized.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an air conditioner according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The air conditioner 100-2 according to the second embodiment includes a remote controller 14 connected to the indoor unit 1 in addition to the configuration of the air conditioner 100 according to the first embodiment. The remote controller 14 outputs a discharge command for forcibly discharging the refrigerant at an arbitrary timing by a human operation. Specifically, this discharge command forcibly outputs a detection signal from the first gas sensor 5 or the second gas sensor 6 in order to discharge the refrigerant from the first refrigerant discharge port 7 or the second refrigerant discharge port 8. This is a command for output.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the air conditioner according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In S10, the first gas sensor 5 and the second gas sensor 6 determine whether or not a discharge command is output from the remote controller 14, and if the discharge command is not output from the remote controller 14 (S10, No), the process of S10 Repeatedly. When a discharge command is output from the remote controller 14 (S10, Yes), the first gas sensor 5 and the second gas sensor 6 that have received the discharge command force the detection signal from the first gas sensor 5 in S11. It is determined whether it is the first discharge command to be output automatically or the second discharge command to forcibly output the detection signal from the second gas sensor 6.

  When the discharge command is the first discharge command (S11, Yes), the detection signal forcibly output from the first gas sensor 5 is transmitted to the first refrigerant discharge port 7. Thereby, a refrigerant | coolant is discharged | emitted from the 1st refrigerant | coolant discharge port 7 (S12).

  When the discharge command is the second discharge command (S11, No), the detection signal forcibly output from the second gas sensor 6 is transmitted to the second refrigerant discharge port 8. Thereby, a refrigerant | coolant is discharged | emitted from the 2nd refrigerant | coolant discharge port 8 (S13).

  As described above, according to the air conditioner 100-2 according to Embodiment 2, the remote controller 14 can automatically select the refrigerant discharge port for discharging the refrigerant, so that the refrigerant is forcibly detected before the gas sensor detects the refrigerant leak. It can be discharged. Therefore, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, damage due to refrigerant leakage can be further suppressed.

  The configuration described in the above embodiment shows an example of the contents of the present invention, and can be combined with another known technique, and can be combined with other configurations without departing from the gist of the present invention. It is also possible to omit or change the part.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Indoor unit, 2 Outdoor unit, 3 Compressor, 4a 1st piping, 4b 2nd piping, 5 1st gas sensor, 6 2nd gas sensor, 7 1st refrigerant | coolant discharge port, 8 2nd refrigerant | coolant discharge | emission Outlet, 9 Internal battery, 10, 11, 12, 13 Pipe connection, 14 Remote control, 100, 100-2 Air conditioner.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, an air conditioner according to the present invention is an air conditioner including an indoor unit, an outdoor unit, and a compressor provided in the outdoor unit, and two pipes through which the refrigerant flows connecting each indoor unit and the chamber outboard motor, wherein provided in the indoor unit, the first gas sensor provided in the vicinity of the first pipe one at which of said two pipes A second gas sensor provided in the indoor unit and provided near a second pipe that is the other of the two pipes, and provided in the outdoor unit, the first pipe and the compression Between the second pipe and the compressor. The first refrigerant discharge port is provided between the second pipe and the compressor. The first refrigerant discharge port is controlled by the first gas sensor and discharges the refrigerant. Provided and controlled by the second gas sensor to discharge the refrigerant. A second refrigerant discharge port, and when the refrigerant is detected by the first gas sensor, the refrigerant is discharged from the first refrigerant discharge port, and the refrigerant is detected by the second gas sensor. In this case, the refrigerant is discharged from the second refrigerant discharge port.

Claims (2)

An air conditioner comprising an indoor unit, an outdoor unit, and a compressor provided in the outdoor unit,
Two pipes that connect the indoor unit and the indoor unit and through which refrigerant flows;
A first gas sensor provided in the indoor unit and provided near a first pipe which is one of the two pipes;
A second gas sensor provided in the indoor unit and provided near a second pipe which is the other of the two pipes;
A first refrigerant discharge port provided in the outdoor unit, provided between the first pipe and the compressor, and controlled by the first gas sensor to discharge the refrigerant;
A second refrigerant discharge port provided in the outdoor unit, provided between the second pipe and the compressor, and controlled by the second gas sensor to discharge the refrigerant;
When the refrigerant is detected by the first gas sensor, the refrigerant is discharged from the first refrigerant discharge port,
When the refrigerant is detected by the second gas sensor, the refrigerant is discharged from the second refrigerant discharge port. A remote controller that outputs a discharge command for forcibly discharging the refrigerant from the first refrigerant discharge port or the second refrigerant discharge port;
When the first gas sensor receives the discharge command, the refrigerant is discharged from the first refrigerant discharge port,
The air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein when the second gas sensor receives the discharge command, the refrigerant is discharged from the second refrigerant discharge port.

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