JPWO2018198165A1 - Indoor unit of refrigerant detection device and air conditioner - Google Patents

Abstract

It is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerant detection device that can be used in a common form in models having different structures and an indoor unit of an air conditioner using the refrigerant detection device. The refrigerant detection device and the indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the present invention include a refrigerant detection air passage having both ends connected to a main air passage from an intake port to an air outlet of the indoor unit of the air conditioner, and a refrigerant detection air passage. And a refrigerant detection sensor for detecting an internal refrigerant.

Description

  The present invention relates to an air conditioner, and more particularly to a refrigerant detection device that detects refrigerant leaked from a refrigerant circuit into a housing and an indoor unit of an air conditioner that includes the refrigerant detection device.

  In the conventional air conditioner, a sensor that detects that the refrigerant has leaked from the refrigerant circuit is installed inside the casing of the air conditioner. For example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, in an indoor unit of an air conditioner using a refrigerant having a density higher than that of air, a heat exchanger is provided in the air passage inside the housing, and a fan casing is provided below the heat exchanger. A covered fan is installed. The refrigerant detection means is provided in the fan casing and above the indoor fan. As the refrigerant detection means, for example, a semiconductor gas sensor, a thermal linear semiconductor gas sensor, or the like is used. When the refrigerant from the heat exchanger installed inside the housing leaks in the shutdown state of the air conditioner, the whole amount of the leaked refrigerant flows into the fan casing. The leakage of the refrigerant can be detected.

JP 2016-29322 A

  However, in an indoor unit of an air conditioner, due to restrictions on the internal structure, it is impossible to install the refrigerant detection means in the air passage inside the housing as disclosed in Patent Document 1, or to an optimal place. It may be difficult to install the refrigerant detection means. In addition, the air conditioner indoor unit disclosed in Patent Document 1 is configured so that refrigerant leakage can be detected particularly when the operation is stopped. There was a problem that detection was difficult or impossible. Furthermore, in models with different structures, the structure of the air path inside the housing is different, so the position of detecting the refrigerant in the air path and the mounting form of the refrigerant detection means are different, and the refrigerant that matches the internal structure for each model The design and manufacture of the detection means are required, and there is a problem that it is difficult to use the refrigerant detection means in a common form among the models.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides a refrigerant detection device that can be applied to an indoor unit of an air conditioner having a different structure, and an indoor unit of an air conditioner using the refrigerant detection device The purpose is to do.

  A refrigerant detection device according to the present invention detects a refrigerant detection air passage whose both ends are connected to a main air passage from an inlet to an outlet of an indoor unit of an air conditioner, and a refrigerant inside the refrigerant detection air passage. A refrigerant detection sensor.

  An indoor unit of an air conditioner according to the present invention includes a box-shaped housing provided with an inlet and an outlet, a main air passage extending from the inlet to the outlet, and the main air passage disposed in the main air passage. A blower for sending air from an inlet to the outlet, a heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the air flowing through the main air passage and the refrigerant, and a refrigerant detector, wherein the refrigerant detector is A refrigerant detection air passage that branches from the main air passage and merges with the main air passage is provided, and the refrigerant detection air passage is provided with a refrigerant detection sensor that detects the refrigerant in the refrigerant detection air passage.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the refrigerant | coolant detection apparatus can detect the refrigerant | coolant which induced | guided | derived air and leaked out of the main air path in the housing | casing of the indoor unit of an air conditioning apparatus. Thereby, a refrigerant | coolant detection apparatus can be installed in the indoor unit of an air conditioning apparatus, without restrict | limiting the structure of a main wind path. In addition, by using a common structure for the connection between the refrigerant detection air passage and the main air passage inside the indoor unit, the refrigerant detection device can be applied to models with different structures without applying the design load of the refrigerant detection device. can do.

It is a perspective view of the indoor unit of the air conditioning apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the air path of the indoor unit of the air conditioning apparatus of FIG. It is an enlarged view of the refrigerant | coolant detection box of FIG. FIG. 2 is an enlarged view around an acquisition port of the refrigerant detection device of FIG. 1. It is a perspective view of the refrigerant | coolant detection apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a perspective view of the indoor unit of the air conditioning apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 3 of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each of the drawings, devices and the like having the same reference numerals represent the same or equivalent devices and the like, which are common throughout the entire specification. Moreover, the form of the component which appears in the whole specification is an illustration to the last, and this invention is not limited only to description in a specification. In particular, the combination of the components is not limited to the combination in each embodiment, and the components described in the other embodiments can be applied to another embodiment. Furthermore, when there is no need to distinguish or identify a plurality of similar devices that are distinguished by subscripts, the subscripts may be omitted. In the drawings, the size relationship of each component may be different from the actual one.

Embodiment 1.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an indoor unit 100 for an air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the air path of the indoor unit 100 of the air conditioner of FIG. In FIG.1 and FIG.2, the indoor unit 100 of the air conditioning apparatus is typically shown. The indoor unit 100 of the air conditioner has a box-shaped housing 1, and the housing 1 is partitioned into a fan chamber A and a heat exchanger chamber B by a fan plate 5. In the blower chamber A, a motor 2 and two fan casings 3 are provided. A fan 40 is provided inside the fan casing 3. The blower chamber A is provided with an opening in the housing 1 and an intake port 18 for taking in air from the outside of the indoor unit 100 of the air conditioner. In the first embodiment, the suction port 18 is opened on the end surface of the housing 1, but if the blower 40 provided in the blower chamber A can take in air outside the housing 1, the installation position is It can be changed as appropriate.

  A heat exchanger 4 is provided in the heat exchanger chamber B. A blower outlet 19 for blowing out the air heat-exchanged by the heat exchanger 4 is provided on the end face of the housing 1 located on the heat exchanger chamber B side. The blower outlet 19 can change an installation position suitably.

  The fan casing 3 is attached to the fan plate 5. The fan plate 5 is provided with a blower opening 42 through which air from the blower 40 is blown into the heat exchanger chamber B. Further, the fan casing 3 is provided with an intake 41 for taking in the air in the fan chamber A into the fan casing 3. The blower 40 installed in the fan casing 3 is driven by the motor 2, takes air in the blower chamber A from the intake port 41 of the fan casing 3, and blows air out from the blower port 42 into the heat exchanger chamber B. The air blown into the heat exchanger chamber B is heat-exchanged with the refrigerant flowing through the heat transfer pipe 30 in the heat exchanger 4 by the heat exchanger 4 and blown out from the blowout port 19. That is, a main air passage 50 is formed inside the housing 1 from the inlet 18 to the blower outlet 19 through the blower 40 and the heat exchanger 4.

  On the side surface of the heat exchanger chamber B, there is provided a refrigerant detection device 20 that takes in air in the main air passage 50 inside the housing 1 and detects whether the air contains a refrigerant. The refrigerant detection device 20 recirculates the pipe 9 connected to the main air passage 50, the refrigerant detection box 6 provided with the refrigerant detection sensor 11 therein, and the air connected to the main air passage 50 and passing through the refrigerant detection sensor 11 again. It is comprised from the piping 10 for returning to the main wind path 50. FIG. An acquisition port 7 for taking in air flowing through the main air passage 50 is provided on the side surface of the housing 1 of the heat exchanger chamber B. Further, on the side surface of the casing 1 of the blower chamber A, a return air outlet 8 for returning air from the refrigerant detection air passage 60 to the main air passage 50 is provided. The air passage that branches from the main air passage 50 in the housing 1, sends air to the refrigerant detection sensor 11, and returns air to the main air passage 50 again from the acquisition port 7 to the air return port 8 is referred to as the refrigerant detection air passage 60. Call.

  The material of the pipe 9 and the pipe 10 may be resin or metal as long as the material satisfies the strength and does not affect the detection of the refrigerant. In addition, a soft material having a degree of freedom is used as the material of the pipe 9 and the pipe 10, and the mounting structure of the acquisition port 7 and the return port 8 provided in the housing 1 and the pipe 9 and the pipe 10 is made common. By changing at least one of the lengths and shapes of the pipes 9 and 10 of the refrigerant detection device 20, the indoor unit of various types of air conditioners branches off from the main air passage 50 and joins the main air passage 50 again. The refrigerant | coolant detection air path 60 to perform can be formed. In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerant detection device 20 is arranged outside the housing 1, but the refrigerant detection device 20 may be installed inside the housing 1. . For example, when the housing 1 has a structure such as a machine room that does not constitute the main air passage 50, the refrigerant detection device 20 may be installed in the machine room.

  The air taken in from the acquisition port 7 passes through the pipe 9, passes through the refrigerant detection box 6, passes through the pipe 10, and is returned from the return port 8 to the main wind path 50. When the blower 40 is driven in the main air passage 50, the pressure of the air on the downstream side of the blower 40, that is, the air outlet 42 side is higher than the pressure of the air on the upstream side of the blower 40, that is, the intake port 41 side. It has become. The acquisition port 7 is provided in the heat exchanger chamber B where the air pressure is high, and the return air port 8 is provided in the blower chamber A where the air pressure is low. It becomes easy to flow.

  For example, when the refrigerant used in the air conditioner is a refrigerant having a higher specific gravity than air in a gaseous state such as a chlorofluorocarbon system, the acquisition port 7 may be provided in the lower part of the housing 1. When the refrigerant used in the air conditioner is a refrigerant that is lighter than air, such as ammonia, in the gaseous state, the acquisition port 7 is preferably provided at the top of the housing 1. In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, an acquisition port 7 is provided in the lower part of the housing 1 as an example. In Embodiment 1, the acquisition port 7 is provided only on one of the side surfaces of the housing 1. However, depending on the structure of the indoor unit 100 of the air conditioner, both side surfaces of the housing 1 and the housing 1 are provided. The acquisition port 7 may be provided on the upper and lower surfaces of the upper surface. Further, the position and the number of installed air outlets 8 can be changed as appropriate according to the refrigerant used in the air conditioner and the structure of the indoor unit 100 of the air conditioner, similarly to the acquisition port 7.

  The shapes of the acquisition port 7 and the return air port 8 are round in the first embodiment, but may be other shapes. Further, the sizes of the opening areas of the acquisition port 7 and the return air port 8 are determined in consideration of the lengths and strengths of the pipes 9 and 10 and the flow velocity that the refrigerant detection sensor 11 can easily detect.

  FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the refrigerant detection box 6 of FIG. The refrigerant detection box 6 of FIG. 3 is shown with the top and front plates removed. The refrigerant detection box 6 is provided with a refrigerant detection sensor 11 that detects the concentration of the refrigerant and a control unit 12 that processes a signal from the refrigerant detection sensor 11. The refrigerant detection sensor 11 may be driven by power supply from the indoor unit 100 of the air conditioner or power supply from a local external power source in which the indoor unit 100 of the air conditioner is installed. When the refrigerant detection sensor 11 is not driven by power supply from the indoor unit 100 or an external power source, a battery can be built in the refrigerant detection box 6. Moreover, in FIG. 3, although the refrigerant | coolant detection sensor 11 and the control part 12 are being fixed to the vertical direction lower surface of the refrigerant | coolant detection box 6, you may fix to another surface.

  In FIG. 1, the refrigerant detection box 6 is fixed to the housing 1 of the indoor unit 100 of the air conditioner, but in the case of a ceiling-mounted indoor unit, the ceiling surface, in the floor-mounted indoor unit, the floor surface, etc. It can be freely installed outside the housing 1. The installation position of the refrigerant detection box 6 can be selected in consideration of the local environment where the indoor unit 100 of the air conditioner is installed and the maintainability of the refrigerant detection box 6. Further, as described above, since the refrigerant detection device 20 can be installed in the machine room, for example, inside the housing 1, it may be arranged at a position with good maintainability in the machine room.

  Even when the refrigerant detection device 20 is fixed to the housing 1 of the indoor unit 100, it is possible to replace only the refrigerant detection device 20 by fixing the pipe 9 to the acquisition port 7 and the pipe 10 to the return air port 8 with screws or the like. It becomes.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the refrigerant detection box 6 is configured to remove the upper surface or the front surface of the refrigerant detection box 6 so that the internal refrigerant detection sensor 11 and the control unit 12 can be replaced and inspected. It is preferable that the members constituting the upper surface and the front surface to be fixed are fixed with screws or the like so as to be removable.

  FIG. 4 is an enlarged view around the acquisition port 7 of the refrigerant detection device 20 of FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram in which the upper surface and a part of the side surface of the housing 1 of the indoor unit 100 are deleted and displayed. In FIG. 4, the heat exchanger 4 forms a refrigerant flow path by arranging a plurality of heat transfer tubes 30 and connecting ends of the heat transfer tubes 30 by, for example, U-shaped tubes 31. A plurality of fins 33 are attached to the plurality of heat transfer tubes 30, and air is passed between the fins 33, whereby heat is exchanged between the refrigerant flowing in the heat transfer tubes 30 and the air. The refrigerant leak in the indoor unit 100 may occur in the connection portion 32 where the heat transfer tube 30 and the U-shaped tube 31 are connected by brazing, for example.

  As shown in FIG. 4, brazing portions of the heat transfer tubes 30 and the U-shaped tubes 31 are concentrated at the end of the heat exchanger 4, and when refrigerant leakage occurs, The refrigerant concentration in the air around the end tends to be high. Therefore, in the indoor unit 100 according to Embodiment 1, the shielding plate 13 protrudes in the same direction as the direction in which the U-shaped tube 31 protrudes from the end portion of the heat exchanger 4 where the fins 33 are provided. A part of the main air passage 50 is blocked. Further, the blocking plate 13 is provided so as to protrude in parallel with the surface from the end of the surface facing the downstream side of the main air passage 50 of the heat exchanger 4. The blocking plate 13 blocks the flow of air that passes through the region where the U-shaped tube 31 at the end of the heat exchanger 4 is installed. Since the heat exchanger 4 is inclined with respect to the air flow direction of the main air passage 50, the air flowing from the upstream side of the main air passage 50 is heated as indicated by the arrows shown in FIG. After passing through the end of the exchanger 4, it hits the blocking plate 13 and flows along the surface of the blocking plate 13. The blocking plate 13 blocks a part of the main air passage 50 on the downstream side of the acquisition port 7 in the main air passage 50. Thereby, the flow path which can guide so that the air which passed the edge part of the heat exchanger 4 gathers in the acquisition port 7 is formed, and the indoor unit 100 of an air conditioning apparatus can raise the precision of a refrigerant | coolant leak detection.

<Effect of Embodiment 1>
(1) The refrigerant detection device 20 according to the first embodiment includes a refrigerant detection air passage 60 having both ends connected to the main air passage 50 from the inlet 18 of the indoor unit 100 of the air conditioner to the outlet 19; And a refrigerant detection sensor 11 that detects the refrigerant inside the refrigerant detection air passage 60.
(2) According to the indoor unit 100 of the air conditioner according to the first embodiment, the box-shaped housing 1 provided with the suction port 18 and the air outlet 19, and the main wind extending from the air inlet 18 to the air outlet 19. A passage 50, a blower 40 that is arranged in the main air passage 50 and sends air from the inlet 18 to the outlet 19, a heat exchanger 4 that exchanges heat between the air flowing through the main air passage 50 and the refrigerant, and a refrigerant And a detection device 20. The refrigerant detection device 20 includes a refrigerant detection air passage 60 that branches from the main air passage 50 and merges with the main air passage 50, and the refrigerant detection air passage 60 detects the refrigerant in the refrigerant detection air passage 60. A sensor 11 is installed.
By comprising in this way, the refrigerant | coolant detection apparatus 20 can be installed, without narrowing the main wind path 50 inside the indoor unit 100 of an air conditioning apparatus. Further, the air flowing through the main air passage 50 can be guided to the refrigerant detection sensor 11 without hindering the air flow in the main air passage 50. Moreover, since the refrigerant | coolant detection apparatus 20 can be installed in the exterior of the main wind path 50 of the indoor unit 100 of an air conditioning apparatus, or the exterior of the housing | casing 1, it is piping also with respect to the indoor unit 100 of the air conditioning apparatus from which an internal structure differs. The refrigerant detection device 20 can be applied only by changing the lengths and shapes of 9,10. Thereby, even if it is a case where the refrigerant detection apparatus 20 is applied with respect to the indoor unit of the air conditioning apparatus of a different form, the design load for installing the refrigerant detection apparatus 20 can be reduced.

(3) According to the refrigerant detection device 20 according to the first embodiment, the refrigerant detection air passage 60 is connected to the pipes 9 and 10 whose one end is connected to the main air passage 50 and the pipes 9 and 10. The refrigerant detection box 6 is provided, and the refrigerant detection sensor 11 is installed inside the refrigerant detection box 6.
By being configured in this manner, the refrigerant detection sensor 11 is installed in the refrigerant detection box 6 independent of the housing 1, so that the refrigerant detection sensor is obtained while obtaining the effects (1) and (2) above. Maintenance work such as inspection and replacement of 11 can be easily performed. Further, by configuring the refrigerant detection box 6 to be detachable from the pipes 9 and 10, the refrigerant detection box 6 can be easily replaced when the refrigerant detection sensor 11 or the control unit 12 fails.

(4) According to the indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1, the refrigerant detection air passage 60 causes the intake port 41 side and the blower port 42 side of the blower 40 to communicate with each other.
With this configuration, air flows through the refrigerant detection air passage 60 from the blower opening 42 side of the high pressure blower 40 toward the low pressure intake opening 41 side, so that the indoor unit 100 of the air conditioner operates. If it is in the state, the air in the main air passage 50 naturally flows into the refrigerant detection box 6. For this reason, the indoor unit 100 of the air conditioning apparatus can obtain a structure for guiding air to the refrigerant detection sensor 11 with a simple configuration, and can obtain the effects described in (1) and (2) above. it can.

(5) According to the indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1, the refrigerant detection air passage 60 returns the acquisition air 7 for taking in air from the main air passage 50 and the taken-in air to the main air passage 50. A return port 8. A plurality of acquisition ports 7 are installed in the main air passage 50.
With this configuration, the indoor unit 100 of the air conditioning apparatus detects refrigerant leakage by installing a plurality of acquisition ports 7 in places where the refrigerant leakage in the main air passage 50 is likely to occur. Accuracy can be increased.

(6) According to the indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1, the casing 1 includes the heat exchanger chamber B in which the heat exchanger 4 is installed and the blower chamber in which the blower 40 is installed. A, and the refrigerant detection air passage connects the heat exchanger chamber B and the blower chamber A.
With this configuration, the refrigerant detection air passage 60 flows from the heat exchanger chamber B where the pressure is high and the refrigerant may leak to the blower chamber A where the pressure is low. If the machine 100 is in an operating state, the air in the main air passage 50 naturally flows into the refrigerant detection box 6. For this reason, the indoor unit 100 of the air conditioning apparatus can obtain a structure for guiding air to the refrigerant detection sensor 11 with a simple configuration, and can obtain the effects described in (1) and (2) above. it can.

(7) According to the indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1, the heat exchanger 4 is provided with the blocking plate 13 that blocks a part of the main air passage 50 at the end. The air passing through the end of the heat exchanger 4 is guided to the connection port between the main air passage 50 and the refrigerant detection air passage 60.
By being configured in this way, it is easy to guide the air passing through the end portion of the heat exchanger 4 that has the possibility of refrigerant leakage in the main air passage 50 to the acquisition port 7. Therefore, the indoor unit 100 of the air conditioner can accurately and quickly detect refrigerant leakage.

(8) According to the indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1, the refrigerant detection air passage 60 is installed outside the housing 1.
With such a configuration, the indoor unit 100 of the air conditioner does not need to provide a space for installing the refrigerant detection air passage 60 inside the housing 1. Further, even when the refrigerant detection device 20 is applied to the indoor unit 100 of the air conditioner having a different structure, the refrigerant detection device 20 can be applied without being affected by the difference in the internal structure of the housing 1. There is no need to expand the housing 1 for installing the refrigerant detection device 20. Furthermore, since the refrigerant detection device 20 is outside the casing 1 of the indoor unit 100, the refrigerant detection sensor 11 constituting the refrigerant detection device 20 regardless of the internal structure of the indoor unit 100, the position and size of the inspection port, Maintenance of the peripheral parts can be easily performed.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
The refrigerant detection device 220 of the indoor unit 200 of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 2 is obtained by adding a small fan to the refrigerant detection device 20 of the indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1. Hereinafter, the second embodiment will be described focusing on the changes from the first embodiment. Items not particularly described in the second embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the same functions and configurations are described using the same reference numerals.

  FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the refrigerant detection device 220 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The refrigerant detection device 220 is attached to the indoor unit 200 of the air conditioner in the same manner as the refrigerant detection device 20 according to the first embodiment. In the refrigerant detection device 220, in addition to the refrigerant detection box 6 of the first embodiment, a fan box 14 provided with a fan for forming an air flow in the refrigerant detection air passage 60 is added. By installing a fan and a motor in the fan box 14, the return to the acquisition port 7 is returned when the air flow of the main air passage 50 inside the housing 1 is small or when the indoor unit 100 is stopped. Even when the differential pressure of the air outlet 8 is small and the air flow in the refrigerant detection air passage 60 is poor or there is no air flow, the air is forcibly moved in the direction from the acquisition port 7 to the air return port 8. It becomes possible to send the air in the air passage 50 to the refrigerant detection sensor 11. Thereby, even when the indoor unit 200 of the air conditioner is operated in a low wind or stopped, the refrigerant detection device 220 can detect refrigerant leakage.

  By providing a fan in the refrigerant detection air passage 60, even when the rotation speed, the air volume, etc. of the blower 40 of the indoor unit 200 change, the refrigerant detection is performed by adjusting the rotation speed of the fan in the refrigerant detection air passage 60. The flow rate of air passing through the box 6 can be adjusted to an amount suitable for sampling.

  In FIG. 5, the fan box 14 is installed in the pipe 9 between the acquisition port 7 and the refrigerant detection box 6, but it may be installed in the pipe 10 between the refrigerant detection box 6 and the air return port 8.

<Effect of Embodiment 2>
(9) According to the refrigerant detection device 220 according to Embodiment 2, the refrigerant detection air path 60 includes a fan that allows air to flow from one end of the refrigerant detection air path 60 to the other end.
(10) According to the indoor unit 200 of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1, the refrigerant detection air path 60 includes a fan that allows air to flow from one end of the refrigerant detection air path 60 to the other end. .
By being configured in this way, even when the indoor unit 100 of the air conditioner is in the operation stop state or the low wind operation state, even if the differential pressure between the acquisition port 7 and the return port 8 is small, the fan By driving the air, the air in the main air passage 50 can be sent to the refrigerant detection sensor 11. Therefore, the refrigerant detection device 20 can detect the refrigerant even when the indoor unit 100 of the air conditioner is in the operation stop state or the low wind operation state.

(11) According to the refrigerant detection device 220 or the air conditioner indoor unit 200 according to the second embodiment, the refrigerant detection air passage 60 includes the pipes 9 and 10 whose one end is connected to the main air passage 50. The fan box 14 connected to the pipes 9 and 10 is further provided, and the fan is installed inside the fan box 14.
With this configuration, the indoor unit 100 of the air conditioner can easily inspect or replace the fan of the refrigerant detection device 20.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
The refrigerant detection device 320 of the indoor unit 300 of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 3 is mainly connected to the refrigerant detection device 20 of the indoor unit 100 of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 1 from the acquisition port 7 and the return port 8. The projecting pipes 15 and 16 projecting into the air passage 50 are added. Hereinafter, the third embodiment will be described focusing on the changes from the first embodiment. Items not particularly described in the third embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the same functions and configurations are described using the same reference numerals.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the indoor unit 300 of the air-conditioning apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the acquisition port 7 and the return air port 8 are provided on the side surface of the main air passage 50 inside the housing 1, but the indoor unit 300 of the air conditioner according to the third embodiment. In FIG. 2, projecting pipes 15 and 16 projecting to the main air passage 50 inside the indoor unit 300 are added, and an acquisition port 7 is provided at the tip of the projecting pipe 15 and a return air port 8 is provided at the tip of the projecting pipe 16. . With this configuration, it is possible to change the air sampling position in the main air passage 50 and the position where the air that has passed through the refrigerant detection air passage 60 is returned.

  As shown in FIG. 6, one short projecting pipe 15, 16 is provided that extends straight into the main air passage 50 from the connection portion between the main air passage 50 and the refrigerant detection air passage 60. The protruding pipe 15 has an acquisition port 7 at its tip, and is disposed, for example, in the vicinity of the end of the heat exchanger 4, and the connection between the heat transfer tube 30 and the U-shaped pipe 31 at the end of the heat exchanger 4. The refrigerant leaking from the unit 32 is easily obtained. Note that the shape of the protruding pipe 15 and the position of the tip portion can be changed as appropriate to a position that is advantageous for sampling the leaked refrigerant. By branching the tip of the protruding pipe 15 and dividing it into two or more numbers, sampling from a plurality of locations in the main air passage 50 is also possible, so that the detection accuracy of the refrigerant detection device 320 can be further improved. it can.

<Effect of Embodiment 3>
(12) According to the indoor unit 300 of the air conditioner according to Embodiment 1, the refrigerant detection air path 60 includes the projecting pipes 15 and 16 projecting into the main air path 50, and the projecting pipe 15 is at the leading end. An acquisition port 7 for taking in air from the air passage 50 is provided.
By comprising in this way, the air in the main wind path 50 can be sampled from the position advantageous for sampling of a leaking refrigerant by providing the acquisition pipe 7 with the protruding pipe 15 in particular. By branching the tip of the projecting pipe 15 and dividing it into two or more numbers, sampling from a plurality of locations in the main air passage 50 is also possible, so that the detection accuracy of the refrigerant detection device 320 can be further increased. it can.

  1 Housing, 2 Motor, 3 Fan casing, 4 Heat exchanger, 5 Fan plate, 6 Refrigerant detection box, 7 Acquisition port, 8 Return port, 9 Piping, 10 Piping, 11 Refrigerant detection sensor, 12 Controller, 13 Shut off Plate, 14 Fan box, 15 Protruding pipe, 16 Protruding pipe, 18 Suction port, 19 Air outlet, 20 Refrigerant detection device, 30 Heat transfer tube, 31 U-shaped tube, 32 Connection part, 33 Fin, 40 Blower, 41 Inlet port, 42 air outlet, 50 main air passage, 60 refrigerant detection air passage, 100 indoor unit, 200 indoor unit, 220 refrigerant detection device, 300 indoor unit, 320 refrigerant detection device, A blower chamber, B heat exchanger chamber.

A refrigerant detection device according to the present invention detects a refrigerant detection air passage whose both ends are connected to a main air passage from an inlet to an outlet of an indoor unit of an air conditioner, and a refrigerant inside the refrigerant detection air passage. A refrigerant detection sensor, and the refrigerant detection air passage is disposed in the main air passage, and communicates an air inlet side and an inlet side of a blower that sends air from the inlet to the outlet .

An indoor unit of an air conditioner according to the present invention includes a box-shaped housing provided with an inlet and an outlet, a main air passage extending from the inlet to the outlet, and the main air passage disposed in the main air passage. A blower for sending air from an inlet to the outlet, a heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the air flowing through the main air passage and the refrigerant, and a refrigerant detector, wherein the refrigerant detector is A refrigerant detection air passage that branches off from the main air passage and merges with the main air passage, and the refrigerant detection air passage is provided with a refrigerant detection sensor that detects refrigerant in the refrigerant detection air passage ; The air inlet side and the inlet side are connected .

Claims (13)

A refrigerant detection air passage whose both ends are connected to the main air passage from the inlet to the outlet of the indoor unit of the air conditioner;
A refrigerant detection device, comprising: a refrigerant detection sensor that detects a refrigerant inside the refrigerant detection air passage. The refrigerant detection air path is
A pipe having one end connected to the main air passage;
A refrigerant detection box connected to the pipe,
The refrigerant detection sensor is
The refrigerant detection device according to claim 1, wherein the refrigerant detection apparatus is installed inside the refrigerant detection box. The refrigerant detection air path is
The refrigerant detection device according to claim 1, further comprising a fan that allows air to flow from one end of the refrigerant detection air passage to the other end. The refrigerant detection air path is
A pipe having one end connected to the main air passage;
A fan box connected to the pipe;
The fan is
The refrigerant detection device according to claim 3, wherein the refrigerant detection device is installed inside the fan box. A box-shaped housing provided with an inlet and an outlet;
A main air passage from the inlet to the outlet;
A blower that is arranged in the main air passage and sends air from the inlet to the outlet;
A heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the air flowing through the main air passage and the refrigerant;
A refrigerant detection device,
The refrigerant detector is
A refrigerant detection air passage that branches off from the main air passage and merges with the main air passage;
The refrigerant detection air path is
An indoor unit of an air conditioner in which a refrigerant detection sensor that detects refrigerant in the refrigerant detection air passage is installed. The refrigerant detection air path is
The indoor unit of the air conditioning apparatus of Claim 5 which makes the ventilation port side and intake port side of the said air blower connect. The refrigerant detection air path is
An acquisition port for taking in the air from the main air passage;
A return port for returning the taken-in air to the main wind path,
The indoor unit of the air conditioning apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein a plurality of the acquisition ports are installed in the main air passage. The housing is
A heat exchanger chamber in which the heat exchanger is installed, and a fan chamber in which the blower is installed,
The refrigerant detection air path is
The indoor unit of the air conditioning apparatus of any one of Claims 5-7 which connects the said heat exchanger room and a fan room. The heat exchanger is
A blocking plate that blocks a part of the main air passage is provided at the end,
The blocking plate is
The indoor unit of an air conditioner according to claim 8, wherein the air passing through the end of the heat exchanger is guided to a connection port between the main air passage and the refrigerant detection air passage. The refrigerant detection air path is
The indoor unit of the air conditioning apparatus of any one of Claims 5-9 provided with the fan which flows the said air from the one end of the said refrigerant | coolant detection air path to the other end. The refrigerant detection air path is
A pipe having one end connected to the main air passage;
A fan box connected to the pipe;
The fan is
The indoor unit of the air conditioning apparatus of Claim 10 installed in the inside of the said fan box. The refrigerant detection air path is
A projecting pipe projecting into the main air passage;
The protruding pipe is
The indoor unit of the air conditioning apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 11, further comprising an acquisition port that takes in the air from the main air passage at a tip. The refrigerant detection air path is
The indoor unit of the air conditioning apparatus of any one of Claims 5-12 installed in the exterior of the said housing | casing.

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